Rick Steves' Europe: Travelers' Helpline Archives

Travelers' Helpline Archives:
April 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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Credit card Currency Conversion Fees
We are looking for a credit card with lower currency conversion rate -- our REI card has a 3% rate. Any suggestions?Thanks
David
MN USA Sat 04/30/2005

STUDENT ID CARDS
Dave : look at this page for information on buying student travel cards:http://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm
RANDY
OK USA Sat 04/30/2005

SANDALS IN MAY
Wear what you want to wear. Be comfortable. You will find many travelers in cut off jeans and grubby clothes. I always dress as close as I can to what the natives wear, but always for comfort first. You will see a lot of people wearing sandals.
SHIRLEY M.
TX USA Sat 04/30/2005

Sandals in May
We usually travel to Italy in May, I've always taken my Chaco sandals with me, and wear them everyday. We are heading over there again in two weeks...I'm taking my sandals. No reason you can't wear them. The women in Italy get very dressed up, but guess what, they are working, we are on vacaton. I'm sure when they go on holiday, they wear different clothing and footwear than they wear everyday. Are you on vacation? Do you feel like wearing work day clothes and being uncomfortable? Take stuff you want to wear and don't worry about fititng in. You will, and you won't! Who cares? ItsYOUR vacation, don't stress over "correct" clothing, footwear, daypacks, etc. Go have fun, explore and learn something!
EB <email>
CO USA Sat 04/30/2005

Sandals in May in Italy
See comments in "Tips for Traveling Light" This discussion is going on there right now.No reason you CAN"T wear sandals in Italy in May. Do they make you feel comfortable? Then wear them!

USA Sat 04/30/2005

Sandals in May?
I am leaving in two weeks for Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) and will be there till the end of the month. Someone just recently told me that no one wears sandals there until June. I was planning on bringing only sandals to go with knee length skirts and cropped pants. Anyone ever heard this before? Is that just a guideline or would I be out of place? What other kinds of shoes could one wear with those clothes?

USA Sat 04/30/2005

Student ID Cards
I am traveling to Germany in June with my 16 and 14 year old sons. One is home schooled and one is in a private school. Does anyone know how we can get student ID cards for them?
Dave <email>
Richmond, VA USA Sat 04/30/2005

Burgundy wine tasting
We'll be in Beaune in Sept. and would like to visit Georges DuBoeuf's winery Hameau du Vin. We'll have a rail pass and would rather not drive. Any suggests for cost effective and non-drama travel?

USA Sat 04/30/2005

Rental Cars
Yes, you can get an automatic in Europe. I get one every trip I take.

Ohio USA Sat 04/30/2005

CINQUE TERRE WEATHER
Gina ~~~ July in CT will be normally hot. But it might be pleasant because the weather is unpredictable. We had an apartment with a cool breeze from the Mediterranean. Most of the apartments I looked at had A/C. If you don’t have it ask for a portable electric fan.
LAMAR T Q
SANTA FE, USA Sat 04/30/2005

CLOTHING WEATHER
The weather in Dublin and Amsterdam will be mild in May and June. Be prepared for occasional brief periods of rain. Rome will normally be warm, but not hot yet.

HOUSTON, USA Sat 04/30/2005

CAR RENTALS
Obtain the toll free phone number for the auto rental agencies you consider and call them to ask if you can reserve a car with automatic trans. Some rent them, but my experience is that they will not guarantee one because of the limited number of automatics they own. I have always obtained one. The airport you arrive at won’t affect the availability of cars. It is all luck.
Whalmdar
NYC, USA Sat 04/30/2005

Cinque Terre weather
I'm going to Italy in July. I will be in Cinque Terre and have a reservation at a place that does not have AC. I've been to Italy several times but never there. How hot does it get? We want to save money but we don't want to be miserably hot either. Help!!
Gina <email>
Pittsburgh, PA USA Sat 04/30/2005

Cres-Croatia
I am searching my roots and going to Cres...any hints for me???
Martha <email>
saugerties, ny USA Sat 04/30/2005

Clothing/weather
Any tips for what to kind of clothing to bring for Dublin, Amsterdam, and Rome in late may/early june? what will the weather be like
A
Phoenix, AZ USA Sat 04/30/2005

Car Rentals
Are there any rental cars in Europe that is not a maunal? I can only drive a automatic? And the airport I will be arrving from is not listed on a lot of websites.

USA Sat 04/30/2005

Positano
How is the weather in Positano in January ?
Alan Greenhalgh <email>
Woodstock, NY USA Sat 04/30/2005

Slave to Fashion: regarding backpack
My sister-in-law and I both have back/neck problems due to whiplash injuries. She bought a "healthy back" bag and I did too. We just use them as day packs. They are more accessible than backpacks. It feels better than my shoulder bag and I can stuff my purchases, as well as maps, guidebook, camera etc. in them. The zippers are next to your body. You can order them through LL Bean or Travelsmith.
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Sat 04/30/2005

Spain
I am seeking advice regarding travel to Spain. Choosing day excursion from Madrid, should I do Segovia with El Escorial and Valley of Fallen, or should I do Avila with El Escorial and Valley of Fallen. I've done Segovia, not any of the other listed sites. I would welcome advice. Thank you
Bill <email>
Danbury, CT USA Sat 04/30/2005

Marseille-Venice Trains
You can find day trains to Venice, via Nice, and you can book your tickets via the French railway website, if you would like. You'll have to do it in two stages....Marseille-Nice, and Nice-Venice. There are several trains a day from Marseilles to Nice, so getting one to link up with a Nice-Venice journey shouldn't be too tough.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sat 04/30/2005

Marseille-Venice Trains
Kirsty--if you go on www.bahn.de (english is down just a bit on the left) you can find day trains too. (Marseille St Charles and Venezia S.Lucia are probably the stations you want.)
Darcy
Lewiston, ID USA Sat 04/30/2005

Re: Eurail passes and Ferries
I have not used one for ferries, have travelled that ferry though, and did use the pass for the KD boats on the Rhine. When I did look into it, the pass will only get you the lowest fare option, a deck chair. For a supplement you can upgrade, only the hardiest traveller sticks with the deck chair. They do not overtly advertise the use of a rail pass, and it may take a little persistance to use it as passage, or to get a discounted ticket. I do believe that you need to present yourself to the ticket office and get a "reservation" or ticket ahead of time, not just walk onto the boat. The information that comes with the railpass has more details.
Paul <email>
IA USA Sat 04/30/2005

STOCKHOLM SIGHTSEEING CARDS
JOE RIVERS...When I was in Stockholm I went to the Tourist Information Office and shopped for the tours they offer. That way I had a choice and I could ask questions. You may want to know the length of time for each tour and also the sights covered. No need to book in advance.
CHANTLUR
DALLAS, USA Sat 04/30/2005

BARGAINING IN ITALY
Rebecca~~~do a google.com search for “Bargaining Europe” or “Negotiating Europe”. I remember reading about methods of doing that; there were a lot of good suggestions that I had not thought of. I don’t remember the address. You might also try “Flea Markets”.
ELIZABETE M.
DALLAS, USA Sat 04/30/2005

Marseille-Venice
Kirsty....Marseille to Venice is an overnight run, via Nice. Check out the French railway site at http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage?_TMS=1106420948126&_DLG=SvHomePage&_LANG=UK&_AGENCY=VSC, or the Italian train website at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index2.html. It's english-language site for international trains is STILL not working properly, but you can look on the Italian version. Use Nice as your point of origin on the Italian rail website, since it won't recongize Marseille, since Marseille-Nice is a local French run.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sat 04/30/2005

Salisbury/Stonehenge
Amy....the railway station in Salisbury doesn't have storage lockers. But they do at the bus station, which is about a 10-minute walk away on Endless Street. You can catch one of several local buses from there to tour the area. Check out http://www.visitsalisbury.com/html/tourbase.asp or http://www.wdbus.co.uk/
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sat 04/30/2005

NOVEMBER EVENTS LONDON
AGAIN FOR LAURIE: I can confirm that the Lord Mayor's Show is on 12th. November and the Remembrance Parade on 13th. November. Details from...http://www.londonpass.com/calendar_events.asp
Graham
Wales Sat 04/30/2005

Mary re Eurostar
I put eurostar into a Google search, which came up with several choices. Two are listed as "official U.S. sites" but one is for Eurail. Click the other option. Under item 8 you will find luggage allowances. There also may be other information you can use.
Harvey
IL USA Sat 04/30/2005

Eurail pass + Ferries
Rick, as well as other guide books, are very breif on the fact that your eurail pass will cover international ferry costs. Specifically, I am wanting to make sure that my eurailpass will cover the Superfast ferry route from Bari, Italy -Corfu, Greece. Has anyone ever done this before? I am wondering what exactly it will cover because the prices vary so much from 60 euro for a deck seat, up into the 200s for your own cabin. And it says nothing about this on the greekferries website or the superfast website. If anyone has any experience with this, or any input please let me knowThanks!
Mary <email>
Bellingham, WA USA Fri 04/29/2005

Marseille-Venice
HiCan anyone point me in the direction of info about trains from Marseille to Venice? I have done a few searches and come up with nothing. ThanksKirsty in Sydney
Kirsty Pitot <email>
Sydney, NSW Australia Fri 04/29/2005

E-mail Address
Go to the top of page. Toward the middle on the far right is "E-mail uor Travel Advisors for expert advice."

USA Fri 04/29/2005

train travel
We are traveling by train from Venice to Lugano, Switzerland. From Venice to Milan we are traveling on Eurostar first class. How much space is there for luggage? What size of luggage is considered carry-on?Also we have 15 minutes at Milan to make a connection to Intercity train to Lugano. We will have already have tickets purchased. Is it feasible to find the platform and make the connection in this amount of time? We are first time travelers to Europe.Thanks for your help.
Mary Ann Oldham <email>
Minneapolis, MN USA Fri 04/29/2005

Slow walker in Rome-Florence
Lynette, I don't mean to discourage you but you will not be able to get far in either Rome or Florence in just 30 minutes. I think the suggestion about getting a special guide is good. Also, you can get taxi drivers to take you to a lot of different places. It might be costly, but I don't see how you will see much of either city, if you can only walk for 30 minutes. But if a taxi driver took you someplace and then you walked around for 30 minutes and he took you someplace else, this might work. I hope you are able to work something out.

USA Fri 04/29/2005

International Phone Card
I will be going to Ireland in June, just curious, where can I get an international phone card to call home? Do they make such a thing you can buy at a store? I have looked online, but most of those seem like a scam, can anyone give me some advice about what you've done in the past? Thanks!
Sarah <email>
Edwardsville, IL USA Fri 04/29/2005

Can you fly from Florence to Paris?
I should have been clearer...yes, you CAN fly from Florence, or Pisa direct to Paris on Air France or Alitalia, but only at exhorbitant cost. The cheapest flight I found was 340 Euros one way. Alitalia has some deals, around 70 Euro, to Paris....but only from Rome or Milan. You could always backtrack to Rome, but your only inexpensive option seems to be Ryanair....see below.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Fri 04/29/2005

Kay Trip to France in Sept
Practice packing what you will bring in your daypack/school bag you have, if it all fits - you are fine. if you can't afford to spend any money on another bag...borrow one. Someone you know MUST certainly have bags they can lend you for a week! As far as the swimsuit goes. Unless you are going to be on the beaches, don't bother. If your travel plans take you to the Riveria, then take it. As per Norm, I'm usually too busy to use the suit. Swimming pools in Europe are not heated...they are COLD! I'm sure it's not that hot in France in September!

USA Fri 04/29/2005

Florence to Paris
Both Alitalia and Air France offer non-stop flights from Pisa to CDG airport. I believe there are direct trains from Florence to Pisa airport, which is much closer than Milan. While fares are probably higher than Easyjet, Pisa might save you a lot of time.
Frank
Wilmington, DE USA Fri 04/29/2005

backpack
hmmm why is not using a backpack suggested...I mean as long as you watch it carefully...you could even lock it up with little locks if you chose...we are bring bakpacks mostly as a day pack but one wiht the camera in it....is it suggested to use something else?

USA Fri 04/29/2005

sleeping in airports?
Check out http://www.sleepinginairports.net/airports.htm for some reviews. Caveat Emptor!
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Fri 04/29/2005

Can you fly from Florence to Paris?
No you can't. But the previous poster's idea is good....we've taken the same run up by train to Milan, and flown from there. But, if you can, use easyjet. They fly out of Linate airport, close to downtown, while Ryanair flies from nearby Bergamo, which is about an hour by bus from the main Milan railway station. Easyjet lands at Paris-Orly, which is closer than Ryanair's touchdown in Beavais, which is about 75 minutes from Paris by bus.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Fri 04/29/2005

Airport Parking
Has anyone used the Bart Parking at San Francisco Int. Airport? Pro\Con
Joanne <email>
Los Banos, ca USA Fri 04/29/2005

sleeping in airports?
We have 2 early morning flights, one out of Rome (FCO), the other out of Dublin. How feasible is it to spend the night in either of these airports, just sort of camping out in the terminal? Any hassles?
Jenny <email>
Seattle, WA USA Fri 04/29/2005

Women in Morocco
My two daughters, age 25 and 22, want to travel to Morocco this May. Is it safe for them to go alone?Peggy
Peggy <email>
Riverton, WY USA Fri 04/29/2005

Trip to France
Sounds fine....as long as it doesn't get any bigger than the carry-on dimensions, you should be able to take it on the plane with you, avoiding any checked luggage hassles. The only thing I might suggest is a small nylon daypack that you can stuff, empty, into the knapsack. Use this to carry lunch, guidebook, water bottle, etc, when you're going out touring for the day. I took swimwear once or twice....but have always been too busy to use it. Unless you're planning to hit the beaches during the warm summer months, and like swimming....leave it at home. I know swimsuits aren't big, but when you travel light, every gram of weight and centimeter of space helps.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Fri 04/29/2005

Trip to France
I dont have a Daybag but I do have a backpack from college will this work because I dont want to spend 30 or 40 dollars on a bag I will only use once or twice. And should I bring swimwear just in case? Is there anything else that I am forgetting to ask about? Thank you very much for everyones help!!
Kay
OK USA Fri 04/29/2005

Munich-Venice train - how far to book in advance?
Most services will let you book 60 to 90 days in advance. Some services, like Eurostar between London, Paris, and Brussels, are 120 days in advance, I believe.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Fri 04/29/2005

Slave to Fashion - Kate Spade Daypack
I think your daypack would be fine. It's not a huge nylon "American" book bag, but rather a purse that you carry on your back. I would be careful of pickpockets though...you can't really see what is happening on your back...however, I understand your need to carry your items on both shoulders, it is more comfortable. Personally, I think it should be fine, it sounds like the only alternative for you. A "fanny" pack would look terrible, but be comfortable. Take the Kate and enjoy your trip!
Joanne
IL USA Fri 04/29/2005

Kay Trip to France in Sept
Don't over think this. Whatever you feel comfortable wearing where you live now is fine in France. if you wear capri pants, that is great. Shorts are generally not acceptable. Shirts with sleeves are important (short sleeve is fine) if you want to go into churches. Don't need sandals if you dont' wear them, but nice to have 2 pairs of shoes should one pair get uncomfortable. Important thing is, you wont' need a lot of clothing for only one week. Previous post for suggested packing list is fine. Still should bring a light jacket (for rain, packable kind) or a sweater for night time activities. You could bring a comfortable skirt to wear instead of one pair of capri pants. Nice for going out at night, and comfortable in warm weather too. the less you bring with you, the more shopping you can do - more space to bring stuff home, and you could even shop for clothing if you like to do that sort of thing. Keep your clothing list short and you will have more fun. NO need to haul a rolling bag all over the place, something that has some shoulder straps will make getting around much easier for you. Hopping on and off the subway, getting around in a taxi, or just hoofing it.
Sueby
CA USA Fri 04/29/2005

Munich-Venice train - how far to book in advance?
Phil, so glad you got everything worked out. We need to book the overnight Munich-Venice train ride for September. Everyone keeps talking about booking in advance, but the website doesn't pull up dates in Sept. How far in advance can we book the train ride? Thanks for any help you can give!
Leanne <email>
Nashville, TN USA Fri 04/29/2005

cell phone
IF you want to double check, here's what you want to know....that it's a GSM phone that operates on the 900 and/or 1800 Megaherz band (which is what the rest of the world uses) as well as the 1900 Mhz band, which is the one used in North America....a so-called tri-mode or tri-band phone. Confirm that it has a SIM card (all these types of phones do). And ask what European providers they have roaming agreements with. If all is affirmative, you should be able to gain access when you switch on. But ask for their overseas roaming rates...you'll probably find they're astronomical. If the phone's for emergencies only, you can tough it out. Ask if it's locked to their service (it probably is). There are way to unlock the phone, so you can use it with any company's SIM card, allowing you to purchase a SIM card overseas and pay cheaper rates. E-mail me with the phone model and provider, and I can probably give you a better idea.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Fri 04/29/2005

Vienna/Krakow/Prague Train-Hotel Questions
Planning a trip (November) with 3 nights in Vienna, train to Krakow (3 nights in Krakow), train to Prague (4 nights in Prague). This will involve two train trips (Vienna-Krakow and Krakow-Prague). Best to buy point-to-point or Eastern Europe Railpass which appears to be good in Austria, Slovokia, Poland, and Czech Republic. Any hints on great little budget hotels in Krakow in Old Town? Hints on visiting Auschwitz? Are Eastern Europe Rail passes good on all train equipment? Thank you so much!
A Tharp <email>
Portland, OR USA Fri 04/29/2005

What is the email address here to send questions?

USA Fri 04/29/2005

Trip to France in September
Its me again I forgot to say that the trip was in September and I was told it gets really hot. I'm the type of person who doesn't like to wear shorts and sandals, so what do I do? I do however wear capris. I need all the Help I can get in order to plan my trip accordingly.
Kay <email>
OK USA Fri 04/29/2005

cell phone
Norm - thanks for your response. It is a long story why I am doing this, I usually just buy a phone card when I am there. Does your response mean that you think I can use my phone, as is, as soon as I get there? That is what my cell phone provider is telling me, but a friend told me he had to have something done to his phone, while in Europe, to get it to work. Maybe it was that card you mentioned. I guess you can tell from my posts that I am know very little about cell phones.

USA Fri 04/29/2005

Salisbury/Stonehenge
Part of my trip to the UK this June involves traveling from Bristol to London by train, and I'd like to take a side trip to Stonehenge on the way. I'd have a carry-on-sized rolling suitcase with me. Can I reasonably expect to find a storage locker for it at the Salisbury rail station? Thanks for any ideas!
Amy <email>
Teaneck, NJ USA Fri 04/29/2005

Loire Valley B&B's
Does anyone have any Loire Valley B&B's to recommend. I guess something around Tours would be the best place to work from as a base to see the chateaux.
Mark Elliott <email>
Baltimore, MD USA Fri 04/29/2005

Kay, First trip to France
As small a bag as possible. 2 pairs pants, 3-4 shirts, 2-3 undies, 2 pair of shoes (one sandal, one shoe) a jacket, a sweater, small toiletries. A digital camera This is more than enough for one week. This would probably all fit in a daypack.

USA Fri 04/29/2005

cell phone
No, but check with your provider to see what their rates for calling are, both for calls in Europe, and for calls back home. Most American services charge an arm and a leg for such calls anywhere from a dollar to 2.50 a minute. It may be cheaper for you to purchase a SIM card at your destination (with a European phone number) if you plan to make more than a couple of calls.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Fri 04/29/2005

I am 18 years old and I plan to go to France for a week by myself to "discover myself." I was wanting to know what kind of things I would be needing since this will be my first trip outside the US. I have traveled within the states and always overpacks. I have been planning and saving up for this trip for a year. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Kay <email>
OK USA Fri 04/29/2005

London in November
I was in London in Nobember a few years ago, it you are there on November 11, that is celebrated as Remembrance Day, the end of WWI, and the Queen lays a wreath at the Cenotaph, then there is a parade of veterans, and you can go to Westminster Abbey where different regiments, etc. have laid beds of poppies, and there are flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I believe this takes place on the Sunday before. We also did a trip to Chawton to see Jane Austen's home, via train, taxi and then local bus to Winchester and train home. P.S., thanks Norm for the phone advice, will check it out.
Jan <email>
Chicago, Il USA Fri 04/29/2005

Question about day pack
I have very mixed feelings about my day pack I'm taking to London and Paris and would like some advice from women travelers. I have a fasionable, small, flat purse with a long strap that goes over one shoulder, across my body, for spending money and camera. My day pack is a small, all-black, nylon kate spade back pack. I've lived and traveled all over Europe in the past w/o a back pack, using a large handbag instead (never had pick pocketing problems). Well, due to years with the heavy large handbag, my shoulders are rebelling. Thus, I now carry the small black back pack as my hand bag. It's not "sporty", very basic and black. Do you think it will scream "tourist" and make me a victim? I will only carry maps, tourbook, water, umbrella, etc. in the bag, NOT valubles. I've read advice about not carrying a back pack, but my shoulders won't let me do otherwise. Is my attempt to be fasionable overruling practicality? Is the back pack going to attract pick-pocketers? Thanks.
slave to fashion
Seattle, WA USA Fri 04/29/2005

cell phone
I have a cell phone that my cell phone provider says will work in Europe, and I have international service.Is there anything that I will need to do to my phone once I get to Europe to be able to use my cellphone there?

USA Fri 04/29/2005

ITIC/ISIC cards
I have a question about ITIC cards. They are similar to the ISIC (for students) which help get discounts in museums, etc., except they are for full-time teachers (which I am one). I was wondering if anyone out there has used one, and if they reap the same benefits as ISIC. Is it worth it for me to get one?
Kristen Co <email>
Fresno, CA USA Fri 04/29/2005

Teens in Europe
My daughter and her friend are thinking of a similar excursion, also next summmer. This year, my daughter is going on an EFTours trip, so she will be the "seasoned" traveler. Talk to folks who have travelled, get a cell phone (must have these days), and do not overbook yourselves! You seem like you're researching stuff, and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun. You only live once, so enjoy! As a side note, I'm making my first trip to Europe this summer (for five weeks) and we are in the final planning stages, using this site, RS Books and other resources. The more informed you are, the more fun you'll have!
Beth <email>
Rocklin, CA USA Fri 04/29/2005

re: London in November
Thanks Graham, I just looked at the site and it looks like a fun thing to do. And the weather just might be better than where I live!
Laurie
USA Fri 04/29/2005

Michelle: Romantic Road/Christmas markets
Michelle: Google "Christmas markets" Germany and you'll get all kinds of ideas. I just did and now I want to go too! Nuremberg is near Munich and is well-known for its Christmas market. Nuremberg has other interesting tourist destinations. You can always spend several days in Munich. It has all the things that big cities have, but it also has some interesting museums (my husband could happily spend a day in the Deutsches Museum)--and when you get tired of drinking mulled wine (be sure and collect the cups), there's always the Hofbrau Haus.
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN, MN USA Fri 04/29/2005

Slow Walker
I believe most major European cities have bus tours of the hop-on hop-off sort. You buy a ticket good for 24 hours. You get on the bus and ride the circuit. Then you ride it again and get off at the places you want to see up close. When you are done, you go back to the bus stop and hop on to the next bus that arrives.

I seem to remember the London tour ran busses every 20-30 minutes. The stops are right in front of (or within a block of) major tourist attractions, like the British Museum, Tragalgar Square, etc.

This way you can rest as often and as long as you need to. I might mean you would need to buy the tour for 2 days to see everything you want to see.
Jane Reed <email>
Los Angeles, CA USA Fri 04/29/2005

December Trip: Romantic Road
Michelle - When we were in Germany, we did an itinerary very close to yours. When we left Munich, we rented a car at the airport and returned it at the Frankfurt airport. We paid a little more for "airport fees" but it was well worth it to avoid driving in the big cities. We home-based in Rothenburg while on the Romantic Road. Plenty of hotel and restaurant choices. Driving in the Romantic Road area was very doable. We didn't look into other cities for a home-base, so I couldn't comment too much on those. Although Dinkelsbuhl looked like it could be doable. 9 days for the Romantic Road sounds like a bit much. You might want to consider some time in Baden-Baden, or along the Rhine or Mosel Rivers. Any questions feel free to email.
Richard Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Fri 04/29/2005

car rental
Anyone ever use Blue Wheels car rental in Scotland?
Cindy
USA Fri 04/29/2005

DeGaulle Airport
We have a room reserved near DeGaulle Airport. I can't cancel the reservation wihout losing my room fee. We don't take off until 2PM the next day. Does anyone know of any nice places for breakfast and a stroll within reasonable distance of the airport?
David Greene <email>
Ann Arbor, MI USA Fri 04/29/2005

Bargaining in Italy
Just got back from Florence and had a wonderful time but for one thing. Bargaining for purchases. I believe I paid too much a couple of times. Can anyone suggest ways to successfully bargain. For instance, I found a purse at an outdoor stall for 60 Euros. How much should I have countered. Also, does anyone know if you can bargain in small shops? Any suggestions/opinions?
Rebecca <email>
CA USA Fri 04/29/2005

cdw
I don't know if my experience is typical, but the first time I rented a car in Italy, when I turned it in, the rental agency pointed out that one tail light was broken. My husband thought it must have been like that when we picked it up, but I told him I thought I did it when I was backing down a narrow lane when he wasn't with me.

End of story - we were never charged anything because of the broken tail light. I don't know if it is because we didn't know any better than to pay top dollar for the rental with "premium" coverage, or what, but we never heard anything else about it.Now, I always get CDW when I rent. After that experience, I think it is worth it for the peace of mind.

USA Fri 04/29/2005

re:CDW
Regarding CDW, please remember that there are deductibles involved. We ended up paying $1200 for a cracked taillight and bumper. Additional insurance can be bought to lower the deductible amount, but I am not sure if it ever lowers it to where you have nothing to pay if you have an accident.
Conny <email>
Williamsburg, Va USA Fri 04/29/2005

RE: CDW
If you use your credit card's CDW option just realize that if you have an accident you will be responsible for the amount of damage and will then have to get police reports etc and get your credit card company to pay up. In the meantime the amount will have to be placed on your credit card or paid up.Friends of ours had this problem. They had an accident, the amount was placed on the credit card which brought them over their limit. They had no credit card to use for the rest of their trip. They told us they would opt for the CDW next time. As Rick says buy the CDW for peace of mind.
pat
pa USA Fri 04/29/2005

LONDON IN NOVEMBER
FOR LAURIE: One of the highlights of London in November is the "Lord Mayor's Show". This is an historical event and has nothing to do with Ken Livingstone, the current Mayor of London - a recently created post.This year's date has not ben published but, given that it was held on Saturday,13th November in 2004, it will probably be the 12th November this year. For further details visit...www.lordmayorsshow.org/ The weather?One can never forecast wind and rain but the daytime temperature average is 50F according to Yahoo Weather.
Graham <email>
Wales, UK. Fri 04/29/2005

December Trip: Romantic Road finally, but how w/o Deutsche Touring Bus
Thank you for recommending the Germany route for the coming Christmas. However, is it possible to do it without Europa Bus/Deustch Touring Bus? With 9 days/8 nights, which towns would you recommend as home bases? I'm going to fly into Munich and out of Frankfurt. Thanks for your feedbacks.
Michelle
USA Fri 04/29/2005

Meant to add - about Brookstone hairdryer
This is an addendum to the hairdryer recommendation below: It's the 800-watt mini-dryer. (Brookstone sells several models - the others are all too large for light traveling, I think.)

USA Fri 04/29/2005

To ab, re: hairdryer
I liked the small folding dual-voltage one from Brookstone. More powerful than the tiny Samsonite one (which I found useless). It was powerful enough to dry my fairly thick hair, and also came in handy drying sink-washed clothes.

USA Fri 04/29/2005

London in November?
I have been to London before in January and in July. I might have a reason to go again this November, fingers crossed. If anyone can tell me what to expect as far as cost, weather and the kinds of things there are to do that time of year that would be great. Also, any opinions on the most affordable ways to get around outside of London (best passes to buy, etc)without a car?
Laurie
USA Thu 04/28/2005

SNCM Ferries to Corsica on Strike
Next Friday we are supposed to take the overnight ferry from Marseille to Ajaccio, Corsica. The ferry workers are on strike.I know strikes in France are common. Anyone with advice on how long wait for resolution before making alternative arrangements through Corsica Ferries (city would need to change to Toulon, date would be Saturday instead of Friday.) We are travelling with a car and 2 children. Thanks for the advice!
Seattlemom <email>
Seattle, WA USA Thu 04/28/2005

CDW Insurance
Paul on CDW is partly right. SOME credit cards offer CDW but not for all countries. I have 3 Planinum cards which offer CDW and two cover Italy and one does not. Some other countries and even some types of vehicles are excluded. I have rented in Italy, we go there every year, and do NOT buy CDW and my card's issuer has told me by letter that they DO cover CDW. As always, your situation may be different so it is dangerous to make general statements but I do know what I done.
Charles M. Luther
USA Thu 04/28/2005

Marie - external frame pack
I'd really suggest an internal frame. Externals are too big for carry on, and if you check it, chances are the frame will get broken, the luggage handlers are pretty darn rough on bags.

