Europe - It's Not Just for Daydreams Anymore

Europe - It's Not Just for Daydreams Anymore
A Guide on Planning a European Vacation

By Christy Nicholas

Ah, the magic of Ireland. The history of London. The highlands of Scotland. You've heard of them for years, seen them in the tourist commercials, and heard about them in the music. Yet you have never yet visited these dreams. And why not?

It's too expensive, you say. I could never afford a trip to Europe.

Less expensive than a week at Disneyworld, I say! For a two week Ireland vacation in summer (2006), including airfare, rental car, B&B accommodation and trip insurance, I spent about $1600. Yes, that's it. Now, that doesn't include food or souvenirs, of course, but it did include a wonderful vacation to a magical place. And keep in mind, if you go to the UK (Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland) it will be more expensive, as the British Pound is stronger than the Euro against the dollar.

So, how do you get such a deal? Well, it takes patience, research, and the ability to make decisions when you need to. I will take you through, step-by-step, how to get the best deal for a European vacation.

DECISIONS: Who, What, Where, When and Why

WHO's going? You? Your spouse? Your children or parents? Your best friend? A huge group of 20 friends (not recommended unless you want ulcers!) This decision makes a big difference in accommodation and transportation choices. I have learned, through trial and many errors, that there are certain people that travel well together - and those that don't. For instance, I will no longer travel with a mixed group of friends, spouse and/or family. One type only for me! Otherwise I become the focus of all complaints. Choose wisely to avoid problems.

WHAT to do? Are you interested in touring the whisky distilleries in Scotland? Or the abbeys in England? Or the pubs in Ireland? Your trip doesn't have to have a theme, of course, but it is more fun if you have one - and helps you to plan when your mind is a blank. Perhaps you've seen a movie or read a book set in Yorkshire, and want to tour the area? Or you dance and want to learn step dancing in Ireland? The imagination can take flight here!

WHERE to go, of course, depends on WHAT you are doing. It also ties into WHEN you want to go. Since I've traveled to Ireland most often, I will use that as an example, but most of my advice can be applied to any destination in Europe, or even beyond. The decision of WHEN to go will be tied into the destination. For instance, Ireland is much nicer to visit in the summer - but also more expensive; whereas Greece is cooler as a winter destination - but stormy. The days are longer in the summer the farther you go north - and conversely, shorter in the winter, resulting in much shorter days for sightseeing.

Another part of WHERE includes the character of place - towns and villages, or bustling metropolis? London or Kilkenny? Edinburgh or Ullapool? While each city has its own character, they can be overwhelming at times, and aren't always the best places to stay, much less drive. A small village used as a base of exploration can be wonderful, and you get more chances to meet the locals.

You might also want to think about WHY you want to go. Do you want to touch the roots of your ancestors? Or experience an ancient culture? Do you just want to get away from the screaming kids? Or make your co-workers jealous? There are many reasons WHY you may want to go to Europe - pick several!

RESEARCH: Find out everything about everything -
then throw half of it away

The internet is many things. Addicting, yes; maddening, yes. But it is also incredibly helpful when doing research, especially about places far from your home. Airfare, hotels, cities, beautiful beaches (yes, they exist in the UK AND in Ireland) and gloomy castles are all listed somewhere - you just have to find them. The best order of research I've found is wishlist first, then set up a basic itinerary. See if you can find airfare, then lodging, and finally ground transportation. The airfares available may define your itinerary somewhat, and the itinerary will define the other items.

Itinerary:

There is a wealth of information about places, monuments, workshops, battles, and other things of interest. Most cities and towns, even villages, have their own website with tourist information. In addition, many travel agent websites have great information for the intrepid traveler. Even more, there are websites dedicated to those interested in travel, with wonderful forums for those odd questions. Some of my favorites are:

