Benelux is an economic union of three neighbouring monarchies - Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Despite long-standing ties, each country's capital exudes its own unique charms.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a freewheeling open city with splendid architecture, lovely tree-lined canals , wonderful shopping, and friendly people.
Transport:getting there and getting away:
Schiphol airport is one of the world's biggest and offers extensive connections. Buses are economical and the train is very pleasant with direct connections to the UK. There are also ferries the UK and Norway.
Cycling is the best way to get around Amsterdam. Walking is fine too as the city is compact. However Amsterdam offers an efficient public transport system covering most of the city. Trams are good for the inner city. Central Station is the city's transport hub where tram, bus, train and metro lines converge.
Climate:
Amsterdam's delightful summers transforms it into a city of outdoor living. Winters, in contrast, are utterly miserable with cascading rain. Spring is wet but a time when the city's flora spring into colourful life.
Accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury resorts
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Amsterdam hotels
Events:what's on and what's hot
Events Overview
* The Silent Procession in March is a festival in which Catholics walk along the Holy Way in commemoration of the Miracle of Amsterdam.
*Queen's Day on 30 April sees a free market, street parties, live music.
*National Windmill Day is in May.
*The the country's biggest arts festival is the Holland Festival which runs throughout June.
*September is the time of the Flower Parade
*Traditional Dutch Christmas is held on 6 December.
Brussels
Brussels is best known for its status as main headquarters of the European Union and NATO. But there's much more to the city than meeting halls and bureaucrats. Brussels radiates a vibrant sophisticated feel reflected in its museums and art galleries. It's a hedonistic city too with a propensity for seafood, waffles, chocolate, truffles and foaming steins of good beer.
Transport:getting there and getting away
Brussels' main airport is Zaventem. A train makes the 25-minute run into the city every 15 minutes. Buses and taxis and also available.
Brussels has two main train stations: Bruxelles Midi-Brussel Zuid, to the south of the city core, and Bruxelles Central-Brussel Centraal, which is right next to the city centre. High speed Thalys trains connect Brussels with Cologne, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Eurolines offers bus travel to Brussels from London Victoria.
Getting around Brussels is easy. The city has 3 metro lines, many buses and several tram lines. Brussels also introduced short-term "CycloCity" rentals in 2006. But bear in mind that Brussels has many hills.
Climate:
Brussels is prone to grey, rainy weather. The warmest months are July and August then the temperature averages 22°C. Summer can be the wettest season though. Winter from November to March is a miserable time with the temperature around freezing and lashings of slush and sleet.
Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Brussels hotels
Events:what's on and what's hot
* Ommegang in July is a medieval-style procession within the illuminated Grand Place.
* August (even-numbered years) sees the flower carpet.
* The city swings at the annual Brussels Jazz Marathon (last weekend in May).
* The Grand Place, together with the Sablon and Place Ste Catherine, feature free al fresco concerts throughout the summer.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg seems a fairy tale kingdom with its quaint hamlets, green countryside and silver rivers. A landlocked country between Belgium, France and Germany, Luxembourg is the world's only Grand Duchy and one of the world's smallest countries.
Transport:getting there and getting away
Luxembourg International Airport is about four miles outside the city. Flights connect with London, Paris, Amsterdam, Zürich, and Frankfurt.
You can reach Luxembourg by train from Paris, Metz, Brussels and Trier.
Motorways from Metz, Brussels and Trier connect to the ring-road around Luxembourg City.
The city has a bus service most of which include the central bus station Hamilius and the Station in their routes. Bus tickets are bought from the driver.
Luxembourg is well suited for biking.
Climate:
Winters are relatively mild in Luxembourg though January and February can get very cold. The summer tends to get very hot with the mercury in July and August reaching around 35 C. Spring and autumn are delightful though rain is frequent.
Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Luxembourg hotels.
Events:what's on and what's hot
*The birthday of the Grand Duchess on 23 January 23 is celebrated with parades and fireworks.
*Burgsonndeg on 28 February celebrates the end of winter.
*National Day on 23 June celebrates the grand duke's birthday.
*Liberation Day on 9 September commemorates liberation by the Allies in 1945.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Benelux Countries - Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg
What To Do On Your Holidays In Luxembourg
Hectic work schedule and no time for luxurious activities? Is life getting dull and boring? Surely you need a break from all the day in day out activities. Why not take a vacation? Have you ever been to Luxembourg? It is the perfect holiday destination for all you nature lovers and sport enthusiasts.
Luxembourg is extremely popular with tourists who choose to go on holiday for a long weekend break or a long weekend of sight seeing as well as families who come to speak a week or two here.
Luxembourg is commonly known as Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and it borders France, Belgium and Germany. It is very small but one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Rolling hills and untouched forests make it a magnificent and glorious place for spending your holidays.
Luxembourg's weather is pleasant, known to have mild winters and cool summers. Sometimes, however the weather is quite unpredictable. Thundering and cloudy weather is not unusual here and rain is fairly common. There may be light to heavy rainfalls in March, April and May although the weather conditions are mostly erratic. You need to be prepared for all weather conditions when holidaying in Luxembourg.
There is a lot to explore in Luxembourg as it is also known as the city of myriad faces. The museums mirror the rich history and heritage of the country. Planning a holiday includes hiring a knowledgeable travel agent who should have the experience and knowledge of the history of the country. The majority of the population in Luxembourg speaks German and French, the guides generally speak a variety of languages including English. The history and culture of Luxembourg is truly fascinating, it has numerous museums and galleries where you can delve further into the history of this country.
