Rick Steves' Europe: Travelers' Helpline Archives February 2004

Travelers' Helpline Archives:
February 2004

All together, we have a wealth of European travel experience. This is your chance to help or be helped. If you've got a question about traveling in Europe, we think there's an ETBD Road Scholar with an answer...

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hostel wtih kiddo
what is a good hostel... or other cheep place to stay the night for a couple with a 3 year old in london, paris, and venice. we dont need a family room. we have stayed seperatley before... but it would be nice. cari
cari <email>
houston, tx USA 02/29/04

Paris to Rome
Mandy, Is there really a place in Georgia called Ellabell? Train time from Paris to Rome is 15 hours. I have no idea about driving time, but maybe someone will. To check train schedules and fares, go to www.raileurope.com.
Rex <email>
Decatur, GA USA 02/29/04

Justin — Super Cheap Flights
Justin, The cheapest way I found to travel between Europe and Chicago (the closest major airport to me) was to go to Yahoo first: http://edit.travel.yahoo.com/config/ytravel?source=YG&resform=YahooFlightsR

Then, once you get a good idea of rates go to the specific airlines and see what they have to offer. The two best airlines I found for my situation were American and British Airways. American: www.aa.com. British Airways: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/en_us.

I also found that traveling in the off season (before April 1st) saves money, along with departing on an "off" day, such as Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. This is because most business travelers don't fly on those days. My trip from Chicago to London (always use Heathrow) departing Mar 31st was $340, and that is open jaw returning from Brussels. In comparison British Airways was offering $485 roundtrip. Good luck on your trip.
Doug <email>
Ft. Wayne, IN USA 02/29/04

Buying euros in U S
John.....buying euros with ATM cards in Europe is easy and inexpensive. Ask your bank how much it will cost you to make an ATM withdraw in Europe. There is no standard bank fee. I also live in DFW area and never buy euros here. You pay a fee to do that and you can withdraw in Europe as you need currency without carrying a big wad around with you. I have been to over 50 countries and never had a problem finding a machine to take my card. You will find them in dept stores, airports, rr stations and on sidewalks outside banks and in post offices also in Switzerland. Take a credit card to make purchases if you choose; the exchange rate is very favorable to you. However, I have found merchants which don't take credit cards; so you need the euros.
Lamarr
Dallas, TX USA 02/29/04

Renting a car in Italy
Chris....Do not rent a car to drive in Rome. It will be impossible to drive the streets and parking is costly. Take public transportation. If you arrive with a car, leave it at your hotel if you can afford the parking fee.
Nancy P
Oklahoma City, OK USA 02/29/04

Heathrow to London Transport
Kirkland: Go to google.com and search for "Heathrow to London Transport". On the homepage click Heathrow. Next page click Heathrow Express. There is also other information. Here's what you will find: Heathrow Express is the fastest and most convenient way to travel between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington. The service is non-stop with a timetabled journey time of only 15 minutes. Journey time to and from Terminal 4 is 23 minutes. With trains departing every 15 minutes, to and from London Paddington, Heathrow Express beats any other form of transport for ease and efficiency.
Sam
Columbus, OH USA 02/29/04

Heathrow to London transport
What are the best Heathrow to London transportion options? Isn't there a minibus to reserve in advance like Paris? If so is there a US phone # pr web site?
Chuck <email>
Kirkland , WA USA 02/29/04

Travel time
What is the travel time between Paris, France and Rome, Italy?
Mandy <email>
Ellabell, Ga USA 02/29/04

volunteer vacations/cheap travel
Willing Workers on Organic Farms is an organization where you stay on farms in exchange for room and board! It saves a ton on hotel costs, and you meet real people.
Julia
USA 02/29/04

hostels
bugeurope has comments from travellers about hostels.
Julia
USA 02/29/04

Ireland
For a great chat group about Ireland with lots of info, go to yahoogroups then sign up for all-ireland-travel!
Julia
USA 02/29/04

Chambord
Leticia, we stayed at a nice B&B called LeFleuray near Ambois and it was perfect for seeing Chambord as well as Chenenceau and Cheverny. It would be difficult to see all three in one day. Have a great trip!
Susan <email>
Atl, USA 02/29/04

Sicily stay
I am looking for a place to stay in Sicily for 4 or 5 nights for 2 couples in late September. Can anyone recommend a place that has 2 bedrooms and a kitchen? We were thinking of trying to stay near Taromina, or possibly Capo d'Orlando. Any other suggestions, perhaps a b&b, would also be greatly appreciated.
Kay Spena <email>
Berkeley, CA USA 02/29/04

Meridiana
We are considering flying the Italian airline Meridiana from Florence to London. Has anyone had a satifactory experience with this airline?
Susan <email>
Atl, Ga USA 02/29/04

Residences Versailles
Pat: Les Residence Versailles is la creme de la creme...without the high price. We were lucky enough to discover it while in Sarlat. We had no idea that it had been recommended by Rick Steves. Since then, we always check Rick's recommendations. In short: Madame Flurey is delightful, her breakfasts are superb, and Res. Versailles is one of the most wonderful places we've stayed in Europe. You even have a 2 castle view from the terrace. We will stay ther again as soon as possible.
Kay Spena <email>
Berkeley, Ca USA 02/29/04

Please check my Italian/French Itinerary
My girlfriend and I are planning a two-week trip to Italy/Paris for this summer. We have been doing much reading and think we have an itinerary finalized. Please let me know what you think. If you have a recommedations about hotels, restaurants, sights, please feel free to suggest away! Thanks. Sat July 3: Flight from USA-Rome Sun 4: Arrive in Rome Mon 5: Rome Tue 6: Rome Wed 7: Train for Rome to Florence Thu 8: Florence Fri 9: Drive through Chianti Country Sat 10: Train from Florence to Cinque Terra (La Spezia) via Pisa Sun 11: Cinque Terra Mon 12: Cinque Terra-> Venice Tue 13: Venice Wed 14: Venice Thu 15: Venice-> Paris Fri 16: Paris Sat 17: Paris Sun 18: Paris (Versailles) Mon 19: Flight from Paris to USA
Keith <email>
Newport Beach, Ca USA 02/29/04

Renting a car in Italy
Rental car in Italy; We are two adults and one child in Florence, Assisi and Rome for April 20th to 26th, with three days in Rome at the end. Would you recommend bringing rental car to Rome while staying in hotel?
Chris <email>
Boston, MA USA 02/29/04

Assisi, Italy hotel
Assisi — Italy: Where would two adults and a child stay in Assisi for one night on April 22, 2204? Any recommendations for a safe cheap lodging?
Chris <email>
Boston, MA USA 02/29/04

Euro's
John ~ your local AAA office can get Euros for you. It takes 48 hours.
Robin <email>
Oh USA 02/29/04

Buying Euros in US
John, If you read these postings often you know that most who have traveled to Europe recommend using ATMs and credit cards there as these seem to offer the best exchange rates. ATM's may charge additional fees, but some may not (I have one from a local bank that gives me 10 ATM transactions a month, charges no fees and pays whatever fees I incur). If you want to buy Euros, contact your bank and inquire. You may have to give them several days lead time, but almost any bank should be able to get you foreign currency. That certainly should not be a problem in DFW. Have a great trip and let me know if I can be of assistance.
Rex <email>
Decatur, GA USA 02/29/04

Tea In London
We always have tea once in London. We have tried Harrod's Georgian Room which was very good and The Orangery at Kensington Palace which was a little noisy. We will be in London in May and want to try tea at a different place. Brown's Hotel was suggested and other possibilities are The Savoy and Ritz Palm. I think the RP would require reservations. I know many people think having tea is a waste of money but we don't get to London very often and we enjoy the tea experience. My only negative comment about tea at Harrod's is they did not serve on pretty china.
Susan <email>
Atl, Ga USA 02/29/04

Ciampino Airport Rome
We will be landing at Ciampino Airport near Rome. Does anyone know how far the airport is from the city? And what is the best way to get from the airport to Rome?
John <email>
Van Alstyne, TX USA 02/29/04

buying euros in US
We are thinking of buying some euros here in the states before we travel to Europe this summer. Does anyone know where and how we might do this? Banks? We live in the DFW area.
John <email>
Van Alstyne, USA 02/29/04

super cheap flights
If anyone can tell me the cheapest way to fly from Manchester, UK to Chicago, USA I would be ever so grateful.
Justin <email>
Chicago, IL USA 02/29/04

Van Rental
Does anyone know where I might rent a van for a reasonable price? There are 8 of us going to Germany & France next summer, flying into Frankfurt and out of Paris.
Kerry <email>
Layton, Ut USA 02/28/04

Sharp items
Carol — if you want to save time by not checking any luggage you might consider not taking any sharp items and buying inexpensive ones once you arrive in Europe. You can either leave them behind or perhaps check them through on the return trip when time doesn't seem to be so crucial.
Sandy
MD USA 02/28/04

SHARP THINGS IN LUGGAGE
Carol.....I usually put those things in a small bag and check it through on the plane. You can pack some other things with it to make the bag large enough to avoid being lost. When you arrive at your destination throw it into your carry-on bag. Some inspectors let some things go through, but your knife will not make it.
Chester
Waco, TX USA 02/28/04

LUGGAGE STORAGE IN MILAN
John.....you will find luggage lockers and a "Left Luggage" counter in the RR station. If your bags will fit, use the lockers because you may need a bank loan to afford the counter.
Mildred
Denver, CO USA 02/28/04

HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Ricardo V....It is not necessary to make hotel reservations for May. I have traveled through Europe many times and I never reserve a room in advance any time of year. Don't lock yourself into an itinerary you may want to change. Finding rooms is pretty easy...just go to the Tourist Information Office in the RR station and ask.
Rich
Dallas, TX USA 02/28/04

Castex Hotel — Paris
Is the Castex hotel in the Marais as great as it is made out to be in guidebooks?
jeff <email>
Norfolk, Va USA 02/28/04

Hotel Reservations
My wife and I are going to Germany (Stuttgart) the first week in May, and intend, in 20 days, to drive South and South East into Switzerland, and Austria and will be returning to Stuttgart from Viena. Is it necessary to make this early in the season hotel reservations? We do not know when we will be at any particular place, but want to make sure we have a place where to stay when we get there.
Ricardo V. <email>
Harrisburg, PA USA 02/28/04

