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It can be fun to take a trip, but very lonely if you are doing so by yourself.  How can you find friends during your travels?  There are several ways.

Start With A Plan

You may actually wish to go online before you travel and use Facebook or other sites to look for friends that are traveling when you are.  You can also place an ad or look through services like Craig’s List to see if you can find friends that like to travel.  This may take some time, but it will be worth it.

Online

Going online is one of the best ways to find friends during travel.  You can search for groups in the area where you are traveling and attend those groups when you arrive.  This way, you should be able to find friends.  Sometimes, Yahoo has groups for different areas which you can join and get to know people before meeting.

The Local Hangout

Depending upon where you are, this may or may not be a workable situation.  In some countries, people tend to gather at the local pub or bar in order to socialize.  Sometimes, you will meet people here, and sometimes, you will meet people who do not want to socialize but rather just want to drink.

Youth Hostels

Staying at a youth hostel is a great way to get to know people during your travels.  Often times, you can leave notes on the bulletin boards or socialize with the other guests during the day before everyone leaves the hostel.  This is a great way to meet like minded people.

The Bookstore

In some countries, the local bookstore is a hangout where people can meet.  You might just try this out by stopping in a few stores. You may find people conversing over coffee and pastries or you may not.  If you do, strike up a conversation.

Safety Issues

Writing an article of this sort certainly would not be complete without a few sentences on safety.  While it is true that most people are decent and honest folk, there are some out there that simply are not.  While it is important to want to be friendly, you also need to be smart about things.  Until you know someone very well, you should be alert  and slightly wary.  It is best to meet in public places only.

Conclusion

Chances are, if you are friendly, you will certainly be able to make friends with other travelers.  Just be safe and be smart about things and you are sure to have a great time.

You can learn even more by finding friends by reading the following people search article which described over 20 free people search engines that do exactly this.

Frankfurt, Germany is a fun city to explore. Offering glimpses into the fascinating mix of modern German life, the streets of Frankfurt are filled with bankers in pristine suits and young students walking alongside futuristic skyscrapers and beautiful 19th century buildings. Millions of tourists flock to the picturesque downtown area, where quaint city squares, streets with historic character, and excellent museums line the banks of the River Main. Frankfurt has all of the culture, energy, nightlife and history that you could wish for in a European city, so go ahead and start exploring!

If you on a flight to Frankfurt on a budget you will soon discover that you don’t need to be rich to have a great time here. There are many choices for budget accommodation and lots of free activities to enjoy which will keep your travel expenses low. Here are some ideas of free things that you can do while you are in Frankfurt:

• Take a walk along the River Main on a sunny afternoon, where you will find many people picnicking on the lawn, playing Frisbee, and relaxing.
• Walk through the historical area of Romerberg, which is one of the few places in the city where old buildings from the 14th century were not wiped out during World War II. The beautiful gabled houses and the old town hall will give you a sense of what the city of Frankfurt used to look like.
• Take a picture of the skyline from one of the Main River Bridges, one of the best places in the city for views.
• Visit the Ikonen Museum, which houses over 1000 icons from the 16-19th century. If you visit on the last Saturday of the month, admission is free.
• Escape to the Mediterranean at Nizza Gardens. These gardens have been around since 1866 and they are filled with palm trees, orange trees and lemon trees, which you don’t often see in Germany!
• Go swimming at the outdoor park near the Stadion tram station. There are four swimming pools here, for kids and adults. There are also five diving boards, massage pools, two water slides, a water cannon and even a waterfall! It is a great place to cool off on a hot summer day.
• Go for a hike in the City Forest or “Stadtwaldt” which is the largest inner-city forested area in Germany. There are 6 playgrounds, 9 ponds, and 48 square kilometres of lush green peacefulness where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

These are just a few of the many fun things that you can do in Frankfurt which will not cost you a thing. Have a fantastic time exploring this great city!

Simon Grant is a writer and blogger who contributes to Time To Wander and a great many other sites.

Übel (oobill) is nauseous.

Erbrechen (err-brech-in) is vomitting.

