Exploring the Pardubice Region

Pardubice

A trip to the Pardubice Region would logically begin in its capital city, Pardubice. This city dates to the 13th century when it was founded by Arnošt of Pardubice, the first Archbishop of Prague during the reign King Charles IV. Today, the city reflects its medieval history, with a nod to its rise in the 20th century as a central connection point between the country’s major cities: Prague, Brno, and Ostrava.

The first thing that you’ll notice about the city of Pardubice is its stunningly bright and colorful architecture. A stroll through the town’s main square will demonstrate just how beautiful the town’s architecture is. It’s no surprise that the phrase “Shine like Pardubice” was a popular phrase for local Bohemians beginning in the 16th century.

Pardubice Chateau

The city’s development can largely be contributed to the Pernštejn family, and the name Pernštejn can be found in every nook and cranny throughout the region. Most famously, the Pardubice Chateau was reconstructed by the Pernštejn family in the late 15th century into the castle and chateau we see today. The Pardubice Chateau now houses the Museum of East Bohemia.

Kunětická Hora Castle

The Czech Republic is really the ideal country for castle-lovers, and the Pardubice region is no exception. Just outside of the city of Pardubice is the Kunětická Hora Castle, a 14th century castle. The castle sits on one of the only hills in that part of the region, so it’s a truly idyllic spot amongst the farmland. The castle is accessible from Pardubice by public bus, or by taxi which would be reasonably low cost due to a regulation on fares within the city limits that would cap a portion of the fare to the castle.

The Kunětická Hora Castle is now a museum with permanent and temporary exhibitions showcasing the castle’s history, including archeological discoveries. The castle is open from April-October each year, and the visit to the castle is self-guided.

Pardubicky Pivovar (Pardubice Brewery)

A visit to any region in Bohemia would be incomplete without a visit to a local brewery. Pilsner Urquell is amongst the most famous in the Czech Republic, but each region (sometimes each city!) will have its own local brew- often even better than the mass-produced varieties like Pilsner. In Pardubice, this brewery is called the Pardubicky Pivovar (Pardubice Brewery in English), and produces a wide variety of beers whose namesakes nod to the more famous developers of the city and region.

The Pernštejn beer comes in several varieties (light, semi-dark, Vilém 11, Premium, and Granát 13). If you’re at a pub in Pardubice, the light variety is likely to be on tap, and it’s delicious. The pride and joy of the Pardubicky Pivovar, however, is the Porter, which has been brewed with the exact same recipe for over 120 years. This is a dark beer with a thick, creamy foam, and has some sweet notes to it. Even if you typically don’t like dark beer, you’ll probably like this one- it’s very drinkable!

If you’re interested in touring the Pardubicky Pivovar, be sure to call at least 10 days in advance to schedule your tour. Tours are available in Czech, English, Russian, and Swedish. The tour allows you to taste unfiltered and unpasteurized beer straight from the tank, and allows you to visit the brewery’s special microbrewery called Arnošt after the city’s founder.

Usually a national stud farm wouldn’t be on a “top places to see in…” list, but the Czech National Stud is truly unique in both its history and architecture. Even non-equestrians will love a stroll through the National Stud to learn of its role in Czech history, its development, and its modern achievements.

The National Stud in Kladruby nad Labem is one of the oldest stud farms in the world, and is home to the Kladruber horse breed. These horses are used primarily for ceremonial purposes and carriages, and are similar in build, nature, and color to the Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The horses are all either white or black, with some of the foals born black and turning to pure white in adulthood. The Danish king apparently still purchases all of his ceremonial horses from this stud farm, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge currently have a foal in training there!

The land at Kladruby nad Labem was held by the aforementioned Pernštejn family, and was used as a deer and horse park in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. In 1560, the property was acquired by the Austro-Hungarian monarchs, and the stud farm was established in 1563. It was eventually made the official Imperial Court Stud Farm, and was held by the monarchy until its collapse in 1918. After the end of the first World War, the stud farm continued to breed these specialized horses for ceremonial purposes in the new Republic. After the end of the second World War, the stud farm continued to be held in the state’s possession, where it remains today.

The National Stud in Kladruby nad Labem is only about 30 minutes from Pardubice. The easiest way to get there is by private car, but you can also catch a train to Recany nad Labem, and a taxi (3.6 km) from there to the stable.

The stud farm is open from April-October for regular tours, and by appointment outside of this peak season. You have the option of visiting the stables, castle, carriage house/museum, forester’s house, and the lookout tower, or all of the above! If you purchase tickets for the stables, carriage house, and castle, you’ll also be able to visit the forester’s house and lookout tower for no extra charge on the same day.

Tours are provided in Czech, English, and German; if you’d like a tour in English or German, you should plan to book in advance (5 person minimum required). Alternatively, you can join a Czech tour with audio guides or printed text to facilitate your tour if you have less than 5 people with you. Tours leave every hour between 10 am and 4 pm, and if you’re planning to visit all locations, you should begin with a tour at 1 pm in order to see everything before the end of the day!

Pardubice Racecourse

If you’re not all done with horses after a visit to the National Stud, Pardubice boasts another famous horse-related activity.

The Pardubice Racecourse is just outside of the city next to the Pardubice airport, and hosts one of the most difficult steeplechase events in Europe, Velká Pardubická. This event has run for more than 140 years with only brief periods of interruption during the country’s most trying historical times. The race includes a total of 31 obstacles, and is 6900 meters (4.29 miles). One of these obstacles, the Taxis Ditch, is one of the most difficult in the world, and is the reason why some rider/horse teams do not finish the race.

The racing season begins in May, and concludes with the Velká Pardubická in mid-October each year. The Velká Pardubická brings out over 20,000 spectators at the stadium, with more than 3,000,000 watching on television.

The Pardubice Region in the Czech Republic is absolutely idyllic. With its capital city only a 1 hour train ride away from Prague, the Pardubice Region is the perfect spot for a day or weekend away from the city. Prague is certainly an important city in the Czech Republic, not to mention beautiful, but it’s also not totally representative of the rest of the Czech Republic, its history, its architecture, or its culture.

Thank you to Czech Tourism for inviting me on my trip to the Pardubice Region. As always, all opinions are my own.

Interested in visiting the Pardubice Region, but don’t know where to start? Book a travel consultation with me, and I’ll help you plan your trip from beginning to end!

Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book using the link on my website, I’ll be paid a percentage of your booking fee at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog by using these links! As always, all opinions are my own, and all recommendations are based on my own personal experience.

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What to see in Vienna

Schönbrunn Palace

One of my favorite places in Vienna, and arguably my favorite palace in Europe, the Schönbrunn Palace is worth a day to itself. It’s the former summer residence of the imperial Habsburg family, and it wasn’t destroyed during the 20th century due to its location just outside of the city center. Of course, historically, the palace was located well outside of the city, but now it’s just a quick metro ride from the city center.

There is a lovely audio-guided tour of the palace; you’ll want to purchase tickets in advance and try to grab the first tour of the day to avoid some large group tours throughout the guided route. If you’re very interested in the history, you might also consider a private tour of the palace with a local guide who will explain details throughout the tour route you never would have noticed otherwise. You can book such a tour directly through the palace website.

Once you’re done with the palace tour, take a hike up to the Gloriette on the hill overlooking Schönbrunn. The Gloriette was unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War, but has since been reconstructed and provides the perfect place from which to admire the gardens of the palace. You can climb to the top of the Gloriette, but even from ground-level, you will not find better views of Schönbrunn.

The gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace are just over 1 square kilometer, and include a zoo, Orangerie, and many sculptures and impressively designed gardens. The gardens themselves are open free-of-charge, which means you’ll often see joggers and families strolling throughout the day.

As a bonus, one of Vienna’s beautiful Christmas markets is held outside of the palace each year!

Belvedere Palace

The Bevedere Palace is another of Vienna’s beautiful palaces, but was not originally a property of the imperial family. Rather, this Baroque palace was built by Prince Eugene of Savoy as a summer residence. The complex is actually made of three major structures: the Upper Palace, the Lower Palace, and the Orangerie. Later, the palace became the property of the Habsburg family, and was the location of the wedding of Marie Antoinette to the French Dauphin in 1770. The Belvedere Palace also became one of the first public museums in the world, when the monarchy opened its picture gallery to the public in 1781.

Today, the Belvedere Palace still serves that purpose as a public museum, showcasing some of the most important works of Vienna’s Fin-de-siècle, including Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. If you have time, a private tour of the museum (at 90€) is incredible for art enthusiasts. If you don’t have the time or funds for such an endeavor, the audio guide will make an excellent substitute to take you through Vienna’s art history through the collection at Upper Belvedere. The gardens between the Upper and Lower Palace are also stunning, although naturally smaller than those at Schönbrunn.

Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School is the oldest equestrian school of the Haute Ecole style in the world, founded in the late-16th century. The school is a riding school for Lipizzaner stallions, which perform today in the Winter Palace in central Vienna. The horses are trained in classic dressage style, but with movements designed to enhance the build of these particular horses bred for the purpose.

Visitors can come to a performance of the Spanish Riding School, or view the daily morning exercises. Having seen both, I would recommend the morning exercises to the casual observer; the tickets are less expensive and seats are not reserved. Because of this, you can have excellent seats for the exercises (seeing the same movements as are done at the performances), but for a fraction of the cost. Just be sure to arrive as early as possible for the best possible seats!

