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.

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.

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 my most recent trip was Ireland, 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. 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. 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 gloomy castles are all listed somewhere - you just have to find them. The best order of research I've found is airfare first, then itinerary, lodging, and finally ground transportation. The airfares available may define your itinerary somewhat, and the itinerary will define the other items.

Airfare:

There is a reason I look for this first. 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.

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.

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.Travelocity.com
" www.Priceline.com (their bidding site is a great backup if you never find a great fare)
" www.expedia.com
" www.sidestep.com
" www.cfares.com
" www.itasoftware.com
" 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.

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!

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.fodors.com of travel guide fame
" www.IrelandYes.com for everything about Ireland
" www.flyertalk.com for those who travel frequently
" www.Tripso.com has daily travel columns
" 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

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.

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), add cold toast (they put it in racks to cool), sausage, side ham (they call it bacon), black pudding, white pudding, grilled tomato, sautéed mushrooms, cereal, bread, 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.

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, but some may require a phone call; remember they are at 5pm when it is noon here, and don't wake anyone up!

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. 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.

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! 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 $8 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. 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.

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, 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 has increased to about 12 weeks with the new regulations regarding travel to Canada and Mexico (which don't apply on the road crossings, just flying).

US citizens don't need visas for short visits to the UK or Ireland, but if you are going somewhere else, 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 (Jan 2007) 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 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 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

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 Travel.com

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

FRANCE
http://www.france.com/ click on hotels, find details and comments from past guests
http://www.francekeys.com commercial site but links to lots of free info including passports, currency, French language practice on line, smaller Paris museums, email cards, book sightseeing and excursions, etc
http://www.francentral.com/ food, travel, art, news, plus a selection of articles from the publication France Today
http://www.francetourism.com/ French Tourist Office.
http://www.franceway.com/hotels/ French Hotel Web Site Index
http://www.frenchexperience.com/ French Experience
http://www.logis-de-france.fr/fr/index.htm French Hotels and Restaurants

Barge Cruising
http://bargeladycruises.com/ Barge Cruising
http://www.bargebroker.com/ Barge Broker
http://www.canals.com/voyages.htm Canal Boat Cruising
http://www.continentalwaterways.com/ Barge Cruising
http://www.crown-blueline.com/ Walking Tours
http://www.elegantcruises.com/ River Cruise
http://www.frenchhotelbarge.com/ Barge Cruising
http://www.leboat.com/ Barge Cruising
http://www.rowinc.com/ Barge Cruising
http://www.springerscruises.com/ Barge Cruising

Paris
http://english.pidf.com/page/p-289/ PIDF Paris guide
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/?CFID=14938017&CFTOKEN=41993373 Online guide to Versailles
http://www.francekeys.com commercial site but links to lots of free info including passports, currency, French language practice on line, smaller Paris museums, email cards, book sightseeing and excursions, etc
http://www.hauts-de-seine.net/portal/site/hds/ Hauts De Seine
http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/trouverlesprofessionnels/index.do Jaunes ?lang=en will show you any street address
http://www.paris.fr/portail/english/Portal.lut?page_id=8118 Paris.Fr tourist guide
http://www.paris.org/navigate.html Navigate Paris
http://www.paris-anglo.com/ excellent site, many suggestions for sightseeing, daytrips, shopping, etc including special activities for English-speakers
http://www.parisbalades.com/ architectural walks, + clicks to other sites for events, museums, etc
http://www.parisdigest.com/ has several additional clicks, including activities for children
http://www.pariserve.tm.fr/quartier/egl.htm info (in French) on Paris's churches:
http://www.parisinfo.com/ Paris Info, Hotels museums, etc
http://www.parisinfo.com/ sightseeing, transportation, tours, things for children, hotels, etc. Good site!
http://www.parisinsites.com/ weather tips, good current museum info, transportation, general info
http://www.parisnotes.com/ Paris Notes
http://www.paris-tourism.com/ clicks for airports, sightseeing, Paris for kids, walking itineraries for short visits, shopping, electricity, embassies, weather, hostels, etc
http://www.pariswater.com/ fountains and email postcards
http://www.ratp.fr/ Paris transportation routes, airports, neighborhood maps
http://www.theatreonline.com/ Theater Online, Paris
http://www.voila.fr/ web phone directory

