Cancun Resorts Offering Amazing Deals!

Cancun resorts are looking for your business and are willing to slash prices to get it. This is just one of many deals out there:

Riu Caribe, a four-star, all inclusive resort is basically giving their rooms away at $899 for 8 day and 7 nights. Need more? How about transfers to and from your hotel and the airport?

Take advantage of these prices by calling us now at 877-577-9876 or 215-272-3221 so we can book your trip today! Have questions? You can also reach us by email at bmp@jetsetpilot.com.

Oasis of the Seas is Waiting for You!

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has done it again! Last time, it was with rock-climbing walls and surfing on top of their Freedom Class of ships including Liberty of the Seas. Now, they have a new class of ships cruising around the world and they're even more spectacular! The Oasis class of ships has only one ship, the Oasis of the Seas, sailing right now and it would be worth it to be one of the first in the world to experience this incredible ship! Here's Royal Caribbean's description of the ship:



"Experience our most innovative and imaginative ship yet, Oasis of the Seas - where, for the first time ever, entertainment areas have become neighborhoods at sea. Find a revolutionary public space combining nature with nautical in our Central Park neighborhood, or old-world charm with a modern twist in the entertaining Boardwalk neighborhood. Visit the Pool and Sports Zone to explore an entire deck of pools, rock-climbing walls, basketball courts and more. And don't forget the Youth Zone - where kids can be kids and parents can be worry-free. With a total of seven distinct on board neighborhoods, everyone can discover a place for unique experiences.

With 28 ultra-modern loft suites and 2,700 spacious staterooms, this 16-deck marvel proves that the impossible, is possible. You have to see it to believe it. Click here for a sneak preview."

The good news is that you can book a trip on this boat by calling us 215-272-3221 or 877-577-9876. We can find you promotions for this ship or any other boat sailing. Check out all of our cruises, including The Oasis of the Seas! Don't forget, if you don't see what you want online, we have thousands more sailings and vacations not listed, so call us!

787 Dreamliner Takes its First Flight

Yesterday, Boeing finally had its first full runs of its new 787 Dreamliner. Under development for over five years, this plane has a backlog of orders from companies like United, Continental and Northwest to name some domestiv carriers. This new plane is BIG, holding up to 330 passengers and about the size of a 747.

25,000 people sat in Jacksonville to watch the tests of this plane. Why? Because it's revolutionary! The plane is made of a carbon-composite material which helps in many ways including 20% better fuel efficiency (let's see if they remove that fuel surcharge!), a quieter ride and bigger windows for you and me! Otherwise, the plane boasts better air filtration and state of the art technology throughout the plane.

The first planes are set to be delivered to Japan's Nippon Airways in the next two years as long as everything goes well. After its first tests, the plane exceeded expectations as flights, takeoffs etc went without a hitch! Read more at Boeing's Website.

Don't forget to Sign-up for our newsletter that features discounts, news and destination infromation to everywhere you want go!

All-Inclusive & Cruising Deals to the Caribbean

With the recent weather in the Northeast, I bet warm, sunny beaches have crossed your mind more than once! You're not alone, many have shown interest in our Caribbean packages recently. Here are two of our deals we're highlighting that keep your budget in mind:

Ready for an all-inclusive vacation? Here is one our best deals to Jamaica. Stay at the Shaw Park Beach Hotel for 5 nights, 6 days, air and transfer included along with drinks and meals! Did I mention it only costs you as little as $699 per person?

Want to surf, rock-climb or just relax by the pool on top of one of the most spectacular ships on the seas? Check out this 7 night, 8 day cruise to the Western Caribbean on the Liberty of the Seas for as little as $449 per person.

We have many more deals, so feel free to browse all of trips and don't forget that now is the best time to book these trips as there are big discounts available to you!

We're back! And Bigger Than Ever!

What took so long, you might ask? Well, there have been numerous changes to our website! Here is what's different with the site and what's different with JetSetPilot:

1. The first thing you may have noticed is that we have an "800" number in the top right corner for the site. You can call that anytime to book a trip with us, ask questions about trips or destinations or just to say hello! (877)-JSP-9876 or (877) 577-9876

2. Our trips have changed completely! We got rid of the old trips and added some fresh new ones. Check them out.

3. We no longer send you to third-party websites to book your trips. That's right, we became a full-service travel agency and now book the trips for you! You can fill out a form after clicking "Book This Trip" on the details page of a trip or just call us to discuss your wants and needs!

4. You'll continue to see small changes to the site going forward, but we're done with the large projects, so feel free to browse the site!

We now can take you or your business anywhere in the world. We are not confined to the trips you see online. These are only a sampling. If you don't see a trip you like, email us or call us (877) JSP-9876 or (877) 577-9876

Thanks for being patient while we changed almost everything!

Changes are Coming to JetSetPilot!

If you have read our Facebook profile recently, you may have noticed the beginning of a lot of changes for JetSetPilot! So while our website hasn't changed yet, here is an idea of what to expect in the near future:


1. We are now a full-service travel agent, therefore, we can help you with any trip to any destination in the world.


2. You can now book directly through us instead of having to go to a third-party website. Please feel free to call us or email us anytime if you have an interest in planning a vacation.


3. We will continue to highlight European packaged travel while adding U.S., Caribbean and other destinations to our inventory.



We will continue to write in this blog, post to Facebook as well as Twitter and we will still have a monthly E-newsletter as well as quarterly newsletter. We will also continue to give you great service and offer our previous trips. So, actually, there isn't that much change. Just a few additions.



We look forward to helping you travel around the world! Here are our links:



JetSetPilot.com

Our E-Newsletter

JSP on Facebook

Thanksgiving, a Great Time to See the World!

It's Thanksgiving, which means it's time to travel! Many will travel to see their family, but many are also starting to take advantage of their time off to take that vacation they've always wanted. And why not? It may be even easier to be thankful resting on a Hawaiian beach or sitting on the Spanish Steps! I always take time to reflect on my blessings as I am visiting somewhere new.

In fact, many tour companies offer Thanksgiving-specific tours that are cheaper than what it would normally cost. Take advantage of the 1-3 days off you receive and the ensuing weekend. This is plenty of time to visit Vegas or London or sowehere warm in the Caribbean! Most likely you'll need 1 or 2 days off for a long vacation!

Don't forget big events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that occurs in New York.

Take this idea into consideration next year, or better yet, do something similar for Christmas. those same holiday specials apply for Christmas, New Years and the days in between. We do not currently have any advertised specials for those times of year, but we would love to help you book one. We have great relationships with airlines, hotels and tourguides and can find you a deal worth your attention!

