Travelers' Helpline Archives:
January 2005
Each month's postings are removed from the active board and archived here. If you're looking for the answers to a particular question that was posted, be sure to look in subsequent months, also, to see all the answers.
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Best Time to arrive in Europe
I'd think the best time to arrive in Europe (especially a place with more culture shock), would be evening. When I got to Italy for my study abroad trip (my first time overseas), I was so overwhelmed by everything different. Different smells, different language, different sounds, even different-tasting bananas! After all of the sensory overload of less then 3 hours, I just needed to take a shower and sleep, because I couldn't handle all of it. I wanted to go home so badly, I felt so sick and miserable! But after a shower and a nice long snooze, I felt great and was ready to explore. Since I think many travelers feel exhausted after they arrive, I think that arriving in the evening would allow you to look around for a little while, and then go to sleep as it gets dark, which allows you to get onto Europe time a bit better. Long answer, but hopefully helpful =)
Callie <email>
Seattle, WA USA Mon 01/31/2005
renting vehicles
hey. how old do you have to be to rent a car in europe, and do they have automatics. thank you. oh. same with renting scooters. whats the risk etc. any help would be awesome!!
danielle <email>
petaluma, ca USA Mon 01/31/2005
What Time to Arrive in Euriope
What is the best time to arrive in your European destination city, to maximize your travel experience, but minimize jet lag and other inconvenience (hotel check in time)?
Julie <email>
Los Angeles, CA USA Mon 01/31/2005
RE: Dolomites
Linda -- you don't need a car for the Dolomites because there are lots of buses to take you back and forth from Bolzano to the Dolomites for great hiking. However, in our opinion, except for the cute town square, Bolzano was kind of an armpit. Quite a bit of sketchiness. I'd recommend staying somewhere like Castlerotto (sp?), which is a short bus ride from Bolzano, and right where you can hit the trails. The 12-mi hike Rick recommends is fantastic.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Short Tours Between Munich & Salzburg
Help with itinerary for 5 days touring small towns outside of Munich before catching our bike tour in Salzburg. Then need tour ideas between Salzburg and Munich when our bike tour is over. Thank you
DiDi <email>
Tampa, FL USA Mon 01/31/2005
Portugal
My mother, sister and I will spend 2 weeks in Portugal this summer. My mother is not able (or willing) to move about the country every few days, so I thought we would settle in around Lisbon in an apartment or villa and day trip it throughout the country. If my sister and I need, we'll take off for an overnight (like to the Algarve). Any ideas of towns to 'home base' it? And good contacts for places to stay. Not too remote...we want to be in the middle of things.Thanks
Lee <email>
San Francisco, CA USA Mon 01/31/2005
DRIVING AROUND THE COTE D AZUR
DAVID HORNE~~~~I drove that part of France in June and I found that even with the hassle of parking and traffic, having a car was so much more convenient.~~~~ I would do it again. ~~~~Relying on public transportation in Europe always fatigues me.~~~~ One can spend so much time waiting on trolleys, busses and trains that never seem to run on schedule.~~~~ If you can afford auto rental do it.~~~~ Parking in the towns is difficult, but not impossible.~~~~ It seems that one can never find a parking spot near his destination, but parking lots and garages are easily found.~~~~~ You will see the large sign with a blue “P” on it.
A.M.W.
PORTLAND, USA Mon 01/31/2005
Re: Randy/Musical Instrument
If all you have is your carry on size bag and your mandolin, I think that would be plenty light. I don't play an instrument, but I would think someone playing Bluegrass in Europe, even solo on a mandolin, would be a hit. What a way to break down barriers with the locals! If the itinerary you mentioned is part of a group tour, you might ask the organizer their thoughts, but I would suffer a little extra baggage for the opportunity to spread a little true American music.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 01/31/2005
ANTIQUES IN THE UK
Kelly Buchanan.....Antique shops are easy to locate in each of the cities you will visit. Just stop anyone on the street and ask. Or ask at your hotel and they will direct you to one nearby. It won’t help to learn about one here, because finding it is always more difficult than you might think.
MARIANNE S.
TULSA, USA Mon 01/31/2005
Driving around the Cote d'Azur
My wife and I are going to be renting a house in Agay, France for two weeks from late May to early June. It's eight miles from St Raphael on the Cote d'Azur, between Cannes and St. Tropez. We were wondering if anyone has driven in that area during that time of year, and if we need to rent a car for our stay to really enjoy the region, or if the parking and driving hassles negate the benifits? How is the costal transit along this part of the French coast? How is the driving/parking in the cities - Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, etc? Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks, Dave
David Horne <email>
West Linn, OR USA Mon 01/31/2005
NORMANDY AND BRITTANY
Pat Coggins~~~~Based on what I know of these two regions, I would allow 3 days to see the important parts of Brittany and a full day for Normandy. If I were going, I would get a map and compute the mileage you must travel to see the places you plan to visit. Allow an hour of travel time for every 30 miles (50 KM). I do that and usually manage. You may want to leave a day open to change your itinerary. I always find driving much more convenient because you can stop where you desire.
L. A. W.
OMAHA, USA Mon 01/31/2005
Stansted to Gatwick
Denise~~you could take the Stansted Express which goes to Liverpool Station. From Liverpool Station you could (depending on how much luggage you have) take the Circle Line (subway) or a cab to Victoria Station. From Victoria take the Gatwick Express. Here again it depends on how much luggage you have and how much time you have between flights. You really should have several hours between flights to transfer between airports with out alot of stress.
Robin <email>
Oh USA Mon 01/31/2005
Train from Keswick
Anna~~there isn't a direct train to and from the Lake District. You can take a train from London Euston Station, but you have to change 4 or 5 times. You would end in Windermere and then from there you would have to take the bus to Keswick. The same for your return trip to Stratford upon Avon. What I would suggest is while you are in London take a day trip Stratford, it would be a lot easier that way.
Robin <email>
Oh USA Mon 01/31/2005
Samos to Turkey
We will be in Greece, Sept. 05, plan on visiting Samos, and are interested in hearing from anyone who might have daytripped (or overnighted) into Turkey from there, particulary to the ruins at Epheseus. What arrangements were made? was it with a tour? travelling independently? Travel Time? Costs?
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 01/31/2005
taking a musical instrument
I am a semi-pro mandolin player in a working bluegrass band. My wife and I are taking the three week "Best of Europe" trip. I don't like the idea of being without my instrument for three weeks because I need to keep my finger callouses and stay in practice, and I have a gig shortly after I return home. Frankly, I expect that I will be too busy to get in a lot of practice, but even 20 minutes a day could keep me from backsliding. If I bring a mandolin, it would probably be a backpacking model. I have flown with a regular sized mandolin in the states several times, and have never had a problem -- it fits nicely in the overhead compartment, and I put my carry-on bag under the seat. But, with all of the emphasis on packing light, I don't want to bring my mando and look like a fool, either. Any advice????
Randy Lent <email>
Soledad, CA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Re; Susan/Easyjet
We have flown on both Easyjet and Ryanair, like both airlines and appreciate the low fares, but baggage restrictions are one place that people get burned. Go to www.easyjet.com and go over the details, but in a nutshell: 1. You are allowed one hand baggage item slightly smaller (8" by 16" by 21") than a "standard" carry-on...this will be like a daypack, purse, or briefcase.2. You can check baggage up to 20 Kilos (44 Pounds) at no charge. Since you can't carry on your "rick steves" bag or standard carry-on (Too Big), and 40 pounds pretty much is your typical luggage, very little is left for extra stuff. Anything over the 40 pounds, you are charged for, I work out the current rate to be right around $4.00 USD a pound. (6.50 Euro/4 British Pounds per Kilo) Pretty steep. They do weigh all baggage, and strictly enforce their limits, within reason. Easyjet is still a great way to get around, just play by their rules.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Re: Dolomites
We daytripped to Bolzano, so didn't really get a chance to do any hiking, but we did ride the trams or cars suspended by cables into the mountains, from there it looked like you could hike to your hearts content. Bolzano itself is served by a main rail line, and looked like a neat town. I really don't think that a car would be necessary, but just my impression. It is a mix of Italian and what I would consider German culture, almost more German (I know it is properly Swiss, but seems German to me). Plus the museum built around "The Iceman" is interesting.
P
USA Mon 01/31/2005
Dolomites, Italy
I'm thinking about spending 2 nights in Bolzano to see/hike the Dolomites. Is it hard to get around and hike without a car? What is transportation like in this area or should I stick to the cities without a car? thanks for tips!
Linda <email>
Ashland, OR, OR USA Mon 01/31/2005
travel between London Airports
This is my first trip to Europe. I am flying to London Gatwick and going on to Venice via EasyJet. on getting back I am noticing that some flights go back to London Stansted instead of GTW. I fly back to US from GTW Has anyone traveled from Stansted to GTW? What is the best way to do that?
Denise Nobs <email>
Houston, TX USA Mon 01/31/2005
train to Statford Upon Avon
There are 4 of us traveling through UK. We are starting in London then traveling to the Keswick area. We would like to stop in Statford for a night on our way back to London. Our question is: what train would we take from the Keswick area to Statford? Anyone able to help us?
Anna <email>
San Antonio, TX USA Mon 01/31/2005
Paris to Bayeux
Take the RER to gare du nord. Stay in the station, walk to the right metro platform and take the metro to gare st. lazare(the same ticket that got you on the RER is good for the metro as long as you do not go through the exit gates).Catch the train to bayeux at gare st. lazareThe train is an express, cost about 60 euro each (round trip) and reservations are recommended. See www.voyages-sncf.com to get times and make reservations. I believe that tickets can be held at the counter for you.
Jeff <email>
Placerville, CA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Re: Shipping Wine
I agree with the previous poster regarding the uncertainties of handling that may affect the quality of the wine, but aside from that, you need to research the issue for your circumstances in order to make shipping wine feasible. Your resident state (I assume Minnesota) will be the key factor in the ease of shipping. US Customs will assess whatever duties there are, but has no limits as to quantity. Minnesota however, does limit you to two cases or 12 liters, per year. Go to http://www.dps.state.mn.us/alcgamb/alcenf/alcenf.html to sift through the details. Customs will enforce the applicable state laws. I am not sure of the physical process as to port of entry, where you pick up, other details. You do need to ship via private carrier (UPS or Fed Ex or other) the USPS will not deliver or ship alcohol. With proper packing, shipping is an option, whether it is economical, you have to decide. Myself, I lovingly bring back those few bottles of Brunello myself; although I have been known to bring back 4 cases (pre strict baggage limits) between my checked and carry on luggage.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Normandy & Brittany
Can anyone help with guidelines for time required to properly see the sights in Normandy & Brittany? We have been to France before and had a great time and would like to go again, this time to the west. I have no idea how much travel time to plan. We will have 13 days in May and will rent a car outside of Paris. Is this too much and should we include some Paris time again? Merci, Pat
Pat Coggins <email>
Marblehead, MA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Overnight train travel
Dean.... Getting back to your original question about getting a seat or compartment on that night train....According to the website for EuroNight, the company that operates the night train from Rome to Munich, you can get a SparNacht (savings night) fare of 29 EUR pP in a reclining seat or 69 EUR pP in a private, 2 person compartment. At that price I would certainly take the privacy and security of a locked compartment over reclining seats. That is the entire fare from Rome to Munich. The tickets at this price are limited. I can't find a webpage for online ordering, only a phone number in Germany (0049/ 1805/ 14 15 14). I would assume they speak English, but I don't know. If the SparNacht fares are not sold out when you get to Europe, you can get that same price at a ticket counter. If not, the maximum price for the compartment is probably 129 EUR pP. Considering how much you will save on a night in a hotel, the compartment still beats a day train or flying.