Paris Food
http://www.elegant-lifestyle.com/paris_restaurants.htm top restaurants in Paris
http://www.gourmetsociety.com/ restaurants in Paris by theme
http://www.paris-menus.com/en/parismenus.htm restaurants by theme, atmosphere, and price

Paris Museums/Gallaries
http://www.intermusees.fr/flash/hp_fr.html Paris museum pass
http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp Louvre
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/ORSAY/orsaygb/HTML Musee d’ Orsey
http://www.musee-rodin.fr/welcome.htm Musee Rodin
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/accueil.ph Château of Vaux le Vicomte

Paris Hotels, B&Bs, Apartments
http://tlp.netfirms.com The Languedoc Page
http://www.123france.com/ Paris Hotels
http://www.chateauxhotels.com/ This group has more than 500 chateaux, manor houses, and restaurants. Average price for a double was $100 (March 2001).
http://www.chezvous.com/main.html Paris Apartments
http://www.cityorganiser.co.uk/, click on Paris, then on airports
http://www.eurocheap.com/ budget hotels
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/ has a list of budget hotels
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/ Hotels Paris and France
http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75007muguet.htm Paris Hotels
http://www.hotelstravel.com/france-paris.html has a small map of the Paris arrondissements.
http://www.hotelvernet.com/ Hotel Vernet
http://www.karenbrown.com/ charming inns and B & B's in several countries
http://www.paris.org/ Paris Tourism Hotels Museums also has old comments from past hotel guests
http://www.parisavenue.com/ some hotels, restaurants (including categories like "Sunday lunch", "best terraces" etc), sightseeing, maps, e-postcards, etc
http://www.parisbandb.com/ bed and breakfast

http://www.parishotels.com/ only a few hotels
http://www.parishotels.com/ Paris Hotels
http://www.relaischateaux.com/page.php3?lang=en Paris Hotels
http://www.relaisdusilence.com/FR/ this association represents more than 150 3 and 4 star establishments throughout France that are in particularly tranquil settings.
http://www.smallandeleganthotels.com/ Smal and Elegant Hotels in several companies
http://www.travel-in-paris.com/ Paris Hotels
http://www.travel-in-paris.com/relais-st-sulpice/english.htm Paris Hotels

Paris Concert Information
http://festival.orangerie.free.fr/ Orangerie de Sceaux
http://www.academie-de-musique.com/ Academie de Musique a choir of students and young professionals
http://www.ampconcerts.com/ Paris Classical Music
http://www.bnf.fr/ Bibliotheque Nationale de France has an auditorium and concerts (search programmes cultural).
http://www.chatelet-theatre.com/
http://www.cite-musique.fr/ also site of the music museum
http://www.civp.com/
http://www.concertclassic.com/ good because you can search by period, such as classique or romantique or baroque, or just "Paris" for all, it has other cities in France, also)or specific venues, some good ones are:
http://www.concertonet.com/
http://www.concertsparisiens.fr/ booking agent like Ampconcerts.
http://www.frederic-chopin.com/f_b1a.htm Society of Chopin
http://www.leclubparis.com/paristravelguide.asp has all the music and art listings as well as the latest restaurant reviews.
http://www.operadeparis.fr/ they have some concerts there as well as dance/opera
http://www.orchestredeparis.com/ Orchestra de Paris
http://www.orguefrance.org/ (excellent French Organ site, -- see "concerts" at top right, then select by month)
http://www.parisinfo.com/ click on the English flag and then go to Events - you can enter your dates and all available
http://www.quartierdete.com/ Paris Quartier dete
http://www.radiofrance.fr/
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/paris-st-sulpice.htm St Sulpice church, famous organ
http://www.sallegaveau.com/index_flash.htm Caveau
http://www.theatrechampselysees.fr/ Theatre Champs Elysees
www.eglise-sgp.org (St Germain church, go to Arts & Culture, then Musique, not sure if they keep it up)
www.musique-en-sorbonne.org/ (concerts at the Sorbonne)ste-genevieve-paris.cef.fr (near Pantheon, see "Actualities" for c concerts)
www.saint-roch.org (in the 1st arr, they do list concerts under "Agenda")