Please call us anytime at 215-272-3221 to book or if you have any questions or comments! My email address is bmp@jetsetpilot.com

The Wine Culture of Vienna & Austria

Didn't know there was such a thing? Well, we hadn't either until we were recommeded by a book to visit the Grinzing neighborhood of Vienna. It's not just your run-of-the-mill place to have a nice glass of wine, either! There are actually vineyards within the city limits (only a short tram ride north of the city center), coupled with an outstanding village-atmosphere with plenty of places to eat, drink and soak it all in.

Heuriger is the specialty wine of the area. It's a white wine that's relatively sweet but not so much as a dessert wine. They make it within and outside of the city as well, though you'll find most stores within Vienna cornered by one winery which is ok because they're (almost) all as good as the next when you're drinking the real Austrian stuff.

The neighborhood, itself, is worth a visit as it has the attributes of an 18th century village one pictures when reading Snow White or any other fairy tale. Also, the food is as good as anywhere you'll find in the city and for similar prices as the center of town. Remember, you're still in a popular spot that many locals as well as tourists vistit! Don't forget to drop by one of Mozart's houses before you leave. It's on a cobbled back street if I remember.


Also know that it is a hilly part of town and, if you are a walker or you just want to see the wineries themselves, bring you walking shoes (but not your sneakers).

Please join us on Facebook and our newsletter for more information regarding your favorite destinations and other travel news!

Affordable Walking Tours of London

You want to tour London but all you worry about is the fact that the Pound is worth so much more than the Dollar and that guided tour you were looking at costs 50 Pounds! No worries, here are some walking tours of London that are much more affordable at 6 Pounds per person (children under 12 are free)!

Below are the different tours offered by the City of London for this price:

FLEET STREET AND ITS ALLEYWAYS: Fleet Street is the original home of the newspaper industry. Dr Johnson, Samuel Pepys and Sweeney Todd are among the colourful characters you will find out about on this walk.

SMITHFIELD – PAST AND PRESENT: Site of London’s oldest hospital,the place for public executions,the site of rebellion and home to John Betjeman, Smithfield is now famous for its meat market and a magnificent Norman church.

DISCOVERING WREN CHURCHES: This walk will show you the amazing variety of Wren’s churches with their glorious steeples, beautiful interiors and connections with great historical events and famous people.

EXPLORING THE HEART OF THE CITY: This takes you past the mediaeval Guildhall, the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange and the Lord Mayor’s home, the Mansion House,
before ending up in the City’s historic alleyways, featured in many of Dickens’s novels.

For more information, go here. Learn about London with the Londoners while taking these walking tours!

Italian Festivals: In Depth

I officially have the "check out the official tourism website of every European country" bug. Today, I'm highlighting a wonderful PDF that the Italian Tourism Board has put together for us. It discusses, in depth, four festivals throughout the country and at different times of the year that are definitely worth looking at: The Stressa Festival, the Festival Puccini, the Rossini Opera Festival and the Ravello Festival.

Keeping in mind this was made for 2009, some of the performances at each will change for the upcoming year, but the festivals are described well and also have links to each in case you want to read more!

See all of our trips to Italy or just visit us at JetSetPilot!

British Airways and Iberia Airlines to Merge

Many grumblings from the travelling public have been arising lately due to the ongoing merger talks between British Airways and Iberia set to occur in 2010. Why? To sum up an AP article by Jane Wardell, two of the largest air carriers in Europe (in fact, BA is already #3) are going to consolidate, suggesting higher fares for passengers.

Not good, right? Apparently, wrong (I guess). At least that's what Willie Walsh, a chief executive for BA, says. He believes this both good for shareholders and passengers alike. I'm not too sure how passengers will benefit, however. Meanwhile, shareholders have done well as both company's shares soared after the agreement.


This is a wait and see sort of moment for those who love BA. They have incredibly high standards for service, justifying the higher ticket prices to an extent. How will this merger change things, though? My favorite quote from this article, however, is the CEO of RyanAir (Michael O'Leary) who told CNBC about the merger, "I characterize it as two drunks ... holding each other up on the way home," as a reference to the two airlines and their inability to make a profit individually and now merging together.



Don't forget to browse our trips to Europe or just visit us at http://www.jetsetpilot.com/.

Tourism Ireland

Ireland has been hit quite hard by the recent global recession and has begun to think outside the box on its promotion to possible visitors, both leisure and business. They are using 25% of their current budget for online promotion of the country so I started looking around their website and found this really inspiring, interactive tool.

What the tool allows you to do is follow local natives as they briefly tour you through their favorite parts of their own country. Each tour takes about 5-10 minutes and highlights various cities, towns, villages and the surrounding countryside of one of the most wonderful countries in the world. The reason I love this tool is it allows you to get a feel of who the Irish are and what their culture and heritage means to them as opposed to some snooty TV show host imposing their narrow views (or my own for that matter) on you.





Are you inspired as well? Check out JetSetPilot's Trips to Ireland! Don't forget this blog is interactive as well, so leave your thoughts behind!

The Scottish Highland Games

Remember that scene in Braveheart where Wallace and his giant, red-haired friend compete in throwing various objects such as large boulders? Those games are from deep within the Scottish culture and are still played (in one form or another) today. In fact, there's a huge festival that is built around them, called the Scottish Highland Games.

These games aren't just about tossing around giant weights (seen below) and telephone pole-like timber around the field. They also have other contests, such as best kilts, best Highland dances and best bagpiping. These games truly have it all when thinking about the heritage of Scotland and the Celts.

This festival is actually named the Cowal Highland Gathering or Cowal Games (thanks Wikipedia) and attracts upwards of twenty thousand spectators and competitors from around the world. While doing some "research" the other night, I saw these games highlighted on HDTV on the Festivals Around the World program, so watch that when it is on again. Many people use this as an excuse to visit Scotland every August, why don't you?

Check out our trips to Scotland or have a gander at trips to the UK!

2010 European Capital of Culture

In the 80's, the pre-European Union came together and started a program called the European Capital of Culture. This highlighted a city that exemplified its own, its country's and Europe's culture through various means. These are preordained like the Olympics, so we already know who the next few years' winners will be. For 2010, it will Istanbul, Turkey (Check out the website for more).

Turkey is a perfect recipient for the award considering it truly is THE bridge between the Arab and the Western worlds. It highlights what could be if both sides would stand down in their various conflicts. Istanbul, in particular, is very tolerant of all religions and has one of the most amazing religious sights in the world, the Hagia Sophia (pictured below).


