Travel Articles From www.escortedscandinaviatours.com http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Articles.asp Travel Articles From www.escortedscandinaviatours.com http://www.travelhelm.com/images/AtlasWhiteLogo.jpg http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Articles.asp <![CDATA[Europe Travel Tips]]> http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Article/Europe%5FTravel%5FTips/ http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Article/Europe%5FTravel%5FTips/ tours@atlastravelweb.com (Atlas Travel Web) Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:06 EST Europe may appear overwhelming for a first time visitor, or even a seasoned traveler in certain countries.  The following information wil help you prepare for your vacation:

Passports/Documents:

Your passport must be current and valid for at least six months past your return date. Passports requires for US citizens traveling to Europe for stays of less than 90 days. A passport and Visa are necessary for travel to Russia (restricted to less than 30 days). A passport and onward/return ticket are necessary for travel to Croatia (less than 90 days).

Currency:

The Euro is the currency for most European nations (major exceptions are the U.K., Switzerland and Scandinavia). ATM’s are prevalent, and are usually your best source for cash at the most current exchange rate.

Adapters and Converters:

European voltage is higher (220v vs 110v) than that in the United States. A continental plug adapter and voltage converter are necessary.

Phone and Calling Cards:

Every country has a unique country code following a plus sign (i.e. +39 for Italy). Instead of area codes, all countries use city codes that begin with zero. Some U.S. phone cards offer international service in Europe. Low cost cell phones may be purchased in any European countries, and some US cell phone service providers offer overseas service for higher rates.

Temperature:

Europe records its temperatures in Celsius. To convert to an approximate Fahrenheit temperature, double the Celsius an add 30.

Time and Date:

The 24-hour clock is used to denote timetables. To convert to U.S. time for 13:00 and over, subtract 12 and add “pm”. For example, 18:00 is 6:00 pm.

Dates are written with day coming before the month. For example, Christmas is 25-12-10.

Greenwich Mean Time (UK) is 5 hours, and Continential Europe is 6 hours ahead of Eastern-Standard Time.

Tipping:

A customary European tip is 10-15%. However, many places include service charges in the bill, in which case no additional tip expected.

Packing for Your Trip:

Check with your airline for luggage weight restrictions, as many local European carriers have their own rules. Your primary bag should be relatively light and not exceed 25 inches.

Clothing:

Temperatures can fluctuate, so be prepared to dress in layers. Be aware that some sites, such as the Vatican, enforce strict dress codes. Consult your travel agent for more details.

]]> <![CDATA[Travel Improves Your Health]]> http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Article/Travel%5FImproves%5FYour%5FHealth/ http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Article/Travel%5FImproves%5FYour%5FHealth/ tours@atlastravelweb.com (Atlas Travel Web) Tue, 1 Jun 2010 00:00 EST We all “feel” better getting away on vacation. Did you know it really is not just your imagination? Science and statistics show it is true.  Vacations Travel Improves Your Health?can reduce risk of heart disease, depression and even slow down the aging process. How about this statistic… Two vacations can cut your risk of heart attack by 50%.

Vacations help reduce stress, which will always help your health. 

Here are some other  tips to reduce stress during travel.

  • Get away long enough time to let go of your daily grind.  A week is recommended.
  • Watch your time zones – too many time zones actually increase your stress on your body’s natural rhythms.
  • Don’t over schedule your trip – Make sure you have quiet time each day.
  • Be social – making new acquaintances has a restorative power.
  • Enjoy physical activity – moderate exercise like swimming and walking are great energy boosters.

How sad that a third or us do not use all our vacation days!  Hopefully this will inspire you to take some time to better your health with travel.

Ready to research a trip?

Here is our network of travel destination sites for travel planning made easy!
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]]> <![CDATA[See Europe :: Travel Safely and In Style, Escorted Tours]]> http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Article/See%5FEurope%5F%3A%3A%5FTravel%5FSafely%5Fand%5FIn%5FStyle%2C%5FEscorted%5FTours/ http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Article/See%5FEurope%5F%3A%3A%5FTravel%5FSafely%5Fand%5FIn%5FStyle%2C%5FEscorted%5FTours/ tours@atlastravelweb.com (Atlas Travel Web) Tue, 2 Feb 2010 15:25 EST

What a Stress Free, Hassle Free way to travel to Europe? 

Leave all of the travel details to a tour operator. They provide you with comfortable transportation, several meals, a rich sightseeing program and much more.

Traveling can be stressful, especially if you are traveling to a country where English is not their first language. Something amazing happens when you feel comfortable.  Your senses have the luxury to stray from the detail and worry, finding in their place anticipation and wonder.  You'll feel comfortable staying in first class hotels located in clean, safe areas.

Save time and money. Spending hours in line to get into major attractions such as the Louvre or Vatican Museums can take all day. Groups have a separate entrance, and get to go in with little or no wait so that you have more time to enjoy the sites, and more free time in the city.

