The Uffizi Gallery – The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is the home to some of the greatest art in the western world, and it’s also the oldest museum in the world. Most guide books and travel websites will recommend a visit to the Uffizi as a part of any trip to Florence, but what most of them fail to mention is that you may not be able to travel to the gallery without a pre-booked ticket.

My wife and I spent three days in Florence in April of 2005. We were looking forward to visiting the Uffizi Gallery, and called to purchase tickets the day we arrived. After several unsuccessful attempts to connect, we asked our travel hotel reception if they could secure tickets for us. The explained that it was always tough to get through to the booking office, and that our three day stay may not give enough time to secure tickets. We checked out the line at the Uffizi itself, and discovered that it stretched all the way around the gallery. Since waiting in line all day wasn’t how we wanted to spend our vacation, we were happy when the hotel staff agreed to help.  We enjoyed the other sights and sounds of Florence on that first day.

The hotel staff let us know the following evening that they had finally been able to get through on the booking line, but unfortunately they were informed that all of the tickets for the following day were sold out. As a result, we missed out on seeing Florence’s greatest art treasures. Our tip for anyone travel to Florence on a short vacation is to book tickets for the Uffizi Gallery online, and well before their trip.

Another of the great wonders Florence has for tourists is the Duomo, a most impressive building. It was once the largest cathedral in the world, and is renowned for its dome, called “The Cupola”. Built during the Renaissance by the famous architect Fillipo Brunelleschi, no one in his day even believed that building such a dome was possible. Fillipo Brunelleschi found a way to build it though, taking inspiration from the architecture of the Pantheon in Rome. You can see it from anywhere in the city, and as you travel about the city, be sure to appreciate it from every angle.

I’d recommend experiencing the Duomo in a unique way by visiting the top of the dome. There’s a stairway that leads to the top which runs between its inner and outer shells. On the top, there’s an external gallery that provides breathtaking views of the city and surrounding Tuscan countryside.  Because the gallery wasn’t completed, the views are restricted to the north and west.

The Palazzo Vecchio is another Florence landmark that should not be overlooked during any trip to the city. It is well worth walking all around the building to see it from the outside before going in. A copy of Michelangelo’s David stands now right where the original statue once stood, before it was removed elsewhere for its own safety.

Crossing the River Arno – If you’re ready to get away from the crowds in the attractions of the city center, cross the River Arno on the Ponte Vecchio. Although this beautiful, historic bridge will be at least as crowded as the central Piazzas, the crowds will quickly thin out on the other side. You can explore the Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti, then walk up the curving paths to the Piazzo Michelangelo. This hilltop affords you a great view of Florence and it’s surroundings.

Florence can literally overwhelm you with its beauty. So much so that there is even a name for this phenomenon: “Stendhal Sydrome”. Stendhal was the name of a French tourist of Florence who actually collapsed with wonder and delight. Pace yourself!

As a final tip, don’t overdo it during your short visit to Florence. Because there is so much to take in, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and spend time rushing from place to place instead of enjoying the beauty of this historic city.

Traveling can be pricey, and there are many who know how to cut a lot of corners to save a few bucks. Here we’ll be talking about practical and sensible travel ways to save your self a lot of money in the long run when traveling. Basically, we’re talking about traveling smart and safe.

Of course, the biggest consideration here is money right? One of the biggest ways to not waste money, is simply to not waste money. Money can end up leaking out of your pocket in a lot of ways, especially when you’re on the go and not in familiar travel surroundings.

Let’s start with your wallet. Many will pack an extra when on travel. You can put a different additional card, perhaps a debit card as well in there. Tuck it away in your suitcase, out of sight and safe. Losing your wallet can quickly halt your plans and derail a lot of your enjoyment and focus on your trip. The extra wallet can be extremely useful.

To further ensure your safety as you travel, it’s a good idea to share the details of your itinerary with a family member or close friend.  They’ll then be able to contact you in case of an emergency while you travel. Leaving copies of your identification papers, travelers checks, and passport at home are also recommended.

These days, when traveling, identification is frequently needed. A lot of travelers will bring their passports to have that one extra piece along in case it’s needed. First off, keep it safe; keep it tucked away where you’ll be able to access it if you need it, but also where you’re not going to misplace it. Another good idea is to have photocopies of all of your identification cards, insurance cards and so forth made and left with friends or family. If these are needed, they can get them to you and you won’t be totally left out to dry.

While traveling, many experts recommend making several copies of your travel documents: flight confirmation details, hotel reservation information, rental car details. Stow each copy of these documents in a different part of your luggage and have one with you in your pocket. It’s also a good idea to input important phone numbers for your travel into the address book of your cell phone for reference while you travel.

