Train Routes

Most people dream of roaming around the Avenue des Champs-Elysees but they are not willing to risk their future to finance the trip. However, traveling to Europe may not really cause you to mortgage your future. Anyone can have a cheap holiday vacation over the place. It doesn’t mean though that you have to hitch free rides to strangers or go backpacking. One way to help you reach that European dream is to go for a packaged bus tour.
Because of the tour operators’ ability to secure group rates on hotel accommodations, sightseeing attractions, and ground transportation, packaged bus tours only offer the best value per day. This is actually hassle-free because you don’t need to get any international driver’s license, or rent a car and memorize those streets and roads so that you won’t get lost, or experience the difficulty of reading train schedules in foreign languages. Everything is all set for you. All you have to do is enjoy!
For a more enjoyable and hassle-free European bus tour, here are some helpful tips:
- Prepare Your Camera – Secure the number of batteries you have and bring in some extras. You will get to see many attractions on packaged bus tours. They are usually for one stop only because as you move along, you won’t be able to go back on a certain sight. So take pictures for yourself while you’re on the spot.
- Keep an Open Mind – European culture is rich in history. Touring around Europe can help you enrich your mind by learning about local culture and traditions, interacting with some locals and even with some passengers to share some ideas and interests with them.
- Bring Some Gadgets and Stuffs – You will have a lot of traveling on your packaged bus tour to Europe so you may have downtime between attractions. Bring your iPod, PSP, or any thing that will keep you from boredom. A book or a magazine may also preoccupy you while en route to the next destination.
- Eat Wisely – Prices are usually high on major sightseeing venues, so take advantage of any meal inclusions available in the hotel. Also, bring with you some snacks to munch while on the bus as you may get hungry.
- Dress in Comfort – You will do a lot of walking, sitting, and riding a bus. So dress sensibly and appropriately. Wear something that you will be comfortable of during the entire tour. You already have the idea on what kind of tour it is so you know what to wear.
- Always be ready – bring some necessary things that you may think will be useful in case of emergencies. First aid kit, extra clothing, extra cash, and the likes.
The tips given can really help you enjoy your European packaged bus tour. It is a cheap way to explore Europe and you also get to see a lot of tourist attractions compared to just staying in one place and do things on your own. So while on tour, make the most out of it and enjoy the things that Europe can offer.

About the countyCzech Republic is located in Central Europe bordering Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. The capital of Czech Republic is Prague which is also the biggest city of Czech Republic and a popular tourist destination. Czech Republic became a member of European Union in May, 2004. Czech Republic was earlier a part of Czechoslovakia which was dissolved in January, 1993 and was split into what is now called Czech and Slovak Republics. Brno, Ostrava, Plze?, Olomouc, , ?eské Bud?jovice, Zlín, Hradec Králové, Ústí nad Labem, Pardubice and Karlovy Vary are the other important cities of Czech Republic. Czech Republic is divided into two parts based on geographical and cultural classification. They are Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemian cities and towns are popular for their spas and wine vineyards. It is also home to many castles which are open for visitors. One of the other tourism attractions is the availability of hundreds of miles of marked trails for hiking, cycling and skiing.Population & LanguagesThe population of Czech Republic is roughly 10.2 million and the official language being spoken is Czech. ElectricityThe voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The type of plug used is Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pinGeographic LocationIt is located in Central Europe bordering Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. It is basically a landlocked country strategically located on some of the most important land routes in Europe.ClimateThe climate of Czech Republic can be termed as Temperate with hot summers and cold overcast winters. It also gets snow. Most of the rain comes down in summer. Due to different altitudes the variation of temperatures is diverse. The temperatures are relatively low at high altitudes and more precipitation. The temperatures average only -0.4°C at high altitude areas whereas the temperatures can average as high as 10°C in low altitude areas.Local CustomsDressing should be conservative and casual except at formal dinners or good hotels or restaurants. Tipping is usually 5 to 10 percent in restaurant, hotels and taxis.AttractionsThe Castle District (Hradèany) – It has some of the best churches and museums. It also has some beautiful gardens, fortifications and state apartments also.St Vitus Cathedral – It is located in the Castle District, the prominent feature of this cathedral is the spires which soar high in the sky. It is also country’s largest church with great architecture.Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) – This is one of the most popular tourist spots of the city and should not be missed.Old Town Square (Starom?stské Námestí) – It is the most vibrant square of Prague with many historical structures. It also hosts various markets every year like yearly Christmas market.The Jewish Museum – It is the largest Jewish Museum in Central Europe with a vast collection of Judaic art works.Vyšehrad – Is a great hill fort built on a rock above the river.TravelBy Air – The national airline of Czech Republic is Czech Airlines. There are many other small and popular international airlines operating from Czech Republic. The major airport is Prague Ruzyne International Airport (PRG). The airport is located approximately 10 miles north west of Prague.By Rail – The country is part of the extensive network of trains connecting the European cities. If you are coming from Western Europe the most convenient connections are via Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich to Prague. Duty Free Items1. 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg tobacco for EU countries.2. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco for Non-EU countries.3. 10 liter of spirits with alcohol content over 22%, or 20 liter of alcoholic beverages with alcohol volume less than 22%, or 90 liter of wine or 60 liter of sparkling wine, or 110 liter of beer for EU countries.4. 1 liter spirits or 2 liter wine for Non-EU countries.5. 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette6. Food, fruits, medications and flowers for personal use7. Gifts up to €175Prohibited ItemsUn-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

