EURORAIL / TRAIN SYSTEM: In Europe we used the rail system to get around. For those of you contemplating travel throughout Europe it is a VERY efficient way to travel, flexible, comfortable, FAST, and inexpensive. Once we were in Europe we realized there are "dollar" flights connecting the major cities as well for as little as 10 pounds to London from France! I'll get around to posting the airlines later.

The trains around Europe allowed us to sleep, eat and converse with local travelers. We learned a lot about the culture and life in Europe, especially France, where we met many parents traveling with young children.

Hotels in Europe are different in many ways, but alike in many more. We stayed throughout at the chain "Best Western" and it was very surprising compared to the US Best Western. I am a huge fan of Marriott, as you will see in reading my reviews, and wanted to stay at Marriott in Europe, to no avail. My sister and I compromised on Best Western to avoid the expense we found with Marriott in Europe. I was not disappointed in the cleanliness department, but there were other issues in Paris which made our stay horrid that had nothing to do with our room.

I'm not traveling as much as I had been -- as I've returned to school full time, but do know I'm returning to the Doral this year, Hilton Head, and Atlanta in the early fall.

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us"

ME...

My name here is MidniteDisease, taken from a syndrome featured in the book: "Midnight Disease", which involves the inability to sleep at night due to the creative ideas and compulsion to write keeping one awake. Although, the truth is I write mostly at night because I have young children who require my time and attention during the daylight hours, the name fit. I am a 44 year old mother of two boys, ages 4 and 13. I love to write and travel often for my writing.

I worked as a personal assistant to many different types of business people for 15 years doing everything from their errands to their transcription and newsletters. In 2000 I returned to school to become a massage therapist, and although I rarely work in that capacity anymore; found the entire experience to be life changing. I have recently returned to school full time and am enjoying this newest adventure, which is giving me ample opportunities to write--once again.

My husband and I share a love of research and traveling life off the beaten path. We prefer non-chain eateries, the road less traveled, and find the experience of getting there and planning the trip 1/2 the fun. He and I love to find a bargain, and do our weekly grocery list together, clipping coupons and looking for the best deals. My husband got me started researching goods / services years ago by using Consumer Reports, but we often found the items we were wanting to purchase either weren't reviewed or were too new to be published. That's how we discovered Epinions, and we continue to rely on the opinions expressed here to guide us. :)

I have lived in Florida since 1981. My husband and I married in Tampa in 1987, and after a stint in the Navy, we were back "home" in Orlando in 1989. I'm back in school... again. As such I'm not writing much these days, and although I miss it; I'm also looking forward to another path.

As always, I welcome any comments and will find any additional information that is needed to make my reviews more helpful. Namaste. Kim