All around Europe in late November and early December Christmas markets will start to open. These provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy the festive spirit, as well as drink delicious mulled wine, eat tasty food, and buy seasonal items. Here are top Christmas markets in Europe that you should visit to enjoy the festive spirit.

Note that if you plan to visit any of these markets, due to Coronavirus you should check official tourism and event websites to confirm the market will be open this year.

1. Vienna, Austria

Vienna has heaps of Christmas Markets all over the city. A couple of the biggest are at Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn, Belvedere and Resselpark. At these markets, you’ll find tasty Glühwein (Mulled wine), delicious sweets and beautiful gifts. Some of these markets, such as the one at Resselpark have rides and other activities which are perfect for the kids.

2. Munich, Germany

The main Christmas market in Munich can be found at Marienplatz, directly in front of the Neues Rathaus (Town Hall). You will also find stalls along Neuhauser Straße, Kaufingerstraße, as well as lots of other places around the city.

3. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague Old Town Square is the location of their biggest market. It’s located between the Old Town Hall and Church of Our Lady before Týn. Here you’ll find stalls, an incredible tree and the perfect festive atmosphere. A nice touch at the market is a special music and light ceremony on the Christmas tree, which was often repeated throughout the night.

4. London, UK

London’s Hyde Park hosts Winter Wonderland, which is something like a giant modern theme park. Complete with rides, endless places to eat and shop, as well as bars and live music. Some of the special things they have on offer is ice skating, a giant Ferris wheel, a circus and the Ice Kingdom. You may need to pre-book tickets for those attractions.

Across London you can find other places to enjoy the festivities, such as along Southbank near the London Eye, at Somerset house where they have Ice skating, and at Leicester Square where you’ll find rides and other festivities. There are also lots of festive lights to enjoy in London such as along major streets including Oxford Street and Regent Street and other spots around the city.

5. Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg’s market can be found in the Old Town at Residenzplatz, Mozartplatz and Domplatz (various squares in the city). The decorations are beautiful and glow against the wonderful Austrian architecture and famous Salzburger Dom Cathedral.

6. Bratislava, Slovakia

At Hlavné Námestie at the centre of Bratislava’s Old Town is the main Christmas market. Here you can wander around the various stalls or gather at the tables and enjoy the tasty food on offer. For those wanting a view such as below, head up the Old Town Hall Tower. At Hviezdoslavovo námestie is another market where you’ll find an Ice Skating rink and more stalls offering food, gifts and a festive atmosphere.

7. Dresden, Germany

For a huge Christmas Market head to Dresden, where you’ll find this one located on Altmarkt, one of the cities oldest squares. Enjoy some traditional punch, German sausage or other tasty snacks before exploring the many market stalls. For the kids there is a Ferris wheel and carousel, and if you wanted to get some high views of the market climb up Kreuzkirche. Also close by is Frauenkirche, which is one of the cities most famous churches and where you’ll find lots more stalls, decorations and a joyful ambience.

8. Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn in Estonia is magical at Christmas with cobbled streets, medieval architecture and beautiful stalls and decorations. When visiting around Christmas you may even get snow. Definitely a top city to visit for this Christmas.

Africa is the second largest continent on the earth and houses a whole host of unique flora and fauna which are found nowhere else on the earth. This fact alone makes sure that safaris in Africa are the most popular tourist attraction which reels in hoards of tourists from around the world. Kruger National Park, Cape Town, Masai Mara, and the Serengeti make the highlights of Africa, but there are so many other destinations that are equally, if not more diverse when there is the question of unique flora and fauna. With that said, here are a few safari location ideas that may be extremely helpful to the keen tourist.

1. East Africa’s Mara, Crater & Serengeti Migration- This safari commences in Kenya’s Masai Mara before traveling south into Tanzania for the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater. Concentrated on untamed life, this is an extraordinary chance to observe the wildebeest relocation so get some information about getting your planning right.
2. Botswana, Vic Falls, And Zimbabwe- This safari adventure takes you to the lushest parts of Africa when the rains hit. If you happen to visit this area, you will get to see the Okovango Delta, the iconic Victoria Falls, looks at the rich fauna of the area by walking in Hwange & Matapos parks and more.
3. Tanzania Migration & Uganda Gorillas- This has to be the most authentic of safari experiences in Africa. This trip may offer a view of the extraordinary Wildebeest Migration when in season, seek out Big 5 game viewing, life-changing gorilla trekking in, Uganda’s lush rainforests, cultural encounters with the Batwa people and night game drives in search of elusive nocturnal animals.

