The EuroBuzz European Cell Phone

So, you’re traveling to Europe and you’ve decided you need a European cell phone to aid you on your travels and to keep in contact with friends and family whilst you’re away from home.

It’s a sensible idea…

…not only will you be able to check reservations on the go and keep your family back home updated, you’ll also have a priceless lifeline in case an emergency should arise.

However, if you’ve started to research European cell phone services, you might be confused by all of the different options available to you, and it can become difficult to decipher which service is right for you. If you choose the wrong Europe Cell Phone it may end up costing you more than you thought, or not working when you really need it to.

In an attempt to make things easier, so you can be sure which service is right for you, we’ve created this guide which explains your major options and if they’re right for your needs.

Your 4 main European cell phone options:

Before we go through the tips, we’ll just quickly run through your 4 main options for cell phones in Europe…

1. Your US carrier

Your first option is to see if your current US carrier offers a Europe roaming service which you can upgrade to.

The advantages of this:

You will keep your own number so not have to update all your contacts with a new number

Your contacts will only have to pay for a call within the US to reach you (you will pay the international part)

The disadvantages of this:

Your contacts may call at all hours (and at cost to you) because they don’t realize that you’re overseas

You may have to pay extra to upgrade your account to allow roaming in Europe

You may have to pay to upgrade your handset to be compatible to European handsets

You may have to pay higher call rates as you will be paying roaming fees (and your carrier may not be able to accurately quote how much these will be)

So, even if you can upgrade your current cell phone to be used in Europe, make sure you calculate all the extra costs, as you may find buying a second cell phone, just for overseas travel, may work out much cheaper.

Plus, if you have a second cell phone for travel, then you can control better who can contact you when you’re overseas.

2. Local SIM card services

Your second option is local SIM cards. This option requires you to have an ‘unlocked’ GSM handset, and then individual SIM cards for each country you’re visiting (the SIM card is a little chip which fits in the handset and controls your phone number, contact details and connection to the network, and a GSM handset which is ‘unlocked’ means you can switch the SIM cards in it).

The advantages of this:

You get local call rates, including free incoming calls

You get a local phone number (if this is an advantage to you)

You prepay for your call time in advance, so can set a strict budget

The disadvantages of this:

Risk getting cut off if you run out of prepaid call time

Can be expensive to buy each individual SIM to begin with

Need to switch SIM cards and phone number for each country

Service will expire if not used for a period of time

Customer support may be in the language of the country you’re in

You’re limited to the network coverage of the carrier supplying the SIM card

With local SIM cards you’re getting the advantage of local rates at the expense of having to buy lots of SIM cards to begin with, dealing with the inconvenience of switching between cards, and risking running out of call time when you need it most.

3. Multiple country SIM card services

Unlike local SIM cards, with a multiple country SIM card, you get just one SIM card and phone number which works in every country.

The advantages of this:

You only have to pay for one SIM card

Will probably work in countries you’ll travel to in the future too

Don’t have to worry about switching SIM cards when you go into a new country

Keep the same number in every country, making it easy for people to contact you without knowing which country you’re in and when

Can be both prepaid (like local SIMs), or postpaid (like a conventional cell phone service)

Have better coverage than local SIM cards as can work on all networks’ coverage in a country, not just one network’s.

The disadvantages of this:

Call charges can be more expensive than local SIM cards

Some multiple country SIM services will have contract periods, or minimum usage requirements

Multiple country SIM cards have two major advantages over local SIM cards in that they are usually cheaper to purchase (assuming you’re going to a few countries on your trip), and they are far more convenient compared to switching around SIM cards and phone numbers all the time.

4. EuroBuzz

EuroBuzz essentially falls into the category of a multiple country SIM card service, so has all it’s advantages as listed above, but it has a few specific extra benefits which are worth mentioning.

The extra advantages of this:

Any type of call in Europe is just $0.79/min making it simple to keep track of your costs

You get everything ready to use for just $29

No contract, no services fees and no minimum usage requirements, so you only pay for calls you need to make and nothing else

Service never expires so you can use it as little or as much as you like in the years to come

Post-paid service, so you’ll never run out of call time and get cut off when making an important call

So EuroBuzz takes all the advantages of multiple country SIM cards, but removes the disadvantages of having to sign into a contract or extra fees. Plus, you get the easiest to understand and remember call tariff of all the services available.

Now you’ve seen what your 4 main options are for getting a cell phone for Europe, we’ll now use these following tips to help narrow down your choice:

Tip 1: Think about the overall costs

It’s easy just to look at the cost of your calls, and think that the cheapest is really the cheapest. However, when you add up the set up costs too, you might find that an option that has slightly higher call charges, actually still works out as better value for you when you consider the set up costs.

How this applies to EuroBuzz: Although EuroBuzz does not have the cheapest call rates you can find, you can buy everything ready to use for just $29, leaving you a lot of spare money.

Tip 2: Think about your long-term plans

If you’re just making a single trip to Europe, or plan only to return to the same country year after year, then getting a local SIM card for that country might be your best option. But, if you plan to visit multiple countries then it might work out better in the long term to get a multi-country SIM card service.

Be sure to make sure you understand all long-term costs though.

