This July we’ll be headed to Beervaria, Germany… our mistake. Actually, for seven days we’ll be trotting around Bavaria, the largest and tastiest state in Germany.

Most nights will be spent in the state capital, Munich, enjoying baked pretzels with mustard and the finest beers around. However, Munich also makes a great base for day trips to a variety of nearby destinations.

Here is what we will be checking out during our stay in Bavaria:

Neuschwanstein Castle – This castle may look familiar to you, as it was the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle at the Dinseyland theme park. The first stone was laid in the mid 1800s and the castle was one of the first buildings to use electricity, which the builder of the castle – King Ludwig – introduced to the German public.

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Dachau – Opened in March 1993, Dachau was the first regular concentration camp operated by the Nazi party in Germany and became a model for future concentration camps. The camp was one of the first to be liberated in 1945, but not before many political prisoners, resistance fighters, clergy and politicians were killed.

Salzburg, Austria – The birthplace of Mozart and the backdrop for a few scenes in The Sound of Music, Salzburg is a city famous for its musical heritage. You can head to the area outside of town and catch a tour guide who can show you the setting for the Von Trapp family’s wacky antics in the musical.

And now why we are really going…

The Beer Gardens - Although Oktoberfest is something one should not miss in his lifetime, there is plenty to be gained by sitting down with the locals over a few liters of beer any time of year. Quick tip – stay away from the tourist traps. The majority of first-timers to Munich will end up at the Hofbräuhaus, a huge beer hall with a live polka band and liter-sized beers. This feels like an authentic experience until you realize you’re surrounded by other backpackers and no Münchners! Try the various local beer gardens dotted around the city center, Augustiner for one.

Overall, going somewhere local will give you that bona fide German culture for which you’re (and we’re!) going to Bavaria.

Prost!

Photo Credit: Russell C. on Flickr

After we asked you guys to name your cheap summer travel destinations, we asked for your favorite “must-see” things or places in Europe.

We had an overwhelmingly 130 responses and – after much deliberation – we are pleased to present the top 30 “must-see” spots in Europe according to our readers. Make sure to click on the linked text to see a picture of the suggestion on Flickr.

The Monasteries of the Meteora, Greece (Suggested by Kyanne)

The Sacre-Coeur, Paris, France (Suggested by Monica)

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy (Suggested by Jenna)

Interlaken, Switzerland (Suggested by Caitlin S.)

Grant Museum of Zoology, London, UK (Suggested by Harriet Baskas)

Marienplatz, Munich, Germany (Suggested by Kara)

The British Lawnmower Museum Didn't Make the Cut

Belem, Lisbon, Portugal (Suggested by Oscar)

Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy (Suggested by Giovanna Palatucci)

The Narva Gate, St. Petersburg, Russia (Suggested by Chris)

Worm’s Head, Swansea, Wales (Suggested by Renee O.)

La  Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain (Suggested by Cara Z.)

Bruges, Belgium (Suggested by Hannah Kim)

Saint Melo, near Rennes, France (Suggested by Graeme)

Dubrovnik, Croatia (Suggested by Emily Osvold)

The Keukenhof, near Lisse, Netherlands (Suggested by Marisa)

Mercat de la Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain (Suggested by Jenn Vargas)

Grandhotel Pupp, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic (Suggested by Lauren)

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, United Kingdom (Suggested by Ng Sook Zhen)

However, the Sacre-Coeur did

Isle of Skye, Scotland (Suggested by Cassie S-C)

Sainte Chappelle, Paris, France (Suggested by Jamie)

Dunnottar Castle, near Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Suggested by Brianna C.)

Bonehouse of Sedlec, Kunta Hora, Czech Republic (Suggested by Karina Giraldo)

Chiesa di San Ignazio, Rome, Italy (Suggested by Arielle)

The Gorges of Verdon, Provence region of France (Suggested by Lauren)

Canterbury, England (Suggested by Cherie)

Mount Vesuvius, Naples, Italy (Suggested by Kassie)

Jungfaru, Switzerland (Suggested by Sarah)

The Vasa Museum, Stockholm, Sweden (Suggested by Jordan Brooks)

Nyhavn, Cophenhagen, Denmark (Suggested by Marie Z.)

Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland (Suggested by Gloria)

Check out STA Travel’s top 30 recommnedations and see how they compare to our readers.

The Sacre-Coeur Photo Credit: ndrewfgg on Flickr

For the first 2 weeks of March, my husband and I embarked on our first overseas adventure together!

Since my job is to know about all of the accommodation options we offer around the world, I knew all about the smorgasbord of choices we had could choose from. After deciding on Paris and Berlin as our two stops on the trip, I knew we had to have accommodations that were in great locations considering all there is to do in these cities.

You Know You Are in Berlin When You See Tiny Green Ampelmann

We spent nine hours in the Louvre (yes, NINE HOURS), spent a whole day at beautiful Versailles, ate a ton of amazing food – and that was just Paris.  In Berlin, we shopped till we dropped in the chocolate stores, had a sobering experience at the Jewish Museum, marveled at the Kufurstendamm area, and I discovered how cute the Ampelmann are.

