Museum tours of Europe are very popular, and with good reason. There are thousands of Museums there, all different in their own ways. When most people think of museums in Europe, they automatically think of the Louvre.  Museums like The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Prado in Madrid, London’s British Museum, and Berlin’s Museum Island are some of the finest in the world.

The Louvre located in Paris, France originally opened in 1793 and contains over 400,000 works of art. On average, 15,000 people visit the museum every day. The most popular works there are the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. While it would be easy to dedicate an entire years worth of blog posts to the Louvre, let’s take a look at some lesser known museums that may spark your interest!

The Tate Modern Museum in London, housed in a former power station is Britain’s national museum of international modern art. Opened in 2000, it enjoys visitors from all over the world who wish to see modern art styles such as abstraction, expressionism, constructivism, cubism, and pop art. This museum contains works by such artists as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Claude Monet.

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Brussels, Belgium is a unique look at musical instruments throughout the ages. For a five euro admission fee, you get a head set, which automatically plays the instrument you are looking at when you walk close to it. Hundreds of instruments that you’ve probably never heard of fill these halls. There is also a restaurant on the roof that offers fantastic views of the entire city! A must see for fans of all kinds of music.

If you’re like me and get distracted by shiny things, a visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens, Austria will take all day! Set in a “cave” format, you can wander through the rooms set up to provide you with beautiful displays, light shows, and information about crystals. People from all walks of life enjoy this breathtaking museum. The gift shop allows you to take home a wide variety of beautiful crystal ornaments, jewelry, and other pieces of art.

For those who are young at heart, the Nuremberg Toy Museum in Germany will be just what you are looking for. This high quality collection covers hundreds of years of toys, focusing mainly on the past two centuries. Different floors offer various themes such as wooden toys, dolls and doll houses, tin toys, vehicles, toy train sets, steam engines, technical toys and the high-tech toys of today. The museum also host collectors meetings, as well as seminars and puppet shows.

Of course there are many more clever fun museums, but we can’t list them all. Whatever museums you decide to see, a rental car in Europe is a great way to tour the country!

Do you know of any fun museums we could add to this list? If so leave a comment and tell us about it!

One of my favorite German cities is Stuttgart. Less than an hour from the Black Forest, vineyards once lined the entire lush valley where the city now lays, and some still function today. Fantastic castles and palaces still fill the area, and many are open to tour for your enjoyment and educational purposes. While in the Stuttgart region the sheer Gothic beauty of the city will entice you to take walks, cycle tours and boat trips up and down the Neckar River.

Fans of driving, history, automobiles, and engineering will love the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums. At both of these places visitors are treated on a chronological journey through time, all the way up to the cars of tomorrow. This pair of German car museums is a must see for car buffs.

Stuttgart is also home to the very unique Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Garden. It is without a doubt, one of the finest gardens in the world, and you will want to make a day of it. Built from 1842 – 1853, the Wilhelma Gardens feature around 9,000 animals of almost 1,000 species, an aquarium with crocodile hall as well as a beautiful coral fish collection. There is also a monkey house, some wacky fun bears, and a petting zoo! Around 2 million people visit each year, making it a must see for any tourist. It’s so big; you will want to bring your GPS rental with you to navigate around!

Take your rental car in Stuttgart over to the Fernsehenturm, a giant television antenna. It has a delightful observation deck where viewers can snap photos of the entire city. It is open to the public and runs nearly all day. The Fernsehenturm is a pretty fun destination for those who are unafraid of heights. The reception should be pretty good too!

Right now however, the number one best reason to be in Stuttgart is the Christmas Fair. The Christmas Fair begins the second week of November, and runs through Christmas. Each year, the event attracts around 3.5 million visitors, who come to gaze at the cities beautiful decorations, peruse the 200 vendor stands selling various trinkets and homemade crafts, as well fill up on as delicious Christmas culinary delights. The Christmas Fair has been a world class festive celebration, since at least 1692, and the city keeps tradition alive and well during the season each and every year.

A car rental in Stuttgart is a great way to get around, and see all that this marvelous city has to offer. Don’t forget to check out the Opera House!

For more about what’s happening in Germany, check out our events calendar. If you have a suggestion on something I missed, please leave a comment!

