Visiting Europe

Chelsea Flower Show 2013: 21 to 25 May 2013
Hours: 8:00 to 20:00 Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 to 17:30 Saturday

The Chelsea Flower Show is one of the best known flower shows in the world. 2013 will be the 100th anniversary of the show.

Run by the Royal Horticultural Society in England, the Chelsea Flower Show takes place every May in the central London borough of Chelsea.

Chelsea Flower Show tickets are available for both members and non-members of the RHS. Members can buy tickets for all days of the Chelsea Flower Show, which lasts from Tuesday through Saturday. Non-members can buy flower show tickets for Thursday through Saturday.

Chelsea Flower Show tickets allow the holder entry for a specific time. Some tickets are valid for the entire day, while others are only valid for a specific time period during the day, for example an afternoon or evening time slot.

Tickets go on sale at the end of the year prior to the show, and you can pre-register your interest on the RHS website. For the 2013 show, tickets are on sale now.

Chelsea Flower Show ticket discounts are hard to come by, as tickets are in high demand and usually sell out prior to the event. However, Chelsea Flower Show tickets vary in price by the length of time they allow you to visit the flower show. This year, all-day tickets start at ?55, while half-day tickets start at ?34 and evening tickets start at ?28.

Cannes Film Festival 2013 dates: May 15 to 26, 2013

Each spring the southern French city of Cannes comes alive with the buzz and energy of the Cannes Film Festival.

The festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious of all film festivals, and attracts crowds of visitors accordingly.

Directors, producers, stars and the starstruck all gather on the French Riviera during the festival.

The lucky few watch screenings and wait with baited breath to see which film wins the Cannes Film Festival's most prestigious award, the Palme d'Or.

If you plan to be visiting Cannes during the Cannes Film Festival, make sure to book your holiday well in advance.

Hotels, flights, and transport for the Cannes Film Festival book up early and prices can be expensive, so consider staying in a nearby town or city if you want to find a deal.

For beer lovers and others visiting the Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice is one of the best travel destinations in the country. Steeped in history and famous for great Czech beers like Budvar, the town is a true gem.

If you plan to stay overnight, below is a list of the best hotels in Ceske Budejovice.

Best Budget Hotel in Ceske Budejovice
Hotel Zatkuv Dum
Address: Krajinska 41, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

The 3-star Hotel Zatkuv Dum is located right in the heart of the city center. The property features 10 rooms as well as a cafe and restaurant. Standard room rates start at 1100 CZK per night.

Best 4-Star Hotel in Ceske Budejovice
Clarion Congress Hotel
Address: Prazska Trida 14, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

The Clarion Congress hotel is situated in the center of Ceske Budejovice. It is a short walk from the main market square in town. The 205 guest rooms are spacious and decorated in calm, neutral tones. Standard room rates start at 55 euros per night.

Best Luxury Hotel in Ceske Budejovice
Grandhotel Zvon
Address: Namesti Premysla Otakara II 90/28, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

The Grandhotel Zvon is arguably the best hotel in Ceske Budejovice. In business since 1533, it is also one of the oldest and most established hotels in the city. The 26 guest rooms and suites feature modern decor with historic touches, and many rooms have views overlooking the beautiful square. Standard room rates start at 65 euros per night, but online discounts are regularly available.

Below is a map of some of the best restaurants in Amsterdam.

You can read more about each one on the Best Restaurants in Amsterdam guide.

Click on the blue pins for more information about the location and contact information for each restaurant on the map.


View Amsterdam Restaurant Map in a larger map

Buses from Lagos to Seville are a great way to get from Portugal's Algarve to Spain's Andalusia region while you are visiting Europe. In fact, due to the lack of train services between the two cities, buses are the only public transport option.

The company that operates coach services on this route is called Eva. Their buses depart from Lagos Rossio de Sao Joao in Portugal and arrive at Seville Plaza de Armas coach station in southern Spain.

