Krakow, Poland by Klearchos Kapoutsis

Once the capital city during Poland’s Golden Age, Krakow could be one of the top most beautiful cities in Europe. It is Poland’s second largest city, with a population of around 700,000. It is also one of Poland’s oldest cities, with archaelogical remains showing inhabitation dating back to 20,000 B.C.E. By the year 1000 AD, it had grown to an immensely important, wealthy, and large trade center for Slavonic Europe.

Wawel Castle

One of Krakow’s major tourist destinations, the sprawling Wawel Castle, was built during the 13th century under threat of continued attacks from Mongol and Tatar forces. Thee 16th century found Krakow as a center for strong developments in science and arts – this led to Krakow’s golden age, another period of wealth and growth. Throughout history it had its ups and downs, but World War II was the largest most recent threat to its long-standing history. While much of Poland was destroyed as a main target of the enemy during WWII, much of Krakow was left intact from invading forces and aerial attacks (unlike Warsaw). This contributes to its historical tourism.

Located in southern region of Poland, only a couple of hours from the Tatra Mountains, Krakow is an excellent base from which to explore this beautiful region. Public transportation in the form of electric trams, buses, shuttles, and trains make getting around incredibly painless. Exploring on foot is also another great way to get around, as much of Krakow’s main tourist points are located around the Old Town Center. There is also a municipal bike rental for very affordable rates.

Must-see attractions within the city include the Wawel Castle, which offers a variety of touring options – the whole compound, or separate buildings such as the cathedral, galleries, or main castle grounds. Nearby, the historic Old Town Center is filled with museums, cathedrals, galleries, as well as restaurants, cafes, and bars. Historical buffs will enjoy the Museum of Archaelogy, which has many exhibits showing the fascinating history of the area, as well as contains the world’s only known representation of Swiatowit, the ancient and mysterious Slavic diety.

Wawel Castle, Krakow, Poland by fraumrau

The Zoological Museum

The Zoological Museum of the Jagiellonian University is the oldest zoological museum in Poland, and is located in a beautiful historic building, with exhibits located in cellars hewn into the rock. The Rynek Glowny (Main Town Square) contains an historic trading hall, called Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), from which many locally made Polish souvenirs can be purchased. The lovely Town Hall Tower gives a great view of the city when you climb to many stairs the top.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

There are also amazing attractions outside of the city. An absolute must-see is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, about a 20 minute bus ride from the city center. This is the oldest and longest-running salt mine in the world, having had a continuous mining operation for over 700 years. Visiting the mine requires registration as part of a guided tour, which has tour guides in all major languages. The tour starts with a long descent down 30 stories of stairs, followed by about a 2 mile walk through the underground tunnels, visiting not only salt operations, but fascinating pieces of history of the people who lived and worked here over the centuries.

There is an incredible cathedral in the mine, at a depth of about 1,000 feet below ground, and which is carved entirely out of salt – the floor tiles, chandeliers, wall frescoes, and pulpit were all hand carved from the gigantic salt deposit. Some 60 km from Krakow lies another popular destination – Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous concentration and extermination camp used by Nazis during World War II. Words cannot describe the conditions the prisoners endured, but visitors get an idea of it from the numerous exhibits containing personal effects of prisoners, as well as piles of shoes, prosthetics, shaved hair, etc. While incredibly saddening, this site is a must-see.

Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland by Adam Kumiszcza

Enough History and Culture

Krakow is the top tourist city in Poland, for good reason. There is enough history and culture to draw in tourists and keep them busy for weeks at a time. Any time of year is great to visit, however the winter season has less tourists. Winter also allows skiing buffs the chance to take the 2 hour ride south to the charming town of Zakopane, the regions skiing mecca. For a different, memorable trip to Europe, consider Krakow and you won’t be disappointed.

This article was written by Kevin Caldwell who enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures. He also built www.bricktownokchotels.com to help travelers find hotels near Bricktown when they are traveling in Oklahoma.

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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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Stay in hostels rather than in hotel rooms

Staying in a hotel room should be your last thing in mind if you are on a tight budget. Hostels may not have all the amenities and comforts of a hotel. But, it certainly provides clean and functional rooms for you to stay for the night. If you are traveling with the whole family, look for bigger hostels which may prove to be a big hit for your children.

