Europe

Your insider guide to a perfect layover in Amsterdam by a local

October 14, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on October 14, 2019

As a seasoned traveler through Schiphol Airport who lives in Holland, I’ve been asked quite a few times about making the most of a layover in Amsterdam while transiting through Schiphol Airport. Although I’ve flown a lot, I find Schiphol to be one of the better airports that I’ve flown through due to its easy public transit connection with Amsterdam, its clear signage in English, and how quickly you can get out of the airport once you get your bags. This guide to a layover in Schiphol will help you think of some nice activities to fill up your Schiphol layover.

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Free Walking Tour of the Cologne Christmas Markets with Map

October 12, 2019 by Karen 14 Comments

Last Updated on October 21, 2019

In 2019, Cologne will have its annual Christmas market from
November 25th to December 23rd. If you’re lucky enough to visit Cologne in winter (just in time), be sure to spend at least a day (if not three days) browsing the famous Christmas markets in Cologne. Keep reading for tips for experiencing the German Christmas markets and things to do in Cologne in December!

Planning to visit Cologne Germany in winter to see the famous Cologne Christmas markets? Tips for visiting the Cologne Christmas markets, what to do in Cologne, and where the Cologne Christmas markets are!

I’ve set up this as a walking tour of five Christmas markets in Cologne with a downloadable map of the Christmas markets in Cologne. (Be prepared that this FREE walking tour of Cologne includes a lot of walking although it covers many major landmarks.) The map of the Cologne Christmas markets is at the bottom.

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Tips for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Scheveningen and the Hague

October 4, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on December 24, 2019

Happy New Year! This was my first New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands in a bit and it was lovely celebrating it in my current home of The Hague. New Year’s Eve in the Hague, like most of the Netherlands, is something akin to a war zone… I include tips for spending New Year’s Eve in the Hague as well as the best events for New Year’s Eve in the Scheveningen/Hague area. I’ve updated this post for the 2019-2020 New Year given the recent changes.

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Your perfect Crete itinerary: 5 days in Crete without a car

October 1, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on October 1, 2019

I just came back from Greece and I definitely fell in love with Crete. Crete is Greece’s largest island and although I’d encourage you to stay longer than five days, that’s all the time that we had in Crete. Of all the places that we visited in Greece, the food was best in Crete along with the prices for shopping. As it was a quick trip, we chose to explore Crete without a car. I hope that this Crete itinerary with some helpful tips if you have limited time!

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A perfect honeymoon in Italy: Your tried & tested itinerary

September 12, 2019 by Jeanette Cerami 2 Comments

Last Updated on January 1, 2020

My husband and I love to enjoy good food together, and there’s so much ancient beauty in Italy to experience, so spending almost two weeks in Italy was the natural choice for a destination for our honeymoon in Italy. Besides sitting fountain-side enjoying Caprese salad and a glass of wine, there’s also the beautiful countryside to take in while you’re traveling via train. This tried-and-tested itinerary for a honeymoon in Italy will take you to the highlights of Italy both attraction-wise and food-wise. This Italian itinerary is only for a ten-day trip, however, I include recommendations on easy day trips to add more time onto your honeymoon.

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Your insider guide to Schiphol airport with tips for traveling through Schiphol

August 26, 2019 by Karen 37 Comments

Last Updated on September 4, 2019

As someone who regularly travels through Schiphol airport, I figured that it was time to write a guide to Schiphol Airport, one of my favorite airports in the world, with some insider tips to help others traveling through Schiphol more easily find their gate, find good airport food, and get to their destination as quickly as possible!

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What to do in Enkhuizen, a beautiful day trip from Amsterdam

August 19, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on August 19, 2019

Enkhuizen is a beautiful city on the IJsselmeer. This West Frisian city is bustling during the summers with tourists who often moor along the port for a day trip. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of things to do in Enkhuizen. This insider guide to Enkhuizen is written by Mirjam, an Enkhuizen local!

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Destination Russia: A magical travelogue about Russia worth reading

August 12, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on August 12, 2019

As someone who has become mildly obsessed with the territories that comprise the former Soviet Union in recent years, it was a delight taking a quiet afternoon to burn through the delightful Destination Russia. Fabio Bertino and Roberta Melchiorre beautifully capture the essence of Russia in this short travelogue originally written in Italian. This book is perfect for anyone looking to teleport themselves abroad during a stint stuck at home or simply anyone looking for some inspiration to head East.

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Where to stay in Amsterdam: 15 affordable hotels by a resident

August 12, 2019 by Karen 1 Comment

Last Updated on August 12, 2019

As someone who has lived in Amsterdam, I’ve been asked frequently for recommendations on where to stay in Amsterdam. I’ve created a neighborhood overview with affordable hotels in Amsterdam worth visiting with the advantages/disadvantages of each neighborhood in Amsterdam. I’ve also asked fellow bloggers for their previous stays at hotels in Amsterdam. I hope that this insider guide helps you find the perfect Amsterdam hotel within your budget!

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Your insider 420-friendly guide to cannabis in Amsterdam by a local

August 5, 2019 by Laura Verheijke Leave a Comment

Last Updated on August 8, 2019

Amsterdam has long been considered to be ‘The OG Stoner Hotspot’–the place to go to get high and let loose long before the decriminalization and legalization of Marijuana started sweeping the globe.

Visiting a Dutch coffeeshop is still a rite of passage for the many tourists who flock to the city every year, but it can still be pretty overwhelming. Here’s my Amsterdammer’s guide to safely experience the city’s gorgeous ganja. This local 420 guide to Amsterdam includes the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam and what you need to know about cannabis in Amsterdam before you toke up written by a former coffeeshop employee!

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