Check out our trips to Turkey or just visit us at JetSetPilot.com.

Top 20 Travel Tips - per FLN

I caught the last 5 minutes of a 30min show on the FLN network called Top 20 Travel Tips. Seeing only the last 5 minutes allowed me to catch the #2 and #1 travel tips.

#2 was a great one, and something I didn't know about! "Invoke the 240 rule". This rule says that if your flight is cancelled, delayed or misconnected and it is clearly the airlines fault, you are intitled to the next available flight even if it is not on the same airline. AND even if the available seats are first class!!

Three things to remember:

1. The delay or cancellation must clearly be the airline's fault (ex: not weather related)
2. Some "newer" airlines don't honor this rule because they weren't around when this rule was set in place and they didn't "sign the agreement".
3. Be polite when negotiating the 240 rule. Even though you are entitled to the 240 rule, the negotiating will go a lot smoother if you keep a smile on your face.

While I agree with #1, it was a little disappointing and anti-climactic. "Avoid getting lost; get GPS". This is a no-brainer these days. A GPS can help make your vacation less stressful when traveling to a city you are unfamiliar with. Even if you have directions to and from your hotel or airport, a GPS is priceless if you run across unexpected road construction. And using a handheld GPS over a paper map can help you look less like a tourist.

Did anyone watch the entire show? Did I miss anything good?

Can You Believe These People?

And we wonder where all those "extra" bags rotating around the carousels go after everyone leaves. Well, if you're in Phoenix, there was a good chance one of these two picked it up. Thanks to the AP and news.com.au for breaking this story:

After being spotted stealing a bag from an airport carousel in Phoenix, Keith Wilson King was arrested and jailed only to be spotted doing the exact same thing days later. That allowed police to search his home only to reveal luggage everywhere! In fact, the police believe there to have been about 1000 pieces throughout the home. Also arrested was his wife, Stacy Lynne Legg-King


The contents of the bags were removed so there wasn't much that could be attributed to any certain traveller. Neighbors reported seeing a horse-trailer being driven on and off the property at night and regularly saw luggage being sold in garage sales (Now I know how people make money off of eBay!).

Phoenix is now considering checking your ID when you leave with bags in the future so when everyone has to do this, costing you another 15-30 minutes of waiting time leaving the airport, blame these people.



Don't forget to check out our Pilot's Best Rated Trips to Europe or check out all of our trips!

DeltaMakes the First Move to Staggard Seating

While in the news for a while now, not everyone has become privy to the amazing seating that Delta will be offering starting in 2010. The "Cozy Suite" is a design by Thompson Solutions that staggers the seats diagonally so each person gets a built in head rest to one side and somehow gives each person 2 more inches of leg space while the airline is able to add seats to the plane. This seems magic to me, but we'll have to believe them for now.

You can not recline in the way we are used to in that the seat back is a hard shell behind the cushion, but the cushion itself slides down and forward to give you the same position of leaning back. That means no more moving seat in front of us by the person who adjusts constantly. The one drawback, seemingly, is that you do not get a direct shot (whether that be verbally or visually) to the people next to you). So, if you are travelling with someone, don't expect to have the long conversation time you used to be able to have.

The positives still seem to outweigh the negatives, however. I guess we'll all just have to wait to find out. Delta has ordered these seats for their 767 and 777 and will have exclusive rights in North America. I look forward to testing them out!

You may be able to test these seats out on your way to Europe for your next trip. See if you can't book one of these types of planes on purpose through one of our trips!

Paris on Sale!

As part of an ongoing effort to stay a world power in the fashion industry, Paris has begun an aggressive compaign to market itself as such. "Soldes of Paris" or Sales of Paris is the French way of saying, "Please come here during the winter when we usually don't have many tourists so we can get out of this recession business and get back to real fashion."

In other words, Paris is on sale during the winter so take advantage by getting over there and finding these opportunities! You're not going to get many chances to find cheap fashion in Paris, so take advantage while you can. Check out http://www.shoppingbyparis.com/ starting November 23rd to get a clearer picture of the program. Currently, there are hundreds of hotels and shopping boutiques participating in the program.

Make sure tobrowse our trips to Paris or if you're interested elsewhere, have a look at all of our trips!

Europe's (and the World's) First Rotating Hotel

OK, now we've heard of everything. Need a reason to go to Croatia? Well, now you (and the rest of the world) have one. Just south of Split lies the island of Solta, where plans for a rotating hotel have been made. Due in 2012, this three-story building will rest on a rotating turn-table. The hotel will be comprised of 50 suites that will (eventually) have a view of the lake the hotel rests on.

I can picture it now: "My room only had a view of the lake for less than one day! I want my money back!" As if the management of the hotel has already read my mind, they will have the hotel rotate 1.3 times every day, thus allowing visitors to see all views at all times depending on the length of your stay.

Anyways, I thought you might be interested in trips to Croatia so have a look or check out all of our deals!

Go To Cork!

Wait, you're going to Ireland but only visiting Dublin? There's so much more to Ireland than that wonderful city! In fact, there's Ireland's second largest city and second-best sightseeing launching point, Cork. Think of Cork as another base on the southern tip of Ireland, allowing you to see the lower half of Ireland much easier.

So what's close to Cork? Well, Blarney Castle in Blarney, Ireland with the Blarney Stone! Also, Killarney is nice large town within short driving distance. Also, it's nice just to drive the roads and see the countryside along with the shores of Ireland. Our recommendation, Just Go and look around until you see something worth stopping to take pictures of (it won't take long) and then repeat!

Cork is also a destination within itself. It may seem contradicting, but Cork was the main shove-off point for people emigrating from Ireland during the Great Famine and has many monuments and building commemorating this. Cork was Europe's "Capitol of European Culture" in 2005 and has gained instant fame in tourism because of it. There are many monuments and beautiful buildings, but there's even more beautiful landscape and people.

Browse our great choice of trips to Ireland and all of our Best Pilot Rated Trips!

Hotels in Space? Try it out in 2012!

No Joke! This is a real company that is already accepting reservations. In fact, they have dozens already. At the great price of $4.5 Million a stay, this is an extreme value compared to space tourists currently paying about $20 Million per trip. I am fine with sticking to Europe, though. For now, listen to the BBC story covering this new opportunity.



Stick to Europe, like us. It's much safer and cheaper! Here are our best deals.

If You Go to Greece in April, Watch Out!

This has to be one of the most amazing festivals in the world. The only scary thing would be if you had no idea about and you were in town or passing by. I can see it now: "Please, someone let the United Nations know that World War 3 has begun in Greece!" This is something I stumbled upon that I couldn't help but post on here. Watch the movie and check out how to get there below!