Eva buses from Lagos to Seville leave every day at 6:30 and 13:45 from the beginning of September until the beginning of July. From the beginning of July until the beginning of September, buses leave daily at 6:15, 7:30, 12:30, and 14:45. There are no services on December 25th and January 1st.

The stated travel time on this route ranges from 4 hours and 15 minutes to 5 hours and 30 minutes, depending on which service you choose. That said, if you have an onward connection to make when you arrive in Spain, be sure to leave yourself extra time in case of delays. Additionally, keep in mind that Portugal is one hour behind Spain.

Tickets for buses from Lagos to Seville cost 21.00 euros one-way and 35.70 euros round trip for adults. Reduced fares are available for children and senior citizens. These tickets cost 17.85 euros one-way. Bus tickets can be purchased online in advance or in Lagos before you leave.

Belgium is synonymous with beer. You can't go far in the country without running into one of its famous brews. From fruity Lambic beers to famous Trappist ales, there are so many different kinds of Belgian beer to try that you could spend months in the country without sampling them all.

But if you want to wash down as many brews as you can while you are visiting Belgium, below are the best bars in Brussels for Belgian beer.

Delirium Cafe
Address: Impasse de la Fidelite 4, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Web: www.deliriumcafe.be

Delirium Cafe is one of the most famous bars in Brussels. Located just off the bustling restaurant alley of Rue des Bouchers, the bar serves more types of beers than any other in the world.

With a menu the size of a book, you can choose to sample every kind of beer made in Belgium and many from the rest of the world. There are over 2,500 different kinds of beer on the menu, so you shouldn't have trouble finding one you like!

Delirium Cafe can be very busy and rowdy at times, so if you are looking for a more relaxed experience, try visiting one of the others.

A La Morte Subite
Address: Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potageres 7, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Web: www.alamortsubite.com

A classic Belgian establishment with beautiful Art Nouveau decor, A La Morte Subite is another of the best bars in Brussels for Belgian beer. If you are a fan of Gueuze and Lambic beers, this is the perfect place to imbibe.

The interiors of A La Morte Subite date back to the 1920's, when the bar was first opened by Theophile Vossen. Today his great-grandsons still run the bar, and make sure to keep the beautiful historic atmosphere as well maintained as the high-quality beer offerings.

Moeder Lambic
Address: 8 place Fontainas, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Web: www.moederlambic.com

Located right in the heart of the city, Moeder Lambic is one of the most popular beer bars in Brussels. It offers a great variety of Belgian beers in a lively atmosphere. The bar also serves cheese and meat plates for those that want to line their stomachs while drinking (a good idea considering how strong many Belgian beers are!).

There is another location of Moeder Lambic in the Saint-Gilles area of Brussels (68 rue de Savoie). It has more of a relaxed, local feel and is great for those that want to drink in quieter surroundings.

Poechenellekelder
Address: Rue du Chene 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Web: www.poechenellekelder.be

Don't let the long name put you off from visiting Poechenellekelder. It is one of the top bars in Brussels, and is conveniently located right near the Grand Place and the famous Mannekin Pis statue.

The underground cellar bar has a surreal feel to its decor, and the menu offers everything from traditional Blonde beers to cherry-flavored artisan brews.

A La Becasse
Address: Rue du Chene 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Web: www.alabecasse.com

One of the oldest and most historic of all Brussels bars, A La Becasse is a great place to enjoy a beer in a traditional 19th century atmosphere. It is one of the best bars in Brussels for Belgian beer, particularly its famous Jeune Lambic Blanche, which is served in stone jugs by waiters dressed like monks.

Buses from Berlin to Leipzig are a good, cheap way to travel between the two cities when you are visiting Germany.

A company called Berlin Linien Bus run coach services to Leipzig and other cities throughout Germany and various parts of Europe. Their buses are clean and comfortable, and services are fairly frequent.

Buses from Berlin to Leipzig depart four times a day. Schedules change seasonally, but there are generally two morning departures, one afternoon departure, and one early evening departure. Make sure to check timetables before you travel to ensure that you know when the next service leaves.

