What are your travel interests?

Just scratching the surface about European travel and some of the tips, I hope I have made you think a little bit more about your travel interests. You probably have an idea what would you like to know more about. Since I started this blog to be about you, to bring you the information you didn’t know or wasn’t sure of, I would like to focus my writing more on topics that you are particularly interested in. I want to make this blog more interactive so I’m starting with a poll:

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Interview for Karen Bryan from Europe a la Carte Blog

In my initial search for European travel information on the internet, I wasn’t surprised by the quantity of the content out there, but the quality. I found it hard enough to find a small number of blogs that provided readers with good tips and recommendations.

One of them I have been tracking for about a month now and I think you should keep an eye on it too. What I like about Europe a la Carte Blog is that Karen Bryan, the author, brings you her experiences and most importantly, her opinion about the places she has visited. And she does it in a way that you can get a clear picture about the place and the opportunities it offers, stating the benefits and doubts.

Covering a lot of different subjects, Europe a la Carte Blog has a clear common thread. Searching for a travel ideas, Karen will show you a lot more then just a few capitals; she will take you to places you probably haven’t thought about visiting and you will see why it’s sometimes better to visit a not-so-popular destination. Watch out for the tips and recommendations because you will never get better ones than form an experienced traveler.

Karen Bryan asked me to do an interview for Europe a la Carte Blog which I gladly accepted. We talked about the European Travelling Advisor concept, my goals for this blog and the way I perceive travel.

I would like to say once more thank you to Karen Bryan for inviting me to do a guest interview. I was my pleasure.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

DesignArt London

Need a reason to put London on your travel list in autumn? Here is a good reason to do so…

DesignArt London is London’s first design art fair devoted exclusively  to modern and contemporary furniture and decorative arts. The context of the event gathers only the finest collection of twentieth and twenty first century design. Curated by the world’s foremost gallery owners (including Paris, Milan Brussels, Copenhagen, New York, Chicago addresses), DesignArt London defines its place at the top regardless of its second edition. More than half of the 32 art galleries came from Paris in 2008 which tells a lot about design important destinations.

The event presents an impressive array of collectible classic pieces from Le Corbusier, Jean Prouve, Arne Jacobsen, to more contemporary ones with signatures of Zaha Hadid, Marc Newson and Ron Arad; but also creations by rising design stars as Junko Mori, Fredrikson Stallard, Sebastian Erazuriz and others. Curators made sure that every piece was rare and esthetically beautiful, showcasing furniture produces as one-offs or limited edition.

The things sold on the fair aren’t just extravagant and expensive. They maintain the integrity of creativity and function, presented for someone who understands design and its products. Art and design collectors will not miss because galleries’ selection includes a range of prices so that even a novice collector will find something of lasting value for himself and with such a selection, I can say you will be entering the haute couture of the design world.

This year the organizers of DesignArt London have decided to exhibit only limited editions, unique vintage pieces and the creme the la creme of contemporary design. Everything had to be closely related to the theme “Design as Art” so most of the pieces had elements derived from both tradition and innovation.

In the future DesignArt London will “…provide a showcase for those designers and dealers whose creativity and social consciousness rewards new technologies, a respect for the environment, and a dearing sense of humor.”*

DesignArt is held in October every year since 2007, at Berkly Square in Mayfair. Ticket price for the entire event is £15.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

* from DesignArt London press release

Paris Autumn Festival

Travelling to Paris in autumn is a great choice. Except the beautiful and lively city with an unfailing scene, it never ceases to surprise with new events from the art world.

Paris Autumn Festival is an event that has been occupying the stakeholders since 1972. The festival rapidly became a crossroads for avant-garde and forward looking artistic creation. It takes place from September to December every year on numerous places around Paris like Centre Pompidou, La Cinematheque Francaise, Jeu de Paume, La Maison Rouge (Antoine de Galbert foundation), La Maison de la Culture du Japon a Paris, Opera National de Paris Bastille, Odeon and many, many other theaters and venues.

If you are already in Paris consider going to this festival and actually visiting some of this amazing places. As I always say…you can walk around the city and see all the architecture, but until you come in and participate, you haven’t really experienced it; you’re just another tourist with a guide in your hand and with an answer to a question “Why did you decide to go to Paris?”, “because it beautiful”. And I will ask you: “Are you serious?!” Because the better question would be…what are you passionate about that you can find and do in Paris and what do you want your Paris experience to be?

