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.

Eurostar Train

The Eurostar is the amazingly easy-to-use train that connects London, Paris, Lille and Brussels. Comfortable seats, easy check-in and a quick trip are all reasons why you should skip the plane from London to Paris and hop on the Eurostar.

Last week, I experienced the Eurostar first hand. I started my trip in Amsterdam, then took a flight to London and then the Eurostar from London to Paris. I can’t emphasize enough how much easier Eurostar is then taking a flight.

With a flight, you have to get to the airport first, then go through lines at check-in and at security and the border control. It’s line after line and at the end of it, you’re stuck in a usually small airplane with very little space and a “fasten seatbelt” sign that keeps you from stretching your legs a little.

On the Eurostar, it is a breeze. The check-in is very easy. When you purchase a Eurostar ticket from STA Travel, you’ll get a ticket that you take to Eurostar area at the train station with plenty of agents to help check you in. You then make a quick stop at security and get your passport stamped. After that, you head to your train platform and grab your very comfortable seat and enjoy a smooth ride to your destination.

In total, it took me 10 minutes from the time I got to the train station to the time I was in my seat on the Eurostar. That’s compared to the hour-and-a-half to go through two security lines and check-in at Amsterdam Schipol. Eurostar itself recommends arriving at least 30 minutes prior to train departure. For international flights, most recommend arriving two hours prior to your flight departure.

So save some time – and money – and book a Eurostar ticket for your next trip.

I recently wrote about phobias to conquer while traveling to Asia. Well, phobias can be extremely unique to specific cultures and destinations.

Let us continue on this rollercoaster ride to England.

Top Phobias To Conquer While Traveling: England

Photo by: Mike McCaffrey@flickr.com

1)   Top of the charts for sure: Anglophobia – the fear of England.

2)   It is cloudy in England about 70% of the year. If you have Nephophobia – a fear of clouds – you can head here or maybe Seattle.

3)   London is an awesome city for so many reasons. They have an amazing public transportation system. If you need to go a long way, hop on The Tube. Just a short ride but too far to walk? Grab a taxi! They are everywhere. Do both and rid yourself of Siderodromophobia & Amaxophobia: The fear of trains and the fear of riding in a car.

4)   Not suffering from Siderodromophobia & Amaxophobia? All right, walk and conquer Ambulophobia.

5)   Take a walk by Big Ben and cure your fear of clocks: Chronomentrophobia.

6)   All that walking is sure to make you hungry. A very popular dish in England is fish ‘n’ chips. Head to a local pub, grab a warm lager and some grub. While you¹re at it, take care of that Ichthyophobia and Dipsophobia, the fear of fish and the fear of alcohol.

David Goodlin
Online Marketing Coordinator

London is always at the top of my travel list.

I spent a semester studying abroad in London back in college so I got to experience all the must-see museums and attractions and still had time to explore the local pubs, markets and eateries.

With the tickets so cheap this summer, I couldn’t resist making another visit to my old stomping grounds in London Town.  I plan to visit all my old spots and then hop, skip and jump up to Edinburgh, Scotland on the Britrail.  Here’s what I plan to do and what I recommend for anyone who wants to experience London like a local.

Those Red Busses Move Really Fast

Markets: I can’t resist the markets in London.  There are random markets almost every day of the week.  Portobello and Camden are my favorites.

Portobello Market is open on Saturdays in popular Notting Hill.  There are tons of great antique shops, art stores and a great farmers market.  You can even stop in the bookstore where “Notting Hill” was filmed if you’re a fan of the film.

Camden is huge!  It’s definitely a day’s worth of shopping.  If you’re looking for some eclectic accessories for you wardrobe, this is definitely the place to do it.

Museums: The breadth of museums in London can be overwhelming, so I’ve decided I’m only going to the Tate Modern and the Saatchi Gallery. If you’re into contemporary art, these museums will blow you away.

Dining: I’m not a huge fan of Fish ‘n’ Chips, so I’m going to probably spend my evenings dining in some of the many amazing Indian restaurants in London.  I also plan to head to Chinatown in the West End for some delicious Chinese food.

Entertainment: I am a big fan of musicals so I can’t resist seeing the British musicals in London.
Two important notes on musicals in London:

1. Do not see an American musical like Footloose, Grease or West Side Story.  You’ll be disappointed. Stick to the British Musicals.  My favorites are Les Mis, Billy Elliot and Our House.

2. London Musicals are cheaper and more casual than Broadway shows.  If you go for a weekday matinee, you can often get ½ price tickets in Piccadilly Circus.  There are definitely deals to be had there.

Shopping: I’m a huge fan of London shopping.  Now that the British Pound isn’t as strong, I’m planning to do some damage in Covent Garden and off Oxford Street.  My favorite store hands-down is TopShop.  The one on Oxford Street is 3 floors so give yourself at least an hour and if you’re with friends just slit up and set a meeting time.  That’s the only way to do it.

I could go on and on, but I’m trying not to write a novel here.  Hopefully this list is helpful!

Carly Mills

Multi-Channel Marketing Manager

Photo Credit: doug88888 on Flickr