The 10 most popular international destinations for American travelers

ShutterstockAmsterdam was one of the destinations that made the list.

AAA just released its list of the most popular international destinations for 2016.

The list was curated according to AAA bookings for travel through July 2016.

While a couple of tropical destinations made the list, European cities made up the bulk of it.

Keep scrolling to see where Americans are planning on traveling this year. 

View As: One Page Slides
Source: The 10 most popular international destinations for American travelers

Europe (Finally) Wakes Up to Superior Coffee

The counter at Ditta Artigianale in Florence Francesco Lastrucci for The Wall Street Journal …

Espresso at Ditta Artigianale Francesco Lastrucci for The Wall Street Journal …

An open window at Ditta Artigianale Francesco Lastrucci for The Wall Street Journal …

'People drink espresso like medicine, just to wake up,' says Francesco Sanapo, co-owner of Ditta Artigianale. Francesco Lastrucci for The Wall Street Journal …

A barista prepares filter coffee with the 'V60' method at Ditta Artigianale. Francesco Lastrucci for The Wall Street Journal …

Coffee Collective in Copenhagen, Denmark Mikkel Heriba for The Wall Street Journal …

The simple interior at the Coffee Collective in Copenhagen Mikkel Heriba for The Wall Street Journal …

Espressos at the Coffee Collective Mikkel Heriba for The Wall Street Journal …

Coffee Collective has two locations with an on-site roastery, plus one at the airport to make sure travelers can get a great cup whether coming or going. Mikkel Heriba for The Wall Street Journal …

A pour over setup at Coffee Collective Mikkel Heriba for The Wall Street Journal …

London's Kaffeine, one of the first next-wave shops on the scene in 2009, has opened a second outpost and is hosting the third annual London Latte Art Smackdown this month. Lisa Linder …

A barista pours a drink at Kaffeine in London. Lisa Linder …

of

SHOW CAPTION HIDE CAPTION

fullscreen Sept. 29, 2015 4:01 p.m. ET

MORNING COFFEE, Florence, Italy: I planned to head for one of the espresso bars where elegant people toss back a dark brew in a tiny cup. I knew to pay first and hand the receipt to the barista. I knew to drink fast, on my feet, because only tourists pay extra to linger at a table. I knew not to drink anything with added milk after 11 a.m., noon, tops. If I ever felt close to sophisticated, it was in an Italian espresso bar.

I mentioned a favorite destination to my 25-year-old daughter. "We are not drinking that coffee," she said, her tone compassionate but firm. I followed her and her GPS out the door.

Moments later we were at Ditta Artigianale, a two-year-old coffee shop that is the unofficial headquarters of an Italian coffee revolution. It's part of a paradigm shift that started in Scandinavia and is moving across western Europe, as baristas on the Continent adopt U.S. drip-coffee techniques, and espresso-based drinks elevated by Australians come full-circle to their Italian birthplace and to neighboring nations.

Social media have enabled self-described "coffee professionals" around the world to share photos, recipes and advice. Pioneers in Copenhagen and Oslo were the first in Europe to import next-wave coffee—defined by the use of Arabica beans, lighter roasts that bring out nuanced flavors, and attention to sourcing—and Western Europe has followed suit.

"Each city has only a handful of shops that you'd say are doing a fantastic job," said Stephen Morrissey, winner of the 2008 World Barista Championship in Copenhagen and currently a consultant to the Chicago-based Specialty Coffee Association of America. "There's a huge vacuum. But it's an exciting time."

Nowhere is the vacuum greater than in Italy, which is ironic, given the country's status as the birthplace of espresso—and understandable, according to Francesco Sanapo, co-owner of Ditta Artigianale. "People drink espresso like medicine, just to wake up," he said of his countrymen, "not because it's a food product." Most European espresso is brewed with dark-roasted Robusta beans, a cheaper, hardier variety that yields a consistently strong, bitter brew commonly cut with sugar and milk. Purveyors of next-wave coffee have a different goal in mind: a range of flavors obtained from different growers, a natural sweetness and a bright, acidic flavor. "Not acid like battery acid," said Mr. Morrissey, "but acid like a mango. Sparkly, bright, zingy coffee."

'In Paris, they open a specialty coffee bar every month.'

This new breed of coffee can take some getting used to for Europeans, he said. Brian Ludviksen, customer support director at Counter Culture Coffee, a 20-year-old U.S.-based roaster, agreed. The standard European espresso is still "fuel for industry, not a quality beverage," he said.

Mr. Sanapo is well aware of how steep the learning curve is. The son of a coffee bar owner, he came to Florence when he was 20 and in 2008 decided to compete in Italy's national barista competition. He came in last. Undaunted, he decided to become "more scientific," to acquaint himself with the international coffee scene and learn "new process, new variety, the places of origin." The next year he placed second, just a point off first. In 2010 he won, 100 points ahead of his nearest competitor, the first of three victories before he retired from competition.

Mr. Sanapo has since become Italy's leading coffee zealot. He just consulted on a train-station coffee outlet in the hope that it will be better than its handful of mediocre competitors, and he has been known to talk skeptical customers into trying an espresso in three distinct sips, accompanied by his running commentary about how and why the flavor changes with each swallow.

Elsewhere coffee culture is evolving faster. London's Kaffeine, one of the first next-wave shops on the scene in 2009, has opened a second outpost and is hosting the third annual London Latte Art Smackdown this month. "In Paris, they open a specialty coffee bar every month," said Mr. Sanapo, longingly. "It's what will happen in five years in Italy."

BUZZED ABOUT // EUROPE'S TOP SPOTS FOR NEXT-WAVE COFFEE

BARCELONA | Nomad Coffee Lab & Shop

The downtown Lab, which lives up to its name, offers workshops and tastings as well as a dignified assortment of drinks, beans, equipment and books. If you want more, visit the roaster in the Poblenou neighborhood to watch beans start their journey toward brews, and taste as you do so. nomadcoffee.es

FLORENCE | Ditta Artigianale

New addition on a longtime street of food dreams, anchored by Gelateria dei Neri and the sandwich artistry at All' Antico Vinaio. If Francesco Sanapo is around, you might get an enthusiastic tutorial along with your espresso or flat white (espresso with steamed milk microfoam) or V60 pour-over (as pictured below right). dittaartigianale.it

LONDON | Kaffeine

There are two outlets of this "Australian-style café" (one is pictured above right), which proudly shares everything from the type of espresso machine, grinder, beans and cups it uses to the fact that every barista has a minimum of three years continuous experience. kaffeine.co.uk

LONDON | Prufrock

Co-director Gwilym Davies was 2009 world barista champion. Prufrock offers classes on barista skills, grind and brew techniques, and the honing of sensory skills. Or you can just have coffee and a bite in the combination café/training center. prufrockcoffee.com

PARIS | Café Loustic

Here they eschew the Australian flat white but offer all the other usual suspects, using an ever-changing array of micro-lot coffees and a renowned roaster in Antwerp. cafeloustic.com

COPENHAGEN | Coffee Collective

Two locations with an on-site roastery, plus one at the airport to make sure travelers can get a great cup whether coming or going. The Jaegersborggade outlet was Copenhagen's first open roastery; this is one of the places where it all began. coffeecollective.dk

COFFEE CLUES // HOW TO HUNT DOWN A WORTHY CUP

There are serious coffee shops opening all the time; you just have to know what to look for. A few telltale signs, per champion barista Stephen Morrissey and Brian Ludviksen of U.S. roaster Counter Culture Coffee:

SERIOUS NAMES | Look for shops with the word "lab" or "artisan" in the name. London bends the rule with the occasional outlier, like Tina, We Salute You, but in general, restraint is a clue.

A MENU OF COFFEES FROM A VARIETY OF SUPPLIERS | "If they say we have one coffee from Colombia, one from Ethiopia, one from Honduras, that's effective," said Mr. Morrissey. "It's like wine—you know all wines don't taste the same. It doesn't guarantee a fantastic cup, but it does say they're of the serious coffee world."

THE POUR-OVER BAR | This is a narrow frame that holds individual filters. Your cup goes underneath the filter, the freshly-ground coffee goes into the filter, and a patient and exacting barista pours hot water over the coffee, very slowly and carefully. Four minutes later, you have your drink. Any place that has a pour-over bar values quality over efficiency. "If I'm anywhere outside the U.S. and Canada and they have drip coffee by the cup," said Mr. Ludviksen, "I will think that they're trying to stay cutting edge, and probably in tune with global coffee culture."

SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT THAT LOOKS LIKE OVERSTOCK FROM A 1950S SCI-FI MOVIE There's the siphon, the V60—a better-engineered version of the standard single-cup filter—and the ubiquitous skinny-spouted teapot to modulate the flow of water on a pour-over. These places also exhibit a pervasive fondness for Acme & Co. coffee cups of all sizes.