Life Resort, Santa Pola, Costa Blanca, Spain / Photo by admin

Look for serviced apartments

If you are not comfortable with the idea of sharing a room with somebody else in a hostel, better opt for serviced apartments. Business travelers are usually the target guests of serviced apartments. However, you can always take advantage of their hidden bargains. Serviced apartments provide cooking facilities and a laundry room for their guests. You can even obtain access to their fitness gym and swimming pool at a very reasonable rate.

Save much money by saying no to some of the services offered in a hotel

Never ever place a call to any of your friends within or outside Europe using the telephone inside your hotel room. It would also be wise to refuse an offer of being able to watch more movies inside your hotel room. If you really want to watch a movie while in Europe better go to cinemas. Otherwise you will end up being shocked by your hefty hotel bill. Resist the urge of calling the hotel room service just to ask for food delivery to your room. Take the time to walk outside and look for affordable restaurants. This will save you a lot from experiencing stress and anxiety because you reduce your risks of blowing your budget while on a travel.

Take the time to have a little chat with the hotel staff

Talk to them about your future plans of coming back to Europe with your friends or business partners. You may also want to give them an impression that you really liked the hotel. The hotel staff has to know these things so that they will look at you as their prospect loyal guests. As a result, the staff will be giving you a VIP treatment. They will also be happy to offer you some really good deals that will help you save money and make your stay worthwhile.

Getting a room late at night will save you more money

Hoteliers only have one night to sell their rooms to tourists. Missing one guest for the night would also mean missing the chance to earn. This is one of the advantages of looking for a hotel room late at night. Hoteliers will become pressured not to have someone for each room. Therefore, getting inside the hotel late at night will give you the chance to ask for a discount or the best deal. You should be smart enough to negotiate and let them feel that the little amount you have is better than an empty room for the night.

Traveling these days in Europe has proved to be a reasonable thing to do. Many European airline companies are now giving out huge discounts to tourists. Therefore, make an effort to look for airlines, not just hotels that will allow you to save some of your hard earned money. After all, the best does not always have to mean the most expensive.

About the Author:
Ryan Rivera used to suffer from anxiety attacks for seven years. He now dedicates his life helping other anxiety sufferers through his writings. You can read more of his articles at Calm Clinic.

The post Money-Saving Tips for Finding the Best Place to Stay in Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.

Self Catering Holidays in Spain by admin

Sharing the Cost of Holiday Travel

Villa rentals and holiday flats are available in almost every destination on the planet. Find your target city and explore all your self-catering accommodation options provided by professional holiday lodging management companies. Book your holidays with friends, co-workers or family and settle in to a rented multiple bedroom home to call your own. Prices are fixed on the unit rental cost and rarely calibrated by the number of persons staying in the home. This means serious holiday savings when two or more will split the cost of the accommodation. Self-catering flats and houses are priced comparatively to four and five-star hotels, so the more people joining you on your holiday, the less financial burden it will be on your group.

Take A Leisurely Pace

The self-catering holiday craze is the best way to beat the rat race. Take your time and explore the countryside or take a break in the world’s most dazzling cities. Unlike a standard holiday tour that keeps you on a tight schedule, the self-catering way to stay and play affords you the maximum freedom and flexibility to see what you want without watching the clock. Add a car hire to pick up the pace and the self-catering holiday plan is a custom fit to meet your budget and personal touring style.

Saving Money On Food and Beverage

Self-catering flats, villas and houses come complete with a fully stocked kitchen and plenty of counter space to whip up your own meals. On a traditional hotel holiday, the food and beverage bill can take a bite out of your budget when you must rely on hotel restaurants and costly room service deliveries three times a day. However, the self-catering accommodation allows you to cook your own healthy dishes just the way you like them and save a bundle on food costs. Rather than draining your wallet in expensive restaurants, the local grocery stores are just minutes away.

Extended Living Spaces

The self-catering holiday is like having a home away from home. Choose an efficient studio or one bedroom unit or upgrade to a four or five bedroom home. Guests enjoy a private balcony or patio space in the smaller units and the larger homes provide a furnished backyard ideal for outdoor entertaining at the BBQ. Swimming pools are available upon request and many homes and villas provide a single or double garage.

On-site Amenities

Guests at a self-catering flat are entitled to all the perks and privileges of a full- time resident at that address. High-end rentals include access to the gym, sauna, game rooms and may provide a concierge service on select units. Washers and dryers are available inside the flat or provided on-site in a self service laundry room.