If you’re particularly interested in the history of these imperial horses, I highly recommend the guided tour as a complement to a performance or morning exercises. The guided tour takes you “backstage” to see the stables where the horses are kept, and allows you to learn about the history of the school and horses. You’ll see the tack room, the exercise rings, and you’ll be able to see the interior of the beautiful indoor arena (complete with chandeliers) without anyone else filling the seats! I prefer this tour over a visit to the Winter Palace (the Hofburg), because the interiors of that palace have been turned into a museum dedicated solely to the Empress Sisi, while the Spanish Riding School allows you an authentic look into a bit of the monarchical history of Austria.

Vienna Opera House

The Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera) is one of the most famous in the world, and for good reason. It opened its doors in 1869 with a performance of Mozart’s Don Juan, and has continued to produce world-renowned performances until today. Now, the Vienna Opera features 350 performances per year in one of the most beautiful theatres in the world.

If you’re interested in seeing a backstage look at the Vienna Opera, you can join a guided tour on the hour in English, German, or Spanish. Tours in Italian, French, Russian, and Japanese are also available by prior arrangement.

In case you aren’t up for purchasing tickets to see a performance in the theatre, you may also view projected performances live outside the Vienna Opera in April, May, June, and September through Vienna’s “Oper live am Platz” program.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Stephansplatz is likely destination for any visit to Vienna. The square is right in the center of Vienna, and is towered over by Stephansdom, or St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Despite the deceptive German name, St. Stephen’s Cathedral doesn’t have a Dome like St. Paul’s in Vatican, but is rather a Gothic cathedral. The unique beauty of this particular cathedral lies in its roof tiling, which has a beautiful, intricate pattern that glows in sunlight.

Guided tours of the cathedral are available in English from Monday to Saturday at 10:30 am. It’s also possible to climb the South Tower (affectionately known by locals as “Steffl”), which is 137 meters (just under 450 ft.) tall.

Where to stay in Vienna

Vienna is such a diverse city, and likewise has incredibly diverse options for accommodation. If you’re more of a budget traveler, I highly recommend the Wombat City Hostel Naschmarkt. While technically a hostel, Wombat offers private ensuite rooms that would lead you to believe you’re in a hotel, along with a buffet breakfast option. The location of this hostel, though, is the real reason to stay! The Naschmarkt area of Vienna is one of the best places to stay in the city to soak up a little local culture while being close enough to explore all of the major attractions. The Naschmarkt itself is the largest outdoor market in Vienna, with over 100 food and dining stalls.

Where to eat in Vienna

Vienna can be a tough city for eating, particularly in the city center near Stepansplatz, because it lends itself to be on the high-end scale in this area. There are, however, plenty of great options throughout the city, and Vienna is one of those cities where international cuisine reigns supreme. Naturally, you can’t have a trip to Vienna without a taste of wiener schnitzel, apple strudel, or sacher dort, but these can easily be found in any traditional cafe or restaurant in the city.

For some other options, I highly recommend the neighborhood surrounding Naschmarkt. The market itself is a great source of local, inexpensive take-away food as well as some great sit-down dining options. Yak and Yeti, not far from Naschmarkt, is a great Nepalese restaurant. If you’re looking for something even more low-key, El Burro is an excellent Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood- also surrounded by great bars, cafes, and other restaurants.

With the Schönbrunn Palace gardens, you’ll find loads of cafes and restaurants. My favorite by far in spring and summer is the Landtmann’s Parkcafé (closed only in winter). This is an outdoor-only restaurant with great food and drinks, hidden away in the gardens and generally ignored by tourists who don’t know to look for it.

Vienna is such an incredible central European city. It’s an excellent city to combine with travel to nearby Bratislava, Prague, or Budapest, as all are well within 4 hours by train from Vienna’s city center. No matter if you’re interested in history, art, culture, food, or any other facet of travel, Vienna has something for everyone!

Interested in visiting Vienna, but don’t know where to start? Book a travel consultation with me, and I’ll help you to plan your perfect trip from start to finish! What a more detailed travel guide for Vienna? Check out my “3 Days in Vienna” travel guide and itinerary!

Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book using the link on my website, I’ll be paid a percentage of your booking fee at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog by using these links! As always, all opinions are my own, and all recommendations are based on my own personal experience.

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Arriving to Prague? Check out my guides to Hotels and Restaurants in Prague!

The Start of Your Journey at Prague Airport

When you first arrive to Prague Airport, the first logical step is checking in and dropping off your bags. If you’re departing from Terminal 2, which is the terminal for all Schengen area flights, you have the benefit of adding Private Check-In to your airport experience. In almost all cases, this is the kind of thing I would recommend skipping, but what Prague Airport offers is well worth the 999 CZK in value. With this service, you will drop your bags and travel documents at the VIP check-in desk and proceed to the Raiffeisen Bank lounge. There, you’ll have access to typical lounge amenities including drinks and snacks. While you wait, your travel documents, boarding pass, and checked-in baggage tag will be delivered to you in time for you to go through a private security screening just before your flight boards.

I have access to this lounge as a Raiffeisen Bank customer, so I was already familiar with its services even prior to this tour of Prague Airport; the lounge and amenities it offers are fantastic, especially the private security screening. Seriously, I loath having to go through “regular” security screenings at all now that I’ve lived in the lap of luxury at Prague Airport.

60% of Prague Airport’s flights department from Terminal 2, so it’s likely you’ll have the chance to use this service. If not, unfortunately there is no similar service in Terminal 1, although there is still a Raifeissen Lounge after immigration control that you can utilize.

After Check-In

While you’re lounging away at the Raiffeisen Lounge, or in the departures area, there is loads happening to get you from Prague to your destination on time and with all of your baggage. First, your baggage moves through an absolutely massive baggage sorting area to go through a security check and to be loaded onto the correct plane. Honestly, this is one piece of Prague Airport that I had never really thought about before, but I was stunned to see just how large this sorting and processing area was. Think Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, but with no chocolate and loads of suitcases. It was just never-ending belts, scanners, and x-ray machines with the occasional airport staff member moving things along.

While your baggage is moving right along, there is still the aircraft to consider. Prague Airport is a Coordinated Airport that uses the A-CDM (Airport Coordinated Decision Making) method of airport coordination. This means that all flights are scheduled into very specific time slots, and all processes regarding the arrival, turn-around, pre-departure, and take-off of flights are highly predictable based on sequencing processes. This all sounds very complicated, but in fact, it’s very logical, and it explains why a small delay can turn into a much bigger delay if a flight misses its window for take-off. Currently, Prague Airport uses one runway for all major take offs and landings, so it is crucial that all aircraft maintain tight schedules. The Command Operations Center is carefully controlling this while you stroll through the airport sipping your second cappuccino to ensure that all flights take off and land safely and efficiently.

Prague Airport does technically operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, but because of noise restrictions, its overnight flights are very limited which leads to even tighter controls of flight times during the day. One small delay can really uproot the entire system, so the room for error is limited.

In Case of Emergency

Prague Airport is well-prepared to handle any type of emergency that may occur on or off the runway. After 2001, security in the airport increased tenfold, like it did internationally. Fortunately, Prague Airport’s security is incredibly efficient, even if you’re not using the private security screening. In Terminal 1, security takes place as you enter your gate, which means each gate has its own security checkpoint. Once you pass the immigration desks, you’re free to roam security checkpoint-free until your gate opens! In Terminal 2, there is a more traditional centralized security, but the lines move at impressive speed. I still prefer my Raifeissen personal screening, because who needs to rush when you can be the only person at security?

Security concerns are not the only types of potential emergencies that airports face. Another which is less-often considered, but still vital for staff to consider, is the potential of fire somewhere at the airport, on a plane, or on a runway. Prague Airport has invested heavily into its fire brigade, and now owns 4 Panther vehicles, which are quite easily the coolest emergency vehicles I’ve ever seen. I’m a former EMT, so I’ve seen my fair share of emergency vehicles, but these really top the cake. Imagine a firetruck that needs only one person to operate the entire thing including the water and foam hoses? These vehicles (worth more than $1 million each) do just that. In fact, the Prague Airport Fire Brigade is well known to be the best fire company in the entire country, and is sometimes called to the nearby highway for large-scale emergencies- who knew!

Time for Take Off!

As I mentioned, there is just one runway for all commercial take offs and landings at Prague Airport. There is also a smaller runway for Terminal 3 where the fancy planes (ie. private charters) take off, but us regulars don’t tend to use that one too often! This runway is carefully managed, however, to prevent any kind of back-up so there really aren’t too many lines of planes waiting around to take off or circling around waiting to land.

Right now, the largest type of plane servicing Prague Airport is the Airbus A380, with Emirates Airlines running flights to and from Dubai daily. These big planes are a bit few and far between, however. You’re more likely to see standard-sized planes used to shuttle passengers from Prague Airport to transfer hubs in Europe. Every once in a while, you’ll catch a smaller charter flight- ranging from private jets to the Cessna 206 I got to take a spin in from Terminal 3!

Prague Airport is such an incredible organizational achievement. I fly internationally quite regularly almost always out of Prague Airport, and I’ve never been disappointed by the level of service provided by all staff members. Everything always seems to run very smoothly, and I find it’s one of the few airports I fly from where I have no pre-flight stress from security lines, long check-in lines, or flight delays that threaten my travel plans.