www.greendragonartist.com/BIhome.htm, my own website dedicated to travel in the UK
www.ireland.com - yes, it starts as simply as that!
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk - simply the BEST Scotland website for travel research out there, with interactive maps and photos. I wish there was one of these for every country!
www.fodors.com of travel guide fame
www.IrelandYes.com for everything about Ireland - Michele Erdvig has been to Ireland over 40 times!
www.flyertalk.com for those who travel frequently
www.irishfireside.com - great blog on Irish travel
www.myguideireland.com - wonderful travel advice
www.discoverireland.com - more great travel advice
www.engagingireland.com - Another lovely travel site
www.irelandexpert.com - Pat Preston has been to Ireland many times, and offers great advice
www.slowtravel.com for those that like to take it easy on vacation
www.lonelyplanet.com for true budget travel - backpacking and hostels
www.ricksteves.com the PBS travel guru
www.visitbritain.com - for those venturing to the rest of the British Isles
www.enjoyengland.com - great stuff on special places in England
www.lookaroundireland.com - more great Irish travel stuff
www.greentraveller.co.uk - for those that like crafting holidays and the like
www.localdiscounts.ie - great site for discounts in Ireland

For those interested in a spiritual as well as physical journey, try these:

www.celticways.com - A lovely place in west Ireland with a spiritual maze and farm
www.powerfulplaces.com - a great set of books for spiritual places in the British Isles
www.thinplace.net - another guide to spiritual places
www.stonepages.com - a guide to stone circles and standing stones

And for the local news:

www.irishcentral.com - news for Irish and Irish Americans

Once you have done exhaustive research of the places you want to see, taken notes to places, planned routes around them, and then throw half of it out. Yes, that's right - you will likely end up with a list of 17 things to see in each city, and you will only have time for half of that, so pick your favorites.

Also, do yourself a favor, and be sure to leave room in your itinerary for free time - wandering around and getting lost, people-watching at a café, or just having a pint with the locals. These are usually the most memorable parts of your trip, leave time for them frequently. You don't want to end up with an itinerary where you are rushing through things so fast you don't see them. Michele at www.IrelandYes.com calls that the Green Blur tour. I suppose a Scottish version would be the Plaid Blur?

If you've got the places listed you want to see, look for a pattern. Are they all close to a couple central locations? If so, pick several places and use them as bases of exploration. Can they be strung together in a large circle? Then spend a couple nights in each place, moving around the circle. Plan wisely, and try to avoid criss-crossing or backtracking. Check driving times between places with www.michelin.com and www.theaa.com. Then add about 20% to those driving times - they don't take into account UK and Irish roads. They twist, turn, and wiggle, which keeps speeds down lower than the speed limit! You don't want a day where you are driving 80% of the time, trust me! I try to keep my days to 3 hours of driving at the most, and even that broken up with sites along the way.

Airfare:

This is usually the biggest chunk of your travel budget, depending on where you are traveling from. There is a definite season to vacationing in the UK - summer. While many people do go on the 'peak' months of July and August, there is indeed a reason why summer is the best. Longer days to see sights, warmer weather, less rain and wind - and more things are open. That also means the airfare is the most expensive, and usually lodging as well.

The shoulder months of May, June, September and October are becoming more popular, as the weather is still nice, and the days aren't incredibly short yet. However, that also means that the airfares are creeping up as they become more popular. I have traveled to southern Ireland in April and it was beautiful - and inexpensive. Please note that some places won't be open in the shoulder and off seasons – B&Bs, restaurants and sites all may close after September and before May. If you are in doubt, check first if it's important.

When I've decided how much cash I'm willing to sacrifice for a warmer vacation, I start researching my flights. I go to dozens of websites, sometimes daily, to find the best fare. When I got tickets to Ireland in 2006, I found them on Travelocity on a one-day fare sale on Virgin Air. The tickets were non-stop from Miami to London, for $488 including taxes - in June. They were gone within 24 hours, so if I hadn't jumped on them, I would be stuck with the lowest I could find later - $800 a piece. Lately, prices will be higher - I don't expect to find such a deal now. I'd be happy around $800 for June!

Also consider flying into one city and out of another. This is great for Ireland, as you can fly into Shannon, explore the west, and end up flying out of Dublin at the end of your trip. Edinburgh, London, and Glasgow are also considerations for this technique. This is called an open-jaw ticket, and usually doesn't cost much more, if any, than a normal round trip ticket.

