Zeeuwse Mussels: The Rolls Royce of Mussels

I'm a big fan of mussels, but when it comes to mussels I can't get no satisfaction in American restaurants. First of all, most of the time the mussels aren't fresh or else they are just mediocre. But worst of all, the portions are small. Either you get about a dozen as an appetizer or else you get small and unsatisfying portion as a main course. 

One Happy Daughter

 So if you're a mussel lover, you haven't lived until you've had  Zeeuwse mussels. They are from the Dutch coastal region Zeeland and are of the very best quality. Zeeuwse mussels are just a whole different ballgame than any mussels you've ever had. But be careful, once you've had Zeeuwse mussels, you'll never by happy with any other mussels again. It's like the difference between a round steak and a filet mignon.

You can get Zeeuwse mussels in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The best place to order mussels are in mussel houses. Two things to look for:

• The outside menu must specifically state they feature Zeeuwse mussels

•  That the menu offers all you can eat mussel orders. 

 
There are good mussel restaurants that offer all you can eat Zeeuwse mussels and all you can eat french fries for between 20 euros and 30 euros.We were in Zeeland with my cousin Roger from Belgium and we had incredible all you can eat Zeeuwse mussels and fries for 20 Euros. However, Zeeuwse mussels aren't available all year round.  In the old days mussels were in season in each month that had an 'R' in it. Now the season runs from July until April for the 'Zeeuwse' mussels. So don't expect mussels in May or June.

Joanne's Disappointing Meal

A word of caution, mussel restaurants offer other dishes besides mussel for members of your group that aren't into mussels. From our experience these other alternatives are either pedestrian or flat our disappointing. My wife Joanne has had that happen twice. After tasting our mussels, she vowed from now on she'd order mussels too (in fact, she's been converted into a mussels lover!)

Let us know if you've gone to any exceptional mussel houses and where they were.

Save on Air Line Luggage Fees: 6 Tips on Picking Lightweight Luggage

Image Courtesy of Stanley Howe - Wiki Commons

In international travel, your flight is one of your biggest expenses. Not only is the dollar at one of its lowest levels ever but air line ticket prices keep rising because of higher fuel costs and security administration costs. So the last thing  you need is the gotcha of overweight luggage fees. One of the best ways to reduce your luggage weight is to buy lightweight luggage.  I know it sounds pretty obvious but many people don't realize how much the weights of various luggage brands can vary. 

Lightweight Luggage is specially designed to be lighter than standard luggage. Not only does lightweight luggage reduce baggage fees but lightweight luggage is often discounted, so you save even more. Lightweight luggage also reduces the strain and fatigue of carrying your luggage around while traveling. So here's what to look for in lightweight luggage:

• Lightweight luggage made of aluminum or canvas may save you up to 7 pounds per bag but they are very expensive leaving it up to you whether they are worth the price.

•  Beware of leather luggage: only certain kinds such as split-leather can be called lightweight.

• Sleek and compact styles that can be stowed easily in an overhead cabin or under a car seat.

• Lightweight suitcases that meet carry on size and weight requirements. This eliminates checked baggage fees and needing to wait for your luggage to be unloaded.

• The best lightweight luggage to reduce strain and fatigue are suitcases, garment bags, rolling duffel bags and laptop bags made with nylon or vinyl; these are lightweight but durable enough to protect your belongings.

• Some of the lightest luggage brands on the market (that do not sacrifice quality) include Antler Luggage, Eagle Creek Luggage  and International Traveller Luggage.

What's your favorite luggage and why do you like it?

Traveling to France: Obscure Holidays Can Leave You Homeless

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There are some quirks to traveling in France that you need to be aware of or you might end up stranded and homeless for a few days. Although the French aren’t the most religious people in the world, the one part of their faith they cling to is their religious holidays. We arrived in France in late May and headed straight to a great hotel recommended to us in the Loire Valley. The room was beautiful, the food was great and the owner was charming. It was a great start to our trip.