If you’re interested in seeing a back-stage look at Prague Airport, check out these guided tours! Not all stops I’ve mentioned are included in the public tour (like the Command Ops, for example), but these tours will still be an excellent way for any aviation fan to get an inside-look into one of Europe’s fastest growing airports.

This tour of Prague Airport was provided to me free of charge. As always, all opinions are honest and based on my own experiences.

Interested in visiting Prague, but don’t know where to start? Book a travel consultation with me, and I’ll help you to plan your perfect trip from A to Z!

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Where to Stay

Rome is quite a large city, so it can be overwhelming to figure out the best place to stay. I chose to stay in the Jewish Quarter of the city, which is just across the river from the famous Trastevere neighborhood, one of the more interesting in Rome.

The Hotel Monte Cenci was the perfect hotel- the staff were incredible, the rooms were clean (and air conditioned, a luxury in the summer!), and the rooftop garden was the absolute perfect place to indulge in a lovely breakfast each morning. Further, the hotel was only a few minutes’ walk from excellent restaurants in Trastevere, as well as many of Rome’s most famous attractions. The most basic room in Hotel Monte Cenci is stunning, but the fanciest room even has a private balcony from which you can enjoy a lovely glass of wine.

If you’re looking for another hotel in Rome, I recommend staying in a similar area, as it’s far less touristy (at least outwardly) than the areas surrounding some of the larger tourist attractions. This general area is an excellent base for exploring Rome without placing yourself directly in the center of the tourists overwhelming the very center of the city.

What to see in Rome:

There are a million things to see in Rome, so how could you possible know where to start? Okay, maybe not an actual million, but the list is really quite long. These are my picks for the best places to see in Rome, especially for first-timers without limitless time:

​Vatican and the Vatican Museum

One of the most-visited places in Rome isn’t even “in” Rome! You don’t need your passport to cross these international borders, however, only a good game-plan to beat the crowds. Vatican is the Pope’s city nestled within Rome sitting on top of the supposed location of St. Peter’s tomb.

The large majority of Vatican is actually closed to visitors, but the small portion that is available to visit is absolutely incredible. The Vatican Museum boasts one of the most incredible art collections in the world, including the Sistine Chapel, home of the Michelangelo’s fresco masterpiece on the ceiling. To visit the Vatican, I would recommend booking on to a tour- not only for the information, but also for the crowd-control expertise. There are thousands upon thousands of people in the museum and St. Peter’s Basilica, so having a local expert to navigate through the space is key, especially because you get the historical background as well.

I chose Context Travel for my tour of Vatican because they guarantee small tour group sizes and local expert guides. My tour of Vatican with our guide was really incredible, so while the tour ticket price may be higher than some competitors, I think that the experience Context provides is truly unparalleled.

After your tour of the museum and St. Peter’s Basilica, I encourage you to climb to the top of the Dome on the Basilica. The views from the top are the best you’ll find in the city. There’s an elevator that brings you about 2/3 of the way there, so it’s not nearly as bad as some other cathedrals in Europe.

Haven’t settled on Rome? Check out this amazing comparison between Paris and Rome from Our Escape Clause! 

Castel Sant’Angelo

The Castel Sant’Angelo was originally built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as his own mausoleum, but was later taken over by the Catholic church for use as a castle and prison beginning in the 14th century. The Castel Sant’Angelo is perfectly lovely to explore on your own, but I recommend first participating in the guided tours of the Secret Castle before exploring the rest of the public rooms on your own.

The Secret Castle tour (provided by the museum itself) gives you behind-the-scenes access to parts of the castle that you’d never normally see, plus the historical context to inform the rest of your own visit. Most importantly for me (and any The Da Vinci Code fans) is the access to the secret passage between the Castel Sant’Angelo and Vatican that the tour gives you- at least until the Vatican gates which are still shut for public access.

The Secret Castle tours are currently available daily at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm in English. You can purchase your tickets to the museum and for the tour at the same time at the ticket desk at the castle- no need to buy “skip the line” access tickets from the street hawkers, this is one of the attractions in Rome that doesn’t get the long lines you’ll see elsewhere.

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill

I group the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill together because they’re all in the same general area, and they’re generally visited together. I would argue that a visit to one is not complete without the others, as together, they present a more complete image of the life and history of Ancient Rome.

Like with the Vatican, these are some of the sites that are most-visited by tourists, and are the most overwhelming to visit independently. Because none of these sites provide particularly detailed information for the guide-free visitors, I opted to book the Roma Antica tour with Context Travel. Because of the small group size that Context offers, as well as a guaranteed expert on the topic at hand, I knew I would have a good experience visiting the most important archeological sites in Rome- and I was right! Our Context guide was clearly an expert, and with only 4 people on the tour (my mom and I plus a mother/son pair), we were able to ask all of the questions we wanted without holding anyone up. We were also able to sneak through the giant 50-person tour groups with relative ease, and with no headsets!

The Colosseum is one of the most incredible archeological sites that I’ve ever seen. It’s truly amazing to consider the events that occurred there, the number of spectators the stadium could hold, and its history during and after the fall of the Roman Empire. There are so many hidden secrets within the magnificent arches of this ancient amphitheater, it’s truly worth exploring.

The Roman Forum was the piece of Roman antiquity I was most excited to see, as it was truly the heart of life in this ancient city. There are so many incredible pieces of history throughout the Forum to explore that create a unique picture of what life may have been like.

Palatine Hill was the piece of Roman antiquity that I had very little knowledge of prior to my visit, but was the most surprised by! Many skip Palatine Hill thinking there isn’t much to see- but there’s arguably more to see in this area than high-traffic areas of Rome. It was the site of most of the imperial palaces of the Roman empire, the remains of which are still available for exploration. This is the part of the Roman archeological sites where it would truly benefit to have a guide, as many of the ruins are indistinguishable from the next until you’ve had someone explain the structure- afterwards, the history truly comes alive!

Domus Aurea

This is a little-known archeological site situated next to the Colosseum that deserves some more attention. Domus Aurea is the lavish palace of Roman Emperor Nero. The palace itself didn’t last long, because after Nero’s suicide, the Romans hoped to promptly forget about Nero and his corruption and extravagance. Much of the palace is still un-excavated, but the part that is available to visit is meant to be an unparalleled experience in Rome. Note that the site is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, so you must plan your visit around its limited hours.

Pantheon

Built in ancient Rome and completed by Hadrian, the Pantheon was built as a temple to all of the Gods (hence, the name). It’s one of the most well-preserved Roman temples, and that’s largely due to the fact that it was taken over by the Catholic church in the 7th century, and has been used since as a place of Catholic worship. The temple features extraordinary Corinthian columns and marble that give us excellent insight into how many of Rome’s other temples may have been decorated before falling into disrepair. Now, the Pantheon also holds the tombs of Raphael, the important Renaissance artist, as well as the Italian royal tombs.

The Pantheon’s audio guide is a great way to experience the temple. I recommend downloading the Official Pantheon App to use your own device as an audio guide in the space. Otherwise, you can rent an audio guide on a phone from the shop desk inside the temple.

Piazza Trilussa

Piazza Trilussa isn’t so much a site in Rome as it as a meeting point of people from all over the city and world. On summer nights, you’ll find live musicians set up in the piazza and locals sitting on the steps under the fountain enjoying the atmosphere and each others’ company. This is the perfect place to grab a bottle of wine or cup of gelato before or after dinner to soak up some local culture and relax the way that Romans do!

Where to eat in Rome:

When visiting Rome, it’s easy to think that the trip will be one excellent culinary experience after the other and that’s largely the case. Italian cuisine is some of the best in the world, but it’s important to find the local eateries rather than those geared towards tourists to have enjoyable meals.

Dar Poeta is easily one of the best pizza places I’ve ever been to, including those in Naples! It’s a tiny little restaurant in a side street in Trastevere, and is clearly a local’s spot despite some of the tourists mixed into the crowd. This may be because the prices at Dar Poeta are incredible in comparison to some of the (worse quality) pizza found around Rome- expect to spend less than €10 for dinner. The tables are packed pretty close together, but for me, that’s part of the special ambience of this low-key restaurant.

Osteria da Zi Umberto is easily one of the best restaurants I’ve eaten at- ever. It’s almost impossible to get a table without a reservation (I ended up waiting for 3 hours on my last night in Rome, worth it), so I would recommend calling ahead if you can. This is the kind of restaurant where you’ll want an antipasti, primi piatti, and secondi piatti, just to try everything. Oh, and dessert, obviously.

Ristorante Piperno is supposedly one of the longest-running restaurants in Rome, opening in 1860. It’s located right next to the Hotel Monte Cenci, which is how I initially stumbled upon it- it was a convenient option for jet-lagged travelers whose beds were right next door. Fortunately, Piperno did not disappoint! The food was really excellent, and the atmosphere was great. We were told we were lucky to get a table without a reservation, so it’s best to book ahead if you’re looking to try it out.

Terrazza Caffarelli is a café located on top of the Musei Capitolini. The restaurant itself is fine, the food is pretty good, the service is lack-luster, but the real reason to visit is the view. Even if you go only for a photo op, or to have a glass of wine, I recommend the trek to this rooftop which is generally unknown by the herds of tourists below.

