Pickpockets are a pernicious problem all over the world, but 8 of the world’s 10 worst cities for pickpockets are top tourist destinations in Europe. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come to Europe ready to have a great time. It just means you should observe a few basic rules and techniques to keep your pocket […]
10 Tips for Packing for Europe: What You Need And What You Don’t
10 Tips for Packing for Europe and the most important question: Do you need a European Curling Iron? As usual, I am preparing for my next trip to Europe and I am determined to do a better packing job than in the past. I am following these 10 Rules of Thumb for Packing for Europe. As […]
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 […]
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 you’re planning a […]
Tips for Saving Money on Your Europe Trip
A Europe vacation can be expensive, but not if you travel smart. Here are some tips to help you save money on your next Europe vacation. Saving money before you go Book Direct When booking airfare look to some of the online booking engines to find the best price and then book with the airline itself. […]
How to Travel by Train Through France
Before you go anywhere in France by train, you need to buy your train tickets! This can be done in a couple ways. First, there is the train station itself. With rare exceptions, you can purchase a train ticket from/to anywhere in France in any train station. Larger cities in France also have storefront offices called […]
Hints for Traveling the World as a Single Woman
I have been traveling the world as a single woman for the many years. I have been to North Africa, Turkey, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the US and nearly every European country, always on my own and accumulating a wealth of experiences and insights along the way. I made mistakes and have leaned from […]
10 Tips for Traveling with Chronic Pain
I adore traveling in Europe. But I’m not a college student anymore—I can’t throw some clothes and a Eurail Pass into a backpack and hit the road. Now I, like tens of millions of other people around the world, suffer from chronic pain. Pain makes traveling a challenge, not an impossibility. Here are ten tips for […]
Affordable Boutique Hotels for Solo Travelers
Looking for affordable hotels for solo travelers? It’s a sad but inevitable fact that a solo traveler’s budget can suffer serious dents when it comes to accommodation. Nice, comfortable, single rooms are either not available at all or cost an arm and a leg. Many hotels will rent you a double room for use as […]
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 […]