The Autumn Festival activities fall into four categories

- to present original works not previously produced in France

- to commission new work, often in collaboration with leading French, and European institutions and North American partners

- to provoke and to present experimental work

- to provide access to non-western cultures, featuring major presentations from different countries and civilizations, including Japan, China, Australia, Morocco, India, Korea, Egypt, South Africa, Iran…

The program includes events relating to visual arts, theater, dance, music, cinema and other. It’s very dynamic and with a range of performances on different subjects, it will be a tough to choose one show over the other. But Parisians live and breathe art and culture, so gratification is guaranteed.

*The Paris Autumn Festival lasts from September 13 to December 21 this year.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

October events in Europe

Except numerous festivals around Europe, there are some very popular events and fairs that are worth visiting.

Frankfurt Book Fair

For all book lovers Frankfurt is a place to be in middle October. Frankfurt Book Festival is the largest of its kind in the world with a few hundred thousand visitors in just days. This is the 60th year of the popular event that takes place from October 15-19, 2008. Fair covers all topics and genres; from antiquarian books, fiction, non-fiction, scientific books, comics, children’s books to audio books, film and TV, translations etc. Key focus is put on education and its development for the future.

Every year a Guest of Honour is introduced. For 2008 it is Turkey who takes the role. That’s the opportunity to present its literature, culture and history. This always goes beyond the Book Fair, other events like theater performances, readings, exhibitions, music events and educational courses take place around this time. One day ticket is €18 for students, every day. On special days (Oct 18-19), public visitor’s ticket is €12.

FIAC La Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain = International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Paris

This event gathers 180 international galleries on three exhibition places in Rive Droite of Paris. Le Grand Palais which is dedicated to modern and contemporary art and design, La Cour Carrée du Louvre gathers artists of tomorrow and new tendencies, and le Jardin des Tuileries imagined as an open exhibition space for sculptures and installations.

Except this interesting exhibitions, this event lately introduces different performances influenced by theater, dance and music. Programs are held in different places around Paris.

Venice Biennale Architecture

This Biennale is held every two years and lasts for about two months. This year it’s held from September 14 to November 23. Every biennale has a theme for which architecture studios around the world design their projects from biennale to biennale and enter a competition. The award ceremony takes place at the beginning of the event and 10 winning projects + 40 honorable mentions from around the world are displayed as a part of exhibition gathered around one theme; this year’s theme is “Out there, Architecture beyond building”. Visitors can also see various installations, experimental work of numerous international firms.

Biennale encompases a variety of other topics that are presented throught national pavilions. You can take educational guides or participate in concurrent events. Ticket price is €15, for students €6; it is higher only if you incorporate passes for other events.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

European festivals in October – Part 2

The Ulster Bank Dublin Theater Festival

This 18-day festival starts at the end of September through middle October (2008: Sep 25-Oct 11) and takes place on various locations in Dublin. This is a great opportunity to see major Irish theatrical works in development before they reach full production on the stage. As a visitor, you are also a participant, you are able to see rehearsed readings, open rehearsals and semi-staged performances which are followed by feedback from the audience which will, that way, be able to participate in development. If you are an artist, you can be one of 18 theater practitioners from all disciplines that will be chosen to participate in intense programme of performances, talks and workshops.

Festival also features film series, creative dance workshops that are designed to give participants a deeper understanding of the show and its themes, different panel discussions…

Tickets can be bought separate, for each performance or one of the whole 18-day event that includes all performances, workshops and talks for €250.

The Times BFI London Film Festival

This film festival showcases some of the best new films from all around the world. This year it is held from 15-30 October. Festival includes special screenings of most anticipated films of the year (Vicky Christina Barcelona, Quantum of Solace… ), new British Cinema (best new films from around Britain), French Revolutions, best of European and World Cinema, rediscovered classics from around the world too, animation… There is also Experimenta with cutting edge and avant garde films and outdoor screenings on Trafalgar Square where live music will be accompanying archive films celebrating London.

Needless to say, you will definitely enjoy it. The Times BFI Film festival isn’t just about the showcases but includes interesting events like onstage interviews with leading figures in contemporary cinema (2008: Benicio del Torro, Danny Boyle…), conversations with some festival filmmakers (Charlie Kaufman), free events like discussions about popular themes and others to meet even the most eclectic tastes.

