Best Budget Tips for European Travel
Back in the day, a summer trip backpacking or riding the rails across Europe was viewed as a right of passage for many people from North America. Of course that was before the European Union and the rise of the euro as a continental currency 
standard. For many years now Americans have been on the losing end of a relatively steep dollar/euro exchange rate. But while these financial constraints have prevented many from planning lengthy sojourns abroad, what many people don’t know is there are ways to beat the euro and enjoy an extended European holiday – at budget prices.
TRAVEL IN THE INTERIM SEASON
In the travel industry, seasons are defined as “peak” and “low.” Obviously the cost of travel is going to be more expensive in the peak season, and the harsh weather during the low season makes for, oftentimes, miserable travel. Another option is to plan your trip in the shoulder season between the peak and low. Prices are generally lower during this time period and the weather isn’t extreme.
BUDGET WISELY
It’s difficult to beat the euro but not impossible. As long as you’re smart with the money you do have then you can make it stretch. For example, by making lunch the largest meal of the day you can take advantage of the many “executive specials” found in cafes and restaurants throughout Europe during lunchtime. These deals provide a lot of culinary bang for your buck.
FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS
This may seem like a no-brainer, but what many Americans don’t know is that there are incredible deals to be had on inter-European flights. That’s because there are so many smaller specialty airlines in operation vying for the same business as all the others. Not only that, but it often takes no more than an hour or two to fly between European countries.
And there’s no need to wait until you touch down on the continent to inquire about flight deals because there are numerous online resources that can be of assistance including Europebyair and Govolo.
EMBRACE ALL TRAVEL OPTIONS
The way to find the best deals on local European travel is to not limit yourself. There’s a lot to see on the continent, and some of the sights are best – and most cheaply – accessed via certain kinds of transport. So here is a list of some of best transportation methods in Europe that all travelers should know about.
Bus - Not the most glamorous of options, but it may be necessary mode of transport for those looking to shave some expense off their European travel budget. Also, traveling by bus is a great way to get to know the larger more cosmopolitan cities in Europe, such as Paris, Rome or Amsterdam.
Rent a car - This is a travel option overlooked by many from the U.S. because they assume they need an international license in order to rent a car in Europe. This isn’t always the case. In many cases all that’s required of the renter is to be at least 25-years-old and possess a major credit card. And taking to the back roads in a rented car is a great way to take in the European countryside.
As for options, there is no shortage of large rental companies on the continent, including Europcar and Avis.
Boat - A Trip to Europe wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the islands of Spain and the Mediterranean. And the best way to get the full Ibiza, Crete or Mallorca experience is by boat. Oftentimes this method of ferry travel is cheap as well. There are many boat companies offering service to, from and around Spain, Italy and Greece. These include, Barcos Balearia, Grimaldi and Minoan.
Eurorail - The most romanticized method of European travel for many foreigners, the Eurorail provides service to most of the continent, including England. Rail travel provides optimum comfort with the aesthetic advantage of being able to watch the lush European landscapes pass by at 120 miles per hour.
Also, there’s no need to pay full price for rail travel when oftentimes discounts and special deals are on offer.
Ken Ripoll is the owner of AllstarPassports.com, a Los Angeles based expeditor of passports and visas for international travelers. Ken enjoys sharing his intimate knowledge of international travel document requirements with international travelers.
Chris Rivait
Chris loves history and hopes that Yesteeyear becomes a place where everyone can share their history knowledge. Chris owns an Internet Marketing company, Arrivait Marketing. He has a wonderful wife and four great children.
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Visiting the Museums of Manchester
There are many reasons to visit Manchester, with this famous English city having a wealth of 
attractions to enjoy. This includes some fine museums and there is plenty of choice for those that like to spend time at these.
Museum of Science and Industry
For some interactive hands-on fun the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester is the place to visit. Its many galleries cover a variety of subjects to ensure there is something for everyone. Those with childhood dreams of trains, planes and automobiles can take in the Air & Space Gallery as well as the Liverpool & Manchester Railway Gallery. These have plenty of Manchester-made vehicles on display. The history of Manchester through the ages is shown in the Making of Manchester Gallery. It is also possible to get a view of what was below the city streets, with the Underground Manchester Gallery having a Victorian sewer that visitors can walk through. Other galleries cover topics that include the history of communication systems, textile machines, the history of electricity and scientific discoveries through the years. Children and adults will find plenty to keep them interested and entertained for a fun day out.
Manchester Museum
The Manchester Museum offers visitors a slice of ancient history, culture and the natural world. Housed in the University of Manchester, it has been welcoming visitors through its doors since 1824. It has one of the most extensive collections of Egyptian artefacts in England, with some of the objects on display including mummies, statues and paintings. The collection is part of the Ancient World Galleries, which also display artefacts from Greece and Rome. Dinosaur fans can view the extensive fossil collection, with one of the highlights of this being a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton known as Stan. Those that prefer live animals can view a collection of amphibians and reptiles in the museum’s Vivarium. Other highlights include over 4,000 archery objects, a collection of more than 70,000 coins and the museum’s Herbarium, which displays plants from around the world.
National Football Museum
Those with a love for the beautiful game will find plenty of interest to them at the National Football Museum. It boasts one of the best collections of football memorabilia in the world, with the collections on display covering the game from its earliest days to the present. The FIFA Collection is considered one of the best and displays the early history of the game, the first leagues, the development of the football kit and even toys and games based around the sport. This is one of a number of galleries, with others based around football clubs, the football pools and the legendary English player Sir Stanley Matthews. In the parlance of football quotes, any fan will be over the moon after a visit to this excellent museum.