Berlin is renowned for being one of the greatest cities in the world. It’s beautiful, it’s big and there are plenty of historical attractions to keep you busy throughout your stay. However, 2012 is set to be a very big year for Berlin as there are several fantastic and exciting things happening all around the city.

Frederick the Great – 300 year anniversary

Yes, that’s right! 2012 will officially mark 300 years since Europe’s most renowned Prussian King was born. Military commander, musical composer and extremely kind hearted – it’s easy to see why Berliners will be celebrating his 300th birthday!

Berlin – 775th year anniversary

Since the wonderful city of Berlin will be celebrating its 775th birthday, museums such as the Lange Nacht der Museen will dedicate exhibitions to Berlin’s history. There will also be several of Berlin’s oldest buildings holding open days for visitors to marvel at the monuments.

Goodbye Schönefeld Airport, hello Brandenburg Airport

As of the 3rd of June 2012 Brandenburg Airport will open and act as the main airport for Berlin. Set to be one of biggest airports in all of Europe, it simply isn’t to be missed!

Nefertiti bust 100 year anniversary

Discovered in 1912 and housed within Museum Island, Nefertiti’s bust has drawn in visitors from far and wide to gaze at her beauty. The Neues Museum will host a special exhibition in honour of this fantastic discovery.

New Years Eve 2011/2012

The end of the year and the beginning of a new one is always one of the most celebrated events within Berlin. 2012 is predicted to be the biggest party yet and judging from the past celebrations – it’ll be amazing! Fireworks, dancing, live music, what’s not to love?

39th BMW Berlin Marathon

On the 30th September 2012 one of the greatest marathons in the world will take place. People from all over the world gather to run in one of the fastest courses in the world! So get your running shoes on and start training!

ILA Berlin Air Show 2012

Perhaps one of the best air shows you will ever see! The ILA Berlin Air Show is the oldest air show in the world and usually shows off some of the most awesome aviation and space technology around. Get your camera at the ready as the ILA air show is held only once every two years!

This article was written by Charlotte, a freelance travel blogger who spent a summer living in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg. She now writes for BerlinCityGuide.net

Kopfschmerzen (copf-shmerz-zen) is headache.
Verschwommenes Sehen (ver-shwom-in-es zee-in) is blurred vision.
Schmerzen in der brust (shmertzen in der brost) is chest pain.

Although it’s true that everyone loves a taste of the high life, in a city like Berlin it’s really not necessary to spend a lot of money to have a fun filled, activity packed trip. There is culture and history aplenty in this fascinating city, as well as a wide range of cuisines to enjoy and some excellent watering holes. And if you’re visiting for the clubbing well then you won’t be disappointed as Berlin has a committed and fast moving clubbing scene with many of the best DJs around on rotation, particularly when it comes to the underground. If you’re planning a trip to Berlin on a budget you should definitely make time for these:

Eating, Drinking and Going Out on a Budget in Berlin

One of the most essential elements to any trip abroad is getting to know the local cuisines, including the local take on imports like curry and pizza (did you know that reputedly the tastiest pizzas outside Italy are found in France?). You can feed yourself in Berlin for next to nothing with a bratwurst and a beer from a street booth, or head to somewhere like the Weinerei (http://www.weinerei.com) where you can get unlimited wine and juice, as well as a meal, for a staggeringly cheap €1 fee (plus a donation as you leave). The two Mirchi restaurants in Berlin serve a fusion of Indian and Singaporean cuisine, with enormous portions at tiny prices (http://www.mirchi.de) and chilled spots like Café Wasser (http://www.cafe-100-wasser.de) offer reasonably priced beers and excellent pizzas.

When it comes to an evening out in Berlin, you will find it’s a much cheaper option than other European cities like Paris or London. Local beers are fairly cheap and there’s an excellent selection of drinking establishments, from fabulous bars to cosy pubs. Clubs are affordable for budget travellers, with cover charges between €5 and €12. For club listings (and prices) check out the weekly magazines Zitty and Tip, or The Ex-Berliner.
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Things to Do in Berlin on a Budget

The Third Reich Walking Tour will take you around all the spots of historical interest in Berlin with respect to this defunct regime. Tours run on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, cost €10 and start at the Brandenburg Gate at 1pm (http://www.newberlintours.com). If you want to enjoy stunning views out over the city then why not climb to the pinnacle of the glass dome at the top of the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament. It’s free to do and the rewards are 360-degree views out over the city (http://www.bundestag.de).

