See Rome In A Day?  It’s called the Eternal City.  Eternal means “lasting or existing forever”.

While Rome hasn’t necessarily existed forever, it has been around for a very, very long time.  There are layers and layers to see.  Do you want to see ancient sights, religious centers, or medieval and modern Rome?

When you’re contemplating a visit… your first visit… all you can hope to do is see the highlights… SOME of the highlights.

You’re going to have to limit yourself if all you have is a day or even two.  You can get a good overview of all the layers of the city if you plan it right.

Good guidebooks will give you specific information about what buses and subway lines to catch… and you’ll need to have this planned out in advance to make any plan to see Rome in a day work. (more…)

London is expensive, so how can you save money?  Look for things to enjoy in London for free!  Those ticket prices add up in a hurry when you have to pay admission.

Remember whenever it costs you 10 Pounds, that’s really about 14.00 US Dollars and 11 Euros — give or take — with today’s exchange rate…. And you’ll find plenty of admissions that are 10 or 15 Pounds and more.

You will want to see the Tower of London… and you should, but the admission fee is 17 Pounds… that’s $25.00 or 20 Euros!

So what can you see in London for free?  Lots of things.  First of all think museums.  Almost all of the museums in London are free. (more…)

Grand Paris!  Think of a romantic trip to Europe, and the City of Lights springs immediately to mind!  And why not?  It’s a beautiful city.  Easy to navigate.  And the sights!

Well, there is no shortage of sights.  And because of the combination of tourist attractions, food, and romance, it is one of the most popular destinations in the world.

So what do you want to do in this grand city?  The museums?  The Monuments?  The  markets?  The bookstalls along the Seine?  Is it the food that attracts you at world class restaurants, or do you just want to sit in a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by?

There are so many “must sees” that you really will have to choose what is most important to you.  Monuments?  How about the Eiffel Tower.  The Place de la Concorde with it’s Egyptian obelisk.  Think of the line up of the Arc du Triomphe du Carrousel through the Tuileries to the Arc de Triomphe, and the grand Grande Arche in La Defense district. Or how about Invalides where Napoleon is buried.

Landmark churches?  Start with Notre Dame de Paris.  The Basilique du Sacre-Coeur… dramatic and white on the hill in Montmartre.  The churches of La Madeleine, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Pantheon.  Or just landmark buildings like the Palais Garnier.

There are so many world class museums that it would take your entire vacation to see them.  The Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, the Musee Rodin and the Musee Picasso to name some of the most obvious.  Museums can make your head spin after a few hours.  To avoid being overwhelmed by them, get a museum card.  They are available for 1, 3 and 5 days.

The card will allow you can go in and out of the museums over the period of your stay and not get “museum head”.  The museums are fantastic, but you want to get a feel for all of Paris don’t you?

Take time to stroll in a garden or two.  The Tuileries stretches in front of the Louvre.  The Luxembourg Garden is a great place to watch children of all ages sail small boats on the ponds.  Sit in one of the cafes and have a glass of wine.

Wander in some of the neighborhoods.  See Montparnasse with it’s artists and cafes.  See the delectable food displays in stores around La Madeleine.  Explore the Latin Quarter… see the Sorbonne and visit a bistro or two.  Or just wander along the Seine and see what the booksellers have in those green metal boxes.

The food is… well so French and wonderful.  You can certainly eat expensive meals at restaurants with who knows how many Michelin stars, but the food will be good almost everywhere.  Pop into any bistro or neighborhood restaurant and order a “prix fixe” menu and you are sure to have a great meal.  You have to try the favorite street food of Parisians…. crepes… try one with Nutella, or sugar and butter.

Food, wine, lots of action….. If we haven’t got you packing your bags for Paris, we hope we at least have you dreaming of the City of Lights.

Isn’t it hard navigating Paris on your own?  You’ve heard that they won’t speak anything but French, that the waiters are rude, and the shopkeepers are impolite.  It’s really not true.

Paris is a big city, and its citizens sometimes have that “big city attitude”….  people are hurried and may seem a bit brusque, but if you remember some of the simple rules of travel, you’ll do fine.

First thing you need to remember is to bring your sense of adventure and appreciate the differences.  The French are more reserved than most Americans.  They may not be as quick to smile at strangers, but with a little effort on your part you’ll find friendly, helpful Parisians. (more…)

So, you’ve decided it’s time to take your first trip to Europe.  For many Americans it seems like a rite of passage.  It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old.  It’s something special that first trip to Europe.  You’ve finally arrived somehow.

You’ve saved the money, you’ve applied for the passport… wow, you’re practically ready to pack.  But wait… just having made the decision to get a passport and go to Europe is only the first step.  There are more decisions to make.  Let’s think through some of this.

How much time do you have?  One week will have you concentrating on an area or a city… two or more weeks lets you tour around a bit more. (more…)