Coaches depart from the ZOB am Funkturm, which is the main bus station in Berlin. All buses stop at the Leipzig / Halle airport, and the first and last services of the day also stop at the main train station, or Hauptbahnhof, on Goethestrasse in the Leipzig city centre.

The travel time on this route is 1 hour and 45 minutes to Leipzig airport, and 2 hours and 15 minutes to the train station. If you have a flight, train, or bus connection to make in Leipzig, make sure to leave yourself some extra time in case of unforeseen delays or traffic on the way.

Ticket prices for buses from Berlin to Leipzig start at 9 euros for singles if you book online well in advance of travelling. Otherwise tickets cost 18 euros for singles. Return tickets cost 18 euros if booked well ahead of time, or 32 euros for the regular price. Concession fares are available for those that qualify.

Visiting Ireland independently works well for some people, but if you feel more comfortable with a guide and driver, small group tours of Ireland are a great alternative.

Information about three of the best companies offering such tours is below. Each company has a variety of itineraries for different lengths of time, and they all cater to various travel styles. As such, it should be easy to find a tour that works best for your trip.

Vagabond Tours

Vagabond Tours is an award-winning tour company that specializes in small group tours of Ireland. Vagabond offers tours with an active, outdoor focus and lots of opportunities for adventure travel in Ireland. Their 12-day Giant Irish Adventure Tour offers an action-packed itinerary with activities like horseback riding and sea kayaking.

They also have a brand called Driftwood Tours, which focuses on discovery. Driftwood offers trips like an 11-day Discover Ireland Tour. It gives a comprehensive overview of the country that focuses on Irish tradition, culture, history, and food. Both Driftwood and Vagabond also offer private tours of Ireland that can be tailored to your specifications.

Tauck Tours

While most of Tauck's tours are for larger groups, they offer several small group tours throughout the year for a supplement. Their pricing is slightly higher than that of some other companies, but they also include more in the overall price, so the value for money is still good.

Tauck offers a comprehensive 14-day tour of Ireland called The Best of Ireland. It starts in Shannon and covers most of the coastal areas of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Wolfhound Adventure Tours

Wolfhound features small-group tours of Ireland with an active focus. Daily hikes and bike rides take participants through the Irish countryside, allowing them to enjoy it up close. There are opportunities for other activities like horseback riding as well.

There is a lot of flexibility and choice involved in Wolfhound's tours, so you can make them as active (or not) as you want to. Wolfhound also offers private tours.

Trains from Madrid to Toledo are the fastest way to get between the capital of Spain and the capital of Castilla La Mancha.

Trains to Toledo depart from Atocha station in central Madrid. They arrive at Toledo station. All rail services between these cities are operated by Renfe, Spain's national rail company.

There are multiple trains from Madrid to Toledo every day, with services leaving almost every hour on weekdays and slightly less frequently on weekends.

The travel time on this route is 33 minutes, which is more than half an hour faster than driving or taking a bus between the two cities.

Tickets for trains from Madrid to Toledo cost 12.50 euros for adults if you purchase them online in advance. There is only one class of service on this route.

If you need to get from Sorrento to Naples when you are visiting Italy, you have a lot of options. They vary by speed, price, and comfort, so you can make a choice depending on which of those you care about the most.

Below are the details of each option for getting between the two cities:

Ferries from Sorrento to Naples
Ferries on this route run year-round and are one of the fastest and most scenic ways to get to Naples. There are two companies that run services between the cities, and you can find more information about the route here.

Trains from Sorrento to Naples
The train between Sorrento and Naples is called the Circumvesuviana. It offers a half hourly service between the cities and is the cheapest way to travel.

Buses from Sorrento to Naples
A bus service runs from Sorrento to the Naples airport year-round. There are several daily departures and ticket prices are reasonable. The trip takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. This is a great option if you want to connect to a flight in Naples.

Taxis from Sorrento to Naples
Taxis are the most expensive way to get from Sorrento to Naples, but also the most convenient. Taxis cost around 75 euros for three people traveling with two large bags if you take a pre-booked service.