MINIMALIST DÉCOR | Look for assertively sans-serif interiors, perhaps bare wooden tables and white walls—a nod to the Scandinavian influence on next-wave coffee as well as a conscious turn away from the cluttered coziness of "the coffee shop in 'Friends,' " according to Mr. Morrissey. "The vibe in the U.S. in the 1990s was coffee as a functional drink, couches and chairs, then laptops and studying—a social glue, but not so much about the coffee." Now it's about the coffee.

Source: Europe (Finally) Wakes Up to Superior Coffee

Paris Tourism Office putting Seychelles at the forefront

As France continues to remain Seychelles' leading market in Europe with 25,850 visitor arrivals recorded for the week ending Sunday, September 20, the Seychelles Tourism Board's Office in Paris is more than ever convinced that every opportunity to market the destination and keep a good working relationship with key trade partners are both fundamental strategies for good business.

As part of its marketing activities for the destination, the Seychelles Tourism Board's Office in Paris took part in a workshop organized by Austral Lagons, one of France's destination specialists for dream destinations such as Zanzibar, Seychelles, and Polynesia.

The one-day workshop held on a floating vessel, "Yacht de Paris," on the river Seine, was the ideal opportunity for Bernadette Willemin, Director of Europe for Seychelles Tourism Board, and Arnelle Francois representing Air Seychelles to sell the destination to 69 travel agents.

During the whole day, agents selling destinations, airlines, and hotels presented their products via 25 minutes, deploying the best marketing arguments to incite travel agents to recommend their products or destinations to their clients.

Bernadette Willemin, Director of Europe, said: "It is an essential to continue providing the front liners with the necessary information and selling arguments on our destination and its products, so much so that a significant percentage of our business is generated from the distribution channel. Consequently, STO [Seychelles Tourism Office] invests a good part of its annual budget in trainings either its own initiated projects or jointly with the tour operators and other partners."

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) . For more information on Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange, click here.

Source: Paris Tourism Office putting Seychelles at the forefront

Flood of refugees in Europe poses hurdles for operators

AMMAN, Jordan — As the civil war in Syria rages on and millions of refugees flee the violence, the four-year crisis, which has already significantly dampened tourism arrivals in neighboring countries such as Turkey and Jordan, is beginning to have ripple effects in Europe, where a new wave of migrants is creating political, logistical and infrastructure challenges.

"In terms of Syria's impact, some of our trips have been directly operationally impacted by the crisis and related issues," said Annie Lucas, vice president of Seattle-based MIR Corp., a tour operator that specializes in Russia, Europe and Asia.

More than 500,000 migrants were detected at external European Union borders in the first eight months of the year after a fifth consecutive monthly record was registered in August when 156,000 crossed, according to European border management agency Frontex.

Last week, European Union leaders voted to find placement for 120,000 asylum seekers in countries throughout Europe.

As Europe grapples with how to manage those masses, issues involving border security and transportation have cropped up, threatening to impact tourism.

Lucas said that MIR Corp. recently had to reroute a group traveling on a seven-country Balkans tour that was scheduled to cross from Serbia into Croatia. She said the government of Croatia had reduced border crossings to a single, very congested junction, so the company diverted the trip into Bosnia and crossed into Croatia from there. Otherwise, she said, that trip had no other disruptions.

"Our train trips going out of Budapest into Central Europe and Turkey and then to Iran head east using a train station in Budapest that is not impacted, as the migrants are heading west, and there's another railway station for that," she added.

While the U.S. has not issued any travel advisories arising from the migrant situation in Europe, the U.K. foreign office advises that in Croatia "disruption and delays are possible at rail and road border crossings with Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia, as a result of significant numbers of people seeking to transit Croatia."

In addition, the U.S. Embassy in Hungary earlier this month advised that there have been increasing numbers of migrants in and around Budapest's Keleti Railway Station, resulting in large crowds and occasional demonstrations.

Rail Europe, the North American distributor of European train tickets, is recommending that travelers and agents continue to follow the situation closely to determine how it might impact rail passengers.

"Heightened security may involve longer wait times at stations, and passengers should be advised to arrive early," said a company spokesperson. Rail Europe said it was responding to calls about the crisis and that concerned customers should reach out to their travel consultants, who will help make any necessary itinerary adjustments.

Additionally, several cruise lines this month temporarily stopped calling at the Greek island of Lesbos, where an influx of refugees from Turkey escaping the turmoil in Syria had concentrated. Regent Seven Seas, Oceania and Silversea all adjusted sailings to bypass the island, and the Greek government and the United Nations Refugee Agency brought in extra staff and ships to deal with some 25,000 migrants there, according to media reports.

As the 2016 selling season gets underway, travel companies that were hoping to see a lift next year following a relatively flat year in Europe are keeping a close watch on the refugee crisis and how and whether it might impact sales.

"In general, this year has been a soft year for travel to Europe," said Gianni Miradoli, CEO of Central Holidays. "The events in France — Charlie Hebdo — the crisis in Egypt and the Middle East, etc. have certainly been key factors affecting bookings to Europe.

Yet, he added, Europe remains a very safe destination.

The challenge, said Trafalgar President Paul Wiseman, is that when it comes to the migrant issue in Europe right now, "you cannot escape it. It's absolutely front and center."

He said that while Trafalgar had not had to change any itineraries due to the refugee/migrant issue in Europe, "the danger for us, as always, is the news media inflating this to the degree that it affects sales. As of today, it's not affecting sales."

Middle East bears the brunt

While Europe is only now beginning to feel the extent of the Syrian crisis in the flood of new arrivals, the Middle East has been bearing the weight of it since clashes broke out in Syria in the spring of 2011.

Last week, EU leaders said they would be increasing financial aid for countries in the Middle East that are providing shelter and assistance to Syrians. Among the reasons cited for why Syrians began heading into Europe in the first place was a drying up of funds for refugee camps and services for Syrians seeking asylum in neighboring countries.

Turkey and Jordan have reportedly already absorbed millions of Syrian refugees. At the same time, their proximity to Syria has battered their tourism prospects.

In Jordan, where there is currently no unrest, the total number of overnight visitors to the country from the U.S. dropped 12.5%, to 72,800, in 2011 compared with 82,970 in 2010. That number has remained below 76,000 ever since. For the first eight months of 2015, overnight visitors from the U.S. to Jordan have been down 6.5%, and same-day visitors, often those who come in for a day trip to Petra, are down by 23%.

"We are all facing a decline in numbers," said Malia Asfour, director of the Jordan Tourism Board for North America.

When asked how the tourism business in Jordan is faring, tour guides, drivers and vendors at tourism sites unanimously reported that business is not good. The reason most often cited was violence in Syria and Egypt, the latter of which saw another setback earlier this month when eight Mexican tourists were accidentally killed in Egypt's western desert by the country's security forces.

Intrepid Travel reported that North American bookings for Jordan are down 30% in 2015 compared with 2014.

Jennifer Gray, Middle East product manager for Intrepid, said, "It's really too early to tell if 2016 will be any better, and what we've learned is that things can change really quickly in this region. One small incident in a country can have a huge impact on the destination and surrounding regions."

Source: Flood of refugees in Europe poses hurdles for operators

Lesbos feels the strain of refugees and fears they are here to stay

On the Greek island of Lesbos the refugees just keep coming, yet despite the fact there is a constant flow out to other European destinations, there is a permanent population of about 7,000 at any one time.

Greece and Italy will be hosts to "hotspots", as decided in Brussels, where refugees will stay to be processed and either accepted or deported, with EU-funded centres due to be set up by November.

However they appear to be in no hurry to start setting them up, as there is political resistance to refugees becoming a permanent presence.

Lesbos is one of them, but the island is under tremendous strain, and the weather is on the turn, when things will get worse.

For an already crisis-hit economy the extra mouths to feed are a big ask, and EU aid cannot arrive quickly enough.

"We can't afford all this crowd, all these people, from all these countries, they don't have anything to eat, they don't have anything to drink, they have nowhere to sleep and for now it's good because it's summer, but it will be raining in a couple of days, it will be cold. Where are they going to stay?" said one restaurant manager.

Some restaurants have been giving away simple free meals, but not all. Some are showing enormous generosity, others are just walking past the tents crowding onto pavements and squares.

Source: Lesbos feels the strain of refugees and fears they are here to stay

Thomas Cook says holidays to the UK and Northern Europe have increased

Following the terrorist attack on a Tunisian beach earlier this year, Thomas Cook predicted a significant drop in revenue for the year.

However, the holiday operator has reported that it is doing well, despite one of its key destinations being effectively off limits for tourists. Tunisia's beach resorts have seen visitors drop by more than one million since the tragic events in July.

Thomas Cook says that sun-seekers are heading to destinations like Greece and Egypt instead of Tunisia, and the firm has seen a boost in sales to holiday destinations like the UK and northern Europe.

