The cradle of history, culture and style, Europe beckons with a variety of holiday options as varied as any we can imagine. Most people visit Europe to experience those iconic sights we all know about, but an equally important reason is to immerse ourselves in the local culture and get a real taste of life in this fascinating and culturally diverse part of the globe.
How do you lump so many distinct regions into one brief travelogue? Start with the British Isles then cross the Channel to France and the Iberian Peninsula; don’t forget Italy and Greece & Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. Head north through Eastern, Central & Alpine Europe before arriving in Scandinavia and the Baltic states. Each region is distinct with languages, cultures, histories and attitudes proudly individual. Each is a destination in its own right.
Holidays in Europe lend themselves to unique and special ways of getting around, allowing the visitor to experience the local style and culture at a pace designed to soak it all in. Self-drive is a great option, but the high price of fuel, tolls and parking combined with chaotic driving in some settings might be a deterrent.
Consider the fantastic and thoroughly un-Australian rail network where outstanding services such as Eurail and Eurostar link city centres in high levels of comfort and efficiency; avoiding the frustrations and inconveniences of air travel. Iconic brands such as Orient Express, TGV, Thalys and ICE service practically every European city and allow a ground-level view of land and city scapes unmatched by flights.
For a more sublime holiday, Europe’s waterways offer a very special experience. Whether it’s a self-drive barge, hotel barge or luxury river cruiser, Europe’s rivers, lakes and canals offer a picture-perfect and especially relaxing mode of transport that gets us completely in touch with local life.
What we love about Europe
Shopping (actually, WINDOW shopping) on Paris’ rue de Faubourg Saint-Honore.
Sipping ouzo at sunset at a taverna in Fira on the island of Santorini.
Gelati and people watching on Rome’s Spanish Steps.
Rome and Paris
Saturday 7th November 1998
Travel Counsellor: Penny O'Leary
During my time with American Express I was one of a select group of people recognised for outstanding performance and customer service. Part of the reward was a once in a lifetime trip where I would see and experience things I thought I would never have the means to do in my life, so I have very fond memories of this trip.
Flying Qantas business class I dreamt what I would do with 5 nights in Rome staying at the luxurious Hotel Majestic Roma, one of the most beautiful hotels in Rome. The Hotel Majestic is in a great location close to the Spanish steps surrounded by fantastic shopping and restaurants, it was so convenient I could either walk or catch the metro to everything. Other beautiful Italian sites are only a day trip away and I had always wanted to see the Island of Capri and Sorrento and fantastic Florence; so off I went on two easy day trips. On my way to Florence we discovered it was International Women’s day so it was all for free, including entry to all the museums!
Italy... view full story
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