As I recommend in all major cities, if one of these restaurants doesn’t strike your fancy, wander the side streets to find an alternative! Any restaurant in Rome with menus posted in 10 different languages, photos of pizza outside the restaurant, or waiters begging you to come inside won’t have good food. Look for the places like Osteria da Zi Umberto with a line of Romans out the door- those are the spots you want to wait for!

Interested in visiting Rome, but don’t know where to start? Book a travel consultation with me, and I’ll help you to plan your perfect trip from A to Z!

Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book using the link on my website, I’ll be paid a percentage of your booking fee at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog by using these links! As always, all opinions are my own, and all recommendations are based on my own personal experience. This post was not sponsored by any hotel or hotel group.

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Looking for good places to eat while you’re in Prague? Check out my Expat’s Guide to Restaurants in Prague!

Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book using the link on my website, I’ll be paid a percentage of your booking fee at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog by using these links! As always, all opinions are my own, and all recommendations are based on my own personal experience. This post was not sponsored by any hotel or hotel group.

High-End Luxury

There are many high-end hotels throughout the city of Prague, and fortunately, many don’t carry the price tags of luxury hotels in other European capitals. If you’d like to treat yourself to an indulgent hotel stay, Prague is an excellent city to visit!

BoHo Hotel Prague

The BoHo Hotel is situated right in down town Prague, only minutes away from both Náměstí Republiky and Vaclavské Náměstí (Wenceslas Square). Tucked on to a side street and unassuming from the sidewalk, I was amazed at how large and elegant the hotel is once inside. When guests arrive, they are greeted with a welcome drink at the beautiful lobby bar while their rooms are prepared. Once in their rooms, each guest is given a photo book of Prague created especially for the hotel- and guests are even provided with a city tour to learn more about the artist and photos, which decorate all of the rooms!

After a long day of exploring Prague, guests can participate in a daily Moravian wine tasting in the stunning restaurant/breakfast room, or unwind in the library. This hotel even offers a spa with a beautiful jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna for guests to use.

I was so impressed by the attention to detail throughout all of the rooms and common spaces in this hotel. It’s truly a spot to pamper yourself while enjoying a visit to Prague.

Price range:

• Off-season- €240/night in a standard room, breakfast included
• High season- €300/night in a standard room, breakfast included

Carlo IV, The Dedica Anthology Hotel

The Carlo IV Hotel is located just a few minutes from the main train station (hlavní nádraží) and Wenceslas Square in the city center of Prague. Part of the Dedica Anthology of Italian-owned hotels, it’s no surprise that this hotel drips in opulence. The lobby is outfitted with gorgeous chandeliers, and the rooms are beautiful, comfortable, and charming. The best part of this hotel, however, is its spa located in the basement of the hotel. Guests have access to a large pool with lounge areas, a steam room and sauna, and a wide range of lovely spa treatments to choose from.

Price range:

• Off-season- €150/night in a standard room, breakfast included
• High season- €185/night in a standard room, breakfast included

Mid-Range Extravagance

If luxury hotels in Prague are overwhelming to choose from, mid-range options are even more vast. It’s hard to know which hotels will provide you with what you need, with just that little bit of extra comfort, without having visited before.

Miss Sophie’s

Miss Sophie’s is located in Prague 2 in between I.P. Pavlova and Karlovo Náměstí. It’s just a short tram ride (5 minutes) away from the historic city center of Prague, and is in one of the most popular residential neighborhoods of the city. Miss Sophie’s is a small, boutique hotel that is just oozing with charm.

At Miss Sophie’s, guests are treated to simple, elegantly decorated rooms with loads of natural light. Each room is stylish and inviting, and each is slightly different which gives the hotel a very unique atmosphere. There is a lovely garden just behind reception that is available for guests to use, and the hotel has recently installed a small spa for its guests. Breakfast is served across the street at Sophie’s Hostel, which offers 24-hour reception and bar, and a lovely hot or cold breakfast selection.

Miss Sophie’s gives every impression of being a high-end hotel without the staggering price point. You’ll be treated to every comfort and convenience during your stay, I can’t imagine a better place from which to explore Prague.

Price range:

• Off-season- €80/night in a standard double room (breakfast for an additional €7)
• High season- €120/night in a standard double room (breakfast for an additional €7)

Hostel Charm

There is nothing like the experience of staying in a hostel, and Prague has an absolute wealth of hostel choices available with some of the lowest prices for a capital city in Europe. So, how do you know which one will give you bed bugs, and which one will allow you to meet the best traveling friends you could imagine? As a traveler who was stayed in many hostels over the years, I like to think that I’ve gained a knack for picking decent hostels, but it’s so hard to choose when you’ve never visited a city before.

Sophie’s Hostel

A sister property of the aforementioned Miss Sophie’s, Sophie’s Hostel is easily the most beautiful hostel I’ve ever seen. With apartments, private rooms, and dorm rooms available, Sophie’s Hostel offers everything that any type of traveler could possibly want. The private rooms and apartments are separated from the shared dormitory spaces, giving those rooms the essence of a true hotel- you really wouldn’t know that you were even in a hostel (except for the price)!

The dormitory rooms, on the other hand, are clean, safe, and well-kept with beautiful common facilities. Each bed has its own reading light, small locker near the bed, and outlet (!), as well as a larger rolling locker under the bed. Bring your own locks, and you will never need to worry about your things going missing here. Sheets are included at no additional cost- you don’t even need to unmake your bed at the end of your stay!

Breakfast for both Miss Sophie’s and Sophie’s Hostel is served in the lobby of the hostel, with both hot and cold buffet options available depending on your preferences and budget. Sophie’s Hostel guests also have access to a common kitchen, in case they would prefer to prepare their own meals.

The prices in the private rooms and apartments in high season are comparable to the double standard rooms in Miss Sophie’s in off season, so staying at Sophie’s Hostel is a great option if you’re on a budget when visiting Prague in the summer months.

Price range:

• Off-season- €10-20/night in a dorm room, depending on the size of the dorm (breakfast for an additional €7)
• High season- €20-30/night in a dorm room, depending on the size of the dorm (breakfast for an additional €7)

Sophie’s Hostel is admittedly not the cheapest hostel option in Prague. Fortunately, the same hotel group that runs Sophie’s Hostel to such a high standard has a few other properties in the city! For lower budget options, check out the Czech Inn Hostel or Sir Toby’s Hostel.

If you’re planning to visit Prague and need some help planning your trip, book a travel consultation with me! I’ll be happy to plan out your itinerary to ensure that you get the most out of this beautiful city.

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Where to stay in Athens

While many visitors coming to Athens come through on cruise ships, you may (hopefully will) be planning an overnight visit to this city. Athens really deserves several days of exploration to fully understand the rhythm of the city alongside its ancient counterpart. I’ve stayed at a few hotels throughout Athens, and by far, A for Athens has been the best. It’s located right on Monastiraki Square with views of the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Library, Mt. Lycabettus, and most other important sites of Athens from its rooftop. Suites and rooms are available with stunning views of the Acropolis, but even the most basic rooms at this hotel will have you feeling like you’re in a Greek oasis.

What to see and do in Athens

There are a million things to see in Athens, so you have plenty to keep you busy for several days! This is my list of some of the most important sites, and the best way to see them. As the opening hours of these sites change frequently, I encourage you to visit an official tourist information office at the beginning of your stay to get an updated list of opening days and hours for each site.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis of Athens is certainly a highlight of a visit to this city. Sitting squarely in the middle of the old town of the city, it’s hard to miss from almost any angle of Athens, and it’s the perfect place to start your trip. I recommend getting to the Acropolis as soon as it opens in the morning to avoid some of the crowds, otherwise you’ll have to battle your way to the top of the rock. The Acropolis is one of the few archeological sites in Athens that’s open in the morning all the way through the afternoon, so it’s good to take advantage of its early hours.

Atop the Acropolis, you will find the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Temple of Erechtheion as the most important structures. Of course, because you’re on the top of one of the tallest hills in the city, you’ll also have panoramic views over the Athens metropolis until the city seems to touch the sea.

The Ancient Agora

Upon first glance, the Ancient Agora doesn’t seem like a place worth spending too much time aside from being a nice-looking garden. I actually find the Ancient Agora to be one of the most interesting and beautiful places in Athens, but you need to spend the time exploring it. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an Agora was “a public open space used for assemblies and markets” in Ancient Greece. There were Agoras in most Greek city-states, and it can be compared to the Forums of ancient Rome.

The first stop on a visit to the Ancient Agora will likely be the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, which is now a museum. This is one of my favorite places in the Agora because, although it isn’t original, I think it’s incredible to see a structure reconstructed in such a way as to be able to imagine how the entire area would have looked and functioned. The Stoa of Attalos is a beautiful, columned building with large, open spaces that are easy to marvel at.

The other notable site of the Ancient Agora is the Temple of Hephaistos, which sits upon a hill within the Agora area. It’s incredibly well-preserved, especially compared to the Parthenon, so it’s really interesting to spend some time there to see how an ancient temple in this style would look in its (near) entirety.

The Roman Agora & Hadrian’s Library

These are two different sites, but they lie adjacent to each other and are easily visited in sequence. Rome gained control of the Greek peninsula in the 2nd century B.C. after the defeat of the Corinthians, so there are several Roman ruins to be found in Athens amongst the Ancient Greek ruins. Further, many of the Ancient Greek sites were repurposed as Roman sites which prevented the Romans from having to undergo significant construction work in Athens. For example, the Parthenon was changed from a temple dedicated to Athena to the Roman goddess, Minerva- a “rebranding” if you will!