How this applies to EuroBuzz: You can use EuroBuzz in every country in Europe for years to come, and you won’t be charged any fees other than for the calls you make, meaning when you’re not traveling, the service is costing you nothing.

Tip 3: Think about understanding call costs

If you’re traveling to a few different countries then it can soon get confusing to remember the cost of every call you’re making, as they often differ depending on a few variables. Make sure you pick a service, which you fully understand what the costs of your calls will be.

How this applies to EuroBuzz: EuroBuzz is the only service to offer a truly flat rate on all your calls, no matter where you make them from or to. Just $0.79/min. This means no matter where you are or where you’re calling, you automatically have peace of mind you know what the cost is. Assuming you can remember $0.79/min of course!

Tip 4: Think about the ease of use

When you’re looking to buy a Europe cell phone service, you’re probably focusing on the costs, but in reality, this can be a secondary concern if you find you cannot easily use the service when you need it.

For this reason, multi-country SIM cards are far easier to use compared to local SIM cards, as you’re not constantly switching SIM cards and phone numbers.

How this applies to EuroBuzz: We’ve made sure that EuroBuzz uses one of the easiest dialing methods, and we make sure that the handsets we supply are simple to use. Plus, if you do have any trouble, you get free customer service.

Tip 5: Think about your peace of mind

Even if you think you’ve found the right Europe cell phone service for your needs, you can still never be sure until you’ve actually tried it. So, for your peace of mind, it can help to choose a service that will offer you a guarantee in case you change your mind.

How this applies to EuroBuzz: With EuroBuzz you get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your purchase price, so you can try it risk free and return it if things don’t work out.

Conclusions

Although Europe cell phones can seem complicated, it’s not really so difficult. There are just a few things to keep in mind; the overall cost of buying all the hardware/signing up to the service; keeping in mind where you may travel in the future, how easy the service is to use and how affordable the service is to run.

Hopefully, you’ll have seen that EuroBuzz has many of the advantages, with little of the disadvantages of the options available to you:

Affordable to buy: Just $29

Affordable and easy to understand tariff: Just $0.79/min for all calls

Affordable to own: No fees, contract or minimum usage for life

Easy to use: One number and dialing method around Europe

Plus, you get a 60-day money-back guarantee, so why not try it for yourself and see…

Order from www.eurobuzz.com today…

If you found this guide helpful please help your fellow travellers by sharing this guide by using the social buttons below.

The EuroBuzz Team

Choosing a France SIM Card

With the EuroBuzz France SIM Card you’ll get service in France and everywhere else in Europe with the simplest tariff available today; every call is just 79c/min while you’re in Europe. And we mean every call, including outgoing calls to ANYWHERE in the world, like back to the USA.

Rates for France

The EuroBuzz France SIM Card Rates Table
All charges are billed in US dollars per minute. The EuroBuzz rates shown above apply both to calls made to and from cell phones and landlines.
Competitor call rates were taken from their websites on August 01, 2009
* call rates for Rogers are shown in Canadian Dollars

France SIM Card Features

• Every call just 79c/min while in France and the rest of Europe
• No fees other than the calls you make
• No contract or minimum usage charges
• Just one number which works in France and around Europe for Life
• Free customer support available 24/7
• 60 day Money Back Guarantee

View our post – Top 10 reasons to choose EuroBuzz for more ways our service can benefit you.

Need a France Cell Phone?

If your current Cell Phone isn’t unlocked or GSM compatible there are still options available. Here at EuroBuzz we also have a France Cell Phone which offers the same low cost rates as our France SIM Card. View our simple France Cell Phone here.

FAQ’s

Will my France SIM Card work in the rest of Europe?

Yes, your France SIM Card will work throughout Europe and even in some countries outside of Europe. Please see the list of countries below.

I don’t own a GSM handset what are my options?

If your current Cell Phone isn’t GSM Compatible you can purchase a France Cell Phone please see our link above.

Why is using a EuroBuzz France SIM Card better than using my own Cell Phone Provider?

Even if your own cell phone carrier offers a service that works in Europe, EuroBuzz could still be a better option for you:

Our current EuroBuzz handset is the Samsung GT E1080i (Please note: occasionally, we may supply a different handset of equal or greater specification) Its slim, stylish design and long battery life makes this cell phone the perfect choice for your trip to Europe.

So let’s take a look at the European cell phone in detail…

The EuroBuzz European Cell Phone Handset

The EuroBuzz European Cell Phone is robust, easy to use and compact making it ideal for travel. Plus, it has a really long battery life which is important if you are traveling and don’t always have access to a charging point. We always make sure the handsets we supply are not overly complicated, and just focus on the basics of making calls and sending text messages easily and the Samsung GT E1080i passes all our usability tests.

The EuroBuzz European Cell Phone

Technical Information:

Network: GSM 900 / 1800
Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.8 x 0.6 in
Weight: 2.3 oz
Display Type: Color
Display Size: 128 x 128 pixels
Ringtones: Polyphonic with MP3 ringtones
Vibration: Yes
Messaging: SMS
Browser: None
Games: Yes
Useful applications: Calendar, clock, alarm, currency converter, calculator, stopwatch, countdown timer, memo book
GPRS: None
Bluetooth: None
Speakerphone: Yes
Stand-by: Up to 550 h
Talk time: Up to 7 h 30 min

For more information on our European Cell Phone Service please click here.