USA Thu 04/28/2005

Florence Italy Day Tours?
Have you tried any of the "Accidental Tourist's" day tours departing from Florence?(www.accidentaltourist.com) Any experience/feedback about the tour company is appreciated. Thank you!
Darla <email>
Charlotte, NC USA Thu 04/28/2005

GATWICK, HEATHROW, STANSTED AIRPORTS
For details of these airports and associated services visit...www.baa.com
Graham
Wales, UK Thu 04/28/2005

Train Tickets - Italy
If you're a little flexible with your travel plans, wait until you get to Italy and buy your tickets as many days in advance as you can. But if your itinerary's basically set, or you want to take one of the premium trains, or there's somewhere you HAVE to be at a certain time, buy them at the Italian railway website. It's at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html. The international part still is having problems, but the national site appears to be OK. You can get an e-ticket e-mailed to you...bring it right onto the train, show it to the conductor, and he'll print off your ticket right there and then...no need to get anything stamped in the station! There' no extra fee for this service. You can also find some good deals on the website...but remember, they're usually unrefundable.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Thu 04/28/2005

Hotel near Frankfurt Airport
There's another Accor hotel, the Ibis, five minutes from Frankfurt airport, and probably cheaper than the Sofitel. Find it at http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/ibi/2203/fiche_hotel.shtml
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Thu 04/28/2005

backpacks
Sure....as long as it fits within the dimensions for carry-on luggage, you're OK. However, British Airways has a very low weight limit for carry-on bags in economy class.....6 kilos, or about 13 pounds, so you may have to check it, anyway.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Thu 04/28/2005

Stockholm Sightseeing Cards
There are 2 different "cards" for sightseeing in Stockholm. The "Stockholm Card" is mentioned in Rick's Scandinavia book. I have also found a "Stockholm a la Carte" card that appears to have as much or more values but comes included in hotel packages. Does anyone know the differences between these cards and give me a recommendation?
Joe Rivers <email>
Heidelberg, Germany, Thu 04/28/2005

cellphones - buy or rent
Jan....I purchased an inexpensive used phone on ebay's UK site, www.ebay.co.uk...lots of people upgrading to fancy new phones. I stick with Nokia since they're rugged. You need a GSM phone that operates on either the 900 or the 1800 Mhz bands, or both, since that's what they use in most of the world. Make sure it is UNLOCKED, so it can take any SIM card. You can buy a SIM card in Poland, where you'll probably get low per-minute charges inside Poland, but then more expensive if you call from Germany, or from Germany back home. I got a SIM card from a new company based in Liechtenstein, which offers 39 cents Euro a minute anywhere in Europe, and back to North America. They're only selling on EBay right now,for about $30 US, which includes a 5 Euro credit for calls. But you can recharge it via the Internet at www.riiing.com. It's worked well in Europe....we had no problems from Italy and France. These cards need to be recharged every nine months, or your SIM card expires....most do, somewhere between 9 months and a year. So it'll cost you a few Euros a year to keep the number active for future trips (or to "rent" to friends and family). These phones DO NOT WORK in the US or Canada. If you want to spend more, you could get a second-hand tri-band phone, which includes the 1900 Mhz band, which DOES work in North America. Then you can simply swap your SIM card for one from one of the big US services, and continue using the cellphone back home.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Thu 04/28/2005

London to Gatwick Airport
There are buses that make the London-Gatwick run back and forth, from quite early in the morning till about the middle of the night. I can't remember the name of the bus line but I remember seeing it on the British Air web site.
Jane Reed
Los Angeles, CA USA Thu 04/28/2005

Re: Pam, CDW and Swiss Disk
First the Swiss Motor Tax Disk, basically to drive on Swiss roads, even in a rental and even if you are just "Daytripping" you need to buy and display the disk indicating you paid the tax. As for the CDW, a bit more complicated. You need to ask the rental agency you are renting from if they will accept it, and ask your credit card if they have any restrictions. Credit Card CDW is not valid by any means in Italy, you will buy the CDW; The same is pretty much true for Ireland as well. Other Western European countries you will most likely be fine, though I have heard of some rental companies essentially "reserving" the value of the car or some amount on your credit card...lowering your credit limit by that amount...may or may not be a problem. You may also run into some restrictions, both by your card and by rental agencies if you are planning on taking the car into "Eastern" European countries (Poland, Czech Republic, etc.) so make sure you ask about each country. I rely on my Credit Card CDW often, but if it looks shakey, can't get good answers, and is not a significant cost, I might buy the CDW just for ease of mind. I tend to look at it as, if I buy the CDW, have a problem, I'm able to just walk away; If I rely on my credit card, I may still have hassles and delays to deal with. There are also some third party policies you can get, don't know much about them.
Paul <email>
IA USA Thu 04/28/2005

re: Hairdryer
Samsonite makes a TEENY TINY hairdryer with dual voltage. It's unbelievably small but not very powerful. Better than nothing if you have to have one though, and literally takes no space. I got mine at a travel store.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Thu 04/28/2005

Re: Ann, Battery Charger
On my last trip I used what sounds like the same set-up, a voltage converter, into which I plugged my battery charger. Not sure of the wattages involved, but it worked great. I also had two sets of batteries (for my Camera) so I could charge one set and have the other set in the camera. It did add some bulk and weight to my bag, but the NiMH batteries last much longer than normal AA. I also used the same converter to charge my old digital camera on a previous trip with no problems.
Paul <email>
IA USA Thu 04/28/2005

backpacks
Hi Everyone,my question to you all is could a internal frame backpack be a carry-on?? I'm flighting with British Airways but will eventually be going to South Africa then an internal african flight. I thought so but let me know your thoughts.
marie
USA Thu 04/28/2005

Krakow Airport Taxi for sleepy travelers
John & Robin - The one time we were in Krakow, we took a taxi. I don't remember the price at all, but it was pretty reasonable. We did ask ahead of time, about how much it would cost, just to make sure. When you walk outside the airport terminal, the taxis are right in front of you. There's no way to miss them. Just walk to the front of the line and give the driver your address. As far as paying, we purchased some zloty in the States, so it was not an issue for us. Worst case, I'm sure the taxi driver wouldn't have a problem taking you to an ATM. I do remember that there was a bank with an ATM just a bit outside the north side of the town wall. Any questions, feel free to email me.
Richard Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Thu 04/28/2005

Antibes vacation rental
I am looking for a 3-4 day apartment rental in Antibes for a family of four - 2 adults and two (younger) teenagers. Does anyone know of any great spots by the beach (or within walking distance) to recommend that doesn't require a week stay?
Beth <email>
San Jose, CA USA Thu 04/28/2005

Madrid to Lisbon overnight train
Make sure you book and reserve a double or single on the overnight train between Madrid and Lisbon. The quads are very small and become very stuffy very fast. We had to sleep with the door open and turning off the heat did not help. Also they can smoke in the train in Portugal but have to stop at the border with Spain.
Marc <email>
Greenwich, CT USA Thu 04/28/2005

Taxi from Krakow Airport to town
John & Robin,I've always taken a taxi from Krakow Airport. The bus would be slower (about 40 minute ride - 11 kilometers to town). Poland, especially Krakow, is very inexpensive by European standards, so the fare shouldn't be too costly. The taxis have meters, and there should be plenty at the airport (it's a small airport). You may need to change money before your taxi ride. Check out http://www.lotnisko-balice.pl/eng/ for more info.
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Thu 04/28/2005

Munich to Venice Reservations-RailEurope response
I finally heard back from RailEurope regarding my difficulty in trying to book Munich to Venice overnight reservations. Even though I already solved my problem as listed below (3-times-oops)I thought I would share their reply:

"Dear Client,
Thank you for your interest in Rail Europe. This is unfortunately a route that we are not able to ticket from North America. For 2005, the Italian rail system has limited the number of routes available for purchase from abroad to 50 core routes. This very popular route has been removed from the International reservation system. This ticket would need to be purchased locally. If you are making other train trips, we may be able to offer you an affordable multi-country rail pass which would cover the entire journey.

While we do not have a ticket for this train, we are able to reserve seats over the phone. Please call us at 1-888-438-RAIL if you would like to purchase a seat reservation (the train is not sold out for June 18th, it is just not loaded into the online source).

To purchase your travel documents, or for further information you can visit our web site at www.raileurope.com. "

Thank you,
Josephine
Internet Help Desk
Phil <email>
Huntington Beach, CA USA Thu 04/28/2005

cellphones - buy or rent
I am traveling at the end of May to Poland and Berlin (most time in Poland) and am debating whether to arrange for a cellphone rental here or buy on in Poland (my first stop). Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Jan <email>
Chicago, Il USA Thu 04/28/2005

Mosquitos in Italy in August?
Milind Joshi I don't think there is a so-called season for misquitos in Italy. We had problems with them in October and while in Florence during Thanksgiving week, but no problem in March. I would definitely recommend at least a spray. Re the water, I think it depends on where you are staying. I recall only one place we stayed that the tap the water wasn't clear, otherwise no problem. Have a great trip.
Devra <email>
El Toro, CA USA Thu 04/28/2005

Hotel near Frankfurt Airport
Last year a few people were suggesting the Sofitel Hotel in Frankfurt (with shuttle service to the airport, situated in an industrial area). The only Sofitel I can find on the internet is downtown. Was the "old" Sofitel in the industrial area sold to another hotel chain? Or does anybody have a "new" tip: reasonably priced, with shuttle service to the airport?
Elke Valentin <email>
Fort Saskatchewan, AB Canada Thu 04/28/2005

TRAIN TICKETS
Anna: I recommend you buy your tickets at the RR station before you board your train. Buying them here costs a handling fee . If you prefer the security of having them in your hand and are willing to pay more for them, go ahead and buy them here. But you don’t need to.
ANNA MARIE M.
WACO, USA Thu 04/28/2005

Chateau de Vierville (Normandy?)
I will be in Europe during the summer of 2006 for a friend's wedding. Another friend with whom I will be travelling has traced family history connections to the Chateau de Vierville, and she would love to visit it. I have been able to find almost no information about it on the web. I have ben to France several times, but never in the Normandy area, so any useful information would be appreciated. Thanks!
Tara Gerlach <email>
Gallipolis, OH USA Thu 04/28/2005

HOW LONG TO GET TO THE RR STATION IN VENICE
The RR station is close to the center of Venice and you can normally walk to it as fast as other means. So that you know how much time you have for a meal, plan on eating at the RR station.
WILLAMINA Z.
NYC, USA Thu 04/28/2005

DRIVING FLORENCE T VERNZZA
The webpage I use for distances (www.howfarisit.com) doesn’t include Florence, but my Atlas shows the distance to be about 65 miles. Knowing how slow the roads are in that part of Italy, I can assure you it will take at least 2 hours to drive from Florence to Vernazza. Maybe longer at night. Those roads go through every village; you have to slow to 30km (18mph) in most small towns. Yes it is safe to park your car at Vernazza at night; but take everything out of it.....including the trunk.
WILLARD S.
TULSA, USA Thu 04/28/2005

Solution for Munich to Venice Reservations !!!
First of all, many thanks to all those who e-mailed me with advice and ideas... they were very much appreciated. I posted yesterday about difficulty getting Munich to Venice overnight train reservations from RailEurope. After trying both the Italian train site (trenitalia) and German train site (deutsche bahn) and finding more than a little uncertainty with respect to total cost, obtaining tickets, etc., I called the german office direct (from the states - 011+49 1805 - 996633). I found an english speaking agent immediately and he was very willing and able to confirm my reservations with a credit card and is mailing them to me today. So much for my mild panic attack over not having a way to get my family from Munich to Venice in keeping with my pre-planned itinerary. Point is, this helpline is worth it's weight in gold and the people who frequent it are very friendly and willing to help. So if you run into some glitch with your planning, keep the faith and ask the board. You'll probably find an answer to help you out. Just thought I should share my good fortune and pass along the info. After all, knowledge is only truly valuable when it's shared. Besides, we can all use some "Good Karma".
Phil <email>
Huntington Beach, CA USA Thu 04/28/2005

Glenn - Tuscany/Umbria
http://www.lacrociona.com/The above is a wonderful vineyard about 3 km outside Montalcino. You willneed a car but there are many little towns very close (within a half hour)Siena, Pienza, Montepulciano, Bagno Vignoni, Sant Antimo, Monte OlivetoMaggiore, Buonconvento, Murlo. The driving is easy and the food and wine in each town is special. If you want more information e-mail me. hschulte47@yahoo.com
Henry <email>
Wichita, Ks USA Thu 04/28/2005

compressors
I have a few compressor bags, I think they are good for bulky things but I would not pack everything in them...I would look at packing cubes as they really organize stuff
bluedenim
USA Thu 04/28/2005

battery charger converter
I have a 110 volt NIMH battery charger (this is not a "quick charger"--takes about 8 hours. Since it is 110 volts (5 watts), I bought a 50 watt Foreign Travel Voltage Converter (converts 220/140 VAC to 110/120 VAC). The packaging said that it is good for electronic or motorized appliances, and it included battery chargers in its list. My questions:-Will my charger be OK, since it is not a quick charger (its an overnight charger.--Has anyone used anything similar to me--any comments?Thanks
Ann <email>
IN USA Thu 04/28/2005

Elizabeth
Thank you for your comment. Florence on this trip will just be a stopover between the 5 terre and rome. THe train from the 5 terre and rome 'directly' is essentially the same length, but older and slower. I have been to florence and, although the food and David are magnificient- I'm really not a big florence fan. So the plan is David and lunch- then on to rome..
Topher <email>
charlottesville, va USA Thu 04/28/2005

Tuscany/Umbria
I am planning at trip to Tuscany and Umbria for my Wife's 40th Birthday. We will e travelling with one other couple (4 adults total). I am looking for recommendations for where to stay (hotel, B&B, agritourismo, etc) and some recommendations on itenaries. We plan to stay about a week and want to concentrate on hill towns and Siena, as we have been to Florence and Rome a number of times.Thanks, Glenn
Glenn <email>
Marton, NJ USA Thu 04/28/2005

Topher
I just have one comment: Florence really warrants more than a few hours. Can you modify your plans to allow any more time? I know you can't do it all, but it seems a shame to go all that way and then not have time to see anything. A carefully planned 24 hours--with reservations made ahead of time--could probably allow you to see David, the duomo, the Uffizi and even the Boboli Gardens (which will be gorgeous in May). The main things to see in Florence are all within walking distance of each other, and tickets to everything but the duomo--which doesn't require any--can be purchased ahead of time onlinr. While I could spend the rest of my life in Rome, I think I would drop a night there to be able to see some things in Florence.
Elizabeth <email>
St. Louis, USA Thu 04/28/2005

CDW /Swiss motorway tax disc
Does anyone know about using your major credit card with collision damage coverage vs. buying CDW insurance? What is the swiss motorway tax disc?
Pam <email>
Louisville, KY USA Thu 04/28/2005

Iris/rome last night
Not totally clear from your question, but my reply would be to find a place to stay by the Termini train station the last night, not the airport. The train will take you to the airport in about 30 min, and it runs every 30 min, so you need to plan an hour ahead. If you stay by the train station you will also be 15-20 min walk to all the major sights in rome, that way you don't waste great sightseeing time! Check rick's italy book for hotel/hostel suggestions that are close to Termini.

USA Thu 04/28/2005

Where to spend the last night in Italy
My granddaughter and I will travel to Italy in June. We will stay in youth hostels, traveling by train (or bus)and have reservations for 3 nights in Rome, 4 nights in Florence, 2 nights in Venice. Then we will explore the hill towns in Umbria for a week from a couple of towns with youth hostels. We will fly home from Rome's Fiumicino airport on July 3rd, leaving at 12:20. I am searching for a youth hostel or friendly reasonably priced small place from where we can reach the airport by public transportation in a timely fashion. I would also appreciate comments about various youth hostels in the cities I have reserved and the hill towns.
Iris <email>
USA Thu 04/28/2005

mosquitos in Italy
The mosquitos in Italy in the summer can be bad, especially in Venice. You will need some kind of bug spray there for sure. Our hotel didn't have air conditioning and we had to leave the windows open and the mosquitos were terrible.

USA Thu 04/28/2005

hair dryer
Went to europe for two weeks, every b&b or hotel ahd a hair dryer, either in the bathroom or at the front desk for borrowing. contact your hotels etc, and see if they have one. One less thing to pack

USA Thu 04/28/2005

B&Bs in Vernazza
Does anyone have information about Sul Mare L'Eremo "The Hermitage over the Sea" in Vernazza? We are hesitant to make a reservation without having any recommendations. Can anyone recommend this place or another place in Vernazza. We would like something clean and with a view. Thanks!
JJ <email>
USA Thu 04/28/2005

Gargi
I think you are planning too much travel for 24 days. I'd eliminate Eastern Europe and save it for another trip. In Northern Italy, on L. Como in Menaggio, is one of the best hostels anywhere. La Primula. They require reservations in advance and then a confirmation a day or two before arrival. It's in the RS books, and probably other books, too.

USA Thu 04/28/2005

Slow Walker in Florence/Rome
Maybe you can find a bus tour for your 1/2 to full day city tours. The tours we've been on involved a lot of walking. it's not too hilly around the major sites in Florence or Rome, but a lot of walking is involved. If you can only walk for 30 min, this will be too much for you. Perhaps you should contact a local travel agent and see if they can arrange a tour for you in these cities??

USA Thu 04/28/2005

Venice--to the train station
Getting to the Venice train station from P. San Marco area by any means, including walking, shouldn't take more than an hour. If you can eat lunch in 2 hours or so, it shouldn't be a problem. There are inexpensive places to eat in and near the train station where you can eat in 30 min if necessary.

USA Thu 04/28/2005

Beth, Check out the "Fun for Teens" board of this graffiti wall, where this discussion has been going on with people who enuinely want to help, not jerks like Malcom who get off on being mean to total strangers.

USA Thu 04/28/2005

Beth
There are many young people like yourself traveling around Europe the way you described. You seem to have experience traveling, but the friend doesn't. I suggest you and your friend study the Let's Go Europe book and make a plan (if only to satisfy the friend's parents). Be responsible and call or e-mail parents every day or two. You might make a few hostel reservations in advance, maybe one for each week of your travels, and stick to that plan. You can improvise around this general outline. Work this out in consultation with parents.

USA Thu 04/28/2005

London Sleeping for the Family
For a large family, you should look into an apartment. For the price of two hotel rooms, you could have 2-3 bedrooms and a kitchen to make meals(at least breakfast) and usually a washer and/or dryer.One example is Scala House(www.scala-house.co.uk). Look at the "Alternative Accomodations" board of the graffiti wall. I recommend Vacation Rental By Owner(vrbo.com)and the book, "London for Families" by Lain. Look for a lift for the less mobile of the group, and consider springing for a ride from the airport by one of the sevices connected to the apartments. Cheers!
Susan
WI USA Thu 04/28/2005

Feedback on planned trip
My wife and I (late 20's/early 30's) are leaving for europe in 2 weeks. This is her 2nd time and my 3rd. Any feedback on our plans would be appreciated. We fly into Stockholm (have friends in southern sweden) and stay there for 2 nights. Then we go back to our friends' home (solvesborg)for a night and then off to copenhagen for just a night. From copenhagen we fly to zurich and make our way to gimmelwald. We are staying in the pension gimmelwald for 3 nights. Next we take the train to Riomaggiore, where we have one of Edi's rooms with an ocean view. We are there for 3 nights. Then we are going to leave early and take a day trip to florence (bascially a few hours) and then off to rome that afternoon (the train thru florence is just as long as the train from the 5 terre directly to rome). We are in rome 4 nights, staying at the red rose b&b. We fly out of Rome. Any feedback for us? Of these places- we I have only been to rome. Our rail to the italian border is covered by our swiss transfer ticket- but what about the portion from the italian border to riomaggiore? I have emailed trenitalia twice and cisalpino once and they have not responded. Can I purchase the ticket in another country (e.g. sweden or switzerland?). Because we are going from the way north (stockholm) to the way south (roma) any packing tips for may? What should we expect from the weather in gimmlewald in may? Thanks so much.
Topher <email>
Charlottesville, VA USA Thu 04/28/2005

Hair dryer...
Any suggestions for a tiny dual voltage hair dryer?Thanks
ab <email>
USA Thu 04/28/2005

Slow walker in Rome and Florence
I have limited mobility because of arthritis. I can walk for 15 - 30 mins but not much longer and quite slowly. What are my best options for sightseeing in Rome and florence? Would half day tours eliminate much walking?
Lynette Brook <email>
Dunedin NZ, USA Thu 04/28/2005

London options for family
Priceline is one very good option - but the London rooms are only double occupancy, so you will need to book two for a typical family of four. For more info on using Priceline, see www.betterbidding.com .

Another option - if you are going to London at the "right" time, you can often book student accommodation that isn't too badly priced. Look at http://www.venuemasters.com/holiday_search.asp

Consider hostels. YHA may be best suited for your family. Or take a look at http://www.piccadillyhotel.net .

Apartments might be a good option - check the Europe forum at http://www.fodors.com for suggestions.

It's possible to house a family of 4 for under $200 USD per night in London, probably for under $150 if using hostels or the right apartment.

USA Thu 04/28/2005

compressor bags
Yes we use the bags ,I roll everything & there are very few creases .but your bags will be a lot heavier.
jean <email>
Riverside, CA USA Wed 04/27/2005

Krakow Airport Taxi for sleepy travelers
We will be arriving at the Krakow airport after 36+ hours of traveling, in the past we have always used public transportation with no problems. (We Have not been to Krakow), But because we might be very tired we are considering taking a taxi to the town center ( Tomasza 18). What is the best/easiest way to get a cab?? How much should we expect to pay? Do we need to or can we pre-book the cab? If we end up not being to tired and decide to take the bus, which one is the best to get to our destination ? Thanks again John & Robin
John & Robin <email>
Atascadero, Ca USA Wed 04/27/2005

Europass & hostel help! =)
I'm a 24/F travelling solo and wanted some help in finding a decent yet fun hostel in: Paris, Nice, Italy. Also, I plan on visiting France, Spain, Italy, & Austria...any advice on what my best option is regarding euro rail passes since I'll be going through 5 diff countries? I've looked at a few and they're pretty pricey! any random tips from hostels, sites to see, safety issues, where to meet other backpackers, etc are appreciated for this first time solo traveller! thanks =)

p.s. I am travelling May 24th - June 17th, 24 days approx. Is this enough time to cover Paris, Nice, Barcelona, All of Italy (minus sicily), Vienna, & Budapest/Prague??
gargi <email>
san jose, ca USA Wed 04/27/2005

Pass VS Point to Point Tickets
I know in Germany 2-5 people can travel together on one ticket after 9am on weekdays and on the weekends. Can this be done in other European countries and if so where can I find the prices of these tickets? I am trying to decide if it would be less expensive to buy a pass or just purchase point to point tickets.
Susan <email>
Greeley, CO USA Wed 04/27/2005

Mosquitos in Italy in August?
We're planning to be in Italy (Rome to Venice) during August. Is this "mosquito season"? Do I need to carry medicine, sprays, nets? Is the tap water safe to drink?
Milind Joshi <email>
Oakland, ca USA Wed 04/27/2005

compressor bags
Any one use Eagle Creek compressor bags? Did they work? Want to save room in our suitcases, get organized for the next trip.

USA Wed 04/27/2005

Sleeping at CDG
Does anyone know of an inexpensive hotel at charles De Gaulle airport? (One night only, minimal,OK)
Janou <email>
Hope, ID USA Wed 04/27/2005

London B&B/Lime Tree
Kari -- It must have been awhile since Megan stayed at the Lime Tree. It is a very nice B&B but it is pricey, A double is around $200, a triple about $280 and the family quad at least $325. Since you need a two room- either two triples or a double and quad, you could plan on spending between $550 and $600 a night. The are other nice B&Bs in the area that are more reasonable but it will be hard to get under $400 a night. Megan is right -- the exchange rate is terrible and London is the second or third most expensive city.
Frank P <email>
CO USA Wed 04/27/2005

China tour
My wife and I are planning a trip to China sometime in the next year or so, and we're planning to take an organized tour (since Rick Steves has no guide books to help us out!). Does anyone have any experience with Ritz Tours?
Roger <email>
Madison, CT USA Wed 04/27/2005

Kari-- London B&B's
Kari, for the London lodging for your family, I would recommend either the Lime Tree Hotel (my personal favorite) or the Aster House Hotel. Rick recommends both, and both have their positive features. The Lime Tree Hotel runs for around $175 US dollars (terrible GBP exchange rate-- can't avoid it anywhere) and comes with a full English breakfast, spacious rooms, and a very friendly family. It is very close to the Victoria Station train/tube station, and I have been very pleased with it. The second one, Aster House Hotel, is cheaper, but slightly more worn and smaller than the Lime Tree. I believe the Aster House also comes with breakfast, but I am not positive. It is within steps from the South Kensington tube station. Both hotels are in very nice neighborhoods, (Chelsea/Belgravia and South Kensington, respectively). If you would like any more information, I would visit tripadvisor.com, type in the two hotel names and read the reviews. Otherwise, you can also research other London hotels on that website and get user feedback on every one of them. I have booked all of my hotels because of tripadvisor recommendation! Happy Travelling!
Megan <email>
OR USA Wed 04/27/2005

Beth
I think traveling abroad is a great experience and more people should do it. However, I totally understand your friends' parents reservations about just letting their children roam around Europe.

You could make a compromise, make a general plan of action, for example beginning of June tour Northern France, Mid June go to England, end of June explore the Netherlands.

Also, it might make your friends' parents as well as your parents feel safer if you-all had a cell phone in Europe. They are about $80 depending on the company and country you buy the phone, but all incoming calls are free most cell phones in Europe, check before purchasing the phone. This way, your parents and your friends' parents could always contact you-all to find out where you are as well as a way of communication in case of an emergency.

One should respect the thoughts of a friend's parents; yet, this travel opportunity is a great chance for you-all to expand your views and learn about different cultures.

Best of luck to you. I hope everything works out:)
Tatiana Campbell
Tucson, AZ USA Wed 04/27/2005

Norway in a nutshell
My Husband & I will be purchasing The Scanrail senior pass, Is it possible to buy tickets for The Flamrail,Boat,&Bus part of the Nutshell. as I heard this is much cheaper than buing the whole package.
jean <email>
Riverside, CA USA Wed 04/27/2005

Beth
Hey there! Hopefully I can offer a little more of an optimistic response. I don't think any of us here can judge your reasiness or maturity for a trip around Europe. My roommate has been a world traveler alone since she was 9 and she is an awesome person for it. Although you may be ready for such a journey (and I am sure you are), your friends may not be. It is important to recognize that they may not be up for it quite yet. As far as parents' decisions, if they would have to contribute financially at all for the trip, they have absolutely every right to say no for any reason, or no reason at all. It is very important to respect their decisions because you will have many other opportunities to do this. Good luck! Perhaps you'd like to study abroad if you're going to college. It is a great experience to experience Europe for as long as you want, and get credit for it while you're at it (I did it last summer).
Callie
Seattle, WA USA Wed 04/27/2005

How long to get to Venice train station?
We are taking the Secret Itineraries tour of the Doge's Palace in the morning before we leave. Tour is at 9:55 (75min.), train is at 2:30. How long will it take us to get to the train station by various means(vaporreto vs. water taxi)? Do we have time for lunch before we go?

USA Wed 04/27/2005

Beth, on the loose in France
Your lack of judgement in openly disputing the decision of a friend's parents and your self-centered view in thinking your wants come before others shows 2 reasons YOUR parents should reconsider their decision to let you go to Europe unchapperoned.
Malcom
Des Moines, Iowa USA Wed 04/27/2005

Hiking in Skye
I'm looking into hiking around Trotternish on the Island of Skye, Scotland. Specifically, I'm considering following the coastline from Uig to Portree. I'm wondering if anyone has done anything similar? And if so, how long did it take you? Thanks for any tips.
Jonathan <email>
Columbia, SC USA Wed 04/27/2005

For Betty in Boston
The previous is for you. My error in not noting in the "subject" line.
Harvey
IL USA Wed 04/27/2005

teenagers in europe
I am a junior in high school this year and after my senior year (summer of 2006) i really want to go with a friend or two and eurail around europe spontaneously for a few months staying in hostels/cheap hotels... just going at our own pace, the typical euro trip. I lived in spain for a month and have traveled a lot alone and with my parents so they seem okay with this plan. my friend's parents are apprehensive about letting us go. they want a definite route planned out before they think about letting her go. so is it unsafe for 2/3 17 year old girls to be eurailing alone? has anyone done this? any tips to convincing my friends parents?? thanks!
beth
USA Wed 04/27/2005

barges in France
Try le canal du midi as a search and canals of France. For whatever reason names or titles appearing as a web site are frequently deleted on this site so you should add the appropriate w's and dot com.

IL USA Wed 04/27/2005

Kaylie, flying from Florence to Paris.
There may well be a way to do this --- but if not, you can at least take the train from Florence to Milan. I assume that the bus that shuttles from the Milano Malpensa airport to Milano Centrale train station takes people the reverse route too. Then you could fly from Milano Malpensa to Paris: for sure Easyjet or Ryanair covers that route. They are safe, fast and cheap. The train journey would take 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The bus takes, as I remember, around 1/2 hour. The flight should take little more than an hour. Schedule backwards from your flight's check-in time to figure out when to leave Florence. Even with the bus transfer, this certainly makes a less tedious day than 12 hours on the train. Rick's people can help you with the bus schedule, but they're frequent enough (about 2 per hour) that if you schedule generously you should be fine approximating.