The Roman Agora was a central meeting point for the Roman city, much the same way as the Ancient Agora was a meeting point. In the 3rd century A.D., the commercial center of Athens was transferred from the Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora and Hadrian’s Library, so these sites were the some of the most significant during the Roman period. While much smaller than their Ancient Greek counterparts, both sites are interesting and worth a visit during a trip to Athens. If not traveling there with a guide, it’s important to read the information boards, as few complete structures remain, so some imagination is important to piece together these areas today.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus

Started by the Ancient Greeks and completed by Hadrian during the Roman period, the Temple of Olympian Zeus differs in architecture from its peers across Athens. Instead of slender, elegant columns like those displayed on the Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus has thick and beautiful Corinthian columns. Most of the temple’s original 104 columns are no longer there, but 15 stunning columns remain that only hint at the temple’s original prominence.

Mount Lycabettus

The weather in Athens can make hiking sound too ambitious for some, but a hike up Mount Lycabettus, a hill standing 277 meters above sea level, is well worth the effort. This particular hill sits in the middle of the high-end neighborhood of Kolonaki, and is one of the best ways to get a bird’s eye view of the city. It’s the tallest hill in the city, so if a hike isn’t for you, you can also try the Lycabettus Cable Car. While this funicular is inside the mountain, so the ride doesn’t provide the same views that the hike would, it does cut out some of the hike up the hill so that you can enjoy the views at the top. Keep in mind, however, that Kolonaki is also located on a hill, so there is still some hill and stair climbing to get to the entrance to the cable car. Once at the top, there is a small church (St. George Church) and a look-out platform, as well as a cafe.

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum, completed in 2007 is one of the newer exhibitions in Athens, and it shows when visiting. This particular museum does an excellent job of displaying a wide range of artifacts, particularly focusing on excavation of the Acropolis, while providing detailed and interesting information that moves visitors along in a logical path. I find that this museum is reasonably easy to visit without a guide, as it’s very well laid out with plenty of English-friendly information.

The National Archeological Museum

The National Archeological Museum of Athens is another interesting museum for those interested in ancient artifacts. Within this museums, visitors will find the golden Mask of Agamemnon, a Roman adaptation of the large statue of Athena once housed in the Parthenon, amongst many other unique and interesting items from throughout Greek and Athenian history.

This museum, however, is somewhat more difficult to manage without a guide as explanations about each item are relatively scarce. Guided tours are offered by licensed guides of the museum, and I highly recommend participating in one if you’re particularly interested in these artifacts. I often visit Athens, and I always hire Andromache as a guide- not only for this museum, but also for the ancient sites of Athens. You certainly can’t go wrong visiting with Andromache, she presents the best information about Athens and its history in an incredibly interesting way! I personally find this museum to be as interesting, if not more so, than others in Athens provided you have a good guide to lead the way.

Visit Anafiotika

Anafiotika is a very small neighborhood of Athens located just underneath the Acropolis in Plaka. The architecture here may look similar to photos you’ve seen of Greek islands, like Santorini, but in fact, you haven’t left the city center! Workers from the Cycladic Islands had come to Athens to help with construction at the start of King Otto’s reign in the mid-19th century, and built a cluster of buildings resembling those on the islands from which they came.

It’s not a big neighborhood, but it is a beautiful little walk and an excellent way to escape the crowds, as almost no one knows this place exists!

Journey to the Southern Coast

A trip to Greece can’t possibly be complete without a trip to the coast. A little less than two hours south of the city is Sounio, and the Temple of Poseidon. This particular temple is my favorite (so far!) in all of Greece. It sits high on a bluff overlooking what is seemingly the end of the world, but in reality is the sparkling Aegean Sea. The Greeks built the Temple of Poseidon to placate the god Poseidon after it was decided that the Parthenon in Athens would be dedicated to the goddess Athena.

The temple itself is impressive, but the surrounding scenery is what makes it worth an entire trip outside of Athens. I recommend a late-afternoon trip to the Temple of Poseidon so that you can catch one of the most spectacular sunsets from the temple at the end of your visit- there is no better way to end a day while visiting the Greek capital! There is a public bus that goes from central Athens to Sounio, but be sure to check the schedule just before your visit in case there are any changes. Rome2Rio is a great site for checking local bus routes! In case you don’t want to catch the public bus, there are plenty of tour companies throughout Athens offering trips to this site.

Where to eat in Athens

Athens, like other international cities, is full of interesting and varied cuisines to try. Of course, Greek food in Athens is plentiful, and delicious! As in any other city, I recommend staying far away from restaurants that 1. have photos on the menu, 2. have staff outside coaxing you to come inside, and 3. have menus displayed only in languages other than Greek. You want to go where the Greeks go!

Aiolou Street, just off of Monastiraki Square, is an excellent pedestrian street full of great choices for food. If you walk around 15 minutes away from the Square through the pedestrian area, you’ll come to a part of the road that has several great options in one relative place that are clearly frequented by young locals.

• Sq. Bar is a local bar/cafe/restaurant with low-cost food and drinks in a great atmosphere. They have a ton of outdoor seating, as well as indoor seating with large windows letting in the cool Greek breeze for you to enjoy.
• Odori Vermuteria Di Atene is an Italian restaurant with excellent, fresh food.
• Harvest Coffee & Wine is a great cafe/wine bar

Aside from my suggestions, there are loads more to try in the area, so it’s worth exploring at dinner-time!

On Monastiraki Square, the A for Athens Cocktail Bar & Restaurant is an excellent choice if you’re looking for great views of Plaka and the Acropolis. This bar overlooks Monastiraki Square, and is on the rooftop of the hotel that I recommend. The food is a little pricey, but it’s very good, as are the cocktails and wine. This place gets extremely busy in the evenings, so reservations are recommended- particularly for larger groups or if you want a coveted spot on the top-most terrace for unobstructed views.

Athens is such an incredible city to visit; it’s ideal for a relaxing holiday, an action-packed trip, or a deep dive into history. The city itself has certainly been affected by the country’s recent and ongoing economic crisis, but the spirit of Athens lives on as I’m sure it has for hundreds of years. The kindness and optimism of the Greek people at large never ceases to amaze me.

If you’re interested in visiting Athens, and would like my expert advice to plan your trip, please book a travel consultation with me! I can help you plan your trip from A to Z to ensure you get those most there is to see and do in Athens.

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Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book using the link on my website, I’ll be paid a percentage of your booking fee at absolutely no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and all recommendations are based on my own personal experience.

The post A Journey to the Ancient World: Athens, Greece appeared first on Study Hard Travel Smart.

The Český Šternberk Castle

The Český Šternberk Castle (or Sternberg Castle in its original German name) is located about 45-60 minutes east of Prague in the direction of Brno. Founded in 1241, the Český Šternberk Castle was named in German based on the owner’s coat of arms (a star- Stern) and its location (a mountain- Berg). The Sternberg Castle has been held by the same family since its founding, which means that it’s now held by the 20th generation of the Sternberg family!

To visit the interiors of the castle, you’ll need to book on to a tour. Tours are available in Czech, English, German, Russian, and French, and written material can be provided in several other languages should your language not be included in this list. The tour brings you to the 2nd floor of the castle, which is situated above the living quarters of the Sternberg family. Zdeněk Sternberg, the current owner of the castle and descendent of the same Sternberg family that has owned the castle since the 13th century, still resides on the first floor. As the property is privately owned, the cost of maintaining the castle is subsidized by tourist visits to some of the historic rooms which still maintain their historic furnishings, art, and architecture.

The guides employed by the castle are excellent, and will do a good job of walking you through the rooms of the castle and explaining the history of the Sternberg family, as well as the historic context of the castle. The grand hall of the castle, the first room on the tour, speaks to the absolute regal-ness of the Sternberg family and its legacy. The Sternberg family was one of the most prominent aristocratic families in Czech history, and the remnants of their heritage can be found throughout the country. In Prague, only steps away from Prague Castle is the Šternberk Palace, which was once owned by the family but is now one of the many buildings of Prague’s national gallery. The Sternbergs were responsible for the creation of both the Czech National Museum and National Gallery, so we have much to thank them for in terms of the cultural heritage of Central Europe.

In addition to the beautiful interiors of the castle, it’s worth venturing to the Hladomorna, the south-facing bastion of the castle built in the 15th and 16th centuries. It’s now in relative ruins, but a climb to the top will give you a spectacular view over the landscape of the region.

How to visit the Český Šternberk Castle

Český Šternberk is only 57 km (35 miles) from Prague, so it’s an ideal location for a day trip outside of the city. The castle is situated on the bank of the Sazava River surrounded by hills and hiking trails, so the day trip can certainly be turned in to an overnight trip, too!

The easiest way to reach Český Šternberk is by renting a car from Prague. If you’re already in the city, check out the rental counters located at Hlavní nádraží, the main railway station. These are easy to get to from anywhere in the city center without having to trek out to the airport. The drive from Prague to Český Šternberk should take about an hour on the D1 motorway.

If renting a car isn’t feasible for you, you can also take the scenic route with a train from Prague. The way to Český Šternberk routes through Čerčany (only one change), and takes about an hour and 20 minutes. This is by far the cheapest option with train tickets costing about 115 CZK. While a little longer than driving, the train journey to central Bohemia will also give you stunning views of the Czech landscape, so it will definitely be worth it!