Unfortunately, when we tried to extend our stay the owner said we could only stay one night because he was booked for the Pentecost. He tried diligently to get us reservations elsewhere but every place was booked. The next day after visiting a few chateaus in the Loire we went off looking for lodgings. We spent hours looking in the Loire Valley and finally ended up getting a room in Tours, a major city near the Loire Valley. From there, we headed toward the Dordogne and were lucky to find a place in some god forsaken village around 8pm the following night.

During holiday periods and especially in July and August, train and hotel reservations should be made as far ahead as possible. Through personal experience, I’ve learned that there are holidays in France you never thought of that make it almost impossible to get a hotel room and maybe problems in getting a seat on train. Holidays to watch out for include: Labor Day (May 1), VE Day Europe (May 8), Whit Monday (May 19), Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter), Pentecost (50 days after Easter.) Bastille Day (July 14), Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (August 15), all Saints Day (Nov 1) and Armistice Day (Nov 11).

Travel Europe by Plane: Pros and Cons

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Europe’s extensive network of railroads was once the only affordable option for traveling around the continent, but this is no longer the case. Discount airlines like Ryanair and easyJet have made jetting around Europe quicker and cheaper; in fact, Ryanair often offers sales with fares as low as under $10.

Should you use planes rather than trains? The answer: it depends. For one thing, air travel has hidden costs. Even if you do get an incredibly affordable flight, government taxes and fees bump the price up around 25 or 30 Euros. Then comes the airlines' own fees which can add anywhere from 10 Euros to 200 Euros (ex. Baggage fees, sports equipment storage, musical equipment storage, reservation fees etc.)

Planes are ideal if your destinations on your travel itinerary are far apart such as London and Vienna. Sometimes taking the train can eat up as much as 30 to 40 hours of your vacation time. These vacation hours can cost even more than spending a couple of hundred extra dollars to take a plane instead of train. In the London-Vienna case, is it worth loosing 1 or 2 vacation days to save $200? That will depend upon your budget, the length of your vacation and how much you enjoy the train ride.

Additionally, discount airlines tend to fly into secondary airports that are an hour or more outside of the city you're trying to visit. Trains, on the other hand, typically arrive in or near the center of town, and usually link up easily with the city's mass transportation system. So flying in some circumstances can cost you both time and money.

Travel Europe: For the Budget-Minded - Hotel or Night Train?

Photo of Couchette Courtesy of Wiki Commons

Although your Eurail pass includes discounts on many hotels, one advantage of a Eurail Pass is that you can save on hotel expenses by taking long trips and sleeping on the train. Most European cities that are at least 7 hours apart by rail are connected by night trains.

HOTELS

The good news is, with your Eurail Pass you can get discounted rates in many major European hotels. The bad news is that the discounts almost always apply to the hotels' sky-high standard rates. The final price may still be higher than if you book on line through such services as Expedia and Priceline or find your hotel at your destination. Depending upon the quality of hotel or train accommodations you select, there is no guarantee that train accommodations cost less than hotels. The ultimate value is the quality of rest you get for money spent.

NIGHT TRAIN SLEEPING OPTIONS

SEATS are the cheapest way to travel overnight. These are airline type seats with toilets and sinks at one end of the car. Reservations cost around 13 euros. It's like sleeping on a plane, the amount of rest you get is problematic. Unless you are extremely budget-minded, spend roughly an extra 18 euros and get a couchette so you don't wander around Europe like a zombie.

COUCHETTES are the overwhelming choice of most budget travelers. 2nd class couchettes cost roughly a little over 30 euros. The compartment has two benchlike seats during the day with 3 people sitting on each side. and two  top bunks up near the ceiling. At night, the back of each bench snaps up to become a middle bunk. Couchette cars have toilets and sinks at one end of the couchette car, but no showers. Couchette cars are not gender specific and not available on all trains

SHOWERS: Some night trains offer corridor showers and nearly all large train stations have showers that are inexpensive.

