Ever been to Europe thinking you’d find the exact same cobbled, fairytale town you saw on that flying-dress influencer’s viral reel, only to be met with a ton of people and cramped, matchbox-sized B&Bs priced like a boutique hotel? They call the acute culture shock some tourists experience upon finding the real Paris falls short …
Enough with the endless hours of queuing to get into any ancient landmark you can possibly name in Rome; the jam-packed canals of Venice you’d be lucky to see if you can get past the indistinguishable mass of selfie-takers; and the mid-at-best, $40 ossobuco in Milan. If you’re dreaming of an Italian getaway this season, …
If you’re planning a trip abroad, especially to a country you’ve never been to before, it’s of course instinctive to start with the capital. They are (usually) a country’s most important destination for a reason: other than mere administrative hubs, they can be the cultural heart of a nation, with its highest concentration of landmarks …
Having lived across 3 European countries, from England to Ireland to France (my current home), and almost a decade into country-hopping solo around the Old Continent, with 40+ countries visited, I think I’ve reached the point I can look back in hindsight and reassess my priorities. What’s the main reason for Americans flocking over to …
Not Rome and its nauseatingly long Colosseum lines, Venice with the bottlenecked canals overflowing with tourists, nor Positano and its exclusive beach bars where a half-sized glass of Aperol will set you back $15. The Italian destination that has everyone talking Stateside is a sun-drenched island just off the toe of the Italian boot, known …
From the hustle and bustle of Rome’s ancient streets to Warsaw’s vibrant mix of modern architecture and Old World charm to small towns in Bosnia built atop cascading waterfalls with names I can’t even pronounce, I’ve seen my fair share of Europe over the years… and then some. As you might have picked up on, …
I get it, you’re not ready to let go of summer just yet. Neither am I. While I see pumpkin-spiced lattes popping up left, right, and center, and the fall girlies digging their Uggs out of storage, I’ve been scouring the map of Europe for destinations where it’s still hovering around 75 degrees out, the …
For most people, traveling between countries means airport chaos, security scrutiny, border queues, and stressful flights. What if I told you the most beautiful border crossing in the world bypasses all of that, in fact, and doesn’t even require you to toggle on flight mode? Recently, I traveled on the Bernina Express, a red-colored beauty …
Even if you haven’t made it to Italy yet, you’re probably familiar with Rome‘s ancient sights and the millennia-old Colosseum, Venice‘s winding canals and soaring campanile, and Florence‘s distinctive red-tiled dome and Renaissance palaces. Undoubtedly gorgeous as those may be, what if we told you this year’s crown in one of Italy’s best-known beauty contests …
As of September 7, the European Union’s grace period for its new, controversial Entry/Exit System is officially over. Under the rules, border authorities no longer have the same freedom to suspend biometric collection simply because queues are getting out of hand, though enforcement may still vary somewhat while certain airports iron out their remaining technical …
Whether it’s the shambles at security with staffing headaches and snaking queues, or the chaotic rollout of the new Entry/Exit System, which now requires Americans to have their fingerprints and facial image collected, I can’t think of a worse place to be right now than a European airport. The Old Continent seems to have got …
Italy is probably the number-one destination for Americans hopping across the pond. Pastel buildings, scenic lungomare promenades stretching along turquoise seas, and incredible food… name any other European country that can beat it. I’ll wait. Anyway, if you think pasta and beaches, and, well, Amalfi are the only draws luring Americans over to the Italian …