Taking the train from Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov is a good way to get from Austria to the Czech Republic when you are traveling in Europe.

Trains on this route run from Salzburg's Hauptbahnhof (main train station) to Cesky Krumlov's train station on the outskirts of the town.

Rail services are operated by OBB and Czech Railways, the Austrian and Czech rail companies. They run trains every two hours throughout the day.

Trains from Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov run via Ceske Budejovice and Linz, so you will have to make two connections en route.

The journey time between these cities ranges from 4 hours and 45 minutes to 5 hours and 20 minutes, including the connections.

Tickets for trains from Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov cost 41.50 euros for singles in first class and 23.70 euros for singles in second class. You can buy them at the station before you depart.

Trains from Zurich to Basel are a great way to travel when you are visiting Switzerland.

Trains that run between these two Swiss cities depart from the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, which is the main train station in the city center. They arrive at the Basel SBB station, which is also the primary one in the city. All rail services are operated by the Swiss rail company SBB.

Trains from Zurich to Basel depart four to five times an hour throughout the day. They are a mix of InterCity, InterCity Express, TGV, EuroCity, and InterRegio. All of them are quick and efficient as well as clean and modern.

The travel time to Basel depends on what kind of train you take. Journey times range from 53 minutes on InterCity and TGV services to 1 hour and 11 minutes on InterRegio trains.

Tickets for trains from Zurich to Basel cost 56 CHF in first class and 32 CHF in second class one-way. You can get good discounts on fares if you book online in advance of traveling.

Buses from Dubrovnik to Mostar are a great way to get from Croatia's most famous city to Bosnia and Herzegovina's most beloved one.

There are daily buses between these two cities in the Balkans. Coaches operate throughout the year, with summer services being more frequent than winter ones.

In the peak season there are around three departures each day from the Dubrovnik bus station, which is located near the ferry port. One leaves in the morning around 8:00, one in the afternoon around 15:00, and the other in the early evening around 17:00.

In the winter there are around two or three daily services. As with the summer schedule, they are spaced out over the course of the day. Dubrovnik bus schedules change frequently, so ask your accommodation to call the bus station and confirm departure times before you travel.

The journey time on buses from Dubrovnik to Mostar is around 3 hours and 30 minutes. The ultimate travel time depends on if the bus leaves Dubrovnik on time, if there is traffic along the way, and if it takes a long time to cross the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (be sure to bring your passport).

Buses on this route are generally high-quality coaches. They have comfortable seats that recline, and they offer luggage holds for large bags. Air conditioning is also standard, which is great if you are traveling through the Balkans in the heat of summer.

The price of a one-way ticket for buses from Dubrovnik to Mostar is around 10 euros. If you are visiting Croatia during the busy summer months, make sure to buy a ticket at least a day ahead of time. If you are visiting outside of that time, you can buy your bus ticket at the Dubrovnik bus station right before you travel to Bosnia.

If you have more than three or four days to spend in Turkey, consider taking a day trip from Istanbul to one of the surrounding cities or somewhere further afield.

Below is a list of some of the best day trips from Istanbul:

Ephesus
If you're not daunted by the prospect of flying to and from Ephesus in one day, a day trip from Istanbul is a great way to see the ancient city.

Gallipoli
For lovers of military history, Gallipoli makes for one of the best day trips from Istanbul. Enjoy a visit to the historic Gallipoli battlefields, trenches, and tunnels for a day.

Bursa
The historic city of Bursa is another great place to visit. Go to the first Ottoman capital to see the historic sights of the Green Mosque and Tomb, the Grand Mosque, the Silk Market, and the Covered Bazaar.

Iznik and Nicea
Iznik and Nikea are a great day trip from Istanbul. You can spend the day seeing the famous tiles and location of the first Ecumenical Council.

Black Sea Beaches
For sun worshippers, the Black Sea beaches make for one of the best day trips from Istanbul. Enjoy swimming and sunbathing for an afternoon before returning to city life.

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