The Tagus is the main river in Lisbon and in Portugal and Lisbon is located at the point where the Tagus flows into the Atlantic Ocean; it enhances the city’s importance.
My first excursion was to the Monsanto Natural Park, one of the largest urban parks in Europe covering an area of around 9 square kilometers, it took 2 days to visit this park! Over the following days I visited the highlights of the capital, which includes St. George’s Castle and the major attraction of Belem and Jeronimos Monastery. The Quelez Palace is just 15 km from the city and Sintra is just 29 km from the city, both are well worth a visit.

Lisbon plays an important role in the country’s literacy rate which is 93%. The city has several private and public secondary schools and several international schools. Lisbon has 4 major state universities.

Lisbon is the original birthplace of Fado music, characterized by mourful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor. There are two main varieties of Fado. One is rooted in Lisbon and the second is in Coimbra, of the two Lisbon is the most famous.

Getting around in Lisbon is comparitively much easier than any other city in Europe as train travel is relatively inexpensive. Most visitors simply buy a ticket every time they make a journey. There are different discount schemes for train travellers and children under 4 go free. Under 12’s pay half price and senior citizens above 65 yrs can get 30% off. If you are planning a lot of train travel, using a rail pass might save you money.

Traveling by bus can be more expensive than train as buses link you to most of the countries smaller towns and villages. There are comfortable express buses that operate on longer routes. For this you have to reserve tickets in advance. All buses are privatized but still you can find a national network of express coaches called Rede Expressos.

Lisbon is the perfect place to enjoy a holiday. That’s why reservations in hotels are essential. Especially during peak season when many hotels are filled with Europeans enjoying holidays in Lisbon. Most of the hotels require at least one-days deposit before they reserve a room for you. But still you can get hotels at the last moment if your travel agent is good. My travel agent was one of the UK’s best travel agents. Their site name is Lisbon Breaks. You can use the site to find city breaks in Lisbon, cheap Lisbon flights, cheap hotels in Lisbon and holidays in Lisbon. All are easily bookable online.

For many holiday destinations like Windermere for example, it is even more important. To preserve this beautiful part of the country, tourists need to be responsible. Of course, there are the usual steps whilst on holiday such recycling and buying local produce so keeping food miles down but there are also many other ways in which you can help.A self catering holiday is the ideal way to lower the carbon footprint of a trip. The carbon footprint of a self catering holiday is significantly less than a hotel based holiday. Many factors contribute to this, the amount of lights, sheets and towels washed and spa and swimming pool facilities and greater control can be had by the guest to reduce energy consumption. Some self catering property owners and developers are creating a more eco friendly property, for example, installing solar panels, wind turbines and worming and composting facilities. Some Windermere self catering businesses offer incentives for cycling to the property such as a £50 discount on the Windermere cottages break. Giving a discount incentive it a great idea especially in the current climate. Storage and wash down areas are a must when arriving by bike and there are Windermere apartment complexes that provide such facilities. A cottage or apartment also allows for extra storage of kit, far more so that a hotel room.Travelling to Windermere couldn’t be easier by public transport. The main Virgin West Coat Mainline stops at Oxenholme – The Lake District which links Glasgow and Edinburgh to London Euston. Oxenholme has regular direct trains to Windermere. The main south Lakes bus routes all pass through Windermere and stop at the bus station. The 555 Stagecoach service links Lancaster with Carlisle through an hourly service and stops at Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick.The Lake District offers mountain bikers & cyclists of all levels trails through some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes. The accommodation & facilities at Windermere cottages ensure you get the most out of your Lake District cycling holiday. Self catering holidays benefit the environment too. The carbon footprint of a self catering holiday is significantly less than a hotel based holiday. Many factors contribute to this, the amount of lights, sheets and towels washed and spa and swimming pool facilities. Some self catering property owners and developers are creating a more eco friendly property, for example, installing solar panels, wind turbines and worming and composting facilities. By supporting organisations such as Cumbria Business Environment Network (CBEN) the Tourism and Conservation Partnership, tourism businesses in Windermere can get advice and support on how to provide a more environmentally conscious service to their guests. Their mission is “To create a more sustainable tourism sector by encouraging businesses to successfully operate in a way that also supports the environment and local community”.