Best European Travel Web Sites
What Web sites have helped you plan your trip? What do you like about the various sites? Anything missing that we could add to ours?
- Please don't post questions here. Use our Travelers Helpline.
Transylvania, Eastern Europe
I found this site very informative, searching for Transylvania http://www.bucovinakaitartravel.com/dental_travel/_acc0_/1_home/
Tracey Young
Chicago, IL USA 10/16/2009
Travel Websites
EnGrande.com is a site that offers hotels from Budapest to Paris all for around 30 Euros. It has Hotels, Hostels, B&B's and apartments. It is great.
BEN HOFFMAN <email>
Minneapolis, MN USA 10/01/2009
Guide to London
I have found this website really helpful in planning visit to London. You can download audio guides for different areas of London, and they let you know what places to visit, where to eat and what to do... very useful http://www.my-london-guide.com
Sam
Stratfors-upon-Avon, USA 09/22/2009
Dordogne S.W France Explore
If you are ever planning a trip to the Dordogne, and would like to explore this region on foot, canoe, horse or mountain bike, then you should definitely check www.walkingdordogne.com their trips are fantastic. Book VERY early, because they only take very small groups and are very busy.
www.walkingdordogne.com
Sam Nichols
Boulder, Co USA 09/20/2009
Best Travel Website - guides
I really like www.ruba.com. They're pretty new, and about travel worldwide, not just Europe, but still, it is visual, concise, with the guides made by users generally. Informative, especially for the big cities (Rome, Paris.)
Samuel Eggstrom
Tulsa, OK USA 09/10/2009
Prague Guide
We contacted Katerina Svobodova of Praguewalkers.com before our trip to Europe. Katerina was the most helpful guide we contacted on our European trip. I highly recommend her because she is very motivated and contacted us over 40 times as we planned our stay in Prague.
Kenneth Koosmann
Seattle, WA USA 09/08/2009
Paris Travel Website
A good Paris travel website is http://www.travelingprofessor.com
Joyce
Great Barrington, MA USA 09/02/2009
Planning
Check out Google Earth's Street View for
360 degree views of many European cities
and countryside.Very helpful in becoming
visually acquainted with areas to be visited.
Doug Ressler <email>
Tulsa, Ok USA 08/31/2009
This one seems pretty good!
Just found this website last week, think its new but it had a lot of useful information. There was an article on Sicily that made me want to go there.
They also have PDF's for quite a few cities that you can print off so you don't have to read it all on the internet and can highlight what you want to see.
Here is the website: http://www.strictlyeurope.com
John <email>
Salem, OR USA 08/28/2009
cooking class in paris
I read about a cooking class on this graffiti wall -- aworldinapan.com -- I took a morning class when I was in Paris in June and it was great. Fun to go to the local outdoor market and buy ingredients and then back to Laura's apartment to cook and enjoy a wonderful lunch. I recommend the experience.
Mary
Seattle, WA USA 08/11/2009
Thorntree/in your pocket
I agree with previous poster that inyourpocket.com is a great website especially for information regarding Eastern European countries. I find that Rick Steves neglects much of Eastern Europe. I also get great information from Lonely Planets Thorntree forum and now use that as my main source for travel queries.
Kate
Winnipeg, Canada 08/10/2009
Central and Eastern Europe
For Central and Eastern Europe, you can't beat In Your Pocket City Guides at inyourpocket.com. Some cities are covered more extensively than others, but for the most part, it is enormously informative. It has listings for all sorts of accomodations in all price ranges as well as detailed and entertaining reviews of restaurants, bars, and clubs. They also have lots of information on tourist sites, shopping, transportation, money, etc. and also up-to-date event, concert,and sports schedules.---As for Rick's site, I think it's great. I love the Helpline messege board, it's much more logically oraganized than other similar boards.
Penny
Tulsa, OK USA 07/22/2009
Vatican tours,No queues!!
HI all.
Have just returned from a wonderfull European vacation.