Accessories

With your EuroBuzz Europe compatible handset you will also receive:

A EuroBuzz SIM Card – With the Europe SIM Card every call is just 79c/min while you’re in Europe. And we mean every call, including outgoing calls to ANYWHERE in the world, like back to the USA. For more information on our rates please click here.

A Multi-voltage Charger

A International Travel Adaptor – A free gift from EuroBuzz worth $25!

The Service

Once you have purchased your Europe Cell Phone you don’t have to worry about any fees, monthly costs or minimum usages. EuroBuzz charge a one off fee of $29 for the Cell Phone there are no further fees to worry about – simply pay for what you use.

Pay just 79c/min while you’re in Europe. And that’s every call, including outgoing calls to ANYWHERE in the world, like back to the USA. For more information on our rates please click here.

The EuroBuzz Europe Cell Phone works everywhere in Europe and it automatically uses the strongest cell phone signal in the area so you should always have the strongest signal available to all cell phone users in that area, including the locals. You also have the option to manually select signals if you find the one automatically chosen is experiencing problems.

The EuroBuzz European Cell Phone is designed to be used as little or as much as required. This means that if you don’t require the cell phone for a year or two, the EuroBuzz service will remain active ready for your next trip! Due to this you don’t have to worry about your Cell Phone Number expiring . With EuroBuzz you will get just one number for life, it will not expire due to inactivity.

Once you’ve purchased, you’ll be sent login details for your online account. This means you can check your account 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

Not only will you receive low cost call rates when traveling in Europe. You will also receive fantastic customer support who are available 24/7! And that’s not all – we are so confident with our product and services we offer a 60-Day Money Back Guarantee! All our customers receive a full 60 days to try out our service. And, if for whatever reason you don’t think EuroBuzz is for you, you can get a full refund of your purchase price.

Still deciding whether to rent or purchase a Cell Phone? Please read our guide: European Cell Phones – Buying vs Renting

Testimonials

….My EuroBuzz phone worked brilliantly! Not only was in incredibly easy to use, but my service and connection were superlative.

With gratitude,

Kaitlin Stilwell, NY

…I also found the phone easy to use, pretty much a no-fuss instrument. I look forward to using it again in the future. I’m loving that my number stays with me forever.

Thanks for making an affordable and easy-to-use phone option, Eurobuzz!

Jeffrey D. Boehm, Ph.D. Professor of Music Bluffton University

….The phones are very easy to use there is no set up required, the instructions in the booklet are very easy to follow.

Thanks,

Pradnya Bhagwat, ITS Merchandising

Let us know what you think…

If you own a Samsung GT E1080i or have used a EuroBuzz Handset on a trip to Europe please leave a comment below. We’d love to hear your thoughts…

The EuroBuzz Team

European cell phones are great… if you’re traveling to Europe for a vacation or for work, it’s a really good idea to take a European cell phone with you. It can make things go much smoother as you can organize everything on the move, plus it gives you a valuable lifeline in an emergency.

But should you rent a European cell phone or buy one?

Traditionally the best option has been to rent a European cell phone for the duration of your stay. This means that you’re only paying for the service for the time that you need it.

While this used to make sense when cell phones for Europe were very expensive to buy, this is not the case any more. The cost of buying a cell phone has come down so much that to purchase and own your own Europe cell phone, for use just when you’re traveling in Europe, it costs the same price as renting the same service for just two weeks.

This means that if you’re planning to visit Europe for any length of time over two weeks, ever in the future, it becomes more cost effective to buy one outright that to rent one.

The further benefits of buying a Europe cell phone

Not only will you save a lot of money in rental fees for the future, there are also some other benefits of buying your own cell phone for Europe…

You keep the same number

When you buy your phone it will come with a phone number, which will remain the same for as long as you keep the service active. The main benefit of this is you’ll only have to give your number out once to your contacts and then they’ll know how to contact you on every future trip too.

If you got a European cell phone rental you would be given a new number each time, which means telling everyone the new number each and every time you travel.

You know how to use the service

If you rent a cell phone for Europe every time you travel the chances are you will get a different type of cell phone every time. This can mean learning and understanding how it works on every trip. You risk arriving in Europe and finding that you can’t work out how to use the phone.

When you buy your service, after your first trip you’ll be up to speed and confident that it works and you know how to use it on all your future trips. It helps your trip run much, much smoother.

You have the cell phone ready

Once you own your own handset it can just sit in a drawer ready for when you next travel. You’ll just need to charge it back up and away you go. If you choose to rent every time then you need to always go through the hassle of renting before every trip. That means hoping it arrives before you leave, and having deposits taken off your credit card, right before you travel and might need the funds.

Are there any benefits of renting a Europe cell phone?

As mentioned above, now the cost of buying has dropped it is now much more cost effective for anyone visiting Europe for longer than two weeks in the future to purchase their own service instead. However, in a couple of circumstances, renting still might be your best option.

You don’t plan to travel again

If your trip really is a one off, then renting might still be the way to go, as having a Europe sitting in your draw at home for ever more is not really worth the savings it will make.

