Global Resorts Network Travel Source

If it’s your first time to take a vacation in Europe, here are five cities you must include in your itinerary.

Amsterdam, Holland

If you visit Amsterdam in the months of April to May, you’ve come at the best part of the year to see the country’s famous tulips in full bloom. Amsterdam is also a biker’s paradise; you can go anywhere anytime with two wheels. For art and history lovers, there’s the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and the Royal Palace. Try dining at the Indonesian rijsttafel and check out Reguliersdwarsstraat for the hottest night scene.

Florence, Italy

After viewing Michelangelo’s David, you can proceed to Duomo and enjoy scenic views if you climb up the dome of Brunelleschi or the bell tower of Giotto, go shopping and take pictures on the Ponte Vecchio, delight in great works of Renaissance arts in the various museums in Florence, and of course visit any number of restaurants lining the city to have a taste of authentic Italian cuisine. You never know what lasagna or pizza truly tastes like until you’ve eaten it in Italy.

Rome, Italy

After worshipping in the Vatican, you should also check out Testaccio and the various nightclubs the Eternal City has to offer. Everything in Rome is a must-see so make sure you prepare for a good day’s amount of walking. Rome is also a shopper’s haven so take your time looking around or you might end up overspending.

Venice, Italy

For couples wishing to immerse themselves in their feelings of infatuation or love, they should head down to Venice, an antique, car-free city with love in the air 24/7. If you visit on February, letting go of all your inhibitions is the only way to enjoy Carnevale, the city’s most famous festival. Besides taking gondola rides and stealing kisses in pitch black canals, make sure you check out the Doge Palace as well.

London, England

No European vacation is complete without a trip to the most famous English city of all. London is a haven for art lovers, history buffs, and Broadway fans. It’s a terribly expensive place to go to, but it’s also very tourist-friendly because everyone speaks English.

Westminister and Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, Tate Modern are must-see places. If you’re an avid historical romance reader, you shouldn’t forget to drop by Hyde Park and walk the same paths along Serpentine Lake that your favorite fictional characters must have used.

Madrid, Spain

Enjoy works of Picasso and other great Spanish artists in Madrid’s Reina Sofia and Prado. Indulge in rich Spanish cuisine in tapas and upscale restaurants. Madrid is Europe’s answer to New York and you won’t lack for entertainment at anytime of the night.

Paris, France

If you love living the good life, the French capital is definitely the place to be. Summers in Paris are exciting, but make sure you’re prepared for how congested the city can be. Springtime is supposedly the ideal time to visit, but in truth, Paris is lovely all-year round.

Besides checking out the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, Paris also has the Montparnasse to offer for jazz lovers and countless cafes and restaurants to give you a solid introduction to French cuisine. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you should also check out the catacombs and see a whole new – dark – side to Paris.

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     Europe has so much to offer that probably the only things that could damper your spirits would be a bad weather and safety risks.  Although no destination is 100 percent safe, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to enjoy your European holiday to the fullest.  Here are 6 safety tips you can use to make sure that you have a secure and fun European holiday destination:

1. Book only with trusted and established travel agencies.

     Don’t try to save a few dollars by booking a vacation with an agency you’ve never heard of before.  That way, you can be assured that there will be no problems about your travel papers or your accommodations.

2. Protect your belongings.

     Probably the number one safety concern that most tourists have during a European holiday – or any holiday, for that matter – is loss of belongings.  When you’re carrying money or valuables, you’re fair game to pickpockets, thieves and other local criminals.

If possible, try to carry as few bags as you can when you travel.  That way, you don’t have to a lot to worry about.  Keep all valuables in a bag that’s close to your body.  Avoid individuals or groups that seem suspicious.

3. Don’t draw too much attention.

     Leave the bling at home and use only the most important stuff during your European holiday.  A cheap watch should suffice or if you have to wear any jewelry at all, use only a pair of stud earrings.  Wear clothing that’s similar to those worn by the locals.  Avoid shirts that advertise strong political or ethical views.  Try to look as neutral as possible to avoid becoming an easy target. 

4. Familiarize yourself with the local area.

     Just because you’re a stranger to the area doesn’t excuse you from being uninformed.  Prior to your trip, go online and seek out information about your European destination.  You could also look for tips and advice in online forums or go to websites that offer tours of the area – they will often post information about the place that you can use.

Buy a map and try to familiarize yourself with the area.  Check where your hotel is located on the map and try to locate the areas you plan to visit.  Look at landmarks, roads, streets and buildings in relation to your hotel.  You might also want to locate police stations and public information offices so you’ll know where to run to in case you encounter any problems.

5. Don’t do what you won’t normally do at home.

     Even if you’re back home in familiar grounds, you wouldn’t walk into a dark, deserted alley, would you?  You also wouldn’t allow a total stranger to accost you or take you to an area that’s unfamiliar. 

Even with a map or a GPRS, you might find many of the local places in Europe difficult to navigate.  Since you’re not a local, there are plenty of little streets and alleyways that you might want to steer away from.  Best stick to main thoroughfares and roads where there are more people and tourists like you.

