Paris, France
It’s no big surprise Paris is on this list!  Well deserving of course beginning with the Eiffel Tower, where views of the Arc de Triomphe, Sacré Coeur Basilica and the River Seine can be enjoyed by all.  Just taking a stroll along the River Seine while stopping on the Pont Neuf and visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral makes for a romantic afternoon.  Add to this, the Louvre for art lovers, the ritzy shops along Champs Elysees for style lovers, the countless cafes and restaurants for food lovers and famous jazz clubs for music lovers, to create your perfect lovers’ getaway.

Venice, Italy
Venice is all about its beautiful canals best enjoyed on a gondola ride.  Following this relaxing float, begin at Piazza San Marco, the city square, and make your way through the many winding narrow streets to find hidden shops, galleries and restaurants offering up truly authentic fares.  Other must-sees include the Ponte dell’ Accademia, a bridge across the Grand Canal, and Campo dei Miracoli a marble church.  After all the sightseeing, stop in a Venetian wine bar for a glass of wine.

Barcelona, Spain
Ponder at the truly one-of-a-kind designs by architect Antoni Gaudi which can be found throughout Barcelona, especially basilica Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera.  Then walk along Barcelona’s most famous and lively street, Las Ramblas stopping in your choice of cool shops and cafes.  But the romantic must-do in Barcelona is to go to a flamenco show and then practice a few of your own moves.  All this touring calls for a tapas crawl, sampling some of Spain’s best food in saucer-size portions and finishing off your evening in a chirinquitos (beach bar).

Vienna, Austria
Vienna, Mozart’s hometown, is the perfect place to see an orchestra, especially a performance by the Vienna Philharmonic.  Austria’s capital is also great for long walks through the main streets, laid out in rings with lots of little shops and cafes; don’t miss streets like Karntnerstrasse.  Enjoy the architecture and stylized facades the passing buildings too, without missing a visit to Stephansdom, Vienna’s glorious Gothic cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace, an important cultural monument.

Prague, Czech Republic
Prague has old world charm from the Old Town Square, where on the hour you can hear the chime of the 600-year-old astronomical clock, to Charles Bridge, spanning the Vltava River and displaying many Baroque statues.  Explore cobblestone lanes, medieval courtyards, numerous churches and Prague Castle.  Just outside the castle walls is Golden Lane, where shops selling music, books and crafts are carved out of colorful, 16th-century homes.  Finish off the evening with a great meal on the river bank.

Thinking of taking a romantic tour around Europe?
The great news is that the Eurail Global Pass covers all of the above cities and many more.  Or if your focus falls on one or two countries in particular, then a Eurail National Pass or Eurail Regional Pass would best suit your itinerary.  Browse the full selection of train passes in Europe.

BritRail in conjunction with the Heritage Railways Association (HRA) is offering savings on many Heritage Railways in the U.K.  Present any BritRail Pass and receive up to 25% off the admission for Heritage Railways in England, Scotland and Wales.

Take a ride on many turn of the century steam locomotives or learn about the history of these storied railways. For a list of participating railways or more information visit www.britrail.com/promotions or www.heritagerailways.com.  Don’t miss out on this special offer!

Between March and April, Japan is even more stunning than usual thanks to its annual cherry blossoms.  And during this time there are cherry blossom festivals to enjoy with tea ceremonies, Japanese music, and the blossoms are often illuminated at night.

Beyond the draw of cherry blossoms, Japan is an exotic destination with fascinating attractions such as Tokyo, Nagano and Mount Fuji.  Covering all of these must-sees and extending 750km from north to south, an East Japan Rail Pass is the way to go! So whether you’re looking to visit temples, shrines and historic buildings or enjoy breathtaking views of the countryside, this is your all access pass to the best of Eastern Japan!

The Great British Heritage Pass offers free entry to more than 580 of Great Britain’s most popular heritage sights, including properties under the care of National Trust, English Heritage, National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, and Cadw.  With so many properties to visit with this one pass, lets just highlight a few: Stonehenge, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House, Roman Baths, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Warwick Castle, Leeds Castle, Dover Casle and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Select a validity that best suits your itinerary from 4,7,15 days or 1 month. Visit just a handful of attractions included on the pass and you’re already saving money!

Wales is a popular golf destination and with 687 miles of coastline one can imagine the vistas!  With many courses to choose from – nearly 200 in fact; favorites include Royal St David’s featured in the Golf Digest Top 100, Cardigan with dramatic clifftop views and Cradoc, where you can enjoy a panorama of the Brecon Beacons.  To browse all golf courses in Wales visit www.golfasitshouldbe.com.

This year Wales’ golf is especially in the spotlight as team Europe takes on the USA, on the first Ryder Cup course that’s designed for players and spectators.  The 2010 Ryder Cup will be played on The Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales from September 28 to October 3.  Newport and its surroundings have 45 golf courses alone, including four championship courses.

For those with a BritRail Pass, make your way to Newport Rail Station where there will be a bus shuttle service to The Celtic Manor Resort.

St. Patrick’s Day Festivities!

St. Patrick’s Spring Fest
Limerick plays host to the St. Patrick’s Spring Fest and Limerick International Band Festival with something for the whole family. Highlights include the Limerick International Marching Band Competition and St. Patrick’s Day Parade, held from March 14-17.

