Latest Travel Articles

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

There is no need to enroll in French, Italian, German and Spanish classes for your European Tour. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on how to say some of the basics (eg. hello, please, thank you) in the native tongue of each of the countries you visit. It is often not only useful, but also polite to know a few of the basics in the local language and it’s a good idea to try and remember and uses these basics.

English is a widely spoken and understood as a second or third language amongst many Western Europeans, particularly those of the younger generations.

Western European Language Basics

These Languages are of use in….

French – France, Southern Belgium (including Brussels) parts of Switzerland

Spanish – Spain (Spanish will be understood in most parts of Spain, however Catalan and Basque are spoken in Barcelona and the North of the country)

Italian – Italy, parts of Switzerland, Albania

German – Varying dialects throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Greek – Greece

Dutch – Dialects throughout the Netherlands and Northern Belgium

Here is our network of Europe travel destination sites:

| England Tours | Escorted Family Vacations | France Tours | Greece Tours| Ireland Tours | Italy Tours |  River Cruise | Russia Tours | Scandinavia Tours | Spain Tours

We also have specialty European Tour Operators sites:

Collette Tours | Contiki Tours | Cosmos Tours | General Tours | Globus Tours | Insight Tours | Tauck Tours | Trafalgar Tours

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

London is a great city for first time travelers to Europe. You can easily combine it with a few nights in Paris or Amsterdam, but there is plenty to do without ever leaving London.

If you have ever been to New York City, you will notice that London has many similarities, including the theater district, the Tube (Subway) system and Trafalgar Square, which is reminiscent of Times Square. Once you are in an area, you will find that much of the sightseeing highlights are within 4 to 5 miles of each other.

One of the best ways to get around is to take an Open Bus Tour where you can hop on and off all of the major sightseeing attractions throughout the city. The cost is around $24 Euro, which is currently around $34 US Dollars.

Spend time around the Hyde park area, and you can walk to Kensington Gardens, the famous department store Harrods, as well as Victoria and Albert Museum. In Hyde park, you can enjoy time on the lake with boats for rent. You can also pay to ride horses in the park, or walk over to see the Marble Arch.

Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and St. James' Park are all close to one another.  In Trafalgar Square you will find an 18 foot statue of Lord Nelson standing on top of a 171 ft. column. The Square was built in his honor after his victory over Napoleon's army in 1805. Within walking distance of Trafalgar Square, you can go shopping in the Covent Garden area, eat in Chinatown, walk to Parliament Square or to Buckingham Palace. In Piccadilly Circus you will find the status of Eros. Piccadilly looks a lot like Time Square in New York with neon signs, and it is the entrance to the city's entertainment district. There are lots of restaurants, shops and bars. Planet Hollywood and HardRock are in this area if you get home sick for American food.

Buckingham Palace was first built in 1705. Between 1824 and 1831, George IV commissioned to extend the house into a substantial palace, which was first occupied by Queen Victoria in 1837. More work was done on the front of the building by Sir Aston Webb in 1913. The palace is now home to the present Queen. State rooms are open to the public only in August and September. If you want to see the Changing of the Guards, it is done at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at 10 a.m. on Sundays. There is no charge.

Take a ride over to Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey is a Church, and a glorious example of Medieval architecture. Queen Elizabeth's coronation was held here in 1953, and Princess Diana's funeral in 1997. You can hear the choir sing at services each day at 5 p.m. or at all services on Sundays. Hop back on the bus, and the next stop you will want to see is Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.  Big Ben is the huge Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. In Parliament Square you will also see a Statue of Winston Churchill.

Get back on the bus and ride over to British Airways London Eye. This London Eye is a giant observation wheel that allows for fascinating views of all of London. There are 21 enclosed capsules that hold 25 people each, and offer visibility in all directions. A ride on the London Eye takes about 30 minutes. On a clear day you can see approximately 25 miles across England.

Next you can visit the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and The Monument. The Tower of London is a riverside fortress. It takes about 2 hours to tour the area and see the Crown Jewels. The jewel collection dates back to 1661. Coronation jewels are on display as well. The Imperial State Crown has 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 5 rubies and 273 pearls. It was designed in 1937.

Another thing you must do in my opinion, is take a Thames river cruise. The cruises depart from Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier and Tower Pier. You can take a shorter cruise of 20 to 30 minutes, or you can do a full round trip which takes about 3 hours. Just like the buses, you can hop on, hop off throughout the day.

London is easy to get around, however if you do not feel comfortable traveling on the Tube, via the buses or along the river,  you can take a full day motorcoach tour of London which visits most of the areas I highlighted above. I recommend a London package with a minimum of 3 nights to enjoy the city, more time if you are planning to take any day trips to fascinating areas such as the Cotswolds, Warwick Castle, Stonehenge, Oxford or Bath.

S Brage http://www.atlastravelweb.com http://www.escortedbritaintours.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Brage http://EzineArticles.com/?Things-to-Do-in-London&id=2649288

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

One of the most frequently asked questions we are asked that pertains to fall foliage travel, is "When is the Best Time to see the changing of the leaves?" 

Witness the magnificent Fall Foliage of New England, starting in Boston and then traveling along Maine's rocky coast to Portland. Enjoy time in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, picturesque Acadia National Park, and feast at a traditional Maine lobster bake. More stops in New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut will add to your unforgettable journey.

