By Karen Bradbury
Published: July 25, 2008
Some Web sites are great to visit because they impart a wealth of information. Others are just plain fun. While I found www.sleepinginairports.com to be less of the former and more of the latter, there may be something there that adds comfort to your next flight that doesn’t go quite as planned. And these days, which ones ever do?
I found this Web site by way of an article in the July 15 edition of the International Herald Tribune, titled Snoozing at the airport terminal, in a tent. Seems that nowadays it’s not only budget traveler types booked on an early flight out who are scrambling to claim that prime floor space.
By Karen Bradbury
Published: July 17, 2008
One of the best things about visiting a large European city is wandering around it by foot. But unless you have the pleasure of the company of a knowledgeable insider, you are bound to miss a lot. If London, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich or Paris figure into your travel plans, you can sign up for a walking tour that will cost you nothing, save what you wish to tip your guide.
SANDEMANs NEW Europe Tours are offered on an almost-daily basis and last for an average of three hours. If you’re in Berlin, you can also take a free tour of the city from the seat of a bicycle, and yes, tour organizers provide the bike for you (but get there early, as the supply is limited). To find your guide, head to the meeting point and look for his or her red T-shirt. If there are more than 10 of you traveling together, be sure to contact the organizers at least 24 hours in advance to arrange for your participation. If you’re traveling solo, this sounds like a great way to meet other travelers.
By Karen Bradbury
Published: July 11, 2008
I’d love to hear back from some of the visitors to this blog. So here’s my question to you: What has been your favorite European getaway over the past year or so? What made that particular trip so special?
By Karen Bradbury
Published: July 10, 2008
Good old Deutsche Bahn! They recently posted a rather enticing offer. You can now buy yourself a Deutschland-Pass, valid for unlimited travel throughout Germany over a one-month period, for just 299 euros. Travel must be completed by Aug. 31. If you’re age 26 or under, that same pass can be had for just 249 euros.
Can’t get the vacation time to be gone a whole month? Well, why not make one rather lengthy journey, and then treat yourself to another few weekends of travel and hit those places you’ve always wanted to see? Dresden, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich all beckon, as do recreational areas such as the Alps, the North Sea, and eastern Germany’s “Sächsische Schweiz” or Saxon Switzerland. Check out the terms and conditions online, or drop in to your local Bahnhof for details.
By Karen Bradbury
Published: July 3, 2008
What’s the Fourth of July without fireworks? Quieter, at least. Stripes has compiled a round-up of all the on base happenings. See Fourth of July events on U.S. bases in Europe on the Stripes Web site or the July 3 issue.
If you can’t get to a base for the Independence Day festivities, or that only whets your appetite for more, there are other local happenings in which fireworks will feature, and plenty more out there to ensure your long weekend is a memorable one.
