What are you waiting for? Book a nonstop Delta flight from PDX to Tokyo!

Photo credit: Kabacchi, Francisco Diez, MrStaticVoid, Takeshi+81, kevinpoh, Andurinha, InfoMofo, wallyg, just.in, UnholyKnight, Madjock, JM Rocher, ykanazawa1999, diebmx, Suviko, Dr Snafu, nicolacassa, scottmark, Bill McIntyre

Read more about their trip…

“We arrived in Amsterdam about 8:30 a.m. on March 10 and took the train from the airport to the central train station, just across the square from our lodging, the Victoria Hotel. After an almost two hour nap, we unpacked and went looking for a place to eat. We found a little five star restaurant, Habsburg, with good fish stew and very nice people.

On our first full day, we took off to Volendam fishing village and a windmill village. Here we got to go inside a windmill and learn the history of making wooden shoes. Most of the houses in Volendam are all the same, except the doors and window drapes are all different! That evening we went on a candlelight canal cruise, where we saw lights on the buildings and bridges and learned more about the canal area.

The next day, we enjoyed taking the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour. Along the ride we stopped at the Gassan Diamonds, where we saw several different cuts of diamonds including one valued at 80,000 Euros – too bad we can’t afford that! The next stop was at the Heineken Experience. The tour included how they make beer along with great history and free beer.

After a few more days exploring Amsterdam, we took a quick trip to London and enjoyed another Hop-on, Hop-off bus. Along the route, we stopped at Piccadilly Square, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. We also took a boat cruise on the Thames from the Tower Bridge to Big Ben and the House of Parliament and London Eye. What a busy day!

From London, we traveled on the Euro Star under the English Channel to Paris and enjoyed a nice ride through the countryside.

On our second day in Paris, we decided not to take the bus and instead opted for a taxi ride to the Eiffel Tower. From the top you could see forever – we stole a kiss then headed back down.

The next day we went to the Catacombs. Following over 150 steps down (but who is counting) and then through the catacombs with skulls and bones…more skulls and bones… then up 83 more steps (that’s right – oh boy!). Afterward, we walked through the garden of Luxemburg and the Palace du Luxemburg before stopping for dinner at Le Trait D’Union.

From here,  we took the train from Paris to Gent to meet up with some family, and then we were on to Bruges!

In Bruges, we walked and walked. Dick’s cousin showed us where her father guarded the area during WWII and we had a real Belgium lunch (so Mimi said) outside at Marieke Van Brugghe. Then walked through the Church of Our Lady and took a ride on the canal.

We caught the train to Aalter to meet the rest of Dick’s relatives. Filip, Mimi’s brother-in-law picked us up and drove us to Poeke to see the castle where Dick’s grandfather was the game warden – we even took Dick’s picture in front of the castle just like a picture of his grandfather. In the evening we had dinner with more family and shared family photos and stories before catching the train back to Gent.

On Sunday before we left, we discovered very few stores were open – so we just took it easy and slept in a little. We walked around the canals, through several church squares and saw a 100 year old castle. In the afternoon we sat in a church square and ate Italian ice cream in the sun while we people-watched.

Finally we took the train back to Amsterdam – sadly lost our camera on the way – and then flew back to Portland. We were a little tired for a couple days but overall we had a wonderful trip!”

Photo credit: Notre Dame, Paris, wlappe; Volendam, KubaSram; Paris Catacombs, Christopher Macsurak

1. The Places in Between

Reliving his tale of traversing Afghanistan on foot, author Rory Stewart invites readers to join his journey in this compelling and touching novel. Surviving solely on his knowledge of Muslim customs, his wit and the kindness of strangers, Stewart reflects on the characters, heroes and cultural challenges that faced his path to understanding the country and himself.

2. The Wayfinders

Anthropologist and National Geographic Explorer, Wade Davis, leads readers through an exploration and celebration of the world’s indigenous cultures. From Nepal to Borneo and the Andes, Davis discusses the spirit and diversity of culture.

3. The Poisonwood Bible

Penned by Barbara Kingsolver, this fictional book takes a look at the complex life of an evangelical missionary family in Africa. Set against the Congo’s fight for independence, The Poisonwood Bible chronicles the heartbreaking and beautiful disintegration of family and a nation.

4. Sarah’s Key

This heart wrenching book by Tatiana de Rosnay follows the story of a Jewish ten year-old girl, Sarah, and her family as they are collected by French police in the Vel d’Hiv roundup and sent to internment camps in Germany. Told through intertwining narratives of Sarah in 1942 and an American journalist in 2002, the book unfolds Sarah’s tale and its connection to the journalist’s life as she travels through a contemporary investigation of the somber war-time events.

5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Hit the road with this infamous and outrageous road trip journey that turns with strange twists and romping mad excursions by Hunter S. Thompson. Read along as an oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for this unbelievable adventure.

What is your favorite travel novel?

Photo credit: Road to Heaven, Javier Corbo; The Lost Key, jonasj; Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, http2007

Photo credits: Daniel Peckham,  Arte_ON, highrockphoto, termie, Paul MacDougall, elsamu, William Beutler, -QIQ-, Emilio Santacoloma, KP Tripathi, MorBCN, John Kannenberg, Fulvio Minichini, Roger Wade.

Delft

A canal town flowing with charm, Delft is a beautiful small village in the south of the Netherlands. Known for famous painters and historic royal homes, Delft combines classic culture and calm outdoors arenas for travelers to explore. Filled with beautiful, lush parks and large foot-traffic-only walkways, this town is one destination where you can set your own pace and discover the Dutch lifestyle and its colorful history. Wander the water lined streets or take in the town’s rich monuments and museums for an easy escape and peaceful day trip.

