Focus on Travel, Study, Work, Volunteering, and Living Abroad in Europe

Have all your expenses covered and meet incredible people in Spain; all simply for being a native English-speaker

What have I done? I wondered when I realized that two of my three weeks in Spain was to be spent in a remote restored village four hours from Madrid…and that I wouldn’t even be allowed to speak Spanish (a language I’m eager to learn). What sort of cultural experience is that?! I berated myself.

In retrospect however, I realize this program was the perfect way to meet many different people from all over Spain (and the rest of the world). And I certainly couldn’t argue with the price of the program either; in fact, having all my expenses paid in exchange for conversational English seemed too good to be true... Read more......

Europe is the world's wealthiest continent and the need for international volunteers is quite different from the world's poorer regions such as Africa or Latin America. But despite well-developed welfare, education and health programs, there are communities all across Europe that are in need of volunteers, be it for teaching English, child care, summer camps, or preservation work. In addition, a volunteer vacation in Europe is not only a great way to help people and communities in need, but it is also a great opportunity to get to know Europeans and their cultures and experience Europe in a different way... Read more...

How to find the cheapest tickets within Europe, with resources for the best airlines... Read more...

A few years ago, following the surge of low cost carriers across Europe, train travel became almost redundant: prices were much higher than air fares on budget carriers and for the expat, the need to be frugal while traveling outweighed the opportunity to see the countryside roll by.
In recent times, however, rail operators have understood the need to compete directly with the likes of Ryanair and EasyJet and prices have not only been slashed, but train amenities and check-in procedures for international services have improved to match those offered at airports throughout the continent.
Some obvious questions arise here: what are the benefits of train travel? When do I take a train instead?'... Read more...

After four and a half years living in Barcelona, my advice to those wanting to learn the Castilian language is simple: don't come here. Barcelona is not the place to learn Spanish, because it has never been the mother tongue in this part of Spain. People here speak Catalan first, Spanish second, and English third. Plus, there are too many foreigners in Barcelona who speak English in cafes and at parties, making practicing your Castellano pretty impossible. Better to travel to the south of Spain if you are serious about learning to hablar Espanol.

There are many schools to choose from, but having been a Spanish student on and off for the last eight years, I like Giralda Center in old town Seville. The language academy has a lot of perks and offers many methods for students to grasp Castilian. The school also sets up host family stays, which makes practicing what you’ve learned each day in class a cinch... Read more...

For those interested in studying the Spanish language, Andalucía might seem like a long way to go. After all, in North America one can learn Spanish across the border in Mexico, in a host of other Latin American countries, and even right in our own cities in immersion programs. Why Spain? Andalucía, particularly, attracts an enthusiastic international student body, perhaps due not only to its natural beauty and cultural richness, but for many other reasons as well... Read more...

Want to really learn Spanish? If you are seeking to study in Spain and become one of the approximately 170,000 international students (the average is between 130,000 and 210,000 students annually), and you are only thinking about Madrid or Barcelona as locations for an entire semester, you may be missing the boat.

The Valencia region is host to several schools in an area which includes Valencia, Denia, Castellon, and Alicante — where you can learn the language, experience the local culture, and commit yourself to an education ranging from a few weeks to programs which run year-round... Read more...

So.I think Barcelonian food is best summed up by that fact that they work to live and love to eat. People here see eating as a way of sharing: "It was all right to love food in the society."... Read more...

Throughout history, summer solstice celebrations have been an important element of social, cultural, and religious life in many Spanish cities and towns, especially those close to the sea. Originally a pagan Celtic ritual on the shortest night of the year, the holiday was christianized during the 5th century by the deeply religious king Clovis and named "Saint John's Day" after Saint John the Baptist, who was born on the 24th of July... Read more...

Instead of touring the much traveled hills of the Chianti or the crowded streets of Florence, Siena, and San Gimignano, direct your steps — and car — to the Tuscan coast. Here you will find a corner of Tuscany that is still little known to American tourists but is an essential part of this “mythic” province of Italy.
It is called the “Etruscan Coast.” You will find Etruscan tombs near beaches extending from Livorno to Piombino — the most extensive of which can be found on the Golfo di Baratti. It is a rocky coast punctuated by long sandy beaches and bordered by forests of umbrella pines, orchards, olive groves as well as vineyards... Read more...

After centuries of tourists descending on the city, is it still possible for the traveler to find places free of crowds?

Though it's hard to believe, there are still many hidden treasures to be discovered.

Here are three among them...

...The sun is up, filtered through soft, low-lying clouds as through milk and molted pewter. I go back to my pension with its creaking bed, damp satin covers, and black, lugubrious furniture. Yesterday returning to my room after the maid had been in, I found that she had removed my nightgown from my suitcase and arranged in on the bed like a white shadow, ready to plunge into that activity this city is proverbially famous for: A Venezia si sogna. In Venice, you dream... Read more...

