Glastonbury: UK

Whilst festivals such as Reading/Leeds and T in the Park have mounted serious claims to being the UK’s ultimate festival, the history which precedes Glastonbury and its huge attendance still lands it as the number one UK festival. Known for bringing in the biggest headliners, (some of them much unexpected) there is always an eclectic mix of music and performances on display. Rumours for the 2013 headliners include veterans Fleetwood Mac and The Rolling Stones. Tickets are known to sell out as quickly as you can blink, so it is worth monitoring the site to find out when tickets go on sale. You should also pack some wellingtons or heavy duty footwear as it is known to be a victim to torrential rain.

Mud at Glastonbury festival, UK by Joanne and Matt

Benicàssim: Spain

One distinct advantage of attending a music festival in Spain in the summer is the opportunity to watch some of your favourite bands in near perfect conditions. Whilst Spain does get very hot in the summer the festivals close proximity to the coast provides strong breezes to alleviate the intensity of the heat. It has continued to gain popularity over the past few years and people from all over Europe travel to attend the festival. It takes place in a town on the outskirts of Valencia and most people tend to fly in, but a road trip through Europe and over the Pyrenees mountains is also an option for those who want to visit other places en route. Most recent notable acts include The Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Kings of Leon, Sigor Ros and Bob Dylan.

Benicàssim Festival, Spain by Renzo Giusti

Outlook Festival: Croatia

Croatia has become a popular European destination mainly due to its great summer climate and the fact it has its own domestic currency which makes local products cheaper for European travellers. Outlook festival has become one of the biggest dance festivals in the world and is renowned for having a diverse range of dance music represented across its stages. It is located in Pula, Croatia which rests on the southwest of the country. There are a number of beaches near the area which makes it a popular festival choice.

Before you begin your journey overseas it is worth investing in a prepaid travel card. Unlike cash you get the benefit of extra security and the ability to monitor your finances online and plan your holiday budget.

About the author: Adam Porteous writing on behalf of ICE. Click here for more information on their prepaid travel cards and travel money offers.

The post Exploring European festivals appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by Dave Dugdale

One of the things that catch many people out is knowing who and when to tip, and this is a factor that can prove to be somewhat confusing. Tipping is an established custom in many countries around the world, of course, but in the UK there are some groups who will always expect a tip and several more that will not, and these groupings can be very different from those in other parts of the world.

In most pubs and bars, for example, tipping the bartender is rare. In the USA, to use an example, it’s customary to tip every time drinks are bought, but in Britain this doesn’t usually happen. It may be more of a regular practice in some of the cosmopolitan bars in the centre of London, for example, but in the average British pub the server doesn’t usually receive a gratuity from customers.

Good service is everything

Those who would expect to be tipped include waiting staff in restaurants, but if you feel the service wasn’t particularly good you should consider giving less than the usual amount, which is often deemed to be around ten per cent of the total bill. Be warned, however, that many establishments already include a service charge, so make sure you check the details when the check is brought to the table.

Taxi drivers will usually expect to be tipped, as will hotel porters and hairdressers. There is no hard and fast rule about the amount of money you should offer in the UK, but generally a tip of between ten and fifteen per cent is acceptable. As always, you should see tipping as a reward for good service, not just as an expected payment that is part of the overall cost of a particular process.

When you’re budgeting for travelling around the UK, especially in the heart of London, it’s worth factoring in the cost of tipping a taxi driver. In general, cabs are relatively costly anyway in the capital, so it’s often a better option to take the underground railway, which is always less expensive and is usually quicker as well.

Sam Wilkes lives in the UK and works for https://www.timeto.co.uk/.

The post Tipping in the United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by gaudiramone

Now I assume that you have noticed that Paris is a desired tourist destination for millions of tourists all over the world. The reason for this is the fact that the city has a lot to offer to everybody. It is great during any time of the year.

Now a few words about Halloween in Paris… well, first of all you need to start with finding the proper accommodation. Of course there are literally hundreds of hotels in Paris but the question you need to ask yourself is whether is worthy to spend a small fortune on accommodation rather than spend the same amount of money for fun. This is why I can offer you to rent a Paris apartment. I know it may sound silly but believe this is the best decision. Anyway you should know that they can be a little bit more expensive than Apartment in Berlin or even apartment in Rome but the investment is worthy. After finding the best you can afford you should go and take a walk on the city.

You will see many interesting things. Even some of the buildings are decorated. It is great because the city transforms into one amazing place and even if you are currently living in Paris you will have troubles recognizing the places you walk through daily.

Anyway like every major festival in a big city there are some troubles. For example crowds. So my advice to you is, if you don’t like crowds, to avoid places like downtown because they are pretty crammed up. Plus you might become a victim of pickpockets and believe me festivals like those are the perfect time for crime. Not that the police is not doing its job but you can imagine what it is to protect thousands of people dressed in different costumes.

As a whole Halloween in Paris is one great experience and if you have a chance you should certainly go and spend a few days there. The atmosphere is really great and I’m pretty sure that you will have a great time there. Enjoy your stay!

The post Paris at Halloween – unusual experience | France appeared first on Europe Explored.