We are now offering a new resource to help you plan
your European vacations. It is a travel guide titled
A Weekend
Warrior’s Guide To Vacationing In Europe.
The following comments from the author will give
you an understanding of the contents of this new
book and you will get a taste for its focus and
direction.
ABOUT THE
BOOK: Thoughts from the author
Perhaps you have
often thought about a trip to Europe but aren’t
thrilled by the idea of following some package plan
from a travel agency, much less going on
a tour that would leave you with that “If It’s
Tuesday, It Must be Belgium” feeling. You may
have already been to Europe and followed suggested
itineraries from guide books of where to go, what to
do, where to stay, where to eat, etc. etc. and quite
frankly, you found the experience a bit “touristy.”
Then this book is for you.
Hangin out with Italian
good old boys in Pollino, Sicily. Not even
touristy.
I go on vacation
to rest and relax. I don’t go on a trip to stress
and tire myself out. Like you, when I return to
work, I need to be refreshed and ready to go. I also
go to meet new people, see historical sights, and
experience a different culture. In my book, I
outline a plan that enables you to create your own
schedule and be confident that your trip will go off
as smoothly as possible. You can do all of this
without breaking the bank.
Weekend
warriors are not wealthy by definition. Otherwise,
we could afford to spend months pursuing our hobbies
and interests. I am not wealthy, not married to
wealth, not inheriting any wealth, in fact, I’ve had
two gypsies that have read my palm and have
pronounced “You will never be wealthy.” By
profession, I am a public school teacher – I’m never
going to get wealthy there either! Yet, I manage to
take my vacations in Europe. I have done so
and will continue to do so. Although I have taught
at an international school, there is still so much
to see and I will continue to travel to Europe.
So how can I
afford these annual vacations? The first answer is
to commit early. The book is divided into three
major sections; Before, During, and After.
In the Before phase, I always commit to a
trip as soon as the last trip is completed. No
later than 6 months before the scheduled departure
date, I shop around and buy my flight tickets. I
then begin to search for accommodations. I have yet
to stay in a hotel and I most certainly will not
stay in a hostel. Simply stated: I like my
comforts; privacy being chief among them and while I
don’t like to pay too much, I find “budget” to be
something I don’t want on my vacation. In my book
you will learn the secret of avoiding hotels and
hostels, while staying in clean, quiet, and quaint
accommodations.
One of
my strategies, for example, is to look for
apartments that are located in residential areas
away from the main tourist areas. In this way, I
get to see the locals, shop with the locals, and get
a feel for local culture.
In the During
phase I always eat well, except for the time I
ate across the street from the Vatican
Museum. That time I violated one of my rules and had
a bad meal with lousy service. To avoid this
situation, I adhere to a
strategy I’ve adopted as a fly fisherman; the
best fishing is at least a 20 minute walk
from where the crowd can be found. I use this
same approach when eating abroad- I walk away from
the tourist areas to find an eatery frequented by
the locals, with good food and prices.
The
After phase of your vacation is a critical
component often overlooked by travelers. I
always get a flight schedule that has me arriving at
home in the afternoon. I make sure to hit the
gym and get in a light workout. I’ll take a sleep
aid to ensure I sleep soundly that night and set my
alarm for a normal wakeup. These routines and
others that I follow minimize jet lag and other long distance travel annoyances.
By
following my suggestions and methods, you will be able to
take that “trip of a lifetime” and enjoy yourself
while you are there. Although, I assure you that
once you have traveled there, you will, like the
majority of visitors to Europe, return for another
visit.
The Book: 304
pages, 31 chapters, 84 Big Ideas to help you plan
the trip of a lifetime.
READ CONTENTS
Happy Travels,
Israel
Espinoza
P.S. To
contact me with your travel questions and/or join
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