Once you arrive, you’ll have about a 20 minute walk along the river from the train station to get to the castle, where you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view of the castle perched on the hill from which it derives its name. Depending on the time of year, you should either call or e-mail in advance for a tour, or you’ll be able to join one throughout the day. Český Šternberk is both the name of the (small) town and castle, so if you have some time to wait before your tour, you can grab a snack at the on-site restaurant, or wander in to the town to enjoy the views by the river. For more information regarding opening hours and tours, visit the official website of the Český Šternberk Castle.

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Where to stay:

Krakow is a relatively small city, and it is easily walkable, so fortunately there are really no bad places to stay. If you’re looking to be in the heart of the old town, the Santi Hotel is an excellent historic option steeped in luxury. If this hotel isn’t quite in your price point, the Mały Kraków is a great alternative. It’s located just a couple of minutes from the Barbican gate, and it is perfectly clean and well taken care of.

If you don’t feel the need to be within the historic city walls, then I recommend spending your nights in Kazimierz! Kazimierz is the historic Jewish Quarter, so it is still packed with loads of history, but it has more local places to eat and drink. Additionally, the feel and culture of this area is vastly different from that in the historic center, so if you’re looking to avoid a touristy experience, this is the place to be. The Spatz Aparthotel is the place to stay in Kazimierz. The rooms are lovely, the location is perfect, the staff is wonderful, and the breakfast is delicious. I can’t recommend this hotel more highly! The Kazimierz district is the perfect place to stay in Krakow because it’s close walking distance to the historic center, but it’s a much more local area.

How to spend your time in Krakow:

As I recommend in many cities, Krakow is best first explored with a local guide who can point out all of the things that you’d miss otherwise. Free Walkative Tour is a great free walking tour company that operates in the city. They have a few different walking tour options, so you can pick one which best suits your interests. I recommend starting with a tour of Old Town Krakow, as this will give you great insight into the medieval history of the former capital of the Kingdom of Poland.

A stop at Wawel Hill to visit the castle and cathedral of Krakow is a must! The cathedral is the burial place of the historic royal family of Poland, amongst many other famous personalities. If you’re interested in Polish history, a tour through the cathedral with their audioguide will walk you step by step through the most important chapters in Polish history. During your visit to the cathedral, you’ll have the chance to climb into the cathedral’s bell tower, which I highly recommend. From the tower’s vantage point, you’ll have an incredible view over the historic city of Krakow. As an added bonus, there’s a statue just below the castle along the river that breathes fire by text message command, or every 5 minutes!

Once you’ve had some time to explore the historic city center of Krakow and Wawel Hill, you’ll want to make a stop in Kazimierz. Once the home of one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe due to relative religious tolerance throughout much of the city’s history, Kazimierz is an interesting neighborhood to explore. There are a couple of synagogues and cemeteries that will give you the history of the Jews in Krakow and Poland. The Old Synagogue is now a museum dedicated to the history of the Jews in Krakow, and is a cornerstone of the neighborhood. Beyond these museums and vestiges to past residents, the neighborhood of Kazimierz is now a booming cultural center of Krakow with great cafes, restaurants, bars, and nightlife. You’ll find many of the students of Krakow’s famous Jagiellonian University here in the evenings enjoying the somewhat alternative culture. While you’re there, you’ll want to try “zapiekanka”. These are a Polish take on french-bread pizzas, and are a fairly common street food in the city. Plac Nowy in Kazimierz is the best place to grab one to go. There is a small market in the square, and loads of stands with various food options, but most importantly zapiekanka. If you’re looking for some delicious Pierogies, I recommend Barfly, a lunch bar in the heart of Kazimierz.

Just across the Vistula River from Kazimierz is the former Jewish Ghetto of Krakow, made famous by films such as Schindler’s List. It was in this part of the city that the Nazis held the Jewish residents of Krakow and surrounding towns prior to their deportation from the city to various concentration and extermination camps in the region. Plac Bohaterow Getta (Ghetto Heros Square) is now a monument to those who were lost during the Second World War to the atrocities of the Third Reich and Nazi party. In this square, you’ll find chairs throughout, which symbolize the departure and absence of those who were brutally murdered.

Side note: Please do not sit on the chairs. It breaks my heart every time I see a group of tourists posing for photos on chairs which represent the death of thousands of people.

On one corner of the square, you will find the Apteka Pod Orłem, The Eagle Pharmacy, which was the one non-Jewish business allowed to operate in the ghetto. Tadeusz Pankiewicz was one of the few non-Jews allowed into the ghetto, and as a result, he served as a witness to one of the worst atrocities in human history. Not only did he serve as a witness after the war, but he worked to help the residents of the ghetto as much as possible prior to their eventual deportation without ever being caught by the Nazis. This exhibition is very well-done as an interactive look into the lives of those living in the ghetto, and the work that Tadeusz Pankiewicz did in helping those he could despite the dangers he faced.

About 10 minutes from Plac Bohaterow Getta is the former site of Oskar Schindler’s factory, which is now a museum dedicated to life in Krakow during the occupation. While I know some have been disappointed that little of the museum is actually dedicated to Schindler and the stories of those he saved, the museum itself is interesting if you want to learn more about life in Krakow during the period.

​If you’re looking to take a trip outside of the city, you should check out the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the tour brings you through an underground salt mine that includes full rooms, chapels, carvings, and statues. If you can, try to catch this one on a week day, as it’s way less fun if you visit with a ton of other tourists. I also booked a bus tour in advance for the salt mine, just because it seemed easiest to hop on a bus with a built-in guide. Keep in mind that if you want to take photos, you’ll have to purchase a photo pass (fairly common in this part of Europe), so bring some money for this. There is a restaurant in the salt mines far underground that serves some fairly good Polish specialities, like Pierogies, so you may want to budget time for lunch while you’re there.

Visiting the Auschwitz Museum and Memorial:

Many tourists come to Krakow with one intention, to visit the infamous extermination and concentration camp complex known as Auschwitz. This camp, created by the Nazis during the Second World War, is located in the town of Oświęcim about an hour outside of Krakow, and was the largest concentration and extermination camp responsible for the murder of more than 1 million people. I have personally visited the Auschwitz Memorial and Museum five times, with more visits planned as a part of my full-time job, and I have to tell you that it never gets easier to visit. I believe that visiting this memorial is incredibly important. It’s one thing to read about the atrocities of the Holocaust, it’s another to see them in person.

The Auschwitz Memorial and Museum is actually divided into two parts, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Auschwitz I was the concentration/prison portion of the camp originally created mainly for Polish political prisoners, and was not an extermination (or death) camp. Later, a gas chamber was installed and other prisoners were held there including Soviet POWs and other nationalities, but extermination was not carried out at the rate it was in the more famous Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp. Birkenau is the camp featured in many films, with a railroad track running straight into the camp with a platform where families were separated for the “selection” process. In this case, those coming off the trains were either selected for death, or selected to live in horrific and torturous conditions. When planning a trip to the museum, a visit to both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau is important. In Auschwitz I, you will find the actual exhibition and museum, which explains exactly what happened, and to whom. The exhibition is held within the former barracks, and is truly heartbreaking. In Auschwitz II-Birkenau, you will visit the barracks which held the prisoners of the extermination camp. Additionally, at the very end of the railroad tracks, you will see the remains of the destroyed gas chambers (destroyed in an attempt to destroy evidence as the camp was approached by the Soviet army) and the memorial to those who were murdered in the languages of all people who were held and killed. Both portions of the museum and memorial are powerful and worth visiting.

Tours book quickly, so I recommend making a reservation in advance. The tour of both camps takes approximately 3-3.5 hours. There are buses from Krakow which stop outside of the Auschwitz I camp, where the ticket offices are located and the tours begin. You can also book a tour from the city of Krakow which will bring you with a private bus directly to the museum. As a visit to the Auschwitz museum is a long day including the travel time from Krakow, you will find a small cafe on site, as well as restrooms. Photos are allowed throughout some parts of the museum, but are forbidden in certain areas, so please follow all photography instructions carefully and be respectful of what you’re photographing, and how.

Krakow is an absolutely incredible city to visit on its own, or in conjunction with a trip to the Auschwitz Memorial and Museum, as many visitors do. The city is one of the most historic in Poland, and is truly regal with a great deal of history, art, beautiful architecture, and amazing local culture. It’s the perfect city to visit for a long weekend, or for even a few more days if you’re interested in soaking up all there is to see.

If you’re planning to visit Krakow and need some help planning your trip, book a travel consultation with me! I’ll be happy to plan out your itinerary to ensure that you get the most out of this beautiful city.

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Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book using the link on my website, I’ll be paid a percentage of your booking fee at absolutely no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and all recommendations are based on my own personal experience.

The post A Guide to Krakow, Poland appeared first on Study Hard Travel Smart.

Where to stay in New York City: 

There’s no getting around the fact that staying in New York City is expensive, but there are some good options for various price ranges in New York. Airbnb has apartments and rooms all over New York, and offers budget travelers some great alternatives to the lack-luster hostel options available. (New to Airbnb? Use this coupon for $36 in travel credit on your first stay!)