You don’t want the responsibility of looking after your handset

When you rent you’ll receive a phone that is relatively modern and should be in good working order. Then once you’ve finished you just send it back. If you rent again the changes are you’ll get a completely different handset that has also been checked and maintained.

If you were to buy your own handset then that’s the one you’ll be using in the future. Although it will still work and should be reliable, it will eventually become outdated in style and features (if that’s a concern to you) unless you choose to upgrade at some point.

(And it’s worth mentioning that if you buy your own Europe cell phone it should come with a warranty, should it go wrong, so you’re still covered against mechanical failure.)

Picking between rental and purchase

In nearly all situations, purchasing is the way to go. It is cheaper and more convenient in the long run. However, if you really only plan to travel once to Europe, or are worried about your looking after your handset, then perhaps rental is still best for you.

If you do decide you want to buy, check out the EuroBuzz Europe cell phone for more information.

If you already own an unlocked handset which works on the correct GSM frequency for the country or countries you plan to visit why not take a look at the EuroBuzz Europe SIM Card? For more information on all our services please click here.

But how exactly will using our EuroBuzz service be of benefit to you, here are our Top Ten Reasons to choose EuroBuzz!

Why Choose EuroBuzz?

One – Convenience; EuroBuzz works in every country in Europe. See our country guides, see our coverage map, or look through the following list.

Two – Not just Europe; EuroBuzz works in more than just that extensive list of Europe. While our call rates aren’t the very low flat rate we’re still highly competitive.

Three – Quality; The EuroBuzz service always uses strongest signal available wherever you are in Europe. This means you’ll have a strong and higher quality signal than many of the locals in the country. This can be vital when traveling.

Four – Simple Plan; All calls on EuroBuzz are just one flat rate of 79c per minute (including calls back to the US). Check with your current cell provider and try to find what their rates are, you’ll soon be surprised to find out that they vary per country, they may even vary depending on where in that country you are (not that they’ll tell you this).

Five – Affordable; For only $49 you receive everything you need for your next trip, along with the knowledge of great flat rate call charges. EuroBuzz will never charge you any service fees, you’ll only EVER pay for calls. In the long term this makes sense.

Six – Even Better; if you own a cell phone which you’re positive works in Europe but don’t want to risk your cell providers extortionate call charges pay just $19 and use the EuroBuzz Europe SIM card to save even more.

Seven – Life time Bliss; unlike so many other options available for travel phone services, EuroBuzz is yours for life and works across Europe (and the World). Buying a local country SIM Card when you arrive in Greece, using half the credit, then on your next holiday you go to Spain.. your costs suddenly rocket. With EuroBuzz you’ll never need to worry about which European vacation you take next.

Eight – No Hassle; you won’t need to go searching for a SIM card when you land (ruining the start of your trip), and you will be able to have the cell phone with you before you go. No worries about where or how you’ll get one once you land. The ease of giving your friends and family your number before you go adds to the safety and security EuroBuzz offer.

Nine – Stress Free; Don’t take your expensive home cell phone with you, criminals are more likely to search out tourists. Taking a cheap alternative cell phone lessens your chances of being mugged and lowers your stress level if in the unfortunate event that you are.

Ten – Positive Happiness; We’re so sure you’ll love the EuroBuzz service that we offer a 60 day money back guarantee. If you don’t believe us just read some of our testimonials here.

Why did you choose EuroBuzz? Leave your comments below…

The EuroBuzz Team

Your Personal Cell Phone

If you’re traveling to the Czech Republic, France, Germany, or anywhere else in Europe you should to be aware that your current cell phone may suffer from poor reception or may not even work at all. Even if your current cell phone does work in Europe then using it can prove to be very costly because of high call charges. Not only that but what if your expensive cell phone gets lost or stolen? There are a range of alternatives available to help you save money on your trip.

The Alternative

Instead of using your personal cell phone you may consider purchasing a Cell Phone for Europe. EuroBuzz provide a European cell phone for just $49 with all call charges charged at 79c. EuroBuzz is the cheaper alternative when traveling in Europe and is ideal for everyone’s situation.

For more information on the EuroBuzz European Cell Phone plan please click here.

The Benefits of EuroBuzz

Whether you are a frequent or just an occasional traveler there are many benefits to purchasing a Cell Phone for Europe. If you travel frequently then with the EuroBuzz European Cell Phone Plan you will receive just one cell phone number which will work in Europe for life and never expire like with many other providers. And, because we have a call rate of just 79c/min there is no need to worry about what each call is costing you as you travel through multiple countries in Europe. For the occasional traveler simply pay for what you have used during your trip and when you return put your Europe Cell Phone away in a safe place until your next trip. In the meantime, you don’t need to worry about any monthly charges or usage charges, once you have purchased the phone you don’t pay a thing unless you have used the cell phone.

Just in case you need any help or advice the EuroBuzz Customer Service team is on hand 24/7, you also get an online account which you can use to check your bill at anytime.

We hope this has helped you in choosing the best Cell Phone for Europe, if it has then please view our Europe Cell Phone page here for further information. And, if within 60 days you decide this service isn’t for you then take advantage of our 60-Day Money Back Guarantee.

Ready to Order?

So what are you waiting for? Order your Cell Phone for Europe today! http://www.eurobuzz.com/europe-cell-phone/

The EuroBuzz Team

However, believe it your not, there are some outstanding airports out there. A nine-month customer survey, that attracted more than 11 million participants, the ‘World Airport Awards’ has judged these to be the 10 best airports in the world.

