Is Longterm Travel Insurance Right for You? First off, I have to tell you that I am a big fan of travel insurance, whether for a single trip or longterm travel insurance. I had to have my wisdom teeth removed in China, and I was so grateful that my travel insurance covered the costs of surgery in a Western-style hospital. While China might have been an extreme example, medical care in Europe ... Read Full Article
Travel Gear & Resources
Travel Gear & Travel Planning Resources As frequent travelers, we have tried all kinds of different gadgets, tools, and resources. Here are our travel gear and resources that we use to book our trips, the things we always have in our bags and more helpful tips on what to pack for and how to book your next trip to Europe. We recommend only companies that we love and the products ... Read Full Article
Carpe Diem: Seize the Day and Travel Now!
You would not be reading Europe Up Close if “travel a lot” were not one of your life’s great pleasures. I’d like to suggest that you abandon procrastination before you use up your allotted travel days. Murphy’s Law can strike at any moment and the chance to travel might be gone. Older people inevitably start collecting minor disabilities and issues: heart, hip, knee, back, fill-in-the-blank. ... Read Full Article
How to Travel with Carry-ons ONLY
Whether travelling for long periods, through several countries or just going for a week; we only travel with carry-ons. My husband Rick and I travel consecutively for many months annually, visiting a number of countries, hence numerous flights. Regardless of the length of these travel-stints (our last one entailed 25 countries in 9 months) – we take only a carry-on each. Here's how we travel with ... Read Full Article
Six Reasons to Visit Europe this Winter
In the summer, travelers flock to Europe to tour the sites while basking in the warm sunshine. Sounds perfect, right? Well, it is perfect until you step off the plane and realize that everyone else has the same idea. Along with the picture-perfect weather, come throngs of camera-toting tourists. To escape the crowds, consider visiting Europe in the winter. Yes, the weather may ... Read Full Article
Airbnb: Not Just Another Pretty Hotel Room
There’s a world-wide revolution afoot, winning favor bedroom by bedroom. It’s called Airbnb, an online accommodations booking agency founded in San Francisco in 2008. By summer of 2012, over two million guest nights had been booked via the site, part of a phenomenon known as the “sharing economy.” Airbnb now connects guests with hosts in private homes in 192 countries. This includes ... Read Full Article
EuropeUpClose Best Travel Secrets
Every traveler has learned from his or her experience. We tapped our EuropeUpClose writing crew to share their best travel secret. We asked them to either tell us their best travel tip or their favorite undiscovered destination. Go Local: By Hannah May It's not a secret as such, but one way I really benefit from my travels is to immerse myself in the local places and culture of the ... Read Full Article
Mattie’s Guide to Finding Month-to-Month Rentals in Europe
People often ask me: How do you find a long-term vacation rental in Europe? The short answer: Just show up. This requires risking failure, and you might want to hear my story before beginning your search. My first trip to Italy was completely unplanned, yet after a few weeks of travel, my girlfriend and I moved into a six-room palace. It had a working fireplace, original artworks, and it was ... 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
Avoiding Foot and Leg Problems While Sightseeing
Most of us walk more while on vacation than we do in our, normal lives. Whether this is because you missed your bus and need to walk (or run) to the station to catch your train, because you are on a two hour walking tour, or because the night is just perfect for a stroll along the Seine (or Thames, or Danube), tourists end up putting many miles on their feet. Here are several pieces of ... Read Full Article