One thing people may not realize about Ireland is how much it has to offer. The scenic beauty, natural wonders, and over 5000 km of coastline really lend themselves to making the country into a world class tourist destination. As you may have read, I am rather fond of touring this country, and there is good reason for it. Let’s take a look just some of the attractions that keep people coming back year after year.

Golf
Pack your clubs and drive to some of the Irelands finest golf courses! Did you know that there are over 50 golf courses within 30 kilometers of Dublin? It’s true, and that’s just a small portion of the country. Some of the world’s most beautiful golfing can be found in Ireland. With courses set up on the coastal cliffs, forests, and rolling hills, golfers of all skills will be stunned by the beauty of the region. Here at Auto Europe, we get many requests from golfers, so if you do rent a car in Ireland for this purpose, opt for a wagon or a minivan to ensure you have enough space!

Fishing
As you know Ireland has many miles of coastline. This makes it a perfect destination for anglers to get away in search of the perfect catch. Some public transportation can get you to the coast, or a car rental in Ireland will allow you to fish beaches, lakes and rivers at your own pace. The Irish oceans are home to a wide range of fish, including bass, cod, pollock, turbot, ling, skate, and many sharks. Like most ocean fishing, you can have luck off shore casting, trolling, or out in a deep sea charter. For fresh water specimens you will find fantastic pike, salmon and trout fishing in Ireland’s many lakes and rivers. Anglers will get hooked on Irelands fishing with just a small taste of what the country has to offer.

Castles
When you think of Ireland, some things come to mind. Guinness, leprechauns, and castles are the first things that I think of. As Guinness is available everywhere, and leprechauns are very hard to find, some time should be given to exploring Irelands many castles. They decorate the landscape, and every region boasts them for your medieval needs. We all know about the famous Blarney Castle however here are some more that Ireland has to offer.

The Trim Castle in County Meath is one of the largest, most important castles in all of Ireland. Famous for its role in the movie Braveheart, The Trim castle was noted for its extreme use of force to keep out unwanted visitors, including arrows, scalding water and tar, rocks, and all other kinds of nasty falling (or thrown) objects. Apparently they don’t do this anymore unless you are wearing armor, so leave it at home.

Head over to Clareen where you will find the Leap Castle. This chilling location is rumored to be the most haunted castled in all of Ireland. The reason for this is that many people have died in this castle by murder or execution. One apparition is said to bring with him the rotting smell of decay with him when he appears, so bring your nose plugs!

Carrickfergus Castle in Northern Ireland was built in 1177 and was an active military stronghold until 1928, when it was turned into a museum. The castle is mostly surrounded by water, and its impressive look turned away people for years, but you don’t need to be intimidated by it anymore! Now you can visit the restored castle and take a tour, which will show you what life was like in the dark ages.

Newgrange, while not technically a castle, is over five thousand years old. This prehistoric passage tomb was discovered in the late 17th century, however was not fully excavated until 1975. Although the main purpose is not quite known at this time, it is believed to be the location of some kind of ceremonious activity. It is surrounded by 97 kerbstones, decorated with carved artwork containing a spiral motif. On the day of the winter solstice at sunrise, the sun shines directly into the chamber, lighting the floor of the passage. If you want to witness this event first hand there is a lottery to get a ticket. There is only enough room for 50 people to view this event and this year there were over 28,000 lottery tickets given out. Fortunately for the rest of us, there is a light bulb installed so that you can see what it is like.

O’Brien’s Tower was built in 1835 as an observation post. It still stands today, and is a popular destination for anyone visiting the Cliffs of Moher. Resting along just over 6 miles of coastline, there have been many efforts made to preserve the land, as well as the tower. Even the tourist center is cleverly built hidden into a nearby hillside. At this center, you can find all the information needed for a fantastic historical experience. The tourist center is also very earth friendly using thermal heat and solar power to power the building.

There are many ways to get around and see more of Ireland. Most major cities have efficient rail or bus systems, while car rentals in Ireland are very affordable during the off season winter months. Whatever you decide to use your feet, or rent a car in Ireland, you can bet your lucky charms you will want to come back for more.
Do you have a travel tip or two for tourists?  Leave a comment!

Insurance is one of the things that we get asked about here at Auto Europe almost more than anything else. I’ve thrown together a quick guide to help you when planning your trip. This may seem confusing, but being informed about insurance can save you a lot of time, energy and money when traveling abroad.

