Travel Tips Blog

I love Paris.? What’s not to love?? It’s quaint, metropolitan, cultural, historical, and beautiful.? In my mind, it is the ultimate vacation destination.

Here are my five favorite Paris tours that I hope you’ll enjoy the next time you visit the city of lights!

• The Paris Pass – While not really a Paris tour, the Paris Pass is your ultimate tool to seeing the best attractions in Paris.? Prices vary based on the dates and number of days the pass is valid.? Here’s what you get:
• Paris map
• Free entry to over 60 attractions and sites
• Free public transportation
• Fast track entry to major sites like the Pantheon, Arc de Triomphe, Centre Pompidou, Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre and more!
• Moulin Rouge – In my opinion, everyone should experience the dinner and show at Moulin Rouge at least once in their lifetime.? It’s a great way to indulge in the exhilarating nightlife of Paris while you enjoy a three course dinner and witness the Paris Moulin Rouge, home of the French Cancan in bohemian Montmartre.? The food served is traditional French food and of course, wine and champagne.? It’s important to book early, as this attraction is extremely popular.
• Versailles Half-Day Tour – While I guess this shouldn’t technically be in my post about Paris tours, but it is such a great experience that I think everyone visiting Paris should take.? You can experience the splendor of the Palace of Versailles with a wide range of half-day tours from Paris.? It is a wonderful way to retrace the history of the famous palace and learn more about Louis XIV.? Most tours include a chance to browse the marvelous gardens and witness the amazing Fountain Show.
• Louvre Museum – I first visited the Louvre when I was 19 years old and the amazing works of art the museum contains captivated me.? You could easily spend an entire vacation in this magical place.? I recommend a guided tour to get the most out of the museum.? Be sure your tour will include seeing the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
• Eiffel Tower – It is so iconic, that you simply must visit the Eiffel Tower while in Paris.? I personally recommend an illumination tour so you can truly experience the marvelous city of lights.? On an illuminations tour, you watch Paris transform after dark.? Most tours include stops at the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Trocadero, Invalides, Notre Dame Cathedral and Place du Chatelet.

Paris tours abound and there is no shortage of ways to experience the city and keep busy.? I hope you get to enjoy your own Paris tours in the coming months – trust me, you won’t be disappointed and make sure to visit my older blog post about tips on saving money in Paris and elsewhere as for you will find it to be very helpful!

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I just got back from a London vacation that I booked with Virgin Vacations.? I went on their 3 Night London Fling as my fiancé and I just wanted a quick trip before all the crazy wedding stuff starts.

It was amazing!? We had the best time and we were thoroughly happy with all the arrangements made through Virgin.? Our package included round trip air, 3 nights hotel (with private bath – which is a luxury in London), and continental breakfast.

Our flight arrived on time with no problems.? We immediately made our way from the airport, into the city to the K West Hotel & Spa.? We were really happy with the locale of the hotel because it is situated in Shepherds Bush – which is about a 3-minute walk to the tube (the subway).? The hotel was awesome and had everything we need.? I can see why it has won the Best Hotel in London award in the past.

Some of the benefits of the hotel were:

• Great location
• Spacious rooms – nicely decorated
• Great, funky lounge with comfy oversized chairs
• Awesome gym (even though we were only there for 3 days, I still made use of the gym cause I got to fit into my wedding dress!)

Some of the stuff we did during our three-day mini-trip!

• Buckingham Palace – I’ve never been on a London vacation before so seeing the palace was tops on my list.? From May to July, they perform the changing of the guard daily. Definitely worth scheduling your trip around so that you can witness t!? Check www.changing-the-guard.com for daily schedules.? Also, there is a changing of the guard at Windsor Castle that is similar to the Buckingham Palace display.? When I was there, it took place at 11:00am.
• Another must see for my London vacation was visiting Westminster Abbey.? I have a thing for old churches and this one did not disappoint. If you are religious, you might want to attend a service (they take place daily as they have for over 1400 years!).? Details are available on their website at www.westminster-abbey.org.
• Camden Market – Since I’m a bit of a shopping nut, a friend suggested visiting Camden Market for at least a few hours.? Camden actually consists of six busy open air and indoor markets, each having a distinctive flavor.? Awesome to see the crowds, shops, bars and restaurants, you could easily whittle away several hours in this area!? Located in Camden Town, North West London.
• London Walks – Of course…my fiancé and I wanted to experience British pub life so we went on London Walks (oldest urban walking tour in the world) – we took a nighttime walking tour to three different pubs in different neighborhoods.? It was awesome!? We got to meet some lively locals and made friends with other tourists.? Highly recommend this tour – especially if you are tight on time as we were.? They offer all types of different tours; check out www.walks.com for more info and pricing.

Why not book your own trip because a London vacation is an awesome way to spend your precious holidays!


