| Whether traveling alone, in a group or on a tour, | | | | easily, book a hotel near the train station. If you stay |
| there are some things I suggest that Seniors should | | | | outside the city where there's good connections |
| do to ease their way across Europe, or pretty much | | | | downtown for day trips, you'll usually find it much |
| wherever they may be going. Based on experience | | | | cheaper, it will be quieter, bigger rooms, and with |
| they can help you have a much more enjoyable | | | | fewer stairs. If you are up to it, try staying at |
| trip.Forget the suitcases. Bring a backpack, preferably | | | | hostels, every city tourist center will have a list of |
| a 9" x 22" x 14" with wheels so you can pull it along | | | | them. If I'm on a trip longer than two weeks, I will |
| behind you when you tire of packing it on your back. | | | | definitely find a nice spot and just laze around for |
| Be sure to include a short bungee cord so you can | | | | two to four days and get rested up.Don't forget to |
| attach a smaller bag on top. Pack light, you will have | | | | ask for Seniors' discounts everywhere possible. This |
| an extra spring in your step if you do. Two tops, a | | | | is particularly true at any kind of museum, some |
| pair of good lightweight pants (depending on the time | | | | concert halls, railways, airlines, bus lines, ferry and |
| of year), good walking shoes that are well broken in, | | | | shipping lines. If you've got gray or white hair - flaunt |
| a couple of changes of underwear and socks and | | | | it! It may save you a bundle on a two or three week |
| that should be all you need in your pack.Consider | | | | trip. Most places have a discount policy in place, but |
| traveling in the shoulder seasons (April, May, | | | | YOU HAVE TO ASK. By the way, don't be put off |
| September and October) when Europe is not so | | | | by the term they use in the UK. They call it a |
| busy. The most fatiguing aspects of European travel | | | | "concession", but like a rose, it's just as sweet by |
| are the crowds and for most North Americans, the | | | | any name and they are actually quite generous with |
| heat. Easter Weekend for example is an excellent | | | | it in the UK. Some few places will even let you in |
| time to visit Holland; the Keukenhoff Gardens are in | | | | free and you can't beat a hundred percent reduction, |
| full bloom, a sight not to be missed. In the fall there | | | | call it what you will.Get a micro-cassette recorder and |
| are more harvest festivals than you could ever hope | | | | use it to make brief notes on what you see and |
| to get to. You'll find the locals generally have more | | | | experience. Later you can transfer the notes to your |
| time to spend with you on the off season. | | | | journal for your grandkids to read, assuming you've |
| Whenever you go to Europe, be sure to get to | | | | been behaving on your trip! If you want to bring a |
| meet the locals, they are what you will remember | | | | camera, make sure you know how to use it properly, |
| for years to come, not some dusty museum.If you | | | | well before leaving. Buying it at the airport prior to |
| are flying direct, and taking a suitcase of any size, | | | | departure doesn't work. You'll spend more time trying |
| consider checking your bag in with the airline because | | | | to get it to work than you will enjoying the scenery. |
| it can become a real drag towing it along all over the | | | | Ask anyone who has traveled a lot; they have all |
| airport. If you are a little slow walking, ask the airline | | | | seen this happen time and again. Spend all that |
| or flight attendant to arrange transport to make sure | | | | money to tour Spain or wherever, and then spend |
| you get your flight.When arranging accommodation in | | | | half your trip battling with your camera, or video |
| advance and stairs are a problem, be sure to ask for | | | | recorder.These have been just a few tips that really |
| a ground floor room. And you might give this some | | | | only make common sense, but you may not have |
| consideration: different areas and different types of | | | | thought of them, and if they help you enjoy your |
| accommodation offer varying advantages and | | | | trip a little more, then this article has been worthwhile. |
| disadvantages. If you have a heavy suitcase, or tire | | | | |