Here are some of the sites I check regularly for discount airfare:

www.kayak.com
www.Travelocity.com
www.Priceline.com (their bidding site is a great backup if you never find a great fare, but you can't dictate things like minimum layover time, or departure time within a day)
www.expedia.com
www.sidestep.com
www.cfares.com
www.itasoftware.com (not very user-friendly)
www.qixo.com
www.mobissimo.com

There are others, of course, but these are the ones I've used most often. Also don't forget to check the airline websites; if you find a great fare on Travelocity for Delta, Delta might have it cheaper, and it is usually better to deal directly rather than through a middleman. Also remember not all sites include taxes in their fare quotes. I sign up for airfare alerts when I'm researching fares, so I get quick notification of sales.

www.yapta.com is a great place to keep track of a particular fare, and follow it's rise and fall.

When you buy your tickets, check out the cancellation policies. Usually, the cheaper the flight, the less flexible the changes allowed. Make sure you are going before you purchase non-refundable, non-change tickets.

Lodging:

Once you have your airfare and itinerary, you know which nights you are going to need lodging for, and where. The UK is wonderfully full of adorable Bed & Breakfasts, and I highly recommend this accommodation choice. The B&Bs in the US tend to be more upscale and expensive than those in the UK, so don't go by their example. Most B&Bs I've ever been in have been comfortable, clean, cozy, and a delight to stay at. They run around $30-$60 a night per person, and include a huge breakfast (more on that later). You will pay higher for city B&Bs, and sometimes shared hotel rooms are less expensive in the larger cities. Do chat with the owners, and get their advice about local sites and attractions.

Now, the breakfast. Ah, that artery-clogging wonder of cholesterol, the Full Irish, English or Scottish Breakfast. Take eggs (usually over easy or fried), add cold toast (they put it in racks to cool so it doesn't get soggy), sausage, side ham (think Canadian bacon), black pudding, white pudding, grilled tomato, sautéed mushrooms, cereal, bread/scones, porridge/oatmeal, milk, juice, coffee, tea, and perhaps some fruit on the side - if you're still peckish. Stent, anyone?

Hotels, as mentioned above, usually charge by room rather than by person. However, they may or may not include breakfast in the deal, and are usually more cookie-cutter and sterile. They are a place to stay rather than a place to enjoy. Guesthouses usually serve breakfast, but that depends on the place - check before you rely on it.

Then you can try the other options, such as youth hostels (not just for youth anymore), camping, caravanning (RV), canal boats, or lodging in old monasteries, colleges out for the summer, etc. There is no end of unusual places to stay. On the Isle of Lewis, you can stay in a traditional black house; near Inverness, there is a converted church set up as a B&B. Get creative!

Once you have decided where you want to stay, make a reservation. Make sure to check the cancellation policies. Most have a day or so required, some a week or even a month. Email is usually an option for communication these days, and I prefer that as it leaves a paper trail, I bring a copy with me. Some may require a phone call, most will require a credit card numbers. Remember they are at 5pm when it is noon here, and don't wake anyone up! Also, not all places in the UK are going to take American Express or Discover. Most will take MC/Visa. Some are cash only! Be prepared. And if they are going to take a deposit or put a hold - be wary of using your bank account debit card.

Ground Transportation:

So, you know when, where, and why you are going - how are you getting there? Well, my recommendation for the UK and Ireland is definitely for renting a car UNLESS you are staying in a major city, like London, Dublin or Edinburgh. (see below) In the countryside, though, while it is possible to use bus and train to get around, and certainly many people do, you can't find the little villages doing this, and getting lost on the way is half the fun. If you are in a bus, you can't make a detour on a whim to go find a hidden castle when you see a sign. You can't always determine how long you stay at one spot; there is much less flexibility.

Now, I know it is scary to think about driving on the wrong side of the road. It gets worse: automatic transmission cars are twice as expensive to rent, and the manual transmission cars make you shift with your left hand (since the driver is on the right of the car). Confused yet? I remember many times trying to grab the stick with my right hand - only to bang it on the door. However, it's not so bad - you get used to it very quickly. It helps to have a designated navigator, as the signage on the islands is different. Signs tend to tell you what the next town is, not what the road is called. That means you should know the major towns on the way to where you are going, or even the ones just past your destination. And if you are in, say, the west part of Ireland or in Wales, the signs might not be in English, so learn the local name of the places.

