Expat travel tips and advice from Dispatches Europe

07/09/2024

So many trips in this week's newsletter including a trip to the emergency room, a trip to an affordable Michelin-starred Paris restaurant, a trip to a Berghain alternative in Berlin and so much more.

07/09/2024

In the Ribeira Sacra's dizzyingly high landscapes, near-vertical vineyards are perched above rivers. The stunning scenery – and the resulting wines – are an oenophile's dream.

06/09/2024

You can't list all the tourist rip-offs in Europe because thieves are always coming up with new tricks. But here is our advice for avoiding the more onerous ones we experienced in our many (many) years of travel.

There are so many tourist rip-offs that no post can list them all. But here's what we've learned from our personal experiences in Europe.

06/09/2024

The new rules require travellers to complete an online application, provide personal details, answer security questions and pay a €7 fee.

05/09/2024

The BBC's Wonders of Bulgaria explores Sozopol, a bustling port city where incredible relics from Antiquity are being uncovered just a few metres below the water.

05/09/2024

It traces the stunning, extraterrestrial landscape featured in films like Star Wars and Dune, while helping to preserve traditional Bedouin culture.

04/09/2024

Under protective coverings, piles of snow can be stored for a surprisingly long time, allowing ski resorts to mitigate some of the lack of snowfall caused by climate change.

01/09/2024

https://www.semafor.com/article/08/30/2024/italy-weighs-sharp-rise-in-tourist-tax-as-european-backlash-against-visitors-grows
Under the proposed measure, the tax to spend the night in an Italian city, currently €1-€5 ($1-$5.50), could increase to up to €25 for the most expensive hotel rooms, the Financial Times reported — with the country’s Tourism Minister saying it would make tourists “more responsible.”

The proposed measure comes at the end of a summer that has seen anti-tourism protests erupt in countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and Greece.

01/09/2024

F1 racer Pierre Gasly loves living in fashion-forward Milan. Here are his top weekend picks, from shopping in Quadrilatero della moda to walking his puppy in Parco Sempione.

31/08/2024

The newsletter is out and includes a roundup of the most romantic destinations in Europe and Lane Lane Henry's post from Tangier.

30/08/2024

Tiny alleys and dead-end streets in the Medina. Exotic sights and sounds and a whole new food culture. Tangier is only an hour by ferry from Spain, but it's a surprisingly exotic journey. Expat Lane Henry has the details for her family's trip.

It's an easy ferry trip away. But going to Tangier from Spain offers an exotic break in Africa from Europe's more predictable world.

30/08/2024

At the tippy top of the list is Berlin. Kayak gave the German city a solo travel score of 100 percent, recommending it to those interested in history, street art, and techno clubs.

A new Kayak report named Berlin the best solo travel destination.

28/08/2024

A cycling holiday on the Jutland peninsula’s ‘Fjordmino’ is a gentle procession of quiet roads, ferry rides, cute B&Bs and islands.

A cycling holiday on the Jutland peninsula’s ‘Fjordmino’ is a gentle procession of quiet roads, ferry rides, cute B&Bs and islands

26/08/2024

While protests against mass tourism rage on neighbouring islands, El Hierro – the wildest and most westerly of the Canary Islands – has quietly chosen to do things very differently.

25/08/2024

Digital nomads may be unwelcome in many places but one area of Spain is luring them with grants.

25/08/2024

While just about any body of water has the power to put your mind at ease for your next waterside getaway, why not visit some of the cleanest beaches on Earth?

Spain has the most Blue Flag beaches in the world. Here's what that actually means.

24/08/2024

Cruising the undiscovered islands off Sicily, a night at the opera in Athens and lots of visa details from Dispatches' archives. All in this week's newsletter.

24/08/2024

High temperatures and higher mountains were no match for our author and her companion as they biked the Trans Dinarica, a new cycling route that winds through eight countries in the remote Dinaric Alps.

24/08/2024

Costa Brava resorts in Spain’s north-east are struggling to cope with an influx of jellyfish as rising sea temperatures facilitate reproduction and drive species farther north.

Stings needing medical attention surge by 41% as rising sea temperatures due to the climate crisis boost reproduction

24/08/2024

Tracing a medieval trade route through the Swiss Alps and valleys, the GoldenPass Express isn't just one of the world's most scenic train rides; it's an engineering marvel.

23/08/2024

You could elbow your way through the crowds in the Greek islands. Or you could have the wild and wonderful Egadi Islands off Sicily all to yourself. Charlotte Laborie just got back from sailing Levanzo, Marettimo and Favignana and has the deets.

The Egadi Islands are a trio of stunning islands. Rarely have I witnessed the ocean decked out in such beautiful colors, from blue to purple.

22/08/2024

This 500-mile journey from Britain’s south to north is nicknamed the Deerstalker – a White Stag is the Caledonian Sleeper’s logo – and it’s considered the most scenic of the train’s five routes, which cover both Scottish cities and the deepest Highlands.

The Caledonian Sleeper is Britain’s oldest night train service and is a unique way to experience the country’s finest landscapes.

22/08/2024

Seeing Verdi's "La Traviotta" at a n ancient Greek amphitheater in Athens is sublime. But getting in and out takes the intervention of the Greek Gods. Just ask Rachel Arts.

Watching Verdi's classic "La Traviata" in an ancient amphitheater in Athens was magical. Getting in and out, not so much.

22/08/2024

While you likely already know not to put your luggage directly on the bed when you check into a new room, it turns out you may want to think twice before putting it on the floor, too.

Getting ready to check into a hotel? Here's why you shouldn't leave your luggage on the floor when you arrive.

18/08/2024

The 1 euro house trend in Italy still has legs. We added new initiatives to our list of 40 villages and towns including Montieri south of Florence. There are also entire abandoned villages for sale in Spain, though it works out to more than 1 euro,. But you get the idea.

Villages and towns in rural Europe are using 1 euro deals to market abandoined properties that don't appeal to conventional buyers.

18/08/2024

Dream Roman Holidays may be more like a nightmare for anyone visiting Italy over the next few days. Such huge numbers are expected to descend on the country’s popular destinations around a major holiday that special measures are being put in place to keep tourists in check.

Tourism levels are expected to hit their peak In Italy as an August 15 holiday sees 13 million Italians join foreign visitors overwhelming popular destinations.

17/08/2024

The vacation/travel season is still in full swing. That and more in this week's newsletter.

16/08/2024

Dispatches usually posts nice travel stories from expats who visited this beautiful country or that dazzling city. Then, Alex Beaton went to Albania.

We just wanted to go to the coast in Albania. What could possibly go wrong? Ah, where to start ....

16/08/2024

Wizz Air’s new offering has created a lot of hubbub in the aviation industry - but it’s important to read the small print before signing up.

15/08/2024

Here's why you should plan a trip to Liechtenstein, and what to do once you're there.