Some terms that you should know:
CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) this insurance covers lawful damage to the vehicle.
TP (Theft Protection) covers the car in the event of theft and is usually grouped and sold together with CDW.
Liability covers any damage to persons or property outside of the rental vehicle.  This is always included in Auto Europe rates.
Fire Insurance covers the car in case of fire damage. This is also always included in Auto Europe rates.
PAI (Personal Accident Insurance) covers the hospital bills of people inside the car in the event of accident while driving. This is generally not available until you are at the rental counter.

There are two options for providing the CDW/TP insurance while on vacation in Europe. The first would be to check with your major credit card company to see if they will cover your car if you use that particular card to pay for the entire cost of the rental. Be sure to mention the countries you plan on traveling to, as there are some locations where this will not apply. It’s also important to note that usually the drivers name needs to match the name on the credit card for this coverage to apply. There is generally a 14 or 30 day maximum rental limit with credit cards. Four wheel drive cars, motorcycles, trucks, camper vans or cargo vans are usually not covered and there is usually a maximum value of the car covered. If at all possible, get a copy of the policy from the credit card to bring with you to the counter.

In most cases, there is still a deductible of some sort when collision and theft are purchased. Usually there is insurance offered locally which can reduce the collision and theft deductible if it is something you want to do. It is important to know this amount as they can be as low as zero, or thousands of dollars in some cases.

In Ireland, you will most likely need to purchase the CDW/TP on your rental, as very few credit cards will cover you there. In Italy the CDW/TP is mandatory and is included in our rates.

Having a credit card is very important for several reasons when renting a car in Europe. The suppliers are going to need to block of a set amount for gas, key and insurance deposit. This amount varies by supplier. It will be important to ask at the counter how much they plan on blocking, as the funds are usually tied up for a few days after you have returned your vehicle. If you do not have a credit card, the rental company can ask you for a cash deposit, which will usually mean leaving approximately $750-$2000 (US) dollars at the rental counter, which gets sent back to you about a month after you return the car, in the form of a check.

It’s also important to keep in mind that no insurance is going to cover negligence on your part, so drive safely by obeying all traffic laws. If there is a collision a valid police report is mandatory. You document any kind of damage with photos if you have the ability to do so.

Take these factors into consideration when renting a vehicle and you will be sure to have a pleasant rental experience! If you can think of any other helpful advice, please feel free to leave a comment!

I was talking to one of our customers the other day who told me about this new trend in overnight lodging that has started in Germany. Hay Hotels (Heuhotels). Yes, Hay Hotels. You spend the night in a barn, sleeping on a pile of hay. My initial reaction was “You’ve got to be kidding me,” but as I did some research into the matter, it actually seems like a fairly fun and unique experience. Hay Hotels are currently the most popular in Germany, but the concept is catching on and spreading throughout Europe.

Most of these Hay Hotels can be found in the northern region of Germany, and also Lower Saxony near Lake Constance. There are actually hundreds of these facilities, which are located on beautiful plots of rural land, usually on working farms. This makes it a particularly fun experience for travelers with children. Many Hay Hotels offer the chance to interact with farm animals, tour the untouched countryside, go on horseback rides, and more.

You can bring your own sleeping bag, or some hotels offer the ability to rent one for the night. The hotels are also incredibly affordable; rates can be as low as 8 euros a night, and a homemade breakfast is usually included. The people that run the Heuhotels are generally very accommodating and friendly.

If you are planning on staying at a Hay Hotel, it’s probably advisable to rent a car, as most Heuhotels are somewhat off the beaten path. It’s best to try and find a place with lots of fun activities so that you can make a whole day out of the experience. Spending the night at a Hay Hotel is a unique and fun traveling experience, not to mention that it can save you a lot of money on your lodging expenses.

Safe Travels,

Ted Phelps

Customer Travel Consultant

5. Know Your Destination: I always make sure to do my research before I go on any trip. The more you learn about the various deals that your destination offers, the more opportunity there is for you to save money. See whether or not there are city passes that will get you into multiple sites around the area, and find out if the museums you are interested in offer free days (most museums do). When booking your lodgings try to find something that is centrally located. You may spend a little more on the room, but you will save even more than that by avoiding costly transportation fees.
6. Use Your Best Judgment: Finally, everyone can relate to having a tendency to over-spend while traveling; it’s easy enough to get carried away and spend money on things that you would never even consider buying in your home town. Be cognizant of this inclination and you can actually end up saving yourself a considerable amount of money, and room in your suitcase.

