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ABOVE: A windmill in the Netherlands.

General Information

European Travel Commission
The ETC serves up basic facts on its 31 member countries.

Anitavacation.com
Anita Dunham-Potter, an online travel expert since 1994, writes about consumer issues, travel deals, cruising, destinations, and other topics.

Find-our-community.net
Visit official city and town Web sites in 45 European countries. The site's motto is "Discover the world--6 clicks to anywhere."

RateItAll: Western Europe Cities
Which cities are four-star destinations, and which are also-rans? See what other travelers think, then cast your own votes. RateItAll also has ratings for Western Europe Attractions.

Clothing and footwear

Men's Travel Clothing europeforvisitors.com
Do quick-dry or wrinkle-resistant fabrics, hidden security pockets, and other special features make travel clothing a good investment? To find out, I field-tested garments from Tilley, Norm Thompson, and L.L. Bean.

Z-CoiL Shoes europeforvisitors.com
Put a spring in your step--literally--with these shock-absorbing shoes, which prevent sore feet during all-day sightseeing.

Customs/Duties

U.S. Customs: Know Before You Go
Before you spend a thousand dollars on "duty-free" purchases or fill your backpack with stolen antiquities, read this page. Also see Bringing Agricultural Products Into the United States.

Ecotourism

Planeta.com
This award-winning "clearinghouse for practical ecotourism around the globe" includes an Eco Travels in Europe directory and an Exploring Ecotourism Resource Guide.

Events/Holidays/Seasonal Travel

Bank Holidays of the World
Search the database of holidays by continent, country, religion, month, and year from now through 2010.

Family Travel/Theme Parks

Travel With Kids: Europe
These links and articles are from Teresa Plowright's Travel With Kids. Also see Teresa's report on:

Centre Parcs Holiday Village
More than a dozen of these self-contained vacation centers are scattered throughout Northern Europe; think of them as an inexpensive version of Club Med for families with children.

European Amusement and Theme Parks
This 14-page collection of links to parks and zoos is from Robert H. Brown's Theme Park City.

Flowers

WonderVase europeforvisitors.com
If you've ever wanted to buy flowers while traveling, this lightweight folding travel vase is for you.

Food and Drink

Caseus Prize - Premio Caseus europeforvisitors.com
A competition for the "best cheese trolley in Italy" may sound quirky, but it's taken very seriously by the Italian restaurateurs, food critics, and Slow Food advocates who come to arrange, admire, and taste more than 400 of Italy's best cheeses.

European Beer Guide
Ron Pattison's comprehensive site is packed with information about beers, breweries, and pubs across the continent.

Freebies

FreeToDo Travel Guide: Europe
Click on a country, then select a region to learn what you can see for free.

Group Travel

Europe on Your Own  europeforvisitors.com
Group travel can be tempting for first-time visitors, but you'll see more of Europe when you travel alone or as a pair.

Rick Steves Interview: Group Travel europeforvisitors.com
The TV travel guru, guidebook author, and tour organizer tells how to get the most out of escorted travel (tip: avoid firms where guides get kickbacks).

Local Transportation

i-Métro
Calculate point-to-point journeys on subways, trams, and buses in 200+ cities around the world, using the Web or your mobile phone.

Measurements (English/Metric Conversions)

IFP: Metric Conversion Tables
Enter a number, select the desired measurement units, and click "calculate" for the result.

Measurement Conversions
Convert English to Metric or vice versa with an e-form, or view predefined tables of lengths, temperatures, speeds, and weights. From ConvertIt.com.

Museums

Chocolate Musems of Europe europeforvisitors.com
When you've had your fill of cathedrals and art galleries, find food for the soul (and possibly the stomach) in a chocolate museum or theme park.

News Media

British Media Online
Read British newspapers and magazines on the Web with the help of this remarkably useful site. Also see the News and Newspapers in Britain page.

Passports/Visas

See the Passports/Visas page of this Europe Travel Planner.

Photography

The Ultimate Camera Bag for Travelers europeforvisitors.com
It's made in England, it's a photographer's delight, and it converts into a travel tote with a snap and a tug.

Safety

Crime in Europe europeforvisitors.com
You're unlikely to get shot or mugged, but it's wise to take precautions against pickpockets, purse-snatchers, and petty thieves. (This article includes links to U.S. and British government advice on safe travel abroad.)

Killer Bags and Backpacks europeforvisitors.com
Your camera bag, computer tote, or rucksack could put you in grave danger if you heed a common tip for travelers.

Travel Safety Tips
Click a question in this FAQ from CorporateTravelSafety.com for advice on everything from preventing home burglary while traveling to avoiding taxi scams. Not all of the advice is safety-related, and some of the tips are geared to high rollers from big companies, but the site is worth a look.

Service Programs

Global Volunteers europeforvisitors.com
Contribute your time and talents to disaster relief, community building, health care, etc. in 20 countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, and the UK.

Sex and Drugs

Sex in Europe europeforvisitors.com
To judge from what readers are ogling at Europe for Visitors, most Europe-bound travelers are interested in only one thing.

Holland: Tempting the Tourist With Hookers and Hookahs europeforvisitors.com
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, and soft drugs are tolerated. But don't let that keep your children or church group from visiting Holland.

World Sex Guide
This site claims to be "a research project about prostitution worldwide," but its content is more anecdotal than scientific. Scroll down to "prostitution by country" for information on sexual commerce in 35 European nations.

Shopping

Tax-free Shopping europeforvisitors.com
If you're a visitor from overseas, you may be entitled to refunds of value-added tax on many European purchases. Here's what you need to know about VAT refunds before you shop--and what you need to do before you come home.

Paris Shopping europeforvisitors.com
An illustrated review of Through The Windows of Paris: Fifty Unique Shops, by Michael Webb.

The Riches of Paris europeforvisitors.com
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.

The Wine Mummy europeforvisitors.com
Vino Amici's bubble-lined, reusable plastic pouch makes it easier (and safer) to carry a bottle of wine or liquor in your checked luggage.

Smoking

Smoking in Europe europeforvisitors.com
The stereotype of ubiquitous Gitanes and Gauloises is fading, thanks to smoking bans in an increasing number of Western European countries.

Time Zones

The Time Zone Converter
In addition to a "What time is it in..." window, this site has a time-zone reference card, lists of time zones for specific countries, and links to other time-related pages.

World Time Zones
Check the current time in 1,000 places around the world, view a map of world time zones, etc. From ConvertIt.com.

European Travel Links - Main Index

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(c) iStockphoto.com/Robin Ahle

Need a car in Europe?

Auto Europe guarantees the lowest rental rates for standard cars, sports cars, SUVs, luxury cars, chauffered sedans, and RVs. Its Web site also has driving information for 38 countries.

If you live outside the EU, a tax-free Renault or Peugeot tourist lease can be cheaper than renting. Minimum driver age is 18, there' s no upper age limit, and rates include insurance. See: Short-term car leasing.


European train

Traveling by train?
Rail Europe has schedules, maps, and guides for 50+ European railroads. (Residents of North and Central America can buy tickets and rail passes online.)


From Europe for Cruisers:


Travel and cruise news:


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