Spring Break

So here I am back in Paris with only 2 weeks left. Actually, with just under 2 weeks left! I can hardly believe it's that time already, mostly since I just returned from a lovely break. I split my time between London and Madrid, and let me tell you, I've never known traveling to be so prone to ups and downs as this trip was! Here are a few things I'd like to share with those of you who are planning travelling around Europe while you're here:

1. Cost
You may find yourself in a pinch for money. No problem! There are loads of cheap ways to see everything you want to see. You just have to find all the right ways to cut costs without suffering from them. One good way to do that is to find reasonable housing. If possible, stay with people you know. That may mean your cousin's ex-fiance, but I hope it doesn't! If you can't find someone you're related to, the next best thing is to take recommendations from people who have been to where you are going. They are great resources for you when beginning your search for bargains.

Next option, internet and guide books. It's been my experience that some websites will tell you helpful information, while others only give you what's convenient to share. Like, "Breakfast included," sometimes means you only get it certain days of the week and at certain hours, and it's not on-site. You should be thorough in your research, and if you don't mind surprises, go ahead and gamble. On the other hand, guide books will give you a lot of good information about everything you will want to do, whether it's sight-seeing or finding a hotel/hostel.

2. Travel
When traveling, you should know your own habits. Since I am not a good traveler, as some put it, I like to travel on airplanes rather than in cars for long stretches of travel. But since I also love a good bargain, on my trip to London I was happy to save some change to spend while actually in the city (and you need it; nothing's cheap in London!). Unfortunately, that meant taking a bus. After arriving late and then spending an extra 2 hours in customs, the out-bound trip seemed like a nightmare. When returning from London, the whole trip took no longer than expected and was smooth-sailing the whole 5 hours. Still, compare that to flying, and I think you might just be better off taking the plane.

3. Arrival
Once you get to town, the sky's the limit. Or really, your budget. You can manage to see a lot even over the span of a long weekend. I would strongly recommend the guides put out by Lonely Planet. Using the London guide not only helped me to get a sense of the geography of the city, with numerous regional and city maps, but it also helped me to prioritize my visit with suggested day trips and walking tours. If you don't want to pay much, you can easily flip through and get a feel for what's cheap. You can also find out the good places to go for food!

4. Souvenirs
If you want souvenirs that will mean something, don't just go to the souvenir shops. Talk to the locals, read the guide books, and most importantly, walk around! It's okay to be lost, just preferably don't be lost at night. Things get strange quickly for visitors when it's dark. But you can easily get to know people at shops and on the public transportation, especially if you speak the local language. Be sure and be sensitive to culture, too. Sometimes people don't like tourists meddling in their affairs.