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I love Amsterdam.? It is such a unique city that truly is unlike any other place I’ve visited.? Since I’ve been there a few times, I thought I’d give you my top five sites.

• Museums – Amsterdam is home to many museums (I believe there are at least 37!).? So truly, you could spend your entire trip traipsing through amazing museums.? Visit Museum Quarter where you’ll find three of the main museums, - Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum.
• Historic Sites – Amsterdam also has many historic sites worth viewing.? My favorite is Anne Frankhuis.? You get an opportunity to visit the actual building where Anne Frank, her family and friends hid during the German Occupation.? It is a somber place where you can see the once hidden rooms that contain memorabilia and the presence of these special people who spent two years of their lives hidden behind the walls.
• Dam Square – When you travel to Amsterdam, a great starting place is Dam Square that lies in the centre of Amsterdam.? You will see locals and tourists all intermingling around the terrific shops, market stalls, cafes, bars and restaurants.? When in Dam Square, make sure you visit the Koninkliik Palace – this is where the Dutch royal family used to live and can be found on the west side of Dam Square.
• Amsterdam By Canal – If you are taking the time to travel to Amsterdam, then you must explore the city from its unique canals.? The canals truly are one of Amsterdam’s most famous attributes.? Three main canals surround the inner city: Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht.
• Artis Zoo – Well, I’m a bit of a zoo fanatic and I had to visit the oldest zoo in the country.? Founded in 1838, Artis Zoo features an amazing aquarium (complete with a salt-water section and fresh water tank), a wonderful Planetarium, botanical garden, Zoological Museum and Geological Museum.? A really fascinating way to spend a day!

I hope you get the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam in the near future.? It is a wonderfully compact city (consider traveling around by bicycle as the city is very bike friendly) and there are many things to see and do!

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As far as I’m concerned, going on a France vacation without visiting Provence is like having an ice-cream cone without the ice cream.? Provence is by far by very favorite part of France - a place I could visit again and again.?

Not only is Provence beautiful, but it is also a historically and culturally rich region with so many things to keep you busy every hour of the day.? Yet, my favorite part of Provence is the region’s rich abundance of fresh produce and seafood accompanied by some of the best wine I’ve ever tasted (and so reasonably priced too!)

Provence stretches along both sides of the River Rhone from just north of Orange down to the Mediterranean, and along France’s southern coast from the Camargue salt marshes in the west to Marseille in the east.?

It really is a wonderful place to visit no matter the time of year.? For much of the year you will experience bright, sunny and dry conditions.? The exception is the cold, dry winds of the mistral that strike southwards down the Rhone Valley.? The first time I experienced the mistral I was surprised how quickly it turned a wonderful spring day into a blustery, winter one.? Hopefully, your France vacation won’t coincide with the unpredictable mistral winds that can reach speeds of more than 100km/hour and can damage crops, cause forest fires and keep everyone inside.? Typically, this weather condition is more common in winter and spring.

Provence covers a rather large area and it is broken up into five areas:

• Marseille - Definitely worth a visit, Marseille features an old port, lively markets, wonderful and delicious harbourside restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.
• Aix En Provence - Considered one of France’s most graceful and popular cities it features a fusion of majestic public squares, shaded avenues and mossy fountains.? Located only 25kms from Marseille, why not pop by for an afternoon of sightseeing.?
• The Vaucluse - I found this area to be the most picturesque of all I visited.? Many of the towns amazingly date back to Roman times and you’ll find unbelievable Gallo-Roman structures.? Be sure to visit some of the towns on market days when everything bursts into life.? This area is home to Avignon.? If you visit in the summer, try to time your visit with the annual performing arts festival.
• Arles & The Camargue - Famed for being home to Vincent Van Gogh, one travel book I read said that it is easy to see why the painter may have found Arles both soothing and visually exciting.? I love the fact that little has changed since Van Gogh painted the city’s winding streets and shady squares.? Bullfighting is very popular here and the city comes alive on fight days.
• Northeastern Provence - In the northeastern section of Provence, the land of sun and olive trees meets the land of snow and melted cheese!? Consider visiting the town of Digne-Les-Bains, a laid back town named for its thermal springs.? The town holds a large festival in August in honor of Lavender production and I’m told it is worth the trip.

I love everything about Provence and dream of retiring there some day.? I hope you’ll have your own opportunity to visit this wonderful land on a France vacation and gather up your own wonderful Provence experiences!

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Even with the tightening U.S. economy, Europe doesn’t have to be off limits to travelers this summer.? In fact, with Virgin Vacations unbelievable packages, Europe could be even more affordable than you imagined.? Many of Virgin’s most popular packages are so valuable and thrifty; you could spend a week or more traipsing across Europe for even less than staying at a resort on home soil.

Just check out some of these incredible deals!

