Best time to visit Europe – A beginner’s travel guide

Best time to visit Europe – A beginner’s travel guide

If travel works for you as a means of recharge from the hustle and bustle of daily life, you aren’t alone. Research suggests that traveling entails several benefits, including stress relief and increased happiness. Over the years, Europe has become a trendy tourist destination for international travel. However, knowing when to visit this diverse continent can help you enjoy your vacation to the fullest. Look at the best times of the year to visit Europe.

Summer
Summer is when most European countries experience pleasant weather, allowing tourists to explore various tourist attractions and engage in fun outdoor activities. Moreover, most tourist spots are open to visitors during this season. Tourists flock to countries like France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Germany during summers when these cities are typically bustling with activity.

Christmas time
Christmas is synonymous with merriment and cheer, and several parts of Europe reflect the season’s spirits through their decor and vibes. Retro European markets are illuminated by sparkling Christmas lights and offer tourists some of the most delightful souvenirs. Some of the best places to visit in Europe during Christmas are Budapest, Hungary; Basel, Switzerland; Brussels, Belgium; Vienna, Austria; Zagreb, Croatia; and Dresden, Germany.

Spring (March to May)
Many poets and writers describe spring as the time of blooms and blossoms – a welcome change following the harsh winter months. It is also among the best times to visit certain European cities and towns, including Stavanger in Norway, Dublin in Ireland, Montreux in Switzerland, and Porto in Portugal. Other popular tourist destinations to check out during spring include the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and Italy.

During carnivals and festivals
Europe is known for its vibrant festivals and carnivals when cities and towns come alive fervently. Visiting some European cities and towns during these festive seasons can help tourists partake in indigenous cultural activities and interact with the locals. It also provides considerable knowledge of sociocultural practices and customs in various European regions. Some popular music festivals in Europe include the Glastonbury festival, celebrated in June in Pilton, England; Tomorrowland, held in July in Belgium; Primavera Sound, organized in Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona, during May end or the beginning of June; and the Amsterdam Music Festival (AMF) held in mid-October in Amsterdam. The annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France; Pizzafest in Naples, Italy; Maslenitsa in Eastern Europe; and La Tomatina festival in Buñol, Spain, are some other European festivals one must attend.

Traveling to Europe can be an enriching experience, especially concerning the time of visit. Every European country is different and has its own timeless charm. Therefore, planning a detailed itinerary and running your trip through a seasoned travel agency can help you reap the benefits of a memorable, one-of-a-kind travel experience.

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5 amazing hacks to book flights for cheap

Airfare is generally the most expensive part of a trip. If you’ve tried booking a flight before, you realize how frustrating it is to see the fare rise every time you search for the same flight. Airlines are trying their best to pull money out of our pockets, so we’ve to become smarter too. Here’s how you can find the cheapest flight possible:Go incognitoHave you noticed a fare hike after searching for the same flight a few times? This is not exactly happening because your flight is in demand. While the exact technical details about how this happens are uncertain, experts say that your browser cookies are to blame. So, it’s always recommended to search for and book a flight in your browser’s incognito mode. The incognito window resets your cookies each time you open it and can help you find a flight at a lower price. Having said that, it is still best to avoid searching for the same flight multiple times.The search engine mattersUsing the right search engine is very important to find the cheapest flight to your destination. Although there’s no single flight search engine that can help you get great deals, Skyscanner, Momondo, and Google Flights are the three favorite search engines among travelers right now. That being said, there’s never a guarantee that they are showing you the lowest prices, so you should check out a couple of other websites before booking.Pick the cheapest day to flyYou might have heard people saying that you can save money by flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but it’s not a consistent truth, and there is no “cheapest day of the week” to fly out. Instead, if you want to get an idea of which day(s) can be the least expensive to fly, you must get a quick visual of prices for a whole month. Flight search engines like Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, and Google Flights offer tools that can help you identify the cheapest days or months to fly to a particular destination.Choose a budget airlineFlying via budget airlines is a great way to get a really cheap flight. Budget airlines mostly offer significantly lower rates than bigger airlines, but this comes with compromises like less legroom and no free food or drinks and movies. If you’re ready to lose these luxuries to get a cheap flight, budget airlines are an ideal option for you. A word of caution: always read the fine print before booking, and check the location of the airport where the flight lands, as some budget airline flights land on airports further out of town.Subscribes to airlines’ newsletterSometimes, you can find the best deals directly on the airlines' websites. You can access these deals by subscribing to their newsletter and receive promo codes and special offers that help you book a flight for cheap. If you sign up for the newsletters of multiple airlines, you can create a separate email ID or use filters that automatically move emails to a specific folder so that you find them easily.

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Best time to explore top attractions in North America

Although you can plan to visit certain destinations in North America throughout the year, certain attractions are best enjoyed during specific seasons. While spontaneous trips to the continent might work out for some, many tourists may not enjoy their vacation due to extreme weather conditions or other hurdles. If you are planning to visit any North American countries, here are the top attractions and the best time to visit them: November to March: Aurora borealis in the Yukon, Canada The best time to see the Aurora Borealis in the Yukon, Canada, is during the winter. This is a year-round phenomenon, but the skies are too bright to see the lights. Between November and March, the skies are clear and at their darkest, making the lights more vivid to the human eye. While the ideal time to see these lights is between 10 pm to 2 am, consider confirming the duration with a guide. March to November: Whale watching in Maui, Hawaii If you love the open seas and whales, Maui in Hawaii is a great place to visit on your next trip. Consider planning your trip between March and November, as this is when the whales migrate south for the winter. You can sign up for activities and packages that include whale watching or underwater photo safaris. March to May: Bear spotting at Yellowstone National Park You can also choose from various tourist attractions in the country, including spotting bears as they emerge after hibernation at Yellowstone National Park. The region is inhabited by black bears and grizzly bears who might lurk around in spring during March, April, and May, before going right back to hibernating throughout the winter. Winter months: Hike at the Grand Canyon, USA If you are planning a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon, avoid scheduling it in July and August because of extremely high temperatures. The winter months are much more suitable, and the region has fewer tourists. You should also consider trekking with a group led by a trained professional. Festival season in Mexico There is nothing like visiting a country to experience its biggest festivals. Around the end of July, you can enjoy the Guelaguetza festival, celebrating folk music and dance. If you are around during the Christmas season, you could check out Oaxaca City’s yearly radish-carving competition, known as Noche de Los Rabanos (Night of the Radishes). February to April: Visit Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland Grenland receives thick snowfall for most of the year. However, you can find plenty of things to do there, like celebrating New Year overlooking the ice fjord. The ideal months to make this visit are between February to late April. You can also enjoy ice fishing and other sledding activities during your stay.

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