Many cities in the UK don't require a car to get around in; in fact, having a car is a liability in Edinburgh, Dublin and London. It is difficult to drive, find parking, and expensive. London even has a toll to enter the city centre as a driver. Those cities have a good public transportation system, though, especially the Underground in London, so use those instead. Turn in the car before getting there, or wait to rent it until you leave.

Gas (petrol) is very expensive over there. It is running around $9 a gallon right now. Yes, really! The good news is their engines run much more efficiently, and you can usually get around 45 mpg from them. However, filling up a tank can still run you $100! Budget accordingly.

I've gotten decent deals from www.autoeurope.com and from www.enterprise.com. I would advise against renting from a place you've never heard of, cars can be very expensive - and it is difficult to fight a fraudulent damage claim from overseas.

Ireland has all sorts of issues with rental cars (this includes Northern Ireland, which is technically UK). Do be aware that most credit card insurances do NOT cover Ireland, so you will likely be required to purchase expensive CDW insurance for such a rental. The few who do - some Capital One cards, Diner's Club, some credit unions - MAY cover Ireland. You will need to get written verification of this - and bring it to the rental. Even then, the rental car company may decline to accept that proof. It can add several hundred dollars to a two week rental. Also - if renting in the UK, and CDW is covered by your credit card, be aware that most cards only cover value up to $50,000, and with the poor exchange rate, that is a very likely possibility, and you're coverage will be denied. You can get coverage via trip insurance, but it is usually just a little less than the CDW.

Also, Irish car rental companies have now started charging deposits on car rentals rather than just putting a hold on your card, for up to E2000. This triggers foreign transaction fees, and could cost a bit. Michele at www.irelandyes.com has a great discussion thread in her forum about these issues. They also have a tendancy to add on LOTS of fees at the check in - Dan Dooley is the only one we've found that promises the fees quoted on the website are what you will be charged.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

OK, you've done your research, gotten your tickets, your reservations for lodging, and your car rental. Ready to go? Not yet!

Trip Insurance

You break your leg the week before the trip. Ruined! All your money lost! Not so, grasshopper - if you bought the proper trip insurance. Go to www.insuremytrip.com and compare the benefits of different packages. Find out if your health insurance will cover you on foreign soil. Find out if you need medical evacuation, trip cancellation in case of medical emergency, lost luggage, the above mentioned car insurance, etc. Compare the benefits, and find one that fits right. For a small investment, you get a great deal of peace of mind.

Paperwork, money, etc.

This should be taken care of before you even get the tickets, but everyone procrastinates. My husband ended up getting his passport the day before we flew out - we were very nervous! Normal processing time for a new passport is six weeks, but please give it plenty of leeway (especially if you've already bought non-refundable tickets!). This can increase to about 12 weeks with the new regulations regarding travel to Canada and Mexico.

US citizens don't need visas for short visits to the UK or Ireland, but if you are going somewhere else or staying longer, do read up on the requirements long before your flight, and make sure all paperwork is in order.

Right now, the UK is on the Pound Sterling and Ireland is on the Euro. I recommend going to your bank and getting a couple hundred dollars with to start out with, and getting more during your vacation from the ATM machine, and/or using your credit card. Shop around for a card with a good rate - many (Capital One is one of the few that don't) add on an extra 3% for any foreign transaction, in addition to the 1% Visa/MC charges. You don't want to carry too much with you, but some B&Bs require cash, and some require prepayment. You can also get some pre-trip Euros online through companies like AAA or Thomas Cooke.

Packing

Sure, you've packed dozens of times for vacations. What's the big deal? Well, the new flight carry-on restrictions, for one. Transatlantic flights have new rules, and it behooves you to know them before you are waiting in the security line for your flight.