Larry <email>
CO USA Mon 01/31/2005
Concerts in Florence and Rome
CLASSICAL CONCERTS IN ITALY:Perhap Shari may be able to glean some information from...http://selectitaly.com/events.php?parent_nav=3
USA Mon 01/31/2005
FORLI AIRPORT ACCOMMODATION
FORLI AIRPORT HOTEL: There appears to be just one at 800 metres distance. See...http://www.laterooms.com/en/F88578.html
USA Mon 01/31/2005
German War Memorials
Christine: There are very few memorials to the soldiers of WW II, and understandably so; helping Hitler carry out his deeds is not considered honorable service by most. There are a number of well-known concentration camps that chronicle the accomplishments of some of Hilter's military force, of course. I have come across German WW II military cemeteries in Luxembourg and Belgium. As for other wars, almost every major city has some sort of war memorial; some are very generic affairs - "to the fallen protectors of our homeland" - that sort of thing.
Russ
USA Mon 01/31/2005
Greek Islands
My wife and I will be travelling to the Greek islands this summer. Can anyone please recommend nice small hotels/B&Bs in Athens, Santorini, Crete, or Mykonos? Any suggestions regarding ferries, restaurants and the like would be very appreciated. If you have any personal advice please e-mail me. Thank you fellow travellers!
Carlos Pacheco <email>
Toronto, CANADA Mon 01/31/2005
Annecy Accomodations
To Patti in Ann Arbor- We stayed in a small town called Veyrier du Lac, just a little southeast of Annecy on the eastern shore of the lake. You'll need a car. In an area of pricey accomodations, we found Auberge du Lac. Above their restaurant, we had a corner room with bath, and comfortable bed too, for 65 euro. The kicker was the lakefront balcony that came with the room! Fond memories of enjoying the afternoon sun and taking catnaps overlooking the lake. And there's a great spot for breakfast pastries right on the main road through Veyrier - always important when traveling in France! Check out their web-site: www.bord-du-lac.com. They have an actual hotel annex uphill from the restaurant, but the "easy on the budget" accomodations are upstairs above the restaurant in the lakefront building. Bon Voyage!
Ken <email>
Naples, FL USA Mon 01/31/2005
Shipping Wine from Italy
To Garry in Minneapolis-Just wanted to give you a little reality check on shipping wine to the U.S. Your wine will have to clear US customs, during which time it will sit in a warehouse that will not be climate-controlled. The entire shipping process is wine's worst enemy (and everyone wonders why "it tastes so much better there than here!"). Your savings will be meager at best. We recently found (right here in the good old US of A) a very drinkable DOCG Chianti for $5/bottle that had "Greve-in-Chianti" right on the label. Good wine, even better memories of our time in Tuscany. And all I had to do was bring it home from the store, open it up, enjoy it, and go back to buy more! I hate to rain on your picnic, but don't spend precious vacation time trying to arrange to ship wine from Italy. Just pack a couple of cherry-picked bottles in your carry-on, and save them for a special occasion.
Ken <email>
Naples, FL USA Mon 01/31/2005
Siena or Florence
Linda~~~I don't think Siena warrants three nights. If I went again it would be as a daytrip. If you decide to stay there be very careful selecting a hotel. Ours was extremely noisy and over priced. Siena was larger & busier than I expected--there are seven portos into the city & you need to know which one will get you near your hotel. We were not informed of this and driving in was very stressful. A really nice town is Assissi. Happy travels!
Nancy
Ga USA Mon 01/31/2005
Breaking up longer trips
Sally -- I would really consider breaking up your trip into several smaller ones. Spend a week in Paris and then move on to whatever country or city you are interested in. It will rejuvenate you as you look forward to your next destination. Certainly there is enough in Paris to occupy you for your whole two weeks, but you can get too settled into the same routine, staying at the same place for the whole time. Stay a week to get to know the city, but leave some thing to visit on your next trip!
Sue
Philadelphia, PA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Antiques in London
Kelly -- depending on when you will be in London, there's lots of choices for antique shopping. Monday is the antiques market at Covent Garden Market. Friday morning is the Bermondsey Market (between Bermondsey St. and Long Lane -- also many antiques shops in this area of Southwark). Saturday mornings is the market in Portobello Road in Notting Hill. Very crowded, but lined with antique shops that are open other days. And then there's Gray's Antiques in Mayfair. I had lots of fun hunting for things you don't see in the states. Enjoy!
Sue
Philadelphia, PA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Siena/Florence
Linda;I think it is fair to say that depends on the rest of your itinerary, and how much you are expecting to do in Florence. If your other stops are Rome and Venice, and you plan only to hit a couple of museums and wander the sights in florence, then pick Siena and daytrip into Florence one day on the bus. You will appreciate the smaller town feel of Siena compared to Rome and Venice, and will need the relax time. If the rest of your Itinerary is pretty relaxed, and you are a big art buff, then stay in Florence and daytrip to Siena. Another option is to arrive in Siena, enjoy two nights, take an early bus to Florence, spend the day and the night before moving on the next day (or reverse depending on your direction of travel.)
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 01/31/2005
French Countryside
A lovely chataux is Vaux le Vicompte. Same architect and landscape designer as Versailles, but a far more enjoyable experience to visit. A couple of hours outside Paris by train (and then a taxi ride from station). And no where near as crowded as Versaille--you can have rooms to youself.
USA Mon 01/31/2005
CAOTINA SWISS CHOCOLATE DRINK MIX -- Where to buy it in the US???
Does anyone know where to buy CAOTINA Swiss Chocolate powdered drink mix in the US? It makes the loveliest cup of hot chocolate. I've been googling and can't find it anywhere. Thanks
legiope <email>
atlanta, ga USA Mon 01/31/2005
Good Day trip out of Paris- French Country side
I am traveling to Paris in mid-February and I will be there for 5 nights and 6 days. I would like to do a day trip and spend the night in the French country side. Where should I go to really get the country side feel, beauty and wine vineyards? And how do I get there?
Matt <email>
Baltimore, MD USA Mon 01/31/2005
Turkey and India
Due to the events in Iraq, would it be safe for 2 women to travel to western Turkey? I want to go for it, but want to assure myself that I will be safe. Has anyone been to Turkey recently? Also, if anyone has been to both Turkey and northern India, which was your favorite? We are still deciding between them. Any feedback would be wonderful!
Callie <email>
Seattle, WA USA Mon 01/31/2005
Antiques in the UK
We will be going on our first trip to the UK in the fall. Primarily England and Scotland. The main places we'll be going are London, Bath, York, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ayr. I'm interested in some great places to antique shop. Anyone got some great ideas? Thanks!!
Kelly Buchanan <email>
Seattle, Wa USA Sun 01/30/2005
Train va Plane
Dean Jackson~~~I would go on the train, and get the least expensive one. By taking the train you are able to travel at night and not losing a time sight seeing during the day.
Oh USA Sun 01/30/2005
FLORENCE OR SIENA
Linda...depends on whether you like the large city (Florence) or the convenience and friendliness of a small town (Siena). I will choose Siena every time.
A . W. E.
ST LOUIS, USA Sun 01/30/2005
OVERNIGHT TRAIN TRAVEL
Larry has a right to his opinion just as Hermann has. Most of what we read here is opinions. Flying always takes less time than the train and if you are concerned with time, flying is better than the train. If he wants opinion, Dean Jackson can make up his own mind .
DOROTHY T.
CO USA Sun 01/30/2005
Overnight train travel
I really hate to see people like Hermann W. make unsupported statements like "avoid the train". He should first examine the facts. In this case, I think he would see that the train is a better option.The train is really far less expensive. A private, 2 person compartment, at worst, is only a little more per person (€129) than real cost (€111) of flying, and that doesn't include what you save on a hotel room. There are also ways (Spar Night) to spend even less on a private room on the train. You can save even more with a couchette or reclining seat.Flying takes 4 1/2 hours, minimum, right out of the prime sightseeing time of day, whereas, with the train, you use time you would have been spent in your room and sleeping anyway.No, analyze your options; you will take the train.
Larry <email>
CO USA Sun 01/30/2005
Linda - Florence or Siena
I love Siena way more than Florence but the transportation out of Florence is far better - train or bus to Siena, S. Gimignano, Cortona, Assisi, Pisa, Lucca, on and on. I would choose Florence for that reason (If you're driving, Siena!)
Linda also <email>
GC, PA USA Sun 01/30/2005
Britain Cider Country
We would like to do a long weekend in "cider country" in Britain. We have limits on the length of our vacations right now. How long would be needed to do "cider country" correctly? We love hard cider and have tried a few from Britain and France, as well as a couple of good brands made here in the US.
Debbie Frazier <email>
Jeffersonville, IN USA Sun 01/30/2005
WINE TOUR DAY TRIPS PARIS
STEWART....do a google.com search for “Wine tasting tours Paris”. And do the same for the other two regions. There is a lot of info on the web if you search for it.
HARVEY McW
jersey city , nj USA Sun 01/30/2005
Florence or Siena??
I'm planning a 10 day first trip to Italy (first trip without kids too) with my husband. I was going to reserve 3 nights in either Florence or Siena. We will go to both no matter where we stay but does anyone have an opinion about which place makes the nicer homebase for 3 nights?
Linda <email>
Ashland, OR USA Sun 01/30/2005
CLASSICAL CONCERTS ROME FLORENCE
Shari....you can find some schedules on the net, but churches don’t normally have a webpage. If you don’t get an answer here, ask when you arrive in Rome and Florence how to find out. There should be a phone number for the cathedrals.
CAROLE S.
LAMAR, CO USA Sun 01/30/2005
Wine Shipping from Italy
Does anyone have any suggestions on shipping wine back from Italy?
Garry <email>
Minneapolis, MN USA Sun 01/30/2005
First time Europe
Sally.....I echo the comments of others....spend a week in Paris! That should be enough to satiate your appetite this first time around, and give you ideas about what to see when you return (because you will return!)Then check out www.easyjet.com for cheap flights to other cities. They fly from CDG-Roissy and Orly to numerous places, and fares are pretty cheap. Nice, Barcelona, and Madrid are just three of the destinations you can try. Just make sure you come back the night before your flight leaves, so you don't miss your connection back to the States! A good, cheap hotel at CDG-Roissy airport outside Paris (likely where you're flying from) is The Ibis Paris Roissy at 66 Euros per night...shuttle to and from the terminals. It's at http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/ibi/0815/fiche_hotel.shtml This company also has a series of budget hotels, Formule 1 that are even cheaper -- but washrooms and showers are down the hall.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, ON Canada Sun 01/30/2005
German Soldier Memorials
Where are the soldier memorials in Germany? I've seen only one in a Munich park of a single German soldier in repose. It's originally from WWI-- then after WWII was converted into a memorial for the soldiers of both wars.
Christina <email>
Bay Area, CA USA Sun 01/30/2005
Chamonix/Annecy Accomodations
My husband and I will be traveling to the Chamonix/Annecy area in May. Could anyone suggest a nice place to stay that will be kind to our budget? Thanks - Patti
Patti <email>
Ann Arbor, MI USA Sun 01/30/2005
Hotel in Naples for 6:00 am Flight
We have a 6:00 am flight out of Naples May 30. We will have been staying in Sorrento for the previous week. Rick has a suggestion of Hotel Guiren and we have heard NOT to stay at Hotel Gineva. Both of which are about 2 blocks from the train station (shuttles to the airport). I doubt Hotel Guiren has a shuttle to the airport. Any suggestions are accepted. Not staying for atmosphere and probably will arrive late afternoon so no sightseeing involved in Naples. Safe, clean and close to airport shuttles. Much appreciation.
