The post Vino Voyage: A European Adventure appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Singapore reclaims its crown as the most powerful passport in the world with visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide, leaving Japan as runner-up with a score of 193, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, which ranks all the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations they can access without a prior visa, and is based on exclusive official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Several EU member states — France, Germany, Italy, and Spain — drop two places to 3rd position, and […]

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At its core, Where to Nest by Kristen Van Nest is a book about self-discovery and finding a sense of place and purpose. And this searching is built around international experiences through most of Kristen’s twenties while living abroad. She moved to Luxembourg on a Fulbright Scholarship, followed by three years in China working for a wine importer and spending time in Thailand during a government coup and in Greece during a banking crisis. This book details her experiences of working with colleagues and roommates (note: it was not all […]

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British and American passport holders may be concerned to hear that the value of their passports has slipped down the global rankings, with both citizenships sliding a number of places in the 2019 Nomad Passport Index. According to the annual research carried out by the leading offshore consulting firm Nomad Capitalist, Luxembourg citizens have the best passport in the world for the second year running. Its citizens are able to travel to 186 other countries without requiring a visa, enjoy high levels of personal freedom and a positive perception globally […]

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In the past six months, I lived in a land-locked nation where Mercedes and BMWs rank in the top five most popular cars, enjoyed endless sunny days on golden sandy beaches along the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, and for a week called a tiny New York apartment home. Digital nomads, retirees with free time, and travelers hoping to live like a local have embraced the house sitting lifestyle. Despite this trend, it remains a generally untapped accommodation resource. My partner and I recently returned from five months travel where we completed […]

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“Ante Romam Treveris stetit annis mille trecentis” (Trier stood 1300 years before Rome) – legend of Trier’s founding.   Trier is the UNESCO World Heritage city you’ve never heard of. While you were busy swooning over Berlin’s modern architecture or Munich’s copious beer gardens, you’ve missed Germany’s most remarkable city, quietly minding its own business along the banks of the Mosel river, the way it always has for two and a half millennia. Visiting Trier puts the visitor in a bind – should she primarily focus on Trier’s Roman or […]

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My fondest memories as a kid growing up in Germany typically involved hiking in green forests, visiting medieval cities, exploring roman ruins, cycling along river banks, driving through vineyards dotting the many low rolling hills, or taking daytrips to the French side of the border to gawk at life on the other side. This is Saarland, Germany’s hidden gem. If you’ve followed any of my other articles, you’ll know by now that what I enjoy most is to visit places that are not particularly commonly visited. That’s why, after 30 […]

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My husband and I took the European trip of our dreams last fall, starting with a week in Paris, one of my favorite spots, and making our way to Munich, Luxembourg, Amsterdam and Stockholm. We packed only one backpack each and set out excited, nervous and most-of-all, ready for whatever unexpected adventures would inevitably come up. Between our afternoon espressos and evening liters of wine, I learned many lessons that I’ll take with me for the trips I hope to go on in the future. Hopefully hearing about the things […]

The post 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Spent 3 Weeks in Europe appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

John M. Edwards takes the waters in the Czech Republic’s so-called West Bohemian Spa Triangle in order to spy out the local talent and bathe in the buff. . . . “Give me a place to stand on, and I will have the earth.” –Archimedes In the “West Bohemian Spa Triangle,” consisting of the old spa towns Carlsbad, Marienbad, and Franzenbad, now all hiding behind Czech names, I thought to myself that it doesn’t get any better than this! In over 100 everlasting natural hot springs of the real geographic […]

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Ex-expat John M. Edwards is invited as a “standby” to a sumptuous Parisian dinner party near Passy, where perforce playing the devil’s advocate comes with no pricetag at all. . . . “Hello John, how would you like to come to a dinner party tonight,” queried fair friend and picnic partner Julie, a fellow Servas member. A world peace organization affiliated with the United Nations, “Servas,” we joked with devil-may-care abandon, should perforce be pronounced “Serve Us,” because their guest-exchange program included a free place to crash for a couple […]

The post Please Pass the Pommes Frites: My Dinner with Martin Amis’s Son appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Paris, France has long been considered the mecca for romantic destinations across the world. It’s clear this starry-eyed reputation is well deserved from the moment you step into the city.  From the charming cobbled stone streets to the beautiful and exceptional cafés, there’s a lot to love in this most vibrant part of beautiful France. Although your average romantic is certainly capable of finding plenty of amorous destinations from simply wandering the city, here’s a few you’ll certainly want to seek out. Setting the mood all starts with finding the […]

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“The [Café] Central is a place for people who have to kill time, so as not to be killed by it. . . .” –Alfred Polgar “I AM SIGMUND SPIELBERG!!!” The obviously unemployable flaneur with umlaut eyes landed at my marble-topped table without a proper invite, brusquely pushing aside a Thonet wooden chair. Brandishing a copy of Der Spiegel on a wooden rolling pin in his left hand, and reeking from an unfortunate cologne resembling turning fruit or female arousal or even Cutter ™, Sigmund sighed, coughing up and swallowing […]

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I have been fortunate to track down some of my father’s heritage – from Luxembourg to Los Angeles. Now it was turn for my mother’s side of the family. They come from a very beautiful part of Italy – in the hills along the Italian Riviera. We visited the small town of Casarza Ligure; the “Gallo” name is everywhere which is my mother’s maiden name. The homesite of my great Grandfather, Guiseppe Gallo is situated high on a hill above Casarza and the busy highway below; Giuseppe was born in […]

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The Schueberfouer Fun Fair is an annual event (or “Fouer” for short as the Luxembourgish say), held in Luxembourg City starting every August 23rd through early September. At first glance this might be just another carnival or fair, but delving into its history one quickly discovers that this fair has been held annually since the year 1340 – that’s 670+ years in a row! For those who are used to going to carnivals and seeing people dressed in their not so finest, you will be surprised to see a number […]

The post Schueberfouer Fun Fair, Luxembourg City – December 2012 appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

I was originally planning to be in S. Korea this trip but when a friend canceled due to a family emergency I flew over here instead to explore my family’s roots in Luxembourg and the countryside. This has been an inspirational trip so far, from the people I’ve met to the amazing towns and countryside. Usually when I think of travel I want to visit Asia but now I’m craving more of Western Europe! I came to Bruges, Belgium for one reason and one reason only, to see where they […]

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