Train to Toledo?
Stephen on www.wellsoc.org says that the train line from Madrid to Toledo is being rebuilt for AVE trains — either no trains are running or you have to switch to a bus partway. Anyone know anything about this? I'm getting into Madrid on the night train from Lisbon & was planning to head straight for Toledo — do I need to trek over to the bus station?
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA 02/28/04

luggage storage in Milan train station?
I'm flying in to Malpensa / Milan and then going on to Florence by train. I would like to see Milan for a few hours though and need to store my luggage. Does anyone know if there is a luggage storage facility in the Milan central train station?
John <email>
West Hartford, CT USA 02/28/04

Any feedback about Les Residences Versailles in Beynac would be appreciated. Would like to make reservations. Thanks.
pat
pa USA 02/28/04

Sharp things while traveling light
Husband and I will be traveling in Europe foor seven weeks starting in late August, and we're hoping to "travel light" with no checked luggage. However, I'm wondering what to do with the necessary "sharpies" (nail clippers, tweezers, small Swiss army knife, and so on) that can no longer go through security.
Carol Barrington <email>
Montgomery, TX USA 02/28/04

Debra, headed to Reutte
The most direct train route to Reutte takes you through Mittenwald and Garmisch in Germany. It's a beautiful ride. The tracks between Garmisch and Reutte take you "behind" the Zugspitze. Reutte is on a train line that both begins and ends in Germany. The only other ways to get there by train are to head west from Innsbruck to the Swiss border, then north into Germany, then east to Kempten, then southeast to Reutte; or northeast via Kufstein, into Germany and up to Rosenheim, on to Munich, then south. Each of these alternatives covers at least 5 times the distance you travel going via Garmisch.
Russ <email>
Galt, CA USA 02/28/04

Traveling With An Infant
Does anyone have any tips on traveling to Italy with an 8 month old (bringing baby food, formula, renting car seats and other "furniture", flying, sight-seeing, etc.)?
Dara <email>
Denver, CO USA 02/28/04

Pensione Guerrato — Venice
I've read great reviews on Pensione Guerrato in Venice but can't locate any information from Rick in his book. Does anyone have an e-mail address for this place? One of the reviews said something about a discount with Rick's book. Can't find any mention of it in Rick's 2004 Italy book. Found the web site, but I'm hoping to get a discount if possible.
Gail Penrod <email>
Santon Downham, England 02/28/04

Innsbruck To Reutte by Train
Hello All. How do I get from Innsbruck to Reutte by train? A search at the German DieBahn site has this trip going through Garmisch in Germany. Is this the only way by train to get to Reutte? All info is appreciated. Thanks
Debra <email>
Healdsburg, Ca USA 02/27/04

Seville to Tangier
We live in Seville and wish to go to Tangier for a day or two. What is the easiest way to do this from Seville? Also, can you recommend a hotel and guide (and if so, who) for Tangier? Many thanks in advance!
Jean-Marie <email>
Seville, Spain 02/27/04

train travel at night
My husband and myself will be departing from Interlakin to Paris. Is there any way to do a night train without having to change trains in the middle of the night? thanks we are leaving on 1march!
susan wheeler <email>
PEACHTREE CITY, ga USA 02/27/04

Hotel Comments
John- if you go back to graffiti main page, then under "RS's Guidebooks" click on "Share your feedbacks", you should be able to find what you are looking for.
yuen <email>
philadelphia, pa USA 02/27/04

Rome Leonardo Express
Di — the last train leaving FCO should be at 23:37 according to FCO aiport's website as well. My RS 2004 Guidebook said the last trains are "roughly" at 11pm. You should be able to catch it with your 9pm flight.
yuen <email>
philadelphia, pa USA 02/27/04

hotel comment
hotel comment. http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti29.html maybe this is what you were looking for?
Di
san jose, ca USA 02/27/04

Hotel comments — gone?
Why are there no comments any more on hotels? It used to be that one could read travelers' comments on Rick's hotel suggestions but no more. Why?
John Pezzano <email>
Hendersonville, NC USA 02/27/04

bestfares.com
is bestfares.com worth the trouble and the 60.00 dollar sign up fee???
david
o'side, ca USA 02/27/04

Malaga to Warsaw
Looking for the cheapest way (preferably by air) to go from Malaga to Warsaw.
Lisa <email>
St. Paul, mn USA 02/27/04

Billund, Denmark
What airline, or consolidator, should two of us use Philly to Billund {denmark} via Amsterdam. two week trip july?
Wally Cunliffe <email>
Yardley, a USA 02/27/04

Paris WebCams
Hi again! I also have a question about WebCams in Paris — Is there a good one that I can go to while I'm there, so my family at home can see me? All the ones I have found so far are from a distance & you can't see the people close enough to tell who it is. Thank you!
Sarah <email>
Rocklin, CA USA 02/27/04

Paris — Fencing
I will be in Paris from March 21-30 and am very interested in seeing a fencing competition or lesson. Has anyone here ever heard of something like that? Thanks for any tips.
Sarah <email>
Rocklin, CA USA 02/27/04

train from leonard airport to termini in Rome
anyone has experience taking "Leonardo Express" from the airport to the termini? I was checking their webiste "http://www.trenitalia.com/home/en/vv/citta_aeroporto.htm#2" and found the last one leaves the airport at 23:37pm. "... Departures at 21 and 51 minutes on the hour every hour) and from Fiumicino at 06.37 (last run at 23.37. Departures at 7 and 37 minutes every hour on the hour)...." From other places I read including Rick's book, it mentions the last one leaves the airport at 10:07pm. My flight will get in after 9pm. If the last train leaves 23:37, I might still have a chance taking the train instead of the expensive taxi.
Di <email>
san jose, ca USA 02/27/04

HOSTELS SALISBURY
Kristie....The best page for Salisbury hostels is yha.org.uk/make_booking/process/84. You can book on net or email for more information. Ask for a confirmation by email that you can show when you arrive. You can also try travoholic.com/hostels/england. Go to Central England and you will find 2 hostels listed for Salisbury.
DOT
DETROIT, MI USA 02/27/04

FLORENCE TO ROME
Carol.....Go to raileurope.com and click on fares and schedules in the left column. Enter your departure city and your destination and you will find the time it takes. Do a further search for fares.
Charlie
Austin, TX USA 02/27/04

Hotel Clemenceau & Hotel St. Georges
I have been unsuccessful in contacting: Hotel Clemenceau, and Hotel St. Georges in Nice, France, by E-mail. All I get is the Wanadoo.fr home page. This home page makes no mention of these two hotels. Any suggestions?
Richard O. Dowling <email>
Miami, Fl USA 02/27/04

Accomodations Torino
We will be going to the Torino area for one night on each end of our trip. We like B&B's (northern side) and can't find any on line. Hotels there seem very high. Any suggestions?
Beth McCusker <email>
Apple Valley, MN USA 02/27/04

Need ride from Tarifa to Malaga
How can we (2 persons) best get from Tarifa to Malaga in the evening (after a full day's visit to Tangiers)? We have no car. Thanks.
Jerry Suchman <email>
St. Louis, MO USA 02/27/04

florence to rome
i want to know how long it takes by train from florence to rome and how much it would cost? i am going from end of febuary to the 4th march
carol hamshare <email>
southampton, uk 02/27/04

Dolomites in Spring
We are flying in to Verona on April 23rd and would like to drive through the Dolomites on our way to Venice. We have one night to stay in Verona and one night to stay somewhere along that road, but almost every place is closed. We do have reservations in Cortina d' Ampezzo but will it be a ghost town? Are any lifts still working anywhere in the Dolomites — just for viewing? Suggestions? There are eight of us traveling together. Thanks.
Deborah Peterson <email>
Orem, UT USA 02/26/04

Pension Avalon, Prague
Has anyone stayed at the Pension Avalon , Havelska 15, Prague 1 ??? We booked a double room ,it appears to be in a great location. Any feedback or advice would be great.Thanks John & Robin John & Robin Atascadero, California, USA
John & Robin <email>
Atascadero, California, Ca. USA 02/26/04

Paris Hotel
Do you know a charming hotel in Paris, preferablly near the Luxembourg Gardens or in the Marais, that is reasonable?
Lynn Padwe <email>
New York, NY USA 02/26/04

Florence
Debby, assuming you will see the glories of Florence during the week, I recommend Siena. It is about 1.5 hours by bus (rapide, not the local) and is a magnificent city. I always hestitate about weather as it does what it will, but I think you have a chance at a decent or cool day. I don't know about wind but if you live in Lawton you must be used to it blowing all the time. (I grew up about 45 miles southwest of there). What is not to enjoy about Italy — magnificent art and architecture, amazing history, beautiful scenery, delicious food and wine and friendly people. Arrivederci!
Rex <email>
Decatur, GA USA 02/26/04

florence
I will be in Florence, Italy the end of March 1st part of April. My husband is there on business, but we will have a weekend free. Any suggestions for where to go that weekend in the vicinity? Also what can I expect for tempatures? Is it windy, it does make a difference.
debby brown <email>
lawton, ok USA 02/26/04

Bunratty to Moher?
I'm going to be in Ireland for a big bus tour. I'm arriving on a Sunday, and my first hotel is in Bunratty. If all goes well with my flight from Birmingham International, I figure that a realistic time of arrival at my hotel will be between noon and 1 PM. My group gets dinner at Bunratty Castle at about 5 PM.

With all that said, I'd like to see the Cliffs of Moher, but I'd have to do it on my own. I have no idea if this is even feasible. Is there train or coach service between Bunratty and the cliffs? Would I be better served hiring a taxi, and if so, roughly how much would something like that cost? Can I visit at night, or is the area "closed", as in rangers shooing people away? Is this little excursion even possible? Any advice would be appreciated.
Dave <email>
OH USA 02/26/04

Barbara — Weather in Germany
It can rain at any time of year in Germany, but March and April are statistically the driest months. You'll find it chilly at times, but if the weather is normal, not terribly wet.
Russ <email>
Galt, CA USA 02/26/04

renting a camper in Europe
I am considering taking my two sons on a trip to Italy in mid-June. I am thinking about renting a camper (RV) and staying at campgrounds (I have camped in Europe before, so I know this is a very cost-effective way to travel). Does anyone have any suggestions about who to rent camper from for a period of up to 2 weeks? My choices are to fly into Rome, Frankfurt or Amsterdam. Any horror stories / pitfalls? Thanks, Ian
Ian <email>
Minneapolis, mn USA 02/26/04

Hostels
Heading to England again. This time I'm looking into hostels near Salisbury/Glastonbury. Any suggestions? Any help will be very much appreciated! Thanks!
Kristie <email>
Fayetteville, NC USA 02/26/04

April weather in Germany?
I wil be in Germany late March til mid-April. I plan to travel to many places, everywhere from Munich to the Zugspitze to Trier to Cologne to Dresden to Berlin. I would appreciate any information on what the weather may be like in Germany at that time. At this point, I'm planning to dress in layers, and I have a waterproof poncho. I'm living in south-central Wyoming where it's still cold and could snow through at least March, so I'll be used to chilly temperatures and a lot of wind. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Barbara <email>
Rawlins , WY USA 02/26/04

Camping -Italy
Hello, my partner and I are headed off to Italy in June. Does anyone know if camping is a good idea and how much it costs in various places: milan, venice, pisa, napoli, sicily etc??? Any help would be greatly appreciated. They are not as into the net as we seem to be in North America so online info is hard to come by! Cheers, S'P
S'Preet <email>
manchester, england 02/26/04

Lisbon Hotel??
Anyone know anything about the Lisboa Astoria in Lisbon? Saw that it is owned by Evedencia Hotels, like Lisboa Tejo. Only it's much cheaper. Experiences?
Ann <email>
USA 02/26/04

B&B near Chateau de Chambord
I am trying to find some B&Bs near Chateau de Chambord in France (Loire Valley). I had asked my travel agent to suggest something and just as I was about to reserve the room I found it was an hour and 15 minutes away! Can anyone suggest anything near the Chambord Castle? I would really appreciate it!
Leticia Smith <email>
Los Angeles, CA USA 02/26/04

Downloading pictures from digital cameras
I'm traveling in April to Madrid, Paris, Rome, London, Amsterdam and Bruges. I will take my digital camera, and I'd like to download my pictures and store them in CD/Zip, or email them, because I don't have a lot of memory cards. Could somebody recommend me internet cafes or photo shops where I can do this in the cities mentioned above? Thanks a lot!
Nelly M. <email>
Mexico City, - Mexico 02/26/04

Renting a car in London
Paula ~ I would recommend you to NOT rent a car to drive in London. Take the express train into London from Gatwick, then you can take the train to where you are staying. Driving in London is hard if you are not use to it, also there is a fee to drive in central London during the day.

Oh USA 02/26/04

Air Travel in eastern Europe
I'm looking for an economical airfare from Bucharest to Prague and then back from Prague to Budapest. Any back door, creative ideas? Thank you.
Lesley <email>
Roseville, MN USA 02/26/04

Rome to Siena
You have two choices train: see http://www.fs-on-line.com/ or bus: see http://www.turismoverde.com/italia/trasport/bus.htm Train is more comfortable, a little more expensive and you have to change trains a Chiusi and then bus or taxi from Siena train station to town, about two kilometers. From FCO (roma aeroporto) there is a train to Rome termini.
Henry <email>
Wichita, ks USA 02/25/04

Hotel Picard
Dan — thanks for your research. You have completely uncomplicated our decision-making on the hotel! One-half mile is a bit far to walk to the Metro. I would rather save it up for the Louvre or strolls by the Seine!
Julianne
Tulsa, OK USA 02/25/04

Hotel Picard
Julianne, go to www.pagesjaunes.fr, click the English flag, and type in the hotel's name and address. I did, and was able to view a photo of the frontage and a map. The Hotel Picard is located almost half a mile from the nearest Metro station (Republique), which may partly account for the lower rates. Overall it seems OK, though I'd not be surprised if the rooms and bathrooms were quite small.
Dan
BC CAN 02/25/04

Travel in Greece
Greece travel: Larry I — We went to Greece in June and during a ferry worker's strike so we were forced to spend longer in Athens (3 days instead of 1) It was great. There is so much to do. Stay near the base of the parthenon-(sp). Also, a great book for Greece is Lonely planets book. We fell in love with the island of Sifnos, it was such a slow pace (kinda like Vernazza)and we had a great place to stay and didn't go to all of the other islands that we planned (we were traveling without reservations so we did not lose a deposit).We figured that it gave us an excuse to return. We rented motor scooters ($10 a day) and explored the entire island and all of the small towns. The schedule for ferries are easy (although not as easy as the Eurail). There are a lot of reservation shops at the port and you just go in one of the reservation shops and ask for the next ferry to your destination. We took the city bus to the port. Also, learn a few greek phrases, it is not like most of Europe where you can find most people speak a little English.
Tina <email>
Garland, TX USA 02/25/04

mileage
What is the mileage and driving time from Perpigan, France to Avigonon, France?
Matt Stennes <email>
ca USA 02/25/04

Cindy Neaves — Triberg
It's an uphill but do-able 10-min. slog from the station into town. Triberg is not a major hub for trains. You can see where it lies roughly on this overview of the region's train lines (it's near Hausach): http://www.rail-and-relax.de/index1.html The Titisee area is more scenic and interesting than Triberg in my book, but it's further south and may be further from the other places you plan to visit.
Russ <email>
Galt, CA USA 02/25/04

Spain in August
We are thinking of visiting Spain (Madrid and Barcelona mostly) in the second half of August when a family member will be there, but we hear that many (most?) restaurants and shops are closed during that month. If that is so and given the heat, is it worth visiting then? Any experiences would be appreciated. Tks
blair <email>
Seattle, WA USA 02/25/04

CAR RENTAL IN LONDON
Having driven in London a week, I recommend that you not rent a car; take public transportation. Parking is almost impossible and when you can find it, it is too costly. Larning to ride the tube is easy and fast. Comparison with surfade travel is not even close. You can ride the train to Middlesex. If you have 4 or more in your party, you might consider the car just to save money, but keep in mind that driving on the wrong side is stressful at best.
Carlos
Dallas, TX USA 02/25/04

First Trip to Europe/Transportation Question
I am flying to Franfurt, Germany next week and plan to take the train to Triberg, Germany. Question..once in Triberg, will I be able to easily travel to other cites from their via train...is the train station within walking distance to hotels, etc. or am I going to have to rent a car. I will be there 3 days, then plan to take train to Baden-Baden for a conference. Any help will be greatly appreciated..first time to Europe and will be traveling alone. Cindy
Cindy Neaves <email>
Mt.Ida, AR USA 02/25/04

Hotel Picard in Paris
Has anyone ever stayed at the Hotel Picard at 26 rue de Picardie in the Marais? The rates look really good and I am hoping to get some feedback from you all, since so many of you are seasoned travelers and I would trust your opinions. The cost of a triple room for 8 days is around 650 euros with a toilet and tub en suite. Too good to be true? Let me know and thanks.
Julianne
Tulsa, OK USA 02/25/04

RE: Amsterdam hotel recomendation
I was in Amsterdam this past December and stayed at The Hotel Van Onna. For me it was the perfect location, and the perfect price. I paid 40 Euro per night for a single, and my room — although not huge by any means — was comfortable and clean, with my own WC and fresh towels each morning. The breakfast, which is included is hearty and fills you up for the day (until maybe a snack at lunchtime)- and the coffee is great! Van Onna is located right in the heart of the Joordan on the the quiet Bloemgracht canal. The Anne Frank House was a 5 min walk, and everywhere you look you see those beautiful 17th century canal houses — it's like staying in a dutch painting. Amsterdam is at your doorstep. Have a great trip!
CCWoolford <email>
Victoria, BC Canada 02/25/04

Rome to Siena
We are traveling from Rome (FCO) to Siena and want to know the best way to get there — bus or train? Why one or the other, and what are best tips? Thanks!
Aaron Bowles <email>
McLean, VA USA 02/25/04

Hotel Almazara in Toledo
Planning a trip end of March / beg Apr. Tried to book reservation at Hotel la Almazara in Toledo. I don't speak Spanish, and the person did not speak much English. He said something about their being closed. Does anyone know if they are on a winter holiday? Maybe closed until 01 March?
Ann <email>
USA 02/25/04

Amsterdam hotel recomendation
Looking for a good hotel in Amsterdam. Any recomendations?
Carole Szymanski <email>
carlsbad, ca USA 02/25/04

Re...Apartment in Paris
Tom, My wife, 14 y/o and I are staying in an apartment in the Marais section of Paris for 7 days in June. Here is a link to the rental web site that was used. Good Luck! http://www.rentals-paris.com/index.html
Steven <email>
Cincinnati, OH USA 02/24/04

RE: Short term apartment in Vienna
We stayed at one of the Kaminek's apartments in a little suburb of Vienna called Floridsdorf, which is about 15 min by the excellent public transit to City Center. Ilona Kaminek is wonderful, she is absolutely the best to deal with. We had no problems with booking with her, she is totally honest and there are no hidden fees to worry about. The apartment we sayed in was on Gerichtsgasse, about 3 blocks from the U-bahn and S-bahn station. A Billa market is about a block away for easy shopping for groceries (a great experience) and there are more than a few local Gasthaus in the neighborhood. We will be staying in another of her apartments this Aug-Sept for three weeks, can't wait. Here is the site address: http://www.apartment.at/index_eng.php3?app_id=3&app_topic=&pid=Kaminek

If you have never been to Vienna before, have a look at my site for some links: http://alexstarke.tripod.com. Tell Ilona that Alex from Oregon sent you!
Alex Starke <email>
Eugene, OR USA 02/24/04

10 Days in France
Brian: Congratulations on your upcoming trip. I think you will love France, especially Paris. The trip from Paris to Nice by train is about 6 or 7 hours, so not a day trip. Alternatively, there are numerous wonderful and easy trips within an hour or so of Paris and Normandy is only about 3 hours by train. As for budget accommodations, I have found that "budget" is in the eye of the beholder. Are you interested in hotels, hostels or what? I suggest you get Rick Steve's "France" for some great ideas. I can give you some ideas if you want to e-mail me.
Rex <email>
Decatur, GA USA 02/24/04

short-term apt. in Vienna wanted
I will be in Vienna for a month this July and am looking for a reasonably priced apartment to sleep up to 3 people. Does anyone have suggestions?
Sheri <email>
Portland, OR USA 02/24/04