USA Wed 04/27/2005

Train Tickets
I am travelling througout Italy in late June/Early July. Should I buy my train tickets ahead of time, or wait till my arrival in Italy?
Anna <email>
Austin, TX USA Wed 04/27/2005

Driving Florence, Lucca to Vernazza
In May we are travelling to Italy and have booked accommodation in Vernazza the day we arrive.We arrive in Florence by air at 6:10 pm in the evening and were planning on taking the train that evening but now are considering driving (the train connection is very tight). Does anyone know how long it takes to drive to Vernazza from the Florence airport and also if it is safe to leave a car at the car park in Vernazza at night? If it is impossible to get to Vernazza on a Sunday night we may stop for the night in Lucca so if anyone has any idea for the driving time from Lucca that would also be helpful.ThanksRoss W.
Ross W. <email>
Canada Wed 04/27/2005

re: Vernazza-Pisa
Susan -- First, a disclaimer: the other poster gave sound advice, and most people will disagree with me on this. That said, if it looks like the 5am train will get you to La Spezia in plenty of time to transfer and make it to the airport, I would do almost anything to spend one last night in Vernazza! The trains should be running more dependably on time at that hour of the morning. If there's one even earlier, you could do that to be on the safe side -- who cares how tired you are, you can sleep on the plane on the way home! We did something similar last year to catch our plane in Genoa, but we didn't have to transfer like you probably will. And keep in mind, you can always change your mind either way once you're there!
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Wed 04/27/2005

London lodging
My family (2 adults and 3 kids, ages 8,10,12) and my mother will be travelling to Londond in June. We are looking for inexpensive yet clean hotel/B&B to stay. My mom has some health issues so we need to be close to public transportation so she doesn't have to walk far. Of couse the less expensive place appear to be further out of London and farther away from Tube stops, etc. Any suggestions on a place to stay? We're assuming we'll need to get 2 rooms for the 6 of us.
Kari <email>
MN USA Wed 04/27/2005

Virginia/Metro
Metro stop Odeon is in St. Germain (Left Bank) and St Paul is in the Marais, on the north side of the Seine. St Germain is postcard Paris and priced accordingly. The Marais is considered less expensive, but nothing is inexpensive in Paris. Wherever you stay, you can find a layout of all the Paris Metro and RER lines by going to Subway Navigator. The service is for many cities so you will have to click on Paris. The site will also plot Metro trips for you and provide a printable map; however, free Metro and bus lines maps are plentiful and free at hotels, the airports, etc.
Harvey
IL USA Wed 04/27/2005

Normandy B & B
Try Logis Les Remparts B & B in Bayeux http://www.bayeux-bandb.com/indexEN.html We have reservations in June.
JB
USA Wed 04/27/2005

Mosel- - Bodensee
Older couple 70's going to germany in late may 05 -2 weeks in Bernkastel-Kues -have apt/flat on the Mosel river - -then to Bodensee Scheidegg for 2 more weeks- - has been 10 years since last visit there - - any suggestions or advise will be welcome
D. Krause <email>
Argyle, Tx USA Wed 04/27/2005

Munich to Venice Train Reservations
I've been trying to book reservations for mid-June for 4 adults at the RailEurope website but it keeps saying that nothing is available. I've tried numerous other random dates and received the same result Any help woul be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Phil
Phil <email>
Huntington Beach, CA USA Wed 04/27/2005

Florence Villa
My Family including Aunts and relatives about 10 of us are planning a trip to Italy Next March. We would like to rent a Villa a short distance from florence. ( about a 10 minute bus ride). If anyone can help us look into a villa , please e-mail patschwartz75@hotmail.com
Pat Schwartz <email>
seattle, wa USA Wed 04/27/2005

Can you fly from Florence to Paris?
I need to get from Florence to Paris in September, within a day. I see a train would take over 12 hours. Can you fly from Florence to Paris and if so, on what airlines? I hear flights in Europe can be really cheap.
Kaylie <email>
Seattle, WA USA Wed 04/27/2005

accomodations
Sarah in Seattle~~~re accomodations for your trip try www.smoothhound.co.uk. We booked quite a few rooms through smoothhound and you can see rooms and surroundings on the sites. Happy travels!
Jamie
FL USA Wed 04/27/2005

Getting to Goreme from Kayseri, Turkey Airport -
In mid-September I will be arriving at the Kayseri, Turkey airport at 7:40 pm, then want to go on to Goreme right from the airport. Will I have a problem? Is there a bus? Taxi? Anybody done this? Any suggestions?
Gail <email>
chicago, IL USA Wed 04/27/2005

London entertainment
FOR MARCEY: Suggest you take a look at www.londontown.com and use the "Contact" facilities if appropriate.

UK Wed 04/27/2005

the ephemeral train board
This is a comment/question for the graffiti wall guru. For some reason, the link to the Train Transportation board on the graffiti wall comes and goes: it will be there one day, gone the next two, then back again for a little while. (It's disappeared again now, 7:30 EST.) The other three boards in the transportation section always show up on my browser. When the train board is on strike (ha ha), I've tried reloading and using different browsers (IE, Mozilla, and Netscape), to no avail. If others are having a similar issue, this might explain why there are so many train-related questions on the Helpline this week! PS. I don't mean to complain -- I think the graffiti wall is a wonderful service -- but thought you might want to know.
Kim
Ithaca, NY USA Wed 04/27/2005

Linda - Last Minute Availability in Hostels
It has been a number of years now (20?), but I backpacked all through Europe, mostly alone, and stayed in hostels. I had no reservations for anything and it was great being able to change my mind on the spur of the moment and go elsewhere, stay over somewhere or whatever. I highly recommend it. That being said, the only place I could not get a spot in the hostel was Amsterdam. I stayed on a cot in a room that a family I met on the train had booked. Had that not worked out, I would have hopped an overnight train to somewhere.

So, perhaps a compromise would be to book something for some of your bigger cities.

Oh, and if there are three of you, you will have to book a triple, not a double. The rooms are not like here where they routinely sleep 4 people. I mostly stayed in the big dorm rooms and there were no problems. Just be sure you are packing very light so that moving on with your bag is an option. I had a bookbag on that trip.

Now that I travel with kids, I make reservations everywhere. I can't imagine searching for accomodations with a tired 11 year old in tow. But I have very fond memories of traveling with no firm plans.
Linda
GA USA Wed 04/27/2005

Clay - combining use of swiss railpass with point to point tickets
I did a similar thing two years ago with my son, but I was coming from Paris and going to Salzburg. I bought tickets from Paris to Geneva, validated my railpass to use for four days and then went to a train station ticket window in Grindelwald to purchase the part of the ticket I needed to get from the Swiss border to Salzburg. The lady there was MOST helpful and even gave me a family card to fill out so that my 11 year old son was free. This card allowed children to travel free on any train that crossed a border between Switzerland, Austria and Germany. So, I was able to use it again to go from Salzburg to Munich. It was a great deal and nothing I have ever seen or read about on the internet.

I am going this May with my daughter and have bought tickets from Paris to Geneva again, then will use my swiss railpass and buy my tickets on (to Vienna this time), once I get to Switzerland.Hope this helps.
Linda
GA USA Wed 04/27/2005

Susan
I would hate to rely on tight scheduling getting to the Pisa airport by 0630 from Vernazza. That would be three legs to get there; I think you would need to transfer in La Spezia. If a train is late and you miss your connection.... I would stay in Pisa the night before.

USA Wed 04/27/2005

Southeast England Hotel or B&B
I'm looking for an atmospheric little hotel or B&B to stay at in Southeast England (Kent) where I am going to visit gardens in June. Proximity to Sissinghurst or Great Dixter a plus. Not too expensive. Not too twee
Sarah Hinckley <email>
Seattle, WA USA Tue 04/26/2005

hotel in Normandy?
I'm looking for a small hotel or chambre d'hote in a pretty village in Normandy for a trip in June. Not too expensive and quiet. Accessible by train or bus from Paris. Any recommendations?
Sarah Hinckley <email>
Seattle, WA USA Tue 04/26/2005

Paris - rock & roll
Know of any bars in Paris to hear up and coming rock bands?
Marcey
MN USA Tue 04/26/2005

Christkoenig Pension - Salzburg
Has anyone ever stayed at the Rick recommended Christkoenig Pension in Salzburg? It sounds like it would be a neat place to stay and just wanted to get feedback if any one could offer it.Thanks!
Christine <email>
Arlington, VA USA Tue 04/26/2005

London - rock & roll
Know of any good bars in London tourist area to hear up & coming rock bands?
Marcey
MN USA Tue 04/26/2005

Linda-- hostelling
Linda, unfortunately the way that private hostels go, (and in most European hotels) they charge you a per person fee. A private, single room in a hostel is usually the most expenseive, and then a double goes down in price, and then a triple goes down from there. They do not allow three people to share a double room because again, its based on per person, per bed, and you are required to submit upon reservation/check in how many people will be in your party. If you opt to share a room with more people (let's say a 10-12 bed room) your price is going to go down significantly. The other option here, is to forgo the hostelling experience if it is going to cost you $160 total for all three people (for instance) and try looking at a bed and breakfast or a guesthouse, or a small pension hotel. They are everywhere in Europe! My husband and I decided not to do hostels because we figured that for the amount of money we were paying for a private hostel, we could stay in a bed and breakfast or a small 2 star hotel or something. Most of the small hotels and bed and breakfasts are privately owned and some come with breakfasts. They do not charge a per person fee. They simply charge for the room you are getting. There are pros and cons to both hostels and b&bs, but if you are looking for privacy and a low price, I would opt for the b&b. If you don't mind sharing a room with 10 others to get a very low price with no amenities (don't forget your sleep sack and towels) hostels would be the best bet for you. If you decide to look at small hotels, Rick offers many great suggestions, and you can also go to tripadvisor.com and type in the location you are going to, then scroll through the various "rated" hotels, b&b's, etc... and you can see their prices and features, etc... Hope this helps!
Megan <email>
Hillsboro, OR USA Tue 04/26/2005

Triple in a double?
I'm looking at all these room rates at hostels and cheap hotels....a lot say 50 to 70 Euros for doubles....doesn't that mean 3 female traveling companions can share that room? That sounds like a deal to me for splitting it three ways, or am I missing something?
Linda <email>
Randolph, NJ USA Tue 04/26/2005

Janice, re arriving late in Paris
Janice, I think that four women have nothing to fear using the Paris Metro and streets at the time you will be. It will just barely be dark, and even after dark you're fine as long as you have good sense! The worst sexual harrassment in Paris at night is verbal pressure directed against women on their own, and even that can be stopped by an emphatic demand to be left alone. In your places, I'd learn and practice in advance the French polite, firm and rude ways to say **** off. But you're not likely to need them while you're together. And you shouldn't be afraid to do things on your own at night. As long as you use good sense and unhesitatingly make a scene if harrassed, no harm will come. It's a safer place than the USA at any time.

USA Tue 04/26/2005

Sandra--packing question
Contact solution is essential, but I never fuss with my hair when traveling--I don't want to spend more time in the bathroom than needed--so I would definitely leave behind the gel and hairspray. Buying toiletries at a local pharmacy when you reach your destination is a fun way to get out and mingle with locals and practice language skills. And I cannot imagine packing soap, although maybe you have sensitive skin and want a certain kind. Fundamentally, packing is about personal preference; maybe taking one fewer article of clothing and wearing a pair of pants an additional day will free up space for toiletries you really want to take along. One person's unnecessary item is another person's essential one!
Elizabeth <email>
St. Louis, USA Tue 04/26/2005

trains in switzeland & Italy
We are a family of four (children 10&12) and plan to travel by train in Italy and Switzerland next month. I have calculated the costs and found Ricks advice to be sound. A railpass in Switzerland is a good value but in Italy it would be better to buy tickets as needed. I need help understanding how to integrate that.

We will arrive in Milan, take the train to Gimmelwald, stay for a few days and then to Venice and spend the rest of our time in Italy.

My guess is that we would buy tickets to Brig, then use the Swiss railpass while in Switzerland and reverse that on the return.

To put it another way, it would be convenient to buy a ticket from Milan to Gimmelwald & then Gimmelwald to Venice but I don't understand how to do that and take advantage of the Swiss railpass and not buy a multi-country pass which would not be cost effective in our case.Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!
clay <email>
asheville, nc USA Tue 04/26/2005

Train from Vernazza to Pisa
I am going to Italy in October. On my last day I will be in Vernazza. I need to leave from Vernazza and get to Pisa to catch my plane at 0830. In order to do that, I will need to catch a train at 0457 in order to do this. I hate getting up so early, but it seems to be the only time available where I would not miss my flight. Any advice? Think I should just stay in Pisa the night before? I hate to give up my last night in Vernazza.Thanks
Susan
OHIO USA Tue 04/26/2005

Last minute availibilities??
My two friends and I are backpacking through Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Spain from May 24-June 29. Do we need to book in advance for hostels???? I dont' think so, while my other friend wants to book (all the places) online prior to leaving the states! That defeats the whole purpose of backpacking in my opinion.

Also, do you think a double can hold three people and will they allow that?
Linda <email>
Randolph, nj USA Tue 04/26/2005

Long term rental in Italy
Thank you Norm & Elizabete. Appreciate the tips and info!**Sue**

USA Tue 04/26/2005

Bluedenim-paris outline
Rodin is small and intimate and easily done. You could probably see another of the smaller museums the same day. Louvre, huge and suggest it's the only one you plan for that day. It burned me out after only a few hours.

USA Tue 04/26/2005

Elton in England
Anyone know of any sights or tours in England that have to do with Elton John? I have a few Beatles things on my "to do" list, but LOVE Elton and would like to see some about him also.
Norma <email>
Denver, CO USA Tue 04/26/2005

Arriving late to Paris
I am traveling with 3 other females to Paris at the end of May. Our flight arrives at 9:45 PM. I've never used the Metro at this time of night and wondered if we might feel safer if we took a taxi or made arrangements with a car service to get us to the hotel. Our hotel is three stops on the Metro once we transfer from the RER. The hotel is also located within site of the stop.
janice <email>
Valdosta, GA USA Tue 04/26/2005

Yes, Virginia, there is a metro stop
Virginia, if your heart is pulling you to St. Germain, go there! Metro stations are near to everything, Paris is a walking city, and bus routes may be convenient as well. I'm assuming you're looking at a street map rather than a Metro map-the latter are not to scale. If you switch, you will wonder the whole times whether you made the right decision-don't sweat it!
Susan
WI USA Tue 04/26/2005

Packing Question
I just returned from a weeklong trip to Florida where I ended up buying an extra bag to carry stuff home in. No, not a lot of stuff I bought--but the stuff I brought! My downfall seems to be my toiletries. Here's what I brought: one folding makeup brush, one blush in small plastic container, Clinique foundation/powder; Nalgene small size of shampoo (2); hair gel in travel size bottle; hairspray in same size bottle; travel size toothpaste; floss; toothbrush; Dove stick deodorant; soap in soap container. contact lense solution in 2 12-oz bottles and one 4 oz bottle, plus contact case. when I fold up my cosmetics bag, it is at least 4-5 inches thick. Something's wrong here. At least I think it is.Suggestions? Any help will be most appreciated!
Sandra <email>
Ashley, PA USA Tue 04/26/2005

paris outline
The suggestions on how much to do in a day in Paris has got me thinking. We will be there for 8 nights and I am looking at a "rough outline". When I travel I like to have an idea of what I want to see and when I want to do it but leave it open for other things....I feel you need to be flexible. If I can cover everything I am thrilled!!!!It is hard to know exactly how long you will spend somewhere and like everyone said it does depend alot on your interests.

My partner is not a huge museum person yet we are getting the pass and going to take in some that we may not have done otherwise....so I am looking at what some of the key things I want to see and then target them. That way we can say Yes we went to the Louvre, to D'Orsay, Rodin, Picasso....and I would have been able to see some important pieces.I like the suggestion of no more than one muesume in a day. But I am not considering the churches ect a museum.What I am personally more interested in is archicture...it is one of my passions so to me wandering the streets, seeing the churches goes ahead of the museums...I hope to be able to limit myself to roughly about an hour and a half in each one we go to....possible....maybe...maybe not. I think the key is just to be flexible and enjoy everything you do fully....if you dont see everything you have soemthing to do next time you go back~
Bluedenim <email>
vancouver, bc canada Tue 04/26/2005

american express/early morning trip to airport etc
I know the ad says Don't leave home without it, but want to know how widely accepted it is in Europe/UK. I am only counting on it as my "safety net" credit card.Regarding early morning hotel departure to make a train/plane. I asked this question about a week ago, had several very helpful responses and also encourage you to book taxi/shuttle bus ahead of time. I have done so and now have crossed that item off my "things to worry about" list. Worth the extra money!
beth <email>
nw florida, fl USA Tue 04/26/2005

re: six in scotland
Read RS books and these message boards. They're full of suggestions on saving money.

USA Tue 04/26/2005

Accommodations in Regensburg
Has anyone a suggestion for accommodations in or near Regensburg, Germany? A Gasthaus/B&B is fine or a more intimate hotel/Gasthof.
Ed <email>
Northbrook, IL USA Tue 04/26/2005

Place to stay near Shannon Airport
We are visiting Ireland in late August and coming back to the states in September. We will be flying out of Shannon. I would like to know a good place to stay the night before we fly home. Our flight leaves at 0850 in the morning. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks Roger
roger dooley <email>
turlock, california USA Tue 04/26/2005

LONG TERM RENTAL ITALY
SUE~~~~You may be able to negotiate a long term rate by writing, but my experience has been it is easier to visit the place you want to stay and talk with the manager. ~~~ I have never been successful in email or postal communication for special rates.
ELIZABETE
SALT LAKE CITY, USA Tue 04/26/2005

Six in Scotland
My husband and I are taking our four "children"(age20-29) to Edinburgh, Scotland for a week in early June. We are staying in a R.S. recommended B&B, plan to take daytrips to Glasgow, Stirling, Hadrian's Wall and St. Andrews. With the exchange rate, things seem pretty pricey and we are trying to figure out ways to save a few pounds when possible. Any suggestions appreciated.
Gail Dickel <email>
Omaha, NE USA Tue 04/26/2005

Re: Shipping Wine
Just some more comments on using dealers and wineries to ship wine. Yes, there are a number of places that will offer to ship for you. If you are tempted, ask them about your State regulations, if you get a blank look, or "We do it all the time" answer, find another route. It certainly works if your State has open regulations, but, if your state does not allow or limits, your wine will end up in a Customs warehouse, the shipper(Dealer)...not you, will be notified of the problem, but you will be out the cost of the wine and any shipping costs. Because of the jumble of states regulations, a number of wineries have given up shipping to the US, I don't blame them. Occasionally, you will see someone rake a winery over the coals on the "Scam" board for not shipping, but you really need to know the regulations, not them. I would only arrange shipping myself.
Paul <email>
IA USA Tue 04/26/2005

BURNING PHOTO CDs IN EUROPE
Jenny: I took a 16 stop river cruise last year. Every day someone in our group would be walking through a small town and ask where to find a place to download. People on the street would tell us where. There seems to be one convenient to most tourist sights. Just ask someone walking by. Often you can find the local Tourist Informaiton Office and they will know. Wherever you are, you will want one close by; so finding one now won’t help you when you need it. Proximity is everything.
BEVERLY S.
TULSA, USA Tue 04/26/2005

Paris Metro Proximity
Ok. In December, my husband and I are making our maiden voyage to Paris for a week. About as international as we have ever gone is to Cancun! And thanks, Doug, for asking your timely question. Anyway, we are both really excited and have poured over maps, guide books and hotel reviews to a large degree. And have had fun doing this! Anyway, here is my question. We have found a lovely hotel in the St. Germain area and one close to the St. Paul metro station near the rue de Rivoli. The location in SG is about 1/4 mile to the Odeon metro stop, whereas the hotel near rue de Rivoli is just up the street. Since it will be cold in December and maybe rainy, does it make more sense, and will we have a better time of it, if we pick the hotel with the closer metro stop? I have more of an emotional feel for the St. Germain location because it is closer to the Seine, but there are practical aspects to the one nearer St. Paul and it is also a nice property. Any comments will be appreciated about the metro locations and those neighborhoods in general, from all of your experiences. I figure that either way we can't go wrong but need a push in the right direction.
Virginia
Arvada, CO USA Tue 04/26/2005

11th BIRTHDAY IN VENICE
Teri: When you get there ask how to take the boat to the small island where the gondolas are built. Your 11 year old might like to see them built. I have been there, but I forget how to find it.
R. M. C.
TULSA, USA Tue 04/26/2005

Re: Teri, Shipping Wine
This subject comes up alot, here are some starting points to get information. First, go to the Federal websites, try : http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/ fo some basic information. The US Govt. is really only concerned about getting any Duty owed, and really does not limit amounts. Next, check out your State regulations, as confusing as it may sound, each State is different, nearly all states have limits as to the amount that you can ship back, some allow none. Finally, when you know what your limits are, find a shipping company ahead of time, and know what is required of you and what the process is. You cannot ship alcohol through the US Mail, so talk to Fed Ex, UPS, DHL, or another agency that has an office near you and overseas. Do not rely on wineries or stores to handle the shipping of alcohol...they will not know your State regulations, and you will not be notified by Customs if there is a problem. Myself, I usually arrange to bring any wine back with me. I will warn you that it appears Maryland does not allow the shipping, or even the bringing back, of alcohol. You may "get away" with bringing it back, especially if you return to DC, VA, or a PA airport, but shipping will be caught. I tried to be as brief as possible, feel free to ask follow-up questions.
Paul <email>
IA USA Tue 04/26/2005

Shipping wine
There are plenty of wine sellers who will ship to the states. We were in Italy earlier this month and priced it. Runs about $10 per bottle to ship, so you had better REALLY like the wine.

I brought bubble wrap (takes very little space in bag) and we just bought it back with us. No problems with customs and if you have a rolling carry-on, the bag shouldn't be too much for you to handle.

USA Tue 04/26/2005

11th Bday while in Venice
Anyone have any special recommendations for a birthday treat for a boy celebrating his 11th while in Venice???
Teri <email>
Laurel, MD USA Tue 04/26/2005

Rooms near Frankfurt Rail Station
I'm looking for a mid-priced hotel room to stay at within walking distance from the Frankfurt Rail Station. Any suggestions, websites would be helpful.
Teri <email>
Laurel, MD USA Tue 04/26/2005

Shipping wine home from Italy and Germany
What is common practice (or the regulations) on shipping wine home from Germany and Italy, rather than lugging it in luggage???
Teri <email>
Laurel, MD USA Tue 04/26/2005

barge holidays in France
Let Google search> and/or search France tourisme/ Languedoc-Roussillon or Midi-Pyrennes or Aquitaine

USA Tue 04/26/2005

B&B Santa Margherita Ligure
Help. Need an inexpensive B&B near the rail station in Santa Margherita, Ligure, Italy.
S. McCarron <email>
Arundel, ME USA Tue 04/26/2005

laundry in Athens
Anyone needing to do laundry in Athens, found a nice, clean, courteously staffed place in VATHIS square, near several hostels (one practically next door). Has a large capacity load washer for sleeping bags, t.v., lounge area with free coffee, and can leave your laundry safely guarded. You can even have them do it for you for an extra euro. Prices very competitive with others (laundry in Europe is expensive). Check out American Laundry Systems, 52 Kapodistriou str., Vathis Square (also near Omonia square). (Not getting paid for this, just really liked the place, the service, and having clean clothes!)
Katherine Cabaniss <email>
Victoria, VA USA Tue 04/26/2005

Early morning departure- transportation to train/airports
Agree with prior poster. We had a similar situation in Florence in 2003. We just told the front desk that we needed a cab for early the next morning. He called for us and voila! We had a cab for the airport in plenty of time, plus we told the driver we were in a hurry, and boy did he hurry! It was worth the little extra $ for a cab, directly to the airport. Normally we would have gone to the bus station to save some money, but it was too early in the morning for the buses.

USA Tue 04/26/2005

Burning photo CDs in Europe
Can anyone tell me how plentiful photo shops are in Prague and Paris for downloading digital photos to a CD? I've been researching old posts and the answers seem to vary - thought I'd get an updated answer!
Jenny <email>
Orlando, FL USA Tue 04/26/2005

early train
Otto in Ohio~~~we had a similar situation in FL las t spring with an early flight to London. Ask your hotel to arrange for a taxi the night before. Our hotel explained that this is the way you get a taxi early because they do not start running until around 7 am or so unless by prior arrangement.
Jamie
FL USA Tue 04/26/2005

Florence Rifredi station
The earliest trains on Sunday from Florence to Venice leave from the Rifredi train station. I'm staying near the S.M.N. station, about 2 miles away. Any ideas on getting there at 5:30am?
Otto
Ohio USA Tue 04/26/2005

Where to Go, Spain and Portugal, Majorca?
I am travelling with three friends, flying into Lisbon then going to Spain and maybe take the boat to Morocco, we are there 10 days, any suggestions for beautiful beaches, awesome places to stay, etc????
annie marie <email>
seattle, WA USA Mon 04/25/2005

Elizabeth- travel light
Elizabeth on the traveling light forum...If you read this, what is your packing list? Staying under 12 pounds is fantastic!!!!
claire <email>
wa USA Mon 04/25/2005

Paris and Lice
Megan...I have never, ever gotten lice or anything else in Paris. I grew up there, have lived there as an adult and go back often. I'm sure it's possible, but no more so than here in the US.
Susan
Sausalito, Ca USA Mon 04/25/2005

Renting car in Scotland.
Melissa~~i have to disagree some with the post the Norm gave to you. Yes, use public transportation, but if you use it 100% of the time, you will miss some beautiful villages that the trains and buses do not go. I would suggest renting a car for part of your trip. And yes, you can get a smaller car that is automatic, I do every trip. Have a great trip

Oh USA Mon 04/25/2005

Oh, to be in Paris...
Doug, Paris is huge(it's also my favorite place on earth) and each quarter is not clearly defined-they do have different atmospheres, but you can't sense that in half a day. The most important thing about planning is to discuss it a lot with your travel partner(s). Rick's itineraries are too rushed for me, but not for everyone, but having expectations that match will take some of the stress out of the trip. You do not need to have each day planned, just an outline of what you want to do in the week and a note on which of these things is closed on any day. Studying the map helps to cluster sights that are close to one another so you can set out in the am for that area, but you must leave time for weather, lines, public transport and serendipity. If you love something and/or it's a gorgeous day and you want to sit in a park awhile, you shouldn't feel rushed to get through your schedule. We prioritize so we'll get to the "must-sees" but decide the night before or in the am based on weather and energy levels. It's a magical place, and rushing or arguing with your partner would be a waste of that glorious week. Bon voyage!
Susan
WI USA Mon 04/25/2005

Haircut in Venice
In Rick's book about Venice he recommends a place to get a hair cut by a "Hair sculptor". I love the idea of getting my hair cut in Italy and I'm wondering if anyone has used this shop or another in Venice or maybe somewhere in Siena? How was it and about how much did it cost?
cecilia <email>
raleigh, nc USA Mon 04/25/2005

Lucca Accommodation
Does anyone have any accommodation recommendations for Lucca, Italy. I have found a few places mentioned elsewhere on the graffiti wall but all the places are full in May when my wife and I plan to go to travel there. email addresses would be very helpful.Thanks
Ross Wheatley <email>
Stratofd, PEI Canada Mon 04/25/2005

Paris time well spent
What a great question Doug. A lot depends on what you want to do and see. Are you both long museum viewers? Or can you cut one out in a few hours? Do you plan on spending time in evening going out for long dinners? Here is how I like doing Paris. I've been there twice. In the morning I do one museum, this takes about three hours, I walk to a restaurant and enjoy a long lunch, preferably at a sidewalk cafe and people watch. In the afternoon I will take long strolls through an area of the city that strikes my fancy,this includes markets, shopping and side tours like Notre Dame and end up doing a loop back to my hotel. This can take most of the later part of the day. If the weather is hot I switch the process. Its hard for me to do more than one museum or market in one day. If the evening is sunny don't miss Norte Dame as the sun sets. I think you have set out too much to see in one day. Montmarte and Sacre Cour should take most of one day. If you can take Sunday and see Versailles. In the evening they turn on the fountains and have concerts! At least when I was there. Excuse my French spelling.
Tom T <email>
Portland, or USA Mon 04/25/2005

Trains in France
How on-time are the trains in France? Is 15 minutes enough time to switch from a navette to TGV? Specifically St-Pierre-des-Corps, but in general on-time info appreciated.
Marc <email>
USA Mon 04/25/2005

German tourists
I wouldn't let it keep me from visiting Germany, but in my experience, German tourists are rude in one specific way, or at least it seems that way from an American perspective. I have never been to Germany, so maybe it is normal behavior there to break in line instead of lining up and waiting like we do. That is the only "etiquette" breach that I have ever associated with Germans, but I've seen and experienced it over and over.

I am a short woman and have had male and female German tourists knock me down in order to get ahead of me in lines at airports, one time when that happened I fell against a door that was closed and locked and developed a pretty bad bruise where my back hit the doorknob. On one occasion, we were waiting in line at St. Peter's to take the elevator to the roof to go to the cupola, German tourists broke into the front of the line holding out their tickets saying, "bitte, bitte." Fortunately for us, the Vatican official wouldn't let them break in line ahead of those of us who were patiently waiting. And climbing up the campanile in Florence, I have been pushed out of the way, in a very narrow passage, by German tourists.

I don't know if this is normal behavior in Germany, maybe it is acceptable there to shoulder your way to the front of a line, but it certainly has been my observation during several trips that Germans will literally knock you down to get in line ahead of you.

USA Mon 04/25/2005

Where to go
Michelle: Regarding, where to go--Paris, Prague & the Romantic Road would all be good choices. I have been to all those places (where I've already been would be a factor), and I would pick the Romantic Road in Germany because of all the Christmas markets. My parents have been to the German Christmas markets--I have only been to the German Christmas market in Chicago--but they seem to have a fun atmosphere. There's things to buy, mulled wine to drink & food to eat. My parents are always able to take in a few Christmas concerts at the churches too. That would fit my mood in December more than sightseeing in Paris or Prague...however maybe another graffitti writer knows of equally wonderful things in Paris at Christmas time.