Nes

Just off the north coast of the Netherlands, Nes is nestled on the quaint island of Ameland – a worthy wander away from the major cities. Featuring a small downtown filled with little shops and local cafes, Nes is the hub for exploring this picturesque island. The fourth inhabited Dutch Wadden island, Ameland has around 3,500 residents between its four small villages. With varying landscapes from a growing complex of dunes to a long stretch of beach and fairytale island woods, Ameland showcases quiet diversity for visitors. Most travelers reach the island by ferry from the mainland, but for a truly unique experience, wait for low tide. As the waters ebb out to sea, you can walk between Friesland to Ameland across the sea channel.

Giethoorn

Weaved together by a series of canals and waterways, Giethoorn, a small village in the province of Overijssel, is known in the Netherlands as the “Venice of the North.” With lush trees and shrubs lining the canals, this road-less town of only around 3,000 residents is a beautiful getaway from the city. To avoid disturbing the peace and tranquility of this watery wonderland, citizens travel by foot, bike or “punters” – a type of boat powered by a quiet electric motor. Spanning the slowly moving water, around 50 little wooden bridges connect the village.

Have you been to any of these small towns with big personalities?

Photo Credit: Reflections, Delft, sub_lime79; Giethoorn, sara_vh.

Happy travels!

Photo credit: Room with a view, DavidBaum on Flickr.

Nonstop Delta flights from PDX to Amsterdam land you at the perfect gateway to continue on to other fantastic European destinations like Ireland.

Photo credit: 1la on Flickr.

1. Digital Camera

From ancient cathedrals to historic castles, photo-worthy destinations spring to life in Europe. Bring home thousands of delightful memories with your digital camera. Make sure to pack extra memory storage for your camera. Bring several cards with 8 GBs of memory total. These cards take very little space and by using more than one, you won’t lose all your trip photos if something happens to your camera.

2. Good walking shoes

While public transportation is wonderful throughout much of Europe, be ready for lots of walking – whether it is on guided tours or just roaming attractions. Trail running shoes offer needed walking support and are durable and versatile if you also want to incorporate any light hikes into your itinerary.

3. Refillable water bottle

Make sure to stay hydrated during your travels by packing a lightweight, refillable water bottle. You could also try one that has a built-in water filter to keep your water tasting fresh and clean even out of unfamiliar taps.

Travel Tip: Remember to empty your water bottle before entering airport security lines.

4. Power adapter and convertor

Before you leave for your European vacation, buy a power adapter and convertor. The convertor will reduce the 220 volt charge down to the typical 110 volt charge needed for U.S. based electronics. To accompany the convertor buy an adapter to change your cables to the correct prong size to fit the wall outlets. For items such as laptops, the power cables will already make this conversion for you, so read the labels carefully on all your electronics.

Visiting more than one country? Look into purchasing a world-wide adapter kit so that you will always have the right size plug.

5. Plastic bags

Tuck into your suitcase a handful of extra sealable quart sized plastic bags and one plastic grocery bag. These bags can be used to pack snacks on the road, carry your important travel documents in bad weather, and protect and organize your small items and toiletries. If you encounter wet weather, a larger plastic bag can also be used to wrap muddy clothing or shoes and keep the rest of your pack clean and dry.

Photo credit: Sony Compact Digital Camera, digitpedia; The Kleen Brigade, cogdogblog; Rock Creek Park Keens, Mr T. in DC.

1. Pre-plan

Before you start pulling clothing from the closet, take a few moments to research your packing needs. Check the upcoming weather report to forecast your clothing preferences. Also look online or call your hotel to see what free amenities are available on site such as soap, hair dryers, towels etc.

2. Multipurpose Packing

Bundle clothing to make mix-and-match outfits that can cross over for multiple occasions. For example a light-weight sweater can be paired casually with jeans or dressed up with a skirt or dress pants. Neutral colors also stretch out the matching possibilities by making it easier to pair multiple items together. Choose a pop of color or similar color hue to accompany the attire and fresh up each new pairing.

3. Downsize the Three S’s

Shoes, shampoo & shiny things: eliminate excess by simplifying these three problem packers.

• Shoes: Though it is tempting to pack shoes for every outfit, pack smart with shoes that not only work well with multiple outfits but are also space conscious such as sandals and less-bulky styles. For a short trip limit yourself to two pairs of shoes, one on your feet while you are flying and one in the bag.
• Shampoo: Bring travel size toiletries that fit just enough product for the length of your trip. The three ounce carry-on rule is a great way to plan even for your checked bag. You can also purchase these products at your destination to really save space.
• Shiny Things: Pack only the necessary electronics for your trip. Keep cables and chargers compact in a zip lock bag.

4. Pack with a Purpose and a Plan

Think of your bag like it’s a jigsaw puzzle. Strategically pack your bag using the space wisely. Place your heaviest items toward the bottom of the bag. Remember if it’s a rolling bag that the weight will shift when you lift it. Roll the t-shirts and pants to help reduce wrinkles and conserve space. Place delicate items flat on top. Also stuff small items like socks in your shoes and other open cavities.

5. Cut the Fat: The 10% Rule

Now that you have scrimped, stuffed and sacrificed, take everything you think you need for the trip and cut it another 10%. That means that sneaky extra pair of jeans or scarf that you tucked in at the last minute has got to go – but don’t worry, once you have reached your destination you won’t even miss it.

Do you have other tried and true tips for packing light? Let us know with a comment.

Photo credit: Suitcases, mikecogh; Suitcase, Lasse C.

If you’re feeling like channeling your inner chef for dinner tonight, check out this recipe for farfalle with lamb ragù, ricotta and mint. Bon Appetit!

Photo credit: Farfalle Ragu with parmesan, avlxyz.