It said its turnaround programme was doing well and that the next stage was to provide a "higher quality and more focused holiday offering".

Summer capacity in the UK was 95 per cent booked, up one per cent compared to the same period last year. In addition, northern European holidays were 99 per cent booked, with prices for the region up by four per cent.

The group has also worked on expanding its long-haul routes, and has seen sales rise for holidays to the US and Caribbean. Its Airlines Germany business sold 89 per cent of its summer capacity. Bookings for that part of the business were were up seven per cent and prices were up one per cent.

Thomas Cook warned, however, that it was facing higher competition in central Europe, and this has led to a one per cent drop in prices for the region. Booking levels were also flat compared to the same period last year, with 90 per cent of capacity sold.

In addition, the firm says it expects a £39 million hit from the falling value of the euro – profits from the Eurozone will not be as strong when converted into sterling.

Chief executive Peter Fankhauser said: "Our trading performance for the summer season has progressed well, despite the impact of external shocks in certain destination markets, as previously announced."

He noted that more than one-third of the winter 2015/16 season was already sold and that the bookings profile for next year was also "encouraging".

Mr Fankhauser explained there had been "excellent progress" in transforming the business over the last three years. "We have developed a strong core holiday proposition based around our own-brand hotels, reduced our cost base and strengthened our capital structure," he said.

On Friday morning (September 25th), shares in Thomas Cook group were up 0.50 per cent to 119.60.

Thomas Cook says holidays to the UK and Northern Europe have increased

0 votes, 0.00 avg. rating (0% score)

Comments are closed.

Source: Thomas Cook says holidays to the UK and Northern Europe have increased

In Europe’s Top Destinations, Hotels to Suit Your Wallet

Photo In Baden-Baden, Germany, the 15-room Villa Stephanie offers a spacious spa. Credit Villa Stephanie

A testament to the adage, "You get what you pay for," high-end hotels lavishly indulge guests in everything from personal butlers to full-service spas, swimming pools and enough restaurants to take the guilt out of staying in. But luxury isn't limited to pampering hotels with bank-bleeding prices. Sometimes the extras — a bountiful breakfast buffet, historic settings or personal services like walking tours and hiking directions — provide equivalent value at cheaper lodgings. The following hotel pairs in six European destinations offer intriguing alternatives at either end of the budget spectrum.

Baden-Baden, Germany

High In Germany's renowned spa town, the 15-room Villa Stephanie opened in January, a s ibling to the neighboring Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa. Most of the five-story, 1890-vintage villa, which once housed visiting royals, is taken up by a spa, including a spacious 5,400-square-foot sauna, plunge pool, hammam, gym and 15 treatment rooms with terraces that overlook the surrounding gardens. Residential-style guest rooms include sitting areas, balconies and marble-clad bathrooms. Menus focus on low-calorie, detoxifying dishes. To detox digitally, guests can detach from the electrical grid and Wi-Fi at the touch of a bedside button. Guests also have access to the larger spa at Brenner's and wellness experts in an adjoining medical center. Rooms start from 340 euros (about $373 at $1.10 to the euro). Information: villastephanie.com.

Low Up a steep hill that ensures lofty views over town, the Hotel Magnetberg offers the tranquillity for which travelers go to Ba den-Baden while leaving something to spend on spa treatments nearby. Many of the 76 rooms, with blond wood walls and gold or blue fabric accents, feature balconies overlooking the property's six-acre park. Guests gather on the panoramic terrace of the restaurant for those views, as well as for drinks and regional dishes such as Black-Forest-ham-stuffed veal cutlets. Though the hotel lacks an in-house spa, it is walking distance from the thermal baths of Caracalla Spa and other diversions, including the Fabergé museum and the opulent Baden-Baden Casino. Rooms from 124 euros. Information: de.hotel-magnetberg.de.

Photo Hotel Cotton House in Barcelona, where amenities include a morning-to-midnight restaurant and bar. Credit Meritxell Arjalaguer Barcelona

High Opened in February, the new Hotel Cotton House, a member of Marriott's Autograph Collection of independent hotels, revamped the city's former Cotton Textile Foundation headquarters, a late 19th-century building on the bustling Gran Via in the Eixample neighborhood. Using the cotton flower as inspiration, the interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán oversaw the conversion of 83 generally small, bright-white guest rooms and lavish public spaces. Original embellishments including parquet floors, ceiling frescoes and a seven-story suspended spiral staircase, added in 1957, were restored. Additions include a narrow rooftop pool, a morning-to-midnight restaurant and bar with a spacious outdoor terrace, and a library worthy of a cotton king. In keeping with the fabric theme, the hotel houses a tailor's shop. Rooms from 250 euros. Information: hotelcotto nhouse.com.

Low A member of a local boutique chain, Chic and Basic Born occupies a historic building, but, as its name suggests, much more minimally. In the trendy Born district, home to the Picasso museum, the hotel offers 31 all-white rooms that act as a blank canvas for mood lights that can be switched to tranquil blue or fiery red. Some include balconies and all offer glass-enclosed showers. The lobby bar serves cocktails and doubles as a breakfast buffet. Going out of its way to make guests feel at home, the hotel offers free coffee, tea and water in the convivial common room, bikes to rent and two-hour walking tours guided three times each week. Rooms from 93 euros. Information: chicandbasic.com.

Lisbon

High In Lisbon's romantic Al fama, a quarter of famous buildings and hill-climbing lanes, the 19-room Santiago de Alfama hotel opened in a former 15th-century palace just below São Jorge Castle this summer. Overlooking the Tejo River or the interior garden, each room offers a different configuration, though most share polished wood floors, white walls and downy beds to airy effect. Top suites have free-standing bathtubs. Disproportionate to its boutique size, the hotel hosts three restaurants and bars. That includes a breakfast cafe, the intimate Manny's Bar and the restaurant A Fábrica featuring a terrace for outdoor dining, frequent live music performances and creative Portuguese dishes like grilled octopus with stir-fried kale. Extras include a boutique stocked with housewares and gifts by local designers and a full-service spa. Rooms from 165 euros. Information: santiagodealfama.com.

Low Also new this summer, the 37-room 7 Hotel refitted a building that last housed a 19th-century watchmaker in the central Baixa Pombalina district. Rooms are compact but comfortable, with mattress-to-ceiling headboards, wood floors and matching paneling, massaging showers and, in some, Juliette balconies. Studio rooms feature kitchenettes designed for long-term stays. Amenities include free Wi-Fi and a substantial breakfast buffet, and the living-room-style lobby offers a welcoming place for guests to gather. They must venture out for other meals and entertainment, easily found in the surrounding Baixa, Chiado and Alfama districts. Rooms from 100 euros, including breakfast. Information: the7hotel.com.

Photo In London, the Safestay Holland Park includes private quarters as well as a 33-bed dorm. London

High When it opened in May 2014, the 202-room Shangri-La at the Shard elevated luxury lodging in London, literally. Located on floors 34 to 52 in London's tallest building, the spire-shaped, glass-clad Shard designed by Renzo Piano on the south bank of the River Thames, the hotel offers sweeping views of the city throughout, from the two-story lobby to window-walled guest rooms and an infinity pool. The hotel company's Hong Kong heritage is reflected in room décor and in its three restaurants and bars, including Gong, on Level 52, London's highest cocktail lounge. Hotel construction finished in the spring with the addition of a trio of one-bedroom, butler-serviced suites, the most lavish in the house, including one with a private elevator. Rooms from £450 (about $703 at $1.57 to the pound). Information: shangri-la.com.

Low The third in the mini-chain of Safestay hostels, Safestay Holland Park opened in August occupying the portion of the 17th-century Holland House that withstood 22 bombs during the World War II Blitz as well as a 1950s-era addition. Its 29 rooms range from private quarters with bathrooms to a 33-bed dorm. The building neighbors Holland Park in Kensington and Chelsea, a 54-acre greensward once the private grounds of an estate. Amenities include a breakfast room, pool table, courtyard with outdoor seating and free Wi-Fi in public areas. Shared rooms from £20 a bed; private rooms from £60. Information: safestay.com.

Photo Hilton Paris Opera, home to Le Grand Salon with its frescoed ceilings. Paris

High In January, the 1889-vintage Hilton Paris Opera reopened after a $50-million renovation in the city's Opera District on the Right Bank. The heart of the hotel, drawing gawkers as well as guests, Le Grand Salon makes a regal first impression off the entrance lobby with 46-foot frescoed ceilings, granite columns and arched balconies. It serves as an all-day lounge with drinks, tea and cafe fare. The hotel's 268 rooms, many with French doors, were refurbished in lighter, brighter décor with drawings of Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower papering the walls. Peek into the ballroom named for its vintage Baccarat crystal chandeliers. Rooms from 299 euros. Information: hilton.com.