The highlight was an Early Morning Tour of The Vatican.
My wife and I met the guide before hand at an office(which is rare in Rome(beware street trading guides)we were 2 mins from The Vatican enterance.
We walked straight past the long queues and had the most amazingly sublime tour.
I cannot reccomend this highly enough.
Try this company you will not be dissapointed.
www.italywithus.com
Michael Davies
N Y, USA 07/17/2009
Walking Tours of Major European Cities
I like the free walking tours (with detailed maps)found at the Europe Made Easy website at www.eatndrink.com. There are walks through Paris, Provence (Avignon, Aix, and Arles), Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. You can print off the pdfs. The walks are from a series of books written by Andy Herbach.
Karl
Chicago, IL USA 07/14/2009
trip planning
Mappy.com for driving times, distances, and routes.
Initaly.com for lots of insight into Italy traveling.
sandy <email>
newport beach, california USA 07/07/2009
http://www.monkeyandrooster.com/
I found this site while searching for information about France... well written and found some good tips!
http://www.monkeyandrooster.com/
Love your TV shows Rick! Was great to meet you in Bellingham!
Tracy Cohen
Seattle, WA USA 06/23/2009
Florence Travel guide
If your are planning a trip to Florence, we have a website packed with info and tips to enhance your travel experience.
http://www.travel-to-florence.com
Glenn <email>
Sarasota, Florida USA 05/30/2009
Rome Info & Guides
I think this website is great for its wonderful information that will help anyone planning a trip to Rome. Plus, you have the chance to hire a great guide too!
http://www.roninrome.com/
Jo
Frankfurt, Germany 04/14/2009
Aifare
we will be in dublin in July(got really cheap airfare) but wanted to visit Prague...found click4sky.com. It's owned by czech airlines and sells discounted seats on their airline. So none of the crazy baggage restrictions. Got dublin to Prague for cheaper than the cheap airlines.
Rick <email>
Tacoma, WA USA 04/07/2009
Another source for travel hints
I had no idea that You Tube was such a great sight for travel hints! Check out the 9 minute video about Ten Quirky London Sights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPNJV-SK--k
This makes me want to hop on a plane and investigate!
Joolie
Seattle, Wa USA 04/04/2009
Rome Rentals co.
I've booked an apartment with Rome Rentals Co. and was very happy with their service and the tips they provided me to enjoy Rome more.
Their site is good too. Apart from descriptions and photos they have some fun and interesting content.
http://www.rome-rentals-co.com
John Tonini
Mlebourne, VIC Australia 04/02/2009
Local advice
www.spottedbylocals.com
Informative website written by locals telling you where the good places to eat/drink/shop are in their city.
Kate
Canada 04/02/2009
Cinque Terre
Just want to point your attention to this site about the Cinque Terre Italy. It contains helpful information and touristic guide, pictures and Video. Hotel information and booking on line.
http://www.cinqueterre.com/eng/
andrew fisher <email>
manaraola, SP itlay 03/17/2009
Guide to Greece
We went to Greece and planned most all of our trip using http://www.athensguide.com/
It's an awesome resource and just fun if you going to Greece or not!
Pete Langford <email>
Grand Junction, Colora USA 03/09/2009
great Umbrian tours
www.annesitaly.com, covers more than Umbria, but covers all parts of Italy.
Sherry
Hernando, MS USA 03/02/2009
Travel By Train
For a wealth of detailed information on traveling by train and ferry throughout the world, check out the 'Man In Seat 61' website at:
www.seat61.com/index.html
Ash
Tulsa, OK USA 02/13/2009
France for Rent
This was our third Christmas in Paris and the first time using France for Rent. Great experience! Emeline was wonderful. We stayed at Place Bourg, 3 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, 1 bedroom in Marias. Loved it. We have two small children and the apt and location were awesome/perfect! Highly recommend France for Rent, Emilie and the apt. We messed up the tv and the computer in the room was not working and fixed right away. The greater was very, very nice and waiting for us when we arrived. We called to mention a few lights that had burned out and the next am someone was there to replace.