Staying in New York isn’t so much about what type of accommodation you’re staying in, but where in the city it’s located. New York is absolutely massive, and each neighborhood has its own unique personality, so knowing a bit about the neighborhood you’re staying in is key! If you want a skyscraper, busy street, cab whizzing by experience, Midtown may be the neighborhood for you. There are certainly loads of hotels in this area, I recommend the Hampton Inn Manhattan Grand Central as a reasonably-priced option. The rooms here aren’t huge, but this hotel is in the perfect location. It’s just blocks from Grand Central station, and is also just down the street from the Chrysler Building. If you want to get to Times Square, you’re only about a 20-minute walk away as well. This hotel gives you the perfect “hustle and bustle” feel of staying in Midtown. Their rate also includes breakfast each morning, which is a bonus for saving some money throughout the day!

If you’re looking for a more historic vibe, a hotel near Wall St. is the perfect location for you! I know it may seem strange that staying on or near Wall St. isn’t both incredibly expensive and overwhelmingly high-powered, but it’s actually an incredibly unique part of the city. Wall St. is located right near the southern tip of Manhattan, and this was the first part of the city to be developed. This is the area where you find loads of cobbled streets, streets which are not in a grid, and varied architecture beyond the giant glass skyscrapers. Of course, this area is also full of loads of attractions; it’s actually one of my favorite places to stay when I’m in New York. The Holiday Inn Manhattan Financial District is a great hotel in this area. It’s within walking distance to the Freedom Tower and 9/11 Memorial, Wall St., Federal Hall, and Battery Park where the ferry leaves for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Although they don’t offer breakfast in all of the room rates, there are a bunch of great diners and delis nearby where you can easily grab a bagel or breakfast sandwich in the mornings.

If you’re okay with staying outside of Manhattan, you might want to look just over the river in Brooklyn or on the other side of Manhattan in New Jersey. Hoboken is a great little city, and has some great bars and such in its own right, but the PATH train connects right to Midtown, so you’ll have no problems getting in to the city.

Where to eat in New York City: 

It’s so hard to create an exhaustive list of the all of the “good places to eat” in New York City, so I’ll list some of my favorites (in no particular order):

1. The Harlem Public is an awesome bar in an up-and-coming area that has a killer menu and beer selection.  They have a bunch of craft brews on tap, and this is also where you’ll find the famous peanut butter burger- definitely worth a stop if you’re looking to hit up a non-touristy watering hole. They have 2 sister restaurants now, At the Wallace and The Honeywell, which each have their own unique flavor. They’re all located on the same block, so this is a great place to spend an evening bar-hopping!
2. Gallow Green at the McKittrick Hotel isn’t the typical hotel restaurant. The McKittrick isn’t in the business of renting rooms, but rather a performance art space with a restaurant/roof top bar attached. Gallow Green is lovely for a cosy winter meal and glass of wine by the fire, or for a great summer evening sitting on one of the tall rooftops in NYC. They have absolutely delicious food, too. This one is an experience not to be missed!
3. Schmackary’s is a cookie bakery on 45th and 9th that’s known for being a favorite spot for Broadway’s actors to grab an intermission or rehearsal snack. The cookies are seriously incredible, so if you’re looking for a snack near the theatre district, this is the place to go!
4. 44&X is aptly named due to it’s location on the corner of 44th street and 10th avenue. They have a great menu for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and is a great place to stop before catching a show, or just because! It’s a little on the pricey side (not exactly too high for NYC, but high in general), so it’s a good place to go for a nice evening out.
5. Ruchi is an Indian restaurant located very close to the World Trade Center. It isn’t crazy expensive, which is a nice break from the norm in NYC, so if you like Indian food, definitely check it out!
6. Kilo is an American-style tapas bar with locally sourced food, interesting menu items, and a killer wine list. It’s a great place to grab a bite to eat before a show since it’s fairly close to the theatre district. It isn’t the cheapest restaurant, but the dishes are meant to be shared so for a small dinner it definitely isn’t too bad!
7. Grom is an Italian gelato shop located at Columbus Circle, and it’s seriously incredible. They have an amazing selection of delicious ice cream, as well as homemade hot chocolate that will blow your mind!
8. Gotham West Market is a vendor-based gourmet dining space, and it’s really amazing. There are different vendors that each have different food options, but these are definitely up-scale culinary experiences presented in a fun way! This is a great spot to try something new (they have everything from a tapas bar to a ramen shop to a burger place), but will work especially well if you and your friends can’t decide on what you want to eat- there will be something for everyone!
9. Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is a great local ice cream shop with delicious homemade ice cream. The best part about this place is definitely the location- the original shop is located on a pier just under the Brooklyn Bridge with awesome views of Manhattan on the other side of the river. There’s also a boat dock right off the pier, so after your ice cream you can take a ferry boat back across the river for an extra mini-tour!
10. Grimaldi’s is a famous coal-oven pizza restaurant with excellent pizza. There’s a location right under the Brooklyn Bridge, making it a great spot to escape to if you want to get out of Manhattan. Be prepared for a bit of a line to get in, but it’s so worth it and the line moves super quick as they work pretty hard to get people in and out quickly. It’s quite the experience!
11. Cafe Grumpy is an excellent coffee shop with several locations throughout the city. In a city with a Starbucks on every corner, I find it super refreshing to grab a good cup of coffee from an independent business, and this is a great place for it- they even roast their own beans in Brooklyn! Plus, their coffee cups have grumpy faces on them, which really just makes me happy.

For some cheaper options, check out this list of cheap places to eat in NYC!

A list of honorable mentions! Looking for something different than what I’ve listed above? These are all tried and true restaurants across the city.

• The Meatball Shop
• Pommes Frites NYC
• Spot Dessert Bar
• Think Coffee
• Lure Fish Bar
• Tao Downtown
• PhD Rooftop Lounge
• Avenue
• The Rocking Horse Cafe
• Ample Hills Creamery
• Four & Twenty Blackbirds
• Joe’s Shanghai
• Bagel Bob’s

What to do: 

New York is kind of a black hole of things to do, and it’s really almost impossible to see and do everything unless you’re there for weeks. This is my list of the best and most interesting, unique things to do across New York City.

The High Line. 

This public park space is one of the most unique in the city. It’s a converted industrial rail line that’s been turned into a lush, green park sitting atop the Meat Packing District. Visiting the High Line is a great way to get a birds-eye view of the West Side, while enjoying some nice green space. The nice part is, visiting the High Line is totally free, Check out this video to learn more!

Brooklyn Bridge.

This spot tops my list because it’s one of the most iconic and beautiful things to see and do in New York City, and it’s totally free! I usually walk from the Manhattan side to the Brooklyn side, and then there are some great cafés, restaurants, and bars once you’ve crossed over to check out. If you want to continue your journey for beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, check out the Brooklyn Heights Promenade or take a ferry boat ride back across the river. The ferry leaves from the pier under the bridge, and you’ll get to see a cheap river view of the city!

Times Square. 

If you’ve not been to New York City before, you definitely need to see Times Square. It’s probably what most people think of when they think of New York City, and again, it’s (mostly) free! There are now a huge set of bleachers (for lack of a better word) above the TKTS stand, which is a great place to sit and people watch. Try not to find a place to eat at a restaurant too close to here, though, as you’ll pay triple the price for lack-luster food! Check out the list above for some decent options, some of which aren’t too far of a walk.

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Ellis Island is a really interesting piece of American history, and it’s a very cool place to visit. The building and island have been turned into a museum that takes you through the history of immigration through Ellis Island. If you have some spare time and are a bit of a history buff, it’s definitely worth checking out! The ferry that goes to Ellis Island also goes to Liberty Island (the Statue of Liberty), and the ticket price for the ferry includes admission to both attractions- this is probably the best deal you’ll get in NYC.

Take a walking tour.

New York has so much history, and so many interesting stories that you probably wouldn’t know just by walking through the streets. Free Tours by Foot offers incredible free walking tours in different neighborhoods, and I highly recommend them. I’ve been on several, and I always walk away feeling like I’ve learned something new and interesting. Make sure you book in advance, as they have limited spaces and the tours do fill up!

Federal Hall.

One of the free museums in New York, Federal Hall is the former site of the first Capitol building in the USA where George Washington took his oath of office. Now it’s run by the National Park Service, and the park rangers offer free tours of the building throughout the day. It isn’t a huge museum/monument, so you can probably count on spending 30-60 minutes here depending on whether or not you take the tour (you should!), but it’s a really cool place to visit full of loads of history. It’s located just across the street from the New York Stock Exchange, so it’s also in one of the most historic and beautiful neighborhoods of Manhattan.

Empire State Building.

The Empire State Building is arguably the most iconic building in New York, and it offers some of the best views across lower Manhattan. I like the views from the Empire State Building because you can see all of the lower tip of Manhattan, including the Freedom Tower. The only issue with visiting the Empire State Building is the time that it takes to get to the top because of the massive lines that are usually outside of it. If you’re going to visit, I encourage you to do so first thing in the morning when it opens. I made it in with the first group on my most recent visit, and it was amazing! We just walked through all of the lines and essentially had the top level mostly to ourselves while everyone else got inside.

Broadway. 

