2 Weeks in Northern Europe: Itinerary

      The Europe continent is a popular travel destination among Americans and Asians. Everyone loves the old town vibes, quaint villages, and the food… However, do you realize that most people drop Northen Europe, especially Scandinavia off their list? One reason is that those countries are a little out of the way geographically, and another reason… is the high expenses.

      But if you don't mind the extra miles and do plan a visit to the North, how should you plan your itinerary to make it budget-friendlier? While there is too much to see and too little time, I genuinely hope that this sample itinerary of Northern Europe in 2 weeks will help you make the most out of your trip.

2 Weeks In Italy: Itinerary

When people ask me to suggest a country in Europe for a 2 weeks vacation, which is full of highlights and easy to get a visa. I’ll say Italy. This country is truly a perfect destination for all interest, either you are into culture or art, wine or pizza, architecture or nature, Italy got you covered.

7 Reasons You Should Rent A Car in Norway

       If you know me, this is not how I usually blog. Most of the time, I’ll go on with a statement that sounds like this: taking the public transport is the best way to experience a country…. I love bus rides and scenic train rides, and after my trips around America with Amtrak and Megabus, Italy with buses, all around Europe with Interrail, Russia with trains... Do you think this time I will recommend train or bus in Norway as well? Lo and behold, not his time, not in Norway.  

16 Reasons to Visit Vik i Sogn, Norway

       Situating in the heart of Sogn, Vik is usually a quick overnight stop for tourists visiting Flåm from Bergen (or the other way around). During our 3 nights stay in Blix hotel, we’ve seen buses after buses of tourists arriving at dinner time only to leave this charming district the next day right after breakfast. Such a waste, (shaking my head in disagreement) such a waste. Little did they know, if only they give this place a chance, Vik will charm them with its fantastic cultural heritage, landscapes and so much more!

3 Days In Saint Petersburg: Itinerary Sharing

       I had my Saint Petersburg CityPass in hand since I first day in Russia (collected it in GUM together with my Moscow CityPass), allowing me to pre-plan my journey with the help of the Saint Petersburg Guidebook.

2 Days in Moscow: Itinerary Share

      Technically we only had 36 hours in Moscow, which is far from sufficient. I used to think that one can cover Moscow in one day, but after several trips to the capital, I discovered how wrong I was. Now I encourage anyone interested to visit Moscow to stay at least a week! However, if you are running short on time, then this is the article for you… THE BEST of Moscow, in 36 hours.

38 Practical Tips to Traveling in Europe

      Last Summer, I packed my bags and went on my longest trip to date -- 70 days in Europe. I've tried traveling solo, duo, trio and in a group during that period of time and I love single one of the experiences. Summer 2016, thanks for the fondest memories.

      Now, I am by no means an expert but here is some practical stuff I would like to share with all you lovely people. Tips to traveling in Europe, here we go: 

25 Europe’s Most Walkable Cities

We all know almost all cities in Europe are walkable. However, some cities are just too huge for elder legs to handle, some cities are too busy it's scary. Here I've listed down my top 25 cities in Europe which I think are the most walkable, taking the size, pedestrian friendly streets, amount of traffic and safety into consideration. 

A collection of Hostel/Hotel/Apartment in Europe I've stayed In

Since a lot of people ask me for hostel recommendations in Europe, I've decided to put up this list of hostel/hotel/Airbnb/B&B that I've recently stayed in. I can't really do the recommendation because everyone's needs are kinda different, but I'll state down the reasons why I like those places and also the reasons why I don't. Remember to check their reviews on Booking.com before making your decision! 
I've attached the booking.com links to every property mentioned in this article to make life easier for you! Happy planning! 

Paris Market Guide: What to Eat

The many open markets boast some great food choices in Paris. No matter which one you choose to visit, you will find something that caters to your taste buds and budget. Wanna immerse in the culture, discover the “everyday side” of Paris, get to know the locals, do some people-watching and grab delicious budget food? Although not in a usual designated tourist path, put an outdoor market in your itinerary. You won’t be disappointed.  

Day trip from Paris: Monet’s House and Gardens, Giverny

Need a break from the hustle and bustle of Paris? What if I tell you there is a place not far from the city where you can venture into famous paintings and actually BE a part of the paintings? Impressionist painter Claude Monet would be delighted to welcome you to the place he appreciated the most— his house and his lovely gardens. 

The Best Places to View The Eiffel Tower Up Close

Arriving in Paris was such a dream came true. The first thing that popped into my mind was "I am going to visit the Eiffel Tower". Then riding in the metro line 6, I realized something: It can be seen everywhere and everywhere seems to be a good photo point... so where should I start? 

Where to Find The Best Skyline Views in Paris (My Top 15)

Ask any one of my travel buddies and they'll tell you how I am obsessed with city skylines. While in Paris, I was determined to stand on all observation points that offer spectacular views over the City of Light, however, after a quick research, I knew it wasn't possible to do everything in 4 days.

Top Tips To Know Before Visiting the Palace of Versailles

Well, A trip to Paris is never complete without a visit to Palace of Versailles. Versailles was the lavish residence of French monarchs until the French Revolution in 1789. A total of three French kings had lived there and added improvements to make it the Versailles Palace we see today. 

40 Best Free Things to do in Paris.

The best things in life are free. Thus, best things to do in Paris are free too. Now, let me list down 50 best free things to do in the city of light!

100 Paris Travel Tips

       Where is my favorite city in the world? Although it’s hard to answer this question, as Paris, the City of Light is the first city in my “100 ___ Travel Tips” series, you know the answer. It might seem cliché, some will even say that it is a highly overrated city and I know their reasons. 

       Now let me reveal the answer to this mystery. Visit Paris on a day trip hopping from one landmark to another without immersing yourself in the culture, and you will most certainly dislike Paris. But if you take it slow, go past the surface and explore its core, Paris will be the most beautiful city you’ve ever seen. 

       Here I’ve listed down 100 tips to help make your first trip to Paris as enjoyable as possible! 

France: 24 hours in Tours, Loire Valley

       Tours (with a silent s) is a vibrant, bustling city in the province of Touraine in Loire Valley, located in the centre-west of France. Standing on the lower reaches of the River Loire, the city had long been an important crossing point of the Loire since the Gallic time. Since the city is ideally located rather near to most Loire Valley chateaux, for example, Villandry (19 km), Amboise (35 km), Chenonceau chateau (40 km)… it makes a great base for travelers wanting to explore the exceptional Loire chateaux. That's not all... The city of Tours itself has a lot to offer. As first-time visitors, we've heard so much about its first-rate cultural heritage. We knew that we were going in for a treat. 

21 Illegal Things To Avoid While Traveling In Europe

       To be honest with you, I am guilty for I've done most of them except 6 (because heels are for grown-ups), 14 (because mom brought me up the right way), 17 (because carving your initial alone is just plain sad), 18 (for who?) and 20 (because it's just wrong). 

       So here you go, 21 activities to avoid while traveling in Europe. These activity could get you heavily fined or jailed, hence read up, better safe than sorry. 

A Walk with Leonardo Da Vinci: 1 day in Amboise, France

       If the Loire Valley is an open book, I was lucky enough to flip through 2 pages by visiting Amboise and Chenonceaux. 
       Once home to the French royal court, now a vibrant market town, Amboise is a charming town in central France with the most Italian flair going on. 

A Day Trip From Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans

For generations, Zaanse Schans has been a tourist mecca, welcoming tons of visitors from all over the world. It is said to be the jewel of Dutch cultural heritage. Since we have one more day in Amsterdam, we decided to follow the crowd and tick this “Netherlands’ most popular attraction” off the list.