Gadling

Visa-free travel by the numbers

Alex Robertson Textor — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Antarctica, Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Lebanon, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

Visa-free travel is easy travel. Procuring visas takes time, energy, and money, and is beyond debate a pain for frequent travelers. The erection of visa barriers responds to a number of factors, though it can be said without too many qualifications that the citizens of rich countries tend to have a much easier time accessing the world visa-free than do the citizens of poor countries.

The Henley Visa Restrictions Index Global Ranking 2011, excerpted in the Economist last week, was just published by Henley & Partners, an international law firm specializing in "international residence and citizenship planning." Henley & Partners divide the world into 223 countries and territories.

And who gets to travel with few visa restrictions? The best citizenships for visa-free travel belong to nationals of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, at 173 apiece. On their Nordic heels is Germany at 172 and a mess of countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom) at 171. The United States isn't too far down the list, tied in fifth place with Ireland at 169. The US comes in ahead of Switzerland (167), Canada (164), New Zealand (166), and Australia (166).

Some of the least lucky countries, according to the Henley Visa Restrictions Index survey: India (53), China (40), Iran (36), Lebanon (33), and Afghanistan (24).

[Image: Flickr | megoizzy]

Visa-free travel by the numbers originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Echternach, Luxembourg: Non-stop quirks in the Grand Duchy

Kyle Ellison — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, History, Stories, Europe, Luxembourg

I recently found myself entangled in a linguistic chess match with a L uxembourg waitress.

On a morning stroll of the cobbled avenue that comprises the city of Echternach's main thoroughfare, the sight of white foam cresting over frosty, oversized beer steins unintentionally drew me to a corner table of an outdoor café. Though a mere 90 minutes had passed since finishing my morning coffee, the lust for some local imbibing had suddenly trumped my desire to explore.

As the blonde waitress casually approached my corner table, I mentally prepared myself for the verbal jigsaw puzzle Luxembourg frequently forced me to construct. Anxiously eying her smiling young face, something about her leisurely stride tipped the scales towards going with French. I decided to strike first.

"Bonjour", I offered, my American accent completely butchering the romance of it.

"Gutentag", she shot back, her blonde curls bouncing as she took the final step.

Ugh. German Not my strong suit.

"Gutentag. Bitte ein bier" I countered. (Everyone at least learns how to ask for a beer).

"Oui, une bière" came the half-expected French reply.

She was catering to me. I was catering to her. We had danced a full circle.

Before I could internally translate my next thought, however, I was unexpectedly struck by a hailstorm of guttural syllables. Luxembourgish: a language I didn't even know existed until I had entered the country three days prior.

"Big", I sheepishly guessed, my reply in English. We had finally succumbed to our Mother tongues.

"Oui", she giggled, her blonde locks dancing off in the direction of my incoming beer.

Continue reading Echternach, Luxembourg: Non-stop quirks in the Grand Duchy

Echternach, Luxembourg: Non-stop quirks in the Grand Duchy originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mastering the culinary experience on Benelux trains

Tom Johansmeyer — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Europe, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Transportation

Hitting the rails around Europe can be a blast, and I particularly enjoyed it in the so-called "Benelux" countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg). The scenery in the Netherlands was a bit thin, but the Belgian towns were incredibly cute, and it was fun to watch the Dutch signs yield to French as we approached the Luxembourg border.

And let's face it: any alternative to air travel is a welcome one.

While the trains were a bit slow, they did offer plenty of space, and the ride was comfortable. The only downside was dining: some had a cart that was pushed around periodically, but that was the best available. In other cases, there was nothing at all.

So, if you're going to hop the train to places like Amsterdam, Bruges, Brussels and Luxembourg, you're going to want to pack your own grub. You can always pick something up at the train station, but packaged sandwiches and snacks pale in comparison to what you can accomplish with a little planning.

You can do better!