It’s best to book you tickets in advance because it’s hard to get them last minute. You can buy them for the shows you want to watch, separate, or buy vouchers.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

European festivals in October – Part 1

Every month, hundreds of festivals are held all around Europe. Cinema, theatre, visual arts, dance, books, music, food, flowers…are just some of the frequent themes that gather thousands of people on these events.

To cover different regions and different interests, I choose these to talk about:

Whiskey & Beer Festival in Stockholm, Sweden

Festivals is held for two weekends, one in September and one in October in Nacka Strand Factory. With a wide variety of whiskeys and beers, over 15,000, visitors will find new tastes and discover new drinks. Everyone receives a souvenir pint glass upon their arrival. Except tastings, you can watch the award manifestation and enjoy many restaurants on the spot as well as the entertainment program.

Flamenco biennale in Sevilla, Spain

Almost a month long, held through September and October, Flamenco festivals are held every two years (2008). Numerous performances by European and South American artists make only one, though the best, part of all the events during biennale. There are also courses, workshops, seminars held by international experts; and even exhibitions.

Salon du Chocolate in Paris, France

This Chocolate event is held every year in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Peking, Moscow and Shanghai. Let’s focus on Parisian even at the end of October (this year Oct 29-Nov 2) at Porte de Versailles. With over 400 participants and 350,000 visitors every year just in Paris, it shows the popularity and scale of this event. The goal is to showcase the skills of the people who produce exceptional products. You can listen to lectures and watch recipes demonstrations live every hour by renowned chefs, chocolate-makers and cooks. There is a chocolate fashion show that gathers best international talents, both fashion designers and chocolatiers. World’s best chocolate craftsmen and most remarkable chocolates are chosen and awarded.

Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

The world’s largest fair with over 6 million visitors from around the globe is a beer festival. It lasts 16 days throughout September and October in Munich, Bavaria. Manifestations are held in tents where visitors can taste pale lager beers between 5 and 6% abv supplied by 6 breweries known as the Big Six: Spaten, Lowenbrau, Augustiner, Hofbrau, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr. Big part of this event are also parades and celebrations, eating traditional food etc.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

EuroVelo Bicycle routes – travel Europe by bicycle

EuroVelo, the European cycle route network, is a venture by European Cyclists’ Federation with a goal to develop 12 long-distance cycling routes through Europe.

Have you ever thought about crossing Europe by bicycle?

Total lenght is 60,000 km, of which about 45,000 km are already in place. These routs span thousands of kilometers, from Norway’s North Cape to Sicily, from Moscow to Galway in Ireland, from London to Rome… The best thing about it is that you are planning your stage, you decide where you want to go, how many kilometers you want to pass and adjust it you your desires and tastes. Being on the road brings people closer together; everyone decided to take a cycling trip for a different reason. And you can meet people along the way, on certain parts of routes you travel.

However, you might think that those routes are only for people that are very fit and in a terrific shape. Which is not true because they are not made in a way to be only a sports activity. You choose you rhythm, stages. And most importantly, EuroVelo doesn’t have a goal to build tracks for cyclists but for people who cycle.  Tourism is already seriously developing itself around this concept.  All of the towns along routes are opening special stores for cyclist and even hotels focus around these types of tourists. Austria is an example that stands out with 40 “Bike Hotels” that provide repair tools, bicycle storage, special meals and detailed weather information; as well as, very well known, Switzerland with over 100 velotels.

For a route to be part of EuroVelo must have:

- have no gradient above 6%

- be wide enough for 2 cyclists

- have an average of no more than 1,000 motorised vehicles a day

- be sealed for 80% of it’s lenght

- be open for 365 day a year, have provision points every 30 km, accommodation every 50 km, and public transport every 150 km

While travelling, a great thing is to keep a journal. You can stop at any point to take a photo or to record your adventures. Change direction, these trips are an expression of your personality; imagine all the scenery and places you would cross through. Both inhabited and uninhabited. You will continue to enjoy it all for a long, long time after your return home.

Bicycle travel is not a new trend, it started becoming popular at the end of the 90s in Europe. There are now hundreds of thousands of tourists travelling on bicycles every year. If you’re looking for new ways of travel, new experiencs, look into it…you never know, you just might be the next person riding your bike on the Mediterranean route…

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Green hotels – sustainable hotels

There are many reasons today why hotels are deciding to go ‘green’. In part because their business guests are demanding it, part because hotels are finding that going green saves money and part because they are getting more conscious about the environment and realizing it’s the way to go. But why should you choose an eco-friendly hotel?

