But good thing is you can still travel during your free time!

Of course there are plenty books, magazines travel blogs to read, or to watch travel channels, but you also can go on virtual tours through hundreds museums.

Google Arts & Culture collections

Google Arts & Culture collections over thousand museums in different parts of World. Some of them you probably would never visit, so now you have an opportunity to do it.

MoMA The Museum of Modern Art in New York, Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Museo Dolores Olmedo in Mexico, The State Tretyakov Gallery
in Moscow, The Munch Museum in Oslo, Tokyo National Museum in Tokyo, National Museum in New Delhi and list goes on and on. Just don’t spent too much time in these museums. You need to do some exercise too not just sit on coach

Louvre

Louvre in Paris was one of the first museums closed during this coronavirus time. But you can visit Louvre virtually too.

National Museum of the United States Air Force

National Museum of the United States Air Force offers virtual tour and allows visitors to take 360-degree, self-guided tour of the entire museum.

Web cams

Web cams allows as to see live what is happening in the World. Here is big collection of web cams.

You can watch Niagara Falls live or life on Times Square in New York, or watch waves in Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia and may be you will be lucky to see a whale.

Enjoy your virtual travel and let us know if you know any other good virtual tours in museums or parks and we will add it to our list.

The post How to travel while you are on COVID-19 lockdown appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

If you are planning to travel solo, there is one continent where one can discover more about themselves and the world around. It is none other than Europe where one can just venture out and embark on a solo vacation. Europe and its cities offer plenty of possibilities for solo travelers. European cities are the most beautiful and safe too. People are friendly, and the cities boast of a great tourist infrastructure.  One can enjoy their solo journey and come back with a great memorable experience.

It is a good idea to look for a cheap car hire that offers not just a variety of pick-up and drop-off options but great rates so as to make your travel easier and cheaper. Go for car hire discounts after comparing car hire rates and depending on your preference. Look for a car that is fully equipped with the latest safety features and amenities so that you can enjoy your solo trip.

Here are the leading European cities that can be easily navigated alone. Pick any of them as they are a great place to start.

1. Amsterdam
   Amsterdam is a great city to experience solo and enjoy a hassle free holiday. You can rent a car or a bicycle to enjoy the local scenery. Netherlands is bike friendly, and everyone speaks English. People are warm and helpful.
2. Copenhagen
   Copenhagen is a famous Danish city that is very bike friendly. One can stay, eat, and drink around the city and explore some of the best cocktail bars.
   
   There are lots of spots to explore in and around the city and plenty of free museums in Copenhagen to visit.
3. Berlin
   Berlin is just perfect for the solo travelers and is incredibly fun. Solo travelers like it as it is one of the cheaper capital cities that also offers a vibrant nightlife scene.

   

   One can enjoy good company and great food all the time!

4. London
   London is one of the easiest cities to explore. This is one city where you can just jump into solo vacations here, even if you are a female.

   

   It is very simple and easy to travel the city. One can get to know other locals and travelers or wander around to see plenty of museums and historical sights.

5. Paris
   Paris has always been a favorite city across the world.

   

   The captivating European city might be a bit of a challenge for solo travelers because of the language barrier. However, it is hard for the solo travelers to resist the captivating allure of the city that can’t be found elsewhere.

6. Stockholm
   The Swedish capital with pedestrian-only roads, countless bridges and numerous islands is found to be dominated by solo travelers. There is a lot to see and do here in the city with most artistic subway stations and so much to see on its pedestrian-only roads.
7. Dublin
   One can feel the jolly Irish spirit the minute they step in Dublin. This is one of the safest cities that make you feel like you are at home. No wonder it is a big hit with the solo travelers.
8. Barcelona
   Barcelona has every element that every holidaymaker is looking for. This is a perfect city for a solo travel, who love exploring its sunny skies, enjoy the vibrant culture, and get to taste the excellent food.
9. Helsinki
   When it comes to Finland, it is hard to find such an incredible country and destination. Helsinki and Lapland are like a winter wonderland for the solo travelers. Look forward to a great solo adventure while in Finland.
10. Vienna
    If you love traveling solo and enjoy the freedom of being alone, then head straight for Vienna, the City of Music.

    

    It is time to get lost on the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace or book a show at an opera house.

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Boutique hotels are plentiful in Paris, and finding the right one for your budget can take some searching. These independently run hotels offer an enticing alternative to the larger, often more expensive international chain hotels.

