For years, I flew from point A to point B without even thinking about the cities in which I had layovers. In Europe, I had stopovers in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and more, and I never really thought about the fact that these cities’ magnificent sights and cultures lay just outside the airport walls. Then an old friend clued me into the extended layover, a great way to take in additional ... Read Full Article
Hiring a Tour Guide: Is it Worth it?
My husband, Bill, and I had never hired a private tour guide before our recent trip to Italy. In the past, we read our guidebooks, consulted the internet, and reviewed EuropeUpClose.com to see what our writers had to say. We then did our own thing. We have also been part of large group tours, but this experience showed us the value of a knowledgeable, private tour guide to help us sort through ... Read Full Article
Traveling to Europe with Young Children
On our last trip to Europe, our extended family faced many unique challenges while traveling with young children. Our entourage included a five-month-old infant, a two-year-old toddler, and a four-year-old preschooler. From finding family-friendly accommodations to surviving long international flights, check out these helpful tips for families traveling abroad with youngsters. Whether ... Read Full Article
Tips for Living Like a Local in Europe
Live like a Local Local is savvy. Local is stimulating. Moving away from mass tourism, the discerning traveler has been on a quest in search of the true taste of living like a local. The quest began by excluding tried-and-tested tourist attractions from their travel itinerary, finding niche boutique hotels, and trying ever so hard to scout out the native hangouts. And the latest: Live like a ... Read Full Article
Four Top Travel Apps for Europe
Gone are the days of trying to squeeze umpteen maps, guidebooks or currency converter gadgets into your luggage – now all you need are travel apps. The number of travel apps available has increased considerably over the last year alone. There are apps for maps, apps to help you plan your trip, apps for currency conversion and apps with language translators and phrasebooks. Wherever you’re ... Read Full Article
New Rules for Getting through TSA Checkpoints
Have you heard? Getting through the TSA checkpoints is taking L O N G E R. The TSA agents are being more careful; they are doing more thorough screening on more people. All this takes time, so to make it easier on yourself follow this guide for getting through the line faster. Get there early Even if you are organized, chances are the people in front of you aren’t. Keep this in mind when buying ... Read Full Article
Airport Security: Make It Easy
Shuffling through airport security lines is a tedious process, and it can be a lot worse than merely tedious. You could lose valuable possessions by leaving them behind in your haste to get to the gate, or be stopped for hand inspection and possibly miss your flight. Here are a few tips to get you through faster and more smoothly. Liquids The rules say all your carry-on liquids (lotion, ... Read Full Article
The Sad Tale of a Forgotten Passport
It’s one of the worst things that can happen while traveling, and it recently happened to an acquaintance of mine. A United States citizen, he arrived in Amsterdam with his old passport that was no longer valid, his new passport was left behind in America. This simple mix-up almost resulted in his immediate return to the United States. We all know that an invalid passport is no joke: it is ... Read Full Article
Ten Tips for a Safe and Pleasant European Vacation
Of course you may not really care what others think about how you look and/or act when you are traveling abroad, but to a certain extent, blending in and not acting like a typical tourist can make your trip a much safer, more pleasant experience. Whether you travel independently, or with a group tour, these 10 tips are always great to know! >>Read about the Pros and Cons of Europe Tour ... Read Full Article
Surviving a Long Distance Flight
It’s safe to say that for most people, flying is the least fun part of any trip. And the longer the flight, the less enjoyable it is, especially for those of us unlucky enough to be seated in coach. The seats are cramped, the food is mediocre, and chances are there’s a screaming baby sitting next to you. How do you survive without going insane? Pack the following items in your carry-on and you ... Read Full Article