Want to go to Greece? Click here for our trips there! Also don't forget to Follow Us directly on our blog or through Facebook!

An In-Depth View of the Pantheon

Don't understand why the Pantheon is considered one of the most amazing monuments in the world? Looking from the outside, it looks more like a bomb shelter with pillars than anything. However, this is one of those cases where you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Within this stoic facade lies a church that rivals the beauty of St. Peter's Basilica itself. If you look really close, you might even find something that reminds you of the time this was a place to worship the Roman Gods.




Don't forget, we can get you here. Want to see all of Italy? Maybe you just want to browse all of our trips? We add new trips daily, so come back regularly to see our new trips! Also, don't forget to to add your opinions and your experiences on our blog and Facebook page!

Top 5 sights in Rome!

Here are OUR top 5 Roman sights! Remember, this is just our opinion so tell us your top sights in Rome after you read!

1. The Colosseum, in the Colosseo district, was the home of the gladiators in ancient times. Prepare to spend about an hour marveling at this ancient wonder where both land and sea battles once took place for the amusement of the Roman Emperors and their subjects. Go to www.pierreci.it to attain your tickets online before you leave. This ticket will also gain you entry to the Palatine Hill (we’ll discuss this later!).

2. St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, in the San Pietro district, is the Christian capitol of the world. You can imagine how much money and how many artifacts have come through this building and this Catholic church proves just that. Not only is this the largest church in the world, it is the most ornate and most spectacular. Don’t forget to climb the dome! Come early (7 a.m. early) and have the run of the place. You won’t regret it as you watch the lines mount up as you leave.



3. Hand-in-hand with The Basilica are The Vatican Museums. Remember those artifacts we discussed earlier? They are all here and they are breathtaking. Be sure to visit www.vatican.va to book your guided tour before you leave. Also, don’t forget to bring a small mirror in which to stare up at the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

4. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, both incomprehensible, lie next to the Colosseum yet are separate ruins of the Roman era. The Forum is free of charge and The Palatine Hill ticket comes with your Colosseum ticket. Take guided tours of each because both can be very confusing. The English tour for the Forum leaves at 10:30 am every morning and tours of the Palatine Hill leave regularly.

5. The Galleria Borghese, within the Villa Borghese, was originally built to house art and still does. This “gallery” hosts amazing murals, but highlights some of the most beautiful sculptures in the world. Go to www.pierreci.it to attain tickets to this sanctuary as they only let a finite amount of people in the building and lines can be horrible.

I hope this conjures up pictures in your head of your last visit to Rome or gives you ideas of what to expect when you go for the first time! Don't forget to leave your comments!

Our Favorite Sights in Rome!

Below are numbers six through ten on our favorite Roman sights list. They are in order, but understand that everyone will have their own Rome and their own order. Just have fun finding yours!

6. The Pantheon is now a tourist attraction, but was a church and before that was a temple to the gods. In another city, this would be THE number one attraction. However, this is Rome, and it is still in the top 10! The “oculus” is why and how the dome has lasted thousands of years, just hope it doesn’t rain.



7. The fountains, including the Trevi are everywhere. In fact, you can drink from many of them. Don’t be scared to get a cool drink from these on a hot day. You will know if you can drink if you see the Romans do so! Oh, and don’t forget to revisit the fountains at night for a different look at these wonders.

8. Coupled with the many of the fountains are the squares including Piazza Navona and Piazza del Popolo. These are usually good places to grab lunch or coffee and people watch. Many of them also have obelisks. These are beautiful stone statues that were stolen from Egypt after Rome conquered it.

9. One of the aforementioned squares is Piazza di Spagna which lies at the base of the Spanish Steps. Do we even need to describe the most famous staircase in the world? This is another great place to people watch and rest your feet!

10. Villa Borghese, the large park in the Center of Rome, is a secluded spot for those looking for some peace and quiet in a very vibrant town. Rent a bike or just stroll while stopping to take in the gardens and monuments that litter the park.

There’s so much more to Rome. In fact, there’s so much that it will take multiple visits to see everything. Make sure to throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return!

Tomorrow, we will have one through five to round out or list. Don't forget to chime in with your favorites!

Halloween in France?

Can you believe it? Halloween is celebrated throughout the world, but never was it considered a French holiday. That being said, it has become increasingly popular there, gaining its roots in the UK and US.


First, it is claimed that the Celts who lived in Northern France used to celebrate and Halloween someone how trickled through time to become more popular today. The real reason for its surge in popularity, however, seems to be US corporations shoving the holiday down the throat of the French. Starting as mostly a reason to dress in costume and have a party, the Holiday has evolved to much more like our own. Kids used to have to go from door to door to the businesses of the large cities to go Trick-or-Treating, but the residential neighborhoods have begun to do so as well as surrounding towns in the country.







There has been much backlash, however, as many French despise the fact that US corporations are forcing the Holiday upon the French people. Also, the French have November 1st (All Saints Day or Toussaint Day) which they celebrate as a day to remember the dead by doing things such as cleaning the graves of their loved ones.


We will see if Halloween truly ever does catch on in France. Thank you to Laura Lawless for some of the information today. If you want to learn to speak French, follow her blog!

Click here if you want to go to France, and here if you're looking specifically at Paris!

Because We're Sad Oktoberfest is Over for 2009

I had to put this movie in for all of us who missed Oktoberfest this year. The bad news, we missed the biggest beer festival in the world. The good news, you can visit Munich all year round and the "tents" are up. This is a nice walkthrough of what Oktoberfest is all about:



Tell us about YOUR Oktoberfest and your experiences there! Is the myth true that there are no hangovers with German beer?

Click here for a trip that will get you to Munich or search all of our trips to find the your next trip to Europe!

Top 5 Sights in Paris

Below are our favorite Parisian Sights. They are in order, but understand that everyone will have their own Paris and their own order. Just have fun finding yours!

1. Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel): Paris’ most famous landmark, it needs no explanation. Take the elevator to find the best views in town and enjoy the beautiful lawns surrounding the tower.

2. The Louvre Museum: Another famous Parisian landmark, this world-renown museum holds many great masterpieces including The Mona Lisa.

3. Notre-Dame: Flying Buttresses make this Cathedral one of the most beautiful in the world. It was a marvel when it was built throughout the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries and still is today.



4. Sacre-Coeur: Another bastion of Christianity, it can be seen in most parts of Paris as it sits on a hill in Montmartre.

