Travel – Page 9 – Roaming free – tales of wanderlustbykelley

Why Everybody Should Create A Travel Bucket List

Have you created your travel bucket list? For all we know, you may have already ticked off half of the things on your list already, but if you haven’t made one yet, perhaps now is the time you did.

Why?

Here are some good reasons if you need convincing.

Life is too short

Sorry to put a downer on things, but it would be a shame to miss out on the many opportunities and sights that await you in the world. We aren’t necessarily talking about getting on a plane, either, as there may be travel spots you haven’t visited in your own country. Why stay at home and have the same experiences day in and day out, when you could experience something new and exciting away from the norm. A bucket list is about making a plan, setting yourself goals; those things you want to see and do before you are longer in a position to do so.

You will see more of the world

The world is just begging to be explored, and there are so many incredible places to visit. Whether you wander around Europe or explore the heart of Asia, you will see sights you have never witnessed before, eat foods you have never tried before, and meet people that you would otherwise never have the opportunity to meet. In short, you will experience new ways of life, and as a result, you will benefit your life by broadening your horizons in the many places available for you to visit.

You can step out of your comfort zone

There are bound to be things you have always wanted to do but were a little bit afraid of doing them. By travelling outside of your comfort zone, you can push yourself into doing something new. You can still stay in a fancy hotel if you don’t want to give up all of your home comforts – you will fall in love with this art deco hotel, for example, – but at least you will be somewhere different, outside of your usual limits, with opportunities that will make you feel as if you have achieved something. It’s about taking risks, and you will only regret not taking them later on in life when you’re no longer able to travel.

You will benefit from new experiences

A travel bucket list has two purposes. It’s about visiting places you have never been too before, and it’s about gaining new experiences when you’re at your chosen destination. You can hike through new terrains, try foods you have never tasted, take part in activities that you have only dreamed of previously, and test your limits in so many new ways. Consider these travel bucket list experiences, for example, and allow yourself the opportunity to try any that take your fancy.

And so…

If you haven’t made your travel bucket list yet, then perhaps now is the time to do so. This time next year you could be swimming with the dolphins, climbing through Aztec Ruins, or eating a barbecue down under. You could be doing any number of things, but the first step is in putting pen to paper after doing a little bit of brainstorming and dreaming about the things you would like to see and do. We wish you many happy travels. Thanks for reading.

Driving Abroad: The Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make On Your Travels

We all know that there’s nothing quite like a road trip. The trouble is that driving abroad isn’t always as enjoyable as it looks on the silver screen. If you’re preparing for an adventure on four wheels in far-flung lands, here are some mistakes you don’t want to make.

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Driving on the wrong side

Even the most experienced driver can come unstuck when it comes to navigating the roads when they are required to drive on the other side of the road. Before you jump in your hire car, check which side you need to drive on and make sure you’re ready for the trip ahead. It can take a while to get your head around looking for traffic in the other direction and moving the opposite way around a roundabout, so go steady, drive carefully, and give yourself plenty of time and space.

Hiring the wrong type of car

It may seem incredibly romantic to cruise along the coast in a classic car or to hire an old-school 4×4 at a local dealer in the middle of nowhere on a remote island, but it’s wise to use your head, rather than your heart when it comes to renting a car. Choose reputable dealers such as Burswood Car Rentals, read customer reviews, and avoid any deals that appear too good to be true. Make sure you check what is included in the fee. Sometimes, the lowest prices are not the best value offers, as they don’t include insurance. You may find that you end up adding a load of extras, which make the total higher than other quotes you received.

Speeding

You may be used to trundling along the motorway at 70mph at home, but speed restrictions are not universal. When you’re in a different country, you need to be wary of the speed limit. Look out for signs, and read up on the rules of the road before you travel. It’s also worth noting that some countries operate in mph and others deal in kilometres. If you get caught speeding, you may not always be able to play the tourist who had no idea about the speed limit card, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Driving like the locals

If you’ve got a line of traffic behind you, or drivers careering past waving their arms at you, you may be tempted to adopt the same driving habits, but resist. When you’re new to driving in a different country, the car is unfamiliar to you, and you don’t know the roads, it’s better to be safe than sorry. As you gain more confidence, you can increase your speed, but try not to panic if cars are weaving in and out of lanes to get around you or they’re driving way over the speed limit. Keep your eyes on the road, and drive at the speed marked on the road signs.

