Most of my European travels take place between September and May. I rarely fight the high-season summer tourist crowds. But I just sent my niece across to Europe with a Eurailpass to backpack across the continent like I once did. My, how times have changed.

The old days of hopping on trains at will, arriving in town, searching for a s… Continue

Common scams / scam-artists and how to recognize them

Unofficial “Moneychangers”

Changing money is an activity that should be confined to banks and licensed establishments, or ATMs, which will dispense cash in local currency. Avoid moneychangers who approach you on the street or in terminals promising you a better rate; these guys are skilled at counting out mo… Continue

Seven tips that could save you from expensive mistakes

Shop around. Never buy travel online without checking at least two or three sites for a lower price. Despite the many promises to the contrary, no single resource searches all airlines and hotels or always has the cheapest rates.

Read results carefully. Some travel Web sites bias their displays to list partner companies first. These rarely offer the lowest price, so scroll through all the results or sort by price when… Continue

Ok, now picture what a shark looks like. We’ve seen hammerhead sharks, and, well, the normal, scary type of shark — the one with the fin raised on the center of its body. Not these sharks — these are the rarely-seen, not-so-ordinary, blink-and-it-attacks-you shark.

It’s been 33 years since Steven Spielberg made us afraid of sharks. Tons and tons of nature shows have proven that in the water, they are king; they are the bears and lions that attack the little nemos and spongebobs of the sea.… Continue

The common excuse is that, “I’m on vacation. I don’t need any rules when I’m on vacation.” It might not always be the case. You still have to follow rules of the places where you plan to go. However, if you intend to lose it all, you have to find the right place. You need a break. It means you also want to get away with whatever you want to do. Although these places still have rules, you can somehow bail yourself from the situation. So where are these places?

… Continue