Art Exhibition
The Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin is celebrating 100 years since Francis Bacon’s birth.  View inspirational items from the artist’s studio until March 7 with the exhibition “Francis Bacon: A Terrible Beauty”, comprised of paintings, drawings, photographs, unfinished works and slashed canvases.  Admission is free.

Film Festival
Ireland’s premier feature film festival, Jameson Dublin International, celebrates the best in Irish and International cinema February 18-28, with over 100 films and a range of special events, including post screening Q&A sessions with directors and cast members.

Getting Around Ireland
To enjoy all the Irish festivities, a BritRail Pass + Ireland will give you access to rail travel throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, plus England, Wales and Scotland.  Choose a validity to suit your itinerary; 5 or 10 days of unlimited rail travel within one month.

BritRail is now on Facebook and will be featuring promotions, sharing travel information and more.  Simply become a fan of BritRail on Facebook and not only get in the loop with what’s happening in the UK but also have the chance to win a pair of BritRail Passes.

2 First Class 4 Day BritRail Flexi Passes are up for grabs to fans of BritRail on Facebook – to enter just become a fan before March 1^st, 2010.  A random draw will determine the winner and BritRail will contact the winner by sending them a Facebook message.  http://www.facebook.com/britrail

An Oyster Card and a London Visitor Travel Card are both great to have during your stay in London as using the underground and bus network is much more affordable and quick than getting around with taxis.  As both can be used on London Transport, a popular question has arisen…which offers better value?  This popular question has a popular answer…it depends!

It depends on how often you plan on using London’s underground and bus network, including the number of days you will be in London and how many times a day you plan on traveling.  The Oyster Card is a Pay-As-You-Go card so you start with £15 credit and can add more credit if you run out.  Whereas if you plan on using the tube and bus more often on select days then the London Visitor Travel Card provides unlimited travel for either 3 or 7 days.

If the saying ‘the best things in life are FREE’ then you’ll have a blast in London!  Find a list of beautiful galleries, museums and more to browse at your leisure and save any extra dollars for that Broadway show or extra pint at happy hour.

Tate Britain
The home of British art from 1500 to the present day.
Millbank
London SW1P 4RG
Entry is free except for major exhibitions.  Also visit Tate Modern where entry is free except for major exhibitions.
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/

Museum of London
One of the world’s largest urban history museums and cares for over two million objects in its collection, telling the story of modern London from 1666 to the present day.
London Wall
London EC2Y 5HN
Museum open daily and is free!
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/VisitUs/

National Portrait Gallery
The Gallery was founded in 1856 to collect portraits of famous British men and women. Explore over 160,000 portraits from the 16th Century to the present day.
St Martin’s Place
London WC2H 0HE
Entrance to the Gallery is free for the collection as well as some smaller exhibitions and displays.
http://www.npg.org.uk/

The British Museum
The British Museum’s collection of seven million objects representing the rich history of human cultures mirrors the city of London’s global variety.
Great Russell Street
London, WC1B 3DG
The Museum is free to all visitors and is open daily.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/default.aspx

The Photographers’ Gallery
The Photographers’ Gallery is the largest public gallery in London dedicated to photography. From the latest emerging talent, to historical archives and established artists.
16-18 Ramillies St
London W1F 7LW
Open Tuesday-Sunday.  Admission is free.
http://www.photonet.org.uk/

Victoria and Albert Museum
The V&A holds over 3000 years worth of artifacts from many of the world’s richest cultures. The V&A’s collections consists of over 1,000,000 works including ceramics, fashion, furniture, glass, metalwork, paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture and textiles.
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Admission to the V&A is free. Some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge.
http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/index.html

Imperial War Museum London
Permanent galleries include First World War and Second World War weapons and vehicles and more.
Lambeth Road
London SE1 6HZ
Entry is Free.  Special exhibitions may charge an admission fee. Open 7 days a week.
http://london.iwm.org.uk/

The Woman’s Library
The Women’s Library is a cultural centre housing the most extensive collection of women’s history in the UK.
London Metropolitan University
25 Old Castle Street
London E1 7NT
Access is free and open to everyone.
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/

The Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a national museum in an historic London town house. Enjoy displays of French 18th century paintings, furniture, porcelain and a world class armory.
Hertford House
Manchester Square
London W1U 3BN
Admission Free. Open 7 days a week.
http://www.wallacecollection.org/

Sir John Soane’s Museum
The architect Sir John Soane’s house, museum and library has been a public museum since the early 19th century.
13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London WC2A 3BP
Open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10-5pm when admission is free.
http://www.soane.org/

If you plan on staying in London, the BritRail London Plus Pass is the perfect accessory for day trips to neighboring towns, such as Bath, Portsmouth, Brighton, Canterbury, Cambridge, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon and more.

With a Eurail Global Pass enjoy flexible rail travel in 21 countries – that means you can rail your way through all of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

How to save? There are rates for youth in second class with up to 35% savings off the adult first class fare and adult saver passes where groups of 2 to 5 get up to 15% savings off the adult fare in first class.  Plus children 4-11 pay half the adult fare and kids under 4 travel for free.

In Europe, many of the countries are so closely connected making travel relatively seamless.  With a Eurail Pass, Europe is there to explore by rail! There are four types of Eurail Passes: the Global Pass, the Select Pass, The Regional Pass and the One Country Pass. There’s always a Pass to best suit your itinerary.