5. Arc de Triomphe: Commemorating French victories in battle, this arch holds a museum, a viewing platform and the tomb of the unknown soldier.


Let us know if we missed anything. Unfortunately, we could only list ten over the last two days, but we all know there's so much more to this grand city!

Want to go to Paris? Let us take you there! Just one of our trips to The City of Lights or take a look at all of them!

Paris' Top Sights: Six Through Ten

Starting with the bottom of the list, here are five of our favorite sights in Paris. Don't forget, we will round out this list tomorrow!

6. Centre Georges Pompidou: This museum features itself. You can see the building’s guts from the outside. It also features works of art from the 18th century forward and is celebrated throughout the world.

7. Hotel des Invalides: The burial place of the great emperor, Napoleon, this is actually not a hotel at all!

8. Orsay Museum: A very interesting museum that was once a railway station and now feature art from the 1800’s to World War I.

9. Rodin and Picasso Museums: Two separate museums featuring their respective artists. If you are a fan of either, these are a must for you!

10. Squares and Parks: There are numerous of both, but make sure you go to the Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries Gardens.

To see these sights for yourself, take a look at the package below or search Paris, France on our page at http://www.jetsetpilot.com/.

This trip will get you here: http://www.jetsetpilot.com/trips/1/

Maybe your favorite will make tomorrow's list. There's only one way to find out! Please leave comments about these or any other sights.

Wow, Paris has a lot of Arrondissements!

When trying to find out what neighborhood you might want to stay in Paris, you will find the city broken down by Arrondissements (districts by number) and neighborhood names. Below is a list of the attributes of these neighborhoods as well as a couple of attractions within them.

1. First Arrondissement: Also called “Louvre”, this area is mostly taken up by The Louvre Museum and Tuileries Gardens as well as commercial interests. Centrally located, this neighborhood is a tourist hot-spot and hotels tend to be expensive here.
2. Second Arrondissement: Also called “Bourse”, is a mainly commercial area that also has some interesting neighborhoods and old markets. Take strolls on Grands Boulevards and Rue Montorqueil and don’t forget to visit Jean-Sans-Peur, the only other standing tower in Paris. It has a good choice of hotels.
3. Third Arrondissement: Also called “Temple”, contains part of the famous Marais neighborhood. This is the less vibrant part, though, and contains many old residences and museums like the Picasso Museum. This is a safe and quiet place to stay.
4. Fourth Arrondissement: Also “Beaubourg”, contains the trendy shops, bars and restaurants of the Marais and is has the oldest part of Paris. This district is many things including the Gay area of Paris. Also, Beaubourg is the Jewish center of Paris and shares the Place de la Bastille. This is a great place to stay for young people.
5. Fifth Arrondissement: The “Latin Quarter”, mixes young University students with businessmen and women. A great place to people watch and home to many churches as well The Great Mosque of Paris. Great stay for the “café scene”.
6. Sixth Arrondissement: “Saint Germain” and “Luxembourg”, while once bohemian in style, this area is now one of the most chic areas of Paris. It is a great center for shopping and another place to stay for the café scene.
7. Seventh Arrondissement: “Palais-Bourbon” contains the Eiffel Tower and Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon’s place of rest) is another hot-spot for tourists. The district contains high-wealth residences as well as government offices. A nice place for a quiet stay.



8. Eighth Arrondissement: “Elysees” contains Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. Home of the President of France, this district is home to elite shopping and is a main tourist area. This is a great place to stay for anyone but can tend to be expensive.
9. Ninth Arrondissement: “Opera” contains the Paris Opera and is similar to “Bourse” in that it is both commercial and residential and has many good places to stay in.
10. Tenth Arrondissement: “Enclos-Saint Laurent”, is home to two main rail stations, Gare du Nord and Gare de Iest. This is a bohemian district and is a trendy place to stay.
11. Eleventh Arrondissement: “Popincourt”, a mainly residential neighborhood, is home to the Place de Bastille. It has a cozy feel that is a reflection of the boutiques and upscale residences throughout the district. This is a nice neighborhood to stay in for anyone and the restaurants are very good.
12. Twelfth Arrondissement: “Reuilly”, is both residential and is a pleasant place to stay. Though not centrally located, the neighborhood is complimented by the large park, Bois de Vincennes. Also, the Bercy area will give you a village feel.
13. Thirteenth Arrondissement: “Gobelins”, contains Paris’ Chinatown and is mainly residential. Not the best place to stay or visit for strangers.
14. Fourteenth Arrondissement: “Observatoire” contains Montparnasse and its rail station: Gare Montparnasse. It is mostly residential and is a nice stay for anyone.
15. Fifteenth Arrondissement: ”Vaugirard”, has a range of residential makeup from the elite to the more affordable (yet still safe).
16. Sixteenth Arrondissement: “Passy”, is one of Paris’ elite districts. It has many beautiful avenues and is a nice place to stay
17. Seventeenth Arrondissement: “Batignolles-Monceau”, is much like 15 where there is a wide range of areas to stay. It’s a great choice if you do not being outside the city center.
18. Eighteenth Arrondissement: “Butte-Monmartre”, has more of a village feel and is a tourist haven. Sacre Coeur is located here. This has become a less attractive area, though, so there are better places to stay.
19. Nineteenth Arrondissement: “Buttes-Chaumont”, an area with many ethnic restaurants and shops.
20. Twentieth Arrondissement: “Ménilmontant”, is an up and coming residential area that is now leaning towards elite.

We hope this walk through of the neighborhoods help you in choosing where you would like to stay. Don't forget, more detailed descriptions are in the books we recommend in our Pilot's Bookstore.

To view are featured trips to Paris click here!

European Festivals in November

Throughout Europe, there are many festivals and celebrations of every sort all year 'round. Here are some of the more interesting ones in November:

On November 1st will be the Veteran Car Run in the UK (specifically London to Brighton). All the cars involved were made before 1905! While we could make this trip in minutes with no traffic, these cars take hours to do so. It's a long route, so plan where you can watch the show in advance! Click here for more:
http://www.vccofgb.co.uk/lontobri/



Le Feste de Tartufo is the Italian Festival for Truffles! It is celebrated every weekend in November starting the 14th in San Miniato. Click here for more: http://www.sanminiatotartufo.it/inglese/homeing.htm

The Santa Claus World Championships? Yes, it's true! On November 27-28th, go to Samnuan, Switzerland and watch the best Santas in the world compete in events such as skiing! Click here for more: http://www.clauwau.com/index_en.php

Crossing Borders is a giant tribute to all things artistic. "Crossing Borders is the festival where literature, music, film and the visual arts combine to take central stage. 18 - 21 November 2009, writers, poets, musicians, filmmakers and artists will reign over The Hague's cultural centre." This is one of Europe's giant festivals. Click here for more: http://www.crossingborder.nl/index.php?ID=1&lang=uk

There's so much more to sample so look around for a festival that appeals to you! Also, share with us your stories about festivals throughout Europe, November or not.