As to Germans being rude, that can happen. The German hotel people are likely to tell you if you're doing something wrong. My husband & I kind of laugh about it though. Parisians can be rude too--especially if you don't speak French. We were at a museum in Berlin and a French tour guide got into an argument with the German ticket seller ....wow..all we could think was that "we aren't in Minnesota anymore!"
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Mon 04/25/2005

long -term rental Italy
One of the sites we explored a few months ago (but didn't use), was http://www.accomodationsrome.com/. It's a apartment-villa booking agency that's been operating for the past decade, and many of its locations offer month-long plus stays for discounted rates. Book early though....we booked out apartment (on another site) for a week earlier this month back in December, and the selection was narrowing fast!
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Mon 04/25/2005

re: Where to go
Michelle, don't base your travel decision on someone else's assessment of a country as "rude" -- In my experience, people everywhere are warm and friendly. As a "Rick Steves" traveler, you're unlikely to create a situation in which you might perceive rudeness, and what some people perceive as rude may simply be a cultural misunderstanding. I've never heard of Germans being characterized as rude, except sometimes as tourists -- they seem to have a reputation in other European countries for being boisterous or even "rude" tourists. You have a hard choice! All of your options are wonderful places!
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Mon 04/25/2005

Rent a car in Scotland
Melissa...stick with public transport...it's much easier and far more relaxing. There aren't a lot of "freeways" in Scotland, which means driving seems to be an endless series of getting up to speed, then gearing down for the inevitable traffic circles, or getting stuck behind some huge transport truck on a two-lane highway. And be prepared to drive a standard transmission car. Automatic are available, but they are usually in the bigger sizes, so more expensive (never mind the price of gas!). You have to go pretty far out of the way to run out of rail service. And coach (bus) service is very extensive, and comfortable. For buses, check out http://www.nationalexpress.com/, click on "Destinations" at the top, then select "Scotland" to see what they cover. There are other companies as well. For rail service, check out http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/index.php, then click on "Route Maps" to see where it can take you. You can also check prices and book tickets on line.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Mon 04/25/2005

vaccines
It's neither required nor even recommended that travelers to western Europe get or need a Hep-A vaccination. It's more of a threat in developing countries, where sanitation standards may be lower.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Mon 04/25/2005

Venice-Rome Transportation
Depends on how early your flight leaves Rome. There's an overnight train from Venice at about 9 pm that gets into Rome Termini around 6:10 am. You transfer in Verona, around 10:45 pm, and get sleeping accomodation from there to Rome. Another leaves Venice at 12:17 am, getting in around 7:25am....you get sleeping accomodation all the way, then transfer at Tiburtina station in Rome to get to Termini. From Termini, trains run every half hour to Fiumicino airport, taking about half an hour to make the journey. Count on getting to the check-in desk at the aiport 2 hours before flight departure, so you can get your boarding pass and get through security. Lufthansa partner, Air One, offers a flight from Venice to Fiumicino in the morning, leaving at 6:55 and getting in at 8:10 am, for about 90 Euro per person. That may be cheaper than an overnight train, and leave you with a better chance of avoiding any delays. Check them out at http://www.flyairone.it/en/. Check out train schedules and fares at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Mon 04/25/2005

long -term rental Italy
I am interested in staying in Italy for 1- 2 months in the months of March- May. Can anyone direct me to a web site that offers decent long term rentals? I want to get a cheaper rate than the weekly rates that are typically offered. Anyone have any experiences that they want to share?Thanks Sue
Sue
USA Mon 04/25/2005

Group travel to Italy
Kathy - I would start with a travel agent for group bookings on airfare. Airlines do have group rates, but I'm not sure such seats need to be booked by a travel agent. If your group is departing from the same city, your chances are better. Most hotels and tour guides also offer group rates.
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Mon 04/25/2005

how much can you do in a day
Doug....with a week in Paris, you can see everything you want, and at a more relaxed pace than most tourists. We spent a week in Paris last year, and just got back on the weekend from another week-long stay. It was refreshing to take our time. Your one-day suggestion is do-able, with lots of time to explore. We try to concentrate on smaller geographic zones to minimize walking, so group all the sites in one area and use the day to see them. Don't be afraid to head back to your hotel for a "siesta" before heading out for an evening out. And don't hesitate to go back to locations that pique your interest....you'll have far more fun off the beaten path. If you don't mind the extra expense, make two visits to the Louvre, if you're interested in that sort of thing. There's no way you can do justice to all three wings in a day.....and it could turn out to be a very tiring day to boot. Don't try to do more than one museum a day....you'll O-D on culture! Build in some "rest" time....a day where you sleep in late, then go for a stroll along the Seine, enjoying the sunshine (if it's out) and sitting on the benches to watch people go by. Take a day to go to Versailles...the palace is huge, the grounds are even better, and it's great fun to sit at a cafe near the train station and watch all the tour groups flood by. Take a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday to do the Marches aux Puces....it's massive, and busy. Take the time to visit some of the other markets listed in Rick's guidebook....you'll Rick's book is an excellent guide to Paris by geographic areas, and I highly recommend the "walks" he outlines.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Mon 04/25/2005

Venice-Rome Transportation
We will be ending our trip to Italy in Venice, but will fly back home from Rome on a morning flight. What is the easiest method to get from Venice to Rome FCO Airport? Overnight train with sleeping car?
CJ Wilson <email>
Fresno, CA USA Mon 04/25/2005

RENT A CAR IN SCOTLAND
Melissa: I agree that auto travel is best. Even in the UK where they haven’t decided which side is correct. A lot depends on how old you are. If you are 30 or over you are mature enough to drive there. Driving in Edinburgh was difficult for me because there is so much traffic on narrow streets. If I had it to do again I would find a room in a suburb and stay out of the central business district. Be sure to see Loch Ness and all the Highland area (2 or 3 days). The farther north you go the more scenic it becomes. Bus or train travel will limit your ability see the most interesting attractions. I have traveled by bus and by train in the UK and I won’t do that again.
WILHELM S.
COASTAL PLAINS, USA Mon 04/25/2005

Alund and St. Petersburg hotel
Jennifer - For St. Petersburg Russia, I stayed at Hotel Moskva at the end of Nevsky Prospect in 2002. I was with a small tour group, but I arrived a day early and stayed alone in my room. The hotel is huge, across the street from Nevsky Monastery and has a metro stop at the base of the hotel to get you down Nevsky. http://www.hotel-moscow.ru/english/home.htm.
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Mon 04/25/2005

Group travel
My family is planning a trip to Europe next summer, mainly in Italy, and will be there for about 18 days. There are going to be somewhere between 10 and 16 people in our group, so we're wondering about group discounts for airfare, as well as ideas for accomodations. Any suggestions on where to start?
Kathy <email>
Newport Beach, CA USA Mon 04/25/2005

vaccines
is it required or just advised to have the Hep-A vaccine before traveling to Italy? My kids and I are going to Rome and I can't seem to get a definate answer about the vaccine.
M ODell <email>
Jeffersonville, IN USA Mon 04/25/2005

Driving in Scotland
Melissa-your posting makes it sound as if you are traveling by yourself. If you are “not much of a driver” even in the States, I think it would be very difficult for you to drive somewhere unfamiliar (much less on the left side of the road), try to keep up with maps, directions, etc. by yourself. My husband and I have driven every time we’ve gone to Europe. I have driven in England (on the left) and managed the roundabouts, etc. The key for a good trip though has been to have someone else be the navigator. The signage can be poor, and even when it is good, it is difficult to catch everything when you are not sure how far away something is located. I love driving in Europe and would recommend it to almost everyone as long as they had a decent navigator with them. When we are traveling here in the states, I have even relinquished the driving to my teenage daughter, who can drive well enough, but has trouble reading a map!

USA Mon 04/25/2005

Learning Italian
Sherry - (I tried the e-mail link but it wasn't working.) I am currently learning learing Italian using a couple resources. One is a CD-ROM program from Rossetta Stone (www.RosettaStone.com). It teaches you through immersion. I am also using a book by Barron's. It's just called Learn Italian. (They also have books written teaching other languages.) The book is like a school book with easy to follow excercises. I've picked up a lot but it's easier if you have someone to learn and practice with. I'm learning some Italian so I can better communicate with my Italian relatives. Hope this helps.
Sarah <email>
PA USA Mon 04/25/2005

Rent a car in Scotland?
Hello, all! I was hoping someone here could give me some tips. I'm planning on visiting Scotland in the next year or so, and from what I've been reading online and in guidebooks, it seems the best way to get around is by car. I'm nervous about this, since of course they drive on the "other side of the road" in Scotland, and I'm not familiar with their driving regulations. I'm sure the latter I can find easily enough, but I'm not sure how to get over my anxiety of the former. I'm not much of a driver here in the States! I'm planning on staying in or near Edinburgh and tripping out to various sites in the surrounding countryside, with perhaps one day devoted to heading up to the Highlands. Should I make the leap and rent a car? Or should I depend on bus and train transportation? I know there are some areas of northern Scotland where the train service ends, though I'm not sure about bus service. Can anyone give me some pointers? Please email me at the address in the signature line. I'd be most obliged!
Melissa <email>
NH USA Mon 04/25/2005

Roma to Civitavecchia
Eileen Lacy: For a schedule of trains from Roma to Civitavecchia, go to trenitalia.com. It looks like 2nd class is E 4.10, 1st class is 6.40 on most routes.

USA Mon 04/25/2005

Granada, Spain
Reservations for the Alhambra should be booked much in advance if possible. Just got back from Spain and tried to book for any day last week at BBVA bank and on internet and it was all sold out for the entire week. We were staying in Nerja for the week so I thought it would be ok to wait until we got to Nerja to book the daytrip to Granda. We ended up leaving Nerja at 5:30am and then was in line by 7:30am to get tickets..and we were able to get in..but it would have been better to book via internet in the USA ahead!! Especially when you are on Spain time!! But we had a great time anyway!! Enjoy
judy
USA Mon 04/25/2005

Sorrento- Hotel del Corso- Need your advise
Any one out there used this Rick recommended hotel in Sorrento? I've made reservations via the internet for our holiday next month...just want to make sure I've picked a good hotel/decent price. We will be traveling with 2 small bike cases, and plan to walk to the hotel from the ferry dock. Not sure if it's at the top of a hill. Rick's book says central location.... Any better recommendations for us?
Ellen <email>
USA Mon 04/25/2005

Scotland Self-Catering Options
We took a family trip to England/Scotland last year and stayed in Landmark Trust properties (www.landmarktrust.org.uk) and would highly recommend them--historic properties with comfy apartments built in. Stayed in Rosslyn Castle near Edinburgh but there are many other Scotland options (would definitely try Collegehill House right next to Rosslyn Chapel next time.) Really brings the history lessons home!
Barb
Iowa City, IA USA Mon 04/25/2005

Where to go in December?
Deciding between Paris-Prague and the Romantic Road (Munich, Fussen, Rothenburg, and Wurzburg. The timing is approx the first or second week of December.For Paris-Prague, I will be flying into and out of Paris (and catch a connecting low-cost flight to and out of Prague). As for Germany, I can get a good deal of Frankfurt-Munich open-jaw ticket. But what concerns me is... much has been said about rudeness of the German. What would you choose?
Michelle
LA USA Sun 04/24/2005

Aland, Finland
I will be traveling to Sweden,Finland, the Island of Aland,and St. Petersburg, next spring, and would love suggestions for places to stay, particularly in Aland, and St. Petersburg. Safe, and not too expensive.Thanks.......
Jennifer <email>
portland, Or USA Sun 04/24/2005

THAILAND
Bill~~~My wife and I visited Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia two years ago.~~~ It was definitely safe to travel there at that time and I have read nothing since changing that. ~~~We ate a lot of street food in Malaysia and Thailand without aftereffects.~~~ I recommend you skip Bangkok and head north to Chang Mai. ~~~ It is mountainous and clean air.~~~ We felt no need to be “on your guard” any time. Take the same precautions you would take here at home; wear a neck pouch with money and passport.Go to your public library and read the guide books to determine which sights you want to see and don’t be concerned about safety.
CARLOS
EL PASO, USA Sun 04/24/2005

Mass at St. Peter's
There are usually Masses being said continually every morning in St. Peter's, both in the chapels around the basilica and in those "down stairs" around the Tomb. The only person who says Mass at the main altar under the baldacino is the Pope. It is a life long ambition for many priests to say Mass in St. Peter's. They sign up far in advance for the opportunity. I'm sure there are nearly as many Masses on Sunday as well. Also, one can hardly go a block in Rome without coming across a Catholic Church. We've been to early morning Masses as well as ones in the evening, all over Rome on many days of the week. Santa Susanna near Termini is the American Church with Masses in English.
Ken
Gunnison, Co USA Sun 04/24/2005

Italian Language Audio CD & Book
I would like to get a langauge cd and book set to learn Italian with. There seems to be many to choose from. Can anyone give me some input of any experiences they've had with this. Recommendations would be great. I only want to learn basic Italian, so I can order in restaurants, check out train schedules, book room, ask for help, etc.
Sherry MacCullouch <email>
Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, QC Canada Sun 04/24/2005

Bugs in Europe?
So I was browsing through the guidebook posts, and a disgruntled consumer let the readers know the beware of the bug/lice/scabies problem in Amsterdam and Paris... sounds pretty rediculous if you ask me. BUT, just to be prepared for anything, does anyone have an information regarding lice problems over there and if any countries have a significant problem with this? This poster said that they carry infectious disease, etc... and the unmentioned hotel was filled with them. Any insight/experience would be appreciated :)
Megan <email>
USA Sun 04/24/2005

Thailand
Bill: Safe to travel? Are you referring to the tsunami? That only affected the west coast beaches. Check lonelyplanet.com's Thorntree for the latest beach info. If you mean pickpockets etc., I'm not sure what you've been reading, but in general Bangkok's no worse than any other big city (I'd worry about other travelers more than the locals). Now, if you want to talk about Bangkok's traffic and pollution... Get out of Bangkok - maybe head north for Chiang Mai. Better still, head further north for Laos. Street food - usual advice: if the stall and stall-holder look clean and the food is cooked in front of you it's probably OK, but drink bottled water and no ice unless it's made from purified water.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Sun 04/24/2005

midlife transition refuge for woman
I am a midlife woman who seeks a 3-4 week escape on my own starting late May, away from hubby and work - to get to know myself again and figure some things out. I'd love suggestions for a town or small city to stay where I can photograph to my heart's content, connect with people, and have some activities and perhaps classes or a purpose for being there to help structure time. Seaside locations esp. loved. Any suggestions? (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico would be ideal but I've done that town recently...)
Kyle <email>
Seattle, WA USA Sun 04/24/2005

scotland accomodations
Has anyone used the self-catering accomodation options in Scotland? I am planning a family trip(4 persons) in August and am interested in trying this out. Any reccomendations?
k masiero <email>
sudbury, ON canada Sun 04/24/2005

Packing Light - Underwear (really!)
Try Winter Silks - silk briefs - they usually dry overnight.
Jim T <email>
Port Angeles, WA USA Sun 04/24/2005

Choosing Between London Hotels
Mark:I just worked though this decision. I had reservations for the Chery Court and then changed to book a room at the Garden Court. My reasons: Garden Court has better reviews (tripsadvisor.com), provides breakfast (not just fruit and biscuits), better rooms, easier location to get to from Heathrow, better access to restaurants (I've stayed in the Cherry Court area). Tip - get your best room rates from Garden Court online, then request 5% discount for Rick Steves clients. Net rate for double 83.60 pounds/night (September '05).
JIm T <email>
Port Angeles, WA USA Sun 04/24/2005

Dan - Longmont digital charge in car
Dan, according to my husband who works in the car industry...the charge in a cigarette lighter in a European car is the same as the US. You should be fine.
Ellen <email>
Centennial, CO USA Sun 04/24/2005

camera battery charger in rental car
I'd like to use a digital camera battery recharger with a car cigarette lighter adapter. Is the voltage in European cars the same as American cars?
Dan <email>
Longmont, CO USA Sun 04/24/2005

bag check
I meant the free bag check at Pompei.
Danelle Gilliam <email>
Boise, ID USA Sun 04/24/2005

Pompei baggage check
We are leaving Positano to go back to Rome and we want to squeeze in Pompei inbetween. Does anyone know if the free bag check that Rick mentions is big enough to handle a 3 foot long bag? Thanks, Boise Idaho
Danelle Gilliam <email>
Boise, ID USA Sun 04/24/2005

Second Class Train Tix
We have 3 people-- 2 adults & one teen--traveling Paris, Nice, Cinque Terre, Gimmelwald, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Paris. Would it be cheaper to buy 2nd Class Train Tix or First Class Saver?
Eileen <email>
Naperville, IL USA Sun 04/24/2005

Cheaper to buy 2nd Class tix with multiple countries
We are a mom & daughers (age 17 & 21) traveling through France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany & Netherlands in 18 days. Can we travel more cheaply by buying 2nd Class rail tix or should I purchase the First Class Saver?
Eileen <email>
USA Sun 04/24/2005

Cell Phone In Italy
Check E-bay in the UK www.ebay.co.uk. There are dozens of people offering older cellphones for sale at cheap prices. Look for a GSM phone (uses SIM cards), that is UNLOCKED, and works on the 900 or 1800 Mhz bands (or both). Then, when arriving in Italy, check out the nearest cellphone store and purchase a SIM card for about $30 dollars. There is also a lady living in Italy who advertises doing a similar service for you on ebay.com. You can recharge the phone from many tobacco shops. TIM is the cheapest and widest-ranging cellphone company, with per-minute rates in Italy of about 5 Euro cents a minute. EVERYONE in Italy has a cell phone these days....including kids as young as 10!
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sun 04/24/2005

re: Thailand
go to www.roughguides.com, browse to thailand, over on the left will be sections on money, travel, and safety, etc

USA Sun 04/24/2005

Cruise ships in Venice
I stand corrected! According to the map provided by another Rick Steves fan, the cruises begin and end very near the train terminal. However, this same Rick Steves fan confirms that he also saw a cruise ship docked along St. Mark's Square....evidently for a short tour stop before traveling on. Please see http://www.vtp.it/pages/comeRaggiungerci/crociere.jsp?n=0
Sue Cramer <email>
Peoria, AZ USA Sun 04/24/2005

Dubrovnik to Florence
We are thinking of visiting Dubrovnik and the surrounding area at the end of a trip to Greece and Italy. Any advice on geting back to Florence for our flight home. Ferry or plane, which would be best? Also any islands or coastal villages near Dubrovnik that are don't miss?
Jerry Stanford <email>
Nampa, ID USA Sun 04/24/2005

Thailand
Hello,My wife & I are thinking of traveling to Thailand in September. I know Rick Steves doesn't have info. for Thailand but we have seen much of Europe & are thinking of seeing Thailand. My question is is it safe to travel there now? Does one usually get sick from the street food? What should we look out for? We read other books about thailand and it seems like you have to be on your gurad all of the time, if anyone has traveled there recently, please help us with our decision, thank you!!Sunny regards,Lisa & Bill
Bill <email>
Long Island, ny USA Sun 04/24/2005

Audrey
I don't have specific recomodations but I have been doing some research myself and I have found that there are some restaruants where you can get a good three course meal for about 40 euros a person. Of course you can spend alot more!!! I was told by a friend that the Marais area is a great area to find good restaurants that don't break the bank
bluedenim
vancouver, bc canada Sun 04/24/2005

how much can you do in a day
One question I have is how much can you see in a day in Paris..we are there for a week and have planned out what we think we can do in a day...For example one day we were planning:Ille De Cites and Notre Dame, Luxembourg quarter and Latin Quarter.
Doug
USA Sun 04/24/2005

money - security
Having travelled extensively for years we find one thing really helps - we sew Velcro into all of our pockets - we actually saw a picker discouraged by this - if one goes into your pocket you can hear the Velcro being separated as well as feel it. Husband wears a chest money pack for important papers - we usually carry cash and use bank machines because the rate is better at machines. We also use credit cards. We only have our daily allotment readily available in a velcroed pocket. The rest is secretly pocketed elsewhere on our bodies. We are always keenly aware of our surroundings and those around us. It is your holiday and you worked hard for it.
Sandra
Guelph , ON Canada Sun 04/24/2005

boat transport
Does anyone know if there is boat service on the river frome Rome to Ostia Antica yet ?Thanks Dean
dean jackson <email>
alton, va USA Sun 04/24/2005

Memorable Restaurant for a Birthday
My husband and I will be in Paris mid-July. During that time he will be celebrating his birthday. We're staying in LeRaincy-Villemomble and wondering about a memorable restaurant for the big day. Villemomble is 15 minutes by rail to Gare du Nord and Saint-Lazare, but we're open to any location within a 30 minute commute. One major point -- we do not want to be surrounded by hoity toity waiters and patrons. As to cost, is $35/entree (25 euros) a reasonable price to expect for a fine meal in Paris? Your suggestions much appreciated.
Audrey Barratt <email>
North Vancouver, BC Canada Sun 04/24/2005

Re: Valuables
Tony- We almost always keep our money and passports in our money belts but we have the kind that go around the waist which are not uncomfortable at all but can get a little sweaty on a hot day. If you really must leave something in the room, sometimes you are able to hide things behind the paintings/prints that are up. Either the frame or the weight of the print will hold the items against the wall. Just remember that you put something there and don't forget it!

USA Sun 04/24/2005

Mass at St. Peter's
Trying to figure out whether there are Masses for the public on Sunday mornings at St. Peter's in Rome. Thought I saw them listed somewhere, but now I can't remember. Nothing on the Vatican website. Anyone been or know the times?
<email>
USA Sun 04/24/2005

Hotel Deposits
The US Postal Service does issue international money orders to many countries. Unfortunately, Great Britain is not one of them. I have an account with www.xe.com and have sent several bank drafts in GBP to London. Great service and excellent exchange rate. It takes a bit of time to set up an online account and get it approved. Once you initiate a transaction, you need to allow time for a draft to be issued and mailed to Europe. For faster service, you can do a wire transfer, but it costs more.
Tim <email>
Minot, ND USA Sun 04/24/2005

A few answers
VERSAILLES...Absolutely beautiful...a definite must-see. The train ride to Versailles from Paris is about 30 minutes or so. You can visit the chateau and have time to explore the gardens as well as the town if you so desire.

PARIS AT NIGHT...As I'm sure you are aware, there are the organzied bus tours who offer the Paris Illuminations tour, taking you on a trip around the city at night. I've been on the Paris Vision one and they provide a headset to listen to the commentary on the history of Paris. If you want to do it alone, all you need is a metro map and a few tickets (or carte orange) and take a tour yourself. Sacre Coeur is fabulous and offers a panoramic view of Paris from its steps. I'd actually start in Montmarte...stroll through the area right before dark and overlook Paris from the steps after dark. Then hop on the metro, off at the nearest stop, perhaps Champs Elysses, depending on which line you hop on. I'd end my visit at the Eiffel Tower. Moulin Rouge is very pretty after dark, too, just be careful...use the Blanche metro stop, I believe and you'll be right next to it.
Brandie <email>
USA Sun 04/24/2005

Valuables
I know it's bad, but I've always left my valuables in the hotel in my locked suitcase. We stay at a nice 2-star hotel and no one messes with my stuff. I don't find a money belt of a neck pouch is comfortable, so I leave my passport buried in a shoe in the bottom of my suitcase...I do, of course, bring the key to the luggage locks with me.
Oz
USA Sun 04/24/2005

Barging in France
I am looking for a high quality barge company in France for a week long trip on a small "hotel" barge. Any suggestions?
Betty <email>
Boston, MA USA Sun 04/24/2005

Train tickets for the UK
Carol~~yes, you can purchase train tickets for the UK with your visa. If you plan to purchase them before you leave home I would call the station and purchase them. They are always less that you then buying them on the internet.

Ohio USA Sun 04/24/2005

Cruise Ship in Venice
Iain, I think Sue is dead wrong. Contact the cruise line for this information. They know where there ship is docking. Our experience in Venice is that we were docked just to the west of the train station. It was a three minute work on dry land from the ship to the train station. To the best of my knowledge there is no ship docking anywhere near St. Mark's Square.
Frank P. <email>
Centennial, CO USA Sun 04/24/2005

valuables
you know I was wondering about this myself...I have always left my passport ect in the room in the safe if they have one....I just don't like the idea of losing it while I am out.But that being said I have been re thinking that lately.....Of course at night when we go to the clubs etc I would leave it in the room

USA Sun 04/24/2005

Versailles - Marie
In my opinion, it was absolutely worth it to take the train to Versailles for a half day. The trip itself does not take that long and the chateau is within very easy walking distance from the train station.
Chris
MA USA Sun 04/24/2005

Re: valuables in the Hotel
There really is no set standard that I can say do or don't. Best rule is if it is not a problem, keep them on you in a moneybelt. At some time during your trip however, you will need to leave items in your room. For instance, for a day at the beach, I think my stuff is safer in my room than in a bag at the beach or in a watertight (maybe) pouch. Assess the security of the place, I usually stay in small, family places, so I don't worry too much. I keep anything I leave well hid or out of the way, or I have even asked the owner to hold a bag if I have a specific concern.
Paul <email>
IA USA Sun 04/24/2005

Re: Max, Rail Tickets
As mentioned by the previous post, there is no reason to buy point to point tickets ahead of your trip. Do it when you get there, maybe the day before at the train station. Your itinerary does have an exception to this, your Paris-London leg. I took this same route last year, my experience: The Amsterdam-Brugges leg, there are some high speed, more expensive options, but we saved big by taking Regional trains, and only arrived maybe 30 min later. Brugge to Brussels, only local trains really anyway, Brussels to Paris, High speed option only, you can make reservations/tickets the same day, we made them the day before. Paris-London, hgere's the exception. This is on Eurostar; buy tickets here in the US, as soon as you know the day you are travelling. some trains, and always the discount tickets, sell out fast. I bought mine through this (Rick's) website, excellent service and help. I found all of the ticket personnel in Holland and Belgium to be very helpful, even point out low cost options and tips.
Paul <email>
IA USA Sun 04/24/2005

Tony, I would never leave my valuables in a hotel. Take them with you in a money belt! I have heard of other customers in hotels taking things from people's rooms and there is always the dishonest employee.

USA Sun 04/24/2005

Cruise ships in Venice?
Are you sure the cruise ships dock near St. Marks? I have been to Venice 10-12 times and have never seen a cruise ship? Can't believe I missed something so large!!

USA Sun 04/24/2005

Carry valuables or leave in hotel?
Is it better to bring your valuables (passport, cash, rail tickets, etc.) with you in a money belt than leaving it at the hotel?
Tony <email>
Portland, OR USA Sun 04/24/2005

Cruise ship docked at Venice
All large cruise ships are docked by St. Mark's Square, not near the train station.
Sue Cramer <email>
Peoria, AZ USA Sat 04/23/2005

Eurail
To the Eurail questions:My brother and I traveled in Europe for 3 weeks and went through 8 countries. It was a whirlwind trip with stops in most places of 1 night and 3 nights for big cities like Rome, Amsterdam and Madrid.

I can't think of a better way to do this if you have rough or even no plans. We just hopped on the train and decided where we wanted to get off while on the train.

We only got reservations from the Paris to Spain overnight (I forget where it stopped) because we wanted a couchette. The only problem we ran into was getting on the train from Rome to Austria. We should have had reservations because every person and their mother was on that train and I had to sleep on the floor in the hallway outside the compartments!
Adam <email>
WY USA Sat 04/23/2005

phone line converters
Seattlemom
You have three options:http://www.magellans.com/store/Phone___Electric_Connectivity?Args=
http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/modem.htmand I also have seen them at Walmart.

Also, be certain that it is not a digital line as these are common in Europe and will fry your modem. Consider getting a digital line tester or asking ahead of time. Additionally, you may run into the problem of a "hard wired" phone (line runs direct into wall w/o jack).Hope this helps
Adam <email>
WY USA Sat 04/23/2005

Sorrento lodging for my 21-year-old daughter in Sorrento
My daughter is completing a junior year university semester abroad in Italy at the end of May, 2005, but does not return to the U.S. until June 15. She has never traveled completely alone in Europe--and is a bit nervous about solo travel--but will need to do so between June 1-15. She is somewhat proficient in her spoken Italian language at this point and does not need to be housed by an English speaking establishment. She loves Sorrento and is thinking about staying there at a bed and breakfast in called Mami Camilla, both for its affordability and its on-site cooking classes (cooking students get about a 50% discount on the cost of a single room). Has anyone ever stayed at Mami Camilla or another affordable place in Sorrento? Is it safe for a young woman traveling alone? Ideally, I would love to help her find a small B & B with proprietors who would be sympathetic and helpful to a young, somewhat shy woman traveling alone. Thanks from her concerned mom, Bonnie.
Bonnie <email>
Santa Cruz, CA USA Sat 04/23/2005

Cruise ship dock Venice
Can anyone tell me where the cruise ships leave from in Venice? Is it beside the Train Station/parking area?I do not seem to be able to find this anywhere.
Iain Hunter <email>
Edmonton, Alberta Canada Sat 04/23/2005

International Money Orders
Gail, Check with the post office. You may be able to buy international money orders. Seems like this is what I did when I reserved a hotel for my son and his wife and the hotel would not accept a credit card.

