Trafalgar travel director offers an insider’s view of Europe’s finest

MANILA, Philippines - Let your next trip to Europe be sans souci and stress-free as Trafalgar, via local partner Pan Pacific, arms you with helpful travel pointers on how to make the most of your vacation in this much-loved continent.

Trafalgar travel director David Nadal attests to Europe’s popularity as a vacation destination. “Guests can go sightseeing, visit the temples, palaces, and castles to learn about its rich historical and cultural heritage,” he suggests. “Or if they prefer other activities besides that, we have many excellent restaurants, fashion boutiques, wonderful festivals, awesome beaches, and spectacular ski resorts, among others.”

Of his personal travel must-sees in Europe, the north of Spain is top of mind. “Santander and San Sebastian are wonderful. It’s got a beautiful landscape, a combination of the green Cantabrian mountain range and the beautiful Atlantic coast with its small charming fishing villages and summer resorts,” he says.

His favorite Spanish city Seville (“I’m in love with its people, the flamenco, the nice and warm climate, its history and monuments, and the amazing Holy Week celebrations — the list is endless”) also makes it to his list, plus Morocco, with its authentic Medina of Fez and the romantic city of Marrakesh; and of course, the usual top cities of Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, and Paris.

“Plus, there’s this one place that I particularly love: the Valley of the River Loire in France, with all its elegant castles,” he says.

Nadal also considers Portugal one of Europe’s lesser-known gems. “Not many people know that Portugal was the most powerful country in the world during the medieval times, and all this importance is reflected in its monuments, its colonies around the world, and its wonderful people,” he declares.

“There are plenty of great places to visit like Lisbon, the capital of the country, and Sintra and the coast of Cascais and Estoril, Porto with its romantic river port,” he adds.

Having mentioned so many cities and key destinations to visit, Nadal dishes out his time- and cost-saving tips for those who want to enjoy their European excursion to the fullest. “Let me tell you a secret: when traveling to a foreign place, always remember that most locals are proud of their country, and they will do anything to make visitors feel at home,” he says. “That’s why in Trafalgar, we leave it to our friends in that city or destination to advise you on where to go and what to see.”

Nadal says it from experience, as he himself hails from Spain and is passionate about his country’s culture. “All Trafalgar travel directors are native to their assigned country, or have been living there long enough to be a local,” he reveals.

Finally, as an added bonus, Trafalgar has also developed a range of optional unique excursions, such as the Hidden Treasures and Be My Guest packages, which take vacationers to see the most important sites, enjoy the most popular shows, eat the best delicacies at local restaurants, and acquire information from the local experts in town — in short, experience culture in the most authentic way possible.

Offering some words of advice to those whose bucket list includes a trip to Europe, Nadal says, “Take as many pictures as you can and keep a travel diary to remember your holiday day by day, including the little things that made your trip more special. Savor each moment because the experience will always be unique to you. Travel is always a personal thing.”