You’ve booked your discounted flight, secured your accommodation and even started your calendar countdown, marking down each day, but hold on! Before you get too excited picturing yourself sipping ice-cold pina coladas on the beach wearing a string bikini, you need to figure out a zillion things – like how to pack efficiently, what things go in your carry-on, how to best explore the place, among other things. We get that it can get overwhelming, which is why we’re sharing a few travel tips that will make your life easier. Thank us later!

Make A List

You might think of 10 things to pack but, when the time comes, we can bet you’re bound to forget six of them. Which is why we highly recommend you make a list. The easiest way is to note things down on a notepad on your phone; this way, you’ll remember to pack everything you need to.

Fold & Roll Clothes To Save Space

You might think that folding takes up less space but trust us when we say that rolling clothes is the oldest trick in the book. Rolled clothing can be squeezed into smaller spaces and corners than folded clothes can, and that certainly helps pack in more. You’ll also be surprised at how much space you can save if you use packing cubes; you can even separate your outfits this way.

Put Important Items In Your Carry-On

No, your carry-on isn’t just for your theplas and juice boxes! A few important items that should always go with you as hand luggage include medications, a pair of clothes, your identification documents, and a toothbrush! This way, if your bags get lost in transit, you’ll save both money and time.

Don’t Overspend

Here’s a major tip – try not to go beyond the budget you allocated for the trip. Spending a little extra is understandable but spending your next paycheck on something extravagant is not. You don’t want to come back home and feel sad and burdened about spending a lot of money on something you didn’t need in the first place.

Hire Local Guides

The next time you decide to take a tour of an ancient fort in India or learn more about magical caves in the heart of Bali, don’t book your guide online; hire one at the spot. When you book tours online, you pay the middleman, the tour operator and a lot of people in between. By hiring a local guide, you’re not just supporting the local economy but you’re also saving money by cutting out the middleman.

Strike A Conversation With The Locals

You might have googled the best spot to eat ghee dosa in Bengaluru but we can bet it still won’t be as good as the spots the locals frequent! It’s always best to ask the locals to point you to the best restaurants, the best bakeries and the hidden gems from which to witness beautiful sunsets.

Spring Break is just around the corner, and a well-loved time for going on a road trip. If you’re looking to go on such a trip, this article offers five tips for planning a fun and memorable excursion.

1. Look Into Winter Conditions

Going on a spring break trip most likely means that some potential destinations may still be experiencing winter-y conditions. This is especially true if you’re traveling anywhere in the northern United States, where places such as Wyoming can still have snow in some areas through June. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure to take potential road conditions into account while planning. Look into whether or not the areas you’re traveling through are likely to experience any adverse condition. If they are, planning out how this is likely to affect your trip and having a backup plan or two in mind will guarantee your trip can continue with minimal disruption.

2. Check Updated COVID-19 Restrictions

Many places have recently loosened their Covid-19 restrictions, but what exact restrictions remain in effect continues to vary immensely from place to place. Some cities have been functioning with very few restrictions even from private businesses, while other cities such as Seattle are just now lifting mask mandates. Additionally, restrictions can be opposed by several levels of authorities, ranging from country-wide mandates to decisions from private businesses. Because of this, spending some time looking into what guidelines or requirements are currently in place for anywhere you’re traveling through, staying, or exploring is a good way to make sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

3. Save Time For Unexpected Fun

For many, the allure of the destination is often the focus of their travels. If you’re road tripping, though, some of the most memorable times might actually happen on the journey there. While it is definitely rewarding to get to your destination as soon as possible, it can also lead to missing out on a lot of potentially amazing experiences. Try to save some room in your schedule for unexpected fun – spend a few hours exploring local shops in a small town, or add a nature walk into a driving break.

4. Pack An Emergency Kit

This is one that goes for a trip of any kind, though it can be easy to overlook in the excitement of heading out on the open road. Bringing some emergency supplies with you is a great way to assure you’ll be as safe and prepared as possible. What exactly you want to bring somewhat depends on the details of your trip, but in general items, such first-aid kits and bandages are great to have around regardless of the length and destination of your trip. If your route does feature somewhere prone to cold weather, consider bringing an emergency thermal blanket with you as well – they’re available cheaply online and at several major stores, and are a great way to keep warm if you do experience any car trouble.

5. Don’t Push Yourself Driving

It can be tempting to fit as much driving as you can into your road trip, especially if you’re excited to get to a destination or have to be home at a certain time. However, having to drive long distances can not only be dangerously tiring but also stressful. Instead, consider adding extra time and stops into your schedule. Whether this is some more breaks to stretch your leg or a weekend back at home before you have to go to work, doing so will allow you some extra peace of mind while traveling and will take the pressure off your drive.