Paris - Why not spend four amazing nights in the City of Lights with the Paris Escape, a special four night package featuring roundtrip flight, 4 nights hotel accommodations, continental breakfast daily, and all mandated fuel surcharges.? Starting at only $849 per person (for travel during September and October - summer months slightly more expensive) makes this package in the budget for just about everybody!

Compare this with other travel sites that are offering similar packages for at least $100 more.?

London - London is an ideal summer vacation destination.? With loads to see and do, you can pack every minute with fun and frolic.? Virgin Vacations comes to the rescue with packages so affordable, you’ll feel like you are living like a queen!?

Why not book Virgin’s incredibly popular London’s Six Night Fling package featuring roundtrip air to London, 6 night hotel accommodations with private bath, continental breakfast, hotel taxes and surcharges, and mandated fuel surcharges.? For the summer months, packages start at a reasonable $1299 per person, or hold off until early fall and visit in September or October for a mere $1029 per person plus airport taxes and fees.

London’s Six Night Fling is an incredible value for six days in an incredible city!

Rome – There is nothing like Rome in the summer months.? Just imagine seeing the many historic sites, sipping cappuccinos at a roadside café and shopping in the amazing Italian shops.? Well, all that can be a reality with the Rome at Its Best package from Virgin Vacations.? Starting at only $899 per person, this package includes round trip airfare, six nights’ hotel accommodations in Rome, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and surcharges, and mandated fuel surcharges.?

For July packages, compared with other travel sites we found that Virgin Vacations offers quite a bargain.? One package found on a popular website started at $2185 for a mid-July Rome vacation in a standard room at a four star hotel, while a comparable package with Virgin starts at $1829.?

With rates this reasonable, Europe in style this summer doesn’t have to be off limits!? Book your trip with Virgin Vacations today!

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I recently discovered just how sticky airlines are getting when it comes to your baggage weight.? When my bag was being weighed at the check in counter, they discovered it was one pound over the weight limit.? This airline wouldn’t let it slide because of the high cost of fuel.? So, my choices weren’t great – either pay $50 or remove an item from my bag to bring it down one pound to under the limit

So, that was my experience, but each airline has different excess baggage fee rules and different charges, my advice is that you should investigate your airlines specific regulations before you travel.? Usually, this information is posted in the FAQ section (baggage allowance).? If you are having trouble finding this information on your airline’s website, just do a search for baggage allowance and that should take you to the information you need.

To help you determine the approximate weight of your suitcase before you end up in a sticky situation like I did, I’ve compiled this list of the weights of common items you might pack when you travel.

• Jeans – Of course, the bigger the person, the more the jeans will weigh, but generally, a pair of jeans weighs one pound.
• Books – Again, it depends on the book, a hard cover weighs more than a paperback.? A trade paperback book weighs about a half a pound.
• Sweater – A heavier weight sweater can weigh as much as a pound. So if you pack a lot of sweaters and jeans, you can quickly add to the weight of your suitcase.
• Shampoo – Taking full bottles of 500ml conditioner and shampoo could add as much as pound and a half to your weight limit.? Consider taking travel size toiletries to ensure you stay under the limit.? If you are concerned that your toiletries are weighing you down, do what a friend of mine does – when you arrive, buy all the essentials you’ll need for the duration of your stay (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, hairspray etc).
• Shoes – Women typically take many pairs of shoes with them on trips.? While a pair of flip-flops won’t send you over the limit, your running shoes or hiking boots just might.? Sneakers range from a half pound to a pound.? Take only what you will need!
• Jackets or coats – Try not to pack your jackets or coats, because they can be incredibly heavy (particularly leather).? Instead, wear your jacket or coat on the plane.? You are allowed to bring one jacket or coat with you onboard, so why waste valuable baggage allowance by storing it in your suitcase.
• Hair Dryer – Don’t bother with your hairdryer if you are going to be staying at a chain hotel.? Most hotels have hairdryers in their bathrooms or you can borrow one from the front desk.? Keeping your hairdryer at home will save you one to two pounds.
• Souvenirs – If your suitcase was underweight when you left for your trip but you purchased many souvenirs, consider shipping them instead of flying them home.? Other options are to pack them in your carry on, or purchase an inexpensive additional bag and check two bags.? Remember, you need to know your airlines’ policy because they may only allow one bag per person!
• The Suitcase – If you have a heavy-duty hard shelled suitcase it is going to weigh significantly more than a nylon one.? On average, a 26 upright suitcase with wheels weighs between four and five pounds.

One way to determine if your suitcase is in the allowable range is to weigh yourself holding onto your suitcase and then weigh yourself without the suitcase.? Of course, the difference between the two weights is the weight of your filled suitcase!