Self-catering flats and private homes are available in all the places you want to be. Choose a fabulous Orlando villa located just minutes from the Disney World attractions, a romantic beach house in Portugal, or a classic cottage in England’s Lake District. The popularity of the self-catering holiday industry has expanded the lodging inventory and brought the prices down to meet most budgets. Get more and spend less when you trade your tiny hotel room for a spacious and gracious private home for hire.

Rosie writes for Highcliffe Holidays, who have a great selection of Polzeath Cottages self-catering accommodation. They love pets and are proud to be amongst the top providers of dog friendly cottages in North Cornwall.

The post 5 Reasons To Try A Self Catering Holiday appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by pizzodisevo

Various archaeological findings show that the area of Spoleto was already inhabited in prehistoric times. Official establishment of the city dates back to 1000 BC. The town was founded by Umbri and later became an important Roman colony called Spoletium. Located at the head of a large, broad valley, surrounded by mountains, Spoleto has long occupied a strategic geographical position. It appears to have been an important town to the original Umbri tribes, who built walls around their settlement in the 5th century BC, some of which are visible today.

In 1155, Spoleto became the target of the army of Frederick I Barbarossa, and almost the whole town was destroyed. Around 1240 the town was claimed to be separated, but there was still influence of the Church. At the end of the 13th century the construction of walls began, which should protect the city, but also expand and define its territory. The part of the walls are still standing there.

In the 17th and 18the centuries there were some significant architectural modifications of the city. Wealthy aristocratic families called the renowned Roman architects to renovate their rich villas. A large part of the city was rebuilt at that time as well as the churches. These modifications play a crucial role in turning the city into the current view. Once the French occupation period ended, there was an unification of Italy and other revivals of the city. The political significance of Spoleto has been finished and the capital of Umbria became Perugia.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by ho visto nina volare

Now Spoleto is an interesting historical and cultural city, which is annually visited by thousands and thousands of tourists. Here you can find a number of architectural treasures, historical monuments, museums, as well as traditional cuisine restaurants called Osteria. Unforgettable cultural experience can be a “Festival dei Due Mondi”, which tradition has started in 1957. This is one of the largest art and music festivals in Europe. Always takes place in late June and July, attracting fans of music, opera, ballet, theater and visual arts. Spoleto is famous for the production of high quality and delicious taste of olive oil. The city is home to Monini’s family company, which deals with production of olive oil for several generations.

A tour of the medieval city is a good start at the Piazza della Liberta, where is the Roman Theatre – Teatro Romano from the 1st century, and Museo Archeologico. When you walk through the Piazza della Fontana, you get to the church Sant’Ansano which crypt houses the remains of a Roman temple and Byzantine frescoes. Just behind the church there is Arco di Druso from the year of 23, through which you get to the Piazza del Mercato, where Roman Forum stood before.

One of the streets you get to the Palazzo Comunale, which houses the Pinacoteca. It is important not only for its interior decoration, but also because it keeps the wonderful pictures. The same ticket gets you into the preserved Roman building – Casa Romana from the 1st century, which stands nearby. Then through cobblestone street you come to Piazza Campitello, which is just few steps from Spoleto’s most famous monument, the huge bridge Ponte delle Torri. The bridge was reportedly built on the ruins of an ancient aqueduct from Roman times and finished in 13th century. It is 80 meters tall and over 200 meters long. To the bridge you can get by following some of the many hiking trails that lead through the forest.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Michela Simoncini

Another interesting monument of Spoleto is the Romanesque church of San Pietro from 12th century. On the facade you can see a Romanesque reliefs from the same period. At the heart of Spoleto there is the Cathedral from 1198. The interior of the cathedral was modified in the 17th century and bears the hallmarks of the late Renaissance. Besides the cathedral there is the campanile towering with a pointed roof.

When visiting Spoleto do not miss the Church of Sant’Eufemia, which is a jewel of Umbrian Romanesque architecture. The lower part of Spoleto city is mostly modern, began to form after being bombed during the Second World War. There are still three Romanesque churches – San Gregorio, San Ponziane and San Salvatore, which is one of the oldest Italian churches. Its interior was created in the 5th century according to the ancient Roman basilica.

View Spoleto – an ancient city of the arts festival “The Festival dei Due Mondi (Festival of Two Worlds)” in a larger map

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