Have you flown to or from any?

1. HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – WINNER

Over 50 million passengers (2010), 160 destinations, 900 daily flights by 95 different airlines saw the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) named as the Worlds Best Airport by air travelers across the globe.

The HKIA gives customers easy access to downtown Hong Kong, excellent shopping facilities with a bright and airy terminal ambiance, with the food on offer exquisite. The airport has continued to improve, its security and immigration processes also contributed to the HKIA success.

2. SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT

Although a respectable runner up, Singapore Changi Airport was voted the 2010 winner for Worlds Best Airport. Even though the airport was undergoing a terminal refurbishment, it still scored highly on customer satisfaction.

It caters for over 42 million passengers every year (more than 7 times the size of Singapore’s population), handling 100 international airlines flying to some 200 cities in 60 countries. Primarily a traditional airport, Changi Airport boasts 40,000 square meters of commercial shopping space, making it a busy shopping destination too.

3. INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Making up the top 3 for 2011 is Incheon International Airport, which was the winner of this award in 2009. Unsurprisingly, during recent years, Incheon, along with Singapore Changi and HKIA, fight out for top spot in these awards.

The airport has a golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, ice skating rink, a casino, indoor gardens and a Museum of Korean Culture. The main passenger terminal (496,000 sq metres) is the largest airport terminal in area in South Korea, and the ninth largest passenger terminal in the world.

4. MUNICH AIRPORT

Munich Airport is smaller than some others, in-fact it’s Germany’s second busiest airport with just over 34 million passengers a year. However, size isn’t everything and it’s Europe’s highest ranked in the top 10.

Convenience, comfort and airport hospitality has seen Munich Airport retain its position at number four, as well as its consistency and reliability. The airport itself has its own commercial center which houses an array of shopping, business and recreational facilities and is located between its two terminals.

5. BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Moving up three places to fifth in the Worlds Best Airport list, Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) is continuing to improve and aims to compete with the big three of HKIA, Singapore and Incheon.

The BCIA is now the second busiest airport in the world and it’s newest terminal, terminal 3 building, is also the second largest terminal in the world. The airport, located 20 miles northeast of Beijing’s city center, offers semi-tropical surroundings, supported by great customer satisfaction.

6. AMSTERDAM SCHIPHOL AIRPORT

Busy than Munich, the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport secured sixth place in the overall ranking. Another success is that the airport is climbing the rankings and has moved up a place this year from the 2010 rankings of seventh.

Just over 45 million passengers pass through the airport, and it remains an extremely popular choice with travelers. The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has large shopping areas, both landside and airside. The Schiphol Plaza shopping center, which is located before customs, is very popular with both air passengers and non-traveling passengers.

7. ZURICH AIRPORT

Zürich Airport is located about 7 miles from downtown Zürich and connects its passengers to destinations all over Switzerland via its very own train system. This makes it one of the most convenient airports for travel within central Europe.

One of the many areas that Zürich Airport does exceptionally well is baggage and its delivery. One of the biggest sources of complaints comes from baggage, whether its been lost or damaged, the airport is reassuringly good. Zürich Airport also offers a large selection of shops, restaurants and services from over 180 different companies.

8. AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Auckland International Airport is the 2^nd busiest airport in the Australia/Pacific region, servicing more than 13 million visitors a year. 70% of visitors enter of leave New Zealand via Auckland International Airport.

The airport delivers a typically friendly Kiwi service, while its security and immigration procedures have been improved. This has seen the airport climb one place in the rankings from ninth in 2010.

9. KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has retained its position in the top 10, having slipped four places to ninth – the biggest fall in the top 10. However, it continues to maintain a high level of staff service for immigration procedures.

KLIA is an airport in a forest, yet a forest in an airport. Confused? Well KLIA is surrounded by lots of green space, both inside its main terminal and outside. It’s also the first airport, within the Asia/Pacific region, to become 100% BCBP (Bar Coded Boarding Pass) capable. The KLIA is connected to Kuala Lumpur by a non-stop express train, which takes just 28 minutes.

10. COPENHAGEN AIRPORT

A new entry to the top 10, the Copenhagen Airport climbs five places from 15^th position. Service, comfort and ambience rated highly here and ticks a lot of boxes for its passengers.

The airport is located just 12 minutes from the heart of Copenhagen, while the distance from the train platform to the check-in counters is less than 100 meters. The airside shopping is good too. Passengers have access to 50 shops, numerous restaurants and bars, conference facilities, a hotel area and a sauna.

Have you visited any of these airports and what was your experience? Do you agree, or disagree with these results, would you have another airport in this top 10?

If you’re traveling within Europe, whether that’s for business or taking a vacation, don’t forget to take a EuroBuzz European Cell Phone or SIM card. This allows you to keep in touch with family, friends and business colleagues.

The World Airport Awards are run by Skytrax.

Often we think of castles as dark, dank places with dungeons, or as something from a fairy tale where the happy King and Queen reside. You’d be right, at some point in history anyway, but without the neighbouring dragon for company.

If you do plan to visit Europe, I would like to suggest for you to take a look at one of Europe’s Best Castles.