Hotel chains are becoming rapidly more environmentally conscious, people are talking about it all the time but not many are saying what’s in it for you. So let me explain what it all means…

Here are some examples of what do hotels do to go green:

- recycling; they recycle all the paper, plastic, glass, light bulbs and batteries (that way they save thousands of kilos of vaste from ending up in landfills, saving huge amounts of energy and millions of liters of water)

- all toilets are using a vacuum drainage system that uses only 80% of water that conventional systems use; water from sinks and showers is recycled for use in toilets

- all lights are converted to long-life and low-energy light bulbs and all the lightning is the building is controlled by a system that operates through your card key; it’s turns off the lights when you’re not in the room and other timing controls

- low or no toxicity paint is used through out hotel

- the bathroom toiletries are 100% natural for your skin and hair; the plastic bottles are recycled or there are installed refilling bottles

- hotels use biodegradable cleaning products (so you will no longer smell the chlorine or any other weird odour and the cleaning staff won’t be sick all the time)

- food is organic and as much as possible local fresh produce

- bottled water is supplied from the local or near area

- linen is are recycled so they are not treated with chemicals

- new built hotels use sustainable/natural or recycled materials

Reading through the list of things hotels do to be more eco-friendly you can see that it’s not something that will make your stay less comfortable or less luxurious. On the contrary, better food, fresh air, natural products and materials and all the other things that you maybe don’t see at first but you certainly get positive thoughts about when using such a facility.  Here is an example of a sustainable hotel One Aldwych in London to show you that there is no compromise at all when it comes to going green…

In the end, it’s up to you to choose. Hotel officials today say that evidence of eco-friendliness is driving demand. It’s high priority particularly for young people, who make up the growing percentage of business travelers. When you’re travelling, it doesn’t matter if it’s a trend or not, it’s you who matters.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Best tips for budget travelers

1) If you are travelling with a group of friends, rent an apartment or a house. It will cost you as if you were staying at a hostel or maybe a 3 star hotel, but your accommodation will be A LOT better, in some cases even luxurious. You can try to do the same even if you’re travelling with your friend or partner. It’s easy to come across a good offer.

2) Book in advance. Accommodation, transportation, tickets… most of the time when you book your ticket in advance, you get a discount. Budget hotels, low cost airlines…

3) Plan your itinerary in advance. Set your priorities and decide where will you go, what will you do; make it easy for yourself by deciding what will your budget be once you get to your destination and see how you can incorporate all your plans in it.

4) Buy public transportation passes. They will save you both time and money. Remember that they are ordered online and picked up at certain tourist offices upon your arrival. Where you can’t buy passes, buy daily tickets. They are valid for all lines and all types of transportation around town.

5) Ticket passes for museums, galleries and other sights and attractions can be a money saver. But always find a list of places the pass includes so that you are sure it’s the best option. Good thing about it is that with it you don’t stand in line; you just show it at the entrance and come in.

You can also book tickets for individual attractions online.

6) Choose a low cost airline if you are travelling to a certain place or make the most of your trip by travelling by train and visiting a number of places. Trains also have lower prices for people under 26. You don’t have to feel uncomfortable and tired travelling by bus anymore. There are better solutions.

7) I always say that it’s better to make your trip a little bit shorter but more fun than making it as long as possible and the same as every other. Only by focusing and investing more in what will you do than chasing all that is written in a guide.

8 ) Always, but always focus your time and money on what you are most interested in. Travel agencies don’t adjust their itinerary to you, you adjust yourself to it. If you’re not in that position (when you’re buying a package from a travel agency), don’t try to reinvent what they would do. Now you can do whatever you want. So let you imagination work a little!

9) If you are a student, use your student ID. If you don’t have one, make one. Because you can get discounts for accommodation, transportation, tickets, some places are even free for you, you can get discounts at restaurants etc. Do a little research on the internet.

10) Never settle for less than you can get. People set boundaries for themselves right at the begining. Next time, don’t do that. Try to make it two times better than your last holiday. Don’t beat yourself up about how you will do it. It’s easy, just put some ideas on the paper and start researching. It will all fall into place.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor