Romantic Europe River Cruise Destinations

Find below some of the popular European river cruises 2011: 

Danube River 
Discover the vast history and culture along the banks of the beautiful blue Danube River. The second longest river in Europe, the Danube flows through ten countries with numerous historical sites, Gothic cathedrals, exquisite vineards, and medival towns.
Cities include: Passau, Grein, Melk, Durnstien, Vienna, Bratislava, Esztergom, Budapest, Bezdan, Mohacs, Belgrade, Orsova, Turnu Severin, Giugiu, Ruse, Olteniza, Constanta, Tulcea and more.

 

Elbe River 
Discover days of a bygone era as you cruise down the Elbe River. Historic cities and quaint villages mingle with nature along its picturesque banks.
Cities include: Berlin, Dresden, Magdeburg, Meissen, Potsdam, Prague, Oderberg, Wittenberg, Stettin, Stralsund, and Eberswalde, just to name a few.
Gironde, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers Discover Bordeaux, an exceptional region as you cruise along the mighty rivers of the Gironde, the Garonne and Dordogne.
Cities include: Pauillac, The Medoc, Libourne, Saint Emilion, Blaye, Cadillac.

Holland Waterways
As you cruise down the waterways of Holland you'll discover charming towns vibrant with colors from gardens overflowing with tulips and other fragrant flowers.
Cities include: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hoorn, Volendam, Utrecht, Kampen, Drodrecht, Middleberg, Enkuizen and many more.




Mekong River
Discover the diversity of the most exciting river in South East Asia and the cities, towns and temples along its shores.
Cities include: Hanoi, Siem Reap, Angkor, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh, Sa Dec, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)


Portugal - Douro River 

Cruises A cruise along the Douro offers the best views of the terraced vineards that surround cities rich in culture and history. You will quickly discover why so many of the cities it have become world herritage sites as you explore their palaces, marvel at their medival monuments and sample their world famous Port wine.
Cities include: Porto, Regua, Pinhao, Guimares, Braga, Vila Real, Lamego, Barca D'Alva & Bitetos.


Rhine River
You will become enchanted by the many exquisite castles that line the banks of this majestic river. Flowing through the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, the Rhine River has alot to offer with surprises at every turn.
Cities include: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Arnheim, Basel, Cologne, Mainz, Strasbourg, Cochem, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Ghent, Koblenz, Mannheim, Regensburg, Rotterdam, Speyer, Trier, and these are just the beginning.

 





Rhone River

Discover the romance of France while criusing down the Rhone River, past fields of sunflowers, sunny vineards and intoxicating of lavender. The Burgundy and Provence regions of Southern France host traquil towns, grand cities and the gastronomic capital of France: Lyon.
Cities include: Arles, Avignon, Chalon-sur-Saone, Lyon, Macon, Trevoux, Vienne, The Ardeche, Beune, The Camargue, Perouges, Turon and many more.


 

Best Nude Beaches in Europe

Always wondering what is a nude beach. It is now your chance to travel to the best nude beaches of Europe. The naked body amazes most of us. Seen as a source of visual evil by puritans, the human nude form has inspired artists and writers everywhere. Europeans are less likely than Americans to view the human body as evil. You'll see nudity at most any beach along the Mediterranean, or at least toplessness. That's the reason when Forbes released their Top Topless Beaches, 3 of ten are found in Europe. Find below some of the Best Nude Beaches in Europe:

Plage de Tahiti - Tahiti Beach in Saint Tropez, France

Saint Tropez is known for its beaches, and there are plenty of options for folks with families who wish to keep their modesty intact. The Côte d'Azur town is packed in summer. Avoid arriving on weekends, especially if you don't have hotel reservations.

Brigitte Bardot and Ursula Andress started the craze in itty bitty bikinis that shocked even the Europeans in the 50s. By the 60s, the trend toward toplessness became a steamroller, and now just about any beach along the Riviera is topless tolerant.

Plage de Tahiti is noted for its clothing-optional policy and risqué atmosphere, its name a tip of the hat to laid back (French) Polynesian culture. Go in Summer to see celebrity tanners.

Paradise Beach - Mykonos Greece

Mykonos is the most popular island destination in Greece. In the summer it's crowded and a bit expensive. You reach it by plane or ferry from Athens. Mykonos is also the name of the port city, where you'll want to stay if you're a partying beach-goer.

Paradise Beach can be reached from Mykonos town by bus, taxi, water taxi, or rented car or moto. One observant and math-savvy reader pointing out that it's "50% topless and 30% nude. All ages...teen to 70." This isn't your star gazing, relaxing bit of sandy shore, especially after 4pm when the beer and music turn Paradise Beach into the ultimate party beach. There are two bars at the beach, the Sunrise Bar and the Tropicana. Once a month in the summer they hold a full moon party at Paradise beach, so check your moon calendar if you like to party.

Playa d’en Bossa - Ibiza, Spain

Nudism is part of your rights in Spain. Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands. Spanish company Trasmediterranea has a regular ferry service between Ibiza and the ports of Barcelona, Palma de Majorca and Valencia. Ibiza has a long history -it was founded by the Carthaginians in 654 bce. Its walls were built in the 16th century.