Leeds Castle – Kent, England

Described, by the English, as the ‘loveliest castle in the world’ it dates back to 1119, where it replaced the Saxon built manor, and became a royal palace in 1278 to King Edward I.

As its status as a popular tourist destination it has lots for everyone to do, including a maze, grotto, golf course and, maybe the worlds only, museum dedicated to dog collars.

Prague Castle – Prague, Czech Republic

Where Leeds Castle was the ‘loveliest’, Prague is officially the ‘biggest castle in the world’. It steadily grew bigger and bigger between the 9^th and 18^th centuries, until it started to host government departments in the 20^th century.

This steady growth over time sees the castle incorporating a number of different architectural styles, which makes visiting quite a unique experience. It’s certainly an ‘international’ castle, with the guided tour being offered in six different languages.

Castelo de Sao Jorge – Lisbon, Portugal

This castle in Lisbon is located on the highest point of the Portuguese capital, offering stunning views of the city itself and the Atlantic Ocean.

The origins of the castle started early, in and around the 6^th century BC by Celts, and it has been used over time from this point by Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians and many others. During more recent times the first geodesic observatory in Portugal was assembled at the top of one of the towers of the castle.

Alcazar of Segovia – Segovia, Spain

The site where this impressive castle sits is actually on top of an old Roman fortification, of which the Roman Aqueduct can be found within Segovia, with the first reference to its current form being in 1120.

Its main initial purpose served as a fortress and a residence, however as Madrid became the more important location, the Alcazar of Segovia turned in to a prison. The castle sits within one of the most picturesque areas of Spain.

Neuschwanstein Castle – Munich, Germany

Built as a retreat, and as a homage to the great composer ‘Wagner’, this castles construction started in 1869!

So, unlike some of the other castles featured in this list, it’s history is very modern. It played a big part in World War II and housed gold, artwork and other treasures. More recently Disney used this castle as it’s inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle within Disneyland.

Mont Saint-Michel – Normandy, France

Sitting on a rocky area between Normandy and Brittany, makes visiting Mont Saint-Michel a rather unique experience.

It was originally designed as an abbey for pilgrims, but has evolved throughout the years, incorporating the styles of the time and belongs to the Organization of World Heritage Cities.

Lincoln Castle – Lincolnshire, England

Constructed during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress, it is unusual in that it has two mottes.

It certainly carries scars, as it was where two major battles took place, but whatever was damaged during these battles they were either repaired or replaced. Starting in 1787, the castle was a prison for the area partially because its layout and build made it impossible for detainees to escape.

Château de Chambord – Loire Valley, France

Construction started in 1519 and is designed in a typical French Renaissance style. It retains the typical castle design with a keep and four towers, yet it was not built with defence in mind.

The Châteaux itself is surrounded by glorious woodlands and a game reserve, which compliments the luscious gardens and many water features. The château also features 128 meters of façade, more than 800 sculpted columns and an elaborately decorated roof and 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces, and 84 staircases.

Castle Frankenstein – Darmstadt, Germany

Lord Konrad II. Reiz von Breuberg erected Frankenstein Castle and had since named himself von und zu Frankenstein. He was the founder of the free imperial lordship ‘Frankenstein’, which was subject only to the jurisdiction of the emperor.

The castle has an interesting history, mainly through how the Frankensteins operated during their time inhabiting it. In more modern times it was used as a refugee and hospital after falling into ruins in the 18^th century.

Glamis Castle – Glamis, Scotland

The castle was built by 1376, even though their had been a hunting lodge their previously.

It’s famous for it’s ‘Grey Lady’, a ghost that resides in the castle, for whom a seat is left empty in the Chapel. This is supposedly the ghost of Lady Glamis. There are other local ghosts too, including King Malcolm II and ‘Earl Beardie’ who is involved in an interesting story about poker.

So, if you’re visiting Europe don’t forget about your EuroBuzz European Cell Phone – for ease of use, just when you need it!

If you’ve visited any castles or châteaux in Europe please share with the rest of the gang. What was it like?

I’m sure that extra leg room, seats that fold down into beds, complementary food and drink on tap and a whole host of other little extras make arriving in Europe more of a pleasure than a chore.

However, flying first class cost money. Plenty of money. And unless you’re last name is Trump, or someone else is footing the bill, it’s just a fact of life that economy makes more sense.

But does this mean that first class is always going to be out of your reach. A place of mystery and dreams? Well, perhaps not thanks to the elusive upgrade. The upgrade raises us mere mortals to the ranks of first class beau monde.

But how do you get an upgrade? Here’s the advice of an airline employee of 15 years’ experience…

1. Frequent flyer clubs

You can join as many frequent flyer clubs as you wish, and as a member you’re going to be that little bit higher in the queue when it comes to deciding who should get upgraded.

2. Fly busy routes

One of the main reasons that people get upgraded is simply because the economy section is too full and their are spare seats in business or first class. Unfortunately benefiting from this is going to be more about luck than judgement, because everything is too busy you might even get bumped to a later flight if unlucky.

3. Dress to Impress

If you’re hoping to get upgraded to business or first class then it pays to look like you belong. Taking business clothes on your vacation may seem like an extra hassle, but if you really want to try and bag that extra leg room then it could be worth it.

4. Travel alone

Spare seats in first class can be few and far between, so if you’re in a group the chances of you being picked are slim to none. And if you’re with children then you’re chances are none to zero.

5. Always move when asked

The cabin crew may not wish to advertize the fact that you’re getting upgraded to the rest of the cabin, and so may discreetly ask you if you would like to move seats, without indicating you’re final comfortable destination. Don’t refuse just because you already think you have a good seat, you might miss out.

6. Be nice

Airline staff have to deal with hundreds of people everyday, and it can be very stressful. This means that if you show any amount of kindness or helpfulness it is most likely to be very well appreciated, and will make you stand out a bit more from the crowd.

7. Be early

The idea that check in wait until the last moment to see if the flight is overbooked and then start to pick the late comers for upgrades is a myth. Instead, get their early and make your inquiry about the possibility of an upgrade. This will then put you into consideration (assuming you’re following the other tips too).

8. Share past experiences

If you’ve flown with the airline before and been inconvenienced then let the staff know. But don’t make a scene about it, just calmly and politely explain what happened.

9. Use the right card

Some credit cards have a redeemable miles program that works with a number of airlines, so check your credit cards to see if this is the case.

10. Ask about upgrade fairs

When you book your tickets you may have the option to pay a small upgrade fair. These don’t automatically mean you’ll be upgraded, but will increases your chances of being upgraded if it becomes available. You will pay a little extra on your ticket price for this upgrade, but nothing like the cost of a full first class ticket.

So, upgrades do exist, and there is no real science to how you get one. It is always a mixture of circumstances on the day. However, if you goal is to bag an upgrade then you should at least try to follow some of the tips above to put yourself in the best position possible.

Oh, and while we’re at it, here’s a few things you shouldn’t do…

…Slip the flight attendant a $20; complain about your seat; make up an illness; claim you or a family or friend work for the airline… well, I’m sure you get the idea!

Why go? – History, Architecture and Culture

Unusual Fact – Over 300 languages spoken by the local London population

Places to Visit

Tate Modern

Many Britons regard high culture with suspicion. Yet this gallery devoted to modern art effortlessly pulls in the punters and locals as well as the tourists, and ranks among London’s most-visited attractions. Part of its appeal is the building itself, fashioned by architects Herzog and De Meuron from a vast disused power station on the Thames’s south bank. In addition to blockbuster exhibits and live events, the gallery invites a prominent artist every year to transform its cavernous turbine hall: Olafur Eliasson turned the space into a misty, atmospheric sunset in 2003; Carsten Höller recast it into a modern playground in 2006, inviting visitors to lie back and scream their way down two interlocked towering, twisty steel slides.

It would be easy to spend the entire day in the gallery, but you might want to get out and walk around the neighborhood: Enter foodie heaven in nearby Borough Market, where the delis and restaurants are open all week and a farmer’s market operates Friday and Saturday. Directly across the river from the Tate is St Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s most celebrated building. To get there you cross the £18.2 million Millennium Bridge, a suspension footbridge completed in 2000, which quickly gained the sobriquet the “Wobbly Bridge.” (They’ve since fixed the wobble.)

Marylebone Stroll

What’s the nattiest neighborhood in London? Not leafy Notting Hill, which lost its claim to cool after Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts frolicked through it in the eponymous 1999 rom-com. And not fashionable Hoxton or Shoreditch, even with their spiky-haired, skinny-jeans-clad tribes of cool kids. They’re all worth a look, but the real cool resides in Marylebone, an area so confident of its charms that it doesn’t need to broadcast them.

Lying north of the glossy Selfridges department store and south of Regent’s Park, Marylebone (pronounced mar-le-bone) is an affluent, strollable residential district of white terraced Georgian and Edwardian townhouses, the grandest of which are still single-family. It’s also home to the Wallace Collection, where the girl with the billowing skirts in Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s The Swing remains as seductive as when France’s dirty old master painted her in 1767. The main shopping drag is Marylebone High Street, but the whole area is packed with fabulous shops and restaurants: Come here for everything from haute couture and baby clothes to organic butchery and extravagant cakes. There’s also a specialist travel bookshop called Daunt Books that’s worth a detour just for its Edwardian fixtures and fittings.

The London Eye

Yes, it’s a giant ferris wheel, and, yes, it’s for tourists — but it’s a worth a spin. Once you’ve boarded your glass-sided capsule — each capsule holds 25 people — it will be a half-hour before you get back down. Creeping along at 0.6 miles (0.9 km) per hour, it’s an excruciatingly slow flight, as a trip on the London Eye is called, but from the top of the 443-foot (135-m) wheel you’ll be rewarded with gloriously unimpeded views over London. At night, take one of the special “champagne flights,” and you’ll find yourself in one of the capital’s best bars.

Inns of Court

You might easily overlook the small arched entrance to Middle Temple, one of the four remaining Inns of Court, which are responsible for training all of Britain’s barristers. The Inns were first established in the 14th century and housed in large, walled compounds; today, judges and barristers still work, study and sometimes live in these enchanted precincts. Beyond the gates of Middle Temple (locked overnight and on weekends), on the south side of the Strand where it morphs into Fleet Street, lies a time capsule. Step into the Elizabethan banqueting house, Middle Temple Hall. It’s a real-life Hogwarts, but twice as magical.

