Travelogger

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

Fantasy Lakes and Mountains: A Summer Holiday

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European Holiday
Going on a holiday in the next couple of months? In the western part of the world, where summer is coming (or already here), most everyone makes it a point to spend some time out in the great outdoors. Whether it’s the beach or the mountains that give you that much needed break, time away from the daily hustle and bustle of your life is always a good thing.

When it comes to summer holiday destinations, there really is no lack of options. Wherever you may be based, there will always be one place to go to – a mile or a thousand miles away.

If you’re looking to do something different this year, you might want to check out the great European continent. [Read more…]

Top 5 Cruise Destinations for your Next Family Holiday

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A cruise can be one of the best ways for a family to spend a long holiday together without having the hassle of planning the entire trip yourself. The only tough part of planning your family cruise holiday is trying to decide where you should go. Listed below are five of the top cruise destinations to consider for your next family holiday.

There are different options for cruises to Mexico, as ships frequently tour both coasts. Each coast features amazing beaches and allows you to tour ancient Mayan ruins. The best time to visit Mexico is from November to April when the weather is less humid and cooler. However, this is also the time when Mexico’s tourist destinations are the most hectic. [Read more…]

Use European City Cards to Make Some Huge Savings

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EurocardsTraveling in the summer may not be that appealing to some people. In spite of the excellent weather in many places, there are just too many other tourists who pack their bags and hit the roads at this time. Still, if you do not mind the crowds, then these next couple of months is the perfect time to go visit the continent across the ocean.

Carousing around Europe is part of every traveler’s dream. However, we all know just how heavy on the pockets this could be. One critical weapon in the traveler’s arsenal is the city card. Major European cities offer these cards to visitors and locals alike, in an effort to help them make some savings. Here are some city cards that you should take a look at.

Barcelona Card
If you’re heading off to Spain, you might want to get one of these. You have to pay €26 for two days and you get 10 percent off on all online bookings at bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com. You also get public transport and discounts for the attractions of the cities.

Roma Pass
This card is cheaper at €23 for three days and you get more out of it. All buses, trains, and subways come free. You also get free entrance to two museums and additional discounts for every museum you visit thereafter. One drawback – no discounts for the Vatican.

Paris ComboPass Lite
Pay €42 for two days of traipsing around the city. All public transportation is covered plus you get free entrance to the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay. Oh, and they threw in an hour cruise on the Seine.

There are more cards available in different cities, just make sure you look for them and compare the actual costs before you get yourself a card.

Must Go Places In Europe

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The past two weeks have been busy as crap for me. Our bosses from France are in town, and you know what that means. Still, when we go out at night after work, we try to ban shop talk (it doesn’t always work) and get around to something more fun. One of the topics was visiting Europe. Of course, the Grand European tour is something that almost everyone dreams about. It helps in planning if you know people in that part of the world. Now I am not saying that I will be hopping on the next plane to Amsterdam (though I wouldn’t mind), but I will definitely go to these places if things work out the way I plan…

Paris
Cliché, but still a must visit. The Eiffel Tower, the River Seine, Le Louvre, Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, cafes – need I say more? Oh, and I absolutely have to go to the Ice Kube bar. It’s not a new concept, but it would be cool (no pun intended) to go there.

London
Easily accessible from France via the train that goes through the Channel Tunnel, London is definitely a must see. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and fish and chips! Maybe a visit to the West End as well.

Istanbul
Let’s deviate from the usual stops and take a look at the outer edges of Europe. We always hear talk about “East meeting West,” and there is no better place to discover that than in Istanbul. The culture is certainly unique and exhilarating.

Budapest
Another stop where the old world meets the new. Budapest is known for its night life AND thermal baths. Where else can you find such a combination?

Going to Europe? Make sure you stop by in each of these cities for at least a couple of days.

The Rise Of The “Greycationers”

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spa3I love language! It really is not a static thing, but it shifts and evolves with time. Take the word vacation; only recently, another word was created out of it – staycation, for vacations that are spent in the vicinity of a person’s hometown or city. Now, we have another word: greycationer. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the word refers to people aged 50 and above, who spend a lot of time traveling.

The trend is actually gaining ground in Europe. Experts in the travel industry say that this greycationer trend is a result of the “massive influx of baby-boomers who grew up in the 1960s. After redefining youth culture, they are now making their mark on older age.”

Travel agencies and tour operators are now tweaking their offerings to cater to this group of travelers. Their services revolve around activities such as going to spas, swimming, cycling, and other health pursuits. They also have a host of cultural activities – which European countries definitely do not have a shortage of.

The trend seems to be mostly centered in Europe, Germany in particular, for now. It is not really a surprise since this part of the world has had problems with their “ageing population” for quite some time. Now, the problem seems to be taking on a more positive side, at least for the travel sector. I would not be surprised to see the trend catching on in other countries outside of Europe – at least in those countries which have good social services that cover the retirement age.