On a recent visit to Paris I had a chance to experience first-hand the latest fad in this fashion-conscious city. But this time it was not haute couture-it was the city's new infatuation with bicycling. Watching the throngs of well-dressed cyclists pedaling up and down the streets, I had the impression that sporting chromed bicycle pedals was now almost as fashionable as wearing high heels... Read more...

Even with the euro reaching unprecedented heights — before recent relief for the dollar — for the last year those Americans who can still afford to splurge for a special holiday can do so by finding the very best means for living comfortably and saving money and eating well.

For many years my husband and I spent a week or so in Paris, where I had lived in my youth, to catch up with friends, who unfortunately for us did not live in apartments big enough to put us up. Instead we stayed in inexpensive hotels and when not invited by our friends for dinner, ate all our meals in restaurants or smuggled prepared food from a local “traiteur” into our tiny cramped rooms. Not that we complained — but nonetheless our stay always ended up costing more than we had anticipated.

Perhaps it took this year of the “Great Recession,” for us to get smarter... Read more...

For over twenty years, I returned again and again to spend my summer vacations there, sometimes alone, sometimes accompanied, then with the man I would later marry. Then for no special reason, in the nineties my husband and I spent our holidays elsewhere, and for fifteen long years, we did not return. But one morning we woke up knowing that we had to go back to taste again that unique atmosphere-basic, rough, and rustic... Read more...

Croatia is not exactly a hidden travel destination given its 12 million annual visitors, but for most North Americans the small Adriatic country remains off the beaten path and relatively unknown. Although popular with tourists from Central Europe in the summer, Croatia's magnificent coastline is fairly quiet in spring and fall, providing an affordable and enjoyable vacation spot without the crowds. Despite its small size, Croatia offers a great variety of natural, cultural and historic attractions, all on a rather narrow strip of land along the Adriatic sea. The country is blessed with towering mountain ranges, a magnificent coastline, beautiful island archipelagos, and many cultural gems from Europe's past... Read more...

Central Europe has not always been the destination of choice for holidays, let alone living and working. All that has changed since many of the Central European countries have entered the European Union. Poland, a member since 2004, offers vast opportunities for native TEFL teachers who want to work in their major cities. And finding a job is not that difficult. In fact, once you have your EU passport or a work visa, finding employment is a piece of cake... Read more...

Most visitors tend to flock to the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden during warm summer months to mill around strikingly beautiful cities such as Stockholm. They enjoy boat trips around archipelagos with thousands of islands, cruise through and hike around Norwegian fjords, and bask on beaches under hours of daylight with a barely setting sun.
During long winter months, these countries also record some of the coldest temperatures on earth with only 2-4 hours of sunlight in some regions, so visiting Scandinavia during off-season months normally isn’t an attractive option for travelers...
But to enjoy the “real” Scandinavia, winter is the best time to visit... Read more...

The first time I walked out of Edinburgh's Waverly Station I knew right away that the four days I had planned on staying were not going to be enough. Rising out of the station the first thing you see is the majestic Edinburgh Castle high atop an extinct volcano overlooking the city. The castle's imposing walls lead down into the medieval buildings of the Royal Mile that run down to the Palace at Holyroodhouse. Straight ahead and just below street level are the green fields of the Princes Street Gardens where both locals and tourists stroll beneath the castle in lush surroundings. Immediately to the right of the station's exit is the strange and hypnotic Scott Monument which appears as though it is about to launch into orbit. Edinburgh was love at first sight and before the visit was even over I was already making plans to return on a permanent basis... Read more...

There must be a good reason for having two passports. The three children of ex Prime Minister Terry Blair and his wife all have Irish passports as well as in addition to their passports from the U.K. This is thanks to Mr. Blair's Irish grandmother. Americans are increasingly applying for and getting passports from other countries.

Many U.S. citizens are under the false assumption that it is illegal to have passports. It is not... Read more...

TAzine is a monthly Webzine which continues the 30-year tradition started by Transitions Abroad magazine. TAzine features many of the same columnists who wrote for the magazine, a growing group of new columnists, while featuring many freelance writers who wish to share their experiences and expertise within the context of our innovative alternative coverage of work, study, travel, and living abroad.

Founded in 1977 by Dr. Clayton Allen Hubbs, Transitions Abroad magazine was the only print publication dedicated to work, study, living, volunteering, and immersion travel abroad. Its purpose — in print and now as a Webzine — is the dissemination of practical information leading to a greater understanding of other cultures through direct participation in the daily life of the host community.

TransitionsAbroad.com will be expanding upon the material covered in each monthly edition. We will be working on developing each issue with a specific focus — be it regional or thematic — and are seeking contributions from professional and freelance writers alike.