See oranges, yellows, reds, purples and browns burst into bloom in the autumn, painting a colorful backdrop to the white steeped villages of New England, the dramatic seascapes of Maritime Canada and the magnificent Rocky Mountains.

Keep in mind, fall colors can be affected by wind, temperature and moisture. Mother nature can be unpredictable, so try to make your trip for other sites & events around New England, as well as the changing of the leaves. The peak travel season is typically mid-September to early October. We normally suggest after September 23rd through mid-October. Peak fall foliage in New England works its way down from the north. The further north you go, the earlier the peak. Many popular tour itineraries include Vermont, New Hampshire (Kancamagus Scenic Highway) and Massachusetts (the Mohawk Trail.) 

Choose from various escorted tours and cruise itineraries to gain the full experience of what New England has to offer. As the season nears, there are many "Hotlines" to get up to date information on the changing of the season. Tauck has a foliologist/naturalist that gives updates on their hotline: 800-214-8209 starting in early September.

For more information: http://www.escortedfallfoliagetours.com/Default.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Brage http://EzineArticles.com/?Best-Time-to-See-Fall-Colors-in-New-England&id=2054304

Monday, November 16, 2009

Adventures by Disney just released their tour vacations for 2010.

Entering its fifth year, Adventures by Disney designs tours with the family in mind and provides educationally-enriched experiences so even younger travelers understand, appreciate and have fun in their new surroundings. These hassle-free vacations, rooted in the service and quality of family travel leader Disney, provide distinctive opportunities and special touches to make memories that last a lifetime.

“We are able to offer vacation experiences to some of the most fascinating places on earth, literally bringing history to life for our guests,” said Don Gross, Vice President, Adventures by Disney. “Each itinerary is carefully planned, creating a vacation that includes the most iconic and must-see sites as well as off-the-beaten path excursions. In fact, guests often tell us the hardest part about the trip is choosing the adventure.”

The Disney Difference

From snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galapagos to discovering Europe’s classic history, each itinerary is as matchless as its surroundings. Yet one aspect holds true for every trip: the special touches that are collectively called “the Disney difference” .

Adventure Guide: Part storyteller, ambassador, concierge and role model, Adventures by Disney’s highly-trained Adventure Guides are the friendly hosts and travel specialists who lead guests on every trip. With two guides assigned for every group (of up to 40 people), travelers receive individual attention to ensure a fun and enriching vacation.

Junior Adventurers: Young travelers are transformed into Junior Adventurers – seeing, hearing and tasting things that they might otherwise not have experienced. The immersive activities created just for kids allow young travelers to learn and have fun in places like museums that aren’t always as entertaining for the younger set. For example, at the Louvre in Paris, the Junior Adventurers play an Art Detective game throughout the museum with their Adventure Guides, while adults take a privately guided tour with an art historian. In addition, the Adventure Guides are expert storytellers and are trained to create fun and unique, locally-based experiences for the kids. On almost every departure, there is also a Junior Adventurers night, in which the kids have a special evening experience with their Guides, while the adults get a quiet evening on their own at the resort.

Local Experts: An authentic Tuscan chef, a naturalist from Costa Rica, a Chinese tai chi master – these local experts share a passion; they live and breathe the local history and culture of their destination. They are an integral part of every Adventures by Disney vacation. They join guests to share their stories and provide an “insider’s” perspective to each destination.

VIP Access: Travelers vacationing with Adventures by Disney receive VIP experiences that are practically impossible to schedule on their own. Special entry to otherwise crowded sites, unique accommodations (like castles in Ireland and Germany, a dude Ranch in Yellowstone and at the base of a live, active volcano in Costa Rica. Guests also get backstage access of celebrated performances like “The Lion King“ in London. These are just a few of the exceptional moments woven through each itinerary, promising expedited service and a broader knowledge of each destination.

Adventures by Disney’s 2010 destinations include 19 global itineraries:

Asia & Pacific

• Enchanted China - China: Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai and Hong Kong
• Safari to South Africa - South Africa: Cape Town, The Garden Route and Kapama Game Reserve
• Discovery Down Under - Australia: North Queensland, Ayers Rock and Sydney

British Isles & Europe

• Cities of Knights and Lights – England and France: London and Paris
• The Emerald Isle – Ireland: Dublin, Killarney and Shannon
• Once Upon a Fairytale – Germany: Heidelberg, Trendelburg, Rothenburg and Munich
• Alpine Magic - Italy and Switzerland: Stresa, Zermatt and Lake Lucerne
• Viva Italia - Italy: Rome, Tuscany and Venice
• Bella Italia – Central Italy: Sorrento and Florence

Latin America

• Path to Pura Vida – Costa Rica: San Jose, Arenal and Manuel Antonio National Park
• Treasures of the Galapagos - Ecuador and Galapagos Islands
• Sacred Valleys and Incan Cities – Peru: Lima, Sacred Valley and Cusco

North America

• Spirit of America -Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pa., and Williamsburg, Va.
• Quest for the West – Wyoming: Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
• Southwest Splendors – Arizona and Utah: Sedona, Grand Canyon and Moab
• Backstage Magic – Southern California: Hollywood and Disneyland Resort
• Golden Path to Yosemite – Northern California: Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco
• Taming the Last Frontier – Alaska: Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Kenai Peninsula
• Rocky Trails and Mountie Tales - Montana and Canada: Glacier National Park and Banff National Park

For Family Tour Vacations visit EscortedFamilyTours.com. For more on Adventure by Disney & other family tours, we invite you to visit  www.luxurytour.com.