Best Europe Travel Guidebook

LET ME START OUT BY SAYING THAT I AM IN NO WAY A PAID SPONSOR, NOR AM I AFFILIATED WITH ANY TRAVEL COMPANY (AGAIN, I’M JUST NOT THAT COOL).  I REALLY AM JUST A GIRL, WITH A TRAVEL CRUSH ON A BOY NAMED RICK STEVES.   YES, HE DOES REMIND ME OF NED FLANDERS FROM THE SIMPSONS, BUT IF YOU CAN PUT THAT ASIDE FOR A MOMENT, YOU’LL SEE THAT WITH HIS HELP YOU WILL NEVER NEED TO WASTE MONEY ON ANOTHER TRAVEL GUIDE AGAIN.

Photo Cred: http://mcguirebarber.com/Rick-Steves 

WHO IS HE? Rick Steves is a native Washingtonian who has been writing travel guides and books and hosting shows and podcasts for over 30 years.  Most of the locations he focuses on are in Europe, where he spends about 1/3 of the year doing research to ensure that the information he publishes is as current as possible.    

WHAT DOES HE DO? He writes amazing travel guides for most European locations.  The books provide his unbiased, unsponsored recommendations for where to eat, stay, sightsee and everything in-between.  He even offers free podcasts that you can download, including walking tours of museums and cities.

WHY ARE HIS BOOKS BETTER? If you’re looking for a Fodors picture book, this aint it. Rick (we’re on a first name basis) only provides the information necessary to make the best decisions for your trip.  As an American traveler, he tells you what you need to know when you need to know it, including what to look for on the menu and approximately how long you’ll be in line, with scary accuracy.  Recommendations span across all budgets and styles of travel and is the only book I bring along these days.  He’s never let me down on where to go or what to do and is always very honest when he thinks a place isn’t worth visiting.  

So next time you’re planning a trip to Europe, sit in one of the few Barnes and Nobles left and check out his books.  If it seems like it’s your style, pick it up and thank me later… or write me a massive check – whatever you prefer.

Packing with Purpose

FROM A BED COVERED IN CRAP TO NEATLY, ORGANIZED PACKS OF ESSENTIALS - LEARNING A FEW SIMPLE PACKING TRICKS WILL MAKE YOUR TRIP LIFE MUCH EASIER. AS A SELF PROFESSED OVERPACKER, I'LL GIVE YOU MY TIPS TO PACKING WITH PURPOSE.

1.  Pack with each day in mind:

• What will you be doing on that day?
• What will the weather be like?
• What could change?

2. Don't bring anything you wouldn't normally wear or needs too many additional pieces to work.  If you wouldn't wear it at home, you probably won't wear it while on vacation.

3. Do bring items that can be re-worn or are versatile (jeans, jackets, solid shirts).

4. Roll your clothes, don't fold. This keeps them mostly wrinkle free and you can fit more in a small space.

5. Remember, if a clothing emergency occurs, you can probably buy what you need (unless you're in the Amazon or Idaho (just kidding... kind of). Packing for the impossible is not the way to go and will just clutter your trip.

PACKING CUBES

My favorite travel accessory. Whether I'm going on a month long excursion or a romantic weekend getaway, my packing cubes come along for the ride. You can find them on Amazon for about $20 for 3 (my personal favorite is the Rick Steves set). I organize them 1 of 3 ways:

1. By Type of Clothing

• Socks, underwear, accessories
• Shirts, pants, pajamas
• Jackets, dresses, extras

2. By Day(s) 

• Each cube has 1 or 2 days packed inside so that when I don't feel like fully unpacking, I can just grab that day's cube and save myself the mess

3. By Location

• Especially helpful when you are experiencing major climate or activity changes during your trip
• For example: beach wear, active, hot weather, cold weather, dressy, etc. 

Do you have any packing secrets that you want to share?

Please add your tips and tricks for us all to learn from. 

Travel Like a Local with Vayable

SIMPLY PUT, VAYABLE IS LIKE THE ETSY FOR TRAVEL. LOCAL EXPERTS IN NEARLY EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE WORLD LIST EXPERIENCES THAT YOU CAN BOOK DIRECTLY WITH THEM. THIS ISN'T ANOTHER TOUR BOOKING COMPANY, IT'S A CHANCE TO EXPLORE A CITY WITH SOMEONE WHO LOVES WHERE THEY LIVE AND IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHERS. 

Click to check out www.vayable.com 

I've been using Vayable for about 2 years now and it's become my go to site anytime I start planning a trip.  Prices vary, but are usually very reasonable and the experiences offered are unique and unlike anything you'll find on a normal tour booking site.  We have always had excellent guides who are excited to tell us about their personal thoughts on the city and the culture; honest conversations you rarely get when you are on vacation. 

Here are some of the experiences we've booked in the past:

• THE MARKETS OF LONDON - My husband and I booked a tour with Kelly and from the moment we met Kelly she instantly made us feel at ease and had the whole day planned out for us. She took us to some amazing places to eat unique food that we would have never found without her, showed us what was worth buying and what wasn't and spent the whole day telling us about life in London. She was so fabulous, ensuring that we had an unforgettable experience in London. We definitely felt like we walked away with a new friend and have kept in touch ever since.
• ITALIAN FAMILY DINNER - My husband and I booked this during our 1 month tour through Europe. We traveled to 7 countries and nothing beat this fun and unique experience. Doug picked us up from our hotel, took us to his warm home, introduced us to his wonderful wife Erica and their beautiful little girls. Erica cooked us a spectacular meal where she showed us how to make each dish and even printed us a menu along with recipes so that we could recreate them when we returned home. They were so inviting and told us wonderful stories of their life in Italy and gave us a true feel for what it is like to actually live in such a magical place. While we did not know what to expect when we first booked it, we now talk about it constantly and how it was one of our favorite memories of the whole trip. Doug and Erica are marvelous and we can't wait to go back to have dinner with them again.
• MIDNIGHT STREET FOOD TOUR - Jeff offers a different side of the NYC food scene by taking you out on the streets of Queens where a world of international cuisine appears below the metro tracks to serve the working-class as they return from their jobs in the city. Jeff has been building relationships with these food vendors for years by asking questions (in his attempt at white-boy Spanish) and showing a genuine interest to understand and promote the under-appreciated street food culture in this area. Jeff takes you street by street to try everything from fresh tamales and coconut milk to pig-ear tacos and goat stew. More than anything, we appreciated the authenticity of the food, the genuine kindness of the people and the merging of cultures that you don't get to experience in the Manhattan bubble. For a relatively low asking price compared to many other culinary tours, all food is included and you leave with just enough room to breathe. (Check out my full write up on NYC here).