Playa d'en Bossa (Platja d’en Bossa) is the longest beach on Ibiza, a place know for hedonism and beaches, 3 km outside of the capital. Its popularity has caused it growing pains recently, but that means there's plenty of bars and cafes on the beach, which is very popular with partygoers heading over to the Bora Bora beach bar as well as families.

Best Travel City Destinations in Europe

There are lots of debate around this question "What are the best travel destinations in Europe" and none can answer with an exact list of the so called best tourist destinations in Europe. Below what we tried is to list some travel destinations in Europe in a random order:

Florence, Italy

Who Should Go Florence, Italy:

Art Lovers, Renaissance historians and pretenders with an eye for style, Leather Handbag Shoppers with high credit limits. 

Best Time to Visit Florence, Italy: Spring or fall is the best time to visit Florence. Sane wanderers avoid summer in Florence (and the thundering herds) like the plague.

What to See in Florence, Italy: Florence's most famous square is Piazza della Signoria, the heart of the historic center and a free open-air sculpture exhibit. Florence's most popular site is its Duomo (cathedral), the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore. The huge Gothic duomo was begun in 1296, consecrated in 1436, and holds 20,000 people. The Baptistery of John the Baptist, from the 11th century, is one of Florence's oldest buildings. The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge), built in 1345, was Florence's first bridge across the Arno River and is the only surviving bridge from Florence's medieval days (others were destroyed in World War II). The Galleria degli Uffizi holds the world's most important collection of Renaissance art but it's also Italy's most crowded museum so it's a good idea to buy tickets ahead to avoid long ticket line. Florence has some of the finest shopping in Europe. In Florence you'll find leather goods, paper goods, and jewellry as well as nice souvenirs and art productions. Florence has a number of open air markets selling food, clothing, and antiques. The most famous is around Piazza San Lorenzo where you'll find leather goods, too. Another good place is Mercato Nuovo (Porcellino) on Via Porta Rossa. Mercato Centrale is a great place for food shopping.

Venice, Italy

Who Should Go Venice, Italy:

The Romantic dreamers who like strolling through automobile-free streets.
 

Best Time to Visit Venice, Italy: February is when the famous Venice Carnevale or Carnival is held and the weather is usually cold and foggy, perfect weather for Venice. Venice should be viewed through a shroud that blurs the tourists and the neon so that the jewel of the ancient city shows through. But then, the curmudgeon is warm blooded enough not to mind the cold. Summer? Hefty tourists in shorts and whiny children ruin the atmosphere in the grand campos, but there are plenty of dark alleys for hopeless romantics to get lost in. Of course, you'll be perfectly thrilled in spring or early fall, too. 

What to See in Venice, Italy: Take note of the contrast between the opulent Doge's Palace and the nasty prison on the other side of the canal. Then again, anything touristy can be magic in Venice--it's just a crazy anachronism in a precarious environment. You need to see it. No one can explain it, not even Italo Calvino.

Rome, Italy

Who Should Go Rome, Italy:

Lovers of conspicuous consumption (plenty of ATMs and three streets Via Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina). History and archaeology buffs - anyone who's lent an ear. Youthful music-clubbers. 

Best Time to Visit Rome, Italy: Rome is a carnival all year long. Italians avoid Rome in August because it's hot and muggy and everybody is away at the beach, so August isn't even high season. You'll find lodging bargains in late July and August, but demand air conditioning and thick windows.

What to See in Rome, Italy: Rome, like Venice is a walking city. Lots of things you've always wanted to see are free or cheap, so don't sweat the entertainment budget if you're reasonably mobile.You must not miss the Amphitheater in Rome. An area in the south of the Eternal City called Testaccio is becoming a booming center of the Rome music scene in clubs dug out of a hill made up of old, busted up Roman amphoras. 

Amsterdam, Holland

Who Should Visit Amsterdam:

Bicyclists as it's a bike city in a flat land, those who need chemical assistance to accomplish the dream of free spiritage because they've exhausted all other possibilities and Unfree spirits; those who believe that allowing folks the slightest personal freedom leads only to despair and the eventual downfall of society.

Best Time to Visit Amsterdam: It can rain at any time in Amsterdam, but that's not a reason not to visit this fascinating city. Off season tourists will be rewarded with enough decent weather to stick around. April-May is tulip season in Amsterdam. Summer is good for sun worshippers--July and August is the peak tourist season in Amsterdam, but there is nothing like brooding off-season clouds for the photographers. 

What to See in Amsterdam: Munching at an Indonesian rijsttafel, wandering along the canals and through the Royal Palace, Rijksmuseum, and Van Gogh Museum. Heading off to the red light district and cafes may suit the free spirits and self-proclaimed, um, sex anthropologists (who should visit the Amsterdam Prostitution Information Center for the down-to-earth scoop) . And of course, Anne Frank's house to end it all on a thoughtful note.