There’s something magical about Europe in the lead-up to the holidays. They don’t call a certain road in Germany “the Romantic Road” for nothing, and the cities in this region will warm the heart of even the Grinch-iest globetrotter come Christmas time. Even those who don’t celebrate Christmas can enjoy the atmosphere and unique holiday […]
Hungary
Four Ideal City Breaks on a Central Europe Vacation (Part 1)
Steeped in history, culture, and architectural beauty, here are four cities well worth exploring on a Central Europe vacation. Budapest, Hungary Divided into “Buda” on the hilly side of the Danube, and “Pest,” which contains the city’s core, Budapest sits at the crossroads between Germanic, Slavic, and Balkan Europe, maintaining a Hungarian identity all its […]
My Favourite Cities for a Budget Getaway
Big cities can be a double-edged sword for travellers looking for a budget getaway. They often boast the big sights, but big names like London, Paris, and Sydney can also empty your wallet faster than most destinations thanks to higher hotel and restaurant bills, to say nothing of the big ticket attractions you want to […]
10 Magnificent Churches to See on a European Vacation
When I was travelling through Eastern Europe with my wife (then girlfriend), we’d comment on how our trip could be mistaken for a pilgrimage due to all the churches we were visiting. Every day brought with it some new medieval cathedral to explore or some treasure of the Renaissance that took decades to build. Even […]
Destinations Where Your Money Will Go a Long Way
We may not want to admit it, but money dictates most of our travel decisions. Everyone would love to stay at a 5-star resort in a tropical paradise for two weeks, but our bank accounts rarely allow such indulgences. So how do you get around the monetary restrictions of travel without resorting to visiting only […]
Four Perfect Days in Budapest on a Hungary Vacation
Sitting at the crossroads between Germanic, Slavic, and Balkan Europe, Hungary is a nation all its own, descended from Magyar settlers from Central Europe. Hungarians have a cultural identity very separate from their neighbours, which manifests in an architectural and artistic style you won’t see elsewhere in Europe. Nowhere is this better embodied than in […]
10 Essential Things to Do on a Budapest Vacation
Of all the Eastern European capitals, Budapest might boast the most culture. It was the co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for nearly half a century and has long been considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. However, a Budapest vacation often gets overlooked in favour of its Western European counterparts like Paris and […]
Free Things to See and Do on European Vacation Packages
How to find free things to do and see is often a question of research. However, perhaps the following will shed some light on what is available on European vacation packages, to guide you in the right direction. Free? Air is free. What else? I must admit I find that everywhere I turn, I find […]
Budapest’s Charm can be Intoxicating on Hungary Tours
Budapest is an enchanting city to explore on Hungary tours. Retaining its historical charm, it still offers a contemporary lifestyle. I recently returned from Budapest after having visited the city last during the days of the Soviet Occupation. I thoroughly enjoyed that visit. This time, the historic sites and sights were still the same, but […]
Budapest: More Than Just a Danube Stop on Europe Tours
Budapest is a familiar name on the Central Europe tourist trail, serving as the start or end point to many Central or Eastern Europe tours and Danube cruises. Yet the city has so much more to offer. At its centre, there’s no mistaking Budapest as the capital of what was once a much larger empire, […]