subject: Your Overseas Vacation Done Right [print this page] I love traveling, and I've had the tremendous privilege of being able to do it frequently. Though I've made my fair share of mistakes--including getting lost in a foreign country, ineptly trying to cross language barriers, and regretted hotel and dining choices--I have also had the opportunity to learn some of the secret tricks to having the best vacation, especially when it comes to going abroad. If you're thinking of globetrotting any time soon, listen up!
In my opinion, accommodation is everything when it comes to a European getaway. Bed and breakfast establishments are a popular option with travelers, but be aware that they can vary dramatically in quality and comfort.
If you're interested in staying in a cozy B&B, as they're often called, talk to a travel agent to find out some of the top-recommended accommodations. You don't have to book through the agency (especially because they can sometimes compound extra fees on top of the base booking price), but you can collect catalogs to point you in the right direction.
If you're using the internet to get ideas, then be sure to read independent reviews of each B&B or hotel you're investigating. Read both the fantastic and poor reviews so you can get an accurate picture of the pros and cons.
Traditional hotels are my favorite way to go. They tend to be a little pricier than B&Bs, but rooms are, on average, more spacious and amenities such as free internet, cable television, fitness centers, and swimming pools are generally more widely available. Hotels almost always have more rooms than bed and breakfast accommodations, so if you are dissatisfied with your room for a particular reason, you can be moved.
If you are going to be in a single vicinity for more than three or four nights, then renting an apartment, condo, or house is an ideal situation. Living out of a suitcase in a small room gets very uncomfortable very quickly, so having a full living space is bound to make your vacation more relaxing as a home away from home.
You might think that a vacation rental would be far out of your budget when in fact I know of beautiful, prime Paris vacation apartment rentals that are offered for modest rates for about the same or sometimes less than an upscale hotel. What's more, apartments can accommodate more people than the typical hotel room, so you can split the cost. The internet and travel agencies are, once again, good places to start to get the best leads.