10 days in France
I finally did it and bought my tickets for France. I arrive in Paris on May 19th and will be there till the 28th. I have several question and hope someone can help. 1. How best to spend the time? I would like to see the rivera but if it eats up too much time I might have to skip it. 2. When looking for budget accomodations, what should I avoid? Thanks in advance for your help. I have never traveled outside of the U.S. and am a little nervous about unneccesary costs.
Brian <email>
Denver, CO USA 02/24/04

how is 4 days best spent in italy
I will arrive in Rome early in the morning on a tuesday. I have from then until saturday to tour before spending a week in a villa in positano. Should I spend tuesday — thursday in rome and 1 day in sienna, or less time in rome and go to florence for a day. I am a single woman traveling alone until positano and am afraid of being hassled, but want to see as much as I can.
anita gallagher <email>
pittsburgh, pa USA 02/24/04

Train in Italy
My family has tickets for a train from Naples to Munich, no specific date or time. Then we have a ticket that is a reservation for a couchette on the train, which is for a specific date and time (Sat. night, leaving Naples at 19:00). The question is: Can we take an earlier train from Naples, sitting in the cheap seats, as far as Rome, get off in Rome for a few hours, then board the train for which we have the couchette reservation and still expect to have our couchette (we paid extra to have the couchette to ourselves)? Will this work or will we lose the couchette to some interlopers? Thanks for any advice!
Laura Hoeppner <email>
Munich, Germany 02/24/04

Butane
I saw the earlier post about the butane curling irons. I know that they exist, but do butane hair straighteners exist? Also I heard that you can no longer bring butane on an airplane. Is that true?
Merdith
Portland, Or USA 02/24/04

traveling alone?
I am planning a trip in november to Europe by myself and I am unsure on what would be a good place for a single female to go alone. I went to Great Britain last year and had a blast! I do not speak any other languages, so any advice on a great place to visit would be great, I am going for about 3 weeks and would like to stay at hostels or cheap hotels.
Jen <email>
Denver, CO USA 02/24/04

Apartments in Paris
My wife and I with our 2 boys ages 17 and 14 will be in Paris last week in March and are looking for a comfortable apartment to stay in for 6 days. Don't want to spend much more than $1000.
Tom Hodges <email>
Willowbrook, Il USA 02/24/04

Re: Tom G Salzburg Salt Mine Tours
Tom, We went on the Salt Mine tour and had a fun time. The whole thing is a bit silly — dress in miner's clothes, go down slides, etc. A nice departure, however, from "typical" European sites. I recall the tour lasting about 4 hours total (including transportation time from Salzburg). It was a rainy day, so it was a good option. Had the weather been nice, I would have preferred spending our short time in Salzburg doing something outdoors and soaking up the beautiful scenery. Hope this helps.
Julie <email>
Triangle Area, NC USA 02/24/04

Budapest & Vienna Tour Guides
Any suggestions/recommendations for personal tour guides for Budapest and Vienna? We hope to find tours similar to what Sarka provides in Prague or Johnny provides around Tuscany. The "Helpline" has definitely been helpful in our planning — Thanks!
Darcy <email>
Lewiston, ID USA 02/24/04

Train Travel/Strikes/Schnellzug
My husband and I will be traveling for a week in Italy (late May) before a cruise that starts in Monaco (in June). We are trying to start in Rome then go to Cinque Terre, Florence then Venice — before going to Nice/Monaco area to pick up the cruise. We planned to do all of this by train but are concerned about potential strikes and also about the types of trains we will be traveling on. Does anyone have any advice on using trains when you HAVE to be somewhere by a certain date? Also — does anyone know if Schnellzug is a sleeper car? There's an overnight train from Venice to Nice on Schnellzug (listed on Die Bahn) but there is no mention of a sleeper car. Any advice would be appreciated.
Connie Sokolowski <email>
Plantation, fl USA 02/24/04

Car rental London
I will arriving in London at Gatwick at the end of July- staying North of London in Middlesex- and leaving London via Eurostar at Waterloo. Should I rent a car and can I pick it up at Gatwick and drop it off at Waterloo Station?
Paula Kamison <email>
Wilmington, De USA 02/24/04

Birthday restaurant in Paris March 22?
I will be celebrating my 40th birthday while on a week-long trip with my family and our friends. Can anyone recommend a restaurant that would be suitable for a large party of nine(four adults, three 18-year-olds, two 10 year-old's)?
Jennifer T. I. <email>
Twin Cities, MN USA 02/24/04

Venice Parking
Raul I don't think you're crazy driving in Italy. We've done it several times and find it very convenient. As to parking for Venice we did not find that to be a problem. Here is a site you can check out. http://www.comune.venezia.it/accessi/auto_eng.asp Happy travels.
pat
pa USA 02/24/04

Pension Avalon, Prague
Has anyone stayed at the Pension Avalon , Havelska 15, Prague 1 ??? We booked a double room ,it appears to be in a great location. Any feedback or advice would be great.Thanks John & Robin
John & Robin <email>
Atascadero, California, USA 02/23/04

HELP! What to do with a car in Venice
I'm touring Italy by car (crazy, I know) the thing is, I have no idea what to do with the car the 3 days/2 nights I'll be in Venice. I would really like to stay at a small place in the city itself. Are there parking lots in the mainland I could leave the car for a couple of days? Thanks for any tips you can provide,
Raul <email>
San Francisco, CA USA 02/23/04

Hotel Keizershof
Has anyone recently stayed at the Hotel Keizershof in Amsterdam? I made reservations for this hotel this summer after seeing a review in Frommers and Rick's description of the place. I was somewhat dismayed by a recent negative comment on the Graffiti Board regarding this hotel. Any impressions would be welcomed.
Peter <email>
Salem, OR USA 02/23/04

walking
we are 4 senior's (60's and 70's)first time Europe travelers. Does Rick S. have tours that require less than 4 miles a day walking? We would like to go on a 2 week tour.
Liz Jansen <email>
Battle Ground,, Wa USA 02/23/04

turin
The 1st of March, I have three days in Turin, Italy with side trips planned to Milan, Cinque Terra and Lake Como for my remaining four days. I'm traveling alone to visit my son in school; this is my first trip to Europe. Any tips or suggestions?
jane e johnson <email>
reno, nv USA 02/23/04

Answer about Travelzoo
Amanda- Travelzoo is only a website that publishes sales from other companies. It does not sell its own hotel packages or plane tickets. When you click on a package deal, Travelzoo will show you which company is offering that deal, and takes you to that company's website.
yuen <email>
philadelphia, pa USA 02/23/04

BA carry-on weight restriction enforced?
This is a question for any who have flown British Airways and taken only carry-on bags. I'm flying basic economy and noticed that the limit is 1 bag at 13 pounds. I have the one bag, but I think am a couple pounds over. My husband's is also a couple pounds over, but also has a laptop which adds another 7. Do they actually weigh the carry-on's? Thanks
Shalisa <email>
Shelton, WA USA 02/23/04

RE: Travelers Checks
I thought I did when I said debit cards are the less expensive method to obtain cash. Travlers checks sometimes have inital fees to buy in the US, marginal exchange rate if purhased in US and a terrible rate if converting US dollar travelers checks at money changers. Also some places will not accept travelers checks. We have not used travelers checks in the past 12 years and see no point to them.
Frank P. <email>
Centennial, CO USA 02/23/04

travel time
I am living in Rome this summer and only have the opportunity to travel around after my internship ends in August. Many travel books say that it is not really possible to even find lodging in Europe in August. Since all Europeans are on vacation at that time I have also heard that many good restaurants and such are closed. Is this true? Is there any hope?
Anna <email>
Bloomington, IN USA 02/23/04

Provence Eateries?
A group of us will be in Provence the week of March 14th (our Spring Break). We will be based Avignon and are looking for some good restaurants in the area. Anybody have anything? Preferrably local fare and off the beaten path, but NOT in the tourist travel book.
Carol <email>
Wichita Falls, TX USA 02/23/04

Travelzoo.com
Is this a good site? It offers really cheap airline and hotel packages to europe. Has anyone had experience with this site? Good? Bad? The offers are very tempting.
Amanda
Truth or Consequences, NM USA 02/23/04

ATMS AND TRAVELERS CHECKS
Frank P....thanks for the dissertation, but you didn't answer the question of comparative cost of using ATM cards vs travelers checks. When we pay to buy a check and pay another fee to cash the check, isn't it much more costly than withdrawing money at the ATM machine in Rome?
Mike Packard
Denver, CO USA 02/23/04

go-today.com
Have you ever booked travel through www.gotoday.com? What was your experience?
David Wilson <email>
Dallas, TX USA 02/23/04

Sicilian agriturisos/b&bs
Does anyone have experience with or a line on a place to stay in Sicily with a kitchen and 2 bedrooms for 4 nights to a week? Multi Grazie.
Kay Spena <email>
Berkeley, Ca USA 02/23/04

Carte orange...
I had not heard that the carte orange was no longer available to tourists. We always go to Gare du Nord to purchase our carte orange. Good luck!
Brandie <email>
USA 02/23/04

Debit/Credit Card Usage & Fees
Mildred is correct. Using debit, credit cards, and the resulting fees can be confusing. Having a discussion about these fees with your bank and credit card companies is critical. In the world of plastic there are only two kinds of cards. Credit cards (VISA, MC and others) tied to the large networks — Plus, Cirrus and some others — and debit cards generally issued by financial institutions, linked to a personal checking or saving account, but still tied to the same large networks. There is no such thing as an ATM card. Most major cards can be used in any Automated Teller Machine worldwide. Some people may call a debit card an ATM card but it is still a debit card taking money directly from a linked account.

A new, pre-loaded cash card is coming into the market that functions somewhat like a debit card. The currency conversion fees charged on both debit and credit card usage have been with us for a long, long time. We were ALWAYS paying these fees, but we didn't know it. The fees, generally in the range of 2 to 3 %, were buried in the conversion rate. Recently someone thought that this nondisclosure was sneaky and sued VISA and MC. Courts agreed and now these former fees are disclosed on your statements. This past summer all of our transactions (both debit and credit) showed a 2% conversion fee IN ADDITION to the network conversion fee of 1% which is still buried in the exchange rate. Some credit card companies are claiming to charge only a 1% conversion fee but that fee is still on top of the 1% network fee.