I Was Thinking About This All Day While I Worked.....

What about you?



One of the many tools I am using to grade all the neighborhoods of cities throughout Europe! It didn't hurt I was concentrating on Irish trips today plus it has a great little story towards the end.

Flashback: Samantha Brown Passport to EUROPE!

Remember Samantha Brown? I mean the good ‘ol Samantha Brown from Passport to Europe? What happened to her? Sure she is still around the Travel Channel with her Passport to great weekends, but is it me or is it just not the same? Maybe I favor Passport to Europe because of my love for Europe, and would rather watch 30min on any European country over a random US city worthy of only a weekend stop.

In the clip I've chosen below Samantha visits Rome, Italy and gives us a tour of her hotel. In this episode I was surprised the show decided to feature such a contemporary hotel. Personally, I’d much rather choose a classic, three star boutique hotel like the one we stayed in during our first visit to Rome.

Sure, Samantha’s room was HUGE compared to what we stayed in, and she even makes note that the ability to move around the room without bumping into furniture was a definite plus compared to most of Europe. But don't forget square footage = big $$$!

Final thought…you’re not in Rome to hang out in the hotel. As long as you have a clean bed to sleep in and a shower with hot water, you’re set.


Enjoy a little blast from the past with a short clip from Samantha Brown: Passport to Rome

Packing Pointers from our Friends at Frommers

If you plan on going on a city vacation, whether it be Rome or Paris, below are a few items that are sometimes overlooked which you will want to bring:

1. Sandals are great for walking the boardwalk or meandering from beach-house to local eatery, but remember that city trips often require much more walking on hard pavements and cobblestone in Europe. As such, remember your pair of sturdy, comfortable flat-heeled shoes. Loafers wonderfully double as casual and formal shoe wear.

2. Don't forget your local etiquette concerning dress. While in most cities and countries you're fine wearing shorts, etc, don't forget some Churches and cities as a whole are more formal. You may stick out as little or as much as you want, though!

3. LAYER! If you are out all day, you can certainly expect the weather to change at some point. Even if it's beautiful outside all day, some museums, etc can be down-right cold!

4. Don't forget that nice outfit for the opera or high-end dinner. I know this takes up a lot of room in your luggage, but it is a must for those elegant occasions. One outfit will be enough as long as you're not attending these events with the same people!

5. Umbrella, need I say more? Don't expect perfect weather every day!

6. While most crime isn't malicious in Europe, there are pickpockets, etc. Please consider wearing a money belt/pouch under your shirt in the cities and keep fine jewelry to a minimum. Also, keep your money/credit cards divided between you and your travel companions.

We will have many more tips in the future, but these are necessary items that travelers frequently forget. Leave your suggestions as comments for everyone to learn from!

Why Chicago Lost the Olympic Battle

With today's decision, many in the U.S. are wondering why Chicago was passed up for the 2016 Olympic Games. We sent a full-proof plan to Copenhagen: President and Michelle Obama. How did it not work? Well, let's start with Chicago's problems first.

In the last few weeks, Chicago has been the victim of its own people. There have been multiple murders of children/young adults throughout the neighborhoods of the city by their own peers. This drew bad attention to the city. If they can't handle their own problems, how could Chicago possibly host the Games and the international issues that come along with it like terrorism? Also, a recent poll by The Chicago Tribune found that 45% of the city's inhabitants didn't even want the Olympics held there. Why? For exactly the same reason mentioned previously: these people mostly wanted the money spent on Chicago's own problems, not new stadiums!

But there were three other amazing cities involved in this process and they each had great arguments as to why the Games should be held in their locales. Let's start with the second loser behind Chicago: Tokyo. Both the U.S. and Japan have held games in the last 13 years (In fact, the U.S. has held two). Tokyo, too, had luke-warm feelings about the games and ultimately fell even after putting aside $4 Billion in infrastructure money for the games. Madrid was the final city to fall (its second loss after losing the 2012 bid to London). The problem with Madrid's bid seems to be that the Olympic committee hasn't awarded two consecutive summer games to a single continent so it may have a chance on its third bid for 2020. Not a steadfast rule, but an unspoken guideline.

Finally, there was Rio. Maybe the last of the four cities expected to win. Rio de Janeiro has had its problems (to say the least) with crime which was the major argument against the city. There is another type of crime that the committee doesn't have to worry about when choosing Rio as the host: terrorism. When asked about this, President Silva stated,"We don't have attacks, we don't have bombs." Also, the momentum for "breakthroughs" following the Beijing games was unstoppable. This will be the first Olympic games held in South America.

No matter where the Olympics are held, they will be amazing as they always are. Here's to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver!

Excursions from London....Other Than Stonehenge

Many people go to London and think Stonehenge is the only place one needs to visit outside the city lines. If you believe that, you are missing some wonderfully unique British trips that many Americans and other tourists don’t know about. Shhhhhhh! Don’t tell them we told you……

First are the Cotswold Villages. This is a truly wonderful trip that can take days if you let it. If you do it as a single-day excursion, don’t worry, you will see a lot! The Cotswolds are simply this: amazingly picturesque villages and towns dotted along a gorgeous stretch of the English countryside. When you go to visit this place (these places) is take in the landscape as you walk from village to village. Check out the name of some of these towns! There’s Wotton-under-Edge, Stumblewold, Moreslaughter and Burton-on-the-Water. Two good home-bases for trips to the area are Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold. There are tourist centers with pamphlets suggesting which routes to take and we suggest you use these as guides if you don’t have one already.

For you Roman-lovers, don’t worry. They made it to Britain, too! In fact, a short excursion to Corinium might just be what the doctor ordered for you. Corinium was the second largest Roman city behind Londinium on the island and had everything you could ask for of a Roman city: aqueducts, and amphitheatre, palaces, forts and basilica. Unfortunately, the Dark Ages occurred and most of the city went to ruins. Don’t fret, though! There is a great museum featuring the site’s artifacts and the amphitheatre is still there in Earthly form (a giant grass bowl!). Check out this photo blog concerning the museum’s artifacts: http://photodelusions.wordpress.com/category/archaeology/corinium-museum/

Finally, there’s Stratford-upon-Avon. If you were listening in high school history class, you might remember this to be the home to Shakespeare himself. This is another unique experience that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. This town is in similarly picturesque countryside as the Cotswolds and has an extreme amount of culture attributed to it by William S. Here, you can view five different houses that were a part of Shakespeare’s life and even see a theatre production by the Royal Shakespeare Company which are one of the two most prestigious companies in the UK and specialize in William’s plays.


