Learning how to use Europe's public-transportation systems system while vacation traveling is a great way to save time and money

While their economies may be undergoing turbulence in 2012, positive changes in France and Spain are also in the air -- making this year a good time to touch down in these essential European destinations

Travelers to Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia will encounter their share of renovations, red tape, and reinvigorated neighborhoods and sights this year

Six hundred years ago, Brussels was just a nice place to stop and buy a waffle on the way to France. Today, it's a city of 1.8 million, the capital of Belgium, the headquarters of NATO, and the political center of the European Union. It may be easy to skip as you zip from Amsterdam to Paris by train, but its rich brew of food and culture pleasantly surprise those who stop.

I decided to head to the Netherlands and spent five glorious days exploring Amsterdam, a place that boasts the largest historical city center in Europe.

Paris is endlessly entertaining is because of its neighborhoods. On streets such as rue des Martyrs, real people make cozy communities in the midst of this vast, high-powered city. You find a warm and human vibrancy you miss when just visit Paris' main attractions and museums. And Rue des Martyrs is the perfect example

I'd spent the whole afternoon in my hotel room, splicing changes into the next edition of my guidebook. It was time for just a quick little break, but stepping outside was dangerous. There was a strong current out there, and I got swept out into a Roman sea filled with colorful -- and fragrant -- distractions. I didn't get back for hours

With 600 square miles, 8 million people, and too many must-see sights to see, London can be formidable. On my last visit, I was up for the challenge. I blitzed the city from the second I arrived. After landing at Heathrow, I rode the Tube to my hotel, dropped off my bag, and hit the ground running.

Without question, the markings of continental Europe are everywhere in the city, which is often called the 'Venice of the North' or the 'Paris of the East.' Both monikers are justified

Though my paper map remains my constant back-pocket companion, technology is making it easier than ever to navigate Europe

Nice is much more than the beach and the sea. With its fine palette of museums, good food, and ramble-worthy old town, Nice is the enjoyable big-city highlight of any French Riviera visit

Lounging alongside the Adriatic Sea on the famed Dalmatian Coast, Split is Croatia's second-largest city, making it a bustling metropolis, serious port city, major transit hub, and top sightseeing destination

Much of the revitalization is thanks to the 2012 Olympic Games, which will take place from July 27 to Aug. 12. But even after the summer games are safely tucked away in the record books, their legacy will live on in East London

I'm captivated by the Rhine. There's a rhythm to the mighty river that merges with its environment: black slate cut from plains above, terraced vineyards zigzagging up hills, husks of ruined castles, and stoic spires of stone churches slicing vertically through townscapes

Dresden is a young and vibrant city. While the city is packed with tourists, most of them are German or Russian. Until Americans rediscover Dresden, you'll feel like you're in on a secret

Public squares are the heart of Europe's cities. Squares are the perfect venue for coffee-sipping and people-watching. Here are a few of Europe's best

From the summer Olympics to the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, several major events will make the British Isles a popular destination

At Europe's lively open-air markets and bazaars, bargaining for merchandise is the accepted and expected method of setting a price. Whether you are looking for doorknockers or hand-knitted sweaters seize the chance to bargain like a native. It's the only way to find a compromise between the wishful thinking of the seller and the souvenir lust of the tourist

There are still plenty of people traveling in Europe on the cheap. The one thing they have in common is frugality. If even low-budget pensions and hostels are too expensive for your wallet, you too can sleep for next to nothing. Here's how

I stroll through Nurnberg's main square. All around me are bundled-up shoppers and kids sampling fresh gingerbread, riding the carousel, listening to roving brass quintets, and marveling at the newest toys

I slipped off into Germany's dreamy Mosel Valley, figuring that a dose of quaint, cobbled towns and storybook castles was just what I needed. The Mosel, located near Germany's western border, is the Rhine's peaceful little sister.

This itinerary starts in Switzerland and takes you to the German North and Baltic Sea coast. Starting point is the Swiss city of Zurich. The tour finishes at the Island of Usedom, shortly before the Polish border

Although you may see professors in their traditional black robes, Cambridge, Oxford, and St. Andrews are fun, youthful towns, filled with lots of shopping, cheap eats around every corner, and rowdy, rollicking pubs

Taller than its neighbors here in the Mayfair district, the nine-story May Fair Hotel's terrace actually enjoys 360-degree views, a rare highlight of any stay in this posh retreat.

Whoever suggested that teatime in London was a crotchety affair enjoyed by middle-aged ladies in hats and gloves obviously has not paid a visit to the British capital in decades.

London dazzles year-round, but for a true 'back door' experience, consider visiting in winter, when airfares and hotel rates are generally cheaper -- and there are fewer tourists.

Brighton is South England's fun city and the destination for students, bohemians and blue-collar Londoners looking to go 'on holiday.' In 1840, a train connected the city to London, making the beach accessible to the masses for the first time. Since then, Brighton has become 'London by the Sea.'