Low In the 10th Arrondissement, near the Canal St. M artin, the new hip hostel Generator Paris occupies a former office building, furnishing 916 beds in 198 rooms. In addition to private rooms, the property offers shared quarters with four to 10 bunks each, all small and tidy, some with en suite bathrooms, others with shared facilities down the hall. Instead of staying in the rooms, guests are encouraged to spend their waking hours at the hostel in the expansive lobby, featuring a classic movie-palace-style marquee and including a restaurant with outdoor seating and a bar. A rooftop terrace offers views to Montmartre's Sacré Coeur. Shared rooms from 25 euros per bed, private rooms from 49 euros. Information: generatorhostels.com.

Tuscany

High Marion Hattemer, the owner, and family spent seven years converting the hilltop hamlet of Vitigliano, which dates back to 1085, into the seven-room Vitigliano Tuscan Relais & Spa , which opened in May near central Greve in Chianti. Many rooms feature beamed ceilings, stone walls, marble bathrooms and free-standing tubs. Surrounded by 12.5 acres including an olive grove and oak forest, the resort distributes its many amenities — including a hammam, yoga studio, gym, outdoor pool and 16th-century chapel — among many of the original buildings. The restaurant serves only guests, and the wine cellar is stocked with a private label wine created by Tommaso Cavalli, a neighbor and son of the fashion designer Roberto Cavalli. Rooms from 350 euros, including breakfast. Information: vitigliano.com.

Low A 17th-century country house in picturesque Cortona hosts the 15-room Relais Villa Baldelli, where original stone arches, floors and fireplaces fill public spaces. Individually decorated guest rooms, some with wood-beamed ceilings and antique furniture, all with modernized bathrooms, are distributed between the main house and annex, connected by gravel paths through the peaceful garden. The terrace and swimming pool offer views of the surrounding hillsides, and management is keen to offer directions to hikes around the property. Guests can take a hands-on cooking class and eat their results at lunch or dinner. The staff will arrange horseback rides and organize tasting tours to area wineries and olive oil farms. Rooms from 109 euros, including breakfast. Information: villabaldellicortona.com.

Source: In Europe's Top Destinations, Hotels to Suit Your Wallet

Pakistani Migrants Hope for Better Future in Europe, Too

BODRUM, TURKEY—

Turkey is the gateway to Europe for economic migrants from South Asia and the Middle East.  While the world remains focused on Syrian migrants in Turkey, one Turkish town, Bodrum, has more migrants from Pakistan than Syria.

Some recently talked to a VOA reporter as they prepared to embark on a sea journey to reach Greece and other destinations in Europe.

The migrants are looking for better educational opportunities as well as a more promising economic future.

"We have many problems in our country," said Pakistani migrant Muhammed Ali. "We are going to Europe for a better future. A lot of guys, they want to go for study for a better life" but don't have the money they need.

While many came to Turkey with the intention of continuing their journey to richer European nations like Germany and France, some wanted to remain in Turkey to work.  But in a few months' time, they have found they cannot achieve the economic prosperity they had hoped for.

"In Turkey, money is the problem," migrant Ali Mohammed said. "The country and the people are good, but I cannot make enough money here. I have five kids, and I have to go somewhere like Italy or Greece to earn a living for my family."

The migrants wait to hear from agents who have promised to take them to Greece by sea. That trip will cost each person roughly $1,200.  

While the Turkish government has increased safety measures to avoid boat tragedies, the journey is still not risk-free. Many of these migrants are accompanied by small children as they seek to embark on a potentially perilous journey with an uncertain future.

Source: Pakistani Migrants Hope for Better Future in Europe, Too

Balkans backup: Refugees stranded in southeastern Europe as EU doors close

SKOPJE –  As doors slam shut in Western Europe and razor-wire fences go up in the east, the massive wave of Middle Eastern refugees is backing up in the Balkans, where overwhelmed nations lack the will or resources to offer a long-term solution.

The ultimate destination for many of the refugees from Syria, Iraq, Libya and other war-torn nations is Germany, both for its rich benefits and its initial pledge to take in more than any other European Union nation. But when Germany announced that it was rescinding its offer and Hungary made itself a de facto firewall to Western Europe, tens of thousands of refugees already in transit were stranded in camps in Balkan nations including Croatia, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia.

"The Balkans should not become a parking lot or no man's land of blocked refugees," said Johannes Hahn, a European Union commissioner from Austria.

"The Balkans should not become a parking lot or no man's land of blocked refugees," said European commissioner Johannes Hahn.

- Johannes Hahn, Austrian official

Hahn called Germany's withdrawn invitation a "big geopolitical mistake," and said it is not fair to blame Balkan nations for border control, whether too lax or too heavy-handed.

In Hungary, where refugees initially poured in from Serbia, officials closed borders last week with a massive fence and huge military presence. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Sijarto stoked Europe's worst fears when he estimated that up to 35 million refugees could eventually attempt to migrate toward Europe, with thousands of terrorists hidden among them.

Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND) had a far more conservative estimate of 1.5 million refugees who will attempt to reach Western Europe via the so-called "Balkan route." It is impossible to determine how many refugees have already reached European shores and are somewhere between Greece and Germany, but camps throughout the Balkans, as well as Western Europe, are packed with refugees in increasingly tense situations.

After Hungary took action, refugees streamed into Croatia from Serbia, prompting Croatia to close its border and trapping some 11,000 inside Serbia. Refugees were still working their way through Macedonia and into Serbia, where they remained stuck at the Hungarian border as Serbian and Hungarian officials traded terse statements.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic accused Hungarian police of lobbing tear gas across the border and urged the EU to condemn the brutal behavior of the Hungarian police to refugees and media workers.

"Serbia itself can protect its territory and national dignity, and, if necessary, from the European Union, we will protect the European values," Vucic said.

In Macedonia, where refugees reach before streaming into the former Yugoslavia, the government declared a state of emergency for the next year.

"Macedonia is considering building a fence on its border like he did Hungary, although it is not a long term solution," said Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Popovski

In Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel initially announced the country would take in 800,000 refugees this year, the head of the BND, Gerhard Schindler, said the most immediate danger comes from jihadists who are already in Germany.

"For the Jihadists, it is much easier to obtain a false or stolen passport and get on the plane. The real danger comes from Europe, jihadists returning to Germany and other European countries, once fought on the fronts of the Middle East," Schindler said.

But German secret service officials have observed a disturbing new trend that combines the two threats. Radicals already in Germany are increasingly trying to penetrate the shelters that hold desperate and increasingly volatile refugees who made it to Germany.

"They have to be careful, because indigenous Islamists and Salafists could try to take advantage of the desperation of the refugees and to achieve their fanatical ideas," said Clemens Binninger, a member of Parliament.

Much of the fear has been driven by the fact that ISIS has clearly stated its plan to send jihadists to Europe amid the refugee wave. Fighters with valid documents from EU countries can enter and exit without being detected, and ISIS has reportedly seized hundreds of Syrian blank passports.

As a result, European jihadists could be returning amid the wave, and fighters from Syria and Iraq could be sneaking into Europe under humanitarian cover, where they can slip into society using doctored documents.

"Assassins of Paris, of Brussels and the train between Paris and Amsterdam were either radicalized European Muslims or European jihadists, returned from the battlefields," Binninger said. "They're making contact with the network of political Salafists, which have been previously recruited to ISIS."

Turkey, a European Union member which has taken in an estimated 2 million refugees from Syria, blasted European nations for turning away refugees and making the continent a "Christian fortress," in the words of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Source: Balkans backup: Refugees stranded in southeastern Europe as EU doors close

Central Europe gives up on holding refugees back from Austria

Over 200 Syrians and Iraqis saved by Turkish coastguards allegedly threatened with deportation back to war zones. Photograph: Umit Bektas/Reuters

The countries of central Europe suspended their resistance this weekend to Europe's largest refugee exodus since the second world war, as Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia all shunted tens of thousands of people towards Austria, reversing most recent attempts to block their passage.

At least 15,000 refugees mainly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq were funnelled from Croatia into Hungary and then onwards to Austria over the weekend, the Austrian news agency APA said, after Hungary temporarily gave up trying to stop refugees from crossing its border. Another 2,500 have crossed from Croatia into Slovenia, despite Slovenia initially trying to block their passage.

The moves represent a volte-face from both countries – and in particular from Hungary. The Budapest government had previously tried to stop the entry of undocumented travellers by building a fence along its southern border with Serbia, and by posting military vehicles on its western border with Croatia.

But by Sunday, its resistance was mostly rhetorical. The country admitted thousands of refugees over the weekend from Croatia, whose shared border is not yet blocked by a fence, even as foreign minister Péter Szijjártó promised tougher measures in the future. Szijjártó said: "We are a state that is more than 1,000 years old that throughout its history has had to defend not only itself, but Europe as well many times. That's the way it's going to be now."

