My Ranking of European Christmas Markets
One of my favorite family traditions (newer, but still a tradition) is going to European Christmas markets with my dad. We started two years ago with Paris and though I was unable to attend Vienna’s markets last year with my dad and sister, we continued this year with Munich and Prague and added my mom to the mix! Because of the uncertain nature of standby flying, we ended up adding Dresden and Brussels.
Munich
I visited Munich over the summer and fell in love with the pastel neighborhoods and pints of beer. Going back in the winter, I fell in love with the smell of cinnamon-roasted nuts and twinkly lights that lined the streets. We first visited the Schwabing Christmas market. This one set the bar too high and was my favorite out of any that we went to the rest of the trip. It was clear that it was a local favorite. It was packed shoulder-to shoulder, and for good reason. People were chatting and drinking which really showed us how big of a cultural event these markets are. The art at this market was unique, handmade and local.
I truly could have bought something from each stall if I wasn’t on a budget. The other markets we visited were great and authentic as well but didn’t have the same artisan feel as the first one. A lot of the items for purchase were obviously wholesale manufactured at the rest of the markets, but there were opportunities to find more hand-crafted items if you took the time to look. The Marienplatz market was definitely a must-do, as well. Vendors line the plaza and if you can imagine it being busier than it normally is, you’ll be prepared for your Christmas market experience in Munich.
Dresden
The Dresden markets were super authentic. I felt like I was stepping into a medieval town. We indulged in spatzl, gnocchi and glühwein to warm ourselves up. As I’m not a huge wine fan, I typically opted for the spiked hot apple cider, which I cannot recommend enough. Walking through these markets, I noticed again that there were more unique and hand-made art items, which piqued my interest.
Typically, when you order a drink at any market, you’ll receive a ceramic or glass mug. If you return the mug, you get a few Euros back, and if not, you have a cute, cheap souvenir mug! We ended up keeping 4 mugs from different Dresden markets. They had unique designs on them that we just had to have! When packing these, we stuck some socks in them and wrapped them up in our clothes for easy storing to take up little room.
Brussels
We were only in Brussels for about 16 hours, but that was just enough time to explore the city at night! In our short exploration, I realized how much I love Brussels.
The city streets were adorned with twinkly lights, and we happened to stumble into Grand Place just as a giant light projection show began. It truly felt like we were in Disney World! This is definitely one place in which I need to spend more time!
Prague
This trip was my first time to Prague. I instantly fell head over heels for the city. The Eastern European influence on the buildings and streets was something that intrigued me because I had never experienced it before.
The Christmas markets here were quaint and had tasty food but honestly could not compare to authentic German markets. We still found our necessities of glühwein and crafted souvenirs, but the quantity and quality of these markets were just a little less than what we experienced in Germany.
Within a week, we hit almost 10 Christmas markets around Europe. They were all unique in their own ways, but still gave that familiar, traditional vibe that a Christmas market should give off. Next year, I’m hoping to go to markets in Vienna! Any other suggestions? Let us know!
[Over] Packing
This summer, my mom and I (over)packed our bags and set off on the trip of a lifetime. I just graduated from college, so I was lucky enough to be able to celebrate my accomplishments with a European vacation. I’ll be posting a series of blogs to share what we saw, ate, learned and more.
Let’s get into packing and over-packing. First of all, over-packing sucks. In many ways. Travel days were made harder than necessary because of our heavy bag. Not fun!
Heaven in a Suitcase
I recently got a new suitcase set from Away luggage. It’s a newer, trendier brand with so many options of sizes and colors. All the bags are hard-shell, which I prefer. It’s nice to have that extra reassurance that your stuff won’t get broken or smashed during your travels. The luggage comes with TSA approved built-in locks so you can have extra security.
My favorite part of my new suitcases is that you have the option to add in a portable charger to the bag! It can charge your phone up to five times without recharging the battery. It also pops out and is small enough to bring with you anywhere, even if you’re not taking the whole carry-on.
No matter how many clothes I stuffed into my packing cubes, this suitcase closed securely with only a little tension. One thing I definitely recommend is to invest in a suitcase that has four 360-spinning wheels. Those things are a gift from above. It makes it so much easier to maneuver busy streets, airports and public transportation.
Outfit Planning
Before I left, I was trying to plan out my outfits beforehand so I could minimize the stress of figuring that out the day of and to also pack efficiently in case I couldn’t unpack where I was. I bought packing cubes from Amazon and they also are an essential and gift from above. They make packing, unpacking and repacking SO. MUCH. EASIER. They fit into suitcases like a satisfying little puzzle and help make sure that your belongings are organized.
For the summer, it’s pretty hot in Europe. Granted we were there during one of the most intense heatwaves in years, but even normally it can get upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It can also feel hotter in the cities because of all of the people and infrastructure. I recommend bringing lightweight, breathable clothing. I basically wore a dress or skirt every day because they were the most comfortable. Also, keep in mind that Europe has amazing shopping, so leave room for anything you might want to buy once you’re there.
Shoes-wise, you really don’t need more than 2-3 pairs. I brought a pair of tennis shoes, walking sandals and flip flops for the Airbnb/hotels. Shoes are the heaviest and clunkiest thing in your bag, so wear your biggest pair during travel days to avoid having to lug them around.
Liquids are always a struggle while traveling, especially when you have a lot of toiletry items and need your skincare routine products. I wasn’t able to really cut down on my toiletries, but I definitely could have cut down on my makeup. I brought my whole bag when really all I needed was concealer, mascara, and my eyebrow gel. The heat deterred me from wearing makeup most days, so I barely wore it.
Carry-On Essentials
In addition to my rolling carry-on bag, I also had a backpack in which I put some more of my essentials. I always carry my electronics bag with my headphones and chargers close to me because I don’t ever want to be caught without my phone (for many reasons) while traveling.
For long travel days, I always consider bringing a change of either clothes or undergarments-whatever works best for that day. Another essential for me is hand sanitizer and Wet Ones. Public transportation can be dirty. It’s not too much of a worry on trains and buses, but planes are a big one for me. If I’m on a long flight, I wipe down my seat and tray table because you never know what kind of germs are hanging out on there. Along with that, I always bring along some Vitamin C. Whether it’s EmergenC or Airborne, vitamin supplements can definitely help you avoid getting sick on your trip or when you get home.
I also love to bring essential oils in my smaller carry-on. Peppermint can help reduce headaches and also feels so refreshing when you haven’t been able to really wash your face in a while. I do also bring face wipes to refresh as well.
With long flights can come intense boredom. I always download podcasts, shows, and music beforehand so I can listen without WiFi on the plane. For longer flights where that might not be enough, I bought an adult activity book to keep us entertained. It’s packed with coloring pages, word searches, Sudoku and more. It definitely got us through some boring train rides.
Traveling through multiple countries or cities can be a big feat but packing the right things can make or break your trip. Consider these packing tips and ensure that your luggage doesn’t interfere with your happy vacation!
Insights from the Inside
If you haven’t started already, it’s time to start planning your summer air travel. If your plans include air travel within the US and you haven’t yet made your reservations, it’s not too late to score some good fares. The Boeing 737 MAX groundings have reduced capacity, which seems to have propped up fares and this will likely last through the summer.
B-737 MAX operators in the US and Canada
- Southwest – 31
- American Airlines – 24
- Air Canada – 23
- United Airlines – 14 (MAX 9)
There have been 387 MAX aircraft deliveries around the globe, 92 of which are in the US and Canada. Don’t wait too much longer to make your plans as fare sales may be few and far between this year.
If you’re traveling internationally, there is less concern for your long-haul travel. Large, wide body aircraft aren’t affected. If you’re planning to use points and miles, airline awards should still be available if you know how to search. Business class and first class award booking are still be available, too.
Those Business Class (and, yes, even First Class) awards are still out there. It requires fewer points and miles that most people think. International premium awards seats can be found for not much more than economy tickets. Enhance your travel experience with exclusive club access, priority boarding, lie-flat seats, and a shower on arrival. The talented staff at PointsForDeparture.com can help to make this a reality for you.
Go to sleep in the winter and wake up in summer
You can too for fewer points than you may think!
A few days in Buenos Aires, Argentina
As my regular readers know, I work for a US based international airline, so I can take advantage of the fantastic travel benefits and share my experiences and insights. I often blog about “Insights from the Inside” and have helped many get through difficult travel roadblocks.
In this chapter, I’ll review my latest trip: Buenos Aires, Argentina
We decided to take a quick trip to Buenos Aires (BA) partly due to the convenient flight schedule that maximizes time on the ground. I was able to work a full day then catch an overnight flight to EZE that arrived before noon. That allowed most of a full first day to spend in the city. The return two days later was at 9:00 PM giving us effectively three days to tour and explore the city.
An advance warning:
Your UBER app may not work. Mine didn’t work at all but my traveling partner’s did work on Wi-Fi inside the airport. Another option is Cabify, though it wasn’t completely reliable either. Submit a comment below for more details.
We had a few things we wanted to do in the short time we were there.
- Visit La Recoleta Cemetery. It contains the graves of notable people, including Eva Perón, presidents of Argentina, Nobel Prize winners, the founder of the Argentine Navy, and a granddaughter of Napoleon.
- Take a city walking tour
- There are many options for city tours in BA. I always recommend a free tour where the guide works for tips only.
- Visit La Boca, a neighborhood on the southeast side of the city
- EAT!!! (Sorry vegetarians)
- Argentina has outstanding, inexpensive beef and BA has some very good places to try it.
It was an easy three day trip with overnight flights in both directions allowing maximum time all three days. It was a great visit and getaway from the northern hemisphere winter.
If you’re looking for an easy, exotic getaway, Buenos Aires is a must-consideration and PointsForDeparture.com can help!
Vienna Christmas Markets – December 2018
My new tradition of visiting European Christmas Markets drew me to Vienna this year. The Viennese Christmas Markets start in mid-November and continue until Christmas and the end of the year. The city hosts several markets scattered throughout and all have a slightly different flavor from one another. Here are just a few that we visited:
- Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz
- Dozens of vendors including gifts, traditional food and drinks
- Ice skating with skate rental
- Christmas Village / New Year’s Eve Village at the Maria Theresien Platz
- Popular market that lasts until the New Year
- Old Viennese Christmas Market at the Freyung
- Very small market near Town Hall with a few
We found great local foods and the obligatory Weihnachtspunsch (Christmas Punch), a warm and sweet alcoholic drink. The crafts we abundant and too many to list. One of my favorites was jewelry made from the graffiti street art around the city and along the banks of the Danube Canal.
If a November or December visit to Europe is on your schedule, a trip to a city with traditional Christmas Markets is well worth the effort.
I’ve started a new personal tradition of visiting European Christmas markets. Before I get to Vienna, I’ll share the trip details. Flying standby requires a little extra planning so at the last minute I chose Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) as our gateway to Europe. This is all based on which flight loads look best for us. We arrived at IAD from out origin at about 12:00 EST so we had several hours to kill. Using the great benefit of my Priority Pass Lounge Card, included with my Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa, we had a couple lounges from which to choose for our four hour wait.
- Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (Concourse A)
- British Airways Galleries Lounge (Concourse B)
- Turkish Airlines Lounge (Concourse B)
There’s also a restaurant option of Chef Geoff’s in Concourse C.
I had never been to any of the IAD lounges so I wanted to experience all I could. We started at the Virgin Clubhouse. We entered the lounge and found it mostly empty. There was a limited selection of food. While the lounge was quiet and comfortable, I was a little disappointed. I’ve flown Virgin Atlantic Upper Class and expected more from its fun, hip reputation.
After we finished our coffee and eggs, we moved on to the Turkish Airlines Lounge. We found this club much more inviting and comfortable. The food and drink options were typically Middle Eastern including hummus, tabbouleh, olives, lamb and beef. There was a nice vegetable and fruit selection and of course, Turkish coffee. One wall had several televisions with American football playing as well as two TVs, each connected to a Roku. The largest of all screens seemed to be for Turkish self-promotion. There was plenty of seating, though it did fill up as we got later in the afternoon.
The British Airways Club is only open until 2:00 PM so we didn’t try it.
Turkish Airlines has done well with their club and that will be my first choice when killing time at IAD.
The lost luggage story is closed!
I purchased the tickets for this flight using my Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa card, which includes very valuable insurance for just such an event. Even though Vueling Airlines unfairly rejected my claim, Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa insurance partner (Allianz Worldwide Partners/AGA Service Company) approved it and reimbursed the entire claim. It took about seven weeks but that was primarily due to lack of cooperation from Vueling Airlines. They wouldn’t provide certain documentation and the claims management had to review it for approval.
I highly recommend getting a card that includes good travel protections. It can save you when you need it! Need help wading through the many choices of cards that offer these great benefits? We can help!
