There are so many world class museums that it would take your entire vacation to see them.  The Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, the Musee Rodin and the Musee Picasso to name some of the most obvious.  Museums can make your head spin after a few hours.  To avoid being overwhelmed by them, get a museum card.  They are available for 1, 3 and 5 days.  Read more

First thing, be sure to bring good walking shoes.  You will be doing lots of walking… with the sights and the atmosphere of Paris, you'll be looking around thinking, "This is Paris… I'm here!" 

But you don't want to walk aimlessly, so let's look at the geography of Paris.  Many Paris locations are described as being either left-bank‚ or right bank.   What does that mean?  To get real basic… the River Seine cuts Paris pretty much in half.  So the Left Bank is more or less to the south of the River Seine. (Look at a map of Paris… it's mostly the bottom half.)  The Right Bank is to the north of the river. (So, the top half of the map.. right?) Read more

Isn't it hard navigating Paris on your own?  You've heard that they won't speak anything but French, that the waiters are rude, and the shopkeepers are impolite.  It's really not true.  Paris is a big city, and its citizens sometimes have that "big city attitude"....  people are hurried and may seem a bit brusque, but if you remember some of the simple rules of travel, you'll do fine. Read more

Most "must see" places have fees to visit.  Besides  visiting Big Ben, here are 6 great options worth considering.

Tour the Houses of Parliament.  Have you ever watched BBC news and seen the Members of Parliament banging on that podium?  You can see it on the tour. 

See Westminster Abby.  It's across the street and through Parliament Square from the Palace of Westminster.  This historic church is the place where England's Kings and Queens have been crowned and buried for centuries.  There are tombs of some of those Kings and Queens, and also about 3000 tombs of famous people in history.  Wander around and find their names along the walls and under stone slabs in the floor.

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Many Americans and other native English speaking travelers choose London as one of their first destinations abroad.  While the majority of Americans no longer claim English ancestry, there is no doubt that the history of the United States is closely tied to England.  Combine that with the fact that you don't have to deal with a foreign language, and it's an appealing destination.

If you're not an American or a native English speaker, this grand old city still is a great place to visit.  So if you want to go to London what can you expect to see?  What should you do?   Let me see…where shall we begin? Read more

Should you consider another season?  Maybe you need to go in summer because of your school or work schedule.  Summer brings lots of traveling students as well as all the other tourists.  Prices will be at their highest, and the lines will be at their longest.  It's probably a good idea to book flights and rooms early to try and get good deals in this popular season.  The weather is nice with temperatures in the high 70s F (24 C).

July draws crowds because of Bastille Day, July 14, and the Tour de France bicycle race that ends up in Paris.  During August, most Parisians take a month long vacation… usually out of the city.  So some restaurants and businesses might be closed. Read more

Most people plan to visit Paris in April… Is that when you should visit?  Well that notion may be tremendously romantic, but the truth of the matter is that you have a pretty good chance of running into cold and rainy weather, so just be prepared.  It's further north than you think! 

That's not to say you shouldn't go in April.  The weather in Spring may give you a taste of both sun and showers.  The temperatures should average in the high 50's F (14 C). Read more

So, you've decided it's time to take your first trip to Europe.  For many Americans it seems like a rite of passage.  It doesn't matter if you're young or old.  It's something special that first trip to Europe.  You've finally arrived somehow. 

You've saved the money, you've applied for the passport… wow, you're practically ready to pack.  But wait… just having made the decision to get a passport and go to Europe is only the first step.  There are more decisions to make.  Let's think through some of this.

How much time do you have?  One week will have you concentrating on an area or a city… two or more weeks lets you tour around a bit more. Read more

Sometimes we may feel that going on a romantic break means spending lots of money to travel to some secluded island far away from home.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Regardless of where you live, there is bound to be a romantic area nearby where you and you special someone can fan the flame of romance.  Wales is no exception.  Even though it is the smallest country in Britain, this does not mean its insignificant when it comes to romantic weekend breaks in North Wales.  On the contrary, you may be in for a pleasant surprise when looking for romance in North Wales.  If you are looking for a different romantic weekend break, North Wales, in Britain may be just the ticket.

A Romantic Weekend Break In North Wales: Take Intimate Loving Strolls

One of the most popular tourist activities in North Wales, on a romantic weekend break or even on a family vacation is a walking tour. With its picturesque views and glorious venues, taking a walk in North Wales is a never to be forgotten experience. The terrain offers lush vegetation and easily walked paths that lead you along the countryside and through many quaint villages.

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Even though planning is important,  no one would enjoy spending a lot of time or worry planning a trip.  Especially not if it is supposed to a relaxing vacation in Italy.  Still, at least a bit of planning is always necessary as it will be very rewarding for you in the end. This is because you will be able to save yourself time, money, hassle, and really make the most of your trip if you plan in advance.

Relaxing Vacations in Italy

Of course there is an endless list of different and wonderful places that you can choose to  travel to, but relaxing vacations in  Italy are particularly appealing. There are a number of good reasons for this, namely that the Italian culture and locale are so classic and beautiful.  More and more people are becoming aware of this through the media, so more and more people really want a chance to get to experience it for themselves. Read more