“You won’t look like this lost tourist with Bus2Alps” read the sign, as I walked through the Rutger’s Involvement Fair.
My outfit for the “lost tourist,” safari hat and all, was a visual representation of what will never happen with Bus2Alps. With us you will never be staring at maps (and missing the scenery) or frantically asking friends where to find the cheapest hostel in Prague! We have already thought out these details so you can enjoy every second of your journey abroad.
Bus2Alps has scoured Europe for that food you can’t miss out on with the deal you can’t pass up. Your nights will be spent dancing with friends, not attempting to plan your next day (that’s already done!) Sprint and sweat to catch the train? Or walk along with your cool, calm and collected tour guide to your comfy bus? Pretty easy decision! So remember, check your worries at the door and come along with Bus2Alps! Where you’ll never be the lost tourist.
You know, when I think of the word “culture”, a lot of things come to mind… Traditions and customs, languages, music, clothing, history, architecture, the arts. But I must admit: the number one thing that I think of is always FOOD! There are so many delicious, exquisite, to-die-for, unbelievably tasty foods in all of these amazing places you will be visiting in Europe this semester. It’s something to definitely get excited for. Yes, you can learn a lot about a city by visiting the museums, speaking with the locals, and checking out the historic sites, but you can also learn from sitting in a restaurant, visiting a roadside food stand, posting up in a cafe, and shopping in the markets. You aren’t allowed to leave Europe without tasting:
1. Schweinshaxe: a.k.a. “Pork Knuckle”.
I know what you’re thinking. Pork Knuckle? Are you sick? But trust me! This Bavarian dish will make you weak in the knees. Like, falling-off-your-chair-good. I first tried it at Munich’s Oktoberfest and I plan on eating it at least once a day during my time at Springfest this April & May. Get a little side of potato dumplings & red cabbage and you won’t be able to stop smiling for hours (especially with a big stein of bier to wash it down). Austin, the Bus2alps Rome master, says the best place to get some schweinshaxe is at the Chinese Tower on Munich’s famous bike tour.
When I first visited France, I was sure nobody would be able to convince me to eat a SNAIL. I was pretty set with that. However, I had a realization that I was in France. Like, the country France. And I wasn’t sure if I would ever be back again. So I decided to take advantage of my opportunity at hand. I mentally prepared myself, took a deep breath, and ate it. And my life has never been the same. Baked in garlic, butter, and herbs, escargot is absolutely scrumptious. I eat it every time I’m in France now. I recommend eating some up in Montemartre amongst the Sacre Coure, overlooking the city. And then get a big nutella & almond crêpe for dessert. Crêpes in Paris are so legit & it’s socially acceptable to eat more than one a day, so don’t worry.
Yes. You heard me. I said fried cheese. It’s called Smazný sýr (a.k.a. Smaz). You’ll see these cheese stands outside some of the big nightclubs, waiting for everyone to stumble off the dance floor and into the arms of the Cheese Man. A lot of Czech food is focused around tasting good with beer, or tasting good after being drunk off beer. They take their beer verrrry seriously (they claim to have invented it!) Whether this is true or not, I don’t know for sure. But I DO know that it’s seriously delicious, strong, and cheap
Goulash originates in Hungary, so this is THE place to eat it. It’s a soup or stew of meat, noodles, spices, potatos, and other vegetables. Suuuuper hearty & tasty! A great plate to get your energy back after swimming in the thermal pools, and spelunking like Batman.
Hot pork sausage, usually sliced up and served with warm curry ketchup..You can find it at lots of food stands throughout the city, usually mit pommes (with french fries). It’s the perfect snack to grab on your way to the East Side Gallery or the TV Tower. Cheap and delicious. Just the way I like it…uhhh..yeah..moving on…
The fresh fish from Split is nothing to joke about. It’s fresh ta deaf. It will flake right off the bone & melt in your mouth. And you might not know that Croatia is actually very much into their wine. Team Barcelona’s travel specialist, Tara says it’s a perfect meal to enjoy after a day of island hopping or playing in the Krka Waterfalls. You know, the usual.
hahaha let’s face it, no matter what it is, you’re gonna think it’s the best tasting thing in the world. My recommendations after the coffee shops? Nachos, pancakes, or maybe even nachos inside pancakes. Seriously, just eat anything.