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…And what you can do to help yourself
Whenever I check a bag for a flight (which I try not to do) I wave goodbye and hope I’ll see it at my destination. Unfortunately, luggage delays seem to happen to me more than they should. I just returned from a two week trip to three countries in Europe. All went well and our American Airlines Priority tags (an international Business Class amenity) got our bag to us at baggage claim quickly. Our next flights, a few days later, were within the EU so they were considered “domestic”. We had a flight from Oporto, Portugal to Paris connecting in Barcelona. The flights were purchased from Spanish carrier Iberia Airlines but were operated by their partner Vueling Airlines. It was a short connection of 45 minutes but that should have been plenty of time since we departed on time. In Barcelona, the arriving flight had remote parking and we waited for 30 minutes for a bus to take us to the terminal. Well, we made our flight but found in Paris that our luggage didn’t. Since I work for a major US airline and occasionally work in Baggage Service, I know the process and to what we’re entitled. When American Airlines lost our luggage for several days in the Caribbean, they gave us cash to immediately purchase clothing and toiletries. Not so with Vueling. In fact, they would provide nothing if the bag was returned to us with 24 hours and even then it would only be 50 USD per day. That doesn’t go very far in Paris. But, OK, I can live with that. We filed the report at about 3:00 PM and went to our hotel. We finally received our bag two mornings later. We were without our luggage from Thursday to Saturday. We filed a claim with Vueling, including all time-stamped e-mails which clearly indicated that the bag wasn’t located and out for delivery until late day two, but our claim was denied.
Luckily, I purchased the tickets with a credit card that provides lost and delayed luggage insurance if the delay is more than six hours. While that claim is still pending, I expect it will be approved.
So, what should you do if you find yourself in a similar situation?
- Get and use a credit card that provides travel insurance. Different cards provide different coverages. I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve. It’s well worth the fee with all the benefits, including the insurance.
- I recommend getting a luggage tracking device. I have two that use cellular and GPS technologies. They require a subscription but I find it worthwhile. Do your research as some may use outdated cellular technology (2g) that is no longer supported.
- If your luggage doesn’t arrive when and where you do, file a claim immediately. Do not wait.
- Ask the airline what you’re allowance is for necessities and how to get it.
- Keep all receipts and make copies before submitting them.
- Get email correspondence to have a trail of dates and times.
I understand that lost and delayed luggage happens. The differentiator is how the airline handles it. Vueling has failed and Iberia, the airline from which I purchased the ticket, didn’t help either. It wouldn’t have cost them much to make this a very different blog posting.
Remember, next time you plan to check a bag, use the right credit card, keep all documents and know your rights!
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I’m Jordyn, one of the founders of PointsForDeparture.com. I’m here because I love to travel and this is a great opportunity to use that love to do something else I love; write. I hope to do both frequently so I can share what I learn with our readers. Please read my bio on the About Us page.
As a kid, I always dreamed about seeing the world. I grew up travelling frequently with my parents and will always be thankful for those opportunities. One of the places that intrigued me to no end is Paris. So, when my dad and I began to brainstorm places we could go to for less than 48 hours, Paris was at the top of my list. Due to the unpredictable nature of travelling standby, we really didn’t know where we’d end up. It all depended on where we could get the best seats. We planned to go in December, around Christmas-time. I crossed my fingers for Paris and hoped that our flight plans matched up, though Zurich and Madrid were also possibilities.
We flew to Newark and waited in a Business Class lounge for a few hours, my dad watching flights for the best opportunity. We had lounge access thanks to a credit card he has allowing lounge access at airports around the world. The lounge was something that I had always been curious about. Those fancy, metallic doors seemed so exclusive and alluring- it was exciting to finally go in and see what was inside. Beyond those doors were dozens of couches and chairs, fancy candy in jars, and a food and drink selection. This was just what I needed in the midst of this travel adventure.
We relaxed for a few hours, and thankfully I was able to connect to the lounge’s WiFi to continue watching Entourage. We finally headed over to our gate, and when we got there, it was so packed we couldn’t even see the door to the jetway. We ended up flying to Brussels, and then we’d take a train to Paris. The flight to Brussels was very full- except for business class. It was nerve wracking waiting for this plane. I was concerned that if we didn’t get on this one, our short trip would be ruined. Eventually, we got on the plane and got to relax in our business class seats.
Sitting in business class made me feel super important. Not that any of the other people on the plane cared, but it was definitely a cool experience. The flight attendants were super attentive to our needs and brought me a special crew meal when I told them I was unable to eat either choice of meal because I’m a vegetarian.
On the flight, I watched an entire season of Big Little Lies. (Great show with strong female characters!! Highly recommend!!) The flight finally took off around 10 p.m. ET, which was perfect timing for me to fall asleep for a decent sleep. When we landed, it was morning. Waking up on the plane is always an exciting experience. It’s amazing to wake up somewhere different from where you fell asleep especially in a comfortable lie-flat seat of business class.