There is no shortage of accommodation in Luxembourg, there are luxury self catering apartments and holiday villas that are available to rent direct from the holiday home owner. Tourists choose to rent a holiday home or holiday apartment and use this as a base to explore the local sites and attractions. It is recommendable to check availability and price of these rental homes, there are rentals available to accommodate all budgets.
Luxembourg is a well developed city and there are a huge number of activities there. It is an ideal location for sports enthusiasts. Some of the activities available include rock climbing and water sports. Snorkelling and diving are popular amongst tourists. Food is another important factor here, and you must try out the local cuisine while on holiday here. Wine tasting is another popular attraction in Luxembourg and tours are available, the south east of the country is the main area for wine tasting.
Famous Places in Luxembourg
In this country of lush scenery and tranquil environment, springs the charming contemporary sceneries and energetic bustles. Possessing a rich background, an evolving tradition and diverse arts, Luxembourg is a tiny country that sits for the really heart of Europe and continues to be a capital of Europe's economic integration.
Luxembourg can be a melting-pot of ancient beauty and of up-to-date charm. In its capital urban centre, Luxembourg Metropolis, several fortresses, cathedrals, and historical buildings and museums, can be viewed as you walked by their paved roads.
Luxembourg also boasts its Valley of Seven Castles in which the majority of the noblemen once resided. A 37-kilometer stretch Eisch valley showcases about the most vital cultural and historical treasures from the region. The valley utilized being a mining spot as exhibited by the varying caves wherever the relations of miners lived. The majority of the cultivation lands along the riverbanks with the valley have preserved their prime prehistoric appeal and are part of the biggest natural protected zone in Luxembourg. Adventures are also present in Eisch valley. A lot of hikers and cyclists are fascinated by the 200-kilometer serene streets and elaborated forest tracks.
Numerous leisure pursuits are likewise obtainable in the location like watching theaters, going to museums and fine art galleries, dining at 13-star restaurants and going to spas. The Philharmonie Luxembourg Concert Hall, Museum of Modern Art Grand-Duc Jean MUDAM and Mondorf le Domain Thermal Spa are a couple of the modern day infrastructures wherever entertainment and relaxation are at their finest. Luxembourg is in addition the place for many Michelin-star restaurants where a mixed French and German gastronomy is served. All these modern spots can be viewed whilst enjoying an unforgettable journey at the underground caverns of Casemates on the Petrusse Valley.
Luxembourg is some 50-mile long and 30-mile wide, that is why it is not tough to tour around the country. One of the better ways to take pleasure from picturesque structures and sights is via walking. The Wenzel Walk gives you the chance to can go back to a millennium packed with historical past in only 100 minutes. Enjoy also a panoramic spree at Europe's finest balcony, Chemin de la Corniche, where magnificent river valley and old town landscapes are explored and where the city's nightlife is at.
Outside the urban centre, you possibly can also enjoy strolling and biking at Moselle Valley which results in winding paths of vineyards, at Ardennes where by verdant meadows and thick foliage of pines await, and at Mullerthal Region known for its stunning rock formations.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Travel Tips to European Countries: Luxembourg
One of the Europe’s smallest sovereign states is The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The north part of the country is blessed with greenery and hills. The Ardennes provides great scenic view. The country is small and all the tourist attractions are within reachable limits. It snows during the winters in Luxembourg, but isn’t as cold as its neighboring countries and the summer is warm which comes in May and lasts till September. Incase of emergency dial 112 or 113.
Culture
Generally handshake is used to greet people. Although majority of the locals speak English, Letzeburgesch is the national language of Luxembourg. French and German is also spoken by many Luxembourgers. When appearing as a guest at someone’s house, it is a good practice to bring along gift or flowers. People are expected to dress in smart casuals, but it would be best to turn up in formals when attending social functions, or clubs. It’s not advised to smoke in public places.
Shopping
Crystals and porcelains of Villeroy and Boch are very famous and the earthenware pottery from Nospelt is a shopper’s must have item from Luxembourg. VAT of 15% is applied to all items purchased other than that from campground, hotel, and restaurant, which charge 3%. Tipping is exempted.
Site Seeing
The capital, Luxembourg is a place to be. Stay for a day or tea to explore the city. Village of Viaden has a cliff top castle which is a famous landmark.
Taxis can be hired to move around the city. They charge 10% extra from 10 pm to 6 am and if hired on Sunday, an extra 25% extra will be charged if hired for the whole day.
Accommodations
Luxembourg has many luxurious hotels, most of which are located in Lux City. Other options are guesthouses which are beautifully decorated with flower and plants.
Travel
The national airline which operates here is Luxair. There are flights from London to Luxembourg every hour. The Luxembourg airport is at a distance of 5km from the city and it takes about 20 minutes to reach there. There are provisions such as duty free shops, bank, tourism information and car hire for the passengers.
Eurostar provides a fast railway service from London, Paris, Belgium, France or Brussels to Luxembourg. Bookings can be made via telephone and £5 fee is charged for telephonic booking. Check out for offers which are provided on some of the routes. To travel within the country, Inter-Rail pass can be bought which gives the offer of unlimited train travel for 29 countries of Europe.
When driving on road, it is recommended to take the train or ferry service when passing the channel between Dover and Calais. Check out for vacancy before hand especially during the rush hours. While driving, drivers should stay on the right side and there are strict rules for drinking while driving and seat belt.
Duty Free Items
1. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
2. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of sparkling wine or 2liter of liqueur wine and 2liter of non-sparkling wine
3. 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
4. 500g of coffee and 200g of coffee extract
5. 100g of tea and 40g of tea extract
6. Tobacco and Alcohol can be carried by visitors over 17 years of age only.