Lindy <email>
Farmington, NM USA Sun 01/30/2005
Re: Backpack/Daypack
My husband and I have traveled twice now to Europe with both of us taking our backpacks with zip-on daypack as carry-ons. We are able to zip-up the bulky straps, so usually carry the bags on with the side handle rather than wearing them on our backs. We have taken the daypack on the plane both zipped or carried on as the second carry-on without a problem. We try to be as "discreet" as we can. Good luck.
Susan
Atlanta, GA USA Sun 01/30/2005
Hotel near Forli Airport
Can anyone suggest a hotel near Forli Airport (Italy)? We are looking for something convinent for a late night arrival and an early morning departure.Thanks,John
John <email>
Seattle, WA USA Sun 01/30/2005
OVERNIGHT TRAIN TRAVEL
Dean Jackson...check the discount airlines and avoid the train. There are many lines operating now, but few fly the route you need. You can try Germania airlines at www.gexx.de/gexx. They fly Rome to Munich You will find the one-way fare to be 88 Euros.
HERMANN W.
DETROIT, USA Sun 01/30/2005
Carry on back pack with zip off day pack
Has anyone had experience with the carry on backpacks that have a zip off daypack? Most airlines will take a carry on and one accessory bag. Zipped off, is the day pack accepted as an accessory bag? Any reviews of the different brands or suggestions? Thanks
Mary <email>
WI USA Sun 01/30/2005
overnite train travel
My wife and I will be taking an overnite train from Rome to Munich this spring. Should we go 1st class or get a sleeper compartment ? This trip will take about 11 hours.
Dean Jackson <email>
alton, va USA Sun 01/30/2005
"Staying Put"
About "staying put", everyone has a different travel style that they really need to discover for themselves. We are pretty high energy travelers and find ourselves restless if we stay in one spot more than three days. Now, I don't know about country-hopping that frequently, but we've found that several days in any given region of a country is just about right. Just food for thought for those out there trying to decide their own destination(s)/itinerary(s).
GCP
CO USA Sat 01/29/2005
See more
Paul n Sara... I couldn't agree more. While in college my wife took a "bird's eye" (if this is Tuesday it must me Belgium) tour of Europe. Every day a different city, another town square. She can't remember anything except the bus.See a few places thouroughly. You will spend a lot less time traveling, more time sightseeing, and you will enjoy and remember it better.
Larry <email>
CO USA Sat 01/29/2005
RE: First trip to Europe
Sally -- It's true that there's plenty to see and do in fabulous Paris, but I can see where you might want more variety in your 2 weeks on your first trip. We spent a week in Paris and a week in Provence last summer and had time to do a lot at a relaxed pace. I'd recommend that combo as a good way to experience two very different parts of France while easing in to European travel. It's easy to take the TGV to Avignon, and you can choose a town near there to make your home base for a week. While your original itinerary ideas seem way too much to cram into 2 weeks, Paris and Provence would be easy and give you a variety of urban and countryside experiences. Happy planning!
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Sat 01/29/2005
good advice
we went to rome, but before we left we asked our tour co many questions and we were glad we did and we were glad we wnet with them. they answer all questions. my advice for rome is to look into the eyes of the drivers when you are crossing the street. the tours co is angeltoursrome.combob
bob <email>
rome, london USA Sat 01/29/2005
classical concerts Rome/Florence
Does anyone know how to find scehedules for classical concerts in churches in Rome and Florence? I'll be there in April and May and want to know what is being offered.Thanks!
Shari
San Jose, CA USA Sat 01/29/2005
Re: Milan to Cinque Terre
We took the milk run train from Genoa to the Cinque Terre and enjoyed it a lot. The train was full of locals going about their business. By the way the destination listed for the train from Milan to Genoa is Imperia, not Genoa. (At least in was in 2001).
Phil <email>
Tampa, FL USA Sat 01/29/2005
See More by Staying Put Once There
If this is your first time and you have linited time there, stay put!!! Visit one or maybe two places ( like London or Paris or Rome with nearby sights). If you try to do a lot of travel in a short period, you will need a vacation when you get back home. We had 42 days but we spent 34 in Italy-- and visited only 8 cities there. Pace is very important . A fast pace can ruin your adventure by making you tired and feeling rushed-- and you will miss SO much. Enjoy Europe and do more on your NEXT trip.
Paul n Sara <email>
Newburyport , MA USA Sat 01/29/2005
Thistle Kensington Hotels
Candace- We stayed at the Thistle Kensington Palace (which is across Hyde park from TK Gardens), and it was a perfectly nice hotel. Room was average, the concierge service was good, the location is great (we loved Hyde park), and the restaurant for breakfast was fine. We thouroughly enjoyed our stay there and would do so again.
Pat
Fort Wayne, IN USA Sat 01/29/2005
Ireland with a 20-month-old?
My husband and I are debating whether we should go to Dublin, Ireland, with our son this coming fall (when he would be about 20 months old). Has anyone been to Ireland with a toddler and would you have any suggestions? We had a stroller/backpack combo, but he grew out of it (being over 20 lbs). We would just like some feedback and encouragement (if you have it!). Thanks.
Pat <email>
Fort Wayne, IN USA Sat 01/29/2005
Easy Jet
We will be flying Easy Jet from Edinburgh to Gatwick--our first experience with EJ. How strict are the weight requirements? How much are fees for over weight? We expect to travel as light as possible but we will be visiting the potteries in Stoke on Trent on our drive to Scotland. I know that china can be shipped but it is about $50 at each pottery and I expect to purchase small items that could add up in weight.
Susan <email>
Atl, USA Sat 01/29/2005
Wine Tour Day Trips from Paris?
Can anyone recommend companies/websites for wine tasting day trips from Paris to the Loire and Champagne regions? Thanks.
Stewart <email>
Seattle, WA USA Sat 01/29/2005
Paris to Amsterdam by train
Look at the Thalys website, www.thalys.com. The least expensive RT is €86,70 (about $115). This ticket has to be purchased as a RT, and at that fare the number are limited. You can purchase tickets in advance on the Thalys website, but only for delivery in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or Germany.It doesn't seem worthwhile to spend over $100 and nine hours of travel to get maybe 6 hours of sightseeing in Amsterdam. I would spend the day in Paris and save Amsterdam for another trip.If you can live with the possibility of not going, wait until your first day in Paris and see if tickets are available for one of your days.If you must go and are afraid of the low fares selling out, you can purchase a ticket with a confirmed reservation from one of the stateside ticket agents (RailEurope, for example, charges $130 per RT ticket plus $22 fees per order). For alternative train times, go to www.bahn.de. Under modes of transport, "standard search" will only show Thalys, but if you select "without ICE" you can see other trains. They take about 8 hours each way.
USA Sat 01/29/2005
Paris to Amsterdam, and back, by Train
So the quickest way from Paris to Amsterdam by train is on the Thalys. What is the price for the Thalys, and is it discounted if you buy a roundtrip ticket? How much is a "regular" train from Paris to Ams & how long does it take? The 4:11 it takes for the trip on the Thalys is appealing, because I'd like to do the roundtrip in a day, but the cost might be prohibitive. thanks!
Rebecca
NY, NY USA Sat 01/29/2005
first Europe trip
Sally~~~I totally agree with Imogene--you will find so much to see & do in Paris. Also you can do a day trip to Chartres. The Rodin Gallery is great and also many people miss Napoleon's Tomb and the museum there which is fascinating. The Catacombs are quite interesting too. You will not run out of things to see in 2 wks.
Nancy
Ga USA Sat 01/29/2005
May 1 in Rome
May 1 is Labour day in Italy, but busses, subways and taxis still are in operation, on a Sunday schedule. Most museums and stores are closed, but it's not a problem: just do as the Romans do, take a walk, enjoy the spring sunshine, or (for the brave of heart) check out the rock concert at S. Giovanni in Laterano.
Morgan <email>
Rome, Italy Sat 01/29/2005
FIRST TIME IN EUROPE
First time EuropeSally~~~~When you price the flights to those other places , you will decide to stay close to Paris. I suggest day trips to Versailles and Fountainbleu. Spend the rest of your time in the city ; there is far more there to enjoy than you can see in two weeks.
IMOGENE
EL PASO, USA Fri 01/28/2005
SCENIC SWISS RAIL JOURNEY
Stephanie~~~My wife and I rode the Glacier Express and learned not to pay the premium price for the ride. You can buy a point-to-point ticket on that same route for half the cost. They sell the name GLACIER EXPRESS more than the views. Just ask the clerk at the ticket window for point-to-point tickets.
McDowelle
Chicago, USA Fri 01/28/2005
CHRISTMAS IN ITALY
Fraser....I spent the month of December in S Italy and couldn't ask for better weather. Not much rain and sunny days. You might not be so lucky, but I would bet you will like it. The northern part into the Alps will be cold.
BEVERLY C.
TULSA, USA Fri 01/28/2005
DRIVING IN E EUROPE
Sunny...Driving in E Europe is quite different. For one thing the signs are much harder to read and speed limits are not always posted. Just slow down when you go through villages and towns. I have driven in Poland, Czech Rep., Slovakia and Hungary. They are all about the same...poor roads, no shoulders, lack of signing. Reserve a car for the East. Be sure your rental agency allows you to drive your car in the East because some don’t and others restrict the models they will allow in the East. They can fine you if you violate their regulations.Read your contract before you sign it.
WILLHELM
NYC, USA Fri 01/28/2005
Ireland and Scotland & where in Germany
Going to Ireland and Scotland.... what's the best transportation between the two....first time planning the trip all advice of where to hit Germany and France greatly appreciated..... looking for cheap tickets Unsure where to go
Kirsten <email>
Boston, MA USA Fri 01/28/2005
Paris to Bayeux via Train Question
Paris to Bayeux Train Questions: We are landing in Paris from the USA (Charles D Airport). What train station would we need to goto to take the the train to goto Bayeux? Is it reccommended that we have train passes in advance or could we just walk up and buy them at the station?Any help would really be appreciated. Many thanks.
joseph ciccarone <email>
philadelphia, pa USA Fri 01/28/2005
Hotels in London
My husband and I are planning a trip to London in May. I wondered if anyone has stayed at, or has an opinion regarding, either the Thistle Kensington Gardens Hotel or the Somerset Bayswater Hotel. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Candace <email>
Evergreen, CO USA Fri 01/28/2005
London trip - Chemical Allergies
My husband and I are (hopefully)heading for London in March 2005. This is the first time in 20 years I'll be in Europe because I've developed really difficult allergies to construction chemicals/materials like formaldehyde, paint, glue, synthetic carpets etc. I really need to find a place to stay in central London that has hardwood floors in the bedroom and no repainting, etc. for at least a couple years. Have googled/browsed London hotel/B&B sites for days and days with no luck. Anybody know of such a place in central London? Many thanks
Liz <email>
Seattle, WA USA Fri 01/28/2005
Quiet Hotel
Amanda - We stayed at Hotel Beaugency in the Rue Cler area and had no problem with noise. www.hotel-beaugency.com I always travel with ear plugs, which work great. I prefer the foam cylinder type over the cone-shaped ones. They've worked wonders in blocking out street noise and hallway noise.
Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Fri 01/28/2005
Hotel in Paris
Amanda~~Hotel Leveque is a great place to stay. They are on Rue Cler. A single is 57E ($74.00) a double/twin is 87E ($93.00). Their website is www.hotell-leveque.com
Robin <email>
Oh USA Fri 01/28/2005
quiet hotel?
Hi, I am looking for a hotel in Paris for May of this year and in the reviews of the ones I've been looking at say "paper-thin walls", "can hear everything".
