Western Europe encompasses a variety of places which offer visitors year-round attractions making it an ideal part of the world for both summer holidays and winter city breaks alike. The luxurious resorts of the sunny Algarve and the white beaches and hip crowds of Ibiza are the perfect choice for luxury summer escapes whilst the cities of Scotland treat visitors to an architectural and cultural feast. Needless to say, the stylish streets of Paris and the hipster bars of Barcelona are all just waiting to be explored. So many places to visit we can’t even begin to mention them all! Luxury accommodation is just as diverse as the places to visit and the things to do in this part of the world so be sure to check out some of our favourite places to stay to help plan your trip. … [Read more...] about Luxury Western Europe Hotel Guide
Western europe
The best 10 cruises in the Mediterranean and Western Europe for 2019
The most popular destination for the UK's first-time cruisers, the Mediterranean has so much to offer. Add Western Europe, too, and there's a voyage for every taste. Here we round-up 10 of the best sailings for 2019 to 2020, from giant ships featuring exclusive stage shows to a history-focused trip. High tech and high wires Launching in March, the enormous MSC Bellissima will accommodate up to 5,700 guests, have 10 restaurants, 20 bars and entertainment galore, including Cirque du Soleil shows. It also promises cabins equipped with voice-enabled artificial intelligence devices to answer questions. From spring, it will sail a western Mediterranean circuit: Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, Malta, Barcelona. Departing April 5 2019, the seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona costs from £1,069 per person (020 3426 3010; msccruises.co.uk). Mickey in the Med Avoid expensive flights to Florida and treat the family to a fun-filled Disney cruise closer to … [Read more...] about The best 10 cruises in the Mediterranean and Western Europe for 2019
French ranked worst in western Europe for level of English
The French are not the most renowned for their mastery of the language of Shakespeare, Beckham and Harry Potter and a new international ranking confirms their place near the wrong end of the rankings. The English Proficiency Index (EPI) from global language training company Education First (EF) ranked Sweden top out of 88 countries which don't have English as a national language, based on test results taken by natives in each country. Down in 35th place came France, placed in the "moderate competency" group of countries and behind all other countries in western Europe. In fact in Europe as a whole only Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Albania, Turkey and Azerbaijan were ranked lower than the French. When it comes to the level of English in big cities around the world Paris was ranked 25th, behind the likes of Shanghai, Buenos Aires, Seoul and Sofia. Within France, Paris was the city where the natives demonstrated the best level of English, just ahead of Lille and … [Read more...] about French ranked worst in western Europe for level of English
The 18 Best Cities to Visit in Eastern Europe
EUROPE · August 29, 2018 Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google+Share on LinkedIn+1. Budapest, Hungary Stealing hearts now more than ever, Budapest has become one of Eastern Europe’s most visited cities and for good reason. Many moons ago (okay maybe only 7 years give or take), the city of Budapest was one of Europe’s best kept secrets and indeed one of its’ most underrated cities. Nowadays Budapest has become a must visit for travellers looking to venture East from Central European countries like Germany, Austria and Slovenia, especially so if you’re hoping for an escape from the €. Read more: 20 Places you must see in Budapest 2. Dubrovnik, Croatia A hot favourite (both literally and figuratively), Dubrovnik has become one of Europe’s most sought after cities to visit and one glimpse at your group of friends sailing in on a yacht leaves little question as to why! This city on the coast of Croatia is a summer worth crossing an … [Read more...] about The 18 Best Cities to Visit in Eastern Europe
This One-Stop Shop for Planning Europe Train Travel Is the Secret to an Affordable Dream Trip
As an American traveler, I too often let airlines dictate my life. When am I going on that cross-country trip I’ve been planning? Whatever dates the Big Three (Delta, United, American) or Southwest decides are cheapest. With few other modes of affordable transportation in this vast country, airfare reigns supreme. So the perfect antidote to stressful high-season airfare hunting and one too many connecting flights this summer seemed clear to me: An airfare-free jaunt around Europe by train, hitting all the E.U. cities at the top of my bucket list—and being able to do it for cheap, even during the summer high season, with a Eurail pass. Related: 10 Speedy Train Routes in Europe That Are Faster Than Flying For me, Eurail meant one week split between Prague, Vienna, and Budapest—each one home to its own unique language, people, and cuisines, yet a mere few hours apart via train. Hopping a scenic Europe train ride directly to the city center is perhaps the most relaxing … [Read more...] about This One-Stop Shop for Planning Europe Train Travel Is the Secret to an Affordable Dream Trip