By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— In Barcelona, and in fact all over Spain, the party seems to go on forever. While there are holidays, long vacations and festivals year-round in Spain, December is an especially merry month offering up nine days of “fiesta” instead of just the 25th and 31st/1st. So merry, it’s scary, » Read more

By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— With Christmas fast approaching, Romans are getting into gear spreading the holiday cheer. While you won’t see any street-corner Santas in Rome, that doesn’t mean Mamma Roma is a Grinch. The city has a long list of festive holiday activities, and almost all are free! Here’s a quick overview of » Read more

By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— If you’re playing Santa from Paris this year, you might be hard-pressed to find any elves to help you with your list. With overpriced Christmas markets and no sales until January, shopping for friends and family can be a daunting – not to mention costly – task. So for each » Read more

By Jessica Colley— Don’t worry about the cold – Christmas is the perfect time of year to travel to Europe, as the holiday season brings out old traditions, favorite songs, outdoor markets, and a variety of strategies for warming up. Dublin is no exception. This compact, walkable city is ideal for budget travelers looking to » Read more

By Nina Derham in London— While London has been known to disappoint during the summer months due to the lack of, well, summer, one thing this capital really knows how to do is winter. As autumn fades away and the temperature drops, London comes alive with sparkling lights, bustling shopping streets, cozy cafes and pubs » Read more

From Theadora Brack in Paris— Trekking to Paris during the months of November and December? If so, don’t miss the lights and “Vitrines de Noël” (holiday windows) on the hustling, bustling Boulevard Haussmann. The festive, gussied-up stroll both soothes and re-energizes my spirits every time. Yes, the lights are much brighter there! This year, however, » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— Snuggle tight, because it’s high time to throw a few ghost tales your way. It is, after all, Halloween today in the United States. So I thought we’d spend a minute discussing some of the women and men who haunt the most famous sights in Paris. Grab the flashlights, marshmallows » Read more

By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— Throughout the summer Barcelona neighborhoods throw local bashes which are something like a block party on steroids. Everyone from the barri, or “neighborhood,” gets involved in the festivities. Usually these parties will go on for a weekend or in some cases an entire week. It’s now too late to » Read more

By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— No box of chocolate See’s, no tacky stuffed bear, no lovey-dovey cards from Hallmark. Nope. The Catalans have an entirely different way of celebrating love: with books and roses. Men give one red rose (instead of a dozen) to their sweetie on St. Jordi’s Day, Barcelona‘s most romantic day » Read more