Paris taxis
http://podvin.club.fr/sitegb/taxis/taxiarrt.htm Paris Taxi Stands
http://www.ehow.com/ehow/ehow.jsp?id=13665 how to hail a taxi in Paris and pay the fare Tipping suggestions in Paris
http://www.fodors.com/ (click on tipping guides)
http://www.infotaxiparis.com/index.htm Paris Taxis
http://www.paris-anglo.com/dedent/dedent.php?request=guide/ask/transportation/184.php Article about Paris Taxis
http://www.taxi-paris.net/ Paris Taxis

Paris Public transport
http://www.subwaynavigator.com/subway_site/eng/accueil/fset_subway.htm Navigating subways in World cities
http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/index.php public transit routes, airport transfer & more

Biking company URL's with emphasis on France
http://www.andiamoadventours.com/ Andiamo Walking biking active tours
http://www.backroads.com/ biking all over Europe
http://www.bikingfrance.com/ Discover France
http://www.discoverfrance.com/ hotels and b&b’s bike tours in Paris
http://www.diversedirections.net/ Diverse Directions Self Guided Bike tours of France
http://www.duvine.com/ Duvine bike tours through wine areas
http://www.randonneetours.com/ Randonnee Tours
http://www.vangoghtours.com/ Van Gogh bike barge and walking tours
http://www.vbt.com/ bicycling tours

Versailles
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/?CFID=14938017&CFTOKEN=41993373 Online guide to Versailles

Chartre
http://www.diocese-chartres.com/cathedrale_site/index.php Chartre Cathedral site
http://www.chartres.com/va/bienvenu.htm Chartres,com


ITALY
http://goitaly.about.com/?once=true About.com Italy travel
http://www.dolcevita.com/ Dolce Vita Insiders guide to Italy
http://www.exploreitaly.net/ Italian Vacations
http://www.initaly.com/ In Italy
http://www.itwg.com/ Italy Hotel Air Fare booking site
http://www.itwg.com/ Italy hotels
http://www.slowtravel.com/ Slow Travel.com
http://www.ticketeria.it/Default-eng.asp Ticketeria -Galleries and exhibits tickets.reservations
http://www.venere.com/ Worldwide [hotels]
http://www.wel.it/ Welcome to Italy

Rome:
http://www.roma2000.it/ Roma 2000
http://www.scalareale.org/main/home/ Rome tours
http://www.twenj.net TWENJ

Other Regions:
http://turismo.regione.veneto.it/ Venice Tourism
http://www.amalfi.it/ Amalfi Coast
http://www.bellagiolakecomo.com/ Bellagio, Lake Como
http://www.bellaumbria.net/ Bella Umbria
http://www.cinqueterre.it/ Cinque Terre
http://www.orta.net/ Lago d’Orta
http://www.weekendafirenze.com/ Firence

Tuscany
http://www.tuscany.net/ Tuscany Net
http://www.chiantinet.it/ Chianti Net
http://www.sangimignano.com/ San Gimignano
http://www.firenze.net/ Firenze Net
http://www.appartamentialpoggiolo.it/ in Monteppulciano

Venice:
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/ Venice for Visitors
http://www.doge.it/ Venice hotels
http://www.veneziasi.it/ Vienezia

Villa Rental, Food
http://archive.salon.com/directory/topics/italy/index2.html
http://turismo.regione.veneto.it/ Venice region tourist infor. Remain on the Italian page (the English page will bring you back to the Italian again). Here's your cheat sheet on how to pull up a list of "Alberghi". Under "cerca un albergo nel commune di" (= searching for a hotel in the city of) put in "Venezia" or "Roma" or whatever city you're seeking; under "scegli categoria" (select the category) the number of stars your hotel should have (two or three, etc), then hit "cerca" (=search). You'll find a list of hotels in alphabetical order -it's important to know that all those with "Mestre" as part of the address are situated on the mainland and not on the island of Venice.
After you have selected a hotel, you'll find the address in the upper and the rate in the lower part. The rest is informing you how many rooms the particular hotel has, what languages are spoken, etc. "Singole" means single "doppie" means double-room, "senza bagno" without bathroom, "con bagno" with bathroom. The rates given are minimum-maximum, depending on the season and the location and size of the room.
http://www.classictuscanhomes.com/index.html Classic Tuscan Homes
http://www.discoveritaly.com/ Discover Italy
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/ UK Holiday Rental site
http://www.initaly.com/ In Italy
http://www.italianvillas.com/ Luxury Italian Villas
http://www.italycookingschools.com/ Mama Margaret Italian Cooking schools
http://www.sicilyvillas.com/ Private Villa in Sicily
http://www.travel-italy.com/ Travel Italy
http://www.villeinitalia.com/ Ville In Italia


