Europe String

Preparing to book your flight? Night owls won’t like this, but booking the first flight of the day is often your best bet. There are less chances of it being delayed, because most likely the plane has been at the airport overnight. This means no late departures due to tardy incoming aircraft. Plus, if for some reason your flight is delayed, there should be more options for you to depart the same day. The first flight also gives you more flexibility should you need to change flights mid-trip.
Budget your trip before you leave. This can be difficult as you …read more

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Mmmmmm… cheese. I love it. Check out any food market in Europe and you’re likely to discover dozens of varieties you’ve never tried before.
This was definitely true for me on my first trip to Amsterdam’s famous Noordermarkt. This organic farmer’s market is located in the Jordaan quarter of Amsterdam and takes place rain or shine every Saturday. The friendly vendors were happy to give me a taste of various cheeses to help me choose which ones to buy.
Even if your accommodations don’t include a kitchen, the Noordermarkt organic market is definitely worth a visit for foodies visiting Amsterdam. The experience …read more

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Sometimes the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is referred to as the world’s first indoor shopping mall, but that’s a comparison that doesn’t do this magnificent structure justice. It connects the Piazza del Duomo to the piazza in front of La Scala opera house in the center of Milan. The ceiling consists of a glass dome, while the floor is sumptuous marble.
While most of the shops (including Prada’s flagship store) in the galleria are pretty high-end, the galleria does offer one great budget-travel activity (besides being an attraction in and of itself): a good luck spin on the bull’s balls is …read more

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The amazing Jewish Museum in Berlin reminds us that Christianity isn’t the only religion on the continent with their annual Hanukkah market, which this year is being held in the new glass courtyard behind the museum. The market offers visitors an opportunity to sample traditional Hanukkah foods as well as to learn about the holiday traditions of Jews in Germany and around the world. Both the museum (designed by architect Daniel Libeskind) and the market are well worth a visit.

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Ooooo Berlin. Possibly my favorite city in all of Europe. And it definitely delivers during the holidays. There are Christmas markets all over the city, but the most adorable one is probably the Weihnachts Zauber (“Christmas magic”) market at Gendarmenmarkt.
This is actually the only Christmas market I’ve ever been to which charged admission. Luckily it’s only one euro, so even the budget traveler can swing it. You may have to battle crowds inside, though, so if you’re not a crowd person, go early in the day (and preferably on a weekday). Don’t miss the Feuerzangenbowle (which is basically another word …read more

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Although not one of my very favorites, the Zurich Christmas market (known as the Christkindli Markt) does have a few things going for it.
Firstly, it is indoors (in the giant hall of Zurich’s main train station), making it fun to visit even when the weather outside becomes frightful. Secondly, it boasts a gigantic tree decked out in Swarovski crystals. And thirdly, the savory cheese pie you can buy there by the slice is absolutely delicious.
The Glühwein’s pretty good, too.

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Germany isn’t the only country which does Christmas markets well. Strasbourg, France, is the home to one of Europe’s largest Christmas markets (which is also France’s oldest Christmas market).
Strasbourg is a charming city worth a visit even without the Christmas market. It lies right on the boarder with Germany, and you’ll see a mixture of French, German, and a local dialect here. Important vocabulary: vin chaud is French for mulled wine (Glühwein in German).
The Strasbourg Christmas market is definitely one of Europe’s most popular (and commercial), and the crowds can get pretty intense. If you’re having a hard time finding …read more

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I’m in the US this month, visiting friends and family in several states. One topic of conversation that keeps coming up is how very expensive Europe has become for Americans given the dollar’s recent slide against the euro and other currencies.
Actually this slide has been going on for a while now, as this article from July shows. But the big story these days seems to be the hoards of European tourists flooding New York City as they take advantage of the super-affordable Christmas shopping to be had there.
The news isn’t all bad for dollar-earners: the US currency is expected to …read more

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I love December in Europe. This continent really does the Christmas season well. Markets pop up in hundreds of cities in and around Germany, full of holiday decorations, handicrafts, seasonal treats and hot drinks. You’ll often find Christmas markets in multiple squares around a city or town, each market consisting of a cluster of small wooden huts selling various goodies.
The eastern city of Dresden hosts Germany’s oldest Christmas market. Dresden is one of my favorite cities in Germany, and it is worth a visit any time of year, but if you can make it during the month of December, you’ll …read more

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In time for my trip to Barcelona next week,  I received  in the mail a Student Travel JetPack.  I will be bringing the whole package with me and will check out all its contents, whether they are indeed useful for budget travelers headed for Barcelona.
Before I have even left, I guess I can safely inform you that the function of the following items need not be questioned:  the money belt, continental travel adapter plug, luggage lock and the local SIM Card with a free starter credit.
Now, the map and the “don’t forget checklist” I would have to check out.  As …read more

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