Is there such thing as a hotel in Paris that has some soundproofing that costs under $200/night in an area not too far from the sites? Or am i dreaming? haha
thanks...
Amanda <email>
Philly, USA Fri 01/28/2005
To Eric re: Planning forTrain Travel in Italy
Eric: I believe that you are, as you say, over-thinking this. Do make arrangements for your rental car before your trip, but don’t worry too much about the train travel part. Point to point train tickets in Italy are cheap and can be easily purchased the day of travel. If you would feel more comfortable having seat reservations (not generally necessary), they can be purchased up until a couple hours before departure. I would recommend using the Trenitalia site for planning. It will give you a good idea of your options on any given route. I would also recommend buying your tickets point to point instead of as a pass, and definitely waiting until you are in Italy to get them. Try using the ticket machines at the major train stations. They are easy to use, take credit cards, will give instructions in English, and cut out a lot of time wasted standing in lines.
Angela
USA Fri 01/28/2005
Decimal Point
In continental Europe, a comma is used to separate decimals, but not in the UK. The British do as the Americans. Also note that groups of three digits, which are separateds by commas in the US are separated either by dots or blanks (spaces) depending on the country. In some countries (ie. France, Sweden), it will be 1 123 456,00 - in other (ie. Germany, Denmark), it's 1.123.456,00, but in the UK (and in the US), it's 1,123,456.00
Chrismo1
Denmark Fri 01/28/2005
Registering with the police
I believe, this is taken care of by the hotel. This is why hotels always ask for passports in Italy. I think they hand over the passport informartion to the police.
Chrismo1
Denmark Fri 01/28/2005
Driving in Eastern Europe
Planning a vacation in Europe in May and June for 6-8 weeks with my wife and 2 children. Will be renting/leasing a car.Planning to go from Germany-Austria-
Switzerland-Italy-Eastern Europe and back to Germany.Have driven in France and Germany before. Not sure How it's like to drive into Eastern Europe. Any advice?Thanks
Sunny <email>
Vancouver, AB Canada Thu 01/27/2005
Christmas in Italy
Looking for comments/suggestions/advice about Christmas in Italy. Best weather - I'm Canadian, so warm is relative!
Fraser <email>
Edmonton, Ab Canada Thu 01/27/2005
Italy Rail N Drive / Trenitalia
Confused traveler....please bear with me.
First of all I would like to know if anyone has done the Italy Rail N Drive package before? and if so, what are your thoughts. I'm running the numbers on the trains/rental cars I will be taking and it seems as though I will be over spending by $100-$150 for 1st class accomodations. Is there any great benefit to buying this pass now, or just putting it together on my own. I want the car for Tuscany and Amalfi and I only need the train for about 4 days, which makes the pass perfect, but the costs don't make sense. Is it difficult to buy as you go? Will I need to make train reservations considering I'm traveling in March? What are your thoughts?
Secondly, I'm looking at the Rail Europe site, where I would purchase the Rail N Drive and checking out the train routes. Why do they differ from Trenitalia's routes? That may be a dumb question, but I'm confused on how this train system works. Should I be planning my trip from the Trenitalia site? I think I'm over thinking this, but basically, I need to be schooled on Italy Rail Travel.
Thanks in advance!
Eric <email>
CA USA Thu 01/27/2005
Late trains from Interlaken
Lori---the short answer is "no". According to www.Bahn.de, the last train between Interlaken and Mürren (connecting in Lauterbrunnen) leaves Interlaken at 22:20. There is not another until 6:30 am. Even if you could get to Gimmelwald in the middle of the night, you would not be able to get into your accomodations. You better plan to spend the night in Interlaken---and you'll have to look around for accomodations that will bbe open that late for you. Good luck.
Lura
Seattle, WA USA Thu 01/27/2005
Apartment in Nafplio/Nauplia
I will be spending a week in Nafplio in the Peloponnese with my family. Because we will be a reasonable sized group (8 people), we would love to stay in an apartment, rather than a hotel. Having been to Nafplio before, we know about the various hotels there. Is anyone aware of any apartments in the town of Nafplio?
Laura <email>
Sydney, NSW AUS Thu 01/27/2005
Scenic Swiss Rail Journey
Will be in Switzerland in May & want to do one or two of the scenic Swiss rail journeys, Bernina or Glacier Express. Any opinions or recommendtions.
Stephanie <email>
Al USA Thu 01/27/2005
Arriving in Interlaken after midnight
We are traveling from Cinque Terre area to Interlaken. We are opting for a late train that will not arrive until after midnight. Will we be able to get transportation up to Gimmmelwald?
Lori <email>
Austin, TX USA Thu 01/27/2005
Re: Ryanair
While commas and periods are sometimes interchanged in Europe and on websites, your first impression is correct, it would be 124 Euro for the flight. (If there are two characters after the comma or period its "cents", three would be euros) Fees and taxes should be stated, but normally it would be another 15 Euro or so per ticket. Yes, you can get incredibly cheap fares from Ryanair (and Easyjet and a number of other carriers), the key is being able to take advantage of their specials, flying on off days, flying at odd hours, and booking early. If you were to book much closer to your departure, and pick prime flying times, the ticket price increases substantially. Make sure that you review their rules regarding check in times and baggage limits. They are very strict regarding baggage size and weight, charging steeply for overweight baggage.
Paul <email>
IA USA Thu 01/27/2005
Paris
Sally~~~what about Paris? If you have never been surely Paris is worth 4 days or so--there is much to see!
Janie
USA Thu 01/27/2005
First time Europe
I'm planning a 2 week trip to Europe (my 1st time) in March. I'm flying into Paris. I want to see and do as much as possible and am unsure how to best spend my time. I was thinking of spending the 1st week driving through the Loire, Dordogne, & Arles/Avignon. From there, I want to fly/rail to either Spain or Italy for a few days in search of good weather. Does this seem doable? Or is it too much? Would I be better off (in terms of time) just sticking to France? Am I overlooking anything?
Sally <email>
WA USA Thu 01/27/2005
Registering with the Italian Police
From the official travel website of the U.S. State Dept. (http://travel.state.gov), "Under Italian law, tourists are required to register with a local police station and obtain a "permesso di soggiorno" (permit to stay) within eight working days of their arrival, regardless of the intended length of stay."
I doubt that the law is widely enforced, but it is the law.
I also saw another website imply that if you have your passport stamped at the airport by the immigration police, that meets the requirement. I cannot confirm the authenticity of that site.
Larry <email>
CO USA Thu 01/27/2005
Ryanair fares
I am confused about the airfares quoted on Ryanair's website. They are incredibly cheap; some are 1.99 E, some are 25.99 E, some are free with taxes and fees. I got a quote for 123.99 E for 3 people to fly from Paris to Rome. Is this 1,240.00 E or 124.00 E? I'm confused because I thought in Europe, periods were commas, and commas decimal points. Please advise.
June
USA Thu 01/27/2005
REGISTERING AT POLICE STATION IN ITALY
Kathy ...you do not have to register with the police. Verify with the person you rent your apartment from. I have been to Italy many times and never even thought of registering.
CHARLES W.
TULSA, USA Thu 01/27/2005
Paris - Roubaix- Paris Bike Race
I will attend this year's race. Any suggestions for a great vantage point? I thought that the Roubaix turnaround point might be the best.
Bob <email>
Gettysburg, PA USA Thu 01/27/2005
Where to leave day pack for Scavi visit
I have reservations to visit the Scavi Excavation site under St Peter's Basilica. Among other things on the notice was "It is the responsibility of the visitors to drop off any bulky objects prior to coming to the Excavations Office". Can someone tell me is there a designated spot or do you know of a place near there where I could check a day pack? Or is a day pack acceptable? Thanks.
Mary <email>
WI USA Thu 01/27/2005
Diving in Italy
My family is going to Rome, Florence, and Venice in May and am looking for a good place to dive. We are willing to travel to either coast between the areas if we can find some good dive spots.
Jeri <email>
Mi USA Thu 01/27/2005
I just read in my "Lets Go Italy" book (several years old) that " there is no admission charge to sights and museums for those under 18 or over 60". Does anyone know if this is true or not?
USA Wed 01/26/2005
registering at Police Station in Italy revisited
To the person from Seattle Wash. who had answers (yes I'm still reading for answers :-)) regarding registering at the local police station in Italy once arriving - thanks. As luck will have it, we will be staying in apartments and a villa for our entire stay (13 days) in Italy. So, the proprieter will not be able to register us. Do we then just do it ourselves? Any thoughts there?
Kathy Zerby
New Brighton, MN USA Wed 01/26/2005
Warsaw during Easter Weekend
We're going to Warsaw over Easter weekend this year and I was wondering if anyone has had any Easter experiences in Warsaw or anywhere else in Poland for that matter. I have already come to the conclusion that due to the devout nature of most Poles that most of the city will be shut down during that weekend, but I think it would be awesome to spend the last day of our trip celebrating Mass at a Polish cathedral. If anyone has any thoughts, please share them with me.
CXGBoy <email>
USA Wed 01/26/2005
Nice, France - Beachfront accomodations
Recommendations for beachfront accomodations in Nice in April 2005? $100-$200/night?
Sheila <email>
Newport Beach, CA USA Wed 01/26/2005
Venezia to Cinque Terre
Eric... Bahn.de has some distinct advantages vs. the official Italian Rail site, www.trenitalia.com. You can force it to give you local train schedules, which take longer but cost less. Also, using "via" you can specify the route. However, Trenitalia has fare prices for the trains they do show! Those are important, particularly if you are evaluating point-point tickets vs. a rail pass or just budgeting.
Larry <email>
CO USA Wed 01/26/2005
Wells Cathedral
Susan~~Yes, definitelly go to Wells Cathedral, is fantastic. While in the cathedral make sure you see the mediecal astronomical clock. Another village you might want to consider is Castle Combe the movie Dr. Doolittle, was filmed there. It is a very beautiful village. Other villages in the Cotswold area that are worth seeing,
Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water (while there see the scale model of the village, it's at the Old New Inn),Upper and Lower Slaaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold, Broadway, Chipping Campden. Right outside Woodstock village is Blemhiem Palace birthplace of Winston Churchill, it should be seen. There are so many small beautiful villages in that area that which ever ones you go to I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Have a great trip.
Robin <email>
Oh USA Wed 01/26/2005
Venezia to Cinque Terre
Eric--If you go to Rick's Links, under Deutsche Bahn you can try different city connections....for example, try Venezia S.Lucia to Vernazza. Then compare that with Venezia S. Lucia to Firenze S.M.N. with a 6 minute (or over an hour) connection from Firenze to Vernazza to see which one works best for you. I print out a selection of times and take the print-out with me. (You didn't say if you were leaving from Santa Lucia or Mestre station or which of the Cinque Terre you want to go to....?
Darcy
Lewiston, ID USA Wed 01/26/2005
Alpieagles
Perhaps you could not find them because their name is Alpieagles (note the "S"). Go to www.alpieagles.com/en/contatti.htm. They list a phone number, fax number, and email address.
Strangely, alpieagle.com is a website listing low cost ticket sellers, but Alpieagles is not one of them.
Larry
CO USA Wed 01/26/2005
VENICE TO CINQUE TERRE
Eric~~~~~You wont have to make that decision until you buy your ticket at the RR station. Ask the clerk to print an itinerary for you showing departure times , arrival times, towns where you change trains, train numbers and platforms. Having that document made train travel more comfortable for me. One route is not more scenic than another; a lot will depend on the length of time you have to travel and the clerk will know travel time. Some Italian trains stop at all the towns. The clerk will know all about it and make deciding much easier for you; you don’t have to do it before you go. No need to buy tickets here; they are cheaper in Italy. When you buy them here you always pay a handling fee to someone for the convenience of carrying them with you. If you plan to reserve seats, do it as early as you can after you arrive in Italy.
