Europe
Europe is an interesting continent. No other continent offers that many countries which are radically different not only in language, but also in laws, ambiance, and landscape. Consider the fact that a person visiting Cologne, Germany can rent a car and drive to the German border within about two hours. Depending on which border the traveler picks, she or he will enter Belgium or perhaps Holland, two radically different countries. While the European Union has worked hard to unify the many countries, this has only worked on a currency basis while allowing the countries to preserve their country-specific idiosyncrasies.

A map of Europe reveals that there are four distinct regions in Europe, namely Northern Europe (most famously home to Denmark, England, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden), Eastern Europe (well known for – among others – Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, and the Ukraine), Western Europe (with the main countries of note being Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, the Netherlands, and Switzerland) and last but not least Southern Europe (maps are most often marked for Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.)

There are many more European countries – as maps of Europe – quickly evidence, but of the European countries mentioned, these are the ones most commonly visited by tourists from abroad. European maps will oftentimes contain information about sightseeing opportunities and tips and tricks for saving money while you are vacationing in European countries. Map out your trip with care, since this will save you a lot of money on train fare, air fare, and even public transportation. Do not forget to contact local hostels for free Europe maps and scour the Internet for cheap flights to Europe.

Students especially will be able to benefit from the political map of Europe since many of the countries are very interested in attracting foreign students and will provide special discounted to such travelers. Facts about Europe are so many that it is hard to take it all in at once, and you will do well to plan your visits to one of the regions only so as to truly soak in the culture, history, and sights of that area. European cruises provide great deals when they change routes during the seasonal changes and while you may not have the opportunity to visit many ports, you will be able to enjoy some great time in Eastern Europe and its waters as the ships travel on their mission to get ready for the next season.