Carry-on: Most airlines have their carry on rules on their websites. Some have weight as well as size restrictions, and the liquid restrictions are fun. Check before you go! Right now any carry-on liquids must be in containers no larger than 3oz (100ml) and they must all fit comfortably in a quart-sized clear Ziploc bag. That includes water, drinks, toiletries, even lip gloss. Prescription medicines must be labeled in the traveler's name, baby formula may need to be tested at the gate. There are several exceptions like this, so check them out.

Liquids include gels and semi-solid things like jellies and sometimes cheese, so be careful. When in doubt, check it or leave it. Also, jackets and medical equipment (like CPAP machines) are not counted towards your carry-on limits. I've taken heavy stuff from my carry-on and stuffed it in my purse, which is rarely weighed. You can also stuff the pockets of that jacket!

Bring a soft sided carry-on or luggage, as it will likely expand with the things you buy on your trip. Some are expandable with zippered sides. Or, just bring an extra duffel to check on the way back.

Checked luggage: Some airlines are now charging hefty fees for overweight luggage, and limit the number of pieces each person can check. Also, any locks on checked luggage can be cut by TSA (airport security). I usually use cable ties to tie mine - if TSA does go into my bag, they will put their own on afterwards, and in the meantime I'll know if someone else goes into my bag.

Don't, don't, don't put valuables or medicines in your checked luggage!!! Cameras, laptops, anything fragile, anything essential, must go in your carry-on. Of course, this makes your carry-on heavy, so some decision making is sometimes necessary. I also usually put one day's worth of clean clothes in my carry-on, in case the checked luggage is delayed or lost. If you have something really valuable, consider leaving it at home. Do you really need the diamond stud earrings on the trip, or will the cubic zirconia work? I'm also going to try to do carry-on only this next trip - I've had the airlines lose my luggage too many times in the past. My trip to Scotland in 2008 resulted in me not getting my bag for 5 days.

If you think you must take your laptop for all those digital photos, think again. You can have CDs made at most internet cafés (which are prevalent even in small villages like Dingle, Ireland) or bring a photo storage device. I bought one with 30G of memory - plenty of room for the 3000+ photos I take.

READY TO GO? Don't forget the smile!

Don't forget to pack the most important thing for any trip - a great attitude. This small item can make the worst disaster into a hilarious story, can take the biggest lemon and make lemonade out of it. After all, how can it be terrible - you're in Europe!

A trip to Europe will be full of wonderful memories, historic experiences, and meeting wonderful folks. Whether you get addicted like I have, or are happy with going once and treasuring the memory forever, you will have an exquisite time.

Links, courtesy of the great folks at Fodors.com!

Handy Travel Websites


http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth

GENERAL
http://www.cohenkenny.com/ Cohen & Kenney, Individual’s travel website
http://www.concierge.com/ Concierge.com
http://www.enjoyrome.com/ Enjoy Rome, good Rome travel guide
http://www.independenttraveler.com/ Independent Traveler.com
http://www.islands.com/ Island Magazine, more for tropical vacations
http://www.johnnyjet.com/home.asp Johnny Jet, individual’s travel website
http://www.letsgo.com/ Lets Go, good budget travel site
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ Lonely Planet, good all around site
http://www.planetware.com/ Planet Ware
http://www.ricksteves.com/ Rick Steves Europe through the Backdoor
http://www.rudymaxa.com/ Rudy Maxa’s Traveling in Style website
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/ Sunday Morning Herald archived travel articles
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/travel/ The Globe and Mail (Canada) Travel Section
http://www.timeout.com/ Time Out Worldwide
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/ World Heritage Site
http://www.worldprops.com Holiday Rentals Worldwide

http://www.cheapticketlinks.org Cheap Ticket Links

http://www.londonlogue.com WhyGo London

http://www.BootsnAll.com BootsnAll Independent Travel


Airline Search and Reservations
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch ITA
http://whichbudget.com/ Which Budget, Budget Travel Specialist
http://world.start4all.com/ Start4All.com, travel weblog and airline search
http://www.kayak.com/ Kayak
http://www.mobissimo.com/ Mobissimo
http://www.qixo.com/flight.html QIXO