USA Sat 04/23/2005

uk
to the best of my knowledge yes you can buy rail tickets with your visa online for the UK trains...unlike some other europe trains

USA Sat 04/23/2005

Uffizzi and Other Galleries
If you read Rick's guide book (hint, hint) you'd know that tickets for the major galleries can be purchased at some small, uncrowded galleries. I wasn't about to stand in line for 2 hours to get a ticket to see the David statue. Instead, I bought a ticket at the ticket office of the Monastery of San Marco, a few blocks away, where I went to see frescoes by Fra Angelico. No line, almost no people in the whole place for that matter. Tickets are stamped for a particular time, so you will have to wait in line until your admittance time. I waited about 30 minutes (this was in mid-October).
Jane Reed
Los Angeles , CA USA Sat 04/23/2005

Rail Tickets, Britain
Can we buy rail tickets in Great Britain with our Visa card?
Carol Sperber <email>
Bremerton, WA USA Sat 04/23/2005

Rail Tickets
Max~~~I never buy point-to-point tickets here. I always wait until I need them and usually buy when I get to the RR station to travel. Never had a problem and I can always change my plans when I need to. Buying rail passes is another thing; you should purchase them before you go. If you qualify for senior discounts ask about them. I learned in Brugge or Amsterdam that we got a discount when buying rail tickets.
charlie z.
NYC, USA Sat 04/23/2005

DRIVING IN ITALY
Janice: if I were going to be driving for 30 days I definitely would lease. i have rented 9 times and bought a car once; so I have some experience. There are several auto manufacturers like Peugeot who will buy back. I would research each one of them and compare costs and advantages before deciding. You might do a google.com search for “Leasing autos”to find other leasors. Also read travelers comments on this Graffiti page under “Driving Europe Crazy.” I have read many reports in the past two years on leasing.
walker
nm USA Sat 04/23/2005

HOSTELS AND MOTELS
Linda~~~ If you search on the web you will find that YHA is the Youth Hostel Association. I can’t guess what HA means. There are a number of associations around the world. Each one has a different name; and there are many hostels which do not belong to any group. My wife and I have visited 13 hostels in European and Asian countries and find them adequate. Each one differs; you can find dorms with 6 to 12 bunks AND some have private rooms with 4 to 6 beds. 3.
C.S.W.
TULSA, USA Sat 04/23/2005

ENOUGH TIME
Cosette...Two and a half hours should be enough time. But if your plane arrives late you might have run for the departure gate. There is no standard for timely arrivals of Easyjet or ANY airline. Regardless of what any poster on this page tells you.
MARILYNNE
NYC, USA Sat 04/23/2005

ROME TO PORT
Eileen~~~Best way to find transportation to Civit. Is is to do a google.com search for “Transportation Rome to Civitinechia.” If no one helps on this page, ask at your hotel when you arrive. Check your spelling.
CARL
DALLAS, USA Sat 04/23/2005

Extended Europe
Several tips1) It is not legal for US citizens to work in European countries without a work permit. So don't expect to find 'under the table' jobs. However, I think there are some legal short term jobs in ski resorts and the like - so do your research before you leave.

2) As a non-European Union country citizen, you can't stay in most European countries for more than 3 consecutive months without a work permit/student visa etc.

3) If you are coming on a one-way ticket, I would expect to be questioned in the US and in immigrations in Europe. I've never had a problem coming into the UK on a one-way ticket, but have a student visa which is carefully checked each time.

4) It would probably help greatly to have copies of bank statements if you have money in the bank, to prove that you have means of supporting yourself. Otherwise immigrations officials may be suspicious if you are coming for long term without being student or having a work permit.

I don't mean to sound negative, but immigration and immigration control, rightly or wrongly, are big issues in Western Europe these days. Countries are tightening policies, on paper if not in reality.So, I would plan carefully and research the regulations in each country you intend to visit. You may well be able to avoid hassles with immigrations, but it would a real bummer to run into problems and have to cut your visit short.Have a great trip!
Kate
Scotland Sat 04/23/2005

Mark-- Cherry court vs. Garden court
Mark-- I don't know whether or not you've heard of Tripadvisor.com, but it is a great resource for researching hotels based on real people's feedback. Virtually every hotel in the world is listed, and you can just type in the names of the hotels and get a comparison, price range, location, ranking, and all written comments/feedback/pictures from real people about the hotels. I would check it out if you are undecided-- I have booked all my hotels and been very happy with them based on trip advisor feedback! Good luck! (We're going to be in London from May 1-4th, and staying at the Lime Tree Hotel. :)
Megan <email>
Hillsboro, OR USA Sat 04/23/2005

Driving in Italy
We are driving throughout Italy this summer for 30 days. What is the best deal-- renting a car for 30 days, leasing a car for 30 days, or using the AutoEurope Peugeot Buy Back Program for 30 days?
janice <email>
Balto., MD USA Sat 04/23/2005

lodging deposits
We found lodging in England, but they don't take credit cards for a deposit. Trying Western Union was ridiculously expensive. What is a cheap way to get a deposit when the owners want GBP? Thanks
Gail Buss <email>
St. Louis, MMO USA Sat 04/23/2005

Rail Tickets
We are planning to buy point-to-point tickets as we go for our trip to Amsterdam-Bruge-Brussels-Paris-London. Should we buy them beforehand at RailEurope.com? at another site? Or should we just get them there while we travel???
Max <email>
Orlando, Fl USA Sat 04/23/2005

Air+Hotel Pkgs to Vienna/Prague--Best Prices???
I am wondering if anyone has experience in a particular company booking air and hotel together (like Expedia). I want a Vienna and Prague package with air from my home and with budget hotels. Expedia had great prices three weeks ago, but they've gone up dramatically since then....and I'm not even going until the first part of November....low season. Prices started at $1260pp and are now at $1550pp. Any better prices/options???
A Tharp <email>
Portland, OR USA Sat 04/23/2005

To Eileen Lacy re: Rome to port
Hubby & I did that five years ago.Depart by train from Roma Termini station to Civitavecchia. No hassle. The dock is enough distance from the train station that you might not want to walk. But there are cabs. They are a bit pricey, but another couple invited us to share their cab which reduced everyone's fare. Hope this helps.
jaybee
USA Sat 04/23/2005

enough time
from my recent experience with Easyjet: they were on time and VERY efficient with luggage. Just keep in mind their weight restrictions on luggage.
lena
brooklyn, ny USA Sat 04/23/2005

Paris illumination
well what we plan on doing is doing our own tour...I am not a fan of organized tours as they don't often allow you the time to really appreciate what you are seeing. We are planning to chose the spots we want to see at night such as Sacre Cour, Louvre, the Seine, Eiffle Tower, The opera ect....and do two spots each evening add it into our day. I know this will add to how much we are doing but I just am not a fan of those tours.

USA Sat 04/23/2005

paris illumination
any tips on CHEAP way to see paris illuminated?
beth <email>
nw fl, fl USA Sat 04/23/2005

How NOT to do Pompeii
Unless things have really changed since 1999 when I was in Pompeii, I would suggest hiring a guide--if you want to know what you're seeing. It wasn't like an American National Park where there are all kinds of great maps, etc. to see it on your own. I bought a book at the entry point, but we were still pretty confused about what we were seeing. The buildings were not well-marked. We also had hired a driver to take us out to Pompeii--which given the age of my parents was probably not a bad idea--except he did not want to sit in Pompeii all day. He gave us 2 1/2 hours and said that we could easily see all there was to see....Wrong
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Sat 04/23/2005

Rome to the port
How do we (6 of us) get from a hotel in downtown Rome, out to the port of Civitinechia (sp?) to catch or cruise ship? We want to go economically.
Eileen Lacy <email>
Satellite Beach, FL USA Sat 04/23/2005

Guide in Pompeii
Joanne, In 2000 our guide to Pompeii thru a hotel was around $75 for the six of us. We have been several times before and not used a guide and I would really recommend a guide. We saw many more things than we did on our own. I think the guides on the site are fairly expensive but would be worth it. The site is huge and confusing unless you are really good with maps. One year we saw guides open houses that were locked but I don't know if they still do that. I would get a guide.

USA Fri 04/22/2005

Dee...about travel locks
I traveled to Paris earlier this spring and used the TSA-approved travel sentry locks (got mine at Target). I encountered no problems on my domestic or international flights. They didn't say anything when I checked my luggage. They're supposed to have keys to open them, so I didn't hang around to see.
Brandie <email>
USA Fri 04/22/2005

re: Palio
Alla -- we ended up in Siena for Palio by accident a couple years ago, and it was CRAZY. The fanfare leading up to it was great -- lots of people dressed in their neighborhood colors, and the flag throwing, etc. It's really hard to actually see the race though -- by the time it starts, the Campo is so crowded, you'd be lucky to see anything, and it's over in a blink! Then it's wild parading all night long. I think it could actually be a little overwhelming for kids (?) and you definitely have to hang out for hours if you hope to catch a glimpse. It's definitely an experience, but I have to say, it's the one time when we didn't feel entirely welcome as visitors by the locals. One on one, the people were wonderful, but in general on the street you could tell they don't consider Palio a tourist attraction and kind of resented outsiders flooding the place, wearing their neighborhood scarves, etc. I couldn't say whether or not to do it -- we're really glad to have experienced it, but I think it would be tough with kids -- incredibly crowded. Good luck deciding!
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Fri 04/22/2005

bed and breakfast
I found a bed and breakfast in Trastevere section of Rome on the internet site, italianloding.com. It is called A Casa Di Guisy. We are planning our trip for July. Does anyone have experience with this place?
n demarest <email>
Keene, NH USA Fri 04/22/2005

ti[ps on attending palio in siena
Hello, I am looking for practical advise on attending Siena's Palio. We happen to be in Umbria and Tuscany the week of Palio (July 2)with two kids ages 9 and 14. I am trying to figure out the best way to experience the festival in about half a day to a day without exausting the kids by standing in the sun and waiting for too long. I am not sure whether it is more interesting and less painful to attend actual palio or may be the final rehearsal the day before or other related events and whether palio is worth the time in general - we don't enjoy spending time in crowds, but being exposed to local traditions is always great.Thank you !Alla.
alla <email>
san francisco bay area, ca USA Fri 04/22/2005

Hotel
Dinan, France: Anybody know of a nice B& B or small hotel in Dinan, France in Brittany? And also, Clermont-Ferrand?
Penny Royce-Rogers <email>
Reno, NV USA Fri 04/22/2005

Prague B and B
Maggie-I don't remember the prices but I know they were reasonable because we're cheap. Three years ago we stayed at Guest House Lida. It's in a residential area so it's not real central but easy transpo. I felt very safe and it was nice. Czech them out: e-mail: lida@login.cz. I would bet early Dec is low season but not sure. Ask them if there are any Christmas markets when you'll be there. Elaine
Elaine
USA Fri 04/22/2005

Buddy pass
Brain~~last spring my husband flew on Delta using a buddy pass. Our sister-in-law gave the pass to him. First, there is a dress code that you must use. NO tennis shoes, shirt has to have a collar, and no jeans. First, you when get to the airport you go to the counter and tell them you are flying on a buddy pass. You realize that using a buddy pass is like flying stand by. I would call the airline and ask about the availability. I would also go to the airport early, that way if there are sets available on a earlier flight you can get on that flight. I flew a different airlines last year due to having a free ticket, my husband didn't have any trouble. But remember, they really go by the dress code.

Ohio USA Fri 04/22/2005

Rome Airport to Sorrento
You might consider a hydrofoil ferry ride for a more scenic view. It's faster too!
Ellen <email>
Centennial, CO USA Fri 04/22/2005

Hair curlers
To the woman concerned about her hair. My wife and daughter both use curling irons and hair dryers--though hair dryers seem to be now common in 2-star or better French hotels--with dual voltage. The dryer has a knob to turn, but the curler adapts automatically. They each carry an adapter to fit overseas sockets. If you are a regular to his site, you may have seen the response re such items that in addition to an adapter, one likely would also need a transformer. The point is absurd. Any national retailer or large local one, especially including travel or beauty supply stores, probably can help you with a dual voltage item.

USA Fri 04/22/2005

South of France
Kristin- Thanks so much for the suggestion. I spent a lot of time looking at Antibes last night and am glad that you have confirmed the destination!
Beth <email>
San Jose, CA USA Fri 04/22/2005

Transportation in Dover
Looking for modes of transportation to get around in Dover. Anyone have any experiences here to share? We will be there in May, and are using BritRail to get there.
Norma <email>
Denver, CO USA Fri 04/22/2005

Albergo Marin
web site is www.albergomarin.it Email is info@albergomarin.it
Conny <email>
Williamsburg, Va USA Fri 04/22/2005

Pompeii
Whats the going rate for guide just for site were not interested in mob bus tours we have car to get there.
Joanne <email>
Los Banos, ca USA Fri 04/22/2005

Amsterdam layover
Four to five hours layover in Amsterdam is enough time if you know where you're going and how you're going to get there. Give yourself 1/2 hour to land, get through passport control and buy a "day-return" ticket to Centraal Station, and get downstairs to the tracks. It's about 18 minutes into town, then however long it takes to buy your tram ticket to get to the museum and go through as much of it as you can. Another length of time to get back to Centraal Station and find the next train to Schiphol, out of the train, up the stairs and back through security and passport control. So allow 1 hour to get form your gate to the city and 1 hour to get from the city back to your gate. We've done it many times with only 3 hours.

BE SURE TO TAKE YOUR BOARDING PASSES (AND PASSPORT OF COURSE) OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET BACK THROUGH SECURITY AND PASSPORT CONTROL! It helps if you have no luggage, but there are luggage lockers at the airport as well as "left luggage" and also lockers at Centraal Station.

A good alternative would be to take a canal boat ride - the canal boats are just outside of Centraal Station and have varying durations. If it's a nice day, it's a great view of the city. There are also organized tours (see kiosk in the airport when you land - before you go through passport control - on E Concourse right at the beginning of "Holland Avenue" and the Casino), but I'm not sure how long they last.

Another suggestion on a nice day - just walk around the canals from Centraal Station and around. If you have never been to Amsterdam, walking is great! Take your camera, too. There are lots of cafes and shops and plenty of places to sit and watch people go by. Grab lunch while you’re there. Have fun!

FL USA Fri 04/22/2005

re: South of France suggestion
Beth -- Antibes gets my vote! It was a relaxing beach town with great swimming/sunbathing, but also a lot of young people and a nightlife that would be fun for teens (lots were there having a great time) but not worrisome for the parents! :)
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Fri 04/22/2005

Hotel Marin in Venice
Can someone give me the e-mail address for the Hotel Marin in Venice????
May Osher <email>
Santa Monica, CA USA Fri 04/22/2005

Choosing Between London Hotels
I will be staying in London May 5,6,7,8. I am trying to choose between the Garden Court Hotel and the Cherry Court Hotel. Does anyone have strong recommendations either way?
Mark P. Burress <email>
Lexington, KY USA Fri 04/22/2005

Rome airport to Sorrento
We land in Rome on a Sun. morning and will then travel down to just outside Sorrento that day. We plan to take the train from the airport to termini to Naples and then the Circumvesuviana to our stop. Is there a better alternative?
Bud <email>
Roswell, GA USA Fri 04/22/2005

Amsterdam Layover
my flight from nyc to copenhagen has a 4-5 hour layover in amsterdam. do I have enough time to go from amsterdam airport to the new hermitage museum in amsterdam? Do you think I have enough time to go back and forth from the airport to the city of amsterdam?
roslyn sacks <email>
nyc, NY USA Fri 04/22/2005

Wheeled bag or wheeled backpack
Connie – Hi neighbor. For the last several trips, the bags my husband and I have taken have been a wheeled backpack and another wheeled bag. What we have found is that we never use the backpack as a backpack, and though the bags are essentially the same size, we can get more stuff in the plain wheeled bag (because of the room that the backpack straps take, and the slight difference in shape). If you get a plain wheeled bag, what you should look for is good sturdy (in-line skate type) wheels, and some sort of handle or strap in addition to the telescoping drag handle. Mine has a shoulder strap (which I rarely used) and a hand strap. You’ll need the handle/strap for when you have to carry it up steps.
Angela
Lexington, KY USA Fri 04/22/2005

Re:Length of ATM PINS
Joe, I used to be a Fleet customer, but when I was switched to BOA after the merger I had to get a six-digit PIN (I don't think this applies to people who already with BOA). Anyway, I called, and they told be that what I'd do is just use the first four digits of my PIN, then hit enter (and the first two digits of my PIN must not be 00). I hope that works ... has anyone here done this with success?
Trixie
NJ USA Fri 04/22/2005

buddy pass travel to europe
anyone traveled on delta buddy passes before? My wife and I are trying to get to europe in june and have questions about the process. How do we check in? Is there a way we can check seat availability without having to bother the person who gave us the buddy passes everyday? Can we pick flights from delta sky team members as well? I have several other questions too, so if anyone has experience in doing this sort of thing please let me know!
brian <email>
USA Fri 04/22/2005

clothes and luggage
best summer clothes (woman age 51) for trip to Paris, Venice,Florence,Rome in July? -- really want to pack light -- best suitcase -- wheeled or wheeled backpack?
connie keyser <email>
lexington, ky USA Fri 04/22/2005

Re: cell phone in Italy
Used AutoEurope's cell phone rental 2 summers ago. We didn't need to use it very often, but was nice to have as we were 3 families coming from different airports and meeting up in Austria. The rental rate seemed reasonable. Had no problems with receiving the phone by mail or returning it after the trip.
Conny <email>
williamsburg, Va USA Fri 04/22/2005

Rome hotel
Rob in NY~~~another hotel option in the same area is the Oceania. We stayed there last May and had a really nice room with beautiful ensuite bathroom. It is less in price than Aberdeen. Great staff there. Have a great trip!
RJ
USA Fri 04/22/2005

Cell Phone In Italy
I plan to do a considerable amount of driving in Italy this summer and must stay in contact with others in a seperate party. What are the cell phone options in Italy? Has any one used the Auto Europe cell phone offer?
Rob
Little Rock, USA Fri 04/22/2005

Rome Accomodations
Rob, on Rome Accomodations. We last stayed at the Hotel Aberdeen. 10 minute walk from Termini. Great hotel, nice room and exceptional bath. Anna Marie owns place and runs it with her sisters. Very helpful. Mentioning Rick Steves gets a good discount. We paid only about 87 Euros a night in early November, which is low season. Web site is http://www.travel.it/roma/aberdeen/, phone is 011 39 06 4819340. Hope this helps. Tom
Tom
Atlanta, GA USA Fri 04/22/2005

Rob, re: lodging in Rome
We stayed at the Nicolas Inn last week on Via Cavour, just a 10-15 min. walk from train station. (Can also take metro, bus) Very close to Colloseum, Roman Forum. Owner Melissa, very helpful. Rooms are very clean, pleasant and comfortable with a good size private bathroom. We paid 100 euros a night. Highly recommend. website is: www.nicolasinn.com Feel free to email me with additional questions.
Conny <email>
Williamburg, Va USA Fri 04/22/2005

Prague questions
1. Is early December a high season? 2. What should be the nicest areas to stay in Prague? 3. can you please recommend a safe and good value hotel? My budget is 50 Euro for a single room ensuite. Thanks in advance.
Maggie
NZ Fri 04/22/2005

Enough time?- (edit)
Sorry- maybe point-to-point was the wrong term- basically it's a stopover I want in order to get a cheaper flight to my true destination
Cosette <email>
Mtn. View, CA USA Fri 04/22/2005

restaurants avec escargot s'il vous plait
Just wondering if anyone knows if Le Paradis is still open. It's a nice, cozy restaurant off Ave du Maine on Rue du Maine in the Montparnasse section. The hostess was Traci, an Australian woman, and she spoke English and French, and taught me some additional French, too. Another question: I was wondering if anyone can give me names and addresses of restaurants close to St. Severin and Notre Dame, near or in the Latin Quarter. I noticed some posted with addresses, but others didn't give addresses. I'd prefer those that had wonderful escargot on the menu. I've loved escargot ever since I went to Paris the first time in 2001. Please send me good referrals! Thanks!
Sandi <email>
Bridgeton, NJ USA Fri 04/22/2005

Enough time?
Does anyone know if Easyjet generally arrives on schedule? I'm trying to create a point-to-point itinerary going through London Luton, and am wondering if 2.5 hours between listed arrival time and listed departure time on the second flight is enough to get checked baggage, deal with customs,recheck in and get on the plane. Thanks!
Cosette <email>
Mountain View, CA USA Thu 04/21/2005

lodging in Rome
I was in Rome when the Pope died. It was a fascinating time to be there. We used Roman reference and had a great apartment in Trastevere. It was within walking distance to everything! Go to www.romanreference.com
Annette Sturzen <email>
Federal Way, wa USA Thu 04/21/2005

WHERE TO STAY IN SOUTH OF FRANCE?
My family and I (husband and children 13 and 15) will be traveling to France this summer - staying in Paris 7 days and then traveling to Carcasonne for 2 days - and then leaving from Nice 5 days later. I am looking for a great beach town - not too busy - to stay in to relax the remainder of the trip - but not too quiet as to bore the kids - any suggestions?
Beth Martinez <email>
San Jose, CA USA Thu 04/21/2005

accommodations in Dublin
We have a very early flight out of Dublin. We would like to stay at the very outskirts of Dublin (so as not to Drive in Dublin, but to have the car available to drive to the airport). Do you have suggestions?
Lucy <email>
Corvallis, OR USA Thu 04/21/2005

Walter, Does American fly into Naples? That would be closer to Rome than Milan. Its only three hours by train from Naples to Rome. Milan is only 2 1/2 hours from Venice by train. Maybe you could get a flight into one of these cities.

USA Thu 04/21/2005

Questions on lodging in Rome
We are trying to find a good but NOT expensive place to stay in Rome in Sept. My wife has some health problems so we're a bit leary about getting a B&B that has a shared bathroom. Does anyone have any place they thought was great and has private baths available? If you stayed somewhere with a shared bath, was it still private enough? We'll be arriving by train so we'd like to be convenient to the station and still be in a safe & quiet neighborhood. Thanks!
Rob
NY USA Thu 04/21/2005

Re:Length of ATM PINS
Trixie, No comprende--I have a Bank of America ATM and it has only 4 digits. You need to contact the bank and get this straightened out pronto.
Joe
Everett, WA USA Thu 04/21/2005

French Phone Jack for Laptop
Need to get a phone jack converter to plug in a laptop in our apartment rental in France. Any suggestions on where to buy? We leave in a week and just learned from the slowtravel site that this was necessary.
Seattlemom <email>
Seattle, WA USA Thu 04/21/2005

hostels/motels
What's an HA hostel? I hear they are strict?? I'm backpacking with two of my friends through europe....I hear along with hostels, we can share cheap motels....are there regulations against how many people you can fit in a room? Thanks!
Linda <email>
Randolph, NJ USA Thu 04/21/2005

Problem flying into Rome
Try flying into Milan instead, the train ride would be a shorter trip. Might be more options - gotta be better than Amsterdam.

USA Thu 04/21/2005

Length of ATM PINs?
I will be traveling to France next month. I've read over on the grafitti wall that banks in Europe won't accept PINs of more than four numerals. Problem is, I'm with Bank of America, and my PIN must be a minimum of six digits.

When I was switched to BOA from Fleet, I was given a pamphlet saying that I can use ATMs from BNP Paribas banks with no fees. If that's the case, would those particular ATMs recognize my lengthy PIN? Thanks!
Trixie
NJ USA Thu 04/21/2005

Rome for a proposal
I'm having a problem scheduling a direct into Rome from the U.S. See, I won round-trip air fare for two from American Airlines through a local Chicago radio station and the trip has to be used before July 15, 2005.

It appears all flights into Rome are booked. So, we were thinking of flying into out of Chicago on Friday, 10th, or on Saturday, June 11th, and arriving in Brussels on the next day. Then, we were thinking of getting a connecting flight into Rome. Is this possible? Also, we were thinking of using the Eurail to Rome from Brussels if we couldn't get a flight. Is this possible?

Our return trip would start on Friday, June 17th or Saturday, 18th and we would like to return to Chicago by late Saturday, June 18th or early Sunday, 19th. is this possible? I say we because I'm taking my girlfriend and I'm planning on asking her to marry me when we get to Rome. Please help.
Walter Brzeski <email>
Chicago, IL USA Thu 04/21/2005

Corrine
Don't bother making train reservations from the US. (With the possible exception of the Eurostar chunnel traiin, I'm not familiar with it). You won't have any trouble making reservations a couple of hours before your train for the most part. No, schedules do not change often.
Bob <email>
North Little Rock, tx USA Thu 04/21/2005

Luggage Locks
I'd like to hear the experiences of people who have used the "TSA-approved" luggage locks for international travel. Are they able to be opened in overseas airports? Or is this not an issue (as, presumably, the bag's owner would be present if a customs inspector wanted to open the bag)? I'm heading for a two-month international trip in May; will carry my bag when possible, but some overseas airlines (like British Air!) require checking bags over 22 pounds. Is it worthwhile getting travel locks? Or???
Dee Poujade <email>
Portland, OR USA Thu 04/21/2005

Booking Uffizi
I was trying to book the Uffizi through several different agencies for 4/26 (same as Laura, ALSO from Westminster, CO!!). Every one of them kept telling me they were sold out. I contacted our hotel, and they were able to set something up for us. I don't know if they have a secret hotline or what...but she was able to book us something for the 27th. Our trip is flexible, so we will be able to take that time slot. Laura is right, though--book those museums sooner rather than later!
Jenn <email>
Westminster, CO USA Thu 04/21/2005

Georgian House Hotel
We stayed at the GHH a couple of years ago. This is the one near Victoria Station (I think there may be two of them in London.) It was decent. We were in the "annex", which was around the corner from the main hotel. It was really quiet and on a residential street. Easy to get to and from the tube, it was a good base for London. The room itself was a little dusty (!), but otherwise suitable. The staff were indifferent, not rude, but I didn't feel anyone went out of their way to be nice. It was an okay place to stay. I'd probably try somewhere else if I were going to London again, if only to try a different neighborhood. If memory serves, we got a good rate on our room. You'll like the location (if that is the same one where you are staying).
Jenn <email>
Westminster, CO USA Thu 04/21/2005

train travel in Italy
I'm leaving for Italy in a week. I feel like I'm spinning my wheels trying to figure out train schedules in advance. should I reserve trains now or wait till i get there? Do scheduaes change often?
Corrine <email>
Boulder Creek, CA USA Thu 04/21/2005

Karen re London to Ital;y flying
I have done it on British Midland and Ryan Airlines. Easy and lo cost, realize that Ryan flies out of Stansted airport and Easy Jet out of Luton all nr London but you have to plan on how to get there. Weight restrictions are tight , beware.
JS
CA USA Thu 04/21/2005

Italian Factory Tours
Any good factory tours, preferrably automotive related - but any will do, in Rome, Florence, Venice area?
Jeri <email>
MI USA Thu 04/21/2005

Diving Cinque Terre
I know there is a SCUBA shop in Riomaggiore. Anyone ever dive in the cinque terre? How's the temp (may) and vis? Good operators there?
Topher <email>
chatlottesville, VA USA Thu 04/21/2005

Billy, It will take a full day to do Pompeii, Herculaneum, and maybe walk to the top of Vesuvius. Take that into consideration when you are planning. Pompeii is not a quick trip.

USA Thu 04/21/2005

Sicily
To Billy in Washington DC.Rather than over-reaching and spending a day in Sicily, I would suggest spending a day in the beautiful town of Sorrento. We spent two full days exploring the town and it is great.
Doug Ellingson <email>
Minneapolis, MN USA Thu 04/21/2005

Planning ahead
Try checking airfares with Orbitz, or travel team, as soon as you know dates. If you use Orbitz, find the airline with best fare, then go to the airline's own web site to book and save the fee Orbitz charges on each ticket.

USA Thu 04/21/2005

London/Florence/Rome flights
Karen in Canada~~~We did not fly from London to Florence but did the reverse flight. We found that Easy Jet, Rynair, etc did not fly this route. BA was way too expensive. We ended up on an Italian airline, Meridiana--not as cheap as EJ but a decent price and a wonderful airline and nice flight right over the alps--beautiful! BTW, economy had leather seats on Meridiana. Good luck!
Jamie
FL USA Thu 04/21/2005

ACCOMODATIONS IN MURREN
Karen~~~We stayed in Interlaken when we were in that area. There are two RR stations and it is easy to get to the high peaks from there. When you arrive there ask at the Tourist Information Office in the RR station for housing.

BOISE, USA Thu 04/21/2005

Czech to Germany suggestions?
Does anyone have any suggestions for traveling from Cesky Krumlov to Munich? I'd like to do it in 2-3 days. I'll be traveling in early September.Thanks for any advice!
Christine <email>
Arlington, VA USA Thu 04/21/2005

Sicily
NO way. Sorry. I'm in the middle of planning a bike tour on Sicily. It's a 10-12 hour train ride from Rome...or you can fly for about $150 each from Rome to Palermo. if you are on the Amalfi coast...there is an overnight ferry from Naples to Palermo. I don't know what you would want to see in one day for the expense/time it would take you to get there. In my opinion, Sicily is a trip unto itself. We are spending 7 days on just the western part of the island! Just plan to go back when you have more time!

USA Thu 04/21/2005

Add Sicily to whirlwind?
I am leaving for Europe next Monday (3 week trip). We fly into Frankfurt and leave from Rome. In between we plan to hit Prague, Budapest, Florence, Cinque Terre, and then go past Rome to Pompeii/Amalfi. We may have 3 nights to spare by the time we get to Almalfi, so my question is: Given the already heavy schedule, is it worth it to continue south to Sicily before we have to return to Rome? I'm guessing that would only allow one good day of Sicily sightseeing.Thanks to anyone who can help!
Billy
Washington, DC USA Wed 04/20/2005

PLANNING AHEAD
Marcus. Now is the best time to start searching for air fares. Do a google.com search for “discount airfares Denver Paris". Some travelers check air fares several times a day on the lines THEY are considering. Excess inventory of seats for airlines is released at midnight on Wednesdays; some suggest you check at that hour daily.
HARVEY Z.
TX USA Wed 04/20/2005

accomodations in Murren, Switzerland area
Does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay in Wengen-Murren area for the end of April? Many places are closed at this time of the year. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
Karen <email>
Valparaiso, IN USA Wed 04/20/2005

Paris to Versailles
Marie, We took the train from Paris to Versailles and it is an easy trip. I think it only took about 30 minutes, then you have to walk a few blocks to the site. It is easy to do in an afternoon.