But the bottom line is still the same. Debit cards are the less expensive and most convenient way to obtain foreign currency even if you have to pay 2 or 3 percent to do it. This is not a cheaper way unless you print your own currency. Travel well !
Frank P. <email>
Centennial, CO USA 02/23/04

Venice
Sandra — Buy train tickets to Venice when you are in Rome. Stop in Termini station and use the machines(they speak English!) to purchase your tickets a day ahead -that way, if you are traveling on Intercity trains, you can get a reservation. If you are on Eurostar trains, they are all reserved seats. We have been to VEnice twice in March and it has not been flooded, in fact it did not rain at all when we were there. If you are worried about weather, start checking weather reports on internet weather sites a week before. P
Pam <email>
USA 02/23/04

Carte Orange — Paris Metro
The Carte Orange is available to anyone, but some metro station agents are reluctant to sell them to tourists. (The system makes more money off the overpriced Paris Visite pass.) If you're turned down at one station, buy the pass at another station. Buy the cheapest one (Zones 1 & 2). It will pay for itself after 15 rides. Since you'll only miss the first day (Monday) that the card can be used, I imagine you'll still get plenty of use out of it by the following Sunday. Then buy a carnet to share for your last days in Paris.
Tim <email>
Minot, ND USA 02/23/04

Hungary Great Plain in Winter
Hi we're heading toward Budapest right now with the intention of working our way on cheaper trains through smaller towns southeast across the great plain eventually ending up in transylvania, unfortunately I'm having a hard time finding lodging in that no-mans land, or even on the hungarian hostels page finding english or whether any of them are open all year, does anyone have any suggestions or experiences that might help? Thanks ahead.
Dylan Murphy <email>
Yosemite, Ca USA 02/23/04

Phone Cards
I'm afraid I can't work out how international phone cards work. Telstra in Australia advertise cards which can be used in 45 different countries. However, I gather in most countries you still need a 'local' card to activate the service. For example, if in France I need a French phone card to activate the service. Is this correct? If so, what is the point of having a card from home? I realise this is a U.S. site, but no doubt the same answers will hold true for any country. Any clues would be much appreciated.
Brendan <email>
Bendigo, Vic AUS 02/23/04

Paris Hotels
We are a family of 4 adults traveling together to Paris in March. Any suggestions on a nice inexpensive hotel that has rooms to accommodate four?
Darlene <email>
Phoenix, AZ USA 02/22/04

Italy Train Travel
My wife, 14 year old, and I will be travelling by train in Italy for 2 weeks — mainly between Rome, Florence, and Venice, with a side trip to Pompei from Rome. Does a railpass make sense Vs. "ad hoc" purchases?
Alan Grupp <email>
NY, NY USA 02/22/04

Greek island travel in April 2004
Between 4/5 & 4/17/04, four of us will be in Athens, then the islands Rick recommends — Santorini, Paros, Samos, and Lipsi. Does it make any difference in ferry connections if the 4 of us go East or West through the islands? With the National Archeological Museum probably still closed, I am thinking that 2 days and 1 night is enough in Athens.

Assuming that we are traveling East, for places to stay, I am thinking Athens-Adrian Hotel (1 night), overnight (1st class) ferry to Santorini, Oia-Chelidonia Villas (3 nights), Naoussa-Hotel Christina (3 nights, including Easter), Samos-Hotel Samos (2 nights), and Lipsi-Apartments Galini (1 night), then flying back to Athens. Since Rick does not have a full book for Greece and since we have limited time available for this trip, we appreciate any and all feedback/comments/suggestions. Anybody have comments on the weather this time of the year on what to wear? Thanks in advance!
Larry I <email>
Bremerton, WA USA 02/22/04

Salzburg Salt Mine Tours
Anyone done the Salt Mine tours near Salzburg? How long do they run? Are they worth it? How about the concerts in the castle? Thanks!
Tom G <email>
Edgewood, KY USA 02/22/04

Carryon size etc.
Travelling from Oregon to Frankfurt with Luthsansa airlines. For carryon, it says 8kg. Do they actually weigh your carryon bag? Will a small backpack (and with wheels) fit in the above head cupboard or will I have to check it?
carol <email>
vancouver, BC Canada 02/22/04

Switzerland
To Stephanie in Illinois- My wife and I spent an incredible week in the Valais September 2003. I would be happy to share some thoughts and details with you; E-mail me at your convenience. We spent most of our time in the mountains, but we know the valleys quite well, too!
Ken <email>
Naples, FL USA 02/22/04

Poland
KRAKOW and WARSAW POLAND (also visiting Czestochowa, Vilnius + Siauliai Lithuania, Prague Czeck Republic) Traveling by train.

HOTELS in Krakow: Looking for moderate priced accommodations in historic district. We are looking at following hotels: Hotel Fortuna, Hotel Alef, Hotel Royal. Anyone stayed there before? Which is more convenient to what sites?

SIGHTSEEING: Also, any suggestions for off beaten path things to do and see, or restaurants where the 'locals' go?.

GUIDES AND DRIVERS: For trip from Krakow to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska AND Wadowice. Advice please?

SALT MINES near Krakow. Is it worth seeing?

TOURIST PASS in Krakow: We are thinking about purchasing Krakow Tourist card, that provides discounts to museums, etc. Is it worth price of $45PLN for 2 days?

Will not have time to check boards before we leave, so PLEASE SEND RESPONSE direct TO: banananacour@aol.com. We own the Banana Courtyard B&B in New Orleans. Keep us in mind, if you ever travel to the French Quarter.
mary <email>
new orleans, la USA 02/22/04

Train information
What is the best town in the Dordogne region of France to catch a train to the Nice airport and/or the Toulouse airport. I don't know yet what airport I'm flying out of back to the USA
Bonnie <email>
Tigard, OR USA 02/22/04

Hotels/Rooms in Sicily
My husband and I will be in Sicily in April after Easter. Does anyone have recommendations for hotels/rooms in Taormina, Siracusa, and Palermo. We do not mind shared baths. We will be traveling by trains and buses.
Barbara <email>
Edmonds, WA USA 02/22/04

First Time To Switzerland
My husband and I will be traveling to Switzerland for the first time this Sept. (the middle 2 weeks) We will be spending most of our time in the regions Bernese-Oberland and Valais. What can we expect for weather that time of year? Will it be fairly chilly, especially at night? And, if we want to find lodging for 4 or 5 nights, would we be able to find something after we arrive? Lastly, are these good regions to experience the true Swiss culture and way of life? Thank you for any tips.
Stephanie <email>
IL USA 02/22/04

Paris Metro
It is my understanding that the Carte Orange is no longer available to tourists but there is a "Visite" card and you can see on the website below the prices which vary with the number of zones and days you want. It depends on how much and how far your are traveling. At minimum the carnet is a good deal. http://www.ratp.fr/ParisVisite/Eng/index.htm
Rex <email>
Decatur, GA USA 02/22/04

Best Paris Metro Deals?
Our family (4) will be in Paris for a week this summer (arrive on a Tuesday). Would we be better off purchasing a Carte Orange Metro Pass or just purchasing tickets by the carnet?
Bob <email>
Tacoma, Wa USA 02/22/04

Tap Air Portugal
Libby the website for Tap Air Portugal is http://www.tap-airportugal.pt/eportal/v10/PT/jsp/index.jsp. Never flown them so cannot comment.
pat
pa USA 02/22/04

Air Travel to Italy
We will be travelling from Seattle to Italy in September on one of Rick's tours. Does anyone have suggestions for getting the best airfares (I think to Milan, return from Rome)? Thanks.
Gordon Ensign <email>
Olympia, WA USA 02/21/04

Family travelling
We will be travelling in Italy and Southern Germany this summer with our 3 teenage daughters. Any suggestions on ways to find accomodations for families.
Mike <email>
Pleasanton, CA USA 02/21/04

2 month trip to Europe
I am 22 years old and I will be backpacking around Western Europe for 2 months (late June thru late August) with two of my friends (all girls). We are planning to stay in hostels and get the most of our experience. I was just wondering if anyone out there has had a similar experience and could provide me with helpful information. I am wondering how much $ a day we should plan on spending (minimum). Also, attractions that can't be missed or attractions that should be missed. Thanks, Kristen
Kristen <email>
Atlanta, GA USA 02/21/04

Italian Trains and Venice Rains
My family of 5 will be traveling from Rome to Venice March 20th. Should I buy our train tickets in advance from the states (more costly and if I do, can I change our tickets if we want a later train?) or would it be safe to buy the tickets when we arrive in Rome? We will be staying in Rome for 3 days. Also, according to Steve, we picked the flood month of March to visit Venice! Should I bring rain boots for my 3 children, ages 7, 9 and 14? As I believe in travelling very light, I'm tempted to forgo the rain boots but am not sure what to do, you can't take everything! Has anyone seen rain boots sold in Venice if we need? I'm only taking them one pair of shoes! Any opinions? Need opinions! Thanks to all.
Sandra <email>
Arlington, TX USA 02/21/04

Tain Station Lockers
Anyone know the approximate size of lockers in train stations in Germany? We have a couple of fairly good-sized bags and wonder if they will fit (to allow sightseeing prior to checking into our hotel). Thanks!
Tom Gravely <email>
Edgewood, KY USA 02/21/04

TAP Airline
Has anyone flown Tap Air Portugal? If so, what did you think of it? I can't find their website, does anyone know it, or know how to find it? Thanks Travelers Libby S
Libby S <email>
Evergreem, Co USA 02/21/04

Naples to Sicily Ferry
Has anybody ever taken the overnight ferry from Naples, Italy to Sicily? Is it worth the adventure or is one better off just taking a cheap short flight?
Roger <email>
Madison, WI USA 02/21/04

travel beds for infants
My husband and I will be traveling in Europe for four weeks with our seven month old son. We are looking for a lightweight travel bed. The Leachco "Nap N' Pack" bed looks like it might work. I would appreciate any comments about using this bed or any other lightweight travel beds. Thanks!
Kate Davies <email>
Bellingham, WA USA 02/21/04

