Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/245179
EUROPE What Type of Traveller Are You? BEACH BuM Where there's sun and sand, there's you: the French riviera, Greece, portugal's Algarve region. You'll rent a cabana and stake a spot on the beach for days or weeks at a time. urBAN soPHistiCAtE You're on a beeline to Europe's culture capitals: paris, London, rome, Berlin. You'll take in an opera, buy next season's stilettos on the trendiest shopping streets and scene it up in local cafés – all while dressed to the nines. GourMAND You want to devour it all. You'll seek out the best eats in cities like paris, Madrid and Vienna, but also travel to spots like San Sebastián, on Spain's north coast, or Tuscany, Italy, to take cooking classes. AutHENtiCity sEEKEr You immerse yourself in other cultures. You'll settle down for an embedded stay in, say, reykjavík, Iceland, or head for other areas that are off the main tourist track: for example, Ireland's north coast instead of Dublin. suPEr-sAVEr You're doing it on a shoestring. You'll seek out destinations that have a reputation for affordable – preferably sub-$100-a-day – living, like Lisbon, portugal. You might even book overnight transport to skimp on accommodation costs. julian elliott/robert harding p16_25_TravellerTypes.indd 17 Getting Around Europe Four ways to travel between countries BY JANET GYENES History Buff You go to places with big stories to tell. And in Europe, that's pretty much everywhere. You can trace the path of two World Wars; stand on the soil of Napoleon's birthplace; gaze at roman ruins – you're spoiled for choice. outDoor ADVENturEr You steer clear of bustling boulevards in favour of natural and rural wonders. And you're into active sightseeing, whether it's cycling among lavender fields in provence or skiing in Austria's mountainous Tirol region. Arts AND ArCHitECturE AfiCioNADo You'll visit the landmark galleries – the Louvre, the Tates, the Van Gogh – and well-known architectural landmarks like Gaudí's Sagrada Família in Barcelona – but also places with edgier art cultures, like Antwerp, Belgium, and Glasgow, Scotland. No-fuss-No-MussEr You want to tick Europe's big sights off your bucket list, but you'd like someone else to do the heavy lifting. So it's travel agents and package tours all the way. You're on vacation, after all. W iPad and online readers: Still not sure of your type? Take the quiz! WiNG YOUr WAY Despite fuel surcharges and airport taxes, no-frills flying is still an efficient and affordable choice for time- and cash-strapped travellers. But do your homework: budget-priced carriers such as easyJet (UK), Transavia (France), RyanAir (Ireland) and Airberlin (Germany) often fly between lesser-known hubs. Case in point: on flights to Barcelona, RyanAir flies to Girona airport, 75 km from the city. Plus, budget airlines levy fees on everything: checked baggage, extra carry-ons, food, assigned seating, boarding passes printed at the check-in desk, credit card usage and possibly more. ride THe rAiLS Train travel allows you to save euros and skip airport hassles, and can be almost as quick as flying in some cases. Planning to travel frequently or to multiple countries? Consider a rail pass that allows unlimited travel within a set period of time: Eurail covers 28 countries in various regional combinations; BritRail covers most of the U.K. Alternatively, you can book train travel on a one-off basis. Just remember: early booking, for example through AMA Travel, often nets discounts. CrUiSe BY COACH Bus travel can save you a bundle, with few limits on what cities or countries you can visit. Coach passes can cost 30 to 50 per cent less than a comparable rail pass. Add to that plenty of options such as long-haul routes (Eurolines), point-topoint trips (Megabus) and flexible or pre-set loops (Busabout), plus generous luggage allowances, Wi-Fi, A/C and toilets. Bring snacks and reading material and arrive early to snag a good seat. HiT THe rOAd Renting a car is the answer to avoiding tour groups and getting off the beaten path. Picking up a rental in one city and returning it to another within the same country usually doesn't cost extra, but a premiumlocation fee may be charged, depending on where you pick it up (airports, usually around $10 a day; train or hotel, $3 a day). Inter-country (one-way rentals) will put a larger dent in your wallet. The one-way fee for renting a car in Amsterdam and dropping it off in Zagreb, for instance, is about $200. save up to 10% at Hertz. AMARewards.ca Also, apply for an international Driving Permit with AMA. ama.ab.ca S p r i n g 2 0 14 | W e s t W o r l d a l b e r ta 17 14-01-10 3:41 PM