Beat the High Cost of Europe!

Contrary to popular opinion, there are still ways to have a reasonably priced vacation to Europe. Let' focus on a few of the things you can do to keep the cost down and know what it's going to cost up front.

One of the best values now is taking a Cruise. A Mediterranean cruise, for example, has the best chance for good weather and the big-ticket costs of hotel and food are priced in. Many of these cruise companies have specials by this time of year so check the special offers on European Cruises. And there are a good variety of ships from the smaller sailing ships of Windstar to the larger and more luxurious Crystal Cruises. The other good thing is that the Med itineraries include stops at ports that are a destination in themselves, so extra cost port excursions are not necessary. For more information, check out our Savvy Traveler website.

Next let's look at airfare. Aer Lingus is becoming a great way to get over and then around. They offer some super savings if you are willing to fly to Dublin and out to European cities from there. London also has some cost effective flights on Easyjet and Ryanair . These often fly out of Stansted instead of Heathrow or Gatwick, however there is a London/Stansed Express that can take you there. And a day or two in London is always worth the stop. These flights often take you to smaller airports in the lesser-known cities of Europe. However, there are usually great places to visit near by and you don't have the hassles of arriving in a big unmanageable airport.

And how about hotels? A great site for hotels is Venere. You can select the city and it will show you a map of the areas and then you zero in on the attractions you want to be near. They will give you a range of hotels. The three star hotels in Europe are usually good quality for the money and Venere will let you read recent reviews by the people who stayed there to help you make your decision. The chain hotels like those owned by Accor, the Holiday Inns and Marriotts also have specials running in the summer so be sure to check those.

Transportation is your next focus, use the metros or undergrounds as much as possible. Most major cities offer travel passes such as The London Pass to help you get around the most for the least cost. Take advantage of these (travel passes). The other good value for first time to any major city is the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tours. These are usually double decker open top buses that go by all of the major attractions in the city. They give you access for 24-48 hours depending on the city. There is even a narration so that you know what you are seeing along the way. In the summer months these buses run into the evening so go can get on and off at different attractions right to the dinner hours.

Last but not least, check for museum passes, as these will allow you visit a wealth of attractions for a fixed price. Do a little planning though because you buy these by the day. You want to be sure that you are going to see attractions included for the days you buy the pass.

Buying these passes and travel cards before you go will save time and have you ready to have fun when you get there. So don't nix that trip to Europe, just take the cost effective route and enjoy the good life!

European Travel - Maximize the Experience!

As Americans head over to Europe, some for the first time, often the determining factor on where to go becomes the best package of hotel and airfare currently on offer by the many internet companies. So you book the flight and hotel and soon find yourself in a foreign destination not sure what to do next. If visions of romantic castles, medieval villages, scenic train trips and relaxing river cruises are forming in your mind, make sure you make them happen - BOOK SOME ORGANIZED TOURS.

Organized tours will make a difference between those memories and memories of long lines, stressful travel to the site, and in some cases missing the site altogether. Major cities in Europe have well designed tours around the city to give you a good overview with narration in English. This will help you see the major sites, pass the long lines on entry and orient you to what's available in the city. You see everything without having to take the time to figure out how to get there, increase your enjoyment and reduce the stress. After the overview city tour, you can pepper your holiday with another more specialized tour in the city or the surrounding area. Seeing the countryside in the UK or the outskirts of Paris, for example, will give you a different perspective on the country and enrich your experience. And it will be accomplished in at least half the time it would take you on your own.

Booking the tour before you get there will give you direction and increase your anticipation of the good things to come. It will assure that you have a place on the tour, as some of the popular ones can sell out, and it locks in a price and increases the quality time you will have available on your trip. When you book you will have the telephone number of the operator, so if you need to change the day after you arrive, you can call and do so, provided the tour is offered on the day of your change.

So skip the lines at the Vatican Museums, the Tower of London, and the Louvre, book a tour and focus on enjoying the experience not the stress of getting there and getting in. And don't forget those trips out to the countryside, they may turn out to be the most memorable. A trip out of London to the charming Cotswold villages, a trip out of Paris to the Normandy beaches or a cruise out of Venice down the scenic Brenta Canal may be the images that leave the most lasting impressions.

With the Internet, booking these tours before you go is just one more website after your airline and hotel site. So go to our Savvy Travler Tour Site, select the city and pick the tours, sites, theatre seats, and even city passes to museums. Ensure that your European vacation is everything you want it to be, know before you go, book that tour today!

- AB

A Cultural View of the Big Island

Having been to the Hawaiian Islands a dozen times, we were in no hurry to see the standard tourist spots anymore. We just wanted to take in the beauty and enjoy the contrast of the majestic mountains and the blue sea, the colorful plants and the contrasting black lava rock in many places. However, there was one more aspect that always interested us, and that was the culture of Hawaii.


Save up to 90% on Hawaii cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line!



Read about our latest trip in A Cultural View of the Big Island.

Summer specials

Now is the time to cash in on the summer specials for Europe this year. Many of the hotel chains run these, and often the savings are significant.

If you are going to Europe this year you really need to look into the current crop of deals. If you are just thinking about it...well, this might swing the trip for you!

Most of the chains run thess, but one of our favorites is Hilton, currently offering special discounts off the summer special rates...a double whammy! Find Hilton Hotels Specials and Package Deals Here.

- DB