Travel Europe by Train

Photo of the Antwerp Station Courtesy of Wiki Commons

Traveling by train is my favorite way to travel in Europe. There is nothing I like better than sitting on my butt and doing nothing (after all, it’s a vacation isn’t it?) Additionally, people of all ages and economic backgrounds travel by train and it can be fun sharing a conversation, meal or refreshment with other passengers while leisurely enjoying the scenery. Also, trains are convenient because they take you directly to the city center.

Especially in Western and Central Europe, the trains are fast, efficient and cost-competitive with flying. High-speed trains like the French TGV, the German ICE, the Spanish AVE and the cross-border Eurostar and Thalys services speed along at up to 320 km/h (200 mph) and, when taking into account travel time to the airport and back, are often faster than taking the plane.







Unfortunately, individual train tickets are expensive, especially in Western Europe. That's why a Eurail or Britrail pass is a cost-effective option. There are many different rail passes available for Europe, and you should research your options before purchasing a rail pass. Learn more about Eurail here.

Rail Travel Tip

To save money you might also want to consider the option of taking a night train, especially for long-distance travel. You won’t be able to enjoy the scenery, but you save the cost of a hotel room. The supplement for a sleeper car, where you share a compartment of bunk beds with other travelers, generally costs much less than a hotel room, and by traveling at night you also gain an extra travel day to explore your destination. Learn more about train sleep options here.

My favorite way to travel by train is to rent an apartment in a city or town I like and then take daily train trips to other cities in the country. I don’t have to tot luggage because I go back to my apartment when the day is done. Additionally, most countries offer very economical train passes for traveling within their borders. For example, Belgium has booklets of 10 tickets for about 80 Euros (8 Euros per ticket) and you can go anywhere in Belgium on a ticket. You can go all the way from Antwerp to the far reaches of the Ardennes (no problem.) You can also stop at any city or town between your starting town and final destination as long as you document it on your ticket. What is even better is you can share the tickets in your booklet with other people. You don’t need a booklet for each traveler.

But there is a downside to train travel. First of all, it’s hard and time-consuming to reach quaint country villages by train. Also, you have to pack light because you have to drag your baggage with you wherever you go (Just like Jacob Marley in the Christmas Carol had to drag his heavy chains of sins he had forged link by link around for eternity.)

Also, trains can’t compare to car rentals when you’re traveling with little tots and babies. You don't have to worrying about keeping track of your children around busy train stations and airports or having to carry them along with your luggage when they fall asleep or are just plain tired.

The kids can sleep comfortably and undisturbed, you can stop and let them out when they get restless, and finally you can easily carry and access their needed clothes, toys and other paraphernalia. Also, a car is a practical and economical refuge from sudden rain storms.

Travel Europe: Renting a Car in Europe (Pros and Cons)

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Renting a car in Europe is the best option if you want independence and flexibility. You can stop where ever you like, whenever you like and have access to even the most remote villages and rural areas.  Furthermore, you don't have to tot your luggage around. Just leave it in your car until you get to your accommodations.

Cars are often the best option for groups of 2 or more because you only have the expense of renting one car rather than buying multiple rail passes or plane tickets. It's also ideal for families with children. You don't have to worrying about keeping track of your children around busy train stations and airports or having to carry them along with your luggage when they fall asleep or are just plain tired. 

If your itinerary requires you to travel long distances (400 to 600 miles) on given days, driving can become a burdensome chore that basically costs you a travel day (especially if you drive on generic autobahns.) It's much more pleasant to relax on a train or take a quick flight. Then, when arrive you can rent a car to explore the local area. Also, driving in European cities is difficult and not for ribbon clerks.  Parking is almost impossible to find, making a car a liability in the city. If you are traveling alone, rental cars aren't particularly cost-effective especially considering the price of renting a car and fuel prices in Europe. It takes at least two travelers to make it practical and pleasant.