The Swiss are known for their cheese fondue, so take part in the tradition! Gather around the table with friends, potatoes, and bread. Light the flame and dip into the warmed, Swiss cheese goodness. Hint: You’re supposed to scrape the bottom of the pan each time you dip, or else the cheese at the bottom will burn. But that’s actually the best part, so snag it before someone else does! Also, Rösti is a must-have in Switzerland…made of grated potato, either cooked or raw, and fried into round patties. Sometimes, other ingredients are added, such as bacon, cheese, onion, apple, or herbs. Knock both off the list by going Night Sledding–it’s included in the package & it’s the best meal to have while warming up in the lodge.
So get out there. Start traveling and enjoy the food! Your Bus2alps guides know all of the best places to get delicious, affordable eats, so don’t hesitate to ask for some recommendations. Be brave & step out of your comfort zone to try new things. You just might love it.
Europe is a wonderland – some study abroad students see it as one massive playground and they’re ready for the thrills. You can travel to tons of different places, experience old cultural traditions and taste new dishes, all while learning a lot about yourself along the way.
The opportunity to travel this much at such a ripe age is absolutely incredible. Don’t let it get tainted by getting scammed or lost in a foreign city. It just might ruin your time there.
There are a number of things you can do to be overly prepared and cautious in your travels:
- Keep your hostel address and phone number on you at all times.
- Make sure you have enough credit on your phone before leaving your home city.
- Carry cash in multiple places on your body and belongings – not just one pocket.
- Make copies of your passport and credit cards.
- Listen to your gut in uncomfortable situations.
These are all important precautions to take, but one thing that can ensure your safety is traveling with experienced guides and in groups.
Mom might be hesitant on giving the thumbs up for a Morocco trip, but you can reassure her that you’re going to be in a group the whole time with experienced Bus2alps leaders and local Moroccan guides. They will look out for you and take you to the safest, best places… That will go a long way!
Come to Morocco, Budapest, Greece, Krakow, and any other major European city with Bus2alps and know that you will always have someone looking out for you, leading you to the local gems, staying out of the bad areas, and being available 24/7 in case something happens.
So tie up those laces and hit the playground, all of Europe awaits.
This spring is going to be the best semester of your college career. But you already know this, right? Well one thing you may not realize is that it’s super beneficial for you to start planning ahead, especially when it comes to trips involving flights. If you know you want to go to Paris in February and Scotland in March, then you will save yourself some serious dough if you begin looking up flights well in advance. Prices for flights will only keep going up as the date draws nearer and nearer, so it’s in your wallet’s best interest to get on the ball now.
Get a calendar out in front of you, sharpen your pencil, and start thinking about where you really want to travel this semester. And use your resources! If you need help looking up flights, ask a Bus2alps rep…we’re always more than happy to help you out. Happy planning!
You’re finally abroad! It’s time to embrace all that is Europe and with that all that is travel. Your dream trip to Greece or Paris awaits you…but only if you plan smart. Don’t get stuck missing out because you have skipped too many classes. Regardless of what your schedule is most programs allow you to miss a certain number of classes and after the allotted number is used grade reductions will be made.
You are abroad. You will go out to the wee hours of the morning. You will wake up hung over. Suck it up and don’t ever skip class for these reasons. That’s what Starbucks is for. When you are riding camels in Morocco, chilling around the Eiffel Tower, or island hopping in Greece you will be happy you used your allotted skips for trips and not nursing a hangover. Ciao.
No matter how much they struggled, they never would have missed a class they didn't have to
Aer Lingus has slashed prices on many of their flights to Dublin. Aer Lingus wants you to “get the year off to a flying start” with flights as low as 39 euro from many of Europe’s major cities. You must book your flight by January 20th to get in on the sale action. The sale is on flights departing and arriving in Dublin between January 9th and March 12.
If you are hunting for that cheap flight for the Bus2alps February 16th Ireland trip, you should be riding with Aer Lingus.
Below are the sale details from several of the major cities in Europe. In addition you can view all flights on the Aer Lingus website.