Driving around when you’re on holiday is an adventure. If you have a car or a campervan, you can explore at your own pace, you have freedom to roam, and you can stop whenever you like, but there are potential downsides to consider. Driving in a different country isn’t always plain sailing, and it can be stressful. Hopefully, these tips will help you to avoid mistakes and ensure you enjoy a trip to remember for all the right reasons.

Stress – free travel tips

Many people like the idea of visiting new places and travelling around the world. What they don’t like quite so much is the stress and pressure that comes with the process of travelling. That’s understandable, but it shouldn’t stop you from experiencing new places because that’s something that everyone can and should benefit from in life. Here are some tips that’ll help take the stress out of travel for you, so make the most of them next time you travel.

Research Your Destination

Before you go anywhere or even finalize your travel plans, you should try to learn as much as possible about where you’re going to. When you are able to do this, you will find that it becomes much easier for you to get to grips with the location when you land. That period of adjustment won’t be so stressful, and you can get on with enjoying your trip right away.

Let Someone Else Do the Work

These days, there are so many businesses out there that are all about organizing your travel plans and doing the hard work for you. If you don’t like making arrangements and working through all the fine details, a company like Gwin’s Travel can do it for you. There’s nothing better for removing stress from the process than outsourcing that process to someone else entirely.

Create a List for Packing

Packing is one of the most stressful things, and it only becomes more stressful for you if you reach your destination only to realize that you forgot to pack some of the things you had needed to take with you. That’s why you should make a packing list long in advance. You can then follow it closely as you pack your bags and, theoretically, nothing should be left behind.

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Be Careful About Mobile Data

You’re probably not going to have a stress-free travel experience if you’re constantly worrying about how you’re going to handle the issue of mobile data. For many people who don’t think about this, they can end up with a massive bill because using data overseas can be costly. Be careful and talk to your provider before you travel to avoid undue stress relating to this matter.

Embrace Comfort

Comfort is really important when you’re travelling, especially if you’re going to be travelling long distances. It’s a good idea to wear clothes that you feel comfortable in, regardless of how stylish they may or may not be. You can also use things like travel pillows or even book business class seats to make your experience even more leisurely and comfortable. It’ll certainly help you get things off to the right start.

Travelling can be stressful if you don’t approach it in the right way. But never let that fool you into believing it has to be stressful because that’s simply not the case at all. There are many ways to achieve hassle-free travel, and these ideas here should help you to get your approach to it right.

Wholesome Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Save Money

You are becoming more and more well informed on the current state of the planet Earth and some of the statistics are quite shocking. You are always looking for new ways to reduce

your impact on the environment and improve your day to day sustainability. Instead of using copious amounts of plastic and heading to the grocery store for every little food item you need, you want to start making a change. You are lucky enough to have plenty of outdoor space to try out new ideas and grow your own produce, so here are a couple of ideas to get you started on the journey to reducing your carbon footprint.

Get Creative With Crops

Having plenty of space outdoors to work with might be the first place for you to start when you’re looking to save money. Growing your own crops can not only be healthier, but it will also have huge benefits to the environment. If you want to know how to grow your own crops and get the most out of your home grown produce click here for more information on how to take it one step further. Becoming a local supplier for grain might soon be a possibility if you follow the correct avenues.

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Cut Food Waste

Another way you can help cut your carbon footprint is by reducing the amount of food waste you produce on a daily basis. If you live on your own, then you will realise that cooking for one is a tricky task. There are always leftovers and you don’t always know what to do with so much food. Try cooking in batches and freezing dishes for a later date; if you invest in plenty of reusable Tupperware you will always have containers to store your leftovers, so they don’t get thrown straight into the bin.

Go Plastic Free

It is devastating to see the effects that we are having on our beautiful oceans at the moment. Sea creatures are dying due to the overuse of plastic and it is our job to put a stop to it. Stop buying plastic bottled water and invest in a fridge filter jug and a reusable bottle. You can take it out with you everywhere you go and you won’t have to worry about that plastic bottle being thrown into the ocean.

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Be Smart With Energy

Making your home more energy efficient should be right at the top of your priority list. From solar panels to energy efficient light bulbs try and do everything in your power to reduce your carbon footprint and save a lot of money on your monthly bills.

Right now you are willing to try almost anything to help out our beautiful planet. You want to educate people on more sustainable ways to live; whether you are growing your own grain to sell or teaching people how to go plastic free, you can make a difference. Every little helps when it comes to making the world a better place and these ideas are guaranteed to guide you along the right path.

Paris: So Much More Than The City Of Love

Renowned as being the city of love, Paris is famed as being the world’s most romantic city, but there is so much more to Paris than a city steeped in romance. The city’s boulevards which are lined with historical monuments, its beautiful boutiques, and classic bistros, and its traditional museums combined with its more modern tech start-ups, design stores, quirky wine bars and cocktail lounges, and multimedia galleries are what makes this city such an incredible place to visit and explore.

There four things that make Paris well, Paris, and these are the iconic architecture, the glorious food, the stylish boutiques, and of course, the creative treasures. Paris is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most incredible cities, and not just for loved-up couples but also for solo travelers and family groups. It’s one of Europe’s most enthralling destinations because of the amount that it has on offer to see and do – there is nowhere quite like Paris.

Paris is the city that inspired countless renowned authors to pen some of their most imaginative works, from Victor Hugo to Ernest Hemmingway. It is also the place where most of the significant art movements of the past 50 years have been born. To top it off, Paris is where classical music, jazz, and theatre have thrived.

If you’re planning a trip to Paris sometime soon, a word of advice – plan like crazy. Why? Because you could, quite literally, spend weeks exploring Paris. When you’re heading off to somewhere like Paris that has numerous attractions to offer, planning your time really pays off. Paris is so much more than the city of light and love, so here’s how to make the most of any trip to this incredible place.

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Put at least one museum on your radar

When it comes to choosing a museum to visit on your trip, The Louvre is an obvious choice. It’s an incredible place complete with three wings packed full of history dating back to Greek times. Of course, being such a popular place, The Louvre almost always has huge queues, which can mean waiting in line for hours to get in, that’s why it can be beneficial to plan your visit in advance and book queue jump tickets from sites like The Paris Guy.

Not keen on seeing The Louvre, alternatively you could visit the Musee d’Orsay which houses some of the city’s most incredible Impressionist painting. There’s also the Musee Picasso and the Musee Rodin, both of which are smaller but no less impressive.

Stroll along the river Seine

Fancy spending some time outdoors? Then a stroll along the river Seine could be a great option to consider as it’s one of the most enjoyable ways to spend time outside in this incredible city. A great place to start is at the Jardins du Trocadero – you can see some incredible views of the Eiffel Tower from here.

If you choose to cross the river, there’s the Berges de Seine, a pedestrianised area which is often filled with bouquinistes – aka second-hand book stalls. You can walk down this route towards the Cathedrale Notre-Dameon, which is another impressive sight.

Don’t forget Montmartre

Montmartre is a must-see location when in Paris. It might be a highly popular hilltop sight, but the crowds don’t tend to impact how beautifully charming this place is. It’s a fact that no visit to Paris, regardless of how long or short, would be complete without exploring Montmartre. While there, you have to climb the steps to the Scare-Coeur – it’s incredible views are a must see.

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Be quintessentially Parisian and have a picnic

If the sun is shining, there’s nothing more Parisian than having a picnic. Pack a hamper full of gourmet treats – or better yet, buy a readymade picnic from one of the many delicatessens that span this city – and head to the Jardin du Luxembourg. The best street to head to for picnic supplies is Rue Montorgueil, a shopping street lined with cheese stores, bakeries, and patisseries serving all many of incredible cakes.

See the Marais

The Marais are made up of a network of ancient streets that have a distinctly different feel to the rest of Paris. Originally the Jewish area of the city, this area is now known for its beautiful boutiques and an incredible array of independent galleries. In the Haut Marais area, you will find a selection of modern cocktail bars; there’s also the Marche des Enfants Rouges here. While in the south of this area, you will find the Place des Vosges – a beautiful sight that you don’t want to miss.

Head east

The east quarter of Paris has changed significantly over the past few years and was once the rather run-down district just east of Canal St-Martin. But today, whether you are looking for a fantastic coffee shop, a quirky bistro or a night out, the east side of Paris is a must-visit location.

You can explore the Bassin de la Villette, go for a walk through Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, or have a picnic there on sunnier days. The east area of Paris has plenty on offer, whether you plan on visiting in the daytime or at night.

Explore the modern art scene

Paris might be famous for its classical artworks but what about the modern art scene? Paris actually has a pretty incredible of modern art as well as more classic artworks, so if you’re a fan of this type of art, you want to make sure that you explore the modern art scene while in this amazing city.

The best places to visit to see a wide range of modern art are the Musee d’Art Moderne which is located in the Pompidou Centre. Here you can see works by the likes of Pollock, Picasso, and Matisse. For more challenging exhibitions, the Palais de Tokyo is a great place to visit – the artwork here is extremely unique and insightful.

Discover little-known gems

What’s fantastic about Paris is that it has many little-known gems packed into it. These are the kinds of things that unless you’ve lived in Paris or know someone who has, you wouldn’t know. That’s why, when you’re in Paris, if you can make friends with some of the locals, you will find it far easier to find all of Paris best-kept secrets.

Whether you’re a huge fan of ancient history, are mad about installation art, or have a real passion for cooking, you are guaranteed to find a little gem somewhere in Paris. There’s so much more to Paris than you will find in the travel books, which is why exploring and seeing where the locals recommend is so essential to making the most of your time there.

Be a smart traveller

To save money, be financially savvy and sightsee on a Sunday. Did you know that on Sundays in Paris entry to most big museums is free, or is free every first Sunday of the month? Of course, this will mean rather large queues, but if queueing for free entry allows you to see more of Paris then it is definitely worthwhile doing so.

Paris is one of those cities that can be easily explored in a manner of ways. Travelling on foot is one option, as is travelling by bicycle. However, for longer journeys, public transport can be a useful way to get around. The best way to get around is via the metro or by bus, depending on which mode of transportation you prefer.

Did you know that on Sundays and Mondays many restaurants in Paris are closed? That’s why it’s so important that you take the time to carefully plan your meals and determine where you will eat when so that you aren’t left without anywhere to have dinner.

When it comes to your accommodation, there are various options to consider, from fancy five-star hotels to more budget-friendly options.

For the epitome of luxury, Hotel Plaza Athenee is one of the grandest hotels in Paris, complete with lavish features, Eiffel Tower views, and a Michelin star restaurant.

For a more decadent stay, Le Bristol is the hotel of choice for many celebrities because it’s wonderfully glamorous.

For a beautiful location, the Le Meurice, located next to the Jardin des Tuileries is one of the most beautiful 5-star hotels in the city, with the staff going above and beyond to cater to your every need.

For a more budget-friendly option, camping can be a great choice. Did you know that you can camp in the centre of the city? At Bois de Boulogne there is a campsite with room for around 500 tents, in addition to space for campervans and caravans. You can easily walk into the city from here, and staying here won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Paris is one of the world’s most famous cities. While it’s known as being the city of love, Paris is so much more than a location for a romantic break away. It’s a city with real depth to it – there is so much on offer to see and do here.

Make the most of a trip to Mexico

Mexico can have a reputation for being unsafe in some places, but it’s still an extremely popular travel destination. As well as receiving plenty of visitors from the US and its other neighbours, people from all over the world come to enjoy Mexico. Beach resorts are particularly popular, and places like Cancun, Cozumel and Tulum see lots of action. If you’re thinking of taking a trip to Mexico, a bit of planning can go a long way to help you make the most of your time there. There’s lots to see and do, so start thinking about how you want to experience the country.

Learn Some of the Language.

Being fluent in Spanish certainly isn’t necessary if you want to visit Mexico. You can get by with English but, as in any country, the locals will appreciate it if you make an effort. Knowing at least some basic phrases can get you far. Even if it doesn’t help you to understand people more, it can make the locals like you more! Look for the best online Spanish course for your needs if you want to learn. Learning online is a good idea if you want to fit your learning around a busy schedule. You can study when and where you want. But try to get some real-world practice too if you can.

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Know How to Stay Safe

Mexico’s reputation for being unsafe isn’t exactly fair. While there are certainly some regions that you wouldn’t want to visit, most tourists are likely to be perfectly safe. Any area that sees a lot of tourism, such as beach resorts, major cities and historical sites, is likely to be safe for you. However, you still need to be careful, just like you do in any other travel destination. Take the usual precautions that you would while travelling to keep you and your possessions safe. One thing you might want to be particularly careful of is taxi scams.

Decide How Much You Want to Spend

Many people will tell you that Mexico is very cheap and you can make your budget go far. While you can find some bargains, you might also discover that locations popular with tourists aren’t always so cheap. If you want to choose a more affordable location, you will generally find that places on the Pacific coast are more affordable than those in the east of Mexico.

Go Beyond the Beaches

Mexico has some incredible beaches that can offer you a fantastic stay. However, there’s more to Mexico than just the beaches. There’s a lot more to see, from mountains to plenty of culture in the cities. If you’re going for a beach trip, that’s fine. But if you don’t want to spend all your time on the beach, you can explore further afield. Consider taking a road trip or joining a tour so that you can see more of the country.

Mexico has a lot to offer travellers of all types. If you want to have a memorable trip, keep your mind open about where to go and what to do.

Preventing common travel pain

Travelling presents all sorts of times when pain can occur. A pothole-filled bumpy bus ride in Asia. A budget flight in Europe with absolutely no leg room. Simply walking for miles and miles as you get your bearings in a city.

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Two of the most common forms of pain occurs in the neck and back, and they can end up getting the point where they put a major downer on your trip. If the pain is particularly severe, you may have to book a trip to the chiropractor along the way. But here are a few tips to prevent any issues before they occur.

Lift Luggage in Stages

Your heavy backpack or suitcase can end up being a common source of issues, so you should get into the habit of lifting your luggage in stages. For example, say you are lifting your luggage into an overhead compartment. Rather than doing this all in one go, you should start by lifting it onto the seat, and then up into the compartment in an entirely separate movement. Always bend at the knees to use your leg rather than back muscles. When you are walking, utilise the other straps on your backpack to distribute all weight evenly. Avoid carrying a bag over one should as this can end up putting a strain on one side of your body. Try to avoid twisting the lower back where possible, and instead pivot your feet.

Bring Back Support

If you know that back issues are a problem for you, it is certainly worth investing in a lumbar support pillow for your lower back. This can be a life-saver when you are on a particularly long leg of your travels. If you forget to bring one, an alternative that you could use is a rolled-up jacket or sweater. It is that inward curve of the lower back where you need to put this pillow. If you commonly suffer from neck pain, an inflatable travel pillow can do a good job of preventing this.

Keep Your Feet Supported

Your feet also play a major role in keeping your back protected, so make sure that you put them on a firm surface whenever you are sitting down. Use a footrest when it is provided. If you are heading out on a road trip, it is better to rest both feet on the floor rather than having one hovering over the accelerator all the time.

Pack Light

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Not only is packing light good advice for your trip in general, it can end up aggravating saving your muscles and joints from aggravation. Rather than stuffing everything in one suitcase, you may be better off distributing the weight around between a few different bags to ensure a more even spread.

Prevention is always far better than the cure as the old saying goes, and this is certainly the case when it comes to preventing pain on your travels when you can.

Taking the great American road trip

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Whether you live in America or halfway across the world, just about every self-proclaimed traveller has dreamt about driving across the country as part of a great American road trip. After all, the U.S. is an absolutely huge place, and the fact that you can reach every inch of it by car, without any sort of roadblock, is incredibly appealing. Road trips are the perfect option for those looking for an affordable and adventurous holiday, but only if you plan them really well. Keeping that in mind, here are four things you should do to make your great American road trip truly great.

Plan A Rough Itinerary

Whether you like it or not, most road trips do come with a time limit, so it’s vital that you have a route and rough schedule planned before you hit the road. There are a number of incredible American road trips you could consider, but, if none of those appeals to you, then you could always use a road trip planner to create one of your very own. Just make sure that you’re not driving too much each day, as this is dangerous and could also ruin the experience for you.

Look After Your Car

When you’re travelling long distances in your car, it’s more important than ever that you take proper care of it. With that in mind, you should make sure that you have your car inspected by a mechanic at least a week before you set off. You should also pack your car with tools, a spare tire, a brake bleeding kit, a tire pump, and more, and learn how to complete basic repairs and maintenance. This way, you will be able to help yourself if and when there’s an issue on the road.

Choose The Right Companions

Although you could head off on your own, road trips tend to be a lot more fun when you take friends or family with you. That being said, this is only true when you choose the right companions. You’re going to be stuck together in a car for hours at a time, so it’s vital that you bring people that you really get along with. Unless you really love driving, you should also make sure that whoever you bring is willing to share the wheel time with you.

Budget Your Money Wisely

Road trips can be incredibly affordable and budget-friendly, but this is only true when you spend time planning your budget and manage your money wisely. With gas, toll costs, food, souvenirs, attractions, and more, road trips can get incredibly costly very quickly. To avoid this, you need to consider all possible road trip costs and decide how much money you’re going to spend on each one. You should also have an emergency stash of cash for any unexpected expenses.

Heading off on a great American road trip is a dream for most avid travellers, but this dream can quickly turn nightmarish if you’re not prepared. To ensure you have an amazing time, make sure you remember the advice above.

