Sistine Chapel. Must visit places in Italy. Belgium Travel Information and Travel Guide. Self-deluding foreigners who’ve never been here often quip that nobody can name five famous Belgians.
Or that Belgium is ‘boring’. ‘So there’s beer and mussels, but what else?’ Belgians’ downbeat, self-deprecating sense of humour means that locals are more than happy to let such folks fool themselves. If foreigners want to ignore the country’s astonishing art history, its 60-plus Unesco sites, and bizarre carnivals that make Rio’s look unimaginative, so be it.
As one Antwerp resident half-mockingly suggested, ‘Don’t waste your time here, Amsterdam is so much prettier!’ But the truth is that Belgium remains a country where people live well. Recent additions to Belgium’s portfolio include state-of-the-art galleries in Mons and Leuven, the superb new Hergé museum at Louvain-laNeuve, and the Magritte Museum and subterranean Coudenberg experience in Brussels. Above all, though, Belgium is a country of two distinct halves. Ready to go? These tours & activities make it easy: Read more. Amsterdam travel guide. Amsterdam Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands.
With more than one million inhabitants in its urban area, it is the country's largest city and its financial, cultural, and creative centre. Amsterdam derives its name from the city’s origin as “Dam” of river “Amstel”. In the past, the name was "Amstelredamme" which later changed as “Amsterdam”. Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, attracting over 7 million international travellers annually.
Amsterdam is colloquially known as Venice of the North because of its lovely canals that criss-cross the city, its impressive architecture and more than 1,500 bridges. Districts[edit] Understand[edit] According to a Eurobarometer report in 2012, 90% of the population speak English as a second language. History[edit] Amsterdam is not the seat of the government, which is in The Hague. Orientation[edit] The "Amsterdam" that most visitors experience is the city centre, the semi-circle with Central Station at its apex. Climate[edit] The Compact Guide To Planning a Trip to Europe. Published/Revised on March 1, 2013· This trip planning guide is written for independent vacationers: people who want to travel on their own to a destination and then just soak it up.
You may also be interested in The Budget Traveler’s Guide To Planning a Trip to Europe. ISIC - International Student Identity Card - ISIC.org. Increase your profile in the student community Offering student benefits means you can begin to build loyalty relationship with these important customers of the future.
ISIC benefits – and therefore your products – are promoted through different forms of marketing to students, targeting millions of students around the world through the ISIC website, national ISIC organisations, benefit guides and more. Western Europe FAQ thread - Lonely Planet travel forum. All countries - money Currencies All countries use the euro except Liechtenstein and Switzerland (these two use the Swiss franc) and Malta (Maltese lira).
To find out how much these currencies are worth in your own country's currency you can use e.g. Yahoo's currency converter. Here's a link to another excellent currency converter. Prices in euro countries are written following the convention for the countries' previous currency before the euro was introduced, e.g. 1,50 € in Spain, France, Germany (updated by wilmaaa)€2,- in other countries. Cash machines (ATMs) Most cards are accepted. When you withdraw money you should only be charged commission by your own bank, not the foreign bank whose cash machine you're using, unless a notice is displayed.
If you've got a choice between credit and debit cards, it's probably best to use the debit card as it should have less commission. PINs in Europe are four digits long. Paying for goods Charge cards Travellers cheques International transfers. Best season to visit Europe. How to Book Trains in Europe. Europe’s rail network is an ideal way to move between the larger cities, and if you book overnight journeys you can save on the cost of a hotel room.
Each European country has its own rail network, so you’ll have to book your tickets through the company operating that network. If your planned journey crosses an international border, book with the company that operates where your trip begins. Although you can usually book tickets over the phone, from the U.S. it’s easier to book online. Step 1 Identify the company operating trains in the country you’ll be traveling in. Step 2 Enter details of the journey you’d like to make. Step 3 Choose the specific journey you’d like to make from the options given. Step 4 Select the class you’d like to travel in. Step 5 Pay online using your credit card. About the Author Rita Kennedy is a writer and researcher based in the United Kingdom.