Imperial War Museum North
This is one of Manchester’s newer museums and has been welcoming visitors since 2002. The main exhibition space provides a history of modern warfare from 1914 to the present day, with objects and artifacts on display from conflicts such as the First World War and the War in Afghanistan. Other highlights include the Big Picture Show, which shows people’s experiences of war on a 360-degree screen, and Saving Lives, which displays the development of medical care on the battlefield. These and the other collections display the horrors of war, as well as the inspirational stories that can come out of it and a visit to the museum can provide a memorable day out.
Visiting a museum can be educational, interesting and entertaining. Those on a trip to Manchester have plenty to choose from and should certainly take the time to visit one or more during their stay. Whether staying in a Manchester airport hotel on a short stopover or planning a longer trip, some of the best museums to visit include the listed ones.
Chris Rivait
Chris loves history and hopes that Yesteeyear becomes a place where everyone can share their history knowledge. Chris owns an Internet Marketing company, Arrivait Marketing. He has a wonderful wife and four great children.
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5 things you didn’t know about the Lake District, England
The Lake District in Cumbria, in North West England, is a stunning setting. It has inspired
poets, writers, artists and academics over the years and still does so today. It is an environment where people can come to relax, enjoy walking and hiking, sailing or just breathing in the fresh air.
However there is so much to the region that some facets are rarely discussed. A first visit to this National Park should just be a taster. It is a place of infinite variety that needs a few return trips before anyone can claim to have a grasp of all it has to offer.
Bassenthwaite
There is plenty of water in this National Park, however, there is only one lake in the Lake District and that is Bassenthwaite! All the other lakes are described as ‘Water’ or ‘Mere’; simply known by their main name without the ‘Lake’ suffix. They are essentially all the same of course, but this does make a good trick question in a quiz, though it may cause an argument with the question master.
Bassenthwaite is fairly close to Keswick and there is a good chance of seeing an animal around there that has become endangered in the UK.
Red Squirrel
The indigenous squirrel of the UK is the red squirrel; the grey squirrel was introduced over a century ago. It is a native of the Eastern Seaboard of North America and is regarded as an invasive species. It has largely displaced the red squirrel which now only exists in small pockets in the UK. The Lake District is one of them.
They are obviously protected, and one reason for coming is to see this endangered animal in the wild. One excellent way to come and enjoy the freedom that goes with self catering is to get cottages in Lake District areas where the squirrels are seen regularly.
It isn’t just a matter of seeing squirrels for nature lovers. There are plenty of fauna in this area which despite its popularity still maintains a range of species that are far less common than in other parts of the UK.
Beatrix Potter
Beatrix is famous for her stories and left her home, a farmhouse called Hill Top, to the Trust when she died in 1943. What few people know is that before her ‘Peter Rabbit’ series she had tried to be an academic author specialising in science. She found that difficult as a woman in the early part of the 20th Century but the world is all the better for her failure.
Lake District statistics
The highest peak is Scafell Pike at just over 3,200 ft. and it overlooks the deepest lake, Wastwater at 243 ft. The largest lake is Windermere at just over 10 miles long.
Not so natural
Man has had an effect on the landscape of the Lake District. One of the top beauty spots is Tarn Hows which was actually created in the 19th Century by a local landowner while Thirlmere was dug in 1894 for a reason. It was to provide Manchester with water which is piped 96 miles by aqueduct.
Image Credit: Bassenthwaite Lake by Norma Foggo & Red Squirrel by Tony Hisgett
Educational Holidays – Bring Back more from your vacation
Trips with kids can prove a challenge, they get bored easily, they can’t sit still for long, museums and cultural exhibits 
that adults like, and find educational most kids couldn’t care less about. However kid attractions are often loud annoying riots of color, and often price gouge parents, and offer little enrichment. How can parents offer an enriching holiday that kids will enjoy but won’t be filled with price hiking mascots?
You want to balance learning and fun, this can be hard to do sometimes. Museums are a good start but can get boring if not engaging or of subject of interest. A good place to balance this is with children friendly hands on museums or exhibits, science centers often have a lot of hands on or interactive displays as well. Zoos and aquariums also offer learning opportunities but are fun and captivating. Kids like things they can interact with or feel a part of rather than sit and observe or lectured at. Planning lots of events and experiences like this is the best way to keep kids interested and have them learn something just from being an active part. This can end up costing eventually, though holiday loans can help mitigate some of the sting.
Whatever you do, do not, under any circumstances say educational to your kids, it is their vacation, it is a holiday, do not tell them it is educational do not give them lectures or homework, let it be a trip or holiday that they just happen to learn from. Mention the word educational and kids will hate everything from the start making you do that much more work to get it enjoyable and something they will not dismiss out of 
spite. Children actually like learning but they don’t like things that seem like work or remind them of school when they are on time off, you want them to learn almost by mistake, by just being there and an active part of the event. Think of it this way tell a kid something is healthy and they hate it say nothing and they will like it without knowing until later.
Second is to talk to them, ask where they learned in school and what about those places, find someplace they seem interested or excited about that they learned about, or will learn about that way when the subject comes up they will have something to say and be more invested in the trip. Listen to what they have to say or go over what they will tell the class on getting back but let it be their words and experience. Go over what they liked and thought was cool or neat about the trip and experience. Keeping them excited and interested in what happened will help cement what they learned and give you notes to better plan for next time you want a trip with some enrichment.
Have your kids help plan the trip, don’t ask them where they want to go, or your back to the mascots and unfair when you say no, ask where from school would they like to go, or what would they like to see related to a subject that interests them. Don’t tell them it is educational but you don’t need to trick them either, get them invested into the trip and wanting to go there, you will be the cool parent and able to help enrich your child’s learning at the same time.
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