This article appears in our Print Edition, February 2017 -- Page 55
I’ve talked to too many people who put off their travel dreams just because they haven’t found a travel partner. The prospect of going alone sounds either too daunting or just not all that fun.
But traveling on your own can be rewarding, vivid and exhilarating — a gift from you to you. Prepared with a positive attitude and solid information, you’ll thrive in Europe. And you’ll come home stronger and more confident than ever before.
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This article appears in our Print Edition, January 2017 -- Page 53
Every summer, Europe greets a stampede of sightseers. Instead of jumping into the peak-season pig pile, consider planning a trip for the off-season, generally November through March. Here are some things to know when planning a winter trip.
IT’S CHEAPER — Off-season airfares are often hundreds of dollars cheaper.
With fewer crowds in Europe, you may find you can sleep for less. Many fine hotels drop their prices, and budget hotels have plenty of vacancies....
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This article appears in our Print Edition, December 2016 -- Page 55
Top tips for traveling light
Sometimes I wonder why I lug my bag through airports, following my own recommendation to pack light enough to carry it on. It can be a drag, dragging your bag through airports.
But, once in a while, I’m reminded of the joy of having everything with you, like the time I avoided a long layover by hopping on an earlier flight from Copenhagen to Bergen. After getting to my hotel two hours before planned, I enjoyed a jumpstart on my Norway time...
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This article appears in our Print Edition, November 2016 -- Page 53
Once, while riding the train into Dresden, Germany, I got off where most other passengers did, at Dresden Neustadt. After 20 minutes of walking in a confused fog, my denial that I had gotten off at the wrong station slowly faded. Embarrassed by my mistake, I hopped on the next train. Five minutes later, I got off at Dresden Mitte. As I stepped outside the station, it slowly sunk in: I had made the same mistake. Another train came. I got on and finally made it to Dresden Hauptbahnhof, a...
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This article appears in our Print Edition, October 2016 -- Page 53
In Britain, the kids are all right
Imagine being a kid forced to spend a big part of your summer vacation with robo-tourist Rick Steves (alias Dad). My kids, Jackie and Andy, did that a lot when they were young. I always considered it a great education for them, but they also had a lot of fun.
One of their favorite destinations, Great Britain, enthralled them with colorful pageantry and evocative historical sights. Here’s what impressed them the most.
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This article appears in our Print Edition, September 2016 -- Page 54
I’ve always felt that taxis are underrated, scenic time-savers that can zip you effortlessly from one sight to the next… except during rush-hour traffic, when they’re stuck like everyone else.
In the past, cabs were expensive for a lone budget traveler but a good deal for a group of three or four. Now, with the advent of ride-sharing services like Uber, there are more deals than ever for getting around European cities.
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This article appears in our Print Edition, August 2016 -- Page 55
After spending 30-plus springs and summers in Europe, it seems to me that, more and more, the culture is celebrated outdoors. Cities and towns everywhere are competing to attract visitors, and there is more than enough music, drink, theater and fun to keep these concerts and festivals going and growing.
Make a point in your travels to enjoy the scene outdoors… by day and by night. Here are a few random examples of how to put this cultural sparkle into your next trip....
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This article appears in our Print Edition, July 2016 -- Page 53
Eating in Europe is about more than just the food. The best dining experiences are sensory, where you’re not only eating tasty cuisine, you’re enjoying the patina of age, the colorful clientele and their chatter and the crunchy sound of knives cutting through freshly baked loaves of bread.
After years of travel, I’ve found that just as important as museums and churches is experiencing culture through the hearth, through the kitchen and through the dining room...
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