Using these precautions can seriously save you a lot of headaches and let you rest your mind when you’re on the road trying to get work done or enjoy yourself. Most of these will only take a few moments to set up, and the pain that they can save you in the long run is certainly well worth it.

If you are planning a travel to Europe and want to see all the beautiful landscapes and historical locales at a reasonable price, consider traveling by rail and/or coach. Watching the world go by from the windows of a train or coach is relaxing, romantic, and cost-effective. There is no experience to compare with a visit to a train’s dining car for a meal, or the observation car for a 360-degree view of the countryside. Some of Europe’s trains (such as the London-Paris express) can get you to your destination extremely fast.  

In addition to seeing more of the sights, train and coach travel allows you to meet and talk with a variety of travelers, including both tourists and local residents. There’s nothing more educational and fun than talking to the locals who can give you wonderful restaurant recommendations, and tips on how to optimize your visit, avoid the pitfalls, and find the best bargains. 

Most European cities have train stations in the heart of town, so you can disembark and go directory to the travel attractions, shops, or restaurants that interest you. You don’t have to worry about parking or letting lost. With the train station being the center of commerce, you will find local transportation and wonderful businesses right there. 

Though you may not be able to see the landscapes passing by, traveling on the train by night will be much cheaper. When you travel at night, you will see that they have sleeper cars. In these sleeper cars, there are beds for you to sleep in preparation of your day of sightseeing.

For cost-conscious travelers, the European Union has train and coach travel between countries very affordable. The least expensive options include night train travel, and travel by coach. Many European companies have organized coach routes, and coaches are a better way to get to the smaller cities and towns that might not have train stations.

Most travelers will choose to travel by train; however what you give up in comfort by taking coach, you will save in expenses. You can travel between many European cities by coach, because many companies will have organized coach routes. Taking coach will most likely be more appealing to students who are looking to save a little money on their trips.

Travel by train and coach is a great option for all types of people, groups, and budgets. Whether you are on a romantic honeymoon, a family vacation, or student traveling on a budget, you will find a variety of travel options by train and coach that give you the experience you seek without breaking your wallet. 

Even if you opt for cheap travels, it should remain fun and exciting. The way to enjoy your cheap travels is to travel smart. One of the most important considerations when traveling is money. You can save money by selecting cheaper accommodation and airfares. And on your travel, it is extremely important to keep your travel money safe. Most seasoned travelers and travel experts recommend keeping valuables in a hidden wallet or travel pouch, either wrapped around your waist under your clothes or hung around your neck under your shirt.

Another great travel tip is to reduce the chance of theft by keeping majority of your cash in the hotel’s safe. Take out enough for each day to pay for necessary items. When using credit cards, make sure that the establishment or shop looks alright. Credit cards provide valuable consumer protection and the best currency exchange rates as well.

Here is one very valuable travel tip to keep a lost or stolen wallet from bringing your vacation to an abrupt end. Many seasoned travelers pack an extra wallet in their suitcase or backpack. This wallet will contain only a credit card or two and perhaps an ATM card. That way, if you lose your primary wallet, you still have access to ready cash for the rest of your cheap travel.

Know about the destination you are planning to visit. Every country and every state in the country will have different closing or off days. In some places markets are not closed on Sunday but on weekdays you can find markets closed. To avoid such situations, studying about the place you are going to visit would be really helpful.

Some travelers carry their passport with them all the time. The reason for that is because the passport provides an additional piece of information and that is important if your wallet is lost or stolen while on your cheap travel. Since it is impossible to board a plane these days without ID, having an extra form of ID can make your life a lot easier.

If you are planning to visit a foreign country then carrying your identity documents, passports and visa become very important. The foreign authorities can demand your documents anytime when you are in their country, so it is always advisable to keep the documents along with you all the time. The security and safety of these documents should be done with utmost care because if they are lost or misplaced then you can find yourself in great trouble. Selecting and booking hotels before visiting the place actually is also an intelligent act. This is a part of planning the trip and once you know about your destinations, activities then you can certainly save your time, money and energy in an alien land.

Always remember to have the basic medical information such as blood type, allergy (if any), medications, etc. If you need your medication frequently, don’t pack them in your checked luggage. Instead, always have them with you in your hand-carry luggage. With these important travel tips, you should be on your way to enjoying safer and smarter cheap travels.

Carrying a checklist and checking it from time to time is very important so that you do not forget to carry something important. Mostly, in excitement people forget important things like travel tickets, passport and spoil the whole show. Stay calm, relax and just enjoy your vacations irrespective of the location you are going to.