Photo by Wolfgang Staudt

You will achieve the best rental price by booking in advance. Most of the large multinational rental agencies have branches throughout Europe. You may even be able to secure a cheaper price by renting via a consolidator, however should you have any problems, don’t expect any assistance from the vendor.

Another advantage when dealing with a large company is that there are more choices of branches in which to drop the car back, whether it be intra-city or inter-city. Picking up and dropping off a rental car at different branches within the same country usually does not incur any extra charge. Dropping off a car in a different country can add substantially to costs though, with drop-off fees adding between USD100-300 to the cost.

Also, consider whether your trip will include a ferry crossing as it is quite expensive to take your car and it may be worthwhile renting another car in the country in which you disembark.

Although renting a car in Europe is generally more expensive than renting a similar car in the U.S., it is most economic when you rent by the week with unlimited mileage. In comparison, daily rates are higher and the longer you rent, the lower the daily rate.

Photo by Michael Gray

Depending on where you pick up your car may affect the cost of rental. For example, it is occasionally cheaper to pick up the rental car from a downtown office than at the airport. It is also worth obtaining an International Driving Permit. Even though an International Driving Permit may not be required in all countries, it is recognized in all countries.

Debit cards and cash are almost never accepted in Europe, so make sure you have a credit card with a sufficiently high limit. Make sure that you keep all receipts and vouchers from your reservation. They will be required when picking up the car together with your credit card, driver’s license, and ID. Before taking the car, make sure you check the car carefully to ensure it complies with the condition described on the rental agreement and make sure all data entered is correct upon return the car.

Following the above steps should ensure that at least the car rental aspect of your European trip should be hassle free.

Author bio: The article was written by Hertz, offering short and long term car rental in Israel

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It’s not cheap

You think you have it bad in the United States. Well Europe can be really expensive. In some places you’ll need a lot more money than you’ve ever thrown around before. If you want to go out in London you will have to take out a second mortgage. Know that you will have to look after your money. If that means heading to the shops to buy some groceries, great. You can always cook in a hostel. But don’t expect to be going out for food every night.

Photo by Gary Cycles

Watch your pockets

I don’t know how much experience you have with pick pockets, but unfortunately in some European cities you can see quite a lot of it. There are professionals that go around targeting unsuspecting people. It makes you an even bigger target if they can see you carrying around lots of fancy electronic equipment. Just be careful of anyone who welcomes you with a handshake and a little dance. Look in your pocket after this and it could be too late.

Photo by Daniel Lobo

It’s really cold

Especially in Northern Europe, you’re lucky if you will even see one week of summer. What I can tell you is that it’s really cold. Pack as much warm clothes as you can that will fit in your luggage, or be prepared to buy more from the shop. You don’t want to be waiting about at night with nothing keeping you warm except a t-shirt. It’s going to be even better if you have a hat, scarf and gloves.

Photo by Ffion Atkinson

Taking money from ATM’s

You will eventually have to withdraw money from ATM’s and you need to be very careful. Don’t let anyone see your card. It’s equally important not to flash too much cash around. Not everyone will be as rich as you and waving money in their face is likely to entice them to take it off you. Some gangs also use special machines they put on ATM’s in order to swipe your card details. Have a good look before you use the machine to check everything looks OK. The last thing you need is to lose all your money in a foreign country.

Photo by Frank Hebbert

Be careful in bars

Like anywhere else you will find trouble in some bars. This tends to happen a lot more regularly in Europe. The main culprits are England and Ireland. Unfortunately, some people will go out with the sole purpose of starting trouble. It’s unlikely it will happen to you, but it’s always something to be careful of. If anybody tries to cause bother you should walk away before it gets out of hand.

Photo by Glenn Harper

John Peters is an expert travel advisor and writes various articles on topics like unique vacation spots, travelling tips and adventurous holidays. His company provides great services like cheap flights to Murcia with Jet2.com.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Simon Pielow

The Definition of Luxury

The operates from March to November, offering service between many major European cities. The line’s western terminus is London; passengers may also embark in Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague, Vienna, Cracow, Dresden, Istanbul, Bucharest and Budapest. Passengers travel in peerless luxury and enjoy five-star dining; the service and appointments on board the Orient Express are so legendary that for many passengers a journey aboard it is a significant part of their holiday.

Great Britain and Mainland Europe

The Orient Express is owned and operated by Orient-Express-Hotels Ltd., which uses one carriage for travel within the United Kingdom and another to reach destinations in mainland Europe. Passengers who board in London must disembark when the train reaches the English Channel; they arrive in France via the Eurotunnel Shuttle and board the Orient Express once more. The rail cars used for the British service are only used for day trips because they have no sleeping accommodations. Passengers enjoy lunch and afternoon tea; for some, this is the purpose of the journey, while others are traveling to historic castles in the British countryside. The Orient Express that operates on the mainland features sumptuous sleeping quarters. Both iterations of the Orient Express use vintage rail cars from the 1920s and 1930s.