Nothing introduces you to the true flavors of your destination like fine local cuisine.  Included three course dinners are carefully planned to avoid the repetition of entrees.  From the tapas bars of Spain to the vineyards of Italy and France, the tour operator will include on your trip optional specialty dinners and plenty of free time to venture out on your own. For the evenings when dinners are not included, your tour director will have a number of suggestions for favorite nearby restaurants. After all, one of the best ways to learn about a foreign culture is to eat like the local do!

The tour buses are air conditioned are are equipped with emergency washrooms.  The bus normally accommodates 53 seats, but they install fewer seats (44) for extra leg room.

If buses are not for you, tour operators have many other options including city stays, rail packages and river cruises through Europe.

There are hundreds of tour operators you can choose from, however some have been in the business for over 50 years and have proven over time that they offer consumers the best value and service. Check with a travel agent if you need assistance finding a reputable operator.

Here is our network of Europe travel destination sites:

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We also have specialty European Tour Operators sites:

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]]> <![CDATA[Europe Language Tips]]> http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Article/Europe%5FLanguage%5FTips/ http://www.escortedscandinaviatours.com/Article/Europe%5FLanguage%5FTips/ tours@atlastravelweb.com (Atlas Travel Web) Tue, 2 Feb 2010 15:16 EST There is no need to enroll in French, Italian, German and Spanish classes for your European Tour. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on how to say some of the basics (eg. hello, please, thank you) in the native tongue of each of the countries you visit. It is often not only useful, but also polite to know a few of the basics in the local language and it’s a good idea to try and remember and uses these basics.

English is a widely spoken and understood as a second or third language amongst many Western Europeans, particularly those of the younger generations.

Western European Language Basics

English French Spanish Italian German Greek Dutch
Good Morning Bonjour Buenos Dias Buongiorno Guten Morgen Kalimera Goedemorgen
Good Bye Au revoir Adios Arrivederci Auf Wiedersehen Yasou Tot ziens
Please S’il vous plait Por favor Perfavore Bitte Parakalo Alstublieft
Thank You Merci Gracias Grazie Danke Schon Effaristo Dank u
Yes Oui Si Si Ja Ne Ya
No Non No No Nein Oki Nee
Where is? Ou est? Donde ésta? Dové Wo ist? Poo eeneh? Waar is?
The toilet Les toilettes El lavabo Il gabinetto Die toilette To oahlehtes De toilet
The bank La banque Banco Banca Die bank Trapeze Bank
Post office La poste Correos Ufficio postale Die post Takedromeo Postkantoor
How much? Combine? Cunato? Quanto? Wieviel? Posso? hoeveel?
The bill L’addition La cuenta Il conto Die rechnung To loghariazmo rekening
Ladies Dames Enoras Donne Damen Yinekon Dames
Gents Messieurs Senores Uomini Herren Anthron Heren
Stamp Timbre Sello Francobollo Briefmarke Grammatesimo Stamp
One/two Un/deux Uno/due Uno/due Eins/zwei Ena/thio Een/twee
Three/four Trios/quatre Tres/cuarto Tre/Quattro Drei/vier Tria/tesera Drie/vier
Five/six Cinq/six Cinco/seis Cinque/sei Funf/sechs Pende/eksi Vijf/zes
Seven/eight Sept/huit Siete/ocho Sette/otto Sieben/acht Epta/okta Zeven/acht
Nine/ten Neuf/dix Nueve/diez Nove/dieci Neun/zehn Enea/theka Negen/tien
Open Overt Abierto Aperto Geoffnet Anikton Open
Closed Fermé Cerrado Chiuso Geschlossen Kilson Gesloten
Hot Chaud Caliente Caldo Heiss Zesto Hete
Cold Froid Frio Freddo Kalt Krio Koude
Water Eau Agua Acqua Wasser Nero Water
Tea Thé Té Té Tee Chai Thee
Coffee Café Café Caffé Kaffee Kafe Koffie
Beer Biére Cerveza Birra Bier Bira Bier
Wine Vin Vino Vino Wein Krasi Wijn
Excuse me (sorry) Excusez-moi Perdon Scusi Entschuldigung Sygnomi Sorry
Cheers Santé Salut Saluté Prost Yamus Proost

These Languages are of use in….

French – France, Southern Belgium (including Brussels) parts of Switzerland

Spanish – Spain (Spanish will be understood in most parts of Spain, however Catalan and Basque are spoken in Barcelona and the North of the country)

Italian – Italy, parts of Switzerland, Albania

German – Varying dialects throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Greek – Greece

Dutch – Dialects throughout the Netherlands and Northern Belgium

Here is our network of Europe travel destination sites:

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We also have specialty European Tour Operators sites:

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