WHILAMINA
RENO, USA Wed 01/26/2005
Venice to Cinque Terre
I will be traveling from Venice to Cinque Terre. I need some advice on the best route to take. Do I go through Milan then to Genoa, or go through Florence to La Spezia route? Also, if you do have a route in mind, how many stops and train changes were there. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.....Thanks
Eric <email>
Costa Mesa, CA USA Wed 01/26/2005
LUTON OR STANSTED AIRPORTS
Leslie ....you may have a problem finding an discount air line flying from London to Milan and Lake Como. Try, applefares.com, and
easyjet.com, ryanair.com,flybmi.com, basiqair.com, apodo.co.uk, maerskair.com, skyeurope.com.
Applefares lists a flight for 65.98 British Pounds. About $122.
Compared with most fares, this sounds like a bargain to me.
There may be other discount fares. You should take time to search these web pages.
STEPHANO
NYC, USA Wed 01/26/2005
England
We will be getting our car at Gatwick and driving by Stonehenge & Avebury and plan to stay the first night in Wells since we have already been to Bath on a previous trip--on to the Cotswolds after Wells. Is this a good place to visit? The Cathedral there sounds worthwile to see and we would squeeze in a side trip to Glouctenbury & Cheddar. Any thoughts or advice?TIA!
Susan <email>
Atl, USA Wed 01/26/2005
Italian Airline
David~~~Sorry I don't have any website info for you but this sounds reason for concern. You need to resolve this problem quickly. Fortunately you are only responsible for $50 on your CC. Can you find another airline--very alarming that they do not respond to your emails.
Nancy
Ga USA Wed 01/26/2005
alpieagle italian airlines
Does anyone have a www or fax # to reach Alpieagle, a low-cost airline based in Italy? I can't crack the internet for this. I ordered a cheap ticket from them and gave my VISA #. My VISA account was promptly charged but no confirmation/e-ticket has come, this after two months of e-mailing them. I'm scared silly that I'll show up at the Alpieagle counter at Naples and they will have no record of me. Thanks. Dave in Minnesota
david johnson <email>
Minneapolis, MN USA Wed 01/26/2005
Currency trades--Least expensive ??
Has anyone had experience with XETrade for converting money?(https://www.xe.com/fx/ )
They claim to be the least expensive-- "Guaranteed"!).
Chris <email>
Norridgewock, ME USA Wed 01/26/2005
Kathy: Passport Requirements for Italy
Hi Kathy, I hope you are still reading answers. I work in the travel industry and it IS true that travelers must register with local police when visiting Italy. However, this is done for you without you even knowing it when you hand your passport over to the proprietor of your hotel/hostel/b&b, whatever. No need for you to go to the police yourself as long as you're staying at an established property. Hope this helps clear things up.
Seattle, WA USA Wed 01/26/2005
Nice hotel/B&B in Paris
I am looking for a nice hotel or B&B in Paris. Any ideas?Marie
Marie <email>
Houston, TX USA Wed 01/26/2005
Eating out affordably in Iceland
A group of college students are flying to Paris via Iceland and we hear meals in Iceland are very pricey? Any tips on good, affordable food near Reycheivik? (Forgive the spelling!) Corinne
Corinne Zellner <email>
Summerfield, FL USA Wed 01/26/2005
Carry on for Alitalia
Does anyone know if Alitalia is extremely strict on the size of a carry on. I got the dimensions from their website and it is very small. We are planing on backpacking and we did not want to check any luggage. Just wondering. Thanks so much.
Erica <email>
Scranton, PA USA Wed 01/26/2005
Paris temps
The average temperatures in Paris during Jan/Feb are 34 (low) and 44 (high) degrees F. The average number of rain days is 14 for each month. The latitude north is about Chicago's so the weather is similar to or a bit more moderate (Parisiens are not likely to have a 10 inch snow fall, but they will have cloudy and rainy winters) than Chicago's The length of daylight/night hours is similar. On the internet, you can find daily weather and 10-day weather forcasts and a color coded up to date weather map of Europe by going to meteo123.com The site is in French (what else?)but has descriptive graphics to show you that peu nuageux means a little cloudy, and averses means storms, etc. Temps are in degrees C, but there is an easy to use converter. Autres villes will give you other cities in France and/or Europe.
Harvey <email>
Il USA Tue 01/25/2005
Hotels in London
Nancy~~no, it isn't standard practice for the hotel to require a minimum length of stay. I have been in London several times over a Bank Holiday and that never happened to us. I would suggest you try several hotels before deciding where to stay.
Robin <email>
Oh USA Tue 01/25/2005
Amanda on Budgeting
You can arrange for and pre-pay for transportation from London to Paris by train (Eurostar beginning at $90 round trip) or plane (check Graffiti Wall "flying around Europe). Subway (underground) passes can be bought in London for one day or a week. Ditto in Paris. Paris has a popular museum pass for one, three, or five days. This saves money if you visit lots of museums. Check other web-sites for train schedules and rates. Check Rick Steves' books.
Swan
USA Tue 01/25/2005
Wales self-drive packages, sights, and other tips
My friend and I enjoyed a fly/self-drive/B&B Ireland package in fall 2003 and would like to do a similar trip around Wales in April 2005,probably flying into Manchester (though flexible). Sadly, there is no Rick guide specifically for Wales. I would appreciate any suggestionsfor Wales fly/self-drive/B&B packages, and also any favorite sights, B&Bs orother recommendations throughout Wales. Thanks!
Liza <email>
Washington, DC USA Tue 01/25/2005
Bank Holidays
It is a common practice in the hotel industry to require a minimum night stay during periods of high demand (i.e. holidays). This helps hotels maximize revenue by taking in the guests willing to stay more nights. Many times they will also charge guests a fee for early check-outs to discourage guests from booking their 3 night minimum, for example, and checking out after only one night. (I teach hotel revenue management for a living :-) )
Julie
Omaha, NE USA Tue 01/25/2005
martel house, london
has anyone stayed at the martel house b&B in golden green area of london?
marla <email>
south lake tahoe, ca USA Tue 01/25/2005
Italian train travel
Nelson... There is an express shuttle going from Fiumicino to Roma Termini. It costs about €10 pP, takes 35 min and leaves every half hour. The station is just across the road from the terminals. There are also Metro trans into Rome for half that, but they don't go directly; you would have to make connections.
Larry
DO USA Tue 01/25/2005
bank holidays
Does anyone know if it is standard practice in UK to require 3 nights lodging because one day/night is a "bank holiday"? Our first choice of a B&B said 3 days mininum because of this holiday.
Nancy
Ga USA Tue 01/25/2005
ITALIAN TRAIN TRAVEL
Italian Train TravelNedson ~~~My wife and I are 80 and ride the trains in Italy. It your wife can speak some Italian you will have NO Trouble.~~~~ Everyone will be eager to help you find your platform, your car and your seat.~~~~ We have also flown in Italy so I can recommend flying if you can find an airport near your destination.~~~~ You will ride the train or a car the last leg of your trip. If you can afford it booking first class will help you at your age.~~~~ You will have to keep your luggage in the car with you and be sure to watch it carefully.~~~~ You can’t check luggage on the train.Plan to go to sleep as soon as you get on the train to recover from the flight.~~~~ Buy some snack food to eat because you cant afford the food on the train.~~~~ We always buy fruit, bread, cheese and bottled water. ~~~~Some times we share food with other travelers and have fun getting to know them.
RUDOLPHO W.
AUSTIN, TX USA Tue 01/25/2005
Gare Reims
HI!! I am going to France next month. I want to go from Paris to Reims to visit Pommery cave and from there to Strasbourg (in the evening). I want to know if I can leave my luggagge in the Reims Gare.
Nestor Scirocco <email>
Buenos Aires, Argentina Tue 01/25/2005
PARIS TEMPERATURE IN FEB
Simon....Go to www.franceway.com/w3/Travel/paris/generalhints/weather. It will give you the high and low temp for each month of the year.Anderson McGill OK
ANDERSON
McGill, OK USA Tue 01/25/2005
MEDICATIONS NOT IN BOTTLES
Susana ....I have traveled to Europe several times and never been asked about medication. I put it in my train case with cosmetics and carry on. It goes through the x-ray machine without a question. The only security you will SEE will be at your entry port, not in Italy.
MILDRED
DELUTH, USA Tue 01/25/2005
Italian Train Travel
My wife and I are planning a trip to Southern Italy in May to visit the village of her grandparents. We’ll fly into Rome - Fiumicino and currently plan to catch a train to Vibo Valentia and then on to a nearby small village via car. We’re both in our 60’s and have never ridden trains in Europe/Italy. Our questions do involve the trains:
1.Is there a train that goes directly from Fiumicino to the Roma Termini train station? Hints?
2.Ok, now we’re at the train terminal and we have our tickets – suggestions on finding the correct train/track? Travel Agent suggests booking first class and it appears that a Eurostar train leaves Roma Termini for Vibo Valentia/Pizzo. My wife does speak/understands a little Italian.
3.How does one check baggage or maintain security of baggage on the trains? i..e. while eating? It’s a 5 hour trip after the night flight from the US.
4.Is the train the better way or should we consider flying into a nearby airport via Alitalia?
Any other travel tips would be greatly appreciated.Thanks!
Nedson Crawford <email>
Charlotte, NC USA Tue 01/25/2005
info
I am looking for information on a room Camere Elisabetta in Vernazza It. Has anyone stayed there and what are the rooms and view like. She wants a personal check up front. It the place reiable. Thanks, Linda
Linda Nicodemus <email>
Roseville CA, CA USA Tue 01/25/2005
Budgeting
Any ideas on how to try and budget for a trip? My husband and I are spending 5 days in London and 4 days in Paris in May. We have already booked and paid for our airfare, reserved a room in London and trying to get one in Paris. Now I want to try and budget everything else? How are the rest of you handling this?thank you!
Amanda <email>
Philly, USA Tue 01/25/2005
Confused
Looks like you have 4 major days of travel with most in Germany and short stretches in Switzerland. The cheapest Eurail pass are 3 country 5 day, which is overkill. They run $316 pP ($950 total)!
Better to get a 4 day German Rail twin pass ($270 for 2 people) plus one sinlge 4 day German pass for $180 (unless the 3rd person is a youth). From the German/Swiss border to Luzern is about $25 each way per person. Total this way is $600, $200 per person.
As for point-point, a lot depends on the route and if you would be willing to ride regional trains, which take longer. Using a combination of Bavarian and Baden-Württemberg tickets and point-point tickets, the whole trip could be done for as little as $370 for three ($125 each).
Larry <email>
CO USA Tue 01/25/2005
Confused on Car or Rail Travel
Tanya - At this point, you'll have to do some legwork as to which is better, point-to-point tickets or various rail-passes. On the main page for the Rick Steves web site is a link for rail passes. I did see that there is a combo Austria-Switzerland pass that may work for you. For point-to-point tickets for Germany, check www.bahn.de and click on the blue "English" link all the way on the left. Don't know the URLs for the Austrian or Swiss rail systems. Or try the "Train Travelers' Tips" on the Graffiti Wall. Yes, there are quite a bit of options. You'll just have to gather them together and decide what's best for your itinerary.
Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Tue 01/25/2005
Italian residence permit
I too have been to Italy several times, and never heard of a requirement to obtain a residence permit from the police station. However, I did look on the Italian Embassy Website (www.italyemb.org/Visti.htm) and they do state that even for stays of less than 90 days, visitors are required to obtain a residence permit from the local Police station within eight days of arrival. I was not able to find any additional information regarding this, but I assume that the passport information taken when you get a hotal room fulfills this requirement, or that enforcement is non-existent or lax.
Paul <email>
IA USA Tue 01/25/2005
Confused on Car or Rail Travel
Ok, so in purchasing a ticket then... I'm arriving in Frankfurt for one night then traveling to Munich, Salzburg, Luzerne and then back to Frankfurt, which ticket purchase would be my best choice for 3 travelers and for the best price? And thank you so much for the advice thus far!!!
Tanya
Houston, TX USA Tue 01/25/2005
Confused on Car or Rail Travel
Tanya - Yes, it can be a bit intimidating trying to figure the best transportation methods. As a general rule, DON'T drive in the big cities. The street layouts are confusing at best, and parking is a hassle. Street parking is almost impossible. When going between big cities, just take the train. It's easier and much more relaxing. When going to small towns, a car makes more sense. If you do want to keep your car while in a big city, find a parking garage and leave it there. With the excellent public transportation in most big cities, it's foolish to drive in them. Try picking up and dropping off your car at airports. It usually costs a little more, but since airports are usually far outside the big cities, you avoid the big city driving hassles.
Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Tue 01/25/2005
Confused on Car or Rail Travel
This is my first trip to Europe. I will be traveling from Germany to Austria to Switzerland and would like to know if traveling by trail or renting a car would be a better choice for traveling in February? And if doing the rail system is better/safer/cheaper can you purchase a city to city travel ticket, like a bus ride or something.
Tanya
Houston, TX USA Tue 01/25/2005
Santorini Greece hotel reservations
I want to make a reservation at the Katikies Hotel for May 2005 but my travel agent says the hotel is not open until April 1st, not accepting reservations until that time and that I will have to wait until April 1st to try to reserve a room. I have had an internet communication from travel-guide-greece. com and also united-hellas that they can get us a room at that hotel for May. Is that possible? My travel agent says it's not. I am confused as to who to believe. I really would like to book a room at that hotel. Please advise.
Mary Moores <email>
Leominster, MA USA Tue 01/25/2005
Permit to Stay-Italy Passport/Visa
A permit to stay is required if you intend to stay in Italy longer than is allowed with your passport alone, ie if you intend to establish residency or have an extended stay.
bpwright
Fairmont, WV USA Tue 01/25/2005
ROME COOKING CLASS
Bill ...go to google.com and search for “Rome cooking classes”....or "Italian cooking classes."
MARDIANNE
TX USA Mon 01/24/2005
Ella Crag
anyone have any experience with Ella Crag's B&B in the Lake District of Great Britan?
Omar <email>
San Antonio, TX USA Mon 01/24/2005
Taking Rxs to Europe
As a pharmacist and an experienced traveler, on the question of taking meds with you I would suggest this. 1. Take the original bottle (or bag) with label on it. 2. Take quantities that double cover your stay. 3. Take copies with the GENERIC NAME, not the brand name. 4. I have been involved in two instances of customs stopping a traveler with their meds in plastic bags with NO label of any kind. Both doctors by the way. AND BOTH WERE WHEN THEY WERE RETURNING THRU US CUSTOMS. Remember, you have to come home and if you are inspected for any reason if your meds are not labeled you will have some explaining to do.
Charles M. Luther
USA Mon 01/24/2005
Cesky Krumlov
Need a place to stay in Cresky KrumlovEither B&B or Hotel. Also any local guide info would be helpful!!Thanks for your helpGary & Kelly
Gary Morris <email>
Pleasanton, Ca USA Mon 01/24/2005
Permit to stay in Italy
I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous. I've been to Italy 3x in the last 3 years, and NEVER have I heard of that. Perhaps if you had planned to move there they'd require a permit, but not to visit. That website must be very outdated. The EU has free travel within it's countries.
USA Mon 01/24/2005
Glamis Castle
Susan~~yes, there is a car park at Glamis Castle, the cost to tour the castle and grounds are adults 7.00BP, seniors 5.70BP. Hours is 10:00am~6:00pm, March~October. If you plan to tour the castle beware there are many steps and stairs involved.
Oh USA Mon 01/24/2005
Roman cooking class?
I want to take a cooking class in Rome ( just a one day thing). I have found them in Florence, but there doesn;t seem to be any info on Rome classes. Any ideas , leads would be appreciated.Thanks! Bill
Bill <email>
Chicago, IL USA Mon 01/24/2005
Passport requirements in Italy
A website about travel to Italy says that you have to get a Permit to Stay in that country from a police station within 8 days of arrival, no matter the length of stay - no matter what you are doing - travel or otherwise, no matter how long the stay. Anyone heard of this?
Kathy Zerby <email>
New Brighton, MN USA Mon 01/24/2005
Compostela de Santiago, Spain
My sister and I are planning a 10-14 pilgrimage walking tour from Leon to Santiago, Spain. I would like to speak to a few people who have taken this pilgrimage.
Nancy Montalvo <email>
San Diego, CA USA Mon 01/24/2005
Travel time
Someone in NY, NY.... The fastest scheduled train is 4 1/2 hours. There are six of them (Eurostar) per day going directly from Venice to Rome in 4:33. Both bahn.de and trenitalia.com show all of them.
Why do you suggest going to Eurorailways to get schedules? It has only a link to the Bahn website. Go there to start with. Better yet, go directly to trenitalia.com/en. Trenitalia shows not only the schedules, but accurate prices. You can buy a ticket for the Eurostar online from Trenitalia for about $60 pP, INCLUDING reservations and no shipping.
Larry <email>
CO USA Mon 01/24/2005
Re: Prescriptions
My wife takes several medications, and usually mixes or repackages them, with no problem. Take copies of the presription, if possible, or have your pharmacy print out what you take regularly (maybe even on labels). While I would not rely on it, one reason we have had no issues, is that other than x-ray, our bags are rarely searched, and then only for questions on items other than prescriptions.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 01/24/2005
Glamis Castle
We will be in Scotland in late May and plan to visit Glamis Castle. Will drive there from Pitlochry. Every thing I have read mentions taking a bus. Does that mean there is no carpark at Glamis? Would we have to leave the car in Dundee & take the bus? Thanks for any advice!
Susan <email>
Atl, USA Mon 01/24/2005
Affordable Rooms in Barcelona
I just came back from Barcelona and we stayed in the Meson Castilla with a rate of 62 euro per night for a double. Breakfast was add'l at 6 euro per person. The location was great just a few blocks off La Rambla. The hotel is old and rooms a bit small but comfortable and clean. I would stay there again. I got a good rate going to www.barcelonahotels.es.
New York, NY USA Mon 01/24/2005
Travel Time
The fastest scheduled is 5 to 5 1/2 hours. I believe you can take a 6AM out of Venice and arrive into Rome at 11 or 11:30am. You can also take over night trains. Go to www.eurorailways.com and you can get the different schedules.
New York, NY USA Mon 01/24/2005
Accomodations in Bristol
We've had a change of itinerary now that we've arrived in London and are looking for a nice but inexpensive place to stay in Bristol for Tuesday night. Any suggestions?Thanks! Kim
Kim <email>
USA Mon 01/24/2005
Moriah, Egypt Question
In Egypt, try to go to the temple of Seti in Abydos. It takes some effort to get there, but it is a beautifully preserved New Kingdom temple with some of the finest relief carving you'll see. You could go on a (long) day trip from Luxor, or you could stay at the Aluminum hotel in Nag Hammadi to have more time at the temple.
USA Sun 01/23/2005
May 1 holiday in Rome
I'm concerned about whether taxis, subway, buses are likely to be operating normally in Rome on the May 1 workers holiday.Has anyone had experience with this in earlier years?
Shari
San Jose, CA USA Sun 01/23/2005
Medications not in Rx bottles?
Because of the number of medications we need, I would like to put pills in smaller containers and bring along the bottle labels, pasted on a page of paper. We're going to Italy. Has anyone had problems with Rx meds that were not in original bottles?
Susanna
San Francisco, CA USA Sun 01/23/2005
Irish Self-catering
Hi - I am looking for self-catering accomadation in Ireland in the Dingle Peninsula area. Any suggestions? Any Ireland tips you would care to share would also be appreciated! Will be going for my first time in June.
Ruthann Wood <email>
Minneapolis, MN USA Sun 01/23/2005
Paris Temperature in February
I'll be in Paris from mid February till the end of the month. I was wondering what do expect in the weather.
Simon <email>
Calgary, USA Sun 01/23/2005
THE PERFECT TUSCAN TOWN
Jeri...the best place for you to find the towns you describe will be in the five villages of Cinque Terre. Do a google.com search for Cinque Terre and read about that unique area. Pick on of the villages and stay there; hike to the others or ride the train (5 minutes) to the next village. You will find lots of good, fresh seafood and other Italian delicacies.
McWallendar
USA Sun 01/23/2005
BRUGGE
Ashley King~~~~I have read all the descriptions I can find of the Brugge railroad station~~~~ One name for it is Station Centrum (central) and the other name is Main Station~~~~ There is only one.
SANDRA W.
ST LOUIS, USA Sun 01/23/2005
Train fares in Italy
Susan... It is kind of hard for anyone to help you with the information you have given, 5 days of travel but only 3 legs? Learn to help yourself. Go to the website of Italian Rail, www.trenitalia.com/en, and learn to use it. Unfortunately, it is set up to give prices for ordering online right now, and it only does that for 2 month out, so you might have to fake the date as earlier, but the fares should be close if not exact.
Larry <email>
CO USA Sun 01/23/2005
USB Reader
Adhley... I'm not sure if you are referring to a jump drive or memory cards, but it probably doesn't matter. In March I was in Germany with my digital camera and computer. At one cybercafe, they were able to read the .jpg files off my CF card, and I could send my pictures home with my emails. At the next one, they could read files from my USB jump drive. The only thing, jump drives require their own drivers with Win98, but not with XP. I am not sure about 2000.
Larry <email>
CO USA Sun 01/23/2005
Train fares in Italy
Could anyone give me a rough estimate of how much it will cost me for train fare for 5 days travel between Milan to Cinque Terre to Venice and back to Milan? Either in Euros or USD. Just trying to get an idea of cost.Thanks
Susan <email>
PA USA Sun 01/23/2005
Bruges
Does anybody know the name of the main train station in Bruges? I am trying to get directions from there to our hostel but I don't know the name of the station.
Ashley King <email>
Victoria, B Canada Sun 01/23/2005
USB reader/writers
I just bought a Sandisc USB reader/writer to upload my digital pictures onto my computer. It's great, and I highly reccommend it to anyone else with a digital camera, but I was wondering if anybody knows whether or not it is compatible with computer systems in the UK. I leave in 9 days to live in London, and I would like to know if it will work. I know the camera itself is fine- it is PAL compatible, but the woman at the store didn't know if the computer outlet would be the same there as it is here in North America.Thanks!
Ashley King <email>
Victoria, BC Canada Sun 01/23/2005
Austria/Italy in April
Ater many trips to Austria, Bavaria and Italy (Sud Tirol/Alto Adige) in mid October, we were wondering how the weather will differ in late April. Also, any airfare/car rental tips would be greatly appreciated. We are looking to fly from NJ/NY to Munich. Thanks.
Paul <email>
Netcong, NJ USA Sun 01/23/2005
Paris and the Easter Bunny
I will be in Paris for Easter and was wondering if all businesses closed up for the holiday or what. I have a large group I'm traveling with and we're all wondering if any restaurants will be open. Also, are there any special events going on during that time? Thanks!