Brussels was a great place to be in, even if I was only in the airport and train station. The train went past the city, and we were able to see the amazing architecture the city has to offer on our way out. The train was one of those super-fast trains. It took us from Brussels to Paris in less than 2 hours.
When we got to Paris, we headed to our hotel in an Uber. The roads in Paris were confusing, and it took us a while to find our Uber in the crowded street. Our hotel was the quaintest, most interesting hotel I’ve ever been in. It was modern but with antique features. It was perfect. The workers were so sweet and helpful, as well.
One of my favorite things to do is shop. Normally, I’m a fan of online shopping because I’m lazy and would rather not go to a store if I don’t need to. But when I travel, it’s a different story. Shopping while travelling is one of my favorite things to do. I love acquiring items- whether it be clothing, accessories or chachkies. They always remind me of who I was at that point in time of travelling and what I found important. I like being able to revert back to that mindset of where I was and who I was when I bought it.
Things I recommend seeing in Paris:
- Louvre: How could you not want to see the Mona Lisa in real life?! Make sure you have your camera out and ready before you even walk into that exhibit- it gets crazy!
- Eiffel Tower: This is an obvious one. You know why you need to go to the Eiffel Tower. If you go on the hour, you can see it twinkle and light up for 5 minutes. It’s truly magical!
- Grocery stores: You might not need to go buy food, but seriously consider checking out local groceries. It’s so interesting to see the difference between Parisian groceries and the ones we are used to. Also- they have great snacks that anyone will appreciate as a souvenir.
- Maison Georges Larnicol: Honestly the best dessert shop I’ve been to. I’m pretty biased towards chocolate (it’s my favorite) but this was the best chocolate I’ve ever had. They had chocolate art that actually blew me away. Another great thing to bring back as a souvenir!
Although I wasn’t in Paris for long, we still saw a lot of really interesting and inspiring things. It was so surreal to see all the things I’ve learned about in the past in real life. This is why if you have the opportunity to travel, even if it’s for a shorter time than you’d like- go for it! You may never get chances like that again.
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Well, summer is closing which means a couple things at the airport ticket counter and airline gates. Vacation travelers are fewer and disruptive weather is waning (though not gone yet). At my airline and airport typical summer travelers are a small party or a couple headed for Europe. Of course we see some variations:
- Travelers to Asia
- Groups
- Families
- Unaccompanied minors
The challenges we face in airport customer service are primarily due to flight delays causing missed connections. I’m pretty good at finding alternate routes to get people to their destination. One of the best ways to avoid finding yourself in need of this help is to give yourself as much time to connect as possible. It’s one of the things I recommend to travelers every day. While an hour or less can be a “legal connect time”, it’s way too short for comfort. Personally, I try to give myself at least three hours at the gateway airport. This past winter I went to Paris and had over six hours at the connecting airport. By departure time, it was snowing, inbound flights were delayed and a mostly full flight went out with many empty seats, even in Business Class. I can’t stress it enough, if you’re connecting to your international gateway, don’t risk a tight connection!
We have a few ways to re-accommodate travelers and there are different lengths to which we’ll go.
- Reroute on the same airline the same day
- Reroute on the same airline another day
- Rebook on an alliance partner (Star Alliance, One World, etc.) airline
- Reroute on a non-partner competitor
Tools at our disposal
If the delay reason is out of our control (weather, Air Traffic Control, etc.) we may not go past the second bullet, though there may be other circumstances such as frequent flier status or availability on later flights. If our flights are full for days, which often happens, I’ll send you to another airline. If the delay is our fault, like a mechanical or crew issue, we’ll do whatever we can to get you moving. Travelers are entitled to much more if the delay or cancellation is “controllable”.
So, the airports are not as crowded, the flights are not quite as full and the weather delays are not as frequent. We get a little rest after Labor Day from the craziness of summer travel…until the holidays!
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We started PointsForDeparture.com because we knew we weren’t the only ones having difficulty finding award airline seats for the best value. International business class airline seats between the US and Europe, Asia or Australia cost thousands of dollars but can be obtained in many cases for points and less than $10. Let us use our expertise to help you find these seats so you can travel in comfort and style.
Our future blogs will focus on:
• Hacks to make your travel experience less of a hassle
• Reviews of our many travel experiences
• Tips and tricks on how to navigate frustrating travel speed bumps
• Experiences and insights from the airport customer service front line of a major US airline
We hope to keep you informed and entertained. Let us know if you have any questions and the topics you’d like to hear about!