Below, you'll find tips for giving yourself a better dining experience when you ride through Benelux:

Gallery: How to assemble a meal for a Benelux train ride

Continue reading Mastering the culinary experience on Benelux trains

Mastering the culinary experience on Benelux trains originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Five ways to get the most out of your Luxembourg trip

Tom Johansmeyer — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a tiny, interesting place. It probably isn't a destination in itself for most people, but it can be a great side trip from Paris, parts of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. If you can tack a few days onto your next vacation to that part of Europe, Luxembourg is a fun spot that you'd probably never visit otherwise.

Since your time in Luxembourg is likely to be short - and dependent upon other factors in your vacation - it can help to have a few ideas in mind before you hit the ground. You want to make the most of your experience, of course, while minimizing the aggravation that can come with going from Point A to Point B. Below, you'll find five tips for making your Luxembourg visit easier and more enjoyable.

Gallery: Views of Luxembourg

Continue reading Five ways to get the most out of your Luxembourg trip

Five ways to get the most out of your Luxembourg trip originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Are you ready for a once in a lifetime cycling holiday?

Kraig Becker — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Costa Rica, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecotourism, Middle East, Luxury Travel

Pedalers Pub and Grille may sound like a place where you'd stop for some grub after a long day riding your bike, but in actually, its an adventure travel company that specializes in cycling holidays to some of the best destinations on the planet. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the company has just announced a new tour that will take riders on an eight month, six continent odyssey that will truly be a once in a lifetime experience.

The trip will begin with a "get acquainted" ride through Vermont, which will give everyone who signs up for the tour a chance to get to know one another before the real excitement begins. That shakedown cruise will also give travelers an opportunity to work out the bugs of the trip, such as learning what to carry with them on their daily rides, how to pack and unpack the bikes, and how to endure the rigors of the open road.

From there, the route will take cyclists across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, and Central America, before eventually returning to the United States. In all, they will ride will through nearly 30 countries, including Ireland, France, Italy, Egypt, Kenya, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Peru, Costa Rica, and more. They'll average anywhere form 45-60 miles (80-100km) per day on mostly paved roads with the occasional dirt track as well.

The Once In A Lifetime Tour won't get underway until June of 2012, which gives you plenty of time to save your pennies. With a price tag of $95,000 the trip doesn't come cheap, but that price does include all accommodations, most meals, all transportation costs, guides, tours, and even a custom built bike.

If you happen to have $100k and 8 months of free time coming your way, you may want to consider joining this trip. If nothing else, it sure seems like it'll live up to its name and truly be a once in a lifetime experience.

[Photo credit: Pedalers Pub and Grille]

Are you ready for a once in a lifetime cycling holiday? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top 20 travel destinations - The 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report

Justin Delaney — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, Chad, Singapore, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, News, Consumer Activism, Hong Kong

Every couple of years, the World Economic Forum crunches a bunch of numbers and releases a list of the top countries in the world to visit. While ranking 139 countries, they measure aspects such as pricing, culture, environmental protection, safety, and infrastructure. For the 2011 report, Switzerland remained at the number one spot - the returning champion from the last report in 2009. Nine out of the bottom ten countries are located in Africa, and seven out of the top ten are located in Europe. Chad ranked in at 139 out of 139. Italy, one of the most visited countries in the world, placed 27th. For the full list, download the PDF at the World Economic Forum website under the 'reports' tab.

20. Norway
19. New Zealand
18. Portugal
17. Finland
16. Denmark
15. Luxembourg
14. Netherlands
13. Australia
12. Hong Kong
11. Iceland
10. Singapore

Continue reading Top 20 travel destinations - The 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report

Top 20 travel destinations - The 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps

Alex Robertson Textor — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Cyprus, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City

Creative new use for border crossing posts at German/Austrian border.

In the late 1980s, an American spending a summer traveling across Europe with a Eurailpass would see his or her passport stamped possibly dozens of times. With a few exceptions, every time a border was crossed, an immigration agent would pop his or her head into a train compartment, look at everyone's passports, in most cases stamp them, and move on. Every Eastern Bloc country required visas, some of which could be obtained at the border and others of which had to be applied for in advance.