I hope that this series has been a benefit to everyone. As time goes on I will continue to pass along information that will help you make the most of your travels.

Sincerely,

“Ted on The Travel Desk”

Ted Phelps, Customer Travel Consultant

3. Travel Off-Season: If you travel to destinations off-season you can save a lot of money both on plane tickets and hotel rooms. Off-season rates even have a tendency to trickle down to many other facets of your destination, like food and entertainment. Locals know when there is going to be an influx of tourists and adjust their prices accordingly. Although it may not technically be the “ideal” time of year to visit that particular place, you won’t have to deal with crowds and you might actually end up having a better experience for going at an unusual time. The travel industry also has great “early bird” booking deals if you can plan your travel in advance.
4. Consider Alternatives to Hotels: There is a whole host of ways that you can save money by not staying in hotels. Most destinations have hostels, campgrounds and other alternative sleeping arrangements. On average, skipping the hotel room can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars over the course of your vacation. I’ve found hostels generally to be the best of the alternatives. However, if a hotel is definitely the way you want to go, Auto Europe can help you find the lowest possible rate on hotels in your destination area.

Here at the travel desk I am seeing the impact of the slowing economy on people’s choices when they are considering a trip to Europe. Every day I get calls from customers expressing their desire to save money on travel. Cost, of course, has always been an issue when it comes to planning a trip to Europe, and in some cases, people are feeling like they shouldn’t take a trip at all. I always hate to hear this because I know that your summer plans are often one of the highlights of the year, and offer a chance for people to spend quality time with their family. I thought I would do a 3 part series on how to save money when traveling. These are some tips that I have picked up talking to our customers. I think they offer opportunities to cut down on your vacation costs and enable you to enjoy your trip without worrying about money so much.

1. Cut Down on Meal Costs: Spending on food is one of the biggest factors in how much a vacation ends up costing you. I always try to eat breakfast at my hotel as much as possible; this is especially true if breakfast is included with the room. In my experience in traveling in Europe the food is almost always good, and of course, that’s one meal every day that you aren’t paying for. Another good tip is to visit the local grocer and purchase some fruit or ingredients for sandwiches and snacks. This is especially helpful if you plan ahead and book yourself a room with a refrigerator. If your hotel does not have refrigerators in the room, you can always ask at the front desk if they will store your food in the hotels refrigerator. Make yourself a small lunch before you go out sightseeing for the day; not only will you be able to eat whenever you get hungry, but you should be cutting your lunch costs substantially. If you combine these two tips, you can get by with paying to eat out only once a day. I also really like this method because I never feel guilty about going where I want for that one meal I’m actually going to spend money on.
2. Cut Back on Shopping Costs: Shopping during the course of your vacation can really add up to a significant portion of your overall expenditures. Everyone wants to take back souvenirs, gifts for friends, and other interesting things that you find along the way. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with spending money on items to remember your trip by, just remember to be smart about it. Avoid touristy souvenir shops with inflated prices. When I’m tempted to spend €12 on that “I Love Paris” coffee mug or ₤25 on a “London Bridge” sweatshirt, I force myself to stop and take a moment to think about it. Will the item actually get used or will it just be part of next year’s neighborhood garage sale? Instead, think about purchasing something from the local market - like a your favorite French candy bar you discovered or authentic English breakfast tea. It won’t cost much and your family and friends will appreciate that you thought of them and you’ll save a bunch on your budget.

Also, don’t be afraid to haggle with vendors (in destinations where this is acceptable, of course). I can’t begin to tell you how many people there are who don’t haggle on price simply because they’re not used to it. However, you can actually save a considerable amount of money on purchases with a little verbal finesse. When haggling with people, I always pick a price that I am not willing to go above. The key part of this is truly forcing yourself to stick with that number. If they are unwilling to meet it, then walk away. I’ve found that 90% of the time vendors sense that you are serious, and you get your purchase for less than that top number.

Another way to save money, even while spending it, is to use your credit card. While most credit card companies charge a flat 2-4% fee on foreign transactions, they also have the best exchange rates. Talk to your credit card company about getting a PIN number so that you can withdraw money from foreign ATMs at the optimized exchange rate. It seems trivial, but these small savings definitely have the potential to add up over time.