Going to see a Broadway show is one of the best things to do in New York City. Theatre has long been a staple of New York City culture, and you’ll have the opportunity to see some truly amazing pieces of theatre that you likely won’t be able to see anywhere else. If you’re a student with a valid student ID card, check out Student Rush tickets to get a good deal just for students. Some of these shows will allow you to simply buy cheaper tickets at the box office before the show, while others will require you to line up before the box office opens to purchase one of the limited student tickets they have available. Some shows also sell discounted tickets by lottery, so you just show up (usually) 2 hours prior to curtain to put your name in. Check on the previously linked site to check the policies of the show that you want to see. Try to be flexible about what you want to see and you’ll likely have better luck getting cheap seats! If you’re not a student the TKTS booth in Times Square allows you to buy same day theatre tickets for sometimes upwards of 50% off. This office sells the unsold tickets for that day’s performances, so check out the board in the morning and hop on line to see which tickets you can grab!

Central Park.

Relaxing in Central Park in the afternoon is one of the greatest joys if you’ve just spent a whole day walking around Manhattan. Being in New York City is a very exhausting experience, and spending some down time exploring Central Park is really amazing. Check out the Central Park Zoo if you want to see an attraction, or otherwise just find a bench or rock to sit on and enjoy the people watching and beautiful scenery. Please do not take one of the horse-drawn carriage rides- the horses are grossly mistreated, and tourists taking these rides only perpetuates the problems associated with this “attraction”.

Freedom Tower & 9/11 Memorial. 

The site of the 9/11 Memorial and new World Trade Center is a truly incredible place to visit. The memorial above Ground Zero is spectacular, and is definitely worth a visit. If you’re interested in learning more about 9/11, check out the September 11 Memorial Museum, which is underneath the memorial. You can book a guided tour of the museum, which is great to do if you’d like additional information about the artifacts shown, or you can go through the museum on your own. Either way, plan to book tickets in advance just to be sure that you can get them, and to avoid waiting on what can be a very long line. Also plan some extra time to go through the security checkpoint at the entrance to the museum. The Freedom Tower, has an incredible observation deck, One World Observatory, which is worth visiting, if not a little expensive. You can book tickets for a specific time in advance, which I strongly recommend as it’s quite a busy spot with the tallest view of Manhattan.

Yankee Stadium.

Whether or not you’re a baseball or a Yankee fan, seeing a Yankee game while you’re in New York is a must-do. The stadium is basically a museum to baseball history, so be sure to arrive early for your game! The food and drinks are pricey, but you can get cheap bleacher seats if you look around for them (I’ve paid $25 for a popular Yankees/Red Socks game before). If you’re not familiar with baseball, it’s very easy to follow, and it’s truly an “American” experience!

Visiting New York City is an absolutely incredible experience. Every time I go, walking around the busy streets of Manhattan seems to breath new life into me. It’s an incredible feeling to be swept up in to such a busy, fast-moving environment, and to feel that kind of energy. There are, of course, plenty of things to see and do that I haven’t mentioned, but this list will get you started if you have several days in New York to explore.

Like this post? Remember to follow on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see all of my latest content!

Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book using the link on my website, I’ll be paid a percentage of your booking fee at absolutely no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and all recommendations are based on my own personal experience.

The post New York City, USA appeared first on Study Hard Travel Smart.

Casually wanting to travel more and genuinely wanting to make travel a part of your life are two different things. If you truly want to make somewhat regular travel a part of your life, you need to make a concerted effort to prioritize it. By prioritizing travel, I don’t mean not paying bills or putting food in the fridge; I mean taking an inventory of any surplus funds that you have week to week, and not spending that money on frivolous things (Frappucino, anyone?).

This brings me to my first secret:

Budgeting like a travel CHAMP.

Every dollar/euro/pound/korun/etc. counts, and knowing exactly where you spend yours each day, week, or month will likely be an eye-opening experience for you. I’ve created a budget spreadsheet in Excel which I always keep open, and I input every single expense that I incur from a small cup of coffee to the slow cooker that I just purchased.

Because I live in the Czech Republic, but I still maintain a US bank account, I calculate everything in both currencies. If you’re living on only one currency, I’m jealous, and also, this will be much more simple for you! This spreadsheet contains formulas which automatically add each row and column so that I know how much I’ve spent each week, in addition to how much I’ve spent in individual categories (like toys for my cat). I keep a fixed expense breakdown sheet so that I don’t need to account for those automatic expenses (like rent and internet) each month- they’re already figured into the monthly budget. I also keep 5% for savings out of my monthly budget as a bit of a buffer. I hope that this will go to savings each month, but if I’ve overspent a tiny bit I don’t need to stress too much! If you’d like to start a budget spreadsheet, feel free to download and customize your own here:

Study Hard Travel Smart Budgeting Spreadsheet

Mason Jar Saving

My second secret is “Mason Jar Saving”– and yes, I really do use a mason jar (actually, two).

This sort of goes along the lines of the recent “52-week Saving Plan” that tends to circle the internet just after the New Year.  In fact, I’m trying the Czech version of that plan to save for a trip this year. If you’re unfamiliar, the plan goes something like this:

• Week 1- Put $52 into a jar
• Week 2- Put $51 into a jar
• Week 3- Put $50 into a jar

and so on. Because it isn’t practical for me to be stuffing USD into a mason jar each week, I’ve just multiplied each amount by 20 (the approximate currency exchange rate), so if you’re on a different currency it’s easy to do the same! Some versions of this plan have you starting at $1, and incrementally increasing the amount each week, but I like the decreasing version better so that I’ll have more spare cash at the notoriously expensive end of the year. If you’re anything like me, this regulation of saving is nice, and it yields a really nice result- this should give you $1,378 (or rough equivalent) by the end of the year. I do like this 52-week plan because (as you might have guessed from the aforementioned budgeting spreadsheet) I’m a rule-follower; if I make a short-term rule for myself, I’m much more likely to follow through than if I make an overarching goal. Even before this challenge came along, I already had a mason jar set up, complete with a “travel fund” label. So how did I fill it? I decided that I would both penalize and reward myself each time I worked past 5 pm Monday-Friday, or on weekends. I was taking 100 CZK away from my “spare” weekly spending money, and putting it towards future adventures (or relaxation for working so much). If you have a work schedule like mine, this will add up quickly! The money that you’ll save from either option (or both!) will go a long way, particularly if you’re traveling in a budget-friendly way.

Stretching your Budget

This all brings me to my third secret- make your money last as long as possible! There are two main techniques that I typically try to utilize: booking with budget and discount companies for my air travel and accommodation, and exploiting travel rewards as frequently as possible.

Most of the budget companies I use are listed on my Tips and Tricks page, but the highlights include RyanAir, EasyJet, HostelWorld, Booking.com, and Airbnb. It’s great to know about these budget companies, but the real trick is making their deals work for you. To find good flights, including those on RyanAir and EasyJet, I typically search Skyscanner– I always have the best luck on this site finding the lowest-priced combo of flights. When I’m looking to travel by land, I check out Rome2Rio to find all of the options I have getting from point A to point B, and then to find the least expensive option. I also try to be flexible with my travel destinations; I’ve been known to go to RyanAir’s website, look for flights from Prague (or where ever I am), and then pick the least expensive, interesting destination- hopefully somewhere I haven’t been yet. I ended up spending a wonderful weekend in Milan this way, and it worked perfectly! I knew that I wanted to go somewhere, so I let RyanAir choose for me. There is also the website Secret Flying, which combs websites and search engines finding “mistake” or super cheap airfares, and helps you book them before they’re gone. If you’re fairly open about where and when you travel, this website will be a GREAT resource. Booking.com is a great resource if you use it frequently, as you eventually earn a perpetual 10% “genius” discount that I’ve found to make hotel costs less expensive. As I get older and do less hostel travel, I find that I prefer to book hotels on Booking.com due to the convenience and prices they offer.

My favorite, and probably most lucrative, money-saving techniques are travel rewards. For accommodation, I always share my Airbnb discount code, which gives my friends and family $34 off their first trips, and in return, I get money off my next trip after they travel. It’s even better if your friends or family decide to host after signing up with your code- you’ll get even more off your next trip. If you’d like to sign up with Airbnb and get $34 off your first trip, use this link! I also take advantage of travel rewards credit cards- I’m currently using the Chase Sapphire Reserve. I like this card for several reasons: first, their 50,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first three months is an excellent bonus. $4,000 may sound like a lot, but if you put absolutely everything you buy (from coffee to groceries to travel) on the card for three months, you’ll probably be pretty close. Afterwards, you get triple rewards for any travel (including Uber, taxis, trains, etc.) and food, plus 1 to 1 points on all purchases. I’ve been able to rack up a pretty healthy point balance with just regular usage of the card, which, bonus, doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees! I use these points when I’m flying to a destination that isn’t serviced by discount airlines, and I’ve been able to pay for (essentially) entire trips this way. I’ll be going to Italy later this year, and I didn’t pay a penny for it!

In my opinion, traveling will almost always be worth the cost of airline tickets and hotels, but I also certainly appreciate that not everyone (including myself) has enough expendable cash to spend a year traveling the world carefree. I like to think that I’ve found the happy medium between working a fairly normal, 9-5 (ish) job, and traveling often enough to attempt to keep my wanderlust at bay. Utilizing the methods I’ve listed above should help you on your way towards “world traveler” status in no time! And in case you don’t know where to start planning your budget trip, I’m here to help! I offer travel consulting packages starting at $25 to help you plan and budget your travels to help you maximize your budget for ultimate travel impact- taking the hard work out of traveling smart!

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Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book using the link on my website, I’ll be paid a percentage of your booking fee at absolutely no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and all recommendations are based on my own personal experience.

The post My Secrets to Affording Travel appeared first on Study Hard Travel Smart.