Marielena Kenny <email>
Chicago, IL USA 02/06/2009
Travel in Salzburg & Vicinity
For travel in and around Salzburg:
www.stadtbus.at (Salzburg Bus Routes),
www.postbus.at (Areas outside Salzburg),
www.oebb.at (Train info Austria),
www/rvo-bus.de (Bus info Bavaria)
Frank
Orwigsburg, PA USA 01/28/2009
Paris rental apartments
I recommend www.lodgis.com for short or long-term vacation rentals in Paris and elsewhere. I had a great experience with them in summer 2002. The apartment looked exactly like the photos on the web site and I got my deposit back with no problem at all.
Amy H.
San Francisco, CA USA 01/19/2009
Slow Travel in Sicily
My wife and I recently had an amazing holiday in Siracusa, Sicily. While we have traveled many times to Rome, Florence and other spots in Italy we had never been to Sicily before. What made the difference was our local Trip Planner in Siracusa, AgaVe Travel Creative(www.agavetravelcreative.com). They call themselves "cultural concierge for the creative traveler," and handled every detail of our holiday to perfection. We had winery tours and tastings out in the Sicilian Countryside, cooking classes making cheese and pasta and guided tours with experts. When the airline lost our luggage, they made sure that the bags were delivered to our fabulous apartment. When a Summer rain forced cancellation of our sailing trip, they arranged for a private tour of ancient Jewish baths with an amazing guide. Not sure what we would have done without Agave Travel Creative. They made our stay in Siracusa amazing and transformative. If you are going to travel in Sicily and Siracusa, get in touch with them.
Todd Snowgrass <email>
Los Angeles, Ca USA 01/18/2009
Paris
Travelers to Paris: www.travelingprofessor.com
Steve <email>
Garden City, NY USA 01/16/2009
Cell Phone in Paris
If anyone is traveling to Europe and needs to stay in touch with family, I really recommend getting a cell phone from Call In Europe. They have a very reliable product which was great on my last trip to France. The U.S cell phone supplier cost way too much and getting a pre-paid phone is just annoying. They actually ship the phone out to you before you leave and you never run out of minutes, you just pay as you go. They definitly have my blessing and the phone was a life saver on my trip.
Stacy Smith
New York, NY USA 01/16/2009
Cinque Terre
Hello, just want to point your attention to a useful site about the Cinque Terre- Italy WWW.CINQUETERRE.COM where you can find hotel accommodation and touristic guides, pictures and hiking tips and maps. Plus 5 terre video and the latest news on the blog.
andrew_fisher
manarola, italy 01/14/2009
Visit to Scotland - whisky tasting tour
Hi - I have just added a comment on the Graffiti wall about a great company, France Made Easy who do quality short breaks round France however my husband Walt and I are now thinking of trying them out in the Fall at their other site which looks good and that does quality themed short trips such as 4 night whisky tasting, gourmet breaks,secret and romantic Scotland etc They are at www.glenlochtravelscotland.com
Marie-Ellen Delaney <email>
San Antonio, Texas USA 01/11/2009
US family tour company in Spain
Hola! we try to do a fun educational trip every year with our 2 kids and my sister's family. Spain seemed fascinating but we learned that
English is not easy to find in many areas so it could be stressful to travel on our own. We saw a listing for a upscale US tour operator in Spain on the Rick Steves site and web. Richard, Dan and Montse are long term residents and could not have been more helpful. They organized a custom trip with activities for the parents and the kids including daily Spanish classes, horseback, sea kayaking, wine tasting, cooking class and more. The web is http://www.magicalspain.com . The trip was not cheap but we learned and enjoyed so much that I think we got good value. Dan is a fantastic teacher and has some fun online videos http://www.youtube.com/user/SpainVIPtravel saludus, Julia Morris
Julia Morris
Denver, CO USA 01/06/2009