GREECE
http://www.ferries.gr/ Greek Ferry bookings
http://www.fhw.gr/chronos/en/ Hellenic History
http://www.gnto.gr/ Greece the true experience
http://www.gogreece.com/ go Greece.com
http://www.greeka.com/ Greek Islands Specialists
http://www.greekembassy.org/ Greek Embassy, Washington DC
http://www.greektravel.com/ Matt Barrett’s Travel Guide to Greece
http://www.gtp.gr/ Danae online Greek ferry bookings
http://www.in2greece.com/ In 2 Greece site for tourists
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/greece/ Lonely Planet Guide to Greece


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


GERMANY
http://goeurope.about.com/od/germany/ About.com Germany page
http://www.cometogermany.com/ Germany The Travel Destination
http://www.loreleyvalley.com/index.html Rhine River Hotels
http://www.moselhotel.com/hotels/index.html Mosel Hotels
http://www.rothenburg-online.de/cgi-bin/search/rothenburg.cgi Rothenburg Hotels

http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/ German/English Dictionary

Berlin
http://www.berlin.de/english/ Berlin
http://www.booking.com/city/de/berlin.en.html Booking.com hotel reservations
http://www.hotelsdeutsche.com/Germany/Berlin/ Hotels in Berlin
http://www.igougo.com/entertainment-l516-c61-Berlin_Nightclubs.html Berlin entertainment/nightclubs
http://www.visitberlin.de/index.en.php Visit Berlin

Munich
http://www.best-of-munich.com/tourist-information/tourist-information.html Munich Tourist Info
http://www.discover-munich.info/munich_tourist_offices.php Munich Tourist Info
http://www.mikesbiketours.com/14.html Mike’s Bike tours, Munich
http://www.muenchen.de/Tourismus/Accommodation_Hotels/hotel_reservation/76390/index.html Munich Tourist Info

Oktoberfest
http://www.best-of-munich.com/oktoberfest/oktoberfest.html Octoberfest Info

Christmas Markets
http://www.discover-munich.info/munich_christmas_markets.php Munich Christmas Markets
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/publications/infocus/Xmas2003/Munich.htm past Christmas markets

Fussen
http://www.destination360.com/europe/germany/fussen.php

Neuschwanstein
http://www.neuschwanstein.de/english/


AUSTRIA
www.aboutaustria.org/ About Austria
www.austria-tourism.at/us Austria Tourism
www.hallstatt.net/besucher/index.php3?lang=en Hallstatt
www.salzkammergut.at/ Saltzkammergut

Vienna
http://city-apartment.com/links/ Vienna Maps Museums Concerts
http://www.aboutvienna.org/ About Vienna
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/austria/vienna/ Lonely Planet Guide to Vienna
http://www.wien.gv.at/english/ City of Vienna
http://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/Content.Node2/intro.php Staatsopen City Opera House site

Salzburg
http://www.salzburg.gv.at/en/en-index Land Salzburg site
http://www.salzburgfestival.at/index.php?lang=en Salzburg Music Festival
http://www.visit-salzburg.net/ Visit Salzburg
http://www2.salzburg.info/ Salzburg Toursit Info

Innsbruck
http://www.aboutaustria.org/capitals/innsbruck.htm About Austria Innsbruck guide