USA Wed 04/20/2005

Venetian masks
Sorry I can't help with the price of a Venetian mask. But I have seen the real thing at Marshalls and TJ Maxx for about $39.99 for a medium size and $49.99 for a larger size. I have been to Venice many times and know that these are the real thing. They have one of the authentic "Venetian" stickers on it that you see on the glass in Venice and also a made in Italy sticker. They look exactly like the ones I saw in the shops in Venice. I didn't price them in Venice because I wasn't interested in one, my friend was.

USA Wed 04/20/2005

Price of Venetian masks
Does anyone know what the approximate price of a Venecian mask would be? A friend wanted me to pick one up for her and didn't know how much it would cost. Just a normal sized one is fine. Thanks!
<email>
OR USA Wed 04/20/2005

Marcus-Denver air to France
United runs specials late in the year...but you won't be able to fly summer months - May-Sept. If you can plan to fly shoulder months, you can find a great fare to Europe. Watch the Denver Post for specials...they run ads in there. However, waiting to hear what happens with the bankruptcy process. Other options are British Air and Lufthansa. They fly direct to London or Frankfort... Just keep watching Orbitz.com. or United.com Be prepared to be flexible on vacation dates and you can get over there for a good price...
Ellen
Centennial, CO USA Wed 04/20/2005

Versailles
Has anyone taken the train from Paris to Versailles? Would a trip there for just the afternoon and early evening be worth it?
Marie <email>
Salinas, CA USA Wed 04/20/2005

Re: Spanish language school
My daughter attended this language school through Augsburg's Center for Global Education. Here's the link: www.hermandad.com/programs.shtml It's in Guatemala and cheap ($150/week for room, board & tuition.) She learned a lot of Spanish there and lots of Danes go there too. I intend to go there in Summer '06. I wouldn't recommend it though for people who don't like to rough it or conservative Republicans--the politics are pretty left-wing.
Karen Herreid <email>
USA Wed 04/20/2005

re: airfares to Paris
Marcus, another thing you can do is register with the websites of airlines that fly out of Denver. They'll email you with fare sales and other specials. I don't know if British Airways flies from Denver, but in the winter they usually email great fares that have to be used by February. SAS sometimes has good promotions, too.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Wed 04/20/2005

travel to Paris
Marcus:

I don't know what airlines fly out of Denver, but this year Northwest had some great fares to Paris for February. I went from Memphis to Paris for $310. I got an email from Northwest in January offering the fare, and bought a ticket to leave on February 8th. I am pretty sure it was good for January as well.If I were you, I would wait at least until December to see what the airlines are offering. Also, check out Travelocity. You can sign up for a service called farewatcher. Put in where you want to go. Then it will ask you for a dollar amount. You put in the amount that if the fare drops below that amount, you want Travelocity to notify you.Good luck.
Sherry
Memphis, USA Wed 04/20/2005

RE: time for Venice
Nikki -- we spent 2 nights in Venice and felt fine about it, and we don't like to breeze in and out of places. With an uninterrupted day, plus the afternoon and morning around it, we had plenty of time to explore and get off the beaten track. This of course didn't include getting out to the other islands, but for Venice itself, 2 days is great. I think 4 days is overkill for Venice on such a short trip -- you could experience another town with the additional days.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Wed 04/20/2005

Planning Ahead...
My family and I are planning a trip to Paris in early 2006, mid- to late-January. When is the best time to start checking out airfares so we can get the best deals and have more money to spend on pastries? And any advice on which airlines we could possibly get the best deal with leaving from Denver?
Marcus
Denver, CO USA Wed 04/20/2005

Re: trip help
4 days in Italy is not a lot of time. You did not say if your time in Venice is included in those 4 days. If it does include your time in Venice I would just stay there and day trip to areas around Venice such as Padua, Verona, etc. If you have 4 additional days I would stay in the northern part of Italy especially if you are heading to the south of France afterwards. Otherwise you will spend all of your time travelling. Will you be travelling by train or car? You could go to Florence which has amazing art, and good shopping, and then get out into Tuscany and experience some of the hill towns such as San Gimignano. Milan might be another alternative with a side trip to the lake Como region. Feel free to email with more questions.
Conny <email>
Williamsburg, Va USA Wed 04/20/2005

HYDROFOIL PALERMO TO NAPLES
Cecile~~~ Go to: www.viamare.com/SNAV-index.html.~~~ You should find the info you need for the ferry from Palermo to Naples.
ADAM M. W.
DALLAS, TX USA Wed 04/20/2005

TOO YOUNG TO RENT A CAR
Megan~~~Don’t rely on readers of this column to advise you. ~~~ Auto rental agencies have different rules.~~~ Call the toll-free phone number for several agencies and ask about age requirements. ~~~ Keep calling until you find an agency which will rent to you.
ESTER BROWN
DETROIT, USA Wed 04/20/2005

TRAVELING BY CAR IN EASTERN EUROPE
Karen ; Even people who live in those countries NEVER leave personal goods in their cars. I would take every precaution to protect your bags. Go to the nearest RR station and rent a locker or ask if there is another place to store your things. I would not forget the car; I always want one when I drive in E Europe. Going by bus or train takes a lot of the pleasure out of travel for me.
walter m smithery
NYC, USA Wed 04/20/2005

Re; Railpass
Agree with the previous post about comparing P to P tickets vs. pass. Generally, some other factors to consider, what will be the total length of your trip that you need a pass? Sometimes a consecutive pass may be better than a flexipass if your trip is properly arranged. You may also consider a cheaper pass, and supplement with P to P tickets. Also, where on your itinerary might you be forced into paying for High speed upgrades and reservations? These add to the cost of a pass as well as P to P tickets. I do like the freedom and ease of a pass, that is worth something, even if a pass was marginally more expensive, I would take the pass.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 04/20/2005

European Vacation
European vacationDebi; I always go to my public library and browse the travel section to find a book I can use for my trip; I either make notes of attractions I want to see or I buy it at discount book store.
Madelinne
TAMPA, USA Wed 04/20/2005

Re: Karen, Flying London to Italy
Last trip, we flew both Easyjet and Ryanair. No problems, would do it again, cannot think of a better way to get to Italy, London is a great hub for budget airlines. The only caution I have is to carefully review the baggage weight and item restrictions. They tend to be on the light side, not a problem if you only have your US carry-on size bag and another item, but costly if you pack heavy...still, maybe cheaper than other ways.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 04/20/2005

HYDROFOIL PALERMO TO NAPLES
Cecile~~~ Do a google .com search for “Ferry Palermo Naples”
F.Y.O.
CHICAGO, IL USA Wed 04/20/2005

EURAIL PASS
Go to raileurope.com and click on fares and schedules. Find the cost of point-to-point fares for each leg of your trip; compare the total of these with the cost of your rail pass to determine which is cheaper. That is the only way to make your purchase.
SMITTY
OK USA Wed 04/20/2005

Naples/Amalfi Coast
If I pay for a bus ticket from Sorrento to Salerno, can I jump off in any town in between and hop back on with the same ticket as long as it's the same day? What about the Circumvesuviana?
Teri <email>
Newport Beach, CA USA Wed 04/20/2005

Germany, Austria and Switzerland
I will be travelling in Germany, Austria and Switzerland this summer. If you know of any day trip organizers and low cost airlines between these countries please let us know. We are planning to be there during Aug05 and would like to be prepared.
Vidya <email>
Sunnyvale, CA USA Wed 04/20/2005

Karen, Flying from London to Italy
I flew from London to Milan in July 2003 with Easyjet. It was just perfect. I felt no uneasiness at all about safety or service: indeed better than in economy with a big airline. The atmosphere and staff were great. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, then take the train to Venice or Florence.

USA Wed 04/20/2005

Water in Italy
We spent 2 weeks in Italy and had no problems with the tap water, in restaurants, hotels, and public fountains (which were marked as potable). I do remember seeing a sign near the sinks in the washroom in the Vatican Museum, stating that the water was NOT for drinking. So keep an eye out. FYI, when we asked for tap water at restaurants in Italy, we received it, but we could tell from the reaction of the waiters that it was looked down upon, socially. We quickly figured it was worth it to spend the extra dollar or two to buy a liter of bottled water. Small price to pay to not get a look like we walked in with some smelly substance on our shoes!
Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Wed 04/20/2005

Spanish Language Schools
My wife and I would like to learn spanish through a spanish langusge school home stay program. Does anyone have any experiences, critiques, recommendaations, etc. that they can share. Thanks
Mike <email>
Salt Lake City, UT USA Wed 04/20/2005

Socks that dry overnight
For any of the products people talk about here, always try www.sierratradingpost.com first. It's a deeply discounted catalog/store and their prices are usually very good for the same products you buy retail. Also try www.campmor.com or www.rei.com (the "outlet" link).

FL USA Wed 04/20/2005

Eurail Pass
I am considering buying a Eurail Flexipass for my trip to Europe this summer. I will be traveling between 3 different countries, probably making stops in 6 to 7 cities. I was just curious about any impressions people may have on the passes? If any of you have used the Eurail pass and have an opinion on it I would love to hear it!

USA Wed 04/20/2005

Re: Nikki, Where to visit
No personal experience (except Prague and Venice) but I would start with a big map and see what is on the way. Do sort of a road trip, I like to travel about 4 hours, find a spot, explore, spend the night, then do again the next day. Two general routes stand out, one would be to go through Bavaria and Innsbruck, doing the mountain thing. The other would be more easterly, maybe Vienna and Slovenia. Both would be great trips. As for Venice, two nights would be the minimum, three would be nice, probably not more than that if you want a relaxed pace on the way from Prague.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 04/20/2005

Flying from London to Italy
Any tips on flying from London to Rome or Venice or Florence? Should I book discount airline or full fare? Any horror stories?
Karen
Canada Wed 04/20/2005

Dum u Semika in Prague
Has anyone ever stayed at the Hotel U Semika? Do you reccomend it?
Christine <email>
Arlington, VA USA Wed 04/20/2005

Water in Italy
We've been 3x to Italy...all over the country from the CT to Rome to Venice etc. We've had tap water for brushing our teeth, and in resturants instead of expensive bottled water. Never had a problem

USA Wed 04/20/2005

Re: 800 Numbers
800 numbers (and their other forms, 888, etc) cannot be dialed to from outside the US as toll free numbers. That is why your credit card lists an 800 number to report lost or stolen cards, unless you are outside the US, then you are directed to call a number collect. Not sure what type of 800 numbers you are calling, but you could check to see if they have a similar arrangement set up, or if you are just out of luck.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 04/20/2005

Water
I have heard mixed things about whether or not it is safe to drink the water in Italy. Some say it's perfectly fine, while others say that you better be safe than sorry. Which is it? I am planning on bringing a water bottle to fill as I go, but don't want to get sick by doing so.

USA Wed 04/20/2005

Tickets to Wimbeldon
I and a travel partner will be in London the week of 6/24 and was woundering how to get tickets to Wimbeldon. I have read that you can get tickets the day of if you get their early and wait in line. Any info. would be great. Thanks
Tim <email>
IL USA Wed 04/20/2005

Calling 800#'s in State from Europe
I had to call in 800 # in states from London and got stuck using a CC. My prepaid calling from Eurorail would not work for calling an 800# in states. any suggestions for cheapest way call an 800# in states from Europe? I did not have time to try a prepaid card for the London payphones.
Sharrie <email>
OR USA Wed 04/20/2005

Uffizzi reservations
Laura -- when you get to your room or hotel, ask the person you're renting from to call for you. When we went to Florence in high season, the woman who rented our room to us called and got a reservation for us for later that afternoon and didn't seem to think it was a big deal.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Tue 04/19/2005

Where to visit?
A friend and myself will be travelling from Prague and ultimately ending up in Florence. We are leaving Prague on Aug. 20 (as she ends her study abroad there) and need to be in Florence by Aug. 29 (where I will then begin my study abroad). We know that before getting to Florence we want to visit Venice. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for us as to somewhere else (one, maybe two more cities) that we could visit. We do not want to travel any farther south than Florence. We are open to any suggestions that make geographical sense. Does not need to be Italy.For those that have been to Venice (we have not), how many days do you think we should spend there? We do not want to rush it, but we also do not intend to spend more than about 4 or 5 days there. Is that appropriate?Thanks for the help!
Nikki <email>
spokane, WA USA Tue 04/19/2005

Cecile- Look HERE
Did you look on the Rick Steves site under "Favorite Links", subheading "Transportation"? There are many ferryboat sites listed there.Thats where I found mine.

USA Tue 04/19/2005

Answer to Joanne
Thanks to all of you who responded
Joanne <email>
Los Banos, ca USA Tue 04/19/2005

Hydrofoil from Palermo to Naples
Does anyone know the web site to the company in Italy that provides the hydrofoil service from Palermo, Sicily to Naples? I'm looking for schedules and how to make reservations. Thank you.
Cecile Schutter <email>
Houston, TX USA Tue 04/19/2005

European vacation
Europe Through the Back Door has travel tips as well as highlights for the countries you listed. you can also get rick Steves austria, rick steves italy, etc etc, just look in the travel section of Barnes and noble at all the rick steves books available to you. you can also find free info at this ricksteves web site under county info, also at roughguides.com

USA Tue 04/19/2005

European vacation
Hello I am planning a trip to Europe this summer. I will be in Salzburg,Vienna, Maia Alm, and Innsbruck and Venice Italy. Do you suggest any books that will give me attractions to see at these places? Never been to Europe before. Thank you Debi
Debi Porter <email>
Auburn, Ca. USA Tue 04/19/2005

Swiss GoldenPass train
Anyone taken the Swiss GoldenPass train from Geneva heading east? Are reservations necessary in late May? (schedule says "reservations available" or "reservations possible")
Gomer
CA USA Tue 04/19/2005

AOL in France
My guess would be, if you can find an access number local to your hotel, you can dial it and access an AOL server, then connect to aol.com (which would be the US version, rather than aol.fr, which would be the french version). If you have Internet access, go to aol.com and see if you can find the access #'s for france. this link may provide more info for youhttp://www.slowtrav.com/europe/internet.htm

USA Tue 04/19/2005

One week in Italy
Karen H - Italy seems so vast I'm finding it hard to decide on the right places to visit. Or staying in one place and going from there. Seeing cities (could be small)and eating are important to us. A few museums, more relaxing, not too sporty. Worried I'll regret not going to Rome, Venice or Florence - but there's always another trip. Will be coming from 3 weeks throughout eastern europe to finish in Italy for the month. Thanks.
JD <email>
Tallahassee, FL USA Tue 04/19/2005

BA carry on
WE flew BA from London to Edinburgh in 2002 w/ Ricks bags, had no problems storing them overhead and we were not asked to weigh them.

USA Tue 04/19/2005

AIR TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Noreen~~~ call Lineas Arentinas on their toll free number and ask. 1 800 333 0276.
G.W.SMITH
ALLENTOWN, USA Tue 04/19/2005

AIR TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Noreen~~~ call Lineas Arentinas on their toll free number and ask. 1 800 333 0276.
HARDY
CHICAGO, USA Tue 04/19/2005

Re: Phone Cards in Ireland
Mr. Hogan,My husband & I bought a phone card in Ireland this past September. The directions are very straight forward & easy to use.BTW, I grew up in Wichita.
jaybee
USA Mon 04/18/2005

Greek Trains
Has anyone used the Greek railways? If so, what did you think of it?Also, I've been searching for the distance between Longos & Patra, Greece.
jaybee
USA Mon 04/18/2005

traveling by car in Eastern Europe
We are driving an older Honda (from UK) into Eastern Europe this summer. We are having second thoughts because we have been warned about car theft. Has anyone driven in Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic? Our intention was to take tent & sleeping bags and camp out over the course of 37 days. We thought we would be able to leave the car but have been told by a Czech friend and a Polish friend that it was not a good idea to leave the car with our packs in it anywhere except a "security garage" which means we would have to stay in hotels. We're going the month of August - we know - a very busy time. We are in major need of advice - can anybody give us some traveling tips? Or should we forget the car and go by bus and train?Thanks, Karen
Karen Leigh <email>
Eugene, OR USA Mon 04/18/2005

Socks that dry overnight
BP, I used to have a terrible time getting socks to dry while travelling. Then I discovered Tilleys "travel" socks. If you first squeeze them in a towel, they will dry overnight. In fact, it says on the package "guaranteed to dry overnight, to last three years, and to be comfortable. They come in womens and mens sizes. They are thin, but I think they are very comfortable. They are pricy, about $15 a pair but they are worth it. I ordered them from one of the mail order places like Magellens or something similar. or go to www.tilley.com
Kay
USA Mon 04/18/2005

Packing Light- Undergarments.
Dear BP: My spouse & I have had great results with www.tilleys.com. They have all related products from underwear, layering with silk underwear,to unisex socks.The prices will seem expensive. The end result is a quality, durable product, that dries quickly & packs lightly.We purchased their products, have had success, & see it as a valued investment. We use them only for special trips when we travel lightly!Found them thru "RS" packimg tips site.Enjoy! Di
Di
Boston, MA USA Mon 04/18/2005

Cinque Terre & Florence
Has anyone stayed at either the Il Vigneto on the Cinque Terre or Antica Posta in Frorence? These are both B &B's. I read a good review on Il Vigneto on tripadvisor but can't find reviews for Antica Posta. I'll be confirming reservations on Saturday for stays in June so I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has been to either of these.Thanks
Norma <email>
Chehalis, WA USA Mon 04/18/2005

Rome answer to Joanne
1. Estimate taxi fare termini to St. Peters = 8-10 Euro
2. what is best rome city map = the free map by Tourist Info offices.
Jane post
Mon 04/18/2005

Vatican visit
To Topher and Kay - Thanks for the input. A little more info: We arrive by plane on the 14th. We have a driver picking us up at the airport. We are staying near the Spanish Steps. We have all day Saturday, all day Sunday and Monday morning before we leave for Venice, plus 2 weeks later we arrive back in Rome early afternoon Saturday before flying back home Sunday afternoon. I have no doubt we can see alot of the other sites. In between are days in Venice and Florence followed by a week at a villa in southern Tuscany. We just keep ending up in Rome on a weekend, thus missing the vatican. I've contacted a tour company in hopes they can get us in under the wire that first Saturday.
Debi <email>
USA Mon 04/18/2005

FLORENCE Parking
Is there any safe/guarded parking in Florence where one's luggage would not be stolen from the trunk?
AnnaDell <email>
Greensboro, NC USA Mon 04/18/2005

Re:Munich Walking Tours
I have not tried Intro tours. I have gone on the Munich Walking Tours which are fabulous. They are by guides who are either native English speakers or speak English so well you swear they are native English speakers. Go on either the Third Reich Walk, which is VERY good, or the Munich Highlights walk, also good. For more information, visit www.munichwalks.com
Catiana
St. Charles, IL USA Mon 04/18/2005

Vernazza- Cinque Terre
Has anyone out there stayed at Francamaria's- Apt #6? How's the noise, view, etc?
Kathleen <email>
Ft. Myers, FL USA Mon 04/18/2005

Laundry
Hanes has some lightweight nylon undies for women that are inexpensive, comfortably light and dry quickly. To speed up drying after hand-washing stuff, roll them up in a towel or pack-towel really tight. Getting most of the water out helps a lot. Sox might take longer than than overnight to dry. I usually do hand washing only when I am staying more than one night. In France, laundromats are plentiful enough it would be possible to avoid hand-washing altogether.
Swan
USA Mon 04/18/2005

Underwear-Travel Light
BP: Go to www.Tilleys.com. Have both men's & women's briefs,long underwear & unisex socks. They're expensive but a valued item you can savejust for trips when you travel light. They dry quickly & are durable.Delivery came within 2 days.
Di
Boston, MA USA Mon 04/18/2005

Packing Light
BP, I can't speak to men's brands, but my Moving Comfort undies (from Travelsmith), washed and rinsed in cold water, usually dry overnight. I think they may be made of Coolmax, which is also a great fabric for tops. Socks are a real problem, since I like Thorlos and they never dry overnight. I wear sandals whenever possible.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Mon 04/18/2005

Re: 1 week in Italy
One week isn't much to see Italy....but I've done shorter trips--sometimes it's that or stay home. Anyway, JD, do you like ancient sites, pretty statues, mostly eating or mountains? Italy is more intense as you go south. Do you like more craziness (if so, a cab ride in Naples would be fun) or less? I don't think that there is one right or wrong way to spend a week in Italy. You should look at Rick's book for sample itineraries. If I only had a week to spend in Italy & was never going back & had never been before, I would pick Florence, Rome & the Cinque Terre (or Amalfi Coast.)
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Mon 04/18/2005

Rome
Estimate taxi fare termini to St. Peters what is best rome city mapand think advance tickets needed naples musuem.thanks
Joanne <email>
Los Banos, ca USA Mon 04/18/2005

Re: Topher; Siena
Yes, your schedule sounds a little rushed, but I did something similar, and found it to be not that bad. We left Riomaggiore (first train out of there at 6:00 or so), stopped in Pisa for a few hours, then on to Siena. Seems like we got there in plenty of time (maybe about noon?) to get our room, wander around, eat, etc. Next day, we got up and daytripped into Florence, spent all day there, then back to Siena for the night. Depending on what you want to see in Florence, you could just as easily move on to Rome, realizing that you will get there late (probably not before 6:00 PM?) Comes down to whether Siena, Florence, or both are important to you. If you do another night in the CT or Rome, it would still be difficult to see Florence (All day to get to Florence, tour, then to Rome). My recommendation is to do it as you have planned, If you give up anything, stay in Siena and don't do Florence, or stay in Florence, and don't do Siena. Doing a whirlwind is OK, especially if you are bookending it with long stays before and after. Oh, some may recommend that you take a night train from Gimmelwald to the CT, but I love going through the Alps in the daytime, glorious sights.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 04/18/2005

I want to tour Germany, Switzerlan, Austria and also see Budapest and Prague.I want to fly into Frankfurt then take a Rhine cruise to Mainz; then a bus south to Basel or Bern, through the Black Forest, then by train on to Interlaken and Luzerne. Is this too much to ask for? How should I plan the trip? I would like to stay the first night at St. Goar and visit a castle, then embark upriver.Any Suggestions?
Gunther Michaelis <email>
new orleans, la USA Mon 04/18/2005

Munich walking tour
I have a 9 hr layover in Munich during the day and thought I'd spend a few hours of it in Munich itself. Has anyone any experience with Into Munich Tours which advertises a walking tour during a time good for me? Does anyone have any alternative suggestions?
Jan <email>
Arcadia, FL USA Mon 04/18/2005

Air travel restrictions
My daughter is flying from Madrid to Paris on Lineas Argentinas and I haven't been able to find out if they have a strict travel weight for luggage. We will fly to Madrid first to spend time but then she'll go to Paris for 3 weeks. I don't want to discover that we'll have to pay for her bag because of such a short flight.
Noreen Walters <email>
Gig Harbor, WA USA Mon 04/18/2005

Paris convents
My wife and I stayed in a convent in Rome, recommended in Ricks book, it was wonderful, clean, quiet, and safe.Does anyone know of any convents or monasteries in Paris, or how to find out about them?
morgan <email>
Mi USA Mon 04/18/2005

Re; Packing Light
We have finished drying damp clothing items with the hair dryer. Works well for us...just don't overheat the hair dryer...not too much at a time.
D M
Stanwood, WA USA Mon 04/18/2005

trains in France
I just received my Eurail Selectpass and noticed that at the bottom of the passes themselves, it says, "These coupons are only valid with EURAIL cover and your passport." My question is, what is the Eurail cover? My pass came attached to a RailEurope cover - is it the same thing?

Also, I've been getting different answers about how to use my pass. I know I have to validate it at the ticket window but after that can I just get on the train (without going to the ticket window) and show the conductor my pass? Is it necessary to go to the window every time?

Finally, how necessary is a reservation? I'll be in France in May and I've made some Eurostar and Thalys reservations so I'll have to meet some strict deadlines. Do I need to make reservations? Or should I just get to the station super-early to get a seat?
Linda
Canada Mon 04/18/2005

Packing Light - Underwear (really!)
Hi,On our last 3 week train trip we did great with the lightweight travel shirts/pants we bought specifially for the trip, & washed stuff in the room as we went. The only problem we had was with socks and undies - they would not be dry overnight. Any suggestions on brands/types that do easily dry overnight (mens mainly)?Thanks.
BP <email>
Silverdale, WA USA Mon 04/18/2005

BA Carry-on
Jeri- I've flown on BA many times and they are sticklers about weight restrictions. Weigh your bag before you get to the airport to avoid any surprises. You might want to consider taking an extra bag (one that folds up small), so if you purchase items, you can check the Rick Steves bag home and use the extra bag as a carry-on.
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Mon 04/18/2005

Rome apartments
Has anyone used the web site Rome sweet home in order to rent an apartment.thanks!
Kathy <email>
Florida, USA Mon 04/18/2005

Hotel in which Oscar Wilde died.
Thank you to the posters who let me know the name of the hotel where Oscar Wilde died. I can make my pilgrimage now and really appreciate it!
John
Casper, WY USA Mon 04/18/2005

Normandy Home Base
Mike:I've been researching the same topic & will use Bayeux. For sleeping,check 'RS' site. Bayeux provides a solid base,has a reliable TI bureau that can arrange any tour to your imagination & still allow you time to enjoy Bayeux, has dependable train & bus servcices.Day trip for Bayeux >Mont St Michel you will take a train $ a bus.Trains Bayeux station >Pontorson(called Pontorson-Mont St Michel) are 2/day, 745 & 1700 hours, time takes 2 hours.Buses Pontorson-Mont St Michel >Mont St Michel are 6/day, time takes 15 minutes.Most trains are met by a bus waiting to take passengers to Mont St Michel.You can call 'Couriers Bretons" for further bus info', tel. 02 99 19 70 70.At Mont St Michel as you enter the gates, on your left there's a TI wher you can get updated schedules for tides,English speaking tours of Abbey & bus schedules. Enjoy!Di
Di <email>
Boston, MA USA Mon 04/18/2005

One Week in Italy
I suggest staying the week in Florence and taking day trips to Rome, Venice, Siena or other hill towns, and/or Lucca as the spirit moves you. These towns are one to three hours by train from Florence. There is a lot to see and do in Florence itself and you may save a couple of Euros by staying a week.
<email>
USA Mon 04/18/2005

Where to go in Italy?
Going to Italy for the first time. Have about 1 week there towards end of August. Where should we go? What should we avoid?
JD <email>
Tallahassee, FL USA Mon 04/18/2005

Beth...Versailles
The trip to Versailles is less than 6 Euros, round trip. I'm sorry I don't know what transportation pass will include the ride out there. The carte orange, however, is a great investment, even if you have to pay an additional 5 or 6 Euros to go to Versailles.
Brandie <email>
USA Mon 04/18/2005

Vienna Train Station Lockers
We used the lockers in Westbahnhoff in Vienna. We just used them for a few hours but I think I remember seeing something about no more than 24 hours but I couldn't be sure.

New York, NY USA Mon 04/18/2005

Re: italy conundrums
We visited Siena in 2003, and stayed at Alma Domus, run by the nuns. It was comfortable, convenient, and safe, and the people there were great. Siena was wonderful, stop if you can.....(listed in Rick Steves' Italy 2003)
Dorothy <email>
stanwood, WA USA Mon 04/18/2005

British Air's Carry -on Luggage Policy
Does anyone have expereince taking Rick's Carry-on bag on British Air flights, or any other for that fact? By reading BA's website, it says that the weight limit is 13 pounds, which seems pretty low to me. We leave in for London in a few weeks and only want to take carry ons. Any advise?
Jeri <email>
MI USA Mon 04/18/2005

Greece
If some of you are going to Greece, don't miss the Greek Islands. The interisland ferries are great and easy to use. The people are very friendly, speak English and accomodations are easy to find.
Dorothy <email>
stanwood, WA USA Mon 04/18/2005

London hotel
Has anyone stayed at the Georgian House Hotel in London? Any tips? We will be there for 10 days...
Dorothy McCullough <email>
Stanwood, WA USA Mon 04/18/2005

Uffizi Booked Into May Already
This morning (4/18/05), I phoned to make reservations at the Uffizi for 4/26. They are booked until 5/11/05. Or at least that's what they said (same story on the weekendafirneza website). I wanted to let everyone know, so if you are going to Florence you need to make your museum reservations sooner rather than later!Also, if anyone has a suggestion of where to look for tickets once we get there, it would be appreciated. The lady on the phone said our only alternative was to stand in line.
Laura <email>
Westminster, CO USA Mon 04/18/2005

Vatican Museum
Debi, You really don't have time for the Vatican Museum. There are usually lines there no matter when you go. Also, I'm not sure if you know this or not, you have to go all the way thru the museum to get to the Sistine Chapel. And it seems like miles of halls!! So even if you just wanted to see the chapel, it would take you quite a while to get there. If there is a short cut to get to the chapel, I don't know about it. Just enjoy the massive church and maybe take a Scavi tour underground to see the excavations. You need an advanced ticket to do this.
Kay
USA Mon 04/18/2005

RER/carte orange metro
I am arriving in Paris on Monday and leaving Friday. Want to use Metro/RER to/from CDG , around the city and also out to Versailles. I thought Carte Orange was the way to go but I believe I read in Rick's paris book that I will still have to pay an additional fee for the ride out to Versailles. What will take me all the places I want to go most economically? THanks in advance.
beth <email>
nw florida, fl USA Mon 04/18/2005

Hot springs
Jan - in Tuscany, try Bagno Vignoni near Montepuciano and Pienza. You can soak your feet for free or go to the outdoor pool to swim or soak. Linda

USA Mon 04/18/2005

Debi- St. P is a magnificent place. Your schedule is so packed that it sounds as tho best you could do is a quick SP and off to Venice. Rushing thru a place like Vatican Museum defeats purpose of going there. It and places similar are to be savored and enjoyed over a leisurely time. Hope your trip wont be a blur thru Italy. If it is, you will miss a great deal.