Expand your horizons and check out these wonderful places while in London and don’t forget, we didn’t tell you about the Cotswolds!

The Neighborhoods of London…. So Much to Choose From!

There are many areas in which to stay in London and most of the following I would recommend to anyone when it comes to safety and the general “niceness” of the area. However, these are very different neighborhoods that would be enjoyed more by different types of people so I’ve broken them down to two major areas of central London divided by many smaller districts.

First, there’s the West End. Most of this area is within walking distance of most sights and easily accessible by the tube. On the West (duh) side of the river, this area has many different personalities that are all entertaining in different ways:

1. Soho, the ever-popular district, has many bars, pubs, nightclubs and includes Chinatown. This area is also gay-friendly.
2. Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Charing Cross make up a large area that includes Theatreland (the Broadway of London) and Trafalgar Square. This area is highly-loved and very “touristy”.
3. Mayfair is a very rich and exclusive neighborhood with great shopping and luxurious hotels.
4. Bloomsbury is a district with many colleges and universities and also holds the British Museum right next to……
5. Maryleborne (pronounced Mar-le-bon by locals and a million other ways) is home to Madam Tussaud’s and the great investigator, Sherlock Holmes.
6. St. James and Westminster contain great parks, Westminster Abbey and Parliament and is about as central as you can get.
7. Belgravia, Victoria and Pimlico is a nice area with many embassies and aristocrats.




Next, Central London is a more developed, commercial area but just as convenient as far as distances to all the sights:

1. Knight’s Bridge and Chelsea are fashionable residential and shopping areas. Home to Harrod’s, these neighborhoods are artsy and trendy.
2. Kensington and South Kensington are residential but do have some hotels and restaurants. They also boast Hyde’s Park and multiple museums.
3. Earl’s Court is a great place to stay if you are a traveler on a budget. Also, this area is gay-friendly.
4. Bayswater and Paddington also have some budget hotels but are very commercialized.
5. Southbank has many sights like the London Eye, Globe Theatre and Tower Bridge, but no places to stay.
6. Shoreditch is an up-and-coming trendy zone. An interesting place to stay if you are adventurous.
7. “The City” doesn’t have accommodation either, but does have the Tower of London, the “Wall Street” of Europe and St. Paul’s Cathedral.


I know this sounds like there’s a lot of places to stay. That’s because THERE IS. What’s great about London is you can stay in one of these districts that suits your wants and needs and they’re all within a relatively small area. All are within a couple tube stops of everything else so don’t worry! Have fun in London and remember the Olympics are here in 2012!

We're Back!

You didn't think we were gone, did you? Well, of course we aren't. We just had to do a little "research" for our second phase of JetSetPilot.com once the first phase is complete and successful. So what did we research? Hawaii! Maui, in fact. We spent the last week taking in all the island could give us in hopes that JetSetPilot will someday include the U.S. The flight there was one of the most interesting parts......


We were supposed to take off last Saturday at 7:30 AM but found out at 4:30 that our connecting flight to San Francisco was "delayed" until about 10 AM. Or was it 9 AM? You see, between the calls from our travel provider and the carrier's website, we saw and heard multiple departure times. It was at this point that we realized that our United Airline flights had been sold to none other than our friends at US Air (the reason for not booking US Air in the first place was to avoid this kind of thing).


Anyway, we decided to go to the airport at the normal time to DEMAND that we be seated on another plane heading west so we could still get to Maui around the original 3 PM arrival time. To our surprise, they were more than accommodating and put us on a plane to Chicago at 8 AM. This meant one extra layover than the original trip, but we didn't mind at the time. We were ultimately supposed to be in Maui at about 5 with another stop in Phoenix.


Everything ran smoothly for the trip through Chicago and into Phoenix. In fact, we got onto the plane in Phoenix and we were ready to go! After taxiing for a little, we noticed the plane being "revved" like a car a lot and that it was a little warm inside the cabin when the pilot turned on the PA system: "Uhhhh, folks, as you might be able to tell, we are headed back to the terminal. One of the two main air conditioners is not responding. While we could run a normal domestic flight with just one AC, we can't for an overseas flight to Maui. We are not sure how long this repair will take."


We were worried that this could take forever but still hopeful it would be a quick fix. Relatively speaking, it ended up not being too big of a deal. After a couple technicians came in and out a handful of times, the problem was fixed and we were already taxiing again after about 45 minutes. No problem, we were going to HAWAII and the captain still said we could make up the time in the air and we'd get there at about 5. Next thing we knew, we were sitting on the runway about to take off when we made a 90 degree turn right towards the gate again......


It turns out that the FAA paperwork that is necessary to fill out on every fix was not filled out correctly. Rumor had it that somebody forget to "check a box". That wouldn't take long, right? WRONG! In fact, it took another hour before they had everything in order again and we backed away from the terminal for the third time. It was a good thing we had some comic relief coming from our flight attendant who made fun of intoxicated passengers and pretended to get sucked out of the plane door at one point.


Long story short, we left Phoenix and arrived in Maui 2 hours late at about 7 PM Hawaii time. That's 1 AM Eastern where we woke up at about 4:30 AM. You do the math! We were, however, in Hawaii and we did not care one bit the second we stepped foot on that amazing island (except for a minute when the baggage belt broke but we'll leave that for another time). We had a most wonderful trip that we'll blog about later in the week!


Don't forget, travelling is worth every little problem you run into on the way. Getting there is half the fun! This trip was no different.


(P.S. - our return trip with United went without a hitch!)

The Neighborhoods of Rome. Which one will you stay in?

The Neighborhoods: Il Centro is all of the center of Rome and is where most of the attractions lie as well as most of the hotels we will recommend on this site. This is a large area, however, so we have broken down the major areas of Il Centro starting with our favorites:

1. Piazza Navona/Pantheon: Talk about great location. This area is not only the in the center of Rome, it is the center of the center! This is area is the namesake of one of the greatest squares in Rome as well as the ancient monument that lies within it. This is area possesses incredible architecture as well as fountains. We highly recommend staying in this area.

2. Trevi/Piazza di Spagna: We may be repeating ourselves, but centrally located and the namesake of two more amazing sights: The Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. We also highly recommend staying in this area, especially if you enjoy shopping!