Cheaper flights within Europe
http://www.easyjet.com/ Easy Jet
http://www.europebyair.com/efp/index.jsp Europe by Air.com
http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/splash.aspx BMI
http://www.go-fly.com/ Go Voyages.com
http://www.harefares.com/ Hare Fares
http://www.opodo.co.uk/ Opodo
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/ Ryan Air
http://www.skyscanner.net/ Airline and airport websites all over the world:
http://www.thalys.com/ Thalys
http://www.whichbudget.com/ Which Budget

Travel Deals
http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/ Airfare Watchdog
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/ Bargain Travel Europe.com
http://www.go-today.com/ Go-Today.com
http://www.lastminutetravel.com/ Last Minute Travel
http://www.studentuniverse.com/ Sudent Universe (for students and teachers)
http://www.travelzoo.com/ Travelzoo
http://www.webflyer.com/ Web Flyer
https://www.veteransadvantage.com/ Veterans Advantage

http://www.statravel.com (student travel)

Air Travel Forecasting
http://www.farecast.com Farecast

Frequent Flyer Miles
http://www.flyertalk.com Flyer Talk, site for using FF miles

Car Rental
http://www.autoeurope.com/ Auto Europe
http://www.bnm.com/index.html BNM car renta price comparison
http://www.europcar.com/EBE/module/booking/FirstStep.do Europe Car
http://www.gemut.com/ Gemutlichkeit

Maps - Driving Directions and mileage:
http://oddens.geog.uu.nl/index.html Oden's Bookmarks, Links to maps …
http://www.aboutus.org/MapBlast.com Mapblast
http://www.mappy.com/ Mappy plot itineraries, driving, etc
http://www.mapquest.com/ Mapquest
http://www.shellgeostar.com/ Shell Geostar, click on maps
http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/hme/MaHomePage.htm Via Michelin maps, plot driving routes, hotel and restaurant info also

Trains, Ferries, etc.
http://bahn.de.com/ German Railroad site
http://europeanrailguide.com/ European Rail guide
http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/ Ferovi, trains Italy
http://www.raileurope.com/us/index.htm Rail Europe
http://www.snavali.com/eng/ Snavali, ferry schedules
http://www.virtuferries.com/index.aspx Virtu ferry schedules
http://www.yahoo.com/ Yahoo, click on maps

Weather
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php USNO Compute sunrise and sunset times worldwide time
http://www.accuweather.com/ Accu Weather 5-day forecast
http://www.almanac.com/ Old Farmer’s Almanac, Sunrise, sunset, full moons, Full moon days
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ BBC Weather
http://www.nytimes.com/ New York Times newspaper site
http://www.paris.org/Accueil/Climate/ weather and climate all over France, also has historical data
http://www.pawprint.net/ Paw Print Network, You can download an excellent clock toolbar that sits on your task bar.
http://www.sunrisesunset.com/ Sunrise Sunset Calanders
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ Date and Time.com, World Clock
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Washington Post also has historical data
http://www.weather.com/ The Weather Channel
http://www.weatherbase.com/ Weather Base
http://www.worldclimate.com/ World Climate, has historical data
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/ World Time Server.com, Current time anywhere in the world
http://www.wunderground.com/ Weather Underground, has historical weather

US Passport Information
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html US State Department

Airport Parking
http://www.airportdiscountparking.com/ Airport Discount Parking.com

Airline Food
http://www.airlinemeals.net/ Airline Meals

Airline Seats
http://www.seatguru.com/ Seat Guru.com

Luggage
http://hub.ebay.com/buy Ebay
http://www.ebags.com/ E-Bags
http://www.luggagefactory.com/ Luggage Factory

Advance Bookings:
http://selectitaly.com/ Select Italy, source for travel to Italy
http://voyages-sncf.com Voyages SCNF trains France
http://www.autoeurope.com/ Auto Europe 800-223-5555
http://www.chase.com/ Chase currency
http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/ Ferovi, trains Italy
http://www.raileurope.com/us/index.htm Rail Europe
http://www.thalys.com/ Thalys French Trains
http://www.thetrainline.com/default.asp?href=&T2ID=1470_2008210182739 The Train Line, trains for England, Europe, Australia

