I Always Came Home Hungry

I Always Came Home Hungry

by | Jan 23, 2008 | Eating & Drinking, Essential Travel Resources

 

McDonald’s for fine cuisine?

I’ve not always been the confident and savvy tour leader I am today.  There was a time when I relied on the “expertise and advice” of drivers and guides to lead me and my student groups around the sights of Europe.  The trouble was that the bus drivers were always on the take, either for the young girls or for our tour dollars; and the guides were at least fifteen years younger than me with about half as many people skills. The only positive thing they had going was our ignorance and their knowledge of the tourist sights. 

To make matters worse, these tours were promoted as providing breakfast and dinner everyday, but I always came home hungry!  After those early trips to Europe our first stop, after arriving at our hometown airport, was for a thick and juicy steak!  You see, we had been practically brainwashed into believing that everyone in Europe had a hard roll and jam for breakfast and a chicken or pork cutlet followed by a piece of fruit for dinner.  No wonder my students craved a Big Mac! 

What ever happened to that food Julia Child so eloquently described in her cookbooks? Finally, I took control.  Never again was I going to be blindly led through the streets of Europe by a guide who was experiencing a sight for the first time just like me!  Never again was a bus driver going to steal from me and my group and blame it on the locals, and never again was I going to come home from Europe craving American food!

It was the basement dining experience in Rome that did it. Earlier in the day our “walking tour” had taken us past outdoor cafes and garlicky smelling trattorie which just pleaded with my senses to come in for a taste.  Finally, it was time for dinner and I was ready!  But to my dismay, we were loaded onto our bus and transported to the outskirts of town.  Here we got off the bus and went underground into a huge 400-seat cafeteria.  I think all the student tour groups who visited Rome that day were scheduled to have dinner here. My group was hustled in and seated.  We were fed pasta, an unknown cutlet, and a piece of fruit.  Then we were hustled out so the next group could take our seats. 

It took me a few years to get my act together, but never again will I come home hungry from a European tour.  Our Exploring Europe tours are loaded with good food and gourmet meals.  Don’t get the wrong impression, this does not necessarily mean “fine dining.” Our meals consist of the best of the local cuisine coupled with a unique and special dining experience.  We eat fish by the seashore, pesto in Liguria, snails in Burgundy, sausage in Munich, and omelets in Normandy.  Potatoes are a staple in Ireland, and you’ve got to have fish and chips in England.  Pasta reigns supreme in Italy and crisp French fries, dipped in mayonnaise, are a delight in Belgium.  In Holland you can try a salted herring, only if you like, and the spicy Indian cuisine of London is sure to put a sting to your taste buds. If you don’t like what you see (or smell), there is always another choice somewhere else. You’ll never go hungry on one of our tours!  Happy Eating!

David

Packing light for the long haul

Packing light for the long haul

by | May 21, 2007 | Essential Travel Resources

I’m sitting here at the Atlanta airport with my travel partner, Natalie, waiting for our overnight flight to Edinburgh, Scotland.  The last week has been busy, but I started packing six days ago.  Over the previous weekend I got all my travel gear together.  That includes clothes and gadgets these days!  Digital Voice recorder for podcasting, camera, PDA, GPS, iPod, etc…..

I rushed home from my last day of teaching school and threw all my clothes and gadgets in my carry-on bag, checked everything twice and headed to the airport. En-route I realized I’d packed my contact lens solution, but not my contact lens case.  No worries… I’ll pick a case up in Edinburgh.  Now-a-days you can buy anything in Europe!  So I’m ready and set to fly off.  Can’t wait for the yummy airline dinner!

Hey, Natalie Here!!

I didn’t have as stressful a week as David, seeing as I’m still a student at the University of Florida, and according to my parents and working friends, don’t actually live in the real world.

Anyway, I also started packing a few days ago and I knew that even though I wanted to pack a lot of clothes, it is worth it to use a suitcase that I could carry on. If you have ever listened to me talk about packing then you know I am a strong advocate for packing light and carrying on luggage.

So, we are sitting here talking about shoes and David says he has packed the least ever. He has two pairs of shoes for 2 months. Well I, on the other hand, have kind of broken my own rule and packed a pair of tennis shoes. My other “European” tennis shoes are in Gainesville and I forgot to get them when I left school for the Summer. Oh well, I will make do with my other my other 3 pairs. Hehehe 🙂

OK, our flight is in an hour and we look forward to writing again from Edinburgh.

David and Natalie

Dollar Stretching Strategies

Dollar Stretching Strategies

by | Mar 17, 2007 | Essential Travel Resources

  1. Book as much of your trip in US dollars as possible. Search the Web, make some calls, ask your travel agent, ask me. There are a lot of travel providers that allow you to reserve air, hotel, and car all in one transaction using US dollars. Look at Expedia and Travelocity. We have some great options on our Travel Links pages as well.
  2. Explore Europe on a group tour. Many tour companies (including Exploring Europe) offer all-inclusive group tours. These tours typically include meals, lodging, transportation, guided tours, and attractions all at one fixed price. You’ll pay for your tour in US dollars and not worry about the exchange rate at all.
  3. Watch the fine print. Many tour companies (NOT Exploring Europe) have a clause buried in the fine print of their contract allow for an increase in the tour cost should the dollar’s value drop.
  4. Choose a hotel with fewer “stars.” Almost all hotels in Europe are rated by the number of “stars” their government hotel inspection agency gives. Don’t be fooled, in most cases the “stars” have no relationship to the quality of the hotel. Hotels are given “stars” for such things as trouser presses, big elevators, hair-dryers, cafes, a bar, restaurants, bathtubs, and many rooms. Most often this has nothing to do with the cleanliness, location, safety, and atmosphere of a hotel. Shop around before squandering your Euro needlessly.
  5. Consider a small town as opposed to a big city. Hotels are usually less expensive outside big metropolitan areas.
  6. Eat out less often. You’ll be amazed at how much you can save by cutting down on your food budget. Consider picnicking, eating only one big meal a day, and visiting fast-food markets.
  7. Take the train or bus. For a small group public transportation is always cheaper than a taxi or rental car.
  8. Consider fly on Europe’s cheap and efficient budget airlines.
  9. Purchase water or soda in bulk. Buying bottled water near tourist sights can cost $2 or more for a pint. Plan ahead and stock up at a grocery store in your hotel neighborhood where 2-liters of water can be purchased for $1 or less.
  10. Pay with local cash, not credit cards. Credit card companies charge merchants up to 3% or more for their use. The cost has got to be passed on to someone, usually the consumer.
  11. Uses your ATM card. Don’t use expensive fee-loaded credit cards. Your ATM card from your hometown bank will spit out the local currency in almost any country in the world. It is safe, convenient, and offers the very best exchange rates. 

We’ve got a lot of tours going to Europe this year. Why don’t you consider saving your dollars and stretching your budget. Let us show you around Europe at an affordable price.