Oz <email>
USA Sun 01/23/2005
Inverness & Glasgow B&B search.
Any suggestions on where to stay, near Buchanan Bus station, will be appreciated. Visits in late April and early May, 2005. Thanks.
george <email>
Tampa, FL USA Sun 01/23/2005
London weather
London in early March will be, as you say, rainy and cool. Daytime temperatures will probably hover in the 45-55F range. Also, keep in mind that even when it's cool outside, the Tube can be absolutely stifling, especially when it's crowded, which it so often is. So you'll probably want to leave your heavy winter coat at home.
Peter
Amsterdam, NL Sun 01/23/2005
London temps
Hey...I am travelling London for the first week of March (so excited!) and was hoping someone could give me an idea of what kinds of tempatures to expect. I am thinking it'll be rainy and pretty cool, but am unsure at to whether I should take a full-blown winter jacket (like a wool peacoat) or something lighter.
hre <email>
USA Sun 01/23/2005
Thanks - I've added an email account
I listed an itinerary help request last night and thankfully someone suggested that I put my email in here and that I use a yahoo.com type if I was nervous of spam (I was). Rather than list all of my itinerary info again I'm hoping that you'll look below to see the Great Britain trip that we are taking and the help that we need. We are going to be there about 3 weeks. Thanks!!!!
Kelly <email>
Seattle, Wa USA Sat 01/22/2005
Tuscany
Jeri~~~~There are so many wonderful towns in Tuscany. We liked Piensa & Greve. San Gimignano may be a good choice but seemed touristy during the day. We stayed in a villa near Castellina but the town was not especially charming. Also near Florence is Radda which is very nice and relaxing. Have a great trip!
Nancy
Ga USA Sat 01/22/2005
Montalcino, Italy
We are traveling to Italy in March and will be staying in Montalcino for a few nights. Any helpful tips would be appreciated. We are very interested in doing some wine tasting and have rented a car. Thanks
Patty <email>
Boulevard, CA USA Sat 01/22/2005
to Kelly of Seattle
You didn't post an e-mail address. Replies sent privately are normal on this board -- especially when you're looking only for itinerary ideas..... If you're reluctant to post your address, you might be better off browsing the Wall's archives using city names for your search keywords. Good luck.
DC
BC Can Sat 01/22/2005
Looking for the perfect Tuscan town
I'm looking for the best place to catch our breath in Tuscany after a hectic time in London and Rome and before we head to Florence, Venice, and back to London. We are looking for a quiet town that has history, shops with local art work, and good food. Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Jeri <email>
MI USA Sat 01/22/2005
Overnight in the Loire?
We are travelling to Paris in mid-Feb. and want to take an overnight excursion to the Loire Valley. Any recommendations for a unique place to spend one night (manor house, chateax, b&b, etc.). In addition, any recommendations on how to spend almost 2 full days in the Loire (we are planning on renting a car). Thx!
Stewart <email>
Seattle, WA USA Sat 01/22/2005
Joe, Travel in Piedmont
Joe, we love this part of Italy. Untouristy and very friendly.We had a car so don't know about train transportation.We have stayed at agriturismos near Barolo and LaMorra. Both were wonderful.LaMorra's was called Erbaluna. http://www.erbaluna.it/testi/A_erbaluna.htmThe area is full of great restaurants but our favorite was Bel Cite in LaMorra and La Cantinetta in Barolo. The owners of the bed and breakfast made reservations for us and we spent 3 wonderful hours eating. All of the small towns and villages in the area are fun to visit. Here is a web site which might be of help. www.wel.itHave a wonderful time!
pat
pa USA Sat 01/22/2005
GOODWILL THRIFT STORES
Janae Londo~~~~Your only hope for finding thrift stores in all those countries is to ask people you meet there how to find one~~~~ I have always found natives anxious to help me find specific locations in every country~~~~ The important thing is to find one near where you are.
ALEXANDEROWICH
CHICAGO, USA Fri 01/21/2005
STILL NEED HOTEL NEAR AIRPORT
Megan....look at this page:barcelona.airporthotelguide.com/airporthotels. After you pick one, Email them and ask if they have airport shuttle service.
O'REILLY
BOSTON, USA Fri 01/21/2005
Itinerary help to Great Britain - one more thing
I forgot to say that we'll have about 3 weeks or so for the trip.
Kelly
Seattle, Wa USA Fri 01/21/2005
Itinerary help to Great Britain
My partner and I will be going to GB next September. I have a friend that I will want to stay with in Ayr, Scotland for about 3-4 days. We also want to spend about 5 days in London, at least 2-3 ea in Glasgow and Edinburgh. We want to see as much as we can but still not feel absolutely harried. We figure we'll see London on the last part of the trip. We might do a day trip to Bath (spend our first night there?) and hit York also when heading north. We may skip Wales since we can't see it all on this first trip. Got any good ideas? We are going into and leaving from London. We figure we may do a combo train and car. Or perhaps rent a car when going north and then take Ryan Air back to London to finish the trip. Looking for advice. Thanks!
Kelly
Seattle, Wa USA Fri 01/21/2005
Still need -- Hotel near airport in Barcelona
My husband and I will be flying out of Barcelona at the ungodly hour of 6:45. I figure we need to be at the airport around 4 am. We will be travelling from Lleida on sunday. Could anyone recommend an affordable hotel near the airport? I have a hard time spending a lot on a hotel we'll be in for like 5 hours. :)
Megan <email>
WA USA Fri 01/21/2005
travel time
It take 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours depending on the type of train. You can easily find this out for yourself by going to Italian Rail (www.trenitalia.com/en). Input Roma Termini and Venezia. Enter the date and time in European format, then select "send".
Larry
CO USA Fri 01/21/2005
travel time
Any idea how long is the train ride from Venice to Rome?
bbb <email>
los angeles, ca USA Fri 01/21/2005
Rooms in Barcelona, Spain
Can you recommend a moderatly priced room in Barcelona, Spain. We have Rick Steve's book.
Theresa Beyer <email>
Loudon, TN USA Fri 01/21/2005
Tom, On two different occasions we have taken night trains from Paris to Italy. Both times (different hotels) the hotel was more than glad to keep our luggage after we checked out until an hour or two before our train. You could ask at least. We then took a cab from the hotel to the train station as the metro in Paris has tons of stairs. The cab was very reasonable.
USA Fri 01/21/2005
Foreign Equivalents of Goodwill Thrift Stores - Still Needed
Please re-read my post of 01/08/2005 to see which countries I need Goodwill store equivalents for. Haven't had any response and I really need your help - somebody out there knows this stuff !!If the email link won't work (many don't) please respond in this column. Thanks very much !!
Janae Londo <email>
Portland, Or USA Fri 01/21/2005
Normandy day trip
Besides Caen, another nice town to hit near the Normandy beaches (& good if you decide to stay overnight) is Bayeux. You can also see the Bayeux tapestry, which is well worth a visit. We stayed in Rouen, Normandy (also nice) for several months in 2003, and when we went to the beaches Bayeux was our home base. Definitely go to the US Cemetery though, whatever you do. It's SO moving.
Maria <email>
Athens, OH USA Fri 01/21/2005
Grand Hotel Baglioni?
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about Grand Hotel Baglioni in Florence. We are looking for a place to stay for two nights for two adults. Thank you!
karen <email>
delta, bc canada Fri 01/21/2005
Traveling in Piedmont, Italy
We'll be going to Piedmont in October for the grape harvest and Truffle Festival. I have noticed that RS doesn't cover travel in Piedmont. Does anyone have tips on hotels, B&Bs, or agriturismos in Alba or Barolo? What about tips on train/car connections? Thanks for your help.
Joe <email>
Vashon, WA USA Fri 01/21/2005
Lockers in Paris Train Stations
I was just in Paris in November and took an overnight train from Paris to Munich from Paris Est (a few blocks from Paris Nord) and there were lockers. I believe all the train stations have lockers. I know the airports in Paris no longer have lockers.
New York, NY USA Fri 01/21/2005
European Outlet Covers
No, Lowe's, Home Depot, dollar stores et al, only carry outlet covers for US outlets. (Believe me, I've checked them all, in person and online!) Probably I will have to find a place in Paris that has them. We got them at a suburban hypermarket before, but not sure where in the city would have them. Any ideas for stores? Thanks again for your help, guys!
Maria <email>
Athens, OH USA Fri 01/21/2005
shoe store in Paris
Does anyone know where the Mephisto shoe store is in Paris? I was there 2 years ago, but can't remember the location. Great prices on Mephistos!! Thanks, Linda
Linda Crossland <email>
Edmonds, WA USA Fri 01/21/2005
Lockers In Paris Train Stations?
Is it true there are no longer any lockers to store luggage in Paris train stations? In March I will be going to Paris and Rome with my 13 year old daughter. Due to the night train, I will be stuck walking around Paris with our luggage for about 6-7 hours unless I can find a locker, preferably at either Bercy or Gare de Lyon.
Also, has any stayed at the hotel Gerando? If so, how was it?
Tom Calkins <email>
Milwaukee, WI USA Fri 01/21/2005
Hotel Davanzati
We are going to Florence for two days, and wonder if anyone has stayed at the Davanzati Hotel.
karen <email>
Delta, BC USA Fri 01/21/2005
Travel in Italy
Debi - The previous advice about going open jaws is excellent. Another option would be to fly into Milan and take the train to Venice. In 2001, there was a ticket counter in the Malpensa airport where we bought train tickets, making it very convenient. Just a thought... We didn't stay at the Sofitel in Venice, but we did see it from the outside. It is in a nice, quiet section of the city. Considering that hotels in Venice are pricey, that would be a good place to use your reward points.
Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Fri 01/21/2005
Debi: Itlay travel
Debi, if you don't have your airline tickets yet I would suggest getting open jaw tickets and start out in Venice and make your way to Rome.
pat
pa USA Fri 01/21/2005
Travel in Italy
My husband and I will be visiting Italy for two weeks in May (first time in Europe)and are trying to get in a well rounded visit without racing from town to town. So far, the plan is 2 1/2 days in Rome, 2 1/12 days in Venice and 3 days in Florence followed by a week in a villa in southern Tuscany with a few day trips around the area, then back to Rome for our flight home. We actually end up with a spare day and I was thinking about trying to see the Amalfi coast on a day trip while in Rome. Is that possible and what would be the best way to do it? Also, we're trying to use reward points where we can - has anyone ever stayed at either the Metropole or the Sofitel in Venice? Thanks for any advice you can give.
Debi <email>
GA USA Thu 01/20/2005
TRAVEL WITH PASSPORTS QUESTION
Ellen.....you should have plenty of time on your passport. Last I heard from Immigration Service is that they require 5 months. That would mean you would have to leave in July or before.
HOWELL W.
NYC, NY USA Thu 01/20/2005
SALZBURG TO MELK
Jan~~~~when I had that question about dropping a car, I called the rental agency to ask. I don’t know of any other way. Most major agencies have an 800 toll free number. Krem is such a small town that I doubt you can do it. But try. Otherwise wait until you get to Salzburg and call some local agencies.
B ANDERSON
DENVER, USA Thu 01/20/2005
Avigon-TGV or Avignon-Centre lockers?
Does anyone know if the Avignon TGV station or the Avignon Centre station have lockers for leaving baggage?
AJ <email>
Colorado Springs, CO USA Thu 01/20/2005
Station names- Bayern pass
Sorry, that Bayern pass is only 17 EUR for one person. The 24 EUR version is good for up to 5 people.
Larry
CO USA Thu 01/20/2005
Station names
The reason you are getting a lot of options for Garmisch is that the official name for the station is "Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof". Most of those other names are probably bus stops in the town of Garmisch.
