Common Ways to Get Around Europe

There are few things as memorable as an iconic summer vacation. While you may have already heard boasts of Santorini and the likes of hire a boat in Ibiza and other major budget busters, there are a few other summer destinations that few have heard of.

Ask anyone who’s been and they’ll tell you that Europe is unlike any other place on Earth. The birthplace of Western culture and civilization, the continent is a diverse collection of cultures that share common histories and exciting new challenges. Whether it’s the architecture, the culture, the mix of Old World charm and modernization, the food, or the ease of getting around, Europe provides travelers with an experience that they’re unlikely to get anywhere else in the world.

It’s no wonder that traveling through Europe is especially popular with tourists. Previously on the blog,

we discussed ‘Top Tips to Plan a Multi-Destination Trip’

If you’re the holder of a Schengen visa, you can visit 26 out of 44 European countries, which makes a multi-destination trip even easier. Today, we’ll talk about how to do just that. Here are a few of the most common ways to get around Europe.

Bus

While traveling by bus might take longer than other methods, it also happens to be one of the cheapest options to getting around in Europe. If you don’t mind spending a little more time on the road, then buses are a great way to see the local landscape.

According to Lonely Planet

they’re an especially popular option for travelers going through Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. Travelers should look into getting a Eurolines Pass, which allows visits to 49 cities across Europe.

Airplane

Airplanes are a bit of a pricier option, but they’re the fastest if you’re planning on crossing large distances. Budget airlines like RyanAir and Easyjet operate in routes across all over Europe, so getting a good deal on a ticket isn’t too difficult. If you aren’t afraid of the price tag and want to plan your own route,

‘Wheels Up May be the New Amazon for Business Aviation’ by Aviation JobNet

claims that spontaneous personal and business air travel is possible through the innovative company. Wheels Up has over 80 charter aircraft operating throughout the continent, which will certainly make for a unique experience.

Train

Popularized by movies like Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise (1995), trains are perhaps the most well-known method of getting around Europe. Train travel is faster than bus travel, and unlike planes has the added perk of no check-in procedures. Trains are also more flexible in terms of meals (you can bring your own), and there’s nothing more romantic than watching the European countryside flash by your train window. If you’re unsure how to start,

travel blog The Man in Seat 61 has put together a starter pack on taking trains through Europe

Travelers can also make use of the Eurail pass, which could be cheaper than buying individual tickets.

Car

While not especially popular, car travel stands out from the other options because of the flexibility. Rather than following a strict schedule, you decide where to go, when to stop, and what to see. Renting a car in Europe might be pricey, but this method allows you to get up close and personal with the landscape, and also provides the most chances for wandering off the beaten path. If you don’t want to pay for a rental,

BlaBlaCar is a rideshare service that crosses several European cities.

While not as flexible as an individual rental, it is much cheaper, and might be a happy middle for travelers who are looking to save.

holiday cottages in Wales

A Guide to Conwy Castle, North Wales

A visit to Conwy would just not be complete without checking out what is perhaps the medieval town’s main sightseeing attraction, that being Conwy Castle, but in order for you to make the most out of your visit and enjoy the best possible experience of Conwy Castle, there is some information which could come in handy.

Getting into Conwy

The best form of accommodation you can select for your stay in Conwy would perhaps be a holiday cottage, quite simply because it’ll probably have you staying in a residential building with all the charm and character of the Conwy architecture, while at the same time offering you inclusive views of Conwy Castle, something which likely comes with quick and easy access to the Castle where you could probably walk. All of that is available to you once you’ve gotten into the town, which is straight-forward enough, given the fact that two major airports are each just over an hour’s drive in Liverpool and Manchester.

You can also get into Conwy by train, which you can catch with no problems at all from the UK’s major cities. Entering by road or train is an experience in itself as there are many sights to see, a lot of which form part of a rather popular North Wales road trip itinerary which typically starts out in Snowdonia and then works its way through Portmeirion and the Llyn Peninsula, finally terminating at Conwy.

Visiting the Castle

Operating times vary according to the seasons and the full operating times roster is always available from the Conwy Castle administration, but as at this very moment in time, any visitors to the Castle would have their visits falling within the schedule set out for the period running from 1 September to 31 October. The Castle is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm, with the last admissions accepted 30 minutes prior to the closing time.

The costs to get in include an admission fee of £8.95 for adults, while children (under 16), students and senior citizens pay £5.80 to enter. Disabled people along with their companions get free admission, so too children under five years of age and there is a family package which amounts to £26.60 allowing admission for two adults and up to three children under the age of 16 years.

No dogs allowed, unfortunately, except for assistance dogs. Conwy Castle is a no-smoking zone and there is a toilet available on-site for visitors with limited mobility and disability.

If you’re going to be staying long, there is safe car parking outside the Town Walls, otherwise, short-stay visitors can pay for parking just outside the visitor centre.

Restrooms are situated on the visitor centre’s lower level, fully equipped with baby change facilities while the mobile signal is fair.

Enjoy the breathtaking views from the battlements, offering a good sighting of the mountains and the sea, as well as the castle’s 125ft Great Hall shell (with no roof), accounting for the most popular vantage point from which visitors enjoy views of the castle itself and its beautiful surroundings.

Where to Stay

North Wales is home to lots of great holiday accommodation, from hotels to campsites to holiday cottages.

iKnow UK has a great guide on where to stay and what to see, go and check them out!

How I Traveled Throughout Europe while Maintaining my Website

My Diet Website Stayed In Shape While I Traveled Through Europe

I’ve always been a health-conscious person. I try to eat right and watch my weight. A few years ago, I decided to share my knowledge with the world and start my own website. The site would be about healthy topics such as diet, food and exercise. I decided to use the WordPress platform as it seemed to be very intuitive. I’ve been using it for a couple years now and really enjoy all that it offers. However, I was unsure how I was going to keep up with my website when I decided to spend three months traveling through a few countries in Europe. Fortunately, I came across a great website management company that specialized in website maintenance and WordPress management for website owners just like me. Here’s my story on how they helped me during my travels.

What About Content?

I perform most of my own content writing since it is very important to me. I understand that content marketing is a large part of Google’s algorithm. I always try to include plenty of images and text so that my readers can enjoy the articles that I write. I was unsure how I was going to handle content updates as I traveled through Europe. Then I found a website management company that would help with the creation and management of my content. They worked with me during my travels to fill in the blanks while I was off sightseeing. They helped plan topics and content strategy that would help keep my website up to date. It really helped having them create, edit and optimize content for my website.

Updating The WordPress Platform

Another challenge that I faced when I decided to travel through Europe involved keeping my WordPress website up to date. I usually handle this at home as I have everything on my desktop computer and can easily login at any time to perform updates when they are required by WordPress. I knew that I would be hiking in remote parts of Italy and would not be able to perform these updates when they would be required. By using a WordPress management company, all the updates were flawlessly put into place when I was out exploring the world.

Monitoring For Problems

One of the things that really freak me out is the possibility of having my website hacked. It happened once before, and it took me a long time to discover where the problem was and find a remedy. Fortunately, I sought out a WordPress maintenance and security team, Team WP Sekure, helped me solve the problem and got my website back up and running. I knew that my friend would not be able to help me this time if my site was attacked. The best option would be to use a website management company that could handle any problems if they occurred. Wouldn’t you know it — my website was hacked due to vulnerability in an old theme that was still placed in my main directory. This problem was solved by the company that I hired and was quickly remedied so my readers could keep abreast of content updates.

I’m really glad that I decided to use a website maintenance company to help me out with my website while I visited Italy, France and Germany. Their WordPress management skills were top-notch and saved the day.