Today, an American can enter the Schengen zone in Helsinki, fly to Oslo and then on to Amsterdam, proceed by train through Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, then by bus to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and then by ferry back to Helsinki before catching a flight to Athens and landing in Greece without once needing to submit a passport to a border guard's scrutiny.

The development of the Schengen agreement across Europe has altered the geopolitical map of the continent in many ways. For tourists, the development of the Schengen zone has simplified travel by drastically reducing the number of times a passport can be checked and stamped as national borders are crossed.

The Schengen Agreement is named after the town of Schengen in Luxembourg. It was here in 1985 that five countries-Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, West Germany, and France-signed an agreement to essentially create borderless travel between them. A model for this agreement had been created years before by the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), which eliminated border controls back in 1948. The Nordic countries also did away with internal border posts, in 1958.

In 1995, the five original Schengen countries plus Portugal and Spain inaugurated the zone. In 1997, Austria and Italy joined. Greece followed in 2000 and the five Nordic countries joined in 2001. In late 2007, nine more countries joined the Schengen zone; most recently, Switzerland signed up in 2008.

Continue reading Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps

Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Why Luxembourg matters

Andrew Evans — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Europe, Andorra, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Vatican City

Europe has lots of tiny countries. The rest of the world reminds itself of this fact periodically, almost as a running joke. How Vatican City is the smallest "independent" state, but (come on people), is it really a country? Andorra sounds charming, too, until you go there and discover it's only the European Union's largest outlet mall. Likewise, Monaco's just a casino with a racecar track, and Liechtenstein's a drive-thru bank for dodgy Russians with Austrian passports.

Despite the less-romantic realities of present-day Europe, we travelers still get a kick out of these nifty, little hold-out principalities and monarchies. Somehow, they've prevailed in the tempest of European history, avoiding absorption into their larger neighbors all the way into the 21st century when we can ironically celebrate quirky existential nationhoods in the face of supranationalist sentiments.

I first visited Luxembourg on a whim--hopped a train in Brussels and three hours later, stepped off somewhere deep in the Ardennes. I was young, brave, and poor and it was late at night. I walked away from the one-room station in Arlon and disappeared into the forest, bumbling in the woods until the sounds of passing cars disappeared. When I found a comfortable spot, I pushed away the pine needles and lay down on the cold ground, using my lumpy canvas backpack as a pillow.

Continue reading Why Luxembourg matters

Why Luxembourg matters originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hitchhiker's Requiem

Andrew Evans — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Stories, Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Zimbabwe, Russian Federation, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand

My father taught me to never, ever hitchhike because I would die. He illustrated the point with dinner table horror stories starring chopped up teenage bodies strewn along the highway and acid-crazed madmen speeding across America at 120 mph: "Those are the kind of people who pick up hitchhikers."

I followed his advice until I turned 18, which--in this country--is the legal age to stop following your parents' advice. I don't remember my first time, though. I was probably in Europe and it just happened--I stuck out my thumb and got a free ride. It was so easy and I was so hooked. Others chased drugs and girls but I chased cars. Free travel is addictive.

I started small and safe, catching lifts with blonde families in minivans in the Benelux. I branched out and grew bolder in places like Sardinia, Poland, and the Sahara--I shrugged, pointed and thumbed my way across the map. I crossed foreign borders in the backseats of strangers, I rode shotgun in diesel-farting trucks and talked my way onto fishing boats that ferried me between islands. Once, when stranded up in the English Cotswolds, I managed to flag down enough cars to carry myself and ten grad school friends all the way home. I became a legend among my worrywart peers.

I devised a "hitch rate" for countries--the average number of cars that passed by before I got a lift. France has a better hitch rate than Spain, Spain better than Italy, Italian Switzerland worse than German Switzerland. Russians always pick up, as long as you have cash. Scandinavia is surprisingly good. The smaller the island, the better the hitching--unless it's a British colony. And then there's stuck-up bourgeois countries like Slovenia, where I waited 2 hours and walked over 10 miles before getting a lift from a bleach-blonde Austrian man who had crossed the border to buy a vacuum cleaner.