Thousands more continued to enter Europe on Saturday and Sunday at the other end of the refugee route in the Greek islands, where coastguards said that 24 people were feared to have drowned on Sunday. An inflatable refugee boat, attempting to reach Lesbos from the Turkish shoreline, capsized before it reached its destination, and only 22 out of 46 passengers were rescued.

The number of migrant shipwrecks in the Aegean has increased in recent days, with Sunday's incident the sixth in a week of accidents that have left around 100 dead. For many of the survivors, the trauma has not ended with their rescue: it emerged on Sunday that more than 200 Syrians and Iraqis saved by the Turkish coastguard following the sinking of their ship near Kos had allegedly been threatened with deportation back to the war zones they had just fled.

One Syrian survivor, who asked not to be named as she is still in detention, said in a voice message: "They are threatening us that Syrians will be deported to Syria, Iraqis to Iraq. If they send us back to Syria we will die." The Turkish government has denied any Syrians will be deported.

The autumnal weather will make the sea crossing more dangerous, but Syrians making their way through the Balkans at the moment said their friends and relatives still hoped to follow in their footsteps despite the rising danger.

Nowar el-Debiat, a 31-year-old communications engineer from Syria, said: "The level will be lower because the sea is not good, and maybe the fact that Hungary has closed its borders will put people off. But after five years of war in my country, people cannot bear the situation and so those who used to not think of emigration are now thinking about it. So in October the migration will continue."

Amid the chaos, there were stronger calls for European countries to respond to the crisis on a collective basis, rather than as individual countries acting in their own self-interests. Michael Diedring, the secretary general of the European Council for Refugees and Exiles, a union of 87 European non-governmental organisations, said: "EU states need to stop doing what they are currently doing, which is making decisions for their own benefit."

He added: "There's so much pressure at the moment that no single state is going to be able to survive [by acting on their own]. Even Germany."

Source: Central Europe gives up on holding refugees back from Austria

5 Affordable Off-Peak Destinations Worth a Visit This Fall

Source: 5 Affordable Off-Peak Destinations Worth a Visit This Fall

Visit Slovenia: 5 Unexpectedly Delightful Destinations

Even in today's well-traveled world, Europe has managed to keep some of its hidden charms. And Slovenia, tucked away where Germanic, Mediterranean, and Slavic worlds meet, is one of Europe's most fascinating, yet least visited corners.

Rick Steves takes a cultural voyage through this charming, former Yugoslavian country, starting at its lively capital then heading toward the Julian Alps and to the Slovenian coast. Here's a look at the top destinations featured in the episode.

Get more ideas from the full episode here. You can also tune in for more of Steves' Euro adventure tips weeknights at 7:30 p.m.

1. LjubljanaLocated midway between Venice and Vienna, Slovenia's largest city and cultural capital is the perfect place to kick off your trip. Start at the Triple Bridge, which connects the city's historic banks to the modern part of the city. The best way to take in the sites here is to simply stroll the riverfront, check out the Art Nouveau and Art Deco influences in the buildings, visit the market, and then relax at a riverside café.

If you're a fan of architectural history, you can also visit the home of the city's most influential architect Jože Plečnik. Take a guided tour through his house and see some of his equipment, models, and plans on display.

2. Lake BledMoving out of the city, Steves takes us to see some of Slovenia's natural alpine wonders at Lake Bled. In addition to peaceful, glassy waters, this area boasts gorgeous views and villas. It's a popular getaway destination for locals, and offers a tranquil mountain resort experience. Lake Bled's major focal point is its charming little island, and romantic local boats, called "Pletnas" provide a pleasant way to reach it. Once you're there, you can tour the island's adorable Church of the Assumption.

3. Julian AlpsContinuing to explore the Slovenian countryside, a drive through the Julian Alps is perfect for nature lovers. You'll pass valleys, mountain villages, and see Mount Triglav mark the skyline. This is a popular spot for travelers who love hiking and seeing nature. This area offers a unique alpine landscape.

4. The Karst RegionHead south for a different kind of landscape. In the Karst region, you'll find rolling hills of grape farms, small towns, and an impressive network of caverns and underground rivers. An absolute must-do is a tour through the Škocjan Caves. There, you'll follow your guide through about two miles of caverns, where you'll spelunk through hundreds of dripping stalactites formations, hear the crashing underground river and much more. This looks really impressive.

This area is also home to one of Europe's most scenic castles -- the Predjama Castle. Built in the 16th century mainly for hunting, there's not much to see inside. But it does offer a nice backdrop for a scenic drink. And the spectacular views alone make it worth the drive out there.

5. PiranHead to the Adriatic coastal town of Piran for some coastal relaxation. For breathtaking views of the coastline, hike to the cathedral and walk up its Venetian-style bell tower. The town's beautiful and traffic-free harbor front offers an inviting place to stroll, sunbath, and enjoy fresh seafood as you bring your Slovenian adventure to a close.

Source: Visit Slovenia: 5 Unexpectedly Delightful Destinations

Fancy a Europe flight for less than $1800? Early bird airfares are on sale

Singapore Airlines, which like Etihad is an alliance partner of Virgin Australia, is charging $1733 for a flight from from Melbourne to London, down from $1769 a year ago. Photo: Bloomberg

The popular "early bird" airfares from Australia to Europe for the 2016 northern spring and summer have remained at reasonable levels, with some airlines raising prices slightly from last year and others lowering them slightly at a time when the fuel price and the Australian dollar have fallen substantially.

Travellers flying with Qantas, Emirates and Etihad Airways will pay a bit more than last year, but Asian carriers Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have cut their fares based on the promotional prices released over the last month. All of the early bird return fares remain below $1800, even to London, which has the highest price of all of the European destinations due to the taxes and fees involved.

"Our research shows that for every month you wait to book after the early bird sales period, the cost of an airfare to Europe climbs 3 per cent," helloworld.com.au chief executive Jeremy Reitman said. "Early Bird deals are a great way to lock in incredible savings and stretch your travel dollar even further. The average savings on an economy class ticket during early bird [sales] ranges from $200 to $350."

Qantas and Emirates offer joint prices as part of their alliance. The cheapest economy class fare from Sydney to London on Qantas is $1786, up from $1640 a year ago, while the price of a flight from Sydney to Paris has risen to $1699 from $1642. The Qantas fares are on sale from Thursday until November.

Advertisement

Etihad Airways, which has lifted the quality of the product on flights to Sydney and Brisbane over the last year, has raised its early bird fares for the second year in a row. A flight from Brisbane to Amsterdam will cost $1619, up from $1517 last year, while flights from the east coast to London will cost around $1780, up from $1753 a year ago.

In contrast, Singapore Airlines and Cathay have cut their fares. Singapore Airlines, which like Etihad is an alliance partner of Virgin Australia, is charging $1538 for a flight from Sydney to Barcelona, down from $1554 last year and $1733 from Melbourne to London, down from $1769. Cathay's fares are around $100 lower than last year, with the carrier offering flights to Rome from $1528 rather than $1624 and to London from $1661 versus $1784 a year ago.

Flight Centre investor relations head Hadyn Long said overall, the fares looked like the best ones the travel agent had seen in a few years.

"It is early days in terms of early bird sales, but there are some positive signs," he said. "Enquiry has been good. As expected, the [lower] dollar doesn't seem to be deterring people. There is also good value in the premium cabins. Prices are comparable but airlines like Etihad and some of the other premium carriers have added new features, so customers are effectively getting more for their money."

Etihad is offering return Sydney-London fares in business class for $7722, while Emirates is charging $7095 for a return business class flight from Perth to Paris.

Some of the airlines are sweetening their early bird deals with extra enticements such as a $50 duty free voucher on Etihad and a $1 Singapore stopover with Singapore Airlines.

"For travellers seeking the lowest airfares to Europe, our booking data shows that departures in March are the most affordable while peak travel times of April and June are the most expensive due to increased demand around school holidays, Easter and the European summer," Mr Reitman said, adding travellers should consider booking this month because the preferred travel dates tend to sell out fast.

Separately, Qantas is adding more domestic and international flights as a result of strong demand from travellers. It will enter the Sydney-Bali market, which until now it had served only with its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar, with a Boeing 737 being placed on the route with 33 return services over the peak period December and January with fares starting at $733 return. It will also add 20 return Boeing 747 services from Sydney to Vancouver from late June to mid-August, which is an additional seven services over the seasonal ones it ran this year.

In addition, QantasLink will add 11 return services a week between Hobart and Sydney and Melbourne on its 717 jets from March. "Customers travelling to or from Qantas' international destinations, such as Shanghai, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Johannesburg, will now have shorter connection times in Sydney and Melbourne," QantasLink chief executive John Gissing said. "It also means there's even more choice for Qantas customers wanting to holiday in Tasmania."

