Working for a travel company, it’s pretty difficult to impress us. From our marketing team to our Travel Experts, we’ve all traveled at least a little bit, so it takes a little more to catch our attention than your average weekend in London. When our product team came to us with this offer, we literally had people on our team ask for booking details.

This Friday (February 19) only, our Europe Express tour, which includes stops in Amsterdam, Prague, Munich, and Paris, is 50 percent off the regular price. That’s right, the nine-day Europe Express tour, which usually starts at $1,250 per person, is only $625 on Friday. Plus, you only have to put down a deposit on Friday, you don’t even have to shell out the full $625.

Here are the details of the tour:

Day 1: You’ll start (and end) in London and make your way across the water from England to France and then head further north to Amsterdam to take in all the city has to offer from the Van Gogh Museum to my personal favorite – FOAM.

Day 2: Make your way through the Rhine Valley to check out some ancient castles, vineyards and enjoy a group dinner with your fellow travelers.

Day 3 and 4: Prague! Make sure to check out Frank Gehry’s Dancing House and the other cultural sights and sounds of this grand city. Prague is also one of the safest major cities in Europe, so you can take comfort in venturing out at night to the many pubs and eateries that the city is so famous for.

Day 5: Venture on to the Bavarian capital of Munich to take in some the city’s famous beer halls and giant pretzels. If you’re into modern theatre, consider checking out the Kammerspiele, which may be reinterpreting one of your favorite classics with some modern twists.

Day 6: Take a day to relax in the getaway city of Lucerne. Located in central Switzerland, it is surrounded by natural beauty.

Day 7 and 8: Ahh, Paris! It doesn’t matter if you like to eat, peruse the art galleries or just take in the city, Paris is an experience to be had by all. I recommend taking some time to check out some of the more distinct arrondissments like the 9th, which is home to Opéra Garnier.

Day 9: Back to London via ferry and back to the reality after an amazing European adventure.

Ready to book? Find the STA Travel Store nearest you or call 800.777.0112.

Christine Sarkis, SmarterTravel.com, posted an article on USAToday.com recently about the top destinations to watch in 2010.

German Food

While the world is certainly a big place, we think that Christine put together a pretty good list. Just check out some of the destinations to keep your eye on for 2010.

Germany – In a country with so much to do, where do you start? Even though it’s the most popular with tourists, a trip to Oktoberfest can’t be missed. Check out our Oktoberfest tour, which will get you to London where you then head to Munich for 4 days of high jinks.

Singapore – Had enough of Thailand? Saving Malaysia for next year? Singapore is one of the places to go in 2010. Right now, Singapore isn’t crawling with tourists and still has some pretty cool attractions. Right now, you can book a one-of-a-kind “Night Safari.” You’ve seen the animals out in the day on safari, now check out the night creatures for a different perspective.

Iceland – You’ve all seen the articles about how dirt cheap Iceland is right now, so why haven’t you gone? Put Iceland on your list for 2010 and make sure to book your flight soon after, because this place is a great value right now.

Mexico – Did somebody say Spring Break? Cancun is always our most popular destination for Spring Break and this year we don’t expect it to be any different. It’s the place to be if you want to party or just relax on the beach. Through the end of December, you can get $100 off your Spring Break trip.

Check out the rest of the “Destinations to watch in 2010” at USAToday.com.

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