J. Sheekey

If you like your dinner with a side order of celebrity, head to one of Caprice Holdings’ restaurants: Le Caprice, a sleek art deco brasserie just behind the Ritz hotel, the Ivy or J. Sheekey; the latter two are in London’s theaterland. Their clientele rosters read like the guest list for a charity gala thrown by Bono and Angelina Jolie. When famed London restaurateurs Jeremy King and Chris Corbin left Caprice Holdings in 2002, the celebritocracy had a minor heart attack — wherever would they get their Spotted Dick (a traditional steamed pudding with syrup) now? But to their great relief, this trio of eateries — along their new sibling, the refurbished Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair — still have the edge over the competition, serving simple seafood and game dishes, perfectly executed and perfectly served. The most intimate of the bunch is J. Sheekey, a fish restaurant with leather banquettes, paneled walls and an impressive art collection. (King and Corbin went on to open two new hotspots, The Wolseley and St Alban.)

Kensington Gardens

Londoners of a certain age will tell you that Germans shaped their city. They’re right, but the Blitz wasn’t the only thing that left its mark on London. In 1728, Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach, the German-born wife of King George II, commissioned works to the southern swath of Hyde Park — later redesignated Kensington Gardens — creating the Serpentine, an artificial lake, and landscaping the surrounding lawns and walkways. (A stately circuit of these ornamental waters will take you 40 minutes, and you can swim at the Serpentine Lido from May to September.) Queen Caroline lived in Kensington Palace, on the western edge of the park, which has been home to assorted members of the extended royal family and household, but will, of course, forever be associated with its most iconic resident, Princess Diana. Kensington Gardens is studded with shrines to the late Princess, including a fountain dedicated to her memory by the Queen in 2004.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

The poet Lord Byron was just one of many patrons of Berry Bros. & Rudd who submitted to a public weighing on one of the shop’s giant coffee scales. “Let us have wine and women, mirth and laughter/Sermons and soda water the day after,” wrote Byron. Britain’s oldest wine merchant and sometime coffee seller set up shop here on St James’s Street in 1698, and remains one of the world’s leading purveyors of fine wine. Despite its pedigree, it’s not snobbish. Staff happily expound on the virtues of the cheaper wines and spirits they sell, alongside the rarest vintages. If you can’t get to the original shop, there are branches in Dublin, Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as a factory outlet in Basingstoke, south of London.

The Royal Court Theatre

The roll call of playwrights championed by the Royal Court is long and distinguished — John Osborne, Edward Bond, Joe Orton, Caryl Churchill, David Hare, Sam Shepard — not least by their propensity for tackling controversial themes and subjects. Dedicated to new and innovative work, audiences at this two-theater venue in Sloane Square first saw transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter strut his stuff at the 1973 premier of The Rocky Horror Show, and winced in 1995 at the late playwright Sarah Kane’s scandalous debut, Blasted, which was decried by critics for its graphic brutality — only to be hailed at its 2001 revival by some of those same critics as a profound and disturbing work. More recently, the theater has debuted Tom Stoppard’s international hit, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Christopher Shinn’s Now or Later, set on the night of a U.S. presidential election as the family of the Democratic frontrunner awaits results.

Smithfield Pub Crawl

London is far from being a 24-hour city. Alcohol licensing laws were relaxed in 2003, but finding a late-night drink still requires ingenuity. There is one part of city, however, that doesn’t sleep: Smithfield. The neighborhood is home to a historic meat market, which operates in ornate Victorian halls weekdays from 4 a.m. to noon — and many of the local pubs and cafes open early to serve pints and hefty fry-ups to the market workers.

Start your evening at Ye Olde Mitre, an 18th-century pub in the jewelry district adjacent to Smithfield; then, head east through Ely Place to the market, on the way passing St Etheldreda’s the oldest Catholic church in England. Taste the wines of south-western France at the Cellar Gascon bar and Comptoir Gascon restaurant; their posh sister, Club Gascon, has bagged a Michelin star for its exceptional cooking. The Fox and Anchor boasts the tastiest scotch eggs in the country — and keenly priced accommodations. Catch a nap in one of the designer rooms above the bar or go straight back out to dance off the calories at the so-hip-it-hurts nightclub Fabric. You may want to refuel at Kurz & Lang, a tiny joint selling German bratwurst and beers; it’s open until 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and never closes on Friday and Saturday.

Before daybreak, try The Hope for your early morning pint, and Ferrari’s Snack Bar for an artery-clogging full English breakfast. Just what the doctor didn’t order.

Barfly and Roundhouse

If you get claustrophobic at the Hollywood Bowl or Madison Square Garden, then neither of the live music venues I’m about to recommend is for you. The Barfly, above a pub in Camden, is tiny, but that doesn’t stop punters from piling through the doors and turning the whole room into a mosh pit. It’s a regular staging post for new bands tipped for greatness: Oasis and Coldplay both performed here. But don’t let that deter you; other alumni include Blur and the Young Knives. Across the road, the Roundhouse shows it knows the meaning of eclectic, with a program that includes big-name musicians, left-field comedians and even circus acts, in a converted 19th-century steam-engine repair shed.