Columns

February 2009 issue

Three flags over Europe

By Rick Steves

One of the things that charms me about traveling through Europe is its ethnic variety. Hop on a train and two hours later you step into a different culture, different language and different heritage.

As Europe united, I feared its ethnic diversity would be threatened, but I find just the opposite is happening. In Europe there are three loyalties: to your region, to your nation and to Europe.

Ask a person from Munich where he’s from and he’ll say, “I’m Bavarian” or “I’m German” or “I’m European,” depending on...

December 2009 issue

Wearing a green T-shirt under a blue work shirt, I was about to depart for Europe. At my farewell breakfast — one last eggs-any-style — my stylish, college-aged daughter said to me, “You look like a scrub. Okay if you’re painting a house.”

Whether I’m a scrub or not, my bag is light. As compartmentalized as a TV dinner, it includes a folding board with four shirts and an extra pair of pants; bags for small garments, such as underwear and five pairs of socks (wear each for two days and wash all every 10 days); a tiny toiletries kit; electronics (...

May 2014 issue

Ten cities with the worst air pollution, plus more

By David Tykol

Ten cities with the worst air pollution. US Secure Flight system grants some people expedited security screening without their applying for the Pre√TM program. CheapAir.com determined how far in advance of a flight a traveler should purchase his ticket in order to get the lowest airfare.

May 2014 issue

What if I get sick abroad?

By Philip Wagenaar

What would you do if you got sick abroad or if your previously stable medical condition worsened abroad?

While much has been printed in ITN about travel health insurance, little has been written about the measures you should take proactively to get the best medical care when abroad. Below, I will indicate these measures.

Parts of the following information have been paraphrased from http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel and other CDC sites. I purposely have omitted information about travel insurance.

PREVENTION

Contact card

Prepare a contact card with the email...

May 2014 issue

Avoiding scams and pickpockets

By Rick Steves

The Louvre is Europe’s oldest, biggest, greatest and second-most-crowded museum (after the Vatican). It is home to Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Michelangelo statues, and paintings by the greatest artists from the Renaissance to the Romantics. Lately, it is also home to groups of pickpockets. It got so bad that in April 2013 the museum staff walked out in protest. The Louvre had to close for a day, and the management finally beefed up police patrols.

Europe is a surprisingly creative place when it comes to petty thievery and travel scams. Tourists, especially Americans, are easy...

July 2014 issue