USA Mon 04/18/2005

RE:Vienna Train Station Locers
Last May we left our bags in the lockers at the South Station (Sudbahnhof) for a day. I do not know if there is any time limit. This is the train station that serves Italy, Budapest, Prague, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia.
Richard
Sedro Woolley, WA USA Sun 04/17/2005

Re: Vatican
Debi: a couple of key questions: 1. Where are you staying? 2. Are you traveling by train? Depending on where you are staying- you may also have a lengthy (for rome) subway or bus ride. You could try to whip thru the museum- If the wait isn't too crazy- the sistine chapel alone is worth the fee, btw. I believe that St Peter's is open until 1900, so you could see that afterwards, perhaps. You're not going on the LAST sunday are you ? (i presume you know that it is open and free every last sunday of the month). Rome is hard to do in such a short time- so I would plan your time wisely- get up early on sunday, there are plenty of other things open! I am going to rome next month myself. Have fun
Topher <email>
Charlottesville, VA USA Sun 04/17/2005

Mineral springs in Tuscany and Provence
I'm a hot springs addict! The rural variety that the locals use. Any suggestions for Tuscany, Provence or Colmar regions?
Jan <email>
Hudson, MI USA Sun 04/17/2005

Vatican Visit
Hello All - Maybe someone has faced a similar situation and can offer help. Next month, we arrive in Rome on a Saturday(9:00 am). By the time we get through customs, etc. and to our hotel I figure it will probably be at least 11:00. The Vatican museum closes at 13:45 on Saturday. It's closed on Sunday and Monday we leave for Venice at 1:00 pm. Would you try to rush through upon arrival or rush through just before leaving? I was thinking about using a tour guide to bypass the lines, but most tours are at least 3 hours long. Should we skip the museum all together and just go straight to the Chapel and St. Peter's? Any ideas?
Debi <email>
USA Sun 04/17/2005

17 Day Tour of Italy
We are going on the 17 days in Italy tour on 4/24/05 and wondered if anyone else on the same tour might like to get together on the internet before we leave.
Jane & Clyde Wentz <email>
Lilburn, GA USA Sun 04/17/2005

Topher- siena
Hi,Topher. Siena is really cool to wander at night. The first time we went there as a day trip I did not like it nearly as much as when we stayed there. Also Orvieto is on the direct train line to Rome and has an amazing Cathedral and is a really cool hill town. In my opinion, I would shorten the stay in Rome. As Rick says it is required, but it is not my favourite so I would only stay 2 or 3 nights. You will see the real Italy in the smaller places.
brenda <email>
Calgary , cad Sun 04/17/2005

RE: Belfast to Scotland Ferry
I traveled from Stranraer, Scotland to Belfast on the Stena Voyager. It's about a one and a half hour crossing. There was a Hertz agency at the dock in Stranraer, as well as one or two others.
Jason
Reno, NV USA Sun 04/17/2005

Lockers
Hi: Does the train station in Vienna have lockers? How big? Can we leave something there for a few days? Cost?
Karen
Owatonna, MN USA Sun 04/17/2005

Siena or not?
Topher, You're asking for opinions-here's mine. Siena is a great day trip-once you're in the town you can walk everywhere-churches, tower-then sunbathe in the campo, the best thing about Siena. Not as busy as Florence, beautiful views of Tuscany from the tower, a great example of a hill town without having to drive into the country, an easier transition to big city life from CT.
Susan
USA Sun 04/17/2005

Sleeping with Monet
The B&B's near Monet's home are in Giverny-the tiny hamlet that is 5miles from Vernon.Find them atgiverny.org/lodging
Susan
USA Sun 04/17/2005

italy conundrums
Here's the dilemma: We are going to be in Gimmelwald for 2 nights (staying in the pension), then a very early (and long) train ride to the cinque terre, where we are staying in Riomaggiore in one of Edi's rooms for 3 nights. Here is where the confusion begins: We had originally planned to leave riomaggiore in the morning and spend the day and one night in Siena- then leave for a day trip to florence in the AM before taking the fast train to rome that afternoon for 4 nights there. I know this is whirlwind. It seems that it might be worthwhile dropping siena in favor of an additional night in Gimmelwald or riomaggiore. I've not been to Siena, and I hear it is wonderful- but we just won't have the time to get out of the town into the countryside where all of the great stuff (including accomodations) seems to be. We are content with just a day trip to florence en route to rome- been there. Any opinions? thanks
Topher <email>
Charlottesville, VA USA Sun 04/17/2005

Accomodations for a larger family
We will be traveling to Germany, Austria and Italy in July, in 2 parts. The first 2 weeks, my daugther and in-laws will be on a tour that the rest of us - my husband and I with 3 children 9-17(the oldest has Down Syndrome) will try to mirror. The third week of our vacation, there will be 7 of us. Since the rooms are smaller in Europe, what is the best way to handle accomodations? The last week will probably be spent in Austria or Germany (which ever would be cheaper).
Jeannette Littler <email>
La Center, WA USA Sun 04/17/2005

Managing money at exit
In Paris you can buy your RER ticket (combined with a trip on Metro) a day or two before heading for the airport, so you won't need more Euros that day for travel to the airport. At the International airport the shops after you pass through security will accept dollars, peso, Swiss francs, etc. as well as Euros. I usually forget this part, but it is very handy to have this information for handling those last-minute money-handling situations. I like to take home a bunch of Euros for my next trip.
Swan
USA Sun 04/17/2005

Layover at Charles de Gaulle
Amy, Take a look at this site http://www.hotels-france-reservations.com/en/hotels-airport.php?tid=27The Ibis says it's IN the airport. If you're interested in one that doesn't say free shuttle, I'd contact the hotel directly. I stayed in the Cocoon several years back ('98) and thought it was pretty grungy - and it's not clear it still even exists, maybe it became the Ibis?
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Sun 04/17/2005

Milan sidetrip
We want to spend a few days in a charming small town accesible by train to the Milan airport before flying home from Athens. Any suggestions?
Louise Costello <email>
Fort Lauderdale, FL USA Sun 04/17/2005

rail Europe/eurostar
Ok so I emailed Eurostar and in fact Canadians can book directly on their web site and they will send tickets to Canada.....they just charge you in U.S. dollars...So I put in the same dates I was playing around with and it was much much cheaper on Eurostar than what it was on Raileurope...in fact I could even go first class for the same price they were charging me for 2nd class on Rail Europe...Don't think I will be using Rail Europe for my Eurostar reservations that is for sure...but wil have to use them for the other part of my trip.Seems like they are inflating the prices for North American customers.
bluedenim <email>
canada Sun 04/17/2005

Exchanging euros back to dollars
I agree with the previous answer, with an addition or two. We will keep the equivalent of about 5-10 dollars to use at the airport, for any small purchases or snacks. We use the remainder of our foreign currency to pay our hotel bill with. Hence, we pay in part cash, part credit card. Any money that we still have out of that 5-10 dollars is used to buy chocolate at the airport. Also, most airlines will pass around a bag sometime during your flight home, collecting any and all money for charity. They don't turn down any coins or bills.
Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Sun 04/17/2005

Changing euros to dollars
Thanks for your reply. I do know that I will lose money when exchanging currency (I have traveled overseas a number of times). My actual question was WHERE to change any leftover money that might give the best rates. I can hopefully gauge it right and not have much leftover (and I actually will bring a little back), but I don't want to have a bunch left if possible. So . . . what I would like to know is the LOCATION of places to exchange either at the Charles de Gaulle airport or possibly near the Marais area. Sorry if I didn't make myself clear.

USA Sun 04/17/2005

Train
we are not going to Germany tho. We are going to be traveling London-Parisand then Paris-Amsterdam and return. the cheapest I am finding return in Canada on the Eurostar quotes 344 per person Canadian.
bluedenim <email>
vancouver, canada Sun 04/17/2005

trains..
another question I have...when I checked the eurostar web site it seems I am able to get cheaper fares...I was told that you can not book fares through eurostar if you are in Canada....is this true.I find the whole train process so very confusing
bluedenim31 <email>
vancouver, bc canada Sun 04/17/2005

Rail Euope changes?
Is it me or has rail europe's prices gone up and are they offereing less fare options?Before they made the change in the web site there were more fare categories than what is being offered now. I am coounting back 60 or 90 days depending on the route and I am getting higher prices.
bluedenim <email>
vancouver, canada Sun 04/17/2005

LAYOVER AT CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT (FRANCE)
Hi there! I am flying from Pisa (Italy) into Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. I arrive in Paris around 10pm and have a flight to catch to take me back to the U.S. at approx. 10am the next morning. I originally though that I might just tough it out in the airport for the night (because I saw some of the very expensive hotel rates around the airport) but then I read online lots of rather scary stories about this airport (minimal security, lots of homeless people camping around, etc.). As a single female traveler, I think I might just have to spring for a hotel. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have an old Rick Steves book that says there is a place called Cocoon at one of the terminals where you get a very basic bed with a small bathroom, but I'm certain the prices are way out of date (they are still in Francs). Can anyone help? Or, if I reserve one of the more expensive hotel rooms just outside of the airport, does anyone know how much the shuttle costs? I am coming up with a lot of ??? on this topic. Any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Amy <email>
North Fork, CA USA Sun 04/17/2005

Vienna Places to Stay
Has anyone stayed at Pension Suzanne in Vienna this year? I have read mixed reviews and am relying on a 2002 Rick Steves guidebook to make lodging plans
rhea <email>
Philadelphia, USA Sun 04/17/2005

Rome transfers
HI, what is the best way to get from the port of Civitavecchia to the Fiumincino airport,. Is it necessary to go into Termini in Roma? Is it safe to leave luggage there? Thanks, Brenda
brenda <email>
Calgary , cad Sat 04/16/2005

Belfast to Scotland Ferry
Looking for someone who has gone from Belfast Scotland by Ferry. What Ferry line did you use? where did you get off of the ferry in Scotland? what type of ground transportation was available at the port in Scotland
diana nave <email>
USA Sat 04/16/2005

Exchanging euros back to dollars
I am traveling to Paris for the fist time in a couple weeks and am wondering where would be the best place to exchange any leftover euros back into dollars before returning to the U.S. from Charles de Gaulle airport. Thanks for any help.

USA Sat 04/16/2005

AOL in France
Do AOL trial versions (i.e., 1500 free hours) work in France? We are staying in an apartment and have free local calls. Trying to find short term low cost internet provider or free trial for our week long stays in Paris and/or Corsica. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We are travelling with two young children, so access from within the apartment after bedtimes would work better than an internet cafe.
SeattleMom <email>
Seattle, WA USA Sat 04/16/2005

Hotel near Moosburg, Berglen
Looking for inexpensive hotel near the following towns. Hotel in Moosburg, Berglen or FreisingWe have an early a.m. departure from Munich, Airport and are finding most hotels over $200.00 US per night. YIKES
DiDi <email>
FL USA Sat 04/16/2005

FOOD IN FIRST CLASS
Andy.... European trains are different in each country. Some will come to your seat and take your order and then you go to the dining car to eat. Others merely give you the menu so you can decide what to order when you get to the dining car. Be flexible. I never ride in first class. Ask other passengers how it works on your train. I doubt that you can order from here before you go. After all you cant read the menu thats in your seat can you?
JACOBY
NYC, NY USA Sat 04/16/2005

Dean--Night Train Rome to Munich
Dean-Last summer I took the night train from Munich to Rome and got a special SparNight price of E49, covering both ticket and a sleeping berth. The private compartments are E69 for two people or E129 for one person. You can find out about SparNight tickets at the Deutsche Bahn website (www.bahn.de). Click on "International Guests" and you'll go to the English booking page, wehre you can search for a train. Unfortunately, you can't book the Rome-Munich ticket online. I had a German-speaking friend call DB once I found the train I needed. Good luck!

St. Paul, MN USA Sat 04/16/2005

GREECE OR POLAND
Debbie; You will find Greece far more interesting than Poland because of the ancient history of that country. Go to the library and read a couple of guide books to learn what is there. We spent a week in Athens and took a guided bus tour every day to a historical site. Remember that Greece is hot in Sept. Take cool clothing and reconsider a day at the beach just to cool off. Best thing I found about Athens is that nearly every interesting site in town is within walking distance of hotels. Lots of people speak English.
Madeleine W
WY USA Sat 04/16/2005

KRAKOW AND KIEV
Debbie~~~~If you are interested in history visit Auschwitch prison camp in Krakow.~~~~ Before we went to Kiev I searched google.com for “Kiev attractions.” ~~~~ You can do the same for Krakow.~~~~ You will find the Poles very friendly toward Americans. ~~~~ Most of the young people speak English.~~~~ They said they began learning it as soon as they were free of the Russians. ~~~~ They hated having to learn Russian. ~~~~ We stayed with a Polish family and they could not have been more hospitable. ~~~~ Compare the cost before you rent a car or buy rail tickets. ~~~~ We rented a car in Frankfurt because we enjoy the freedom of stopping where we want to. ~~~~ Driving in E Europe is very simple compared with Paris or the UK.
HENRY W. SMITH
TX USA Sat 04/16/2005

Krakow & Kiev
Krakow & Kiev. All tips and recommendations on things to see and not to see, to do and not to do are greatly appreciated. Are the locals friendly. How much English is spoken?Car rental or train?
Debbie <email>
Seminole, fl USA Sat 04/16/2005

Greece or Poland
Greece or Poland in September '05? We seek your opinion. We are NOT interested in the beaches of Greece, but want a relaxing inexpensive trip with nice natives & atmosphere and interesting things to see.
Debbie <email>
Seminole, fl USA Sat 04/16/2005

food in first class
Hi, we are takeing the rail from Amsterdam to Koblenz in Germany, i got my tickets in first class and made my reservation for seats, on the web site Die Bahn it says there are menu`s at the seats, but dos not say if you order from someone that comes to your seat, or if you have order before you travel, or do you go to food car and order and they bring it to your seat? if any one has done this please let me know. thank you so mucn Andy at akeef@commspeed.net
Andy Keef <email>
Flagstaff, az USA Sat 04/16/2005

WALKING THE AMALFI COAST
Go to this address and you will find lots of info and photos of the trails:www.summerinitaly.com/planning/walking_amalfi_sorrento_capri.asp
Zack McDonald III
lubbock, tx USA Sat 04/16/2005

BACHARACH CASTLE HOSTEL
CAT~~~ Try this page: www.hostelz.com/display.php/12718+Jugendherberge+Burg+Stahleck. ~~~ I don’t see an email address, but you will find the fax and phone numbers.
C. O'ROURKE
TAMPA, USA Sat 04/16/2005

OSCAR WILDE
Oscar Wilde died 30.12.1900 at the Hotel d'Alsace, 13 Rue des Beaux Arts, Paris,75006. It is now a luxury hotel...www.l'hotel.com/
Graham <email>
Wales Sat 04/16/2005

Travelodge in UK, Ireland
Jenna,I have stayed at travelodge they are great very US style like Comfort Inns.They are usually located with a parking lot at no charge and generally not in cities or towns but just outside, ensuite and VAT is included in price. sometimes public trans. doesn't work out. Ck their website (for reservations) for your sleeping bag? and for costs for 5. No breakfast is included but adjacent is often a coffee shop (expensive option).www.travelodge.co.ukabout 240 lodges are listed in their directory.hope this helps.
JS
Ca USA Sat 04/16/2005

HOSTEL SEPARATION
Future hosteler~~My wife and I are over 80 and we enjoy staying in hostels because we can usually rent a private room for 2. Sometimes with private bath. Every hostel is different and challenging. (Some have rooms for 3 or 4 persons). But we meet such interesting people staying in hostels. Do your research on the web and read about the types of rooms available. Web pages will tell you if they offer private rooms or only dorms. Don’t worry about language because all of the personnel speak enough English to help you. Remember that Bavarian hostels wont rent to travelers over 27 years of age.
KATIE S.
TULSA, USA Sat 04/16/2005

HIKING TRAILS AMALFI COAST
Jackidancer......check google.com for “hiking trails amalfi coast”. That should tell you if there are some available and a little detail about them.
rudy c. w.
altoloma, USA Sat 04/16/2005

DOROTHY ROOMS IN CT
Dorothy~~~~I landed in CT without reservations and had no problem finding an apartment. I would suggest you look at a few rooms before renting. Reserving from here in advance is OK if you have pictures and descriptions of the facilities. AB may think everything is booked, but while there were a lot of rooms rented the week I was there, I looked at 4 apartments before renting one because the amenities are not comparable to ours.
ROESERTVOIT
NYC, USA Sat 04/16/2005

budget chain hotels in Ireland
In May, we are traveling to Ireland, Bath and London with our 3 "boys"( two teens, one younger) for 3 weeks. We have booked a variety of B&B's, hostels, and a couple small local hotels. Hostels are not cheap paying times five people every night (all private ensuite rooms), B&B's no better, unless they have a large family room. 1. Has anyone stayed in some of the chain hotels,, Travel Lodge, Jurys Inn, etc... Do they allow the fifth person in a room like they do here in the states (with a rollaway or young child in the sleeping bag.. whatever)?
Jenna
USA Sat 04/16/2005

Youth hostel in Bacharach, Germany
For CAt/Syracuse. A Goggle search will get you to Stahleck Castle Youth Hostel above the town of Bacharach. Phone 49 (6743) 1266. A website and email are also available. Look for the British flag at upper right of the website.
George
Philadelphia, USA Fri 04/15/2005

Euro Buses
Nichole- there is. It is Eurolines. They are safe, easy to use and reliable and often a cheaper alternative to trains. Check out the RS sites on methods of travel. There are several bus lines mentioned. We used Eurolines when travelling to Lago Garda from Verona in Italy.
Paul n Sara <email>
Newburyport , MA USA Fri 04/15/2005

DC~~just wait till you get to London to buy your travelcard. You get them at any tube station

Oh Fri 04/15/2005

Dorothy - Rooms in CT
Dorothy - I would suggest making reservations immediatly. I will also be in CT in early June. When I made my reservations in Vernazza using Rick's guidebook in late January, almost everything was booked. Good luck!
AB
Seattle, USA Fri 04/15/2005

Rolling carry-on bags
I'd like to hear from some people who are using the Rick Steves rolling carry-on bag. How does it compare to other rolling bags?
Bob Melvin <email>
Cambridge, MA USA Fri 04/15/2005

Oscar Wilde
I believe Oscar Wilde died at the Hotel d’Alsace.
Brandie <email>
USA Fri 04/15/2005

best credit care
Which credit card company has the lowest transaction fees? My current Chase Visa card charges 3%. (When I last went to Europe in 2000, I think my USBank visa only charged 1 1/2%. Now their best rate is 3.9%)Thanks!
Margaret <email>
Schaumburg, il USA Fri 04/15/2005

Hiking the Amalfi Coast???
Are there hiking trails (like in the Cinque Terre) along the Amalfi coast? I'm guessing the towns are not as close as in the CT. I don't remember Rick mentioning hiking in his books for Amalfi. Perhaps no hiking from town to town, but there must be hiking trails along the coast. Is a card needed for access like in the CT?

jackidancer@yahoo.com, USA Fri 04/15/2005

London Visitor Travelscards
Has anyone recently tried to buy a Visitor Travelcard? Rail Europe just stopped selling them. Rumors has it that this product is going to be restructured. The direct-mail offer is still active on London Transport's site (thetube.com). What's going on?
DC
BC Can Fri 04/15/2005

Oscar Wilde
Can anyone provide me with the name of the hotel in which Oscar Wilde died in 1900? I know it is in Ste-Germain but would like to know which specific hotel. Thanks very much.
John
Casper, WY USA Fri 04/15/2005

Budget Rooms in Montreux, CH
I seem to be full of questions these days... Anyone have a recommendation for budget accommodations in Montreux? All three of the hotels (duPont) and hostels (Montreux, Vevey) listed in RS Switzerland 2005 are full on the night we need (June 15). I checked the usual web sources, but the hotels that are big enough to have a web presence are also on the pricey side of "budget."We're arriving late afternoon and leaving early the next day, so we'd prefer something close to the train station.
Kim <email>
Ithaca, NY USA Fri 04/15/2005

Heathrow to London
I repeat, go to www.heathrowexpress.com. There is a train that departs every 15 minutes, takes about 15 minutes to get to Paddington Station from Heathrow. From there, take the tube or taxi (Black Taxis only!) to your destination. I'd take a taxi late at night and bite the extra expense. Happy traveling!!
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Fri 04/15/2005

Nichole-bus service
Nichole-take a train. They're much more prevalent, and surely quicker, and probably just as inexpensive as a bus.

USA Fri 04/15/2005

Hostel info
Most hostels are co-ed now. You will be able to get a room that you all can share....and maybe with more people if you want. My daugther went to Germany last year with a girlfriend and ended up sharing rooms with guys all the time. Your boyfriend will not have to have his own room with males - unless he wants it.

USA Fri 04/15/2005

Berlin Motels
I stayed at the Hotel Savoy- about a block from the Bahnhof Zoo and 1 1/2 up from the Ku'Damm. Nice hotel, a little spendy, but decent proximity to some good dining and the U-bahn. If I had to do it over again, I might go closer to Mitte or Prenzlauerburg. Good luck!
JR
Burnsville, MN USA Fri 04/15/2005

SoftWalk Shoes
Any women out there have experience with SoftWalk brand shoes? Tried some on today and they were amazingly comfortable and stylish but I haven't seen them recommended in anyone's posts. (Unless my search didn't work properly!)
Jennifer <email>
Orlando, FL USA Fri 04/15/2005

transportation
Is the a european equivilent to the Grey hound bus company from the U.S.?
nichole <email>
Pittsburgh, PA USA Fri 04/15/2005

Hostel Separation
I will be traveling through Europe this summer and will be relying on hostels for the majority of my nights. My question is do they really segregate the women from the men? I will be traveling with my sister and boyfriend. I am worried my boyfriend will have to stay all by his lonesome. He doesn't speak any foreign languages and has never left the states. Can I request a room for all three of us, or will this even be an issue?
future hosteler!
FL USA Fri 04/15/2005

Bacharach Castle Hostel
I would like to spend a night or two at Bacharach Castle Youth Hostel in Germany. Does anyone have a number or E-mail so I can make a reservation?
CAt
Syracuse, NY USA Fri 04/15/2005

VIENNA DANUBE BOAT RIDE
Mike; Do a search for “Danube river cruises” on google.com. Look for a toll free phone number and call it to ask your questions.
LARRY W.
LINDY, USA Fri 04/15/2005

SEVURITY TRAVEL WALLET
I am surprised at all the conversation about money belts and neck pouches. Funny how some women cant wear them without feeling uncomfortable. The neck pouch is so much easier for me to wear because I don t even remember it is there while I wear it.I suggest you try one first wearing it for a week at home before you go; if that doesnt work for you buy the other and try it. Don’t overload it and you wont feel it.
ANNIE
DENVER, USA Fri 04/15/2005

DIRECTIONS CHOCOLATE MUSEUM IN KOLN
HAILEY....go to : www.willkommeninkoeln.de/11sight/sight61ae.htm. You will find a map there. It is on the river so it was easy for me to find once I asked someone which bus or trolley to catch.
K . LUDWIG
SEATTLE, USA Fri 04/15/2005

Heathrow to Victoria
Julie,I personally prefer taking the Tube from Heathrow, but there is a bus option. The Tube is a little more difficult with big luggage. Have a good trip.
Greg <email>
Mpls, MN USA Fri 04/15/2005

Couchette reservation for child
Hello Kim!

An overnight train ticket consists of: a ticket (a normal point-to-point ticket for the route covered) and a couchette/berth reservation which includes the couchette/berth supplement

Some trains use the global pricing system (especially in Germany) where couchette and ticket are combined into one single fare.

Normally, children under 4 travel for free, but only when not occupying a seat (or couchette/berth), if you want a couchette for your three year old child, you will have to pay: a child ticket for him (which is half the adult fare) and a couchette (ie. make a couchette reservation) for him as well. There is normally no child discounts on couchette reservations.

If you train uses the global pricing system, you will have to buy a child ticket if you want a couchette for him.

If you choose to share a couchette with him, he will travel for free.

So the short answer is: If you want a couchette for him, you need both ticket (child ticket) and couchette reservation/supplement even if he is under four.
Chrismo
Copenhagen, Denmark Fri 04/15/2005

Butane curling iron
Butane curling irons are an option for Europe, but if you need an extra butane cylinder you have to put it in your checked bag. I would just buy a curling iron when I arrived, they can't be that expensive.

USA Thu 04/14/2005

Berlin for the weekend
Berlin is a great place to spend a weekend! We stayed at Pension Peters just a short walk from the Bahnhof Zoo (train station) and shopping on Ku'damm Street.The exact address is Kanstrasse 146, 2nd floor - www.pension-peters-berlin.de, e-mail at penspeters@aol.com. Annika and Christoph both speak excellent English.
Sue Cramer <email>
Peoria, AZ USA Thu 04/14/2005

Dusseldorf small hotels/pensions
Hi,I am also going to Dusseldorf,any ideas on where to stay?Thanks,Lesbeth
Lesbeth <email>
SF, CA USA Thu 04/14/2005

Heathrow to London Victoria?
my plane arrives at Heathrow at 10:05 pm - too late for most things.....Any advice on a good (and easy) way to get into London (Victoria area) besides taking the tube?
Julia <email>
MI USA Thu 04/14/2005

Answering "I'm know I'm vain, but. "
my roommate and I went for a 5 week trip across Europe a few yrs ago with a curling iron and a hair dryer (with appropriate adapters) and ended up sending the curling iron home (which cost much more but we needed the room)! I thought initially that I would need both - as at home I do, but truly during the day we always just threw our hair up and at night either wore up or dried straight - and that was more than enough for a night out at the bars. Go to http://www.magellans.com/store/Toiletries___Kits___Hair_CareEP354?Args= for what appears to be a great small hair dryer w/ adaptors for France and England - good luck!
Julia <email>
MI USA Thu 04/14/2005

Miss Vain
If you can't live w/o your curling iron (and many of us can't so don't feel bad), be sure to bring converters. Paris and London use different plugs/outlets. Any travel store should be able to help you. Most hotels carry hair dryers. If you have your hotel booked already, check out their website or email them.
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Thu 04/14/2005

Night Train with Child
I'm confused about travelling on a night train with a 3-year old. If I want to get two couchettes, one for me and one for him, do I need to (a) buy a ticket for him (even though he normally travels free), (b) make and pay for a reservation for him, (c) buy a couchette berth for him, or (d) some combination of the above? Another way of asking this: when train reservation systems & travel agents (e.g., EurAide.com) quote a price for a couchette "per person," is a free traveller a "person" or not? Is it possible to get a separate couchette for a child who doesn't have a ticket?
Kim <email>
NY USA Thu 04/14/2005

Can I use the TSA locks going from USA to Italy and back? I heard you cnnot use them overseas.. Thanks, Su
Su <email>
USA Thu 04/14/2005

Switzerland
Dodie---if you are lucky enough to have 24 days to spend in Switzerland, why stay anywhere else? You'll spend more on trains and waste a lot of time. It is the cities, especially Zurich, and the fancy resorts, that are expensive. Get a copy of "Switzerland's Mountain Inns", by Marcia Lieberman, and stay in the Berghotels A bed in the "Matratzenlager" dormitory is only 30-40 Swiss francs, and you meet some lovely people. Also Chalet Fontana in Murren is very inexpensive.

USA Thu 04/14/2005

Directions
Does anybody know how to get to Imhoff-Stollwerk? The chocolate museum in Cologne. Rick talked about it in his "Europe Through the Back Door" book, and I found the web-site, but I can't seem to find directions using public trasportation. Any information would be helpful, as I'm clueless!
Hailey <email>
BC Canada Thu 04/14/2005

re:spanish ferry
Maja, I think that 185 euros for a sleeper on the ferry from Barcelona to Mallorca is about right. Similar to the cost of the Eurostar train from London to Paris.