A trip to Berlin wouldn’t be complete without a visit to what’s left of the Berlin Wall. The remaining one-mile stretch is located on Mühlenstraße in the central suburb of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and IS known as the ‘Eastside Gallery.’ Berlin’s holocaust memorial is also a must for anyone who truly wants to know this city. The striking site has 2,700 blocks of concrete of various shapes and sizes placed in a grid to commemorate the 6 million Jews murdered under the Nazis (http://www.stiftung-denkmal.de). The budget traveller to Berlin can also get the most out of the city’s parks and open areas, most of which are free to enter. Spend an afternoon in the Tiergarten and have a picnic by one of the lakes.

If you want to pack in lots of sightseeing whilst in Berlin but you don’t want to blow the budget in one go then http://www.berlin.admission-free.org is a very useful resource. Check out the site for discounts and freebies with respect to museums, attractions, parties and bars.

Amy is a guest blogger from Easyjet who operate flights to Berlin from 13 countries across Europe.

A historic city with majestic buildings, palace gardens, an avant garde art scene, forested parks and great local food? No, it isn’t Paris, it’s Berlin, a city still untraveled enough for “getaway” to mean just that.

Because it evolved as two fishing villages on either side of a river, Berlin lacks a single well-defined center, and attractions are scattered in clusters throughout the city. A day-ticket provides unlimited access to trams, buses, the underground, S Bahn trains, as well as public ferries, a wonderful alternative to the noisy narration of tour boats.

A large number of attractions lie in Berlin’s Mitte district, the oldest section of the city. Here you’ll find the
Brandenburg Gate, the east-west crossing point known as Checkpoint Charlie, numerous museums, churches and historic buildings alongside new buildings, hip shops, art galleries and spaces in transition. The Gendarmenmarkt, home to the French and German Cathedrals and the Konzerthaus (Concert Hall), is one of the most majestic squares in Europe and a good place to enjoy pre-war Berlin while sipping coffee in a nearby café.

Don’t miss the East Side Gallery, a mile-long stretch of the famous Berlin Wall, graffiti and all. This is just one of the innovative galleries in the eastern part of the city, for since re-unification former East Berlin’s reputation as a magnet for young artists has drawn connoisseurs and collectors from all over the world. In addition to funky bohemian galleries, Berlin also has more than its share of grand museums including the Pergamon, Neues, Deutsches Historisches, and the Picture Gallery, all of which are a must for art lovers.

Though Berlin is thought of as a center for commerce and politics, this is a city that celebrates nature. Nearly one-third of Berlin is covered with parks, gardens, rivers and lakes. From the Tiergarten’s Löwenbrücke (Lion’s Bridge) to the beautifully landscaped gardens of the Charlottenburg Palace and the deep forests and crystal clear swimming lakes of the Grunewald, these oases are perfect for walking, biking, and sharing a romantic picnic of German wine, local bread and ham.

For a grander meal and a special evening out, take the number 60 tram to Seeresidenze am Müggelsee, considered the city’s most beautiful waterfront restaurant. Also a treat is Trevisio in Prenzlauer Berg, located on the top floor of a renovated villa. And if the end of a busy shopping day finds you strolling in the Kurfürstendamm area, try Balthazar in the Louisa’s Place Hotel for a memorable gourmet experience.

Summer is a perfect time for seeing the city as there are numerous free concerts and open-to-all fairs and block parties going on most weekends. If going in autumn, take extra clothing, since even a warm day can be chilly near the water.

This travel article was written by Charlotte Johnson, who writes for publishers of berlincityguide.net, a free guide to living and working in Berlin.

Bauch aufregen (bowch ow-fray-gan) is tummy upset.

Durchfall (doo-ch file) is diarrohea.