6. Avoid picking up a fight.

     You know what they say: ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’  Don’t try to argue with the locals regarding their practices or try to disparage their culture.  It’s not your right to do.  As a tourist, you came to your European holiday destination to see the sights and enjoy yourself – not to change things or lecture the residents.  In case of tension or confrontation, it’s best to just simply walk away.

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Steps to help you prepare and map out your first vacation to Europe

 Step 1: Making General Plans

Prior to your preferred vacation date, plan as early as six months. Make a list of places that you wish to visit. Consider the amount of free time you can allocate to your vacation and make sure you have at least a day or two to dedicate to a single city to make the most out of it.

Start learning the various foreign languages you expect to speak when you finally head off to Europe. Overcoming language barriers will help save money in more ways than one.

Step 2: Start Paying

Once you’ve got your itinerary for your European vacation ready, you should start making arrangements for your flight. Shop online for the best airfare deals. Be sure you know the dates of public holidays as they could make a significant impact on your travel plans. Besides the usual holidays, Europe also celebrates Assumption Day on August 15 and the Epiphany on January 6. Munich has Oktoberfest, but celebrations could start as early as September while Venice has Carnevale on February.

Allocate three months for preparing paperwork if you need to renew your passport or apply for visa. This is also the best time to start shopping for shoes that can get you around Europe, walking the cobbled lanes of old English town and cross the thresholds of the best French restaurants.

If possible, transact with just one or two persons for your travel arrangements. This would entitle you to more discounts. Advanced bookings for accommodations would also help you in saving money. Remember that your choices aren’t limited to just rooms and suites of hotels and resorts. You can also rent out cabins, lofts, apartments, cottages, and condo units.

Step 3:  Choose Your Method of Transportation

If you are proficient with right-hand driving then you can save a lot of money by renting out a car; make sure your rental dates coincide with your arrival and departure date on the cities you’ll visit.

Transportation, however, can also be an adventure. You might be familiar with the Metro in Paris and the Underground in London, but are you aware of the trams, buses, and the T-bana in Stockholm? In Venice, you’ll have to ride the waterbus or vaporetto – and yes, there are always gondolas for scenic tours – and funiculars in Lisbon.

Rail systems can be quite complex in the large cities so make sure you have your map with you at all times. Purchase a multi-day or daily pass as well as frequent checks because they offer greater traveling convenience.

Step 4: Start Packing

Yes, it’s now time to pack and your motto shouldn’t be ‘pack everything possible’ in case of emergencies but to ‘pack lightly’ for traveling convenience. Yes, it’s nice that you prefer to pack for all sorts of emergencies, but if such items are also sold in Europe then it’s best not to pack them with you.

Choose clothing that will provide you the appropriate protection from whatever weather you expect to greet you in Europe. Make a list and be sure to double and triple-check it every week and until the day prior to your departure date. Register your travel arrangements with the State Department and make photocopies of your passport, ID cards, and other pertinent papers.

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Deciding to stay in one place can take you months or even years to do. This is because applying for a visa in order to be prepared for international travel or temporary visiting permits can go on for a long time. The duration greatly depends on the visa type, successful completion of the entire paperwork, and your relation status to America. This is not to discourage you but applying for a visa can be a do or die situation – you can have it or just be ignored. Although, the following tips can help you rid of the exhaustion in getting a visa.

Tip # 1 – Be equipped

Applying for a visa isn’t easy. You have to take the twists and turns to be able to get through. In order for it to ride smoothly, you have to be equipped with a lot of self-determination and patience because when talking to other people especially with people inside the offices, they will give you the time of your life asking for all the required documents. So get yourself ready with a pen and paper and start searching in the phone directory for the INS or Immigration and Naturalization Service number.

Tip # 2 – Get in touch

Once you have seen the INS that is responsible for your concerns within your vicinity, call them and start asking credible questions like required documents and the like. If you are not living in America, you can contact the American Embassy or Consulate in your place.

Tip # 3 – Request

By this time you have already established some kind of agreement therefore you can ask for application forms which will be all sent to your area. You have to make sure that the address that you give is credible and can be easily traced to be able to hasten the delivery.

Tip # 4 – Inquire

Ask for questions like “Do I need someone to sponsor my application?” This means that someone in the country where you intend to go will take full financial responsibility of you in case that you may not be able to initially support yourself. If the answer to the question is “Yes”, then start looking for someone who’ll sponsor at once.

Tip # 5 – Complete filling

Once the requested form has arrived, you have to fill out the application legibly and fully. As much as possible, don’t make any remarks or erasures. After which, mail it back to the agency for document processing along with some of the mentioned requirements like documents, recent photographs, and application fees. Mail it back by registered mail and make sure that you send copies and not the original one not unless the instructions told you so.

Tip # 6 – Sponsorship

If you are requested to have a sponsor, then be sure to send that person the needed documents in order for him or her to fill it out. Once completely filled, be sure that he or she mails it back to you via registered or express mail.

Tip # 7 – Filing

Once all documents are already completed, you can confidently call up the INS for a filing appointment or an interview and somehow, a physical examination. This can take days although, by that time, you’ll be instructed that you can already get your visa.

And there you have it, a fully furnished visa right at your fingertips. Now, you can go on preparing for international travel. Start packing and have a safe trip.

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