Paris has gained a reputation as the world’s most romantic city, but also for an occasionally stuffy or elitist attitude. By finding the friendliest lodging, travelers can avoid the attitude and maximize their experience of romantic charm.

Often, these smaller hotels have been family businesses for many generations and provide a more personalized and casual atmosphere for guests. It is possible to find Paris hotels that are charmingly French and friendly — if you know where to look. Here are seven of the friendliest boutique hotels in the City of Light.

These hotels are also friendly for your pocketbook and will cost you under $200 per night during most seasons.

Hotel des Saints-Peres

The renowned poet Edna St. Vincent Millay stayed here in 1921 when she was a foreign correspondent for Vanity Fair. She favored the hotel for its affordability and historical appeal. Today’s guests are greeted with the same combination of practicality and charm that so enticed the famous poet nearly a century ago. The Hotel des Saints-Peres is in the bohemian Left Bank of Paris, still an international beacon for artists and writers. One of the hotel’s suites features a 17^th-century fresco on its high ceiling, and all 39 rooms now feature the convenience of Wi-Fi access and mini-bars.

Hotel Verneuil

It’s rare to find a hotel that exudes historical style but without the pretentious attitude that often accompanies extraordinary design.

Hotel Verneuil manages to maintain its friendly, inviting atmosphere while preserving its distinctly Parisian romantic flair. The Verneuil is owned by Parisian hotelier Sylvie de Lattre who meticulously restored the hotel’s handsome 17^th-century wooden beams in order to preserve its authentic look. The two closest cafes — the Flore and Deux Magots — are both frequented by locals and rarely by tourists.

Hotel Le St. Gregoire

The St. Gregoire is run by a couple whose passion is to provide old-fashioned personal service. Guests report that the couple truly loves running the hotel and spend their days joyously tending to the needs of guests. Family friendliness exudes in the attention to detail at the St. Gregoire, a hotel that attracts repeat customers because of its comfortable amenities. The couple oversees the small kitchen in the stone cellar where they create rustic-style, home-baked meals and pastries for guests.

Hotel Luxembourg Parc

If you’re seeking a hotel that’s in between a palace hotel and a tiny boutique hotel, the Luxembourg Parc is your spot. The hotel maintains a classic Louis XV style, including fine linens and extravagant bathrooms, but is not quite as decadent as some of the larger hotels. This hotel manages to find a balance between eccentricity and extravagance that appeals to those who favor boutique hotels. One of its stranger features is a “24-hour room service” which mostly involves delivering food directly from local restaurants — a rare service among most smaller hotels.

Hotel de l’Abbaye

Its name is the French word for “abbey,” true to its origins as a 17^th-century abbey. This hotel’s tiny rooms are small enough to be monastic cells, and yet they are charmingly quaint. Most rooms offer views of a medieval church, St. Sulpice. Hotel de l’Abbaye is decorated in phenomenally bright floral fabrics, amplifying the warm and comforting mood. The quaint lodgings here provide a convenient escape from the hustle and bustle of modern Paris with its original cobbled patio and leafy green gardens. Stay here and you’ll have Paris at your doorstep and a contemplative sanctuary while you sleep.

Hotel Buci Latin

The Buci Latin is the essence of quirky, artistic decor. The hotel’s facade is constructed to resemble a flying saucer, and its main staircase features a gigantic graffiti mural. The lobby is buzzing with busy abstract wall paintings, and zebra stripes are a common fabric motif throughout the rooms. While its wacky look does not appeal to everyone, the hotel strives to maintain a warm and comfortable atmosphere and doesn’t veer into the pretentious attitude that sometimes accompanies the art world. During fashion week, this hotel is a favorite of editors, photographers and designers who favor a more low-key hotel experience.

Hotel Duc de St. Simon

This 34-room hotel resembles an 18^th-century townhouse with its dazzling pleated fabric-covered salon and pansy-filled gardens. The staff wear stylish uniforms but maintain a more casual approach to guest service. The famed model and actress Lauren Bacall opted to stay at the Duc de St. Simon as often as possible during her stays in Paris. Students of design frequent the hotel to take note of its unique interior décor, which focuses on folded and molded textiles. While this hotel is fashion forward, it retains the vibe of a boutique hotel.

You’ll know you’ve found the right boutique hotel when you go to sleep smiling and wake up the same way.

About the Author: Samantha Jansen is a travel and tourism writer based in New York City.

The post Smile While You Sleep in Paris: The 7 Friendliest Hotels appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.