Next time you travel, pack wisely and know the airlines baggage allowance rules BEFORE you end up at the airport.? It will save you money, time and allow you a stress free check in.? Happy travels!

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Italy is a popular spot for summer vacations.? I was lucky enough to live and study in Italy for three years and I took full advantage and went on many tours in Italy.? A friend is heading there this summer, and she asked me to list my five favorite Italian tours (they are not ranked – that would be way too hard!).? Since she was so interested, I thought I’d write out this list and put it on the Internet for all to see!

1. Venice Sightseeing Tour – Everyone should visit Venice at least once in their lifetime.? If you are short on time in Venice, I recommend a three-hour sightseeing tour that includes a scenic boat tour on the waterways of Venice.? Be sure to pick a tour that includes going past the San Giorgio Maggiore, the Public Gardens, the tip of Sant’ Elena and the Lido beach resort.? You might want to choose a tour that includes a visit to the lagoon islands of Murano, Burano or Torcello.
2. Chianti Tour – Consider a bus tour to Greve in Chianti. The one I went on, organized through Virgin Vacations, included a stop to the ancient hamlet of Montefioralle and we had a chance to view the towers of the ancient castle.? Once in Greve, take a tour of the village and be sure to visit and taste the delicacies of a local butcher shop, such as Falornis.
3. Best of Tuscany – To see Tuscany in the shortest possible time, I recommend a best of Tuscany tour.? These tours are about 9 hours in length.? The one I went on had us visiting Siena and San Gimignano.? Of course, any Tuscany tour needs to give you an opportunity to view olive groves, vineyards and the iconic Tuscan views.? Be sure to take the opportunity to taste the great wines and savor a delicious gourmet Tuscan meal.
4. Ancient Rome Tour – No trip to Italy would be complete without a stay in Rome.? Consider booking an ancient Rome tour that will take you through Capitol, the Roman Forum, Capitol Hill, and the Titus Arch.? The tour I enjoy included a bus portion passing by the Primade Cestia, and St. Paul’s where the Apostle of the People is buried.? With so much history in Rome, it can be difficult to choose a tour because you want to see and do everything!
5. Ancient Ostia – If you are a history or archaeological buff, a hidden treasure tour to add on to your stay in Rome is a trip to Ostia.? Just 30 minutes from the Capital, is an extraordinary archaeological site - Ancient Ostia.? This was the city harbor founded by the ancient Romans at the mouth of the Tiber, later it was hidden by flood and oblivion for years.? Its remnants are unbelievably preserved and give you an amazing view of the Roman civilization and evolution.? Definitely a tour not to be missed.

I hope this brief review of five of my favorite Italy tours will help you with your Italian vacation planning.? It is an amazing country that you could visit time and time again and never run out of things to see and do!

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Paris is an amazing city that really cannot be truly appreciated in a short trip.? One way to really enjoy the city is to plan an extended stay.? If you can spare the time, working, studying or volunteering in Paris is a terrific way to immerse yourself in the Parisian culture.

Working - If you are currently a student or recent grad, you can apply for a work permit that will allow you to work in the city.? Otherwise, France won’t grant you a work permit unless you already have a French employer who can convince immigration official that they positively need you, and not a native French person to fill the position.? One very real way to get work is to find a job teaching English to Francophones.? The city has hundreds of private language schools throughout the city.? Each school will have its own requirements for teachers – for example, you may need a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate and some schools require experienced teachers.? From my research, your best time to look is in the late summer, since schools start around the beginning of October.

Another popular job is to be an Au Pair for a family and to work as a nanny.? Au Pair Abroad arranges board and lodging for people between the ages of 18 and 26 to work as nannies for three to 18 months in France.? There is a lengthy interview process, but it can result in a great posting and a wonderful way to meet and live with locals.

Volunteering - Volunteering is an amazing way to give back and give yourself the opportunity to experience Paris first hand.? Some ways to find volunteer opportunities in Paris are the Voluntary Services Department in NY that offers two to four week environmental or community service projects around the globe.? You have to pay a placement fee in order to get an assignment.

WorldTeach is a program run out of Harvard University and it offers wonderful volunteer opportunities for anyone wanting to teach in Europe, Africa, Central America and parts of Asia.? You need a college degree and a willingness to commit to at least one year.

Studying - Studying in another country like France, is an amazing way to understand the culture, meet the locals and improve your language skills.? There are many U.S. sponsored programs or you can enroll in programs sponsored by a European organization.? It is important to thoroughly research any program as they all vary greatly in terms of academic quality, expenses you must cover, exposure to language and living conditions.? If you are currently enrolled in a University, contacting them first to see what they have on study abroad programs in France is probably your best first step.

I hope you get an opportunity to travel to Paris as it is one of my all time favorite cities.? Whether you choose to work, study, volunteer or vacation in the city, there really is nothing quite like Paris!

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