You are probably getting something over 30 EUR per person for a ticket price. If you take one of the regional train connections through Munich, you can use a 24 EUR Bayern pass. It is less expensive for one person, and it is actually valid for up to 5 people traveling together for that same price.
Larry <email>
CO USA Thu 01/20/2005
Passports
Ellen, Generally you should have more than 6 months before your passport expires when traveling. I don't believe it is a standard rule, but most countries require it when needing a visa. The best to ensure this is go the countries embassy/consulate's website for visa requirements.
New york, NY USA Thu 01/20/2005
Salzburg to Melk with a car ?
I am trying to rent a car for 2 days to drive from Salzburg to Krem (and see everything inbetween)...does anyone know of a local car rental place in Salzburg that will allow a dropoff in Melk...
Jan <email>
Philadelphia, Pa. USA Thu 01/20/2005
Train station names
I am trying to go from Garmisch, Germany to Salzburg, Austria via train and do not know station names...I thought Salzburg only has 1 station...Garmisch has loads...does anyone know station names so I can pick the right one....thanks
Janet <email>
Philadelphia, Pa USA Thu 01/20/2005
Travel with Passports question
I've heard that since 9/11 if you travel out of the country your passport cannot be closer than 3 or is it 6 months from expiration? Our passports expire Jan 06, our next trip is May 05.I figure we are save, but want to make sure. Does anyone know off hand if there is such a restricition? I could do a websearch, but figured someout here will know right now!
Ellen <email>
USA Thu 01/20/2005
Places to go outside of London
K&S~~I agree with Jamie, the Cotswolds an Bath area would be great. You could take the train from Paddington Station to Moreton-in-Marsh, making that your home base or taking taxi to Bourton-on-the-Water a home base. You could rent a car in Bourton. There are so many beautiful small villages you could visit. Blemheim Palace is fantastic, you could spend several hours there. It's right on the outskirts of Woodstock. If you didn't want a home base you could just drive then find a B&B each night. Finding a B&B each night would be very easy. Castle Combe is a very enchanting village.
Robin <email>
Oh USA Thu 01/20/2005
German Flexipass
German Flexipass....We are thinking about purchasing a German Flexipass at a twin 2nd class rate of $135..p/p. If we would like to add on days at $18.00 p/p can these days be purchased as we travel in Germany, or does this have to be done w/ the initial purchase of the pass?Thanks
Moe <email>
Winfield, Il USA Thu 01/20/2005
London & further afield
K&S in Crossville--if you have a car Bath & Cotswolds would be great--Hidcote Manor Gardens & others, Blenheim Palace, etc. Do not rent car in London but get it at Heathrow. You could see Avebury and/or Stonehenge. If you will not be driving a train goes to Moreton-in-Marsh. It is my understanding you can find local drivers to get you around. It is so beautiful and peaceful there. Enjoy!
Jamie
FL USA Thu 01/20/2005
Normandy Day-Tripping
It is possible to take a morning train to Caen (about 2 hours) and see the WWII museum, then join an organized tour of the Normandy beaches. RS books have addresses for tours. It would be a long day, but do-able on a day-trip from Paris.
USA Thu 01/20/2005
A Good Guide in Salzburg
We have two questions: First we would like to find a local guide in Salzburg.Second. anyone have any info on how to get to Cesky Krumlou. bus or train schedule Thank you
Gary Morris <email>
Pleasanton, Ca USA Wed 01/19/2005
Lodging / Security
Sandy, we've traveled all over Europe in the last few years without any lodging reservations (except for the last night near the hotel once) One thing that minimizes the "wasted" searching time is to stay 3 or 4 nights in one place. Our trip map looks like a bowl of spaghetti, but we only unpack/pack a couple of times a week. It is easier to do with a car, though.We have come to realize that it is always possible to find a place to sleep most anywhere if money is no object. Our splurge lodging has been the more the result of bad luck or bad planning than anything else, but is still a splurge.
For those concerned about security in Naples: We lived in Southern Italy for 9 years and never even heard of an assault. We had the battery stolen from our car once and a purse taken from the car through a window the theives broke. Once in awhile a pick-pocket would try to get something from us, but went everywhere safely and felt safe. A previous poster alluded to the secret. Look like you know what you're doing, be aware of your surroundings, don't do stupid things (like leave valuables in sight in an unattended car) and don't look for something for nothing. It also helps to use teamwork to watch out for each other. Everybody lets down their guard once in awhile.
Ken
Gunnison, Co USA Wed 01/19/2005
London on Easter Sunday
Our first trip to London is approaching and most plans have been made; however, we will be there Easter Sunday. It looks like many sites will be closed - any suggestions?
S. Oloizia <email>
Brookfield, WI USA Wed 01/19/2005
re: Cinque Terre, Opinions
Eric;I have been lucky enough to have stayed in the Cinque Terre 3 times, twice in Vernazza, once in Riomaggiore. Vernazza is certainly the most picturesque of the towns, Monterosso the most commercial, but you can't really go wrong. My expectations for rooms are pretty low (I'm not really in there that much) just a comfy bed and quiet between midnight and 6 AM. Most rooms in the towns are not spectacular. However, I did find that I enjoyed Riomaggiore immensely. We found a room, actually a 2 bedroom apartment with kitchenette through Edi's Rooms (In Rick's Book) and when I go back, would do the same. Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Corniglia tend to be much quieter. Cinque Terre is also becoming one of those places that tends to be overcrowded during the day, but vacates at night, so I still rate it as a good stop.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 01/19/2005
re: Naples security
By all means, do not worry about security through Naples. It is no different than any large american (or for that matter any country) city. I, for one, am tired of hearing, reading, etc. about gypsy's, scams, ripoffs and the likes, when it is fear motivating the contributor rather than logic. I have travelled many places and found that a positive, confident attitude, walking with a purpose, is enough to discourage those that prey on the weak and unwary. Knowledge is certainly power, but do not let it breed fear. On my trip through Naples, for whatever reason, I actually collected a group of travellers (5 besides my wife and I) that were concerned about the connection between the train and the local train to Sorrento. I was polite in helping them, but it was unnecessary. It is worth mentioning, and I think valid, that crime in Europe tends to be non-violent. If you are duped, it is usually through your own greed, pity, or lack of knowledge(maybe naivete), rather than by force. In three trips and 11 weeks in Europe, I have never had a problem. My wife and I walked the streets of Naples, spent time in the station, and talked to people without any problems. My advice; be confident, be outgoing, be aware, but by all means visit Pompeii, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, and even wander the streets of Naples and find a good pizza Margherita. The experience is not to be missed.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 01/19/2005
Rome accomadation
Can anyone recommend a hotel in the Via Firenze section of Rome besides Rick Steves recommendations? I tried Hotel Oceania but their website is not up & running yet.
Stephanie Norris <email>
Trussville, Al USA Wed 01/19/2005
HOLD onto your PASSPORT
Passports:Everywhere we went, a photocopy was sufficient. We each take enough copies for each hotel, with 2 to spare. Having done quite a bit of traveling, we would never ever let the passport out of our sight.
K&S Frantzen <email>
Crossville, TN USA Wed 01/19/2005
suggestions for B&B and activities in London, late May
We are planning a trip to the UK in late May. Thinking of a week in London and then, where? We enjoy more out of the way places, activities and sites. Enjoy gardens, museums, meeting locals. We are looking for several B&B's and some good activities. Thanks!(and if you are traveling to Italy - Patty's Rooms is great in Rome and B&B Novecento in Florence also!
K&S Frantzen <email>
Crossville, TN USA Wed 01/19/2005
Military Resort in Garmisch, Germany
I stayed there in 1984 as a college student - yikes - has it been that long? It was OK for cheap lodging. No charm, no character, but back then I wasn't in it for the room. I still am not and I would stay there again if it was still cheap. Use it for a room and spend your time out and about and it won't matter.
Linda
GA USA Wed 01/19/2005
Paris: Where to Eat and Teen Shopping
Asking people where to eat in Paris is akin to asking them what to see in the Louvre, but I would appreciate top five hits for bistros and bars near the Hotel Normandy in the 1st arrondissement, near the Louvre or around St. Germain. I have 12-year-old bookworm; want to minimize pain and suffering of finding place to eat (she eats anything, we lived in Spain last year). Also, does anyone have suggestions for teen shopping in Paris? Budget is a consideration, but hey, it's Paris. Many thanks in advance.
Jean-Marie <email>
Washington, DC USA Wed 01/19/2005
lodging in Cinque Terre
We stayed at Francomaria in Vernazza and it was fine--comfortable bed & quiet. Found it in RS & checked it out on the web. Conveniently located. cash payment & breakfast was not included but it was not a problem since there are grocers 2 minutes away. we would stay there again. Happy travels!
Nancy
Ga USA Wed 01/19/2005
Sue, Nancy and other - thank you re: black dress!
Travelsmith is the website I was looking for, but I could not remember the name. Thank you!!
Chris
MA USA Wed 01/19/2005
Naples Security
We will be traveling with our 2 kids to Italy this summer. We were planning to spend a few days in Sorrento to see Pompeii, etc. Should I be concerned about train travel through Naples? It sounds like some people have had problems making connections for the local train. Is it even worth headiing south?
Barry L <email>
Salt Lake City, ut USA Wed 01/19/2005
AIRLINE FOR EASTERN EUROPEAN TRIP
Charles Luther.....try the web page www21.germanwings.com/. You will see on that page a map of cities served. Luckily for you five you mentioned are shown. If you do a further search on the net you might find a page listing flyers comments on that airline. Try the section of GrafWall entitled Flying within Europe. You can be sure those German lines won’t have ex-Aeroflot planes. I recently flew Estonian Airlines and they offered all new planes. You might also try Germaniaexpress.com, easyjet.com, and skyeurope.com.
McGill
Dallas, USA Wed 01/19/2005
EUROPEAN OUTLET COVERS
Maria~~~~~If I faced your problem I would go to Loews or Home Depot and ask for them. I can remember seeing them in one of those stores, but not in the electrical dept. They may display them in another dept. If that doesnt work try a dollar store or big lots. The other source may be in a store in the first town you visit in Europe.
Kaoverawlle
nyc, USA Wed 01/19/2005
1. Where to stay in Cinque Terre?Eric.....When we were in CT we rented an apartment ; so I can’t help with B&B. But you can do a google.com search for “ Cinque Terre B&Bs” and you will find many of them. We stayed in Vernazza because it is the smallest and quaintest of the five villages. Be sure you follow the advise of other Graf Wal readers and inspect the facilities before you agree to rent.DeWalt Ambrose CA
DeWalt Ambrose
USA Wed 01/19/2005
INTERNET IN VERNAZZA
Moriah~~~~~~The only place I found internet access in Vernazza was at the major bar on the north side of main street~~~~It is called the Blue Marlin~~~~~ (Go to:www.patootie.com/europe/vern~~~~ And read the fifth paragraph)~~~~~ That was several years ago; You can use the internet access in any hotel, or any other business~~~~you don’t have to be a tenant to do so~~~~ You can ask almost ANYONE on the street where the nearest access is and he will know~~~~ I am amazed at the people who live in Vernazza and how attuned they are to tourists~~~~ Several men on the street used their cell phone to ask for information for me!
A M HOLIDUEZ
TX USA Wed 01/19/2005
Re: Charles- E. European Airline
Charles, a few years back (on a trip to Germany, which included a few days in Prague), I flew CSA Czech Airlines and thought it was fine. I had purchased my ticket with Delta frequent flier miles, but actually flew Czech as they have an alliance with Delta. I did not think that the service was on par with, say, Luftha