Don’t be victim of the dreaded pick pocket – we’re here to make sure you don’t
What an incredibly exciting time this is for you. You’re finally in Europe (or are getting here very shortly) to begin the best semester of your life on the old, fun side of the pond. In the next few weeks, you’re going to be out and about, exploring your new home cities and soaking it all in. Yes! Go out and see it all, visit those iconic buildings, historic monuments, and popular sites. Definitely. But one big tip to always keep in mind is that you need to be very aware of your surroundings when you’re in these places. There are people who make their entire living off of targeting unsuspecting people in tourist spots around these cities and executing scams or pick pocketing strikes. Guys, keep your wallets in a safe place, not just hanging out of your back pocket. Girls, zip up your purses and hold one hand on them at all times, in front of you, not on your side or behind you. When approached by someone, be very cautious and hold onto your things very tightly. If your gut is telling you to get out of a situation, just be polite and walk away. You can try to blend in all you want, but at the end of the day a lot of people are going to know you’re American. That’s completely fine though! Have fun. Just be careful, smart, and aware of those around you & enjoy these times exploration and discovery.
You’re all embarking on your semester in Europe and rumor has it Europe is an extremely easy place to get around. Maybe you have heard the same and chose to study abroad in Europe for this exact reason. Here are some travel tips we at Bus2alps use when studying or traveling abroad that will help you to better take advantage of cheap and easy ways to explore your new backyard.
1) Book early - Many airlines, tour companies, and trains release ridiculously cheap fares months in advance. If you plan ahead you can reap the benefits of cheaper deals. In addition, many tours, flights, and trains fill up quickly, especially on popular weekends like Oktoberfest. Don’t live vicariously through your friend’s photos of Prague get out there and take your own!
2) Go where you want - As a social society, it is natural to want to be with a group of your close friends. However, not all your friends or roommates are interested in traveling to the same places or on the same dates as you. Don’t let this deter you from going to a destination you truly desire! If the idea of navigating Europe solo freaks you out, join a group tour. Venturing out on your own gives you the opportunity to meet friends you may never have met otherwise, while sharing the beauty of the French Riviera or Paris.
3) Always travel with your original passport - If you have left your study abroad country yet, you have realized the sad truth that since the European Union became so friendly, the days of stacking up stamps in your passport are over. That being said, you still ALWAYS need your original passport for border crossings. Do not get stuck at the border because you thought a copy would suffice.
4) Get outside the norm - Surely Europe has the definitive destinations you must visit while here. How could four months in Europe be complete without visiting at least one or two of its major cities, like Paris, Amsterdam, London, or Barcelona? Of course you should check these out, but keep in mind the less visited destinations like Budapest or Croatia, which offer incredible experiences at a fraction of the cost.
5) Money, money, money - Whether your budget is big or small, keep in mind that you are already in Europe; the most expensive part of the trip, the flight from the United States, has already been covered. As your time abroad winds down, you may be crunched for cash. Don’t let this deter you from checking out one or two more destinations you truly want to visit! You may not think you have that extra 200 euro to spend now, but keep in mind it will cost you over $1,000 to fly back at a future date. Take advantage of exploring Europe while you’re here!
Back in the US we enjoy a formulaic way of tipping which we’re used to. Living and traveling in Europe will present you with a few questions when it comes to showing your appreciation for a service. It’s not the same in every country, or situation, so we’ll go through several countries and circumstances to help you out.
Taxis- usually just round up or tip 1-2 euros, but don’t tip if they’ve driven you around in circles or otherwise tried to take advantage of you. Be aware that fares can change if you have lots of luggage or are riding at night.
Bars – Tips are not expected at bars, but if it’s your first time at a particular bar and you want to go back, it may be a good idea to tip a euro or two after your first drink because it’ll usually mean they’ll help get you another one more quickly. If you become a local at a place, then it’s fine to tip a few euro at the end with your tab.
Restaurants:
Italy – waiters get paid well and don’t work for tips the way they do in the America. You also might notice a cover or service charge on the bill already (coperto, or servizio). Standard is to pay a euro per person (or up to 10%) if you liked the meal, and pay the tip with cash even if you paid for the meal with a card (the waiter wouldn’t otherwise get the tip).
Spain – just like Italy, except as of Jan 2, 2012 their waiters are better at soccer
Great Britain and Ireland – check to see that a service charge hasn’t already been added, if not then tip 10-15%
France – service charge usually included, so just round out bill with small change
Germany, Czech Republic, and Hungary – restaurants typically expect a 10% tip
Switzerland – service charge is included already, so tip a small amount if the service was exceptional (round to the next Swiss franc if a small amount and a couple francs if it was larger)
Tipping is not necessary for cafes or snack shops.
Want to have your Bus2alps travel stories published on the Bus2alps blog for your entire traveling community to see? Send the link of your blog to mike@bus2alps.com for a chance to featured on the Bus2alps blog. You could win a free trip!
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