Travelers checks or convert money
Felicia....The most expensive way to convert to a foreign currency is by travelers checks (big fee plus some people lose them) or buying currency here, big fee and some people lose money. Most of the travelers on this site tell us that the ATM card is best. I believe it. Ask your bank what the total fee will be on a foreign withdrawal from your account. Don't use your credit card except for purchases. Money exchanges are easy with ATM cards because you will find a machine on almost every corner in France and in lots of dept stores, airports, RR stations and malls.
BC
Seatle, WA USA 02/21/04

Follow up on credit cards
Frank says debit cards are still the most convenient way to obtain cash. Not so. Know the difference between credit card and ATM card. So many people confuse them. I have used my ATM (not credit) card in over 20 countries with a total of only 1% fee added. The exchange rate is still the lowest available to us commoners. Ask your bank how much the fee will be on foreign withdrawals. Use your CREDIT CARD only for purchases, meals or accommodations — -not money exchanges.
Mildred
San Francisco, CA USA 02/21/04

Dresden Leipzig apartment
Chuck:....do a google.com search for "Dresden apartment." You will find many to choose from with descriptions and some with email addresses you can write to. It may be difficult to obtain one for only a week, but you can ask.
Gail
Charleston , SC USA 02/21/04

Euro exchange
GR....you will find lots of advice in this section about money. The dollar has been steadily losing value for over a year. Otherwise the time of year has no bearing on the value of the euro. Smart travelers use ATM cards to get the best exchange rate. Buying foreign currency here or using travelers checks are the two most costly method of exchanging money.
David C
San Diego, TX USA 02/21/04

TRAIN TRANSPORTATION TO NICE OR TOULOUSE AIRPORT
Tigard, OR.....I don't understand what you mean by "dropped off." Rail schedules are easy to find on alleuroperail.com. Click on schedules and fares.
Carla
Detroit, MI USA 02/21/04

LEAVING CAR OUTSIDE ROME
Tim: When you arrive at Orte, find a hotel or B&B near the station where you can park your car safely. Ask the manager about it and ride the bus or train in to the center. We did that a few years ago and avoided the parking hassel. Almost any suburb will do. Finding accomodations to meet you needs and price is the essential thing.
Baker
Dallas, TX USA 02/21/04

SLEEPING IN VENICE OR MESTRE
Sleeping in Venice is more costly than in Mestre. When you take the train get off at Mestre and walk around the station. Look at the room before you rent. We found a small hotel a block from the station and rode the train into Venice every day. It takes 5 minutes, cost 25c and the trains are frequent.
Able
Denver, CO USA 02/21/04

October weather?
Hello, We are thinking of traveling this October (we would have preferred September but schedule allows for October only) to Italy and Greece. Does anyone know what the weather is like in Santorini in mid-October...and also in Venice/Rome in October? Thanks
Janice <email>
Vancouver, BC Canada 02/21/04

Leaving car outside of Rome
We are renting a car in Italy and want to stay in Rome a couple days. We know Rome will be a nightmare with a car and have thought about leaving it in a parking lot at either, Orte or Orvieto train station. Would the car be safe for a couple days there? Or we could stay in Tivoli and commute in. Does anyone have any experience with either of these scenarios? Which would be better?
Tim <email>
CA USA 02/21/04

US Airways to Europe
Living near Philadelphia, US Airways' international hub, I almost always fly them to Europe. I've only had one flight in 5 years that didn't either arrive on time or within an hour of schedule, and that was due to a repair that delayed us about 3 hours. Seating is reasonably comfortable in coach and very comfortable in business class, but amenities on the international flights have deteriorated considerably over the past 2 years. In coach, expect to pay $5 for both headphones (OK to bring your own) and alcoholic beverages. Food in both classes is now very mediocre. On the plus side, they're quite reasonable with their carry-on policy. If you bring one bag that fits comfortably into an overhead bin, you won't encounter the miniscule weight restrictions certain other airlines impose. A note of caution: US Airways sells several tickets with short connections within Europe (50-60 minutes), and some are difficult to make even if your arriving flight's on time. If connecting, try to book at least 1-1/2 hours between flights.
Frank
Wilmington, DE USA 02/21/04

Venice to Florence Trains
James: Train tickets in Italy are based on mileage, so you won't save any money by buying one ticket instead of two. Also, most trains on the Venice to Florence route are Eurostar, which require reservations at peak times. That means your ticket will be issued for a specific train and you probably won't be able to use it to get from Bologna to Florence on another train. I think your best bet is to buy two tickets. An added bonus is that trains from Milan go through Bologna, so you'll have additional flexibility on your departure time. Rick's recommended travel agents in Venice are very good at helping travelers sort through the options. You'll get much better service than at the train station and ticket prices are the same.
Frank
Wilmington, DE USA 02/21/04

Airports
I'm flying from Portland to Southern France. Has anyone ever flown into the Toulouse or Marseille airport rather than Nice. We will be spending most of our time in the Languedoc/Dordogne areas. Can you rent a car from these two airports? Thanks
Bonnie <email>
Tigard, OR USA 02/21/04

Air Gorilla Website
Has anyone used AirGorilla.com for purchasing airline tickets? It seems to come up the cheapest from the Expedias, Travelocity, Cheapfares, etc., etc. Thanks
Bonnie <email>
Tigard, OR USA 02/21/04

train transportation to Nice or Toulouse airport
My husband and I need to be "dropped" off somewhere in southern France to catch a train to the Nice or Toulouse airport. Any suggestions of the most direct route?
Bonnie Newman <email>
Tigard, OR USA 02/21/04

Euro exchange
Is there a time of year that traditionaly is the best for converting US Dollars to Euro? What other factors drive a better Dollar/Euro exchange?
GR <email>
Portland, OR USA 02/21/04

Paris weather
Staci — Our first trip to Paris was in the month of March and it only rained the day we went to Versailles. We picnicked that day sitting under a window ledge of the palace overlooking the beautiful gardens. You will feel comfortable if you dress as the Parisians do — leave the waterproof jogging suits and athletic shoes at home — take a couple travel umbrellas instead!
Pam <email>
Omaha, NE USA 02/21/04

Eating, dressing in Paris
Staci, While it does rain in Paris, it's not all the time. It's not a constant downpour. I'm planning my fourth trip to Paris in March now and haven't had a problem. I think pretty much all Parisians wear black leather coats. So that's what I bring, in addition to an umbrella. You can either bring a scarf and gloves if you want or buy a scarf there, which is half the fun. I never experienced any heavy rain...just light misty rain. Sometimes it does rain all day...sometimes it stops as suddenly as it stops. Also, it's not always THAT cold out in Paris in March. Sometimes it's quite warm. Othertimes, it's just right. Happy travels!
Brandie <email>
KS USA 02/21/04

Cheap student accomodation Florence
From April till July I am going to be studying in Prato but plan to stay in Florence. Does anyone know of cheap student accomodation?
Joel <email>
Melbourne, Vic Aus 02/21/04

Ferry crossing Italy to Croatia
My wife and I are planning a trip to Eastern Europe later this year and would like some info on Ferry schedules. We plan to spend time in Italy prior to leaving for Dubrovnik, Croatia. I have not been sucessful in finding what ferry lines travel between Italy and Croatia. We would like to leave from either Ancona or preferably Bari. We would be thankful for any infomation or web site you might have. Thank you
Dean Pfaender <email>
North Bend, OR USA 02/20/04

travelor's cheques or convert money
Is it better to use travelor's cheques or to convert your money to euros in France. Or, should I convert my money here.
Felicia <email>
Philadelphia, PA USA 02/20/04

Strikes in Italy
For those who are heading to Italy, you can find out the latest info regarding strikes at: www.seekitaly.com Click on "Travel Alerts" on the Right hand column and then scroll down.
yuen <email>
philadelphia, pa USA 02/20/04

train strikes
We have a trip to Italy planned for May. Everything is set with the exception of two nights somewhere in Tuscany. We will take the train from Rome to the Cinque Terre on a Sun. We have read that the trains strike often and usually on Sun. Has anyone had this unfortunate experience? This would pose quite a problem since we will not be getting a car until we get to Florence — by train fron CT. On a recent trip to France we managed to get the LAST train from Chartres to Paris before the two day strike. It was a little frantic, but we were lucky that time.
Susan <email>
Atl, Ga USA 02/20/04

Florence-Pensione Mia Casa
Does anyone know how to contact the Pensione Mia Casa in Florence? It's on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, is inexpensive, huge and wonderful (stayed there in '83 and '95 and want to again). Thanks!
Mary <email>
Los Angeles, CA USA 02/20/04

Eating in and Dressing for Rain
For our first trip to Europe my husband and I are spending 7 days in Paris in March. Since it will be wet and cold, we would normally wear our waterproof jog-suits with athletic shoes. However, this seems to go against travel tips on "what to wear". Suggestions? Also, being on a budget, the picnic idea is great, but how is that done if it is raining?
Staci <email>
Arlington, TX USA 02/20/04

Sleeping in Venice or Mestre?
College-age daughter and I are looking for a cheap, yet clean and safe place to stay in Venice or Mestre. We are going in mid-April, which is "High Season". Has anyone stayed in Mestre? Is it complicated or costly to make the trip back and forth to Venice. In short, does it really save money once you factor in transportation? Is it safe? We stay at Locanda Casa Quierini two years ago. It was fantastic (clean, convenient, beautiful rooms, friendly people, heartily recommended) but too pricey this time. Thanks!
Jane <email>
TX USA 02/20/04

Day trips from London
Susan — We went to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew and Hampton Court on the same day. We took a train from London to Kew. We walked a couple blocks from the station to the garden entrance. After spending 2-3 hours touring the gardens, including the lovely Victorian greenhouse, we caught a bus outside the train station that took us to Hampton Court. We spent the entire afternoon at H.C. and then walked to the train station -very close to the palace- and returned to London. It was a very pleasant day.
Pam <email>
Omaha, NE USA 02/20/04

Malta to Greece Ferry?
Are there any ferry services between Malta and Greece?
Deborah <email>
Seattle, WA USA 02/20/04

Camping in Italy
Has anyone done much camping in Italy? Are there safe places you can just pull in for the night if you have a "sleepable" vehicle (not an RV) as an alternative to other accomodations?
Brad <email>
Wimberley, TX USA 02/20/04

