|
Travel Articles - Europe
Other Practical Information and
Travel Tips
E-mail
Keeping in Touch by e-mail
When to take a laptop and when to visit a cycercafé or Internet point, and how to use both in
Europe. Includes a link to a site that lets you check your existing Internet
e-mail account via a Web page.
Group Travel
Europe on Your Own
Should you see Europe with a group tour or independently? Our article discusses
the pros and cons of each.
Rick Steves on Group Travel
(Interview)
The guidebook author and TV travel host gives an insider's perspective (with
warnings) on escorted tours. Also see
the related review of his book, Postcards
from Europe.
Languages
Languages for Travelers
Before heading off to Europe, get acquainted with the local lingo. My article
includes practical language-learning tips and links to related sites.
Learn a Language in Europe
A language vacation can be a life-enriching experience. Read my advice on how to
find a language school, what to expect, and what I experienced as a middle-aged
language student in Siena, Italy.
Audiomagazines for Language Study
Sharpen your German, Italian, French, or Spanish listening skills with a
subscription to monthly audio programming on CDs or cassettes from Champs-Élysées.com.
Worldwide Multilingual
Phrase Book
If it's Tuesday and you're in Belgium, Eric Dondero Rittberg's introduction to
40 languages will help you meet and greet the locals before you rush to your
next destination.
Hide This French Book 101
Hide This Spanish Book 101
Berlitz has published "a countdown of the 101 hottest expressions" in two
languages. The inexpensive books make great bon voyage or buen viaje
gifts for hip travelers and semester- or year-abroad students.
Pets
Europe for Pets
Know the facts about European pet travel before bringing Fido or Fifi.
Photography
Travel Photography
A beginner's guide to cameras, film, and Internet resources for travelers who
take pictures to preserve memories.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1
This affordable digital camera packs an Arnold Schwarzenegger of a zoom lens
into a body as compact as Danny DeVito's--and its optical stabilizer helps to
keep camera shake from blurring your travel memories.
Kodak EasyShare DX6440
The company that brought you the Brownie, the Retina, and the Instamatic has
created an affordable, easy-to-use 4-Megapixel digital camera for traveling
snapshooters.
The Ultimate Travel
Camera?
A low-end photographer takes a high-end 35mm camera to Europe.
The Ultimate Camera Bag for Travelers
Martin Billingham of England has designed a nearly perfect hybrid of a camera
bag and travel tote.
Shopping
Tax-Free Shopping
Spend enough money in a European shop, and you may be entitled to a refund of
Value-Added Tax (VAT). Here's how it works.
Paris Shopping
An illustrated review of Through The Windows of Paris: Fifty Unique Shops,
by Michael Webb.
The Riches of Paris
A review of Meribeth Clemente's The Riches of Paris: A Shopping and Touring
Guide, with excerpts and links to other resources on Paris and shopping in
Europe.
Sightseeing
City Tours and
Excursions
Are guided city tours and day trips worth the cost? Are they compatible with
"independent travel"? Where can you find local tours?
Smoking
Smoking in Europe
The stereotype of ubiquitous Gitanes and Gauloises is fading, thanks to smoking
bans in an increasing number of Western European countries.
Student Travel
Student Traveler
Magazine
This guide to travel, study, and work abroad is available free at study-abroad
offices on 1,375 campuses in the U.S. and Canada.
Telephones
Cellular Phones in
Europe
If you're visiting Europe from the U.S. or Canada, here's what you need
to know before bringing, renting, or buying a mobile phone.
Talk Abroad
If you're visiting from abroad and touring more than one country, Talk Abroad is
a convenient way to bring and use a cellular phone.
National
Geographic "Duet" D888 Travel Phone
Cellular Abroad now offers a second-generation "Duet Talk Abroad" package
with a National Geographic phone that holds two SIM cards for greater economy
and calling flexibility.
Phoning Europe
Even in the Internet era, there are times when you may want to telephone a hotel or
other business in Europe--or when the folks back home may need to call you in an
emergency.
Phoning Home from
Europe
Like E.T., you may need to call home during your trip. Here's how to do it
without spending a fortune.
Tourist Offices
European National
Tourist Offices
Order printed literature, get answers to questions, etc. by contacting a
national tourist office near you. This directory has more than 30 pages of
listings: one page for each of 31 European countries, principalities, and
dependencies.
Walking Tours
European Walking
Tours
Do you prefer live learning to book learning? Walking tours are a great
way to get acquainted with European cities. (Our article includes links to
local guide services.)
Back to main articles index
| 
Durant
& Cheryl Imboden's
