50th anniversary of Frommer’s landmark travel guide

May 5th, 2007

“Europe on 5 Dollars a Day” is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The book which came out in 1957 became an immediate bestseller is still used by the average American as a guide for leisure travel in Europe. The original by Arthur Frommer is due to bow out this year after selling millions of copies. The Frommer brand is being carried forward by Pauline Frommer.

Arthur Frommer’s book caught the imagination of the Americans who were struck by the thought of doing Europe on five dollars a day. Back then, travel to Europe was a consideration only for the wealthy. Factors that led to the success of Frommer’s book included the affluence in the American society post WW2 and the growth of air travel.

Europe in autumn

May 5th, 2007

Abercrombie and Kent is offering its patrons a chance to visit and experience the beauty of Europe in autumn. The 2006/07 World of Excellence brochure gives tourists an idea of what they can expect when visiting the more than 50 properties in the regions of Italy and France. The brochure serves as a guided tour of the historical places in the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

The Baltic region is quickly developing as a favored tourist destination with many sites offering grand old castles for viewing, country manors and cathedrals. A tour in autumn also means the chance to absorb the beauties of the season at lower costs as compared to travel in summer. 

Stretch your dollar in Europe

May 5th, 2007

Even though the majority of travelers from the US to Europe are keen to spend, the fact that the dollar these days is worth around 50 cents in Great Britain is a bit of a dampener. There are always a few things that tourists can do to get maximum mileage out of their hard-earned money. For example, you should give a wide berth to the currency exchange companies found near airports, hotels, and tourist spots.

These businesses are not only not up-to-date with the latest exchange rates, they also charge a fee for offering you local currency; a better alternative is to convert from American banks if you are using their credit cards or ATM cards.

Discover Central Europe

April 21st, 2007

The culture, food, and history of the countries that make up Central Europe, such as Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic is a great attraction for those who know that its there and is far cheaper to experience than Western Europe, which is comparatively expensive.

The mountain regions of the Czech Republic are pristine in their beauty. Prague is being touted as the Nouveau Paris of the new century. Poland and Hungary too beckon visitors with their museums, spas, theaters, castles, hiking trails, etc. Read  more.

United we fly for less

April 21st, 2007

United Airlines www.united.com is presenting its customers a chance to visit some of the most historic cities in Europe for a low cost. You can visit Brussels from Las Vegas for $339, Denver to Zurich will cost you $333, and you can fly to Frankfurt from Houston for $296. You must start travel by May 16 and you can enjoy your stay overseas for up to 30 days.

Let’s hold our next conference in Germany

April 21st, 2007

Organizing meetings and conferences brings its own headaches, but this is a delectable one – choosing between historical cities, beautiful towns, or rural places. It seems Germany wins hands down as the destination of choice. It was followed by France, Austria, and Spain.

As tourist season approaches dollar becomes weaker

April 21st, 2007

The US dollar has come close to hitting an all-time low against the euro; surely not good news for American tourists planning to visit Europe. The British pound hit a 14-year high, almost $2 to a pound. Exceptional economic growth and a reduction in unemployment have helped the euro gain strength.

Deals galore for a cheap Europe vacation

April 21st, 2007

British Airways has initiated a “Fly, Drive & Save” deal that allows you to save $50 on a round-trip ticket to the UK or mainland Europe. The offer period is from April 23 to May 27.  Follow the link for information on more such deals.

Cheep cheep… AirAsia is cheap!

April 21st, 2007

AirAsia, which is the leading low-cost airline in Asia, will start flights between Malaysia and Europe. The fares will be the range of £130 to £170. These fares are around 50%-60% lower than existing fares. A long-haul low cost airline could open up the skies for intercontinental travel. Ryanair is exploring the possibilities of such low-cost long haul flights between Europe and the US.

Larnaca to Munich

April 21st, 2007

Lufthansa will introduce flights from Larnaca, Cyprus to the Bavarian capital of Munich in the month of August. The flights will operate four days a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The Lufthansa Airbus A320 will depart from Larnaca Airport at 4:20pm and arrive at Munich at 6:55pm. The flight will offer people connections to European cities and is of particular benefit to US travelers.