RailEurope
I forgot to mention the RailEurope website, but see the posting just below the one on Paris to Milan or Venice.
Rex <email>
Decatur, GA USA 02/20/04

Paris to Milan or Venice
Betty, the train trip from Paris to Milan is in the 6-7 hour range and probably twice that long to Venice. You might be able to do an overnight train to Venice, but I am not certain. Is 8 days long enough? Whatever time you have is long enough and you will always wish you had more. You can certainly see and do a lot in 8 days and you can hardly go wrong anywhere in northern Italy (I have not been south of Rome). If you want any suggestions, let me know.
Rex <email>
Decatur, GA USA 02/20/04

Bergamo to Florence
Jean — You can catch a train from Bergamo to Milan and then one from Milan to Florence. The trip should take less than 5 hours, depending on the time between trains, but there are 15-20 per day from Milan to Florence. Cost should be less than $50. Rail Europe has a good website, but will not show these kinds of connections. You have to look for schedules from small cities like Bergamo to the big ones and then between the big ones like Milan and Florence. Their website is: http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/index.htm I find it really helpful in planning trips as we love train travel. Let me know if I can be of any further help.
Rex <email>
Decatur, GA USA 02/20/04

Cell Phone in Europe
I am from Vancouver, BC and will be travelling in Europe this June. For an emergency I would like to have a cell phone, I don't presently own one. What do you suggest? What is the most reasonable way of communicating with people back in Canada. We will be flying to Frankfurt and then travelling by car to Italy, Slovenia and most of our time in Croatia.
Gloria Katnick <email>
Vancouver, canada 02/20/04

London hotel — Kathleen from Paradise
Hi Kathleen, I grew up in Paradise myself! The Cherry Court Hotel is a cheap place you might use temporarily. My daughter and I stayed there this fall. We had a sort of damp basement room, but it was clean. I imagine upstairs rooms are better. 55 GBP/night double with bath and a breakfast basket (juice, fruit, snacks, instant coffee/tea). Owners are friendly and helpful, and the location — 1.5 blocks for Victoria Station — is fantastic. There's a mini-mart in Victoria Station that's good for picking up picnic supplies.
Russ <email>
Galt, CA USA 02/20/04

Dresden-Leipzig
We plan to visit the Dresden-Leipzig area for about 1 week in Dec., '04, visiting the Christmas markets. It is reasonable to think we could find a self-catering flat in either of those two cities, and for such a short period?
Chuck <email>
Mobile, AL USA 02/20/04

Follow-up/Debit & Credit Fees
In responded to the frequently asked questions concerns debit and credit card usage, I recently posted a message indicating that you could expect a min. of two to three percent charge for using either a debt or credit card abroad. Several off-line and one on-line posting suggested I was in error. Now you don't have to believe me. See page 26, of the March issue of National Geographic's Traveler, "Mastercard and Visa convert foreign purchases at a wholesale rate, then add a one percent conversion fee. The individual banks issuing the cards then impose their own foreign transaction fee, often as much as 2 percent." Debit cards are still the most convenient and cheapest way to obtain cash, BUT you must call your bank or card issuer directly to determine the total fees charged !!!!
Frank P. <email>
Centennial, CO USA 02/20/04

London accommodation
I am spending 53 days in London, does anyone know an inexpensive (cheap) place to stay? I am looking for something less than GBP125 a week. Thanks
Kathleen Ryon <email>
Paradise, CA USA 02/20/04

hotels in Venice
We are getting married in Venice on April 6th, 2004 and are looking for a hotel for our honey moon night. We would like to hear some good recomendations that aren't too expensive.
Erin Thrall <email>
Aptos, Ca USA 02/19/04

Turkey tour company
Has anyone used the travel company FLO USA, INC. for a tour of Turkey? They are based in Florida. Thanks!
Martha Ferguson <email>
Mena, AR USA 02/19/04

flying Budapest to Prague
I would appreciate any advice about flying from Budapest to Prague. Any recommended airline? Can you take your carry on size luggage on board?
jeff mackie <email>
hickory, nc USA 02/19/04

trains
I cannot find out train information. Is there a train from Bergamo to Florence? How would I find out about schedules and rates? Thank you
jean francolini <email>
charlottesville, va USA 02/19/04

Travel from Paris to Chamonix
We want to travel from Paris to Chamonix Mt.Blanc. Is there a good route by train? By Air?
Jim Swinehart <email>
Wooster, OH USA 02/19/04

Girls in Italy
Pat, have your daughters learn some phrases like leave me alone or I am calling the police in Italian...last year our family went to Rome, Florence and Venice and our girls spent a great deal of time out and about by themselves. They were 17, 14 and 13 and did just fine. They did get unwanted attention from some of the men but once they made it clear that they were not interested, they did not have any problems. They felt that it was actually safer than where we live in downtown Chicago, even later at night in Roem. We trust them a lot and they did not let us down so we gave them a lot of lattitude with their activities.
Kelly
Chicago, IL USA 02/19/04

day trip out of London
We will be in London for 4 days in May. This is not our first trip and we have covered all the main tourist attractions — though most are certainly worth revisiting. We enjoyed a day trip out to Windsor last trip. It looks like we can do only one trip out in May. The big decision: Cambridge or Hampton Ct Palace?
Susan <email>
Atl, Ga USA 02/19/04

Girls in Italy
Pat — -tell your daughter that to avoid harassment by men in Italy, the two girls should walk arm-in-arm when in public, avoid eye contact with strangers, and not flirt. It's usually not a safety issue, just an annoyance.
Lura
Seattle, WA USA 02/19/04

Downhill biking in Switzerland
I believe Rick did that from Murren (a twenty minute walk from Gimmelwald) down to Lauterbrunnen. You can rent bikes near the cable car station and ride down a path — I believe it's paved the whole way down. Make sure the brakes work before heading out.
Lura <email>
Seattle, WA USA 02/19/04

Train Information
We are flying to Paris and want to take the train to Milan or to Venice and then to Rome. Has anyone done this we are only going to be there for a total of 8 days. Is this enough time. How long is that train ride to Milan or Venice from Paris? thanks..
Betty <email>
Waldwick, nj USA 02/19/04

Greek Islands
Thinking about travelling to the Greek Islands in March/April 2005-is this a good time of year to go? Would it be too cool for swimming and snorkeling that time of year? please reply with any advice. thanks.
texas_ute <email>
Salt Lake City, UT USA 02/19/04

RE: Downhill biking
I typed "biking Switzerland" into this site's search and found the script to that show, which should answer your question: http://www.ricksteves.com/videos/swissscr.htm
Liz K <email>
PA USA 02/19/04

France TGV reservations for passholders
I have been struggling to figure out how to use the "raileurope" reservation system for the last few days, and was just informed by an agent today that TGV reservations are "not available for passholders" for the trip I need, which is 59 days out, (60 days before is the earliest reservations can be made.) Is it likely that some seats will be opened up later? If we'd known about this "policy" we wouldn't have bought a rail pass, we would have bought single tickets, but of course there are no refunds after purchase, I assume.
Debi Bonine-Giles <email>
St. Paul, MN USA 02/19/04

how much money to bring?
My husband, toddler, and I are traveling to Chambery (near Lyon) to stay with some friend for 10 days. I have no idea how much money to bring with us. I am expecting to pay for most meals, but only a couple days lodging (reasonably priced). I would appreciate estimates and ideas about how to bring money — traveler's checks, debit cards, cash or ?? I know that there is a wide range on how people spend money — we're more on the thrifty side. help!
Tiffany <email>
Portland, OR USA 02/19/04

hotel in Nice
Our family will be spending three nights in Nice this summer. There will be four of us the first night but just two the next two nights — my daughter (20) and myself. Does anyone know of a relatively inexpensive hotel thats near Old Nice or the Promenade des Anglais? Thanks!
Bob <email>
Tacoma, Wa USA 02/19/04

place to stay near Heathrow
Does anyone know of a good and reasonably priced place to stay near Heathrow?
cheryl <email>
Springfield, IL USA 02/19/04

Prague
My husband and I are americans living in Belgium and want to visit Prague. We want to be in town center, in a good hotel for ~80 euros. Any recommendations?
Gail Sutcliffe <email>
Frisco, Tx USA 02/19/04

May 1st Trains in France
I need to travel from Strasbourg, France to Paris on May 1st. I know that this is a holiday — should I be concerned about trains not running as usual?
Serah <email>
Palo Alto, CA USA 02/19/04

butane curling irons
Yes, butane curling irons do exsist, but you cannot take the butane canisters on airplanes. Mine were confiscated at O'Hare as a dangerous item. But I was able to buy more at Tesco superstores while in England.
cathz <email>
USA 02/19/04

Flights to Athens
Flights to Athens: We got a flight to Paris stayed a couple of days and then purchased a ticket (yes in Europe there is no such thing as 30 day advance fares — it is the same price anytime) on Olympic airlines and flew (2 adults & 2 children) extremely resonable.
Tina Ivey <email>
Garland, TX USA 02/19/04

ITALY
Pat ~ My youngest daughter and a girlfriend traveled around Europe in 2000 before a field study in Scotland. They spent time in Italy. One night while they were in a club (for young people) she and her friend plus two other American girls they met, were dancing at the club a young Italian boy (early 20's) walked up behind Rachel and put his hand down her skirt. Rachel was scared and her 3 friends shoved the guy away. So please tell your daughter to beware of the guys. They don't give a second thoughts about doing things like that. My daughter was 20 at the time.