Travel Insurance
http://insuremytrip.com/ Insure My Trip
http://travelsafe.com/ Travel Safe
http://www.accessamerica.com/ Access America
http://www.squaremouth.com/ Square Mouth
http://www.travelguard.com/ Travel Guard

Travel Forums
http://forum.virtualtourist.com/ Virtual Tourist
http://www.etravel.org/forum/ E Travel
http://www.fodors.com/forums/ Fodors
http://www.forums.meta-travel.com/ Meta-Travel
http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti_menu.htm Rick Steves
http://www.slowtrav.com/ Slow Traveler
http://www.travelblog.org/Forum/ Travel Blog
http://www.travelerspoint.com/forum/ Travelers Point

Hotels
http://www.eurocheapo.com/ EuroCheapo
http://www.hotel.de/ Hotel.de Germany
http://www.hotels.com/ Hotels.com
http://www.myvideoplanet.com hotel rooms and short term rental apartments
http://www.octopustravel.com/IntlHome.jsp Octopus Travel
http://www.venere.com/ Venere Hotel booking site

Hotel Advice
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ Trip Advisor

Travel (Priceline) Bidding Advice
http://betterbidding.com/ Better Bidding
http://biddingfortravel.com/ Bidding For Travel

Tourist Information
http://wikitravel.org/en/Main_Page Wiki Travel
http://www.fodors.com/ Fodors
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/europe/ Lonely Planet
http://www.ricksteves.com/ Rick Steves


EUROPE
http://www.europeanvisits.com European Visits
http://www.inyourpocket.com/ In Your Pocket Guides
http://www.lake-constance.com/ Bodensee
http://www.red2000.com/spain/ All About Spain
http://www.virtualtourist.com/ virtual Tourist
http://www.visiteurope.com/us Hertz Visit Europe



ENGLAND & LONDON
http://visitbath.co.uk/ - Visit Bath great resource here!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ BBC Weather
http://www.coventgardenlife.co.uk/ Covent Garden Life happenings in and around Covent Garden
http://www.fancyapint.com/ (perhaps the most important sites of all!) reviews Pubs
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/ Independent Travel newspaper
http://www.londoneats.com/ London Restaurant reviews
http://www.londontown.com/ London Town, Hotels
http://www.pubs.com/home.cfm Traditional and Historic London Pubs
http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/ - for hotels and B&Bs all over England
http://www.talkingcities.co.uk/london_pages/london_main.htm Talking Cities all about London
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ Transport for London. For Tube info
http://www.thetrainline.com/ for British train information
http://www.timeout.com/ to see what is happening in London and other world cities that month.
http://www.toptable.co.uk/ online guide to London restaurants
http://www.travelengland.org.uk/ - Travel England has links to the different town or county websites
http://www.visitbritain.us/ - Visit Britain. For all kinds of great info on England
http://www.visitlondon.com/ a great site for finding out all about what to see and do in London.
http://www.oxford.gov.uk/ Oxford England

NY LV & London tickets.
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/ Official London Theater Guide
http://londontheatredirect.com/ London Theater Direct
www.lastminute.com for theatre info and tickets, or:
www.solt.co.uk - Society of London Theatre - what sells at ½ price tick booth Leicester Square
http://www.broadwaybox.com/ Broadway Box, Broadway and London guide and tickets
http://www.theatremonkey.com/index.htm Theater Monkey

Travel
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/places Guardian Travel info
http://www.britannia.com/PriorityTravel/index.html Britannia Travel site
http://www.virtual-london.com/ London Eye site
http://www.explore-london.co.uk/index.html Explore London Maps
http://london.diningguide.com/ London Dining Guide