SWITZERLAND
http://www.exhangehomes.com/ Home Exchange
http://www.greatrentals.com/ Great Rentals
http://www.hotelstravel.com/switzerland.html Swiss Hotel site
http://www.pilatus.com/ Mt Pilatus, Lucern
http://www.rooms.ch/ budget Swiss hotels
www.welcome-to.com/Switzerland/Lucerne/Worldwide Rentals

www.earth.google.com
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
Weather web sites:

www.paris.org/Accueil/Climate/ weather and climate all over France, also has historical data
www.accuweather.com 5-day forecast
www.wunderground.com has historical weather
www.weatherbase.com and www.washingtonpost.com also have historical data
www.worldclimate.com/ has historical data
www.nytimes.com/
www.weather.com/
www.almanac.com/details/moondays.html Sunrise, sunset, full moons, Full moon days
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html Compute sunrise and sunset times worldwide

Time:
www.timeanddate.com/worldclock World Clock
www.hilink.com.au/times Local times around the world
www.isbister.com/worldtime Current time anywhere in the world

www.skyscanner.net

www.sunrisesunset.com

www.pawprint.net You can download an excellent clock toolbar that sits on your task bar.


Airline and airport websites all over the world:
www.wajb.freeserve.co.uk

Cheaper flights within Europe

www.whichbudget.com
www.ryanair.com
www.easyjet.com
www.go-fly.com
www.flybmi.com
www.opodo.co.uk
www.europebyair.com
http://www.thalys.com

Cheap flights to Europe
www.mobissimo.com
www.kayak.com

Driving Directions and maps and mileage:

www.mappy.com
www.mapblast.com
www.mapquest.com
www.yahoo.com click on maps
www.shellgeostar.com/
www.mappy.com plot itineraries, driving, etc
www.michelin-travel.com maps, plot driving routes, hotel and restaurant info also
http://oddens.geog.uu.nl/index.html Links to maps
www.indo.com/distance How far is it to…
www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/CityToCityDisplayShort


TRAINS/FERRIES/ETC
www.trenitalia.com/home/en/index.html
www.snavali.com/eng/
www.virtuferries.com/
ADVANCE BOOKINGS:
www.autoeurope.com 800-223-5555
www.chase.com currency
www.raileurope.com
www.trenitalia.it trains Italy
www.selectitaly.com
http://voyages-sncf.com trains France
http://www.thalys.com/
www.thetrainline.com trains for England

PARIS & FRANCE
wge.pagesjaunes.fr/pj.cgi?lang=en will show you any street address
www.parisnotes.com/superlinkstoparis.html#Anchor-Bike-23240
www.parisdigest.com/
www.parisinfo.com/en/
www.paris.org/navigate.html
www.theatreonline.com/
www.chateauversailles.fr/en/
www.hauts-de-seine.net/portal/site/hds/
www.v1.paris.fr/en/
http://english.pidf.com/page/p-289/
www.diocese-chartres.com/cathedrale_site/index.php
www.chartres.com/va/bienvenu.htm
www.voila.fr web phone directory
www.paris-anglo.com excellent site, many suggestions for sightseeing, daytrips, shopping, etc including special activities for English-speakers
www.francetourism.com French Tourist Office.
www.parisbalades.com architectural walks, plus clicks to other sites for events, museums, etc
www.parisinsites.com weather tips, good current museum info, transportation, general info
www.paris-touristoffice.com sightseeing, transportation, tours, things for children, hotels, etc. Good site!
www.paris-menus.com/en/parismenus.htm restaurants by theme, atmosphere, and price
www.gourmetsociety.com/list/view.php3 restaurants in Paris by theme
www.epicurious.com/erg/paris/auberge.html restaurants in Paris
www.elegant-lifestyle.com/paris_restaurants.htm top restaurants in Paris
www.parisdigest.com has several additional clicks, including activities for children
www.pariswater.com fountains and email postcards
www.ratp.fr/ Paris transportation routes, airports, neighbourhood maps
www.francentral.com: food, travel, art, news, plus a selection of articles from the publication France Today
www.paris-tourism.com clicks for airports, sightseeing, Paris for kids, walking itineraries for short visits, shopping, electricity, embassies, weather, hostels, etc
www.pariserve.tm.fr/quartier/egl.htm info (in French) on Paris's churches:
www.francekeys.com/ commercial site but links to lots of free info including passports, currency, French language practice on line, smaller Paris museums, email cards, book sightseeing and excursions, etc
www.intermusees.com Paris museum pass