Source: Fancy a Europe flight for less than $1800? Early bird airfares are on sale

Backpacking Through Europe: Destination Berlin, Germany – The Energetic Traveler’s Dream!

I'm sure you've all heard stories about Berlin, Germany; perhaps those stories have even come across a bit outlandish or mythological to you. Well, whatever crazy thing(s) you have heard about Berlin are true. Berlin is a place that has something for everyone to experience: whether you want to go out and rave for 48 hours or tour the countless museum/cultural sites the city has to offer, nobody in your family will be disappointed.

It's impossible to talk about all of Berlin in one blog post, and seeing as how I was only there for a handful of days on my Backpacking Through Europe trip, it'd be impossible for me to do so. That being said, the goal of my little travel diaries are not only to give you some tips for traveling to the destination discussed but to also help you develop travel methods that can be applied to all your trips – no matter what or where your final destination may be!

Honestly, when I first arrived in the city, I was a bit overwhelmed. However, whenever I arrived in a new city on my backpacking trip, that feeling of OMG WHAT DO I DO NOW? set in. And that's normal; at least, I think it's normal. The sensation might hit me a bit stronger since I never get off the train/plane/spaceship with a clear plan in mind. I just turn right and hope for the best (and usually realize that I should've gone left).

Berlin is a big city – it sprawls, with main attractions not condensed to one area – so it can be a bit difficult to know where to begin your epic German adventure. Like with most cities where they're offered, I'd suggest taking a free walking tour of some sort to get yourself in order. Of course, feel free to pay for one, but many of the bigger cities offer free ones that are quite good for the purposes they serve: introducing you to the city, giving you some historical/cultural facts, and helping your little traveling self get pulled together and organized. I recommend Sandemans Free Tours. They also offer some good paid options, which focus on a variety of things (niche tours).

When you are on these tours (this goes for every city you visit), make sure to jot down in a notebook or phone where u might want to further explore at a later time. You might see something that piques your interest – and, if you do, you should allow yourself some proper time to investigate it when you don't feel rushed by impatient tour guides (see experience #3 below).

1. Brandenburg Gate. This is a nice place to begin your journey in Berlin. Nothing like walking through a gigantic entryway to tell yourself, "All right, let's do this, we're here. Adventure time."

2. Sandemans Free Walking Tour. Here are some of the main places/sites visited on the tour: Pariser Platz; The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe; The Site of Hitler's Former Bunker; Luftwaffe HQ; The Berlin Wall; The Former SS Headquarters; Checkpoint Charlie; The 1920s Cabaret Mile; Gendarmenmarkt; The Old Royal Boulevard; The TV Tower.

3. Sandemans Alternative tour. This was a really great tour and the tour guide knew a great deal about the history of Berlin's creative scene, as well as where it's headed and how it's shaped by the nature of the city's politics. The tour guide for this one was a bit impatient, got overwhelmed quite easily, and I thought he was going to have a nervous breakdown the entire time. Thankfully, he didn't. I wasn't doing a great job staying with the group though (because I'm like a small child), so maybe I was the source of his ongoing anxiety. Yikes.

4. Hackescher Markt. This is one of the trendier, up-and-coming spots, and has recently experienced the effects of gentrification – true for many of the neighborhoods throughout Berlin. Hackescher Markt's a nice little square filled with many restaurants and a small outdoor market on select days. It's a heavily trafficked metro station; for this reason, it's quite easy to get to, and you might even stumble upon it by accident while en route to somewhere else.

5. Alexa Mall. A large, multi-level mall that houses many stores, both upscale and not. There's really nothing super special about this mall, so don't put it at the top of your list. You can get off at the Alexanderplatz station for easy access.

6. Go to a club. (Even if you aren't a huge partier, find a friend – or make one – and collect an experience). Obviously, this isn't really a family activity, but chances are if you're a college-aged kid reading this, then you will want to say that you went to a club in Berlin. They are fun, and seem like universes all their own, but just approach the situation with your safety being the number one priority. Drugs are a reality in many European cities (and these activities aren't solely seen in clubs) – and say NO to them. Those are my words of wisdom. Never take anything someone gives you and pay close attention to your open drinks. You know, be conscious of what's happening in your bubble-zone. [Insert basic Mom speech here].

7. Take a Canal Boat Tour. This is pretty self explanatory. It can be a nice, refreshing way to see the city from a different angle – and is a great activity to undergo if the weather is nice.

8. Museum Island. This is a group of 5 museums and includes the Neues Museum (Egyptian Museum of Berlin), which houses the iconic bust of Nefertiti. I highly recommend stopping in to see this.

Now, there's one fact that applies to just about every family, big or small, out there in the world: someone won't be a museum goer – he or she won't like it, would rather be clipping Kris Jenner's toenails, and might start whining at the mere mention of "museum" or "gallery." And you know what? That's fine. But you still make them go to (at least) one museum – because that person will walk out of those museum walls having seen a few more things in the world, and chances are they won't be (entirely) disappointed. When you travel with family, it's all about compromises. Take turns having people choose what they would like to do or see or experience. Switch off being the leader!

9. Try Currywurst. The one thing you've got to try. It's really not too complex of a dish; however, you probably never would've thought it existed, let alone thought to combine these ingredients together. Traditional currywurst, which can be found all over, is comprised of sausage and a ketchup-based curry sauce. Oddly enough, I found it quite enjoyable, despite my uncertain feelings towards curry. It's served alongside fries. Good snack food for in-between activities.

10. Try a Döner Kebab. Stands that sell this tasty, sandwich-like treat can be found all over the place, so don't worry about seeking out a "special" stand. If you're curious as to whether or not the place is legit, use the trusty ol' how many people are in line? test. Chances are the stand will give you a decent, if not superb, kebab if people (especially locals) flock to it. This traditional snack is great for lunch or a midnight snack.

11. Explore the Berlin Dome. This is a great place to visit if you're interested in getting a good view of the city and checking out a beautiful church on the way up to the top. The dome doesn't look enormous from the street, but when you reach the top and start walking around the roof's walkway, you'll quickly realize that you underestimated its circumference.

12. Berlin Wall. Also, don't forget to check out the East Side Gallery – part of the wall that has been opened to street artists. One side of the wall features murals from artists who were invited/asked to paint on the structure.

13. Observe Colorful Street Art. Seek out the city's diverse street art landscape, a dynamic element that adds to the city's overall charm and character. I partook in the Alternative Tour offered through Sandemans (€10 for student). But you can find free ones offered by other companies or even check out some cool spots on your own; it's really easy to do. Just head out scoutin' for colorful walls!

You might be asking yourself the question SHOULD I GO TO BERLIN? My answer is, of course, a resounding yes! Unlike some cities, which are nice for a couple days, Berlin's vast cultural and historic landscape will keep you busy for countless days. You could choose to stay for X amount of days and never run out of things to keep you occupied. I'd say it's a nice place to visit if you have a big family with children of various ages, both younger and older, as it's a great destination with diverse options.

ONE Seek out walking tours when you reach your destination.

TWO If you're traveling with a family, switch off being team leaders amongst you so everyone has the chance to see what interests them. Or, if Bobby Sue just really doesn't want to go to that museum featuring rare beans from Planet Lkjwepopjapsdjkflkhlakhleinpclsphwpeortl, then agree to split up for the day.

THREE Bring Valium for those impatient-borderline-unpleasant-anxious tour guides who can't cope with your FREE WANDERING SPIRIT!

FOUR Get lost trying to go somewhere.