Whether hiking along a lonely windblown ridge, climbing over a rock fence to look into the eyes of a ragamuffin sheep, or stumbling over an ancient stone bridge, you'll find that the region gives even tenderfeet a chance to feel very outdoorsy

Glasgow was named 'European City of Culture' in 1990 and 'UK City of Architecture and Design' in 1999. More recently, it was voted as one of the UK's top shopping destinations (second only to London); tagged 'Scotland with Style' by fashionistas, artists and designers; and on Nov. 9, won its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games

If you think you'd like to see Scotland from the comfort of a classic Pullman train, then this is an adventure worth waiting for.

Welsh magic is like that. From towering Mount Snowdon to powerful castles to Elizabethan homes, it's a poem written into the landscape.

Edinburgh is the cultural heart of Scotland. Once a medieval powerhouse stretching below its mighty castle, today it's one of Europe's most lively and festive cities.

Some families prefer to have someone else sweat all the details when traveling to Italy, planning the entire trip with the kids and grandkids in mind, albeit paying for the privilege. Certainly such trips are easier, but there is also something to be said for discovering a foreign city on your own with your kids. But does this make sense for a visit to Rome?

Rome with its churches, monuments art and architecture, museums and galleries, breathtaking fountains and obelisks, and Vatican City is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

The biggest challenge in finding a family-friendly hotel in Rome (or any major European city) is figuring out which properties have separate areas for sleeping and/or rooms that can accommodate four or more people.

There are few more beautiful places in the world than the Amalfi Coast. Ancient villages vie with lemon groves for the prime real estate on the cliffs, with views that take you over the rooftops, through the fresh laundry flapping in the breeze, out to the blue sea. Truly gorgeous

Italy's Cinque Terre is a quintet of villages clinging to a bit of rugged coastline between Genoa and Pisa. You can choose any village for a home base, but Vernazza is my favorite.

For most, Positano is simply the most romantic and chic stop on Italy's Amalfi Coast. South of Naples, the famous coast is blessed with beaches, sunshine, and picturesque towns spilling down steep hillsides. Many who visit Positano want only to shop and lay on the beach. But the tour guide in me simply must put a little historic and cultural meat on your visit.

All my life, Naples has been the symbol of chaos, stress, and culture shock for European travel. However, the pulse of Italy throbs in Naples. Like Cairo or Bombay, it's appalling and captivating at the same time, the closest thing to 'reality travel' that you'll find in Western Europe. This tangled mess still somehow manages to breathe, laugh, and sing with a captivating Italian accent.

If you want to get away from it all when traveling in Greece, head for the Peloponnesian Peninsula and ancient Olympia

Turkey is changing fast. And it's modernizing fast. For my vacation this year, I hit the road in Turkey, with romantic memories (a few years old) of horse-drawn carriages and villages with economies powered by hay, dung, and ducks

Ramadan is a time to devote themselves to God and self-discipline. For me, observing Ramadan rituals in a Muslim country is one of the great travel experiences. The happy, multigenerational partying that follows the breaking of the fast at sunset every night is a sight that's not to be missed. After hours of not eating, people are ready to chow down.

If you're in the mood to surrender to a city's charms, let it be in Barcelona. Life bubbles in its narrow old town alleys, grand boulevards, and elegant modern district. While Barcelona has an illustrious past -- from Roman colony to 14th-century maritime power -- it's enjoyable to throw out the history books and just drift through the city

Enjoying a privileged position in the northeast triangle of the Iberian Peninsula, Barcelona has sometimes been called a northern European city in a southern Mediterranean country. Great climate, beautiful beaches, and a zest for outdoor life, the Barcelonese know how to combine the best of these worlds with a reasonable dose of seny (common sense) and a hefty spirit of sabor (flavor).

Every year, a million revelers pack into Pamplona, Spain, for the raucous Festival of San Fermin. They come to this proud town in the Pyrenees foothills for music, fireworks, and merrymaking. But most of all, they come for the Running of the Bulls, when fearless (or foolish) adventurers -- called mozos -- thrust themselves into the path of six furious bulls

It's sunset, and I'm at the place to be in Granada -- the breathtaking San Nicolas viewpoint overlooking the fortress of the Alhambra. Here, at the edge of the city's exotic Moorish quarter, lovers, widows, and tourists jostle for the best view of the hill-capping, floodlit fortress, the last stronghold of the Moorish kingdom in Spain

Madrid is the hub of Spain. This modern capital -- Europe's highest, at more than 2,000 feet -- has a population of 3.2 million. Like its people, the city is relatively young. One hundred years ago, Madrid had only 400,000 residents -- so the majority of today's Madrid is modern sprawl surrounding an intact, easy-to-navigate historic core. Here's things to do and see while in Madrid

In Spain's Andalucia region, revelry and religiosity go hand in hand: The same passion and energy dedicated to partying is put into long, solemn, religious processions that clog the city's narrow streets.

I never tire of tapas. Sure, you can find them in some American cities, but for the true tapas experience, you must go to Spain. When I'm there, I can't resist stopping in local bars to munch on these small portions of seafood, salads, meat-filled pastries, deep-fried tasties, and on and on.

