Get around Europe

Lindos is a tiny picturesque village of only 700 inhabitants on the Greek island of Rhodes. A short €5.00 bus ride from Rhodes City or a quick car ride from any Rhodes villa, there are plenty of sights and activities to enjoy in this little town. For a great day trip or short term stay, head over to Lindos for a sunny getaway with the family.

A beachside village, Lindos’s St. Paul’s Bay is a must see beach. Complete with white sand, shallow azure water and exceptional views of the Aegean Sea, it’s the perfect place to sunbathe and relax the day away. Protected by craggy rocks, the bay’s warm waters are calm and perfect for swimming. One of the village’s most popular attractions is a ride on a glass-bottomed boat. Tourists will get a chance to explore the scenery surrounding Lindos while at the same time the glass bottom exposes the sea life below.

Lindos is quite small and very walkable. In fact, cars are typically not allowed on the village’s cobblestone streets. Bicycles, mopeds and donkeys are the common means of transport besides walking. While exploring the hilly village, notice the whitewashed walls, old stone mosaics and boxy buildings which are fine examples of Greek architecture. Spend time exploring the city and stop in one of the villages taverns to sample some local dishes.

The ruins of the Acropolis and a reconstructed temple of Lindian Athena are two of the most popular cultural attractions in town. Situated atop a steep hill, visitors not wanting to make the climb can rent a donkey or take a bus to the entrance. Surrounding the Acropolis are the ruins of centuries’ worth of fortifications by a number of different civilisations including the Byzantines and later 14th century crusaders. Also located on the slopes of the hill are the ruins of an outdoor amphitheatre.

Each year, thousands of tourists flock to Lindos for its sunny beaches and quaint atmosphere. Its winding cobblestone walkways and traditional architecture hark back to a simpler way of life. Those staying in Rhodes City or renting a villa in Rhodes should make a point to visit Lindos, even if it is just for the day.

Naples is one of the biggest cities in Southern Italy, two hours from South Rome, and Italy’s third most favorable city. Naples is home to breathtaking museums and galleries alongside archaeological and architectural treasures including the infamous Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Benevento. Both Capri and Amalfi Coast tempt multimillionaires and beauty lovers worldwide. Equally charming are the Islands Procida and Ischia. Flights to Naples are supported by its main transportation system including major train lines and bus stations in the huge East Naples Piazza Garibaldi. As Naples is one of the biggest in Southern Italy, it is recommended not to hire a car as Naples has traffic problems but a first-class public transportation system.

Naples Archaeological Sites To Visit in Naples

From Herculaneum, Paestum to Pompeii and Campi Flegrei, Naples’ archeological stature is ranked amongst the best in the world. In North Naples lies Benevento, which is home to a magnificently preserved Roman arch.

Museums To Visit in Naples

Museo Archeologicao Nazionale is one of the finest museums worldwide and is dispersed amongst four floors. Egyptian treasures are situated in the basement and include jewellery, busks, obelisks, funerary statues from Ptolemaic and Hellenic periods, plus there is also a requisite mummy previously from the Borgia collection. Other unique finds include the ancient pornography discovered at Herculaneum and Pompeii, which has gained controversy and was reopened publicly in 2000.

Food in Naples

Italy’s Naples is home to the finest pizza in the world. While pizza may be the obvious choice when visiting Naples, wood burning oven baked pizzas are heavenly and a popular choice amongst visitors and Italians. Spaghetti eggplant Parmesan, and seafood are also popular food choices in Naples.

Around the world, Chamonix is regarded as one of the most attractive and upscale ski resorts on earth. Located in the French Alps, at the base of the famed Mont Blanc, Chamonix is a top pick for those wanting incredible scenery, plentiful skiing terrain and trails, and an apres ski atmosphere that is truly incredible. Here are a few tips on getting to Chamonix, and what to expect when you’re there.

Getting to Chamonix
International travelers will have the easiest time arriving in Chamonix if they first catch a flight to Geneva International Airport, just 90 kilometers away in nearby Switzerland. From there, options include renting a car and driving yourself to the resort, or hiring a van or shuttle to bring you there directly. Trains also operate from many nearby European cities. For a truly grand entrance, there are luxury helicopters that will pick you up from nearby rail stations, airports and cities and bring you to Chamonix in style.

Skiing Chamonix
For beginners and families skiing in Chamonix, the top resorts include Les Houches and Le Tour. From the center of town you can easily reach The Brevent and la Flegere, two options that are primarily for those with some experience skiing, as there are few choices for complete beginners or small children. An extreme skiing adventure awaits those ready to take on a challenge in the Vallée blanche and The Grand Montets. These offer high altitude slopes and even experienced skiers opt for a native guide to accompany them.