Hotels
http://www.goringhotel.co.uk/home.htm Goring Hotel

Classical Music/Concerts churches
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/links/0,11884,773961,00.htm Guardian list of Classical Music Venues
http://info.royaloperahouse.org/Home/Index.cfm Royal Opera House
http://lso.co.uk/lsostlukes/ London Symphony Orchestra St Lukes
http://www.bremf.org.uk/ Brighton Early Music Festival
http://www.cadoganhall.com/index.php Cadogan Hall Concerts
http://www.cambridgesummermusic.com/ Cambridge Summer Music Festival
http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/ Chelsea Physic Garden
http://www.coffeeconcerts.com/ Oxford Coffee Concerts
http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/events.php?colname=Concert&period=7&eventday=18&eventmonth=9&eventyear=2005 Oxford Concerts
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/choir/concerts/index.html Kings College Cambridge
http://www.london-handel-festival.com/ London Handel Society
http://www.royalalberthall.com/ Royal Albert Hall
http://www.royalchoralsociety.co.uk/hear.htm Royal Choral Society
http://www.rpo.co.uk/index_flash.asp Royal Philharmonic Opera
http://www.sjss.org.uk/ St Johns Smith Square
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/main/index.asp South Bank Centre, London Philharmonic
http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/jserv/concerts/index.jsp St Martin in the fields
http://www.stpauls.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=169345dwprEOVViTRLd8xXbHBDHGbzge St Paul’s Cathedral
http://www.templechurch.com/ The Temple church
http://www.thebachchoir.org.uk/concerts.php The Bach Choir
http://www.vasarisingers.org/index2.htm Vasari Singers
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/ Westminster Abbey
http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/concerts/concerts.cfm Wigmore Hall


IRELAND
http://www.ireland.com/ Ireland.com The Irish Times
http://www.rte.ie/ . Irish radio


GENERAL
www.planetware.com/
www.concierge.com/
www.islandsmag.com/
www.independenttraveler.com/
www.cohenkenny.com/
www.ricksteves.com/
www.worldheritagesite.org/
www.smh.com.au/travel/archive/
www.theglobeandmail.com/travel/
www.canada.com/travel/destinations/world/europe/
www.enjoyrome.com
www.timeout.com
www.letsgo.com
www.lonelyplanet.com
www.rudymaxa
www.johnnyjet.com
www.eurocheapo.com
http://www.worldprops.com Holiday Rentals Worldwide



ENGLAND

www.travelbritain.org/index.html - For all kinds of great info on England
www.visitbath.co.uk - great resource here!
www.londontouristboard.com this is a great site for finding out all about what to see and do in London.
www.londontransport.co.uk For Tube info
www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk www.londontheatredirect
www.lastminute.com for theatre info and tickets, or:
www.solt.co.uk - Society of London Theatre - to see what usually sells at the ½ price ticket booth in Leicester Square
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk
www.britrail.net/eur/index.html

Broadwaybox.com NY & LV & London tickets.

http://travel.guardian.co.uk/cities1/0,7450,420906,00.html
www.a-zleisure.com/
www.britannia.com/PriorityTravel/index.html
www.a-london-guide.co.uk/
www.explore-london.co.uk/index.html
http://london.diningguide.net/
www.goringhotel.co.uk/
www.thebachchoir.org.uk/concerts.php
www.barbican.org.uk/home.asp
www.cadoganhall.com/index.php
www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/links/0,11884,773961,00.html
www.handelhouse.org/events_music.shtml
ww.independent.co.uk/
www.lso.co.uk/lsostlukes/
www.london-handel-festival.com/
www.royalalberthall.com/
www.theatremonkey.com/index.htm
www.royalchoralsociety.co.uk/hear.htm
www.rfh.org.uk/main/index.asp
www.greenwichfoundation.org.uk/newpage5.htm
www.royalopera.org/
www.rpo.co.uk/index_flash.asp
www.st-james-piccadilly.org/html/concerts.html
www.sjss.org.uk/
www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/jserv/concerts/index.jsp
www.stpauls.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=169345dwprEOVViTRLd8xXbHBDHGbzge
www.templechurch.com/
www.westminster-abbey.org/
www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/concerts/concerts.cfm
www.vasarisingers.org/index2.htm
www.visitlondon.com/
www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/choir/concerts/index.html
www.devere.co.uk/Hotels/University/default.aspx?linkid=InteractiveMap
www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/home.html

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