Paradors (paradores, in Spanish) are a diverse collection of more than 90 luxury hotels run by the Spanish government. Spain's parador system was created in the 1920s to promote tourism in the provinces and preserve the country's historical buildings. As a quasi-government/public enterprise, parador hotels enjoy privileged locations throughout Spain

Ronda Spain, 60 miles southeast of Sevilla, is one of the largest white hill towns. It's also one of the most spectacular, thanks to its gorge-straddling setting. Ronda is easy to visit because it's one of the few hill towns with a train station. The real joy for travelers lies in exploring the winding back streets and taking in the panoramic views, whitewashed houses, and exuberant flowerpots.

I'm tucked away in Santiago de Compostela, in the northwest corner of Spain. I have a three-part agenda: see pilgrims reach their goal in front of the cathedral, explore the market, and buy some barnacles in the seafood section -- then have them cooked for me, on the spot, in a cafe.

If San Francisco had a sister, it would be Lisbon. Both cities have twin bridges and famously foggy weather. Both are situated on the best natural harbors on the west coast of their respective continents. Both have trolleys rattling up and down their steep hills past characteristic buildings.

Nazare is simply a fine way to enjoy the endearing charms of Portugal. The energetic applause of the surf, widows with rooms to rent, and big plates of steamed shrimp will greet you. You can relax in this sunny land of cork groves and eucalyptus trees. Even with its summer crowds, Nazare is a fun stop that offers a surprisingly good look at old Portugal.

Nestled between France, Italy, Austria, Germany and tiny Liechtenstein, Switzerland has a reputation in the European foodie world for being as conversant with cuisines as it is with languages. With four distinct regions, each with its own culture and language, Swiss chefs move freely from ravioli to spatzle and saucisson to foie gras.

Don't neglect Switzerland's pristine urban offerings in Zurich, Luzern, and Lausanne. With interesting art, colorful old towns, and serene waterfront settings, these cities are worthy stops as you head for the hills.

First morning in Switzerland, something very special. I sit up in bed and look out the window of our Swiss chalet and gasp. Across the valley, the snow-covered peak of the Wetterhorn is bathed in rosy morning light, its hulking shape chiseled, clear and brilliant against the deep blue sky. It looks like a stellar day and I want to be hiking in the Alps, where my head can scrape heaven.

Get ready to be dazzled by bustling cities oozing with great shopping, fabulous food, exciting events, and some of the most hospitable people you'll meet anywhere. And if you really want some of the world's most beautiful scenery, Switzerland's the right place for that, too.

When people think of winter in Europe, many picture the Swiss Alps -- swooshing down dramatic slopes; tramping through quaint, cobbled villages with snow blanketing chalet rooftops; or snuggling around a pot of fondue with loved ones. These images are why Switzerland's ski resorts are understandably popular

Budapest has its fair share of museums and monuments: The opulent interior of the Hungarian Parliament, The gloomy Hungarian psyche at the National Gallery, quirky old communist statues at Memento Park. But for me, splashing and relaxing in Budapest's thermal baths is the city's top attraction.

With just 2 million people, tiny Slovenia is one of Europe's most overlooked, yet unexpectedly delightful destinations. Located where the Germanic, Mediterranean, and Slavic worlds come together, Slovenia has an intimate capital city, eerie caverns, breathtaking mountains, historic villas, and a unique tradition

Bratislava, capital of Slovakia and just an hour by train from Vienna, is the comeback kid among European capitals. A decade ago, the city was virtually a ghost town. But today, Bratislava is downright charming, bursting with colorfully restored facades, lively outdoor cafes, swanky boutiques, in-love-with-life locals, and -- on sunny days -- an almost Mediterranean ambience

Krakow is the Boston of Poland -- a charming and vital city buzzing with history, college students, and tourists. Though not the capital, Krakow is the cultural and intellectual center of the country -- and easily Poland's best destination.

Many people imagine this northern-Poland city to be a wasteland of rusted, smoke-belching shipyards. But that's just one view of this multifaceted place. Gdansk boasts an illustrious history and one of the most picturesque old quarters in Eastern Europe.

A visit to the Emerald Isle is not complete without including Northern Ireland. It offers the tourist a very different but still very Irish world.

Ireland is still vibrant as can be for travelers. And Dublin offers the best urban thrills in the Republic of Ireland. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Dublin.

Dublin's most captivating feature may very well be its nightlife. With hundreds of bars, a thriving nightclub scene and constantly evolving restaurants, the nation's capital is the very best place to spend an Irish evening.

As you explore the lush Dingle Peninsula, you'll see why the Emerald Isle got its name.

Ireland, the land of leprechauns, Guinness and lush green landscapes, hadn't been on my list of must-see places until friends asked my husband, Jeff, and me if we wanted to go on a hiking vacation across Ireland. The trip was a 10-day expedition from the east coast in Dublin to the country's westernmost shores at Dingle.

We recently had the pleasure -- make that distinct pleasure -- of visiting three five-star properties where the "ensuite" bathrooms are marble, the breakfasts are top-notch, the spas and golf courses world-class.