Meribel is a beautiful and exciting destination near the base of the Alps in the Savoie region of France. It is known particularly for the incredible Alpine skiing, but there is much more than just the slopes to enjoy while visiting the town. With a rich history, plenty of recreational activities, shopping, dining and nightlife, the town is an ideal holiday location whether you enjoy skiing or not. Here are some of the top non-skiing things to do while visiting the area:

World-Class Dining: One of the most enjoyable things to do while in the area is to frequent some of the upscale dining establishments. One of the top rated choices is Le Cro Magnon, a formal French dining room serving up carefully prepared dishes with fresh, local ingredients. The views look onto the snowy slopes and are truly breathtaking. For a taste of home, head to Evolution for traditional British pub fare, served with an upscale twist. Whatever your tastes, the Alpine town is bound of have a restaurant serving up something delicious for your palate.

Snow Shoe Walks: Even if you don’t plan to ski, there is no reason you can’t enjoy the slopes. Hire snow shoes to walk across the calmer areas of Les Allues. Try the hike starting from Les Ravines, which offers breathtaking views and a peaceful alternative to skiing.

Nightlife: Many of the bars in the region are run by British expatriates, and filled with visiting British as well. Head to Dick’s Tea Bar, the Tavern or the Barometer for a refreshing pint once the sun has set, and share your stories from the slopes with fellow travelers. Le Rond Point, commonly called “Ronnie’s” by the locals, is another popular favorite.

With so much to do and see in the area, Meribel makes for a great holiday destination whether you plan to ski or not!

The benefits of relocating to London are endless: beautiful architecture, vibrant night life, a wonderful arts scene, and easy access to travel all throughout Europe via discount airlines and an extensive network of trains.

Living in London is expensive, especially with the current exchange rate between the Pound and the Dollar. To enjoy relocating to London, you must be sure that you will have the savings or income to afford to enjoy it. As a frame of reference, a ride on the “tube”, or metro, can easily cost over five American dollars.

The biggest concern and expense in relocating to London is finding and choosing an apartment. Existing tenants give at least one-month notice before leaving their apartments, so it’s a good idea to begin your apartment search at least one month in advance. Apartments, or “flats”, are listed with agents in the city, and agents must by law give 24-hours notice of your apartment viewing. Therefore, it is wise to plan a period of apartment viewing in advance of your moving date.

Most agents only list apartments within a small area, so you may want to find four or five agents if you would like to see apartments in a number of locations. If you want to research available properties online, primelocation.com is the most popular website for listing rentals in London. It is important to remember that leases in London are only six months in length, so you can always take something partially suitable and give yourself time to look for a different home for the longer term.

To relocate to London, you will need a reference from your employer and a UK bank account from which the rent can be direct debited. Because the account may take a few months to finalize, you should be prepared to pay a few months’ rent in advance. With this advanced planning, your relocation to London can be made much more simple and enjoyable.

This was a guest post by John for National who offer affordable car hire London to help with your relocation

Image: JohnGoode

While there are many famous landmarks in Europe which should be on any tourist’s list, there are others nearby that should be included as well.

One of the most popular landmarks is the Tower of London. Today this is a museum but in times past could have been called a ‘tower of horrors’. This massive structure was built around 1078 during the reign of William the Conqueror. Within the walls are 19 other towers with quite a story to tell. Some towers contain messages scratched into them by prisoners. Other towers contain the tombs of well known execution victims such as 2 of the brides of Henry VIII. It is interesting to note that the last prisoner to be kept in the tower was Hitler’s right hand man, Rudolph Hess, in 1941

Nearby the Tower of London is the Churchill War Room which served as both the prime minister’s residence and blitz bomb shelter. The rooms which have been recently opened to the public are entered through a seemingly insignificant door banked with sandbags.

In Germany, one of the most interesting spots for American war veterans is Checkpoint Charlie and the museum devoted to it. Visitors can see exhibits of methods people used for escape attempts and learn more about the history of the Berlin Wall.

More can be learned about these landmarks at ask.com

There are two ways to approach traveling to Europe for a three week trip: you can either see everything that a couple of cities have to offer, or a little bit of what a whole lot of cities have to offer. Deciding which to do with your three week trip has everything to do with what you want to see and whether you will be back. If you know you will be back to Europe in a couple of years then you can just plan to see the cities that you didn’t see next time. If this is a once in a lifetime trip, though, then more cities may be better.

The first thing that you have to know is that the best way to get around the continent is by train. You can get anywhere by rail so that should be your plan. The key to making sure you have the best three weeks possible is to do your planning before you leave. Make a list of the cities that you want to see and what you want to see in those cities so that you can properly plan out your trip. The more that you put into your planning, the better chance you will have of seeing everything that is on your list. This is something that you need to plan out ahead of time.