Europe
Magical Castle Hotels in Ireland (That You Can Actually Afford!)
As child I used to dream of being a princess who lived in a castle. As an adult, I’m not so interested in being a princess but my castle dreams have come true thanks to some of the magical castle hotels in Ireland. If you too had princess (or prince!) dreams growing up then I…
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The Best Pubs in Dublin – According to Locals!
Ireland is my home away from home and holds a special place in my heart and while Galway, which is where I lived, will always be my number 1 I do have a soft spot for Dublin as well. Yes it’s busier and more expensive but its a really great city to explore and has…
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The Best Pubs in Galway: Music, Pints, and Irish Craic
Anyone who’s been to Ireland knows that as amazing as Dublin’s pubs may be, the real craic is in Galway. Sure, I may be biased as Galway was once a place that I called home, but I’m not alone in my thoughts. Even the locals agree that Galway’s craic is top notch, with many of…
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What to Wear in Ireland: Stay Warm & Dry with this Ireland Packing List
I’m going to assume that you already know that Ireland has a reputation for, well, not the best weather. Rain, wind, more rain; you get the picture. But, when the sun comes out it can be warm and beautiful and, believe it or not, it does actually snow on occasion in the dead of winter.…
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The Most Haunted Castles in Ireland
When we think of Irish castles we tend to think of royalty and knights, however, there is often a darker side to these historic buildings that often ends up being spooky rather than magical. Ireland has no shortage of castles and castle hotels, but while they may be beautiful, there is a little more to…
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Solo Travel in Ireland: Why I Love and Recommend it
Ireland is my favourite country. As the first place I ever visited I now consider the emerald isle to be my home away from home and have returned multiple times. With stunning scenery, friendly locals, and delicious food I think Ireland is a must-visit for anyone. But, if you don’t have any to go with-…
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Experience the Magic of Paris at Christmas with These Festive Ideas
I love Paris and I love Christmas, so getting to see Paris at Christmas was pretty, well, magical. I’m no stranger to exploring Europe during the Christmas season. After all, Europe’s Christmas markets are basically my version of Disneyworld. But, there’s something about the way that Paris does the Christmas season. It’s just that little…
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Nuremberg Christmas Markets: The Ultimate Guide
Germany is king when it comes to Christmas markets and while I love so many that this country has to offer, I think the Nuremberg Christmas Market takes the cake. Or, maybe in this case the lebkuchen which is German gingerbread for those who don’t know. After all, we are talking about Christmas here! So,…
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Christmas in Strasbourg, France: Everything You Need to Know About Strasbourg Christmas Markets
For me, the holiday season is the most magical time of the year and while I will always be home for Christmas, I absolutely love spending part of the holiday season in Europe experiencing Europe’s best Christmas markets. Germany and Austria tend to be the favourites with big cities like Vienna and Nuremberg taking the…
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Christmas in Colmar, France: Everything You Need to Know About Colmar Christmas Markets
If you are at all familiar with France you’ve no doubt heard of the fairytale town of Colmar. It’s said to be the jewel of the Alsace region and the inspiration behind the village in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. After a couple of minutes of walking through ‘Little Venice’ you’ll see why! Colmar, like…
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Innsbruck Christmas Markets: Everything You need to Know About Innsbruck at Christmas
I’m a sucker for Christmas markets and when it comes to Christmas markets in Austria I’m always quick to head to Vienna or Salzburg. However, after several times in each, it was time to switch it up so I chose Innsbruck- somewhere I had never been before but figured would be fun and festive and…
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8 Festive Ways to Experience the Magic of Vienna at Christmas
Vienna is one of the most magical places in Europe to visit during the festive season. Here are my top picks for what to do in Vienna at Christmas.
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The Salzburg Krampus Run: A Unique Christmas Tradition
When I was travelling around Europe for the Christmas Markets I expected to see plenty of Santas and maybe a few elves and reindeer. What I didn’t expect to find was a giant, hairy, devil-looking creature known as Krampus; essentially a Christmas demon who has his own celebration called Krampusnacht or Krampus Run. This event…
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Christmas in Cologne, Germany: Everything You Want to Know About Cologne Christmas Markets
Europe’s Christmas markets are my happy place. The lights, the decorations, the gluhwein, the ornaments. I absolutely love them and have been multiple times over the years. Each year I go, I try to visit somewhere new and while I have yet to be disappointed some European Christmas markets make an impression and Cologne, Germany…
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Experience the Magic of Christmas in London with these Festive Activities
Flashing lights, roller coasters, and festive afternoon tea. Christmas in London isn’t as traditional or old-world as in some other European destinations like, say, Christmas in Vienna, but there’s something about the Holiday season in London that still gets me excited. There are London’s Christmas markets which range from carnival-esque fairs to quaint German-style wooden…
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The Ultimate List of the Most Magical Christmas Markets in Europe
Whoever sang ‘Where are you Christmas’ should have looked to Europe because if you can’t find the holiday spirit at the Christmas markets in Europe then you, my friend, are a lost cause. Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year. I basically turn into the female version of Buddy the Elf (minus eating…
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European Christmas Market Itinerary by Train
If you are a regular reader then you already know that I LOVE Christmas markets. Ever since I discovered that they existed way back in 2011 when I travelled for the first time, I’ve been kind of obsessed. The holiday season may be cold in Europe, but it’s so darn magical and hands down one…
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The Best Castle Hotels in Scotland
Scotland has a ton of charm. From the dark, medieval city of Edinburgh, to the mysterious Loch Ness, and the fairy stories of the stunning Isle of Skye; this small island country is filled with magic. But while the folklore and landscapes are fun to explore, there’s another way to add some magic to your…
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How to Spend 2 Days in Edinburgh
Going to Edinburgh was my first real solo backpacking experience. Sure I’d been living in Ireland for a few weeks by then and seen a bit of the country, but I had either been with my parents or close enough to my new home that I didn’t feel that it really counted. I chose Scotland…
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The Best of Stockholm in 2 Days
Nicknamed the Venice of the North, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, quickly became one of my favourite cities. Made up of 14 islands in the inner city, Stockholm is a Scandinavian gem with tons to offer. Although it is also one of the most expensive places I have been , I absolutely loved this city.…
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The Best of: Amsterdam in 1 Day
Amsterdam is a popular European travel destination and while many come to spend a few days or even a week, it’s also common for visitors to only have one day in Amsterdam. This may be due to a layover, a river cruise, or perhaps just a planned day trip from a nearby city. While I…
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Going to a Peep Show in Amsterdam: My Red Light District Experience
What comes to mind when you think of Amsterdam? Is the tulips? Windmills? Cute wooden clogs? Probably not. While these things are associated with Amsterdam, most tourists know it for two other things: marijuana and the Red Light District, or basically, sex. Pretty much anything to do with sex really; sex shops, condom shops, live…
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The Best of Riga in 2 Days
Riga, the capital of Latvia, is still considered to be ‘off the beaten track’ for many travellers, especially non-Europeans. When I visited, I was the only North American in my hostel. I surprised a lot of people when I told them I was Canadian which was actually kind of fun. Despite being under the radar, Riga…
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The Best of Romania in 1 Week
When I was originally planning my one week in Romania I anticipated plenty of vampire legends and spooky gothic castles. However, after spending 1 week in Romania, I quickly learned that this European country has so much more to offer than creepy legends. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I would like Romania but…
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The Best of Slovenia in 3 Days
I first became interested in visiting Slovenia when I stumbled upon a photo of Lake Bled. It was basically love for first sight and I knew this was somewhere I needed to see for myself. I did some research on the country and discovered that there was a whole lot more to see than just…
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