I knew I wanted us to be able to share a private room with bathroom (with a hairdryer if possible!) and it had to be in a good area for getting around town.  I ended up booking us at the Prelude Hotel Gare du Nord in Paris (starts at $89/night), and the Hotel Berolina a. d. Gedaechtniskirche in Berlin (starts at $77/night).

However, there were plenty of other hotel and hostel options to choose from.  We could have opted to stay at the Generator Hostel Berlin (THE party hostel, and there’s one in London too!) for just $20 a night in a dorm room.  Thinking back, that would have given me more money to spend on the Kurfürstendamm shopping street…

Why Yes, That Is the Brandenburg Gate in Chocolate

In Paris, we could have stayed cheap at the Caulaincourt Square Hostel (starting at $36 per night in a dorm) and it is also in the Montmartre area.  Man, there’s more money I could’ve used for the Louvre, the train to Versailles, or more FAB shopping!

But, I was totally happy with our private hotel rooms, both of which BOTH had hairdryers so I didn’t blow out another one from the U.S.

If you are looking for somewhere cool and cheap to stay, STA does have some pretty awesome (and inexpensive) properties to choose from.

Here are some examples worth exploring:

• Barcelona: Dream Hostel Barcelona ($28/night)
• Madrid: Hostel Metropol ($34/night)
• London: Hostel 639 ($11/night)
• Amsterdam: Hans Brinker Hostel ($34/night)
• Prague: Plus Prague ($22/night)
• Budapest: Maverick Hostel ($16/night)

All options being considered, I recommend finding the accommodations that are best situated near the activities you want to do on your trip. If you get stuck in a bad location, you could spend some serious coin on taxis getting to all of the sights and activities from your hotel or hostel and your options for food and shopping can be limited.

Before you book your accommodations, consider three things:  Location, Location and Hairdryer.

Another week, another giveaway from your friends at STA.

Whether you are a photog or just a voyeur, everybody goes to Europe to see the sights. From the Louvre in Paris to St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Europe is full of  must-see locations for any traveler.

Our travel experts across the country came up with ten of their favorite must-see places in Europe. After you check out our list, make sure to let us know what your must-see place is in Europe.

On Friday, April 17, at 5 p.m. CDT, we will select one suggestion for a must-see place in Europe at random and that person will receive:

- 1 Round-Trip Ticket to a European destination courtesy of STA and Virgin Atlantic

- 1 Eurail pass

- 1 Busabout pass for hop-on-hop-off travel

So get to reading our list and then leave a comment for your chance to win.

STA Travel’s 10 Must-See Places in Europe

1. Vondelpark in Amsterdam – Imagine Central Park, but with a connected series of ponds and streams and you have one of the most beautiful parks in the world. 10 million visitors flock to this 120 acre park each year to see the park and its open air theater and film museum.

Wouldn't you like to see that in person?

2. Prague Castle in Prague – One of the biggest castles in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records, this castle is home to the Czech Crown Jewels. Measuring at 570 meters in length and an average of 130 miles wide, make sure to bring your wide-angle lens.

3. The Colosseum in Rome – Have you ever seen Gladiator? Check out the spot where the real Gladiators fought in brutal battles for their lives. Later in its existence, the Church tried to turn it into a wool factory to provide employment for Rome’s prostitutes.

4. Sagrada Familia in Barcelona – Easily one of the most spectacular buildings in the entire world, Sagrada Familia is a massive Catholic church that has been under construction since 1882. The construction budget for 2009 is 18 million Euros.

5. Alhambra in Granada – The Alhambra was completed towards the end of Muslim rule in Spain, which is evident in the architecture of this beautiful building.  You may recognize Alhambra if you’ve ever read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

6. BMW Museum in Munich – The visually stunning four-cylinder BMW headquarters and adjacent museum is as beautiful outside as the cars are inside.  One of the most recognized car brands in the world, the BMW Museum showcases some of the best offerings ever produced by the manufacturer.

7. Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy – Most people go to Italy for the fine food, beautiful people and beautiful Duomos, but Lake Como is a can’t miss for anyone looking for breathtaking scenery. Make sure to scan the shoreline for some of the most amazing – and probably expensive – Villas you will ever see.

8. Hyde Park in London – While the park itself is great, the real must-see is located on the north-east corner. That location is home to Speakers’ Corner, where free speech reigns. Step on your soapbox and get ready to be heckled, just make sure to avoid profanity to avoid the ire of the police.

9. Paris Plage in Paris - Imagine walking through beautiful Paris seeing the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and then….a beach. Paris Plage, located in central Paris, is an artificial beach on the banks of the Seine River that is attracting tourists and locals who can’t afford to take a vacation.

10. Uffizi in Florence – Home to a statue of the famous hometown poet Dante, the Uffizi is also home to works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. Make sure to get your ticket in advance, because the wait can be long during peak season.

Let’s get the suggestions rolling.

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