3. Colloseo: What can we say, we love Rome and ALL its neighborhoods. Colloseo offers the best of ancient Rome, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Still centrally located, if you don’t stay here, you will spend much of your time here anyway! Not the most fashionable area, but perfect for history buffs!

4. Via Veneto: This area is perfect for those looking for quiet evenings in a pretty area. While there isn’t much to speak of in this neighborhood beyond nice hotels, become inspired by this laid back part of Rome and enjoy the tranquility.

5. Borghese: If you enjoy luxury, look no further! Overlooking Rome’s grand park (Villa Borghese) are many of the five-star resorts in Rome. Why? Because not only is the park beautiful, but within it lies about the only tranquility one can find in Rome during the day. If you don’t stay here, make sure to visit the park!

6. Trastavere: For younger visitors, try this neighborhood. Along the western bank of the Tiber south of the Vatican lies this quaint, artsy neighborhood that has become a very nice place to stay in the last few decades. Here you can find an area with great food and nightlife.

7. Prati/San Pietro: Surrounding St. Peter’s Square and directly to the North is an area with good shopping and decent nightlife. You can find great deals from the hotels in this area even though it’s a very pleasant place to stay!

8. Piazza del Popolo: With an amazing square and THE place to stroll at dusk, this area does not have a lot of hotel options. However, it does have many fun bars, restaurants and places to shop.

9. Testaccio/Teatro Marcello: Similarly, these two neighborhoods don’t offer too many hotel options. Lying on the east side of the Tiber, these areas do boast beautiful homes, alleys, archeological sights and amazing nightlife. Repubblica: With an amazing square, a fun market
and some other great shopping, this area is a great option for those looking the best deals in Rome. Also, Termini Station (Rome’s main train hub) lies within this neighborhood.

New Gateway to Paris from Philly

Alright, not to sound like I'm a Delta salesman or anything, but I received an email today about Delta opening up 5 new weekly routes to Paris from Philadelphia starting October 5th. Pretty cool, but one of their "partners", Air France actually already had those routes open. So what does that do for us? Well, considering the average cheap flight to Paris from Philly was about $600+ give or take $50, not too much. On my searches for straight flights between the cities, I regularly found the prices to be almost identical to the old ones: about $625.

Maybe this could work out for travellers in the future, though, as Delta/Air France need to sell more tickets. Who knows? Also, this could mean more deals for online travel agents who are trying to negotiate discount ticket prices with these airlines. I'm sure once we begin highlighting trips to Europe on JetSetPilot.com, we will all find out and we'll be sure to let you know!

Also, check out Delta's Sky Miles Rewards Card offered through American Express. This ended up being the card of choice for JetSetPilot and our travels as it presented the best, most straight forward point systems out there. Read up for yourself at http://www.americanexpress.com/ under "personal cards" or "business cards" if you need one for your company.

How have your experiences with travel reward credit cards been? Tell us about your favorites and why when you have the chance. I am sure we will eventually have a whole blog focused on this topic. For now, just read up and respond!

Budget Travel: Sleeping in airports?

Have you ever had to sleep in an airport, train or bus station? While this isn't something I'd recommend you do voluntarily, there may come a time when luck has run out and you are left with no choice but to sleep sprawled out across plastic chairs.

Thankfully, the one time our flight was cancelled we were offered a night stay at the closest hotel. But often times in situations such as foul weather you may not be offered this luxury and you'll need to fend for yourself.

Whether it is a voluntary or unplanned overnight stay, you may want to check out http://www.sleepinginairports.net/index.html. In addition to general tips for sleeping in airports, it also features an extensive collection of airport, train and bus station reviews. You can find the best and worst airports around the globe, along with specific pros and cons, as well as airport sleeping tips. (#2 tip - bring a cheap inflatable pool raft)

Sleepinginairports.net was actually created as a tool for the budget traveler who PLAN on sleeping in an airport. From my research, there are plenty of budget travel options out there and in my opinion sleeping in an airport should be your last resort. There are some fantastic all inclusive deals out there to be found for the budget traveler. Check back with us later this month when we launch http://www.jetsetpilot.com/ for all the latest deals to Europe!

Quick references: Time, Weather & more!

I've put together guide of quick references for Weather, Time, Exchange Rates and Translations.

Some of the links aren't the most glamorous sites, but they give you the information you’re looking for in an easy on the eyes fashion.

Weather -
To see the current temperature and weather in every city in Europe, Click here



Time -
For a quick view of the times around the world, Click here


Exchange rates –
To add an exchange rate widget to your iGoogle, Click here

To find exchange rates online, Click here

Translations
To add an iGoogle widget, Click here

For translations of useful phrases, Click here

To translate your own words or phrases, Click here

The JetSetPilot Experience

For those of you who routinely follow our blog, we’d like to thank you!!! For those of you casually stopping by, we’d like to tell you a bit about ourselves. The writers of this blog include myself, Kristie, and my fiancé / business partner Brian. In less than one month we will be launching the latest and greatest in European online travel planning, http://www.jetsetpilot.com/.

JetSetPilot strives to provide a unique online travel planning experience. Most travel sites include hundreds, if not thousands, of links that not only clutters the page but also confuses the user, and probably drives them to leave the site. I’ll let you in on a little secret. What you may or may not realize is all those links on the homepage of travel sites…they aren’t there to help you!! They are there to increase the site’s rank in search engines such as Google and Yahoo. They are there to help increase the site exposure to the masses, but ultimately drive the user away! The thought behind JetSetPilot is to start with a clean slate, present a clean homepage, and provide clear direction through our “Pilot Search” tool on how to find the trip you’re looking for. We want to make it simple for you, the jetsetter, to find the exact trip you are looking for without visiting dozens of individual travel sites. How do we do this? We’ve partnered with the top online travel agencies, review each of their trips and feature only the best quality trips. Whether your budget is $500 or $5000, we have the trip you’re looking for. We also rate each trip based on hotel quality, hotel location, time of year, and many other factors.

We’ll also continue to update our blog with the latest travel news (see our recent post on WiFi available on select airlines here), suggestions on where to travel in Europe, and we’ll also regularly post our best rated or last minute trips.

We can’t wait to launch and start helping you make that dream European vacation a reality. What most people don’t realize is you can take a week vacation in Spain for about the same price as a cross country U.S. trip. You just have to find the right deal, at the right time. Subscribe to our blog and newsletter once we launch so you don’t miss out on all the best deals to Europe!

And so we ask, "Where can we take you?"