Tour Packages

Travel aboard the Orient Express is a luxury, and priced accordingly. Some passengers plan their own route, while others take advantage of complete holiday packages offered by the railroad. One of the most popular packages offers service from London to Venice; the trip lasts five days and includes lodging at the London Ritz and three nights in Venice’s Hotel Cipriani, whose rooms overlook the adjacent lagoon. Travellers also spend one night on the Orient Express, where they enjoy private cabins with room service and a private hot and cold water supply. During the day, passengers sit on their in-cabin couch and enjoy the passing scenery. At night, the stewards unfold the couch into a roomy double bed and dress it in fine linen. Two types of cabins are available: the Double Cabin is a single room with a folding bed, and the Cabin Suites have two adjoining cabins. There are washrooms in each car.

The Pinnacle of Excellence

The Orient Express offers the finest rail travel in the world, complete with service and amenities that rival any hotel. The food is prepared by esteemed French chefs and served in the dining car, where most passengers dress formally. After their meals, many head to the nearby bar car for a nightcap; by the time they return to their cabins, the stewards have prepared the beds for a night of sweet dreams.

Martin writes for Medwelcome a Holiday Rental Property website

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Matt Riggott

1. Arthur’s Seat/ Holyrood Park

Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano, is one of the defining features of the Edinburgh skyline. It is in Holyrood Park which lies close to the city centre and is one of Europe’s largest urban green spaces, containing an array of hills, lochs, glens and ridges. Lying about a mile east of Edinburgh Castle, it’s the highest point in the city and provides panoramic views over the spectacular skyline. It’s a popular walking spot among tourists and locals. Don’t be put off by its height: it’s not too steep so it’s relatively easy to climb.

2. Gilmerton Cove

Hidden beneath the streets of south Edinburgh, Gillmerton Cove is a series of underground tunnels and chambers. Guided tours of the cove are popular; a guide will take a small group down for around forty-five minutes to one hour and will explain the history and myths surrounding the cove. Entrance is £5 per adult. The attraction is very popular so it’s advisable to book in advance.

3. Royal Botanical Garden

Located 1.5 miles north of Princes Street (one of Edinburgh’s main shopping streets) is the Royal Botanical Garden. The garden spans 31 hectares and is a family favourite, with plenty of benches dotted around for picnics. If you don’t fancy making your own sandwiches fear not, because the garden also features an on-site café and restaurant which provides food, and shelter for when the weather isn’t as good. Entrance to the site is free; there’s a charge to enter the specialist greenhouses but according to reviews, seeing them is worth the extra cost.

After a long day of outdoor activities why not consider staying in one of the serviced apartments Edinburgh has to offer?

Phil Hudson, PR & Marketing Support, SilverDoor International Serviced Apartments

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In many European countries, discounts are offered on flights and public transport cards for travellers under 25 or 26, sometimes as a matter of course, other times if you buy a specific “young person’s” travel card, which entitles you to the lower rate. This can be a big help getting around, so check out the information on the countries you’d like to visit to find out more.

Photo by the leap.

Staying in youth hostels is a popular option for gap year travellers, as it is far cheaper than a hotel and allows you to meet other gap year students easily. These can be found in most major European cities.

If you venture out of the Euro zone on your gap year, make sure your bank card works abroad so you can withdraw money and use your debit card to avoid having to change between currencies all the time. You will probably need to notify your bank that you will be using the card in different countries too, as they tend to stop cards due to suspected fraud if not informed.

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One thing that makes Stockholm so unique is that the large city is actually comprised of 14 separate islands, connected by a network of bridges. There are currently 50 bridges keeping Stockholm’s different areas within easy reach of each other, and many of these are attractions in their own right.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Mispahn

Despite the fact it is made up of islands, Stockholm has an enviably good public transport network, comprising trains, buses and underground subway trains. You can buy day passes that allow you to get around using any combination of these, as with most major European cities.

The climate in Stockholm is surprisingly mild for a Scandinavian country, though you will find that if you visit in December the days are incredibly short, with only 6 hours of daylight on the shortest day. By contrast, there are 18 hours of daylight at the mid point of summer.

There are so many things to see and do in Stockholm’s many thriving districts that there is certainly something for every traveller. You can check out the historical sights in the old town, or shop and socialise in the trendy districts of Norrmalm and Ostermalm. The nightlife is great, but be aware that drinks are very expensive in Sweden.

Stockholm is a truly great European destination for a city break, and with plenty of transport links and hotels it is easy to find a well priced deal for a trip there.

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The Mini Europe park is located just few steps from Atomium and is the most popular tourist destination in Brussels. With 300,000 visitors per year and a turnover of 3 million euro, Mini Europe Park is one of Brussels’ leading attractions.

In the area of the park you can enjoy e.g. the animation of the earthquake during the eruption of Vesuvius.

The basic admission fee in 2010 is €13.10
Openning hours

• From 20/03/2010 to 30/06/2010 from 9:30 to 18:00 (cash desk untill 17:00)
• From 01/07/2010 to 31/08/2010 from 9:30 to 20:00 (cash desk untill 19:00)
• From 01/09/2010 to 30/09/2010 from 9:30 to 18:00 (cash desk untill 17:00)
• From 01/10/2010 to 09/01/2011 from 10:00 to 18:00 (cash desk untill 17:00)
• 24, 31/12 – from 10:00 to 17:00 (cash desk untill 16:00)

During summer months you can visit the Park also during the night.

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