Best Day Trips From Madrid Madrid may be one of the best places to see when you’re in Spain, but it definitely isn’t the only jewel worth your admiration. Spain is mesmerizing, and there’s so much to see! Thankfully, many of these other places can be reached as day trips from Madrid, so you don’t have to puzzle out your itinerary too much. Surrounded by a trifecta of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ... Read Full Article
When to Splurge or Save on your Trip
Some budget-minded travelers count every penny on a trip, ensuring that they never go over a carefully planned budget and go as cheap as they can; others prefer not to worry about the costs at all, spending what they want without a limit. Most travelers, however, fall somewhere in the middle. We want to keep costs low but we’re willing to splurge on a few things to ensure we have the best ... Read Full Article
Europe Packing Advice for Women
With airline carry-on size allotments shrinking and checked baggage fees soaring, every little bit of luggage space counts. And, packing for a trip to Europe can be a balancing act between bringing the necessities while not using precious space for non-essentials. Our packing advice for women: sort through your must-take travel items, taking only what you will really need, while leaving ... Read Full Article
What You Need to Know About Icelandic Cuisine
When most tourists think of Icelandic cuisine, they tend to picture the country’s slightly less appetizing foods. There’s the rotten shark, which Anthony Bourdain claimed was one of the worst things he’d ever eaten, as well as boiled sheep's head, and Brennivin, a liquor affectionately nicknamed the “black death.” Hungry yet? While these traditional foods make the travel shows, there’s much ... Read Full Article
Why Take a Europe River Cruise?
River cruising has been growing in popularity for the last two decades, with more and more cruise companies and ships plying the great rivers of Europe. Taking a Europe river cruise appeals to a wide range of travelers, which also makes it especially great for a multi-generational trip. Whether you’re traveling with your kids, parents, grandparents, or the whole extended family, river ... Read Full Article
Creating and Sticking to a Travel Budget
No traveler wants to count pennies while on their dream trip, but the reality is that most of us can’t afford to throw out our budgets and deal with the fallout once we’re back at home. While creating--and sticking to--a travel budget isn’t glamorous, it’s also not that difficult. With a bit of pre-planning, some organization, and, most importantly, a little self-discipline, making and abiding by ... Read Full Article
Exploring Iceland in a Camper-Van
Iceland is known as a great road-trip destination, thanks to an abundance of beautiful landscapes and an easy-to-follow route, the Ring Road, that circles the island. For those who want to make the most of their time on the road, but aren’t quite ready to rough it in a tent, exploring Iceland in a camper-van rental is a great way to go. Here’s what you need to know about planning a road ... Read Full Article
Cheese, Chocolate and Wine – Three Ways to Savor Switzerland
When one thinks of the great foodie destinations of Europe; Spain, Italy, and France seem to come to mind first. But Switzerland has culinary charms of its own. In addition to the renowned cheeses of the region (which hardly resemble the hole-ridden Swiss cheese of American supermarkets), Switzerland produces some of the finest chocolate in the world and local winemakers quietly create quality ... Read Full Article
Iceland’s Natural Wonders
Iceland abounds with natural wonders. It sits at the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian continental plates. The plates are slowly moving apart, which means that the country is slowly, by just a few centimeters per year, getting wider. The rift runs diagonally from the southeast corner of the country to the northwest and makes Iceland a hotbed of weird geological activity. Geysers ... Read Full Article
A Tapas Tour of Northern Spain
Tapas. Pinxtos. Or less formally, little bites of Spanish goodness. There are plenty of reasons to go to Spain; tapas just happen to be the tastiest. In northern Spain, typical tapas styles and the dishes that represent them can vary widely, as can the protocol for ordering and eating them in different regions. Here’s a primer on enjoying these small bites in three northern ... Read Full Article