Oh USA 02/19/04

Pre-loaded Debit Cards
Has anyone used the American Express TravelCard or similar pre-loaded debit cards in Europe? I like the idea that it's a separate card, not at all linked to my personal bank account. Better fees? Exchange rates? Any thoughts?
Zaida <email>
USA 02/19/04

two 18 yr old females in Italy!
My 18 year old daughter and girlfriend are meeting some GI friends in Italy March of 2004. I need some tips from other parents that I can pass on to my daughter. She is planning to stay two weeks at an apt She will listen to the advice of others but not Mom. Any advice will be passed on!!
Pat <email>
Petaluma, CA USA 02/18/04

Downhill Biking
On a show televised recently Rick Steves was shown taking a short bike trip mostly downhill. Eventually he took a motorized lift of some sort back up the mountain to where he began. I believe that he was in the area around Gimmelwald. does anyone know the details of this trip? Thank you.
N.J.Deano <email>
Phillips Ranch, CA USA 02/18/04

Senior Hostels
Can anyone give us some information about Senior hostels? We are planning to travel in Sept. and would be interested in any advise you might be able to give us.
Verna Sorensen <email>
Syracuse, UT USA 02/18/04

Michelle around in 1.5 months
To Michelle, try not to over extend your trip to the out of the way places like Algeria, Eygpt, Israel, Greece. Leave those places for another time. See your cities in Europe well, enjoy them, running from country to country accomplishes nothing. Europe is not to be rushed. Nor is Egypt or Greece in my opinion.
J. Straw
Ca USA 02/18/04

Mont St Michel Room
Does anyone know a really nice hotel on Mont St Michel? Please advise.
Melissa Proulx <email>
Higganum, CT USA 02/18/04

Travel Route for Scandinavia, Prague, Tallinn, Zurich
Leaving from Vancouver Canada to a conference in Stockholm from May 20 to 23. (Trip start time can be flexible). After the conference, I have 12 days to travel before having to be in Zurich on June 6th. Besides seeing the Scandinavian countries, I also want to go to Prague for about 3 days and Tallinn for 1 day. Can you suggest a travel route? Can I do all this in 12 days or should I leave a week earlier in May and go to Prague first? If so, how should I get to Stockholm? Should I do Tallinn and Helsinki after Prague on my way to Stockholm? Or do you have a better route? Also, how would you recommend I get to Zurich?
Violet <email>
Vancouver, BC Canada 02/18/04

Butane curling irons
Ashton ~ Yes, butane curling irons do exist. You can purchase them at Wal Mart, drugstores, etc.
Robin <email>
Oh USA 02/18/04

Open Air Markets
Have you shopped for Italian fabrics or Italian antiques (like furniture)at any of the open air markets in Rome? Do you have a favorite market for quality and variety of goods? Thank you.
Janet H <email>
Des Moines, IA USA 02/18/04

Italian Fabrics/Wallpaper/Decorative Paper
Please give me ideas of stores/outlets in Rome, Italy for purchasing Italian upholstery fabric (not leather), as well as Italian made wallpaper and decorative writing and wrapping paper — preferably at discounted prices(!). Thank you.
Janet H <email>
Des Moines,, IA USA 02/18/04

airline travel
Has anyone travelled to Europe on U.S. Airways? How was it? On time?
Mary <email>
Knoxville, TN USA 02/18/04

Accomodations in Rome
Has anyone had any experience staying at the Residenza Frattina in Rome? Any comments, good or bad ?
Raul <email>
San Francisco, CA USA 02/18/04

butane curling irons
i was wondering if these still exist?
ashton
washington dc, USA 02/18/04

Flights to Athens
Try this one.....http://www.flights.com/
katy
USA 02/18/04

getting from Amalfi to airport.
Would like to end my Italy trip with the Amalfi. Can one get from there to Fumicino in time for a.m. departure to U.S? Or do we have to return to points north for our last night?
terry baraldi <email>
Lansdowne, PA USA 02/18/04

Flights to Athens
I've searched cheaptickets, priceline, expedia, travelocity but was unable to find flights from DC to Athens for less than $800-900. Does anyone know of another source?
E. Biegel <email>
Washington, DC, USA 02/18/04

Milan hotel
We will be in milan for 2 nights in early April. There are so many hotels, I am overwhelmed. does anyone have a suggestion for an inexpensive but comfortable (nothing fancy) place near the sites?
Emily <email>
boston, MA USA 02/18/04

Looking for Guitars in Madrid
I would like to purchase a classical guitar while in Madrid. I have never been there and don't know where to go. I own two already and am looking for a quality luthier at reasonable prices. Can someone point me to a specific part of town?
Ap <email>
SLC, UT USA 02/17/04

Airline Comfort to Italy
Flying into Venice and leaving from Rome back to LAX. Which airline (coach price) has most comfort for the long flight to Venice and back from Rome? And is going at nighttime arriving the next day a good idea? Thanks.
Monica Frazier <email>
Ventura, Ca USA 02/17/04

Eleanor — I usually need quite a bit of cash to take me through a trip and so would not consider getting all my Euros ahead of time and then having to worry about them. It is MUCH easier to just get money at the local ATM. I do not notice an excessive amount of fees and do not have to worry about carrying all my cash at once.

USA 02/17/04

Drive to Interlaken
Chris, www.viamichelin.com says it will take approx 6.5 hours to drive Paris to Interlaken. Depending on whether you will need a car after you get there, I say drive. We are a family of 4 as well and find it more efficient cost and time wise for 4 to travel by car than by train. We like to take our time getting to our destination by stopping and seeing sights on the way — not always the top sites on guidebook lists, but interesting anyway. There are many small places you will never see traveling only by train.
Karen <email>
Atlanta, GA USA 02/17/04

Room Safes
Should I consider using the room safe, use the hotel's main safe, or just plan on carrying everything around all the time? (sorry but it doesn't look very good when I'm trying to be elegant).
Dana Hatch <email>
San Francisco, CA USA 02/17/04

Take the train from Paris to Interlaken
My son and I did this last summer. We left during the strikes in Paris and caught an early TGV to Geneva, then switched to a train that went directly to Interlaken, if memory serves. We left somewhere around 7:20 am and were napping in our room in Lauterbrunnen (only a short train ride beyond Interlaken) by 3pm or so. Of course, you will be buying 4 tickets, not two, but the trains are so easy, scenic and relaxing that unless I knew I would be stopping along the way, I'd still just take the train.
Linda
GA USA 02/17/04

Train Travel In Italy
If I am going to take a train from Venice to Florence. I would like to stop for a couple of hours in Bologna. Can I just buy a ticket from Venice to Florence and hop off in Bologna and then hop back on ANY train heading to Florence? Or do I need to buy one ticket for Venice to Bologna and another for Bologna to Florence?
James Eckmier <email>
Alameda, CA USA 02/17/04

Venice cruise pier
Judie — that would be Pier 103 at Stazione Marittima, which is quite near the train station and Piazzale Roma. P. Roma is probably the closest vaporetto stop. Or take the Alilaguna "Blue line", which goes directly to Stazione Marittima from San Marco, departing every half hour. Or if you want a hotel near the pier, look for something close to the train station, or the western end of Zattere.
Lura
Seattle, WA USA 02/17/04

Easter in Italy and weather advice
Planning a trip beginning tentatively March 24 for one month. I start in Geneva, take the gondola over the Alps from Chamonix to Italy, hit the Italian Riviera, to Tuscany, Rome,(maybe) Naples, back up to Venice, then to Ljubljana, Zagreb, up to Vienna and then fly out of Prague. Easter falls midway through this — I'm wondering what will be shut down for Easter, and for how many days around Easter Sunday. Also, it it worth it to be in Rome for Good Friday and Easter, or too much of a circus? Anywhere else in Italy with fun but less crowded Easter festivities? Also, weather-wise, would it be better to switch my whole itenerary so I go through Eastern Europe late March/early April, and then hit the Riviera and the Alps in late April when it's presumably warmer?
Fleming <email>
London, UK 02/17/04

Venice to Interlaken
Dana — -you can cut the travel time way down by going this route: Venice to Milan (about 3 hours), Milan to Spiez (another 3 hours if you get a train with no changes), and Spiez to Interlaken (25 minutes). Use the Deutschebahn website to find the schedule choices for each leg. One possibility is to depart Venice at 7:51 and arrive Milan at 10:55. Depart Milan at 11:10 and arrive in Spiez at 3:03 (this requires one train change, probably in Brig). Depart Spiez for Interlaken at 3:07, and arrive at 3:28. That 4-minute change time in Spiez shouldn't be a problem; this is Switzerland. But there are lots of other choices too. Have fun.
Lura
Seattle, WA USA 02/17/04

Train or car from Paris to Interlaken?
My family and I (me, wife and two kids, 16 and 18) are going to London, Paris and Switzerland. We will be traveling from Paris to Interlaken and want to get there in one day. Should we take the train or drive since we need to make a few connections and the train time ranges from 5-11 hours? I sure would appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Chris Ranney <email>
Petaluma, CA USA 02/17/04

Debbie: Doctor in Florence
Debbie: If you only need medication, try a pharmacy first. Pharmacists in Italy have more authority than in the US, and can distribute meds without a doctor prescribing. Go to a pharmacy and tell the pharmacist your symptoms, and she or he may be able to sell you what you need.

USA 02/17/04

Roger: Train Travel in Italy
Roger: Italian trains DO NOT have baggage compartments, and though a few train cars do have shelves at either end for bags, I would not recommend leaving your luggage out of your sight (especially so close to an exit)! There are shelves over the seats for bags. Do yourself a HUGE favor, and do more than "try" to pack light. Read everything you can about packing light and take it seriously! If you have more than one carry-on and one day bag each you are taking too much. I know that might sound extreme to you (it won't 2 days into your trip), but packing along any more than that (especially traveling by train) will make you miserable! If you haven't purchased your bags yet, I would recommend carry-on size bags with in-line skate wheels. We've used them for the last several trips to Italy and will never go back to non-wheeled bags. Have a wonderful trip. Italy is fantastic in the spring!
Angela
USA 02/17/04

Euros
I'll be going to Italy March 10, starting in Rome. I've always gotten my euros at ATM's once in Europe. My friend has always gotten hers at her bank before departure..says she gets better deal. Any experiences/opinions on this?
Eleanor <email>
Sarasota, FL USA 02/17/04

How to get from Venice to Interlaken
What is the best and quickest way to get from Venice to Interlaken?...the best we can find is a 12 hour train ride that goes all the way up through Zurich.
Dana <email>
London, England 02/17/04

RE: Venice Cruise Pier
Judie, You may want to try www.vtp.it — there is a 103 listed under the cruise ship information with a map, etc. Am not certain that this is YOUR 103 but would think the odds are pretty good. Venice is amazing, have a wonderful time!
Elizabeth <email>
Cleveland, OH USA 02/17/04

Rome's Early Christians Tour in March
I'll be in Rome March 10-12 and looking for up to four other pe

Travelers' Helpline Archives: February 2004

Travelers' Helpline Archives:
February 2004