Travelling across Europe

Europe is huge, so to travel across it would take you a very long time. So, we’re not suggesting that you attempt to tackle it all, but we do think that you should go for some of the best bits. Europe is truly stunning, and there are some incredible destinations that you could visit along your travels. But, we’re bet you’re wondering how we think you would be able to afford all of this? Well, it’s simple. Pack a bag, take a tent with you, and cut out all of the rubbish of hotels and jumping from flight to flight. Once you’re in Europe, getting on a plane and stopping in fancy hotels isn’t what you have to do. There’s so much freedom to pretty much go wherever you want, however you want. If you love the idea of camping, then see if we can get you to travel across Europe!

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Where To Go

Europe is the perfect mix of city breaks, beach locations, mountainous wonders…and anything else in between. If you’re looking for something that’s super varied, then you’ve pick the right part of the world to travel. If you were looking to explore some incredible mountains, mixed in with beautiful culture and people, then Switzerland is the place to go. It’s arguably one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and it’s landscape revolves around white top mountains, and picturesque villages. If you were looking for something a bit more beachy, then Spain is the place for you. All of the coast of Spain is filled with tourist hotspots, beautiful beach locations, and a pretty cheap time. In both of these locations you will be able to find campsites where you can set up shop, and it’ll be pretty easy for you to get around and explore as well!

What To Pack

It all depends on how long you’re going for. If you’re going for a few weeks, then you’re going to have to pack plenty of pants and socks, and enough clothes for around 10 days. Then, you’ll need to sort your camping equipment, and you’ll definitely need to make sure you get absolutely everything. From a floor topper, to the tent itself, it’s all going to have to come with you. You can see more here if you’re looking to find out what is needed for a camping trip. As long as you have the essentials, you can keep picking things up in every country that you go to. Make sure you also take things like suncream, a pack up phone, and a portable charger with you!

The Logistics

You can either get around by train, bus, or plane. If you’re taking flights, make sure you find out whether it would be cheaper to get the Euro train, or a cross country train. If you are getting flights, always shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal!

Touring Europe on a canal boat

France’s waterway network almost reaches 5,000 miles of rivers and canals. In the United Kingdom, there are about 2,200 miles of navigable waterways. While in the Netherlands, Amsterdam only combines about 60 miles of navigable waterways and 165 canals! With the Industrial Revolution, Europe has developed its waterway network between the 18th and the early 20th centuries. While some canals were modernized after World War II, it’s fair to say that they are by far one of the most effective ways of travelling while enjoying the landscape. If you’re considering visiting Europe, the canal network is the best playground for your tour!

The Falkirk Wheel

What do you need to plan?

You do need a licence before you’re allowed to handle a large canal boat in Europe, but you’ll be pleased to know that you don’t need a certificate to steer a boat for up to 12 people. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to get some handling lessons before you set off! If you pick a small vessel, you might need to take a look at the best boat covers available as it’s likely to provide less protection than larger vessels. For barges, you’ll also need to invest in a quality padlock to keep inhibited intruders at bay overnight! As a rule of the thumb, you need to also pack cooking utensils – similar to a camping holiday –, a gas water heater, and an inverter for your domestic power.

The Netherlands and Germany

Amsterdam has 165 canals, and you’ll soon understand that the waterway network gives you the best visiting point into the city. Avoid the peak summer months to make the most of your visit. You can moor in town and grab a bike to navigate through the streets, for instance. More importance, Amsterdam is a great starting point to head to Germany and Switzerland via the Rhine canal. You can connect to the Rhine via a 45-mile-long canal from Amsterdam, across the flat landscape. Plan a stop in Cologne, some 160 miles into Germany.

The Canal du Rhône

The most famous French canal is the Canal du Midi in the south of France. However, if you’re coming from Switzerland, you’ll need to change rivers and cross from the Rhine to the Rhône via the scenic route through the Jura in the northeast of France. The path calls the Canal du Rhône au Rhin, links Basel in Switzerland to Dole in France. Once in Dole, you can go downstream onto the Canal du Rhône and reach the Midi.

The Canal du Midi

The ultimate Falkirk route

It can be tricky to plan a European waterway tour without adding the British canal to your travel lists. The canal system dates back from the Roman Empire, although it was mostly used for irrigation at the time. It’s only during the 18th century that the Scottish canal ways connected to England. While crossing the UK from south to north, head to Edinburgh and then Glasgow. You’ll come across the Falkirk Wheel between these cities. The rotating boat lift is unique in the world and connects two canal ways without needing a lock flight.

Barging through Europe’s main waterways offers an alternative travel solution, away from crowded airports and train stations. You’ll love the peaceful holidays. Keep your eyes on the ever-changing landscape between the Rhine and the Rhône, and England and Scotland!