FIVE Pack all your essential things in your backpack or suitcase (and maybe consider bringing some soft toilet paper so as to protect your bum from the sandpaper-like stuff they have in Europe).

~~~

Make sure to check out our upcoming Backpacking Through Europe travel diaries, which will include Paris, France and Bruges, Belgium! If you haven't had the chance yet, also be sure to read about my experience(s) in Odense and Copenhagen, two amazing cities in Denmark.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Source: Backpacking Through Europe: Destination Berlin, Germany – The Energetic Traveler's Dream!

European countries tighten borders to stem flow of refugees

HUNGARY - Austria is rushing troops Monday night to its borders, one of several European nations imposing an emergency lockdown. Thousands of families are pouring into Europe, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and North Africa.

On Monday, the crisis entered a new stage as several nations tightened their borders to stem the flow of refugees.

First, a wall of Hungarian police blocked one of the last gaps in the 100-mile long fence. Then, troops rolled in a train carriage bristling with razor wire to seal the border shut. This, after a record 5,000 migrants crossed into the country before noon Monday.

Some migrants were minutes too late.

Play Video

CBSN More nations tighten borders against refugees

A major influx of refugees to Europe prompts some nations to tighten their borders. CBS News foreign correspondent Charlie D'Agata joins CBSN fro...

For those who made it, the Hungarian government put them on trains to Austria -- the next stop in their quest to get to Germany.

That's where we found Mohammed, from Hama, Syria.

CBS News

"Most of us they think it was a trick. I won't believe anything until I sit with my cousins in Germany," Mohammed said with a laugh.

Play Video

CBS Evening News Reporters Notebook: An update on Europe's migrant crisis

Since August, CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata has reported on the chaotic migrant situation that is currently happening in Europe.

Germany is the favored destination for most -- with its strong economy and generous benefits. The country now says it expects to take a million migrants, another 200,000 more than forecast.

But on Sunday, Germany introduced border controls -- a sign that even Germany may be struggling to control the massive wave of migrants heading its way.

Austria quickly followed suit, sending police to its border, as did Slovakia and the Netherlands.

The sheer number of migrants has forced Europe to suspend one of its founding principles: border-free travel between countries.

Among the new laws that go into effect in Hungary Monday night, anybody caught crossing the border illegally will face a possible five-year prison sentence. Europe's interior ministers Monday came to no decision about where to settle the migrants that just keep coming.

© 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Source: European countries tighten borders to stem flow of refugees

The Latest: Romania's president to talk to European Commission president about migrant numbers

MUNICH — The latest developments as European governments rush to cope with the huge number of people moving across Europe. All times local (CET):

8:35 p.m.

The Czech prime minister says that his country has deployed more police to the Austrian-Czech border in response to Germany's decision to renew border controls along its border with Austria in a bid to limit an influx of refugees.

Bohuslav Sobotka says the measure was taken "to ensure that laws and rules inside the Schengen zone are not violated."

Sobotka said Sunday that the government will assess the situation on a regular basis and will take further security measures if needed.

7:40 p.m.

The U.N. refugee agency says border control measures announced by European countries underline the urgency of "a comprehensive European response" to the migrant crisis.

European Union interior ministers will meet on Monday amid deep divisions in the 28-nation bloc over how to handle the influx of refugees and others seeking a better life. Germany, which is a preferred destination and says it capacity to deal with newcomers is being stretched to the limit, on Sunday introduced border checks on the Austrian frontier.

Hungary is fortifying its border with Serbia in an effort to halt the influx.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said an EU response should include "the rapid implementation of a relocation program" to spread refugees among all EU countries. Many nations are resisting that.

7 p.m.

A day before a meeting of interior ministers in Brussels about the migrants' crisis, Romania's president will speak to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

President Klaus Iohannis will discuss the "migration package" later Sunday with Juncker, according to presidential adviser Leonard Orban.

Romania says it can receive 1,785 migrants. The European Union has asked Romania to take an extra 4,650 people.

5:45 p.m.

Germany's interior minister says his country is introducing temporary border checks on the Austrian frontier in a bid to limit the influx of refugees.

Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere said Sunday that the measure might lead to disruption of railway services, but didn't give further details.

Germany and Austria agreed over a week ago to let in migrants who had gathered in Hungary, saying it was a one-time measure to ease an emergency. Still, the influx has continued and German officials have said over the weekend that the speed of the arrivals was straining the country's ability to provide accommodation.

5:15 p.m.

A small Hungarian party says that in special circumstances tracking devices should be placed on asylum seekers to monitor their whereabouts.

Politics Can Be Different, an opposition party known mainly for embracing environmental and anti-corruption themes, said Sunday the tracking devices would be used in emergency situations to keep tabs on asylum seekers whose claims haven't been decided within 30 days.

While police said more than 186,000 migrants have entered Hungary this year, nearly all have moved on to EU destinations further west like Germany.

Other measures meant to handle the migrant crisis proposed by Politics Can Be Different include extra funding to hire 3,000 police officers, building more refugee camps and well as providing information to migrants in their native language.

3:05 p.m.

Greek authorities say 28 people have drowned, half of them children, after a wooden smuggling boat capsized in the southeastern Aegean Sea.

The tragedy took place before dawn Sunday off the Greek island of Farmakonissi. Greek coast guard boats rescued 68 other migrants from the sea and 30 more from the boat made it on their own to the island.

A Greek coast guard spokesman said four of the drowned children were infants and, among the others, there were 5 girls and 5 boys. He did not know the victims' ages or nationalities.

2:50 p.m.

Thousands of migrants and refugees, mostly Syrians, are still marching into Hungary from Serbia.

They are often helped by smugglers, who collect thousands of euros (dollars) in exchange for guidance or transportation along the way.

One Syrian refugee, Abdul Moneim Abdul Aziz, fled the city of Hama 17 days ago and has travelled across Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia. On Sunday he was looking at Google maps on his cellphone.

He said smugglers had told him not to travel through Hungary "because they will fingerprint us and when we try to go to Sweden or Norway or Holland, (they say) we will be rejected."

Aziz was torn, wanting to take the risk and cross the Hungarian border near Roszke, but a relative persuaded him to return to Serbia with his family. Aziz said he would look for another way to get to Sweden, where he hopes to join relatives already there.

2:05 p.m.

Romania's interior minister says his country will politely refuse to take in more than the 1,785 asylum seekers it initially agreed to.

The European Union had asked Romania to take an extra 4,650 people.

Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea says he has a "very clear mandate" from the president and prime minister to refuse the request. He spoke Sunday ahead of an interior ministers' meeting Monday in Brussels on Europe's migration crisis.

Oprea says "we will respect our initial agreement ... that is the current capacity of the Romanian state."

He also said Romania will vote against having obligatory migrant quotas for EU nations.

1:45 p.m.

Austrian police say they have rescued 42 people, including five women and eight children, from a refrigerated truck on a highway near the border with Germany.

Police in Upper Austria province say the migrants were found Sunday morning at a rest stop on the A8 highway at Aistersheim by officers looking for traffickers' vehicles. They were inside a Finnish-registered truck used to transport flowers.

Police said in a statement that all were in good health and the suspected smugglers, two Iraqis, were arrested.

Last month, 71 people were found dead inside a truck on a highway in eastern Austria. Police say the victims probably suffocated.

1:20 p.m.

Greek authorities say 10 migrants have drowned at sea off a Greek island when their boat capsized — and there are fears the toll may rise as coast guard officers search the ship.

Another 68 passengers on the boat were rescued at sea early Sunday and 30 more were able to swim to the Greek island of Farmakonissi in the southeastern Aegean Sea.

The victims' nationalities have not been undetermined. A coast guard spokeswoman told The Associated Press that one child was among them.

The area has been hit by strong winds of more than 50 kph (31 mph).

1 p.m.

Germany's vice chancellor is calling for an aid package to help feed, house and educate refugees in camps in countries neighboring Syria — an effort to combat the problems that are causing them to flee to Europe.

The U.N.'s World Food Program has had to cut food distributions at the camps because of funding shortages.

Sigmar Gabriel told German daily Tagesspiegel that Germany and Europe should put up 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in immediate aid for food, accommodation "and above all schools" in the biggest refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. He says the Gulf Arab countries and the United States should each contribute the same amount.

Gabriel said "as long as hardships grow in the refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon, people will set off for Europe. We must address this, and quickly."

10:45 p.m.

Germany's interior minister is making it clear that migrants wouldn't get to choose what country they go to under a proposed European Union quota system to share the burden of new arrivals.

Germany, which is a favored destination and has taken the most asylum seekers in the 28-nation EU, wants an agreement on quotas but faces resistance from several other countries.

Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere was quoted Sunday as telling the Tagesspiegel daily that if refugees get protection in Europe they must accept being distributed around the EU.

He said "there can be no free choice of residence for refugees. That doesn't exist anywhere in the world."

9:25 p.m.

German police say a total of 12,200 migrants came to Munich on Saturday and the flow is continuing into the city, the main point of entry to Germany.

Federal police spokesman Simon Hegewald said more than 700 people fleeing their homelands have arrived at the city's main station on Sunday morning. Police didn't immediately have an estimate of how many more might land during the day.

Officials in Munich were putting up tents but say their capacity to house the newcomers arriving from Hungary via Austria is being stretched to the limit. They are calling for more help from other places in Germany.

Hegewald said three special trains from Munich were planned Sunday to move migrants onto other destinations in the country.