It wasn't always movie montage bliss. I've had my fair share of scares:

Continue reading Hitchhiker's Requiem

Hitchhiker's Requiem originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

Kraig Becker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Europe, Oceania, South America, Botswana, Israel, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Ecotourism

The Adventure Tourism Development Index is a study put together by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, in conjunction with George Washington University and Xola Consulting. The joint effort examines 192 countries and ranks them based on their commitment to sustainable adventure tourism, as well as a number of other factors that influence their ability to host an adventure travel market and offer unique experience to travelers.

The ATDI uses what it calls the "10 Pillars of Adventure Tourism Market Competitiveness" to determine its rankings. Those pillars include Sustainable Development Policy, Safety and Security, Tourism Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Adventure Activity Resources, Entrepreneurship, Humanitarian, Health, and Image.

The study used a combination of surveys, gathered from top adventure travel specialists from around the planet, and quantifiable data from each of the countries to establish a list of the top adventure destinations in both the developed and developing world.

The results of the research are quite interesting, offering up some destinations that might not have seemed like viable options in the past. The top ten developing countries are as follows:

1. Slovak Republic
2. Israel
3. Czech Republic
4. Estonia
5. Slovenia
6. Chile
7. Bulgaria
8. Latvia
9. Botswana
10. Lithuania

And the top ten developed countries are:

Continue reading Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bargain Europe: Camping Across The Continent

Kraig Becker — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Camping, Budget Travel

In these economic times we're all looking to find ways to save a little cash without giving up our travels. Airfares are more affordable than they have been in a long time, which means that we can at least afford to get to the places we want to visit. But what happens once we get there? Are there any affordable places to stay?

Most travelers making their way across the pond to Europe tend to stay in nice hotels. Some, looking to go on the cheap, will stay in hostels along the way. But the Times Online has another suggestion, one that often goes overlooked. They recommend frugal travelers consider camping their way across the continent.

In their first article on the subject, they recommend the best place to camp in Paris. Yep, that's right, camping in Paris itself, within sight of the Eiffel Tower, on a small river island on the Seine, at a place called Paris Camping International. The place offers a quiet escape from the sights and sounds of the City of Lights, but is just minutes from the chic cafes and art houses that Paris is famous for.

And if that wasn't enough, the Times followed up that story with a list of the 20 coolest campsites across the rest of Europe. The list has suggestions for Portugal, Spain, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, and more. The camp sites offer some amazing scenery, with backdrops ranging from the Swiss Alps to the Mediterranean Sea, and they are all rich in charm, but short on expense.

Looking for a bargain trip to Europe this year? Perhaps you should pack a tent when you go and take advantage of these unique places to camp.

Bargain Europe: Camping Across The Continent originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

I.M. Pei's Genius Created a New Art Museum in Luxembourg

Jamie Rhein — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:41:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Europe, Luxembourg

Years ago I flew into Luxembourg to begin a summer train travel/backpacking trip through Europe. Back then it was possible to get cheap stand-by flights to Luxembourg from New York City. Fresh out of college with a BA in sociology, cheap was the only way to go to Europe. We stayed in Clervaux for the night before heading out to Amsterdam and points beyond. I remember Luxembourg as being lovely and worth a longer stay if we weren't hell-bent on seeing as many places as our Eurorail Pass would take us in two months.

I've just come across a reason to head back there. The Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean (MUDAM) just opened July 2006. The museum designed by architect I.M. Pei is an architectural masterpiece. It's interesting to read the museum's website just to learn about the concepts (PDF file) behind the building. I have to warn you. The website feels like a visit into a modern abstract painting. It's worth the trip, but be prepared for some fishing. I'm starting you off with the links page. The art collection is an eclectic mix of works by modern artists from around the world. You can access this by going to the link "collection."

An aspect of this museum that appeals to me is "Be the Artist's Guest" which incorporates artists' paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs into areas that are not just traditional exhibit spaces. The café, reception areas and auditorium have the artists' works as a way to engage the viewer. I think the artists whose works are featured in this manner may be part of the changing exhibits, but I'm not sure.

I.M. Pei's Genius Created a New Art Museum in Luxembourg originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments