European Destinations For Couples
When is the best time for couples to travel to European destinations?
I think when to travel is an interesting question. When should couples travel to Europe? Obviously, summer time is a terrific time because you can be outdoors. You can experience the fullness of the cities. There is definitely a time in summer when you should not go to Europe if you're expecting to see lots of activity, and that is August. Much of Europe is on vacation in August, so if you go to Paris, for example, or Rome, you're apt to find it somewhat vacant. There are both pluses and minuses to that. There won't be tourist hordes there of people vacationing within their own country, but you may also miss some attractions. Some things may be closed down for the month. You really need to check to see. Vacationing in the off-season, in the winter months, is also pretty attractive because it gives you an opportunity to see things without those tourist hordes at your heels.
What are popular European beach destinations for couples?
I think anything along the Riviera in Europe is tremendously appealing for couples, and that's both the French and the Italian Riviera. I think you should also consider the Costa Brava of Spain, as well as beach destinations in Southern Spain. I think those can be tremendously appealing, too. There are really great opportunities to experience the European beach lifestyle, especially for couples.
What forms of transportation are available for couples traveling in Europe?
These days, Europe is just rife with transportation opportunities. It used to be that you would buy a Eurail pass and you would visit several cities, and you can still do that and it's a convenient and often inexpensive way to see places. Nowadays, there's been a rise in intra-European travel. There are many low-cost budget carriers: RyanAir, EasyJet and many others that fly you from one destination to another for a fraction of that cost of what we call the legacy carriers. These come with their own sets of complications; for example, some of them charge you to check baggage or if you exceed a certain baggage limit. The airlines may not fly into the main city; for example, in Britain, instead of flying from Heathrow, you may be flying from Stanstead; or you may be flying into what you think is Barcelona, but it's actually the airport outside of Barcelona which is fairly far from the city center. However, the budget airlines do offer an opportunity to save money and see many destinations that you might not otherwise have a chance to see.
What are some safety tips for couples traveling through Europe?
Couples traveling through Europe, or anybody traveling anywhere at any time, need to be aware of their surroundings. Sometimes with couples that's a little bit more difficult, especially if you're focused on each other. It's great to focus on each other, but you also need to focus on your surroundings. You just need to be highly aware. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in each other that we forget that we're being careless with our purse or that we're flashing money where we shouldn't be. I think it's really important that you take a personal assessment at least a couple of times a day to make sure that you are not doing anything to attract attention, and make sure that your behavior and your dress are appropriate. Blend in so that you don't look uniquely American, to prevent that making you a target of the unscrupulous.
What are some lesser known European destinations for couples?
There are some really terrific destinations for couples that are little bit off the beaten path. They are little bit less explored. Everybody wants to see Paris, London and Rome, but there are places in Europe that represent incredible cultural opportunities, especially in the former eastern block countries. Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary - all of those are unique opportunities to see a part of Europe that we might not have thought about at first. In these place you can see Europe a little bit away from the madding crowd, and at a cost that's going to be probably significantly less than the big European capitols.
What European cites should couples avoid?
I don't think there are really any European cities that couples should avoid, but I think the thing that you should keep in mind is that a European city for two people can be a budget wrecker. The cost of eating out, for example, can be tremendously expensive. It can be balanced by the fact that many accommodations are based on two people in a room and there is not an extra charge for that. I don't think there is any place necessarily that you should avoid. However, there are places that are going to be expensive. London, of course, is right at the top of the list. It is among the most expensive cities in the world. Geneva is often very expensive. Paris can be very, very expensive. I think the main thing is to look at the dollar and how it is doing against the Euro because it has been sagging recently, thus raising the cost of a European vacation.