9 a.m.

The flow of migrants into Hungary has hit another record as Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government prepares an unprecedented border clampdown.

Police said 4,330 migrants were detained Saturday, over 700 more than the previous one-day mark. Hungary is rushing to complete a fence on its border with Serbia and starting Tuesday, new rules criminalizing illegal border crossings and speeding up decisions about asylum requests take effect.

Hungarian authorities hope the 4-meter (13-feet) high fence, more police at the border and tighter migration rules should deter migrants from trying to enter the country as they strive to reach Germany or other destinations in Western Europe.

At the least, authorities hope it will bring order to their mandatory registration system — which has crumbled as the number of migrants has grown.

Source: The Latest: Romania's president to talk to European Commission president about migrant numbers

Tens of Thousands Demonstrate in Europe in Support of Refugees

Demonstrators in Stockholm join tens of thousands of people who rallied in a Europe-wide day of action in solidarity with refugees and other migrants. Jonathan Nackstrand/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

Demonstrators in Lisbon welcome refugees and other migrants. Patricia de Melo Moreira/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

In London, tens of thousands of people march carrying placards that read 'Open the Borders,' and 'Be Human.' Justin Tallis/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

Demonstrators take part in a pro-refugee rally in central London. Justin Tallis/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

In Lyon, eastern France, people braved the rain to show their support for migrants. Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

A large crowd turns out for a rally in Copenhagen. Scanpix Denmark/Reuters …

A woman holds a handwritten sign in Geneva, Switzerland, welcoming refugees. Martial Trezzini/Associated Press …

A child takes part in the demonstration in support of migrants in Warsaw, Poland. Radek Pietruszka/European Pressphoto Agency …

A woman at a rally in Paris holds a placard urging the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Joel Saget/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

A sign welcomes refugees in Stockholm. Jonathan nackstrand/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

On Friday, a barefoot procession in solidarity with migrants took place in Rome. Antonio Masiello/Zuma Press …

In Prague, anti-migrant counter-demonstrators hold banners and Czech national flags on Saturday. Michal Cizek/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

An anti-immigration rally in Bratislava, Slovakia. Samuel kubani/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images …

Several thousand right-wing nationalists wave Polish national flags during a counter-demonstration in Warsaw, Poland. Alik Keplicz/Associated Press …

of

SHOW CAPTION HIDE CAPTION

fullscreen Updated Sept. 12, 2015 3:48 p.m. ET

Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Europe rallied on Saturday to express sympathy toward migrants seeking refuge in the region amid the largest migration of displaced people since the end of World War II.

About 30,000 people converged in Copenhagen, according to city police, carrying banners such as "Refugees Welcome." The rally, as well as smaller gatherings in other Danish cities, was calm and peaceful, police said.

In Hamburg, Germany, more than 24,000 people demonstrated against xenophobia and racism, said a spokeswoman for the city's police. She said they were mostly peaceful but police briefly used water cannons after some stones and firecrackers were thrown.

Demonstrators also marched in London to pressure the British government to take in more refugees. Among those in attendance was Jeremy Corbyn, just hours after being elected as leader of the U.K.'s opposition Labour Party.

The rallies further highlight the political rift created by the exploding migrant crisis in Europe. The hundreds of thousands of people seeking refuge this summer have left Europe divided between nations on transit routes on one side and those countries migrants see as preferred destinations on the other.

The president of Hungary, one such transit route, defended his country's tough migrant policy on Saturday.

"These migrants don't come from the war zone, but from camps in Syria's neighboring countries Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, where they were in safety" and thus didn't flee for fear of their lives, but for wanting a better life, Viktor Orban told German tabloid Bild in an interview. "Personally, I can understand this, but there is no fundamental right to a better life. There's only a right to security and human dignity."

Earlier this month, Hungary's premier courted controversy by saying the country's borders must be defended as Europe's identity was rooted in Christianity, while most of the migrants arriving on the continent were Muslims.

Mr. Orban's tough stance drew criticism from Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann.

"To put refugees on trains in the belief they would go elsewhere reminds me of the darkest time on our continent," Mr. Faymann told weekly magazine Der Spiegel in an interview, in a reference to Nazi Germany. Mr. Orban "acts irresponsibly when declaring everyone a migrant for economic reasons. He consciously uses a policy of deterrence," he said.

In the Polish capital, about 7,000 people led by fringe nationalist groups protested on Saturday against the government's plan to take in more than 2,200 refugees over the next two years.

"It's a war of two civilizations," said one of the Warsaw rally's leaders.

The influx of migrants in Europe is showing few signs of abating. Some 40,000 migrants are expected to arrive in Germany this weekend, twice as many as last week, according to an estimate by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"We are expecting for the next two days alone, for the weekend, about 40,000 new refugees from our southern and southeastern neighbors," Mr. Steinmeier told a conference in Prague on Friday.

The impact of the political rift has been felt by Germany's transport system. Trains to and from main station in Hamburg were suspended for 1½ hours on Saturday because demonstrators were on the tracks, a spokesman for the city's federal police said.

Munich, Germany's main point of entry, has requested additional support from other regions. Between midnight and 4 p.m. on Saturday, 7,200 migrants had arrived in Munich by train, said Simone Hilgers, a spokeswoman for the regional government of Upper Bavaria, where Munich is located. The number could rise to more than 9,000 in the next 2½ hours, she said.

She echoed comments by Munich mayor Dieter Reiter calling on other German regions to step up their support.

France, which like Germany has been pressing the rest of the EU to do more to resolve the crisis, said it would offer new housing subsidies to cities and towns to accommodate thousands of refugees.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the state would provide a subsidy payment of €1,000 ($1,134) for each dwelling offered to house migrants.

"We need to face this situation and confront it effectively," he said.

—Martin Sobczyk in Warsaw, and Jason Chow and Noemie Bisserbe contributed to this article.

Write to Christina Zander at christina.zander@wsj.com and Ulrike Dauer at ulrike.dauer@wsj.com

Source: Tens of Thousands Demonstrate in Europe in Support of Refugees

More hardship, more divisions in Europe's refugee crisis

Schisms widened Friday among European Union states over how to share the burden of an enormous wave of refugees and migrants, even as thousands of asylum-seekers, frustrated by delays, marched on foot from the Hungarian border toward Vienna, the Austrian capital.

New reports of hardship emerged from Hungary, where a video of sandwiches being tossed to caged and hungry asylum-seekers by police was distributed widely on social media.

Hungary, a way station rather than a destination for most, has become a flashpoint for confrontations between authorities and the swelling tide of migrants and refugees. The country's right-wing government next week is set to usher in stringent new measures meant to cut off the migrant flow, possibly enforced by the Hungarian army.

Despite the ongoing upheaval triggered by the Continent's worst refugee crisis since World War II, a new public opinion poll sugges ted that a majority of German citizens believe their leaders were right to effectively throw open the doors to those trapped in bleak conditions while trying to make their way to havens in northern Europe. Germany is the destination of choice for most.

NEWSLETTER: Get the day's top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >>

Austria, the final hurdle for those seeking to reach Germany, has found itself overwhelmed as record numbers crossed its border with Hungary. Rail transport from the frontier to Vienna has faltered under the crush, and with buses and taxis unable to make up the shortfall of places, hundreds and then thousands on Friday started the long walk to the capital.

In what has become a familiar scenario at several points on the migrant trail, authorities closed a main motorway to vehicles, saying they were afraid that trekking migrants and refugees could cause accidents.

The past six days have seen 40,000 arrivals in Germany, half of the m last weekend alone. More than a quarter-million have embarked this year from Greece, the trail's southeastern terminus, on an arduous journey to the north and west across half of Europe.

The head of the EU's executive branch, Jean-Claude Juncker, appealed earlier this week for the bloc's members to allocate 160,000 places among themselves for refugees and migrants. But in the latest rebuff, Denmark — not legally obligated to share in any quota system — said Friday it would not take part.

The resettlement proposal marks the most ambitious effort yet by the EU to find places for new arrivals, but even if approved, it would fall far short of the ever-growing demand. Juncker had hoped the plan would be acted on at a meeting in Brussels on Monday, but the timetable has been moved back to early October, when an emergency session of EU interior ministers is scheduled.

The flood of migrants and refugees has led to indelible scenes of chaos, including images that went viral on the Internet this week of a Hungarian camerawoman tripping a fleeing man with a child in his arms and kicking another child.

Petra Laszlo, who was fired from her job with a right-wing channel, said in an open letter published in a Hungarian newspaper that she was "sincerely sorry" for her actions, but she defended herself, saying something had "snapped inside" her as the asylum-seekers ran in her direction, fleeing the police.

While anti-immigrant sentiment is substa ntial in parts of Europe, particularly its poorer eastern regions, a telephone poll in Germany, conducted for ZDF television, said two-thirds of respondents believed it was right for the government to have announced it even would take in asylum-seekers who had entered Europe elsewhere and were supposed to seek to stay in that point of origin.

Almost as many expressed confidence that Germany could cope with the arrivals, expected to number at least 800,000 this year. But a large majority — 83% — said Germany's decision to let people in would galvanize more to set off on the journey.

Syrians, whose country has been devastated by war, make up the single largest group of asylum-seekers, followed by Afghans, Iraqis and Eritreans.

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

 ALSO:

Chinese visits to U.S. are expected to grow despite China's economic woes

Human rights groups blast sentencing of Venezuelan opposition leader

More evacuations ordered as wildfire threatens ancient sequoias in California

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
Source: More hardship, more divisions in Europe's refugee crisis