USA Thu 04/14/2005

Car Hire - London to Bath & Return
Tim, Why not spend the night in Bath? It will be much, much less hassle than taking your car into central London! Likely cheaper too, as London parking is pricey, plus I'm not sure whether you wouldn't be hit with the congestion charge if you're driving in central London after 7:00 am. Check with your London hotel to see if they'll hold your bags for you.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Thu 04/14/2005

re:spanish ferry
Tony: Thank you for your help - i did the exact same search on the website, but it honestly can't cost $295 CAD to take an overnight ferry?!!
maja <email>
toronto, ON Canada Thu 04/14/2005

Security Travel Wallet
At Target, I found a Security travel Wallet made by a company called Embark. It is an all-black, folding velcro-closure wallet, with a neck strap (with padding) that hook onto the wallet (strap is removable). I've not used it on a trip yet, just using it around town. I wear it cross-wise over my body, like a purse. The strap is a little small for this. I'm looking for a bit of a longer (or adjustable one). Inside, it has a long zippered compartment for cash, tickets, other documents; a small mesh zippered compartment for change; credit card holder with a velcro strap over that; a window pocket for ID, and a "hidden" slot for passport. Very usable--except for the strap (which may be fixable). I will probably use this, along with my money belt. On some days, I'll probably either use my day pack or Eagle Creek Guide Bag (very nice), depending on my plans. Hope this might be helpful for people to look into. (I believe Embark is Target-brand--or made for Target: www.target.com)
Ann <email>
IN USA Thu 04/14/2005

Re: Train Reservations
Yes, every segment on your train trip that has an R by it, you need to make a reservation. So if you have four parts of your trip and three segments need reservations, you need to make three reservations. Every reservation costs a separate fee. Reservations are easiest and cheapest made at the train station. Usually, you can make all your train reservations at one time from one train station.
Tracy
Plymouth, WI USA Thu 04/14/2005

Berlin- where to stay
HiI am going to Berlin to stay for the weekend, anybody can tell me in what area I should stay?Thanks
Lesbeth <email>
SF, CA USA Thu 04/14/2005

trasmediterranea runaround
Maja, I'm not sure why you didn't find the information you need on their website. I just looked and got the followiing...

Barcelona-Palma de Mallorca, depart: 10 May 05 (I just entered an arbitrary date) 23:00h, arrive 11 May 05 06:30h, SuperFerry, Double Cab. with Toilet occup by 1 pax.

Cost: 185.00 Euros ($295 CAN).Hope this helps.
Tony
CA USA Thu 04/14/2005

Train Reservations
Oops! Try again ... I just got my railpass, watched the DVD and read the materials. Still have some questions:

On trains with R required, do I have to make reservations in advance? Do I have to go to a train station window or can I do it on the train?

If several segments require reservations, do I have to make separate reservations for each? Pay separate fees as well?Thanks!
Jerry <email>
USA Thu 04/14/2005

Train Reservations
I just got my railpass, watched the DVD and read the materials. Still have some questions:
Jerry <email>
USA Thu 04/14/2005

Two Responses
Responses as to several Qs- re neck pouch vs mb: Ive worn both. I agree that NP can get annoying. I wound up wearing mine on my belt but also took MB. MB is good for stashes of large cash (if there are two of you, split that !) Sicily- try almost any town on east coast, excepting Taormina, which is expensive and touristy.

USA Thu 04/14/2005

Looking for Sicily info
Hello: I will be in Palarmo (and exploring that general vicinity)for 4 days in mid-September and am looking for any suggestions where to spend an additional 4 days, at a coastal town or island; just looking for a nice(inexpensive)spot to hang out on near the water. Thanks
Rebecca <email>
San Francisco, CA USA Thu 04/14/2005

trasmediterranea runaround
I'm hoping someone can lend a hand here.... I'm heading to Spain very soon, and have the whole trip costed out EXCEPT for the trasmediterranea ferry from barcelona to palma de mallorca. The website is of no help and i even tried calling, but my rudimentary knowledge of spanish definitely put a damper on things. Has anyone taken this ferry? All I want to know is the ballpark price for a couchette/sleeper on the overnight ferry.... thank you in advance!
Maja <email>
Canada, ON Canada Thu 04/14/2005

Neck Pouch
Just got back from 10 days in Rome, Florence and Venice. I used my new neck pouch because I really do not like a money belt. Well, after a day in Rome, I discovered I didn't like the neck pouch, either. So I just put the neck pouch around my waist and cinched it firmly around the back and voila. It isn't as bulky as a money belt, but it didn't pull on my neck like the neck pouch. Kind of like a cod piece, actually. It worked great underneath slacks and skirts alike, but I am not sure about dresses, since I didn't take any with me. Could be a problem. Or you could make new friends fast!
Debra
Aspen, CO USA Thu 04/14/2005

Re: Judy- Munich Hotel
Judy- for a very reasonably priced hotel in Munich, I would suggest Pension Beck (it's listed in Rick's book). It's in a quiet neighberhood approx. 10/15 min by foot from the Marienplatz/Glockinspiel. My room was small, yet pleasent and clean. Good breakfast too and also not too far from the Deutches Museum. All things considered- price/location (rates are very reasonable), it's a safe bet while in Munich.If you need something closer to the main train station, you can try "4 You Munchen"( can book res at: http://reservations.bookhostels.com/guideforeurope.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=710). It's actually a youth hostel, BUT, has slightly more expensive hotel room on the top floors. On a diff trip to Munich, where I needed to stay very close to main station, I stayed there and thought it was fine. My room was pretty large and also featured a private bath. If being very close to main startion is a priority (while also being centrally located for sight-seeing, this is a good, reasonably priced option.
Lawrence <email>
New York, NY USA Thu 04/14/2005

Re: Robert- Hotel in Berlin
Robert, for a hotel in Berlin, I enthusiastically suggest Pension Peters (http://www.pension-peters-berlin.de/). I stayed there a few years ago for several days and think it's a real find (it's listed in Rick's book and it was as good as he said). It's in a quiet neigborhood only a few minuets walk from the main train station, so the location is ideal. My room was large and very clean and had bright, fun art on the walls. Nice, cheery breakfast room as well, which was great for chatting with other travelers/exchanging travel tips, etc. The owner (I believe her name is Annika) is VERY nice and was very helpful with tourist tips, storing my bags for the day after I checked out, etc. Very reasonable rates too. If it's still there, check out the bar "Hef" which is next door- I enjoyed a beer there each night before going back to the pension- cool atmosphere. Berlin is a fascinating city- enjoy. Happy travels.
Lawrence <email>
New York, NY USA Thu 04/14/2005

Let Travel Set you Free!
Ktann - Since most hotels have hair driers, I would let it go and get over having to curl your hair. My wife has over the years given up on any curl and has been better off for it. Even with adapters, she had difficulty getting her US things to work. And then if you buy the stuff over there, you are paying a lot more for it what with the exchange rate. And no one will know whether your hair is not normallycurled or not. You are probably the only one who really does care. Sometimes travel has really unexpected benefits; like my wife can now get ready to go out in about 1/2 the time it used to take her. She got a different hair cut that does not require even blow drying and she feels very liberated. Even when we travel in the US, she never brings any of her stuff with her, and in fact, she got rid of her hot rollers, etc. at a yard sale last summer.
Jeff Selbur
Denver, CO USA Thu 04/14/2005

Jim- Venice/CT train
Just returned and took the reverse trip...CT to Venice. Left Monterosso at 7:29 AM to Bologna. Arrived Bologna at about 10:30 and switched to Eurostar for Vencie. Had about 45 minutes in Bologna and arrived in Venice about 1:40 PM. We bought ALL of our train ticket at our first stop in Rome and had no problems.

USA Thu 04/14/2005

Vienna Danube boat ride
We will be visiting Vienna in mid-May and then on to Salzburg, Zurich, etc... We would like to take a boat trip on the Danube as part of that experience. Perhaps take the boar a ways up the Danube (West) and then get off and take the train on to Salzburg. Does anyone have any suggestions for this, particularly how long it would take?
Mike Brubaker <email>
Grove City, PA USA Thu 04/14/2005

Su- Italy
Just got back from there, first two weeks of April. Still a little chilly in early AM and after dark. Things were JUST starting to bud and everything was green. Should be perfect! Definatly go to Borghese gardens in Rome and Boboli in Florence.

USA Thu 04/14/2005

Bluedenim - Loire itinerary
Bluedenim, that does sound like an ambitious plan for two days and nights. Chambord is massive and we easily spent over three hours wandering in the chateau and the grounds. We also stopped at Chartres on the way back to Paris for a visit to the cathedral, lunch, and a short wander around the shops. I think we spent about 2-3 hours there. You may want to consider cutting out a stop on your trip just to be sure you have enough time to spend at each place and truly savour and enjoy it. You don't want to be rushing around each stop and then spending most of the time in your car running to the next place. Just a thought.
Chris
MA USA Thu 04/14/2005

re: Berlin accomodations
This winter we stayed at the Hotel Carmer. I couldn't believe what a great hotel it was for the money--something like 89E. The location was great too--10 minutes walk max to the Zoo train station. Somebody told me that in Rick's book, somebody reported that the help was rude. We didn't find that--maybe the traveler wasn't accustomed to the Prussian temperament.
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Thu 04/14/2005

Car Hire - London to Bath & Return
Bob in Bristol - Thanks for your note. Yes, keeping the car overnight would be a good idea. The only problem with that would be finding overnight parking near our hotel which is close by Victoria station. I'm looking into it.
Tim <email>
Minot, ND USA Thu 04/14/2005

SIena accomodations
My wife and I will be in Siena for just one night; on the way between Riomaggiore and Rome. We will leave by bus for florence the following morning.We would like to find a clean, reasonable place centrally located.Any suggestions?Thanks
Topher <email>
Charlottesville, VA USA Thu 04/14/2005

Car Rental - Heathrow to Bath
In answer to Tim, the times are possibly do-able, bit would be tight. If your concert is at the Assembly Rooms, there is a big car park within ten minutes walk, but you have to allow time for the concert to finish and to get out. The Motorway (M4) can be busy on a Sunday night, with people returning to London after the weekend. Would it not be better to return the car first thing in the morning, still within the 24 hour hire period?
Bob
Bristol, UK Thu 04/14/2005

Getting from Airport to Ferry
In answer to Elizabeth, the best way of getting from London Heathrow to the Continental Ferry Port at Portsmouth is probably by National Express bus (or coach, as it is known over here). Check out the website at http://www.nationalexpress.com/. You will need to type "Portsmouth" in to the destination box, since it is not in the look-up table. The direct serice would be best - you will also be offered alternatives via Central london, or via Southampton.
Bob
Bristol, UK Thu 04/14/2005

climate
I am off to Italy April 19. Looks like it will be in the 60's. Are the flowers in bloom and are the leaves on the trees? I am looking for color!!! Thanks, SPR
Su <email>
USA Thu 04/14/2005

I'm know I'm vain, but. . .
Hello all! My question may seem a little vain, but here it goes. I am one of those girls that really needs her electrical hair appliances. I'm off to Paris and London soon and am worried about knocking out an entire city block of power in London when I try to use my curling iron! So, since I'm not a "wash and go" gal, does anyone have any suggestions? Should I love for adapters or buy a curling iron there? Any help would be much appreciated. My hair and I thank you.
Ktann <email>
Gilbert, AZ USA Thu 04/14/2005

Ferries within Scandinavia
Here is a list of the most important ferry lines including ferry companies and their website. This list is by no means exhaustive, but covers the main international connections.

Color Line: www.colorline.com Kristianssand(Norway)-Hirtshals (Denmark) Larvik(N)-Frederikshavn (DK) Larvik(N)-Hirtshals (DK) Oslo(N)-Hirtshals (DK) Bergen(N)-Hirtshals (DK) Stavanger(N)-Hirtshals (DK) Sandefjord(N)-Strömstad (S) Oslo(N)-Kiel (D)

Stena Line: www.stenaline.com
Oslo(N)- Frederikshavn (DK)
Gothenburg(S)-Frederikshavn(DK)
Grenaa(DK)-Varberg(S)
Gothenburg(S)-Kiel(D)
Karlskrona(S)-Gdynia(PL)

DFDS Scandinavian Seaways: www.dfdsseaways.com
Copenhagen(DK)-Helsingborg(S)-Oslo(N)
Esbjerg(DK)-Harwich(GB)
Gothenburg(S)-Kristiansand(N)-Newcastle(GB)

Fjord Line: www.fjordline.no
Newcastle(GB)-Stavanger(N)-Haugesund(N)-Bergen(N)
Bergen(N)-Haugesund-Egersund (N)-Hanstholm (DK)

Smyril Line: www.smyril-line.no
Bergen(N)-Lerwick, Shetland(GB)-Faroe Islands(Faroe Islands)-Seydisfjördur(Iceland):

Scandlines: www.scandlines.com
Rødby(DK)-Puttgarden(D)
Gedser(DK)-Rostock(D)
Helsingør(DK)-Helsingborg(S)
Trelleborg(S)-Rostock(D)
Trelleborg(S)-Sassnitz(D)
Bøjden(DK)-Fynshav(DK)
Spodsbjerg(DK)-Tårs(DK)

Molslinien: www.mols-linien.dk
Ebeltoft(DK)-Sjællands Odde(DK)
Århus(DK)-Sjællands Odde(DK)
Århus(DK)-Kalundborg(DK)

Viking Line www.vikingline.se
Kapellskär(S)–Mariehamn(FIN)
Stockholm(S)–Mariehamn(FIN)
Stockholm(S)-Åland(FIN)-Turku(FIN)
Stockholm(S)–Mariehamn(FIN)–Helsinki(FIN)
Helsinki(FIN)-Tallinn(EST)

Silja Line: www.siljaline.se
Stockholm(S)-Helsinki(FIN)
Stockholm(S)-Turku(FIN)
Kappelskär(S)-Turku(FIN)
Stockholm(S)-Mariehamn(FIN)
Kappelskär(S)-Mariehamn(FIN)
Stockholm(S)- Långnäs(FIN)
Helsinki(FIN)-Tallin(EST)
Turku(FIN)-Mariehamn(FIN)
Helsinki(FIN)-Mariehamn(FIN)
Turku(FIN)-Långnäs(FIN)

Polferries: www.polferries.com
Nynäshamn(S)-Gdańsk(PL)
Ystad(S)-Świnoujście(PL)
Copenhagen(DK)-Świnoujście(PL)
Rønne(DK)-Świnoujście(PL)

Bornholmstrafikken: www.bornholmstrafikken.dk
Rønne(DK)-Ystad(S)
Rønne(DK)-Køge(DK)
Rønne(DK)-Sassnitz(D)

TT-line: www.ttline.com
Travemünde(D)-Trelleborg(S)
Rostock(D)-Trelleborg(S)

Chrismo
Copenhagen, Denmark Wed 04/13/2005

Paula, We stayed at the Champ du Mars in Paris several years ago and were disappointed with the room size. They were tiny! And don't ask for twin beds. They are about half the size of the ones here. The rooms were gorgeous, just so small you could barely get between the bed and the wall. I would ask for a large room if that is possible.

USA Wed 04/13/2005

Hotels in Germany
Can anyone recommend some good accommodations in Hamburg and Berlin?
Robert <email>
Milwaukee, Wi USA Wed 04/13/2005

Early morning Gatwick flight
I have a 6:30am flight out of Gatwick airport on April, 27. Anybody know of any early morning public transit options; or are we going to have to pay the price and use cabs?
Hailey <email>
BC Canada Wed 04/13/2005

Italian National Holidays
Jill, you should be aware that not only is April 25 a holiday in Italy, but so is May 1 (Labor Day). There were massive parades in Rome when we were there; and I'm sure that the same will be true for many other places, especially those in the "Red Belt," Emilia Romagna, Umbria,and Tuscany. Much will be closed, and the roads will be very crowded. You need to plan accordingly.
RK
Berkeley, CA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Heathrow to London
Sarah~~Heathrow has business that goes into London to Victoria Station. You then could take a taxi. When ever you use a taxi in London, use a black cabbie. They are safe and they charge less.

Oh USA Wed 04/13/2005

Things to do in Munich
My friend and I are traveling to Munich together this summer. We will both be 16, and i was wondering what the nightlife in munich is like for people our age and older? Also what else can we do in Munich besides museums and casltes (we already know which ones we want to do)? An e-mail with a suggestion would be greatly appreciated...THANKS!
<email>
USA Wed 04/13/2005

Ferry to Sicily
Ferry to Sicily - a ferry runs frequently between Messina and Villa San Giovanni - it is a short trip. You can see across to the mainland from Messina very well.
Linda
PA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Travel with a "Desk"
Thank you to the sales rep.! It's just good to hear I'm not alone with this challenge. A question: do you find that the sleeve for the laptop gives enough protection from impact shocks as you live out of your pack? I was assuming I'd need to keep the laptop inside the ultra-shock-absorbing, briefcase-type case I normally carry it in, inside the pack. Of course this adds more weight and additional bulk. Can one get away without it? (Mine's an iBook...)

USA Wed 04/13/2005

Hotel du Champ de Mars
Paula - The name of the hotel is Hotel du Champ de Mars. The website is www.hotel-du-champ-de-mars.com. You can also read about it in Rick's France and/or Paris books.

USA Wed 04/13/2005

Italy Holiday
To Jill. Regarding Italian holiday. April 25th is a national holiday celebrating Liberation of Italy from Germany in 1945. It is a national holiday where many banks, public offices, stores and shops are closed. Any inconvenience should be offset by enjoyment you can have participating and observing Italians celebrate their independence day. Plan ahead and have fun!
Mike Hilts <email>
Sarasota, FL USA Wed 04/13/2005

Heathrow to London
Sarah - The Heathrow Express departs Heathrow about every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes to get between Heathrow and Paddington Station. www.heathrowexpress.com. I'm flying to London next month, and I plan on taking the express to Paddington. The tube takes much longer, but will be cheaper (I think it takes about 45-50 minutes, I can't remember). Have fun!
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Plitvice Lakes Hotels
Harry, Hotel Plitvice is a smaller hotel and may be closed off season. The larger Hotel Jezero, where I've stayed twice and could recommend, is probably open. Website for Plitvice Lakes is www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr. It is available in english and contains a link for booking hotel reservations. Another useful website is www.croatia.hr, where the Croatian National Tourist Board provides a wealth of information about the country, including some nice photos of the park. It lists same phone, fax and e-mail for all park hotels: 053/751 400, 053/751 013 and info@np-plitvicka-jezera.hr. Enjoy your visit to the park. It's really spectacular!
Frank
Wilmington, DE USA Wed 04/13/2005

Getting from Airport to Ferry
Ok, we're flying into Heathrow and then need to get to Portsmouth to catch a ferry to Cherbourg where we're leasing a car. What's the best way to get from Heathrow Airport to Portsmouth? Thanks!
Elizabeth <email>
Rocklin, CA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Hotel Champ du Mars
Can anyone provide the website, fax or phone number of Hotel Champ du Mars in Paris? All I have found is Residence Champ du Mar on the web. Is that the same place?
Paula <email>
Corpus Christi, TX USA Wed 04/13/2005

Transportation from Heathrow into London
My sis & I will be traveling to London at the end of the summer. We're flying into Heathrow & our hotel is in the Southwark area of the city. I looked at Hotel-link & found, based on the list of areas they serve, that Southwark is not included in the areas they stop. Is there a less expensive way to get into London than taxi? Is there a simpler way than the Tube (a number of transfers with luggage could be a pain)?
Sarah <email>
PA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Car Rental - Heathrow to Bath
My wife and I and our daughter would lke to attend a concert at the International Music Festival in Bath in May. London-Bath return train tickets would cost 105 GBP for the three of us. We could rent a car for one day at Heathrow for only 24 GBP. The concert lasts until 21:00. The car rental agency closes at 23:00. Viamichelin.com gives a driving time of 1hr50min. Is that realistic? Is the traffic likely to be "modest" at that time of night? Is there a reduced nighttime speed limit? How available is parking in Bath?
Tim <email>
Minot, ND USA Wed 04/13/2005

phone cards
Has anyone purchased a phone card in Ireland and are they difficult to use?
Pat Hogan <email>
wichita, ks USA Wed 04/13/2005

Re: Dorothy, Rome to Siena
Time wise, it really doesn't matter, Bus or Train, you will wind up taking both anyway, just a matter at which point you switch. For what it matters, since you would have to switch trains in Florence or Chiusi to reach Siena, you might as well switch to a bus at either of those places. The route through Chiusi is typically shorter, and often requires a bus anyway, but the connections through Florence are more frequent. You can always compare schedules and prices when you get to the station.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Ferry service in Italy to Sicily
Opps...forgot the website address! Sorry...http://www.gruppotirrenia.it/tirrenia_en/html/mainframe.htm

USA Wed 04/13/2005

Ferry "boot" Italy to Sicily
copy and paste this website for info on ferry service. Not sure what ports you want to use, but I believe you have to leave from Naples to get to Sicily...not sure if you want Palermo, or the eastern side of the island. Good Luck!
Ellen <email>
USA Wed 04/13/2005

Loire Valley Plans
I was wondering does this sound doable or am I planning two much. We are spending two nights in the Loire Valley, arriving late morning in paris, renting our car adn then driving to the Loire. I was thinking about stopping and seeing Chambord on our way to where we are staying which is close to Tours. Doing Tours for dinner and in the evening.The next day doing Chenonceau chateaux and then doing Chinon the town and area.The next day in the morning we will leave for Paris but I was wondering if it is possible to go do Chartes before heading into Paris?
bluedenim <email>
vancouver, Canada Wed 04/13/2005

Athens Hotel
Wendy, I couldn't get your address to work. Contact me about a hotel in Athens.
Kay <email>
USA Wed 04/13/2005

Ferry to Sicily
Any tips about getting a ferry from the "toe" of Italy to Sicily?
Tom <email>
Petaluma, CA USA Wed 04/13/2005

countries around switzerland
I am planning a 24 day trip to Switzerland. It is very expensive there - so I have been told. Which of the surrounding countries would be cheaper? I plan to buy a rail pass but have not done so as of yet because I am thinking of staying in the countries surrounding switzerland and daytripping in. Are groceries and the like cheaper in other countries (i.e. Germany, Austria, Liechenstein, France)? My plan at this time does not include Italy. I remember from my last trip that people from Germany were on the train carrying their groceries that they had bought in Austria because it was cheaper. Thanks for any help you can give!
Dodie <email>
GA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Travel with a desk
I'm a sales rep, have to carry my laptop, catalogs, order forms, etc everywhere I go. There is no lightweight solution, other than getting pack that has a laptop sleeve build in, and room for your cords, paperwork (books) etc. You just can't pack this stuff light. Check out www.ebags.com for laptop backpacks. High Sierra makes some great ones at really good prices I use the Holmes model. The straps are comfortable, and there is lots of room for "stuff" plus side pockets that work great for a water bottle. Plus it has a "hidden" zippered panel on the back for CD's, or your cash. If you pack your clothing light, then at least you wont' be too burdened with "stuff". I don't think there is an easy solution for you. But it sounds like you might be in one place, so carting stuff around shouldn't be too bad, once you get to your destination.

USA Wed 04/13/2005

Traveling with a "Desk"
Thank you, Kim!, but there is no host office with a computer - sadly, it has to be my own. I have no access to, or experience with, scanners, and don't relate well to reading on the screen; also, will have to be consulting several of the books simultaneously (the job involves languages, lesson planning and and translation). So, I'm still looking for ideas, since it seems there's no way around carrying the essentials.

USA Wed 04/13/2005

RE: Travel with a Desk
I'm in a similar situation, but managed to convince my "host" office to find an old computer for me, so all I need to take is a jump drive (aka, key drive) with my files. Much lighter than even my ultralight notebook! :)

As for the book issue, could you scan the relevant chapters before you go and convert them to PDFs? It's a pain (unless you have access to a scanner with a document feeder), but not as much as traveling with a small library.
Kim <email>
Ithaca, NY USA Wed 04/13/2005

Re: Jim; Venice to CT
I think the reason schedules look confusing is that there is no direct single route from Venice to the CT. Added to this is the fact the the CT towns are small, so Trenitalia doesn't handle the schedule well. Most likely you will take one of two routes. Venice to Milan to Genoa, then local train to the CT. Or as the previous post mentioned Venice to Bolongna to Florence to Pisa to La Spezia, then local train to the CT. Depending on the train, you may or may not have to change trains in each of those towns...sounds worse than it is, it is usually done in one or two changes. There are some other routes as well, but the bottom line is, you will change trains, and it will take 6 to 7 hours regardless of the route. If route is not important, buy the ticket like the previous post said, and they will print out an itinerary.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
I have tried unsuccessfully for three days to connect via email, telephone and fax - even with the help of an operator in Croatia - with the Hotel Plitvice. The phones and fax ring and there is no connection. My email does not connect

Has anyone ever been there? Do you have an accurate phone, fax, or email address? I'm trying to make a reservation for 1 June 2005.THANX! Harry
Harry Davis <email>
San Jose, CA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Italy Holiday
Is 25 April a national holiday in Italy? Are all museos closed? Or are they closed because it's Monday? What will be open in and around Rome on that day? Any suggestions on what to do that day? Grazie! Jill
Jill <email>
Englewood, FL USA Wed 04/13/2005

Ferries in Scandinavia - Mandi
Mandi - The Silja line and the Viking line are two of the major ferries serving Helsinki. I know they go to Sweden, but I'm not sure about Germany. Hopefully, this info will give you a starting point for your search!
Chris
MA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Re: Wendy, hotel in Athens
I have stayed at Hotel Tempi, you can find information in Let's Go or Lonely Planet. It has a good location, right between the Plaka and the Arch. Museum, reasonable prices for Athens. If you look back no more than a couple of months on this board, there are a couple posts about a Hostel that seems well recommended.
Paul <email>
IA USA Wed 04/13/2005

Hotel Monaco--Munich
I've made reservations for Hotel Monaco in Munich (2 blocks from main train station). It was positively described in RS's 2005 guide book. Website looked good--easy to make reservations. Anybody stay there--what was it like (anyway--I guess I'm going with itt now that I made reservations)--just curious. Also--any recommendations for accommodations in Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Hallstat? Thanks!
Ann <email>
IN USA Wed 04/13/2005

hotel in athens
Do you know where to stay in Athens that is reasonably cheap and safe. I will be looking to stay in mid june for 3 days before I leave to mykonos. thanks
wendy <email>
richmond, va USA Wed 04/13/2005

Travel with a "Desk"
Has anyone ever HAD to travel with a laptop and several books (6-ish) in order to do a job abroad, despite really wanting to pack light light light? If so, I'd so appreciate ideas on packing and managing the gear. I don't want to give up the mobility of a backpack to pull a wheeled bag around... have been looking at mountaineering packs as the best option for carrying the additional weight. Has anyone had experience with this situation? Thanks!

USA Tue 04/12/2005

Paris in January!
To Casandra- O.K., you live in San Diego where it never gets cold! We just spent a week in Paris, early March, and it was very cold, but if you plan for it, you will be fine! You won't get sweaty riding the metro, and I echo the other "poster": you won't have to fight the crowds! And best of all, you will have a cultural experience of a life time: being a part of a wedding in Paris! Savor every little moment, the pre-parties, the ceremony itself, the reception- you will relish the differences. To have been included, to interact with a real live French family- I'd pay to take your place! Wear layers of thin things: long underwear (top and bottom), fleece, turtlenecks- take a hat, mittens, scarf- and a windbreaker with a hood to dodge the raindrops- and pray for snow! Treasure ALL the differences, including the weather, and have a wonderful time!
B. Jones
Tacoma, WA USA Tue 04/12/2005

Kilkenny to Cashel
Kilkenny to Cashel via bus. Rick says it takes 2.5 hours. I'm going in May '05 and the buseireann.ie web site says it's at least a 4 to 6 hour bus ride (on Sat 14th) Is this correct? Has anyone made this journey? Seems long!
J <email>
Los Angeles, CA USA Tue 04/12/2005

POSITANO VS CT
Positano vs. Cinque Terre?Becky~~~You are too far north to visit Positano/Sorrento. Go to CT instead . It is closer to Florence and to Rome.
pablo s.
harlingen, USA Tue 04/12/2005

CAR SAFETY IN EAST EUROPE
Karen.....Some rental agencies wont rent cars for you to drive into Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Czech Rep. Be sure to ask. When I drive into E Europe I always make my car look like I live there. I spread a local anewspaper on front and back seats and dash. Make it look messy. Leave nothing in the car when you park, When you leave your gear in the car, cover it with newspapers. Iif you have to park on the street, try to do it under a street light. Your plan to park outside the city and ride public trans. is best.
C. HYSTER
TX USA Tue 04/12/2005

TRAIN RESERVATIONS
Justin ; There are a number of agencies which sell RR tickets. Call 1 800 248 7245 or 1 800 782 2424 or 1 888 382 7245 or 1 800 722 7151 or 1 800 711 4648. Ask your questions.
LEWELLENT
TAMPA, USA Tue 04/12/2005

BEST WAY TO FIND FAMILY ACCOMMODATIONS
Louise~~~ I doubt that you will find that kind of information on a web page. ~~~~ Do a search and shop for a hotel by location.~~~~ Pick a place you like and call them to ask about your room requirements. ~~~~ If you don’t do that, when you arrive in a town go to a hotel and talk with the desk clerk about your needs.
MANDY S.
TULSA, OK USA Tue 04/12/2005

When to book hotels
Stefan~~~~ I usually reserve my room on my first night only. After that I find a room in the part of town I like and never have a problem finding one. I like the flexibility to not having to be in any one place on a specific date.
H. L K.
ATLANTA, USA Tue 04/12/2005

MUNICH AIRPORT HOTEL
DIDI; If you search google.com you can find hotels near airports by asking for “Munich hotel airport”. Look for one which has an airport shuttle. You can also find the room rates on that page and usually an email address you can write to for availability and reservations.
RUDULPHO
EL PASO, USA Tue 04/12/2005

MILAN AIRPORT
KIM~~~Don’t try to meet at a gate.....meet at the BA ticket counter.~~~ There is only one in that terminal and you can find seats nearby.
DOEROTHIA
COLUMBUS, USA Tue 04/12/2005

BED AND BREAKFAST DIRECTORY
Ann; Do a search on google.com for the town you want eg. “Frankfurt B&B”. Do the same for “Pensions”. You will find many.
HERMANN
USA Tue 04/12/2005

VENICE TO CT BY TRAIN
Jim.... When I went from Venice to CT I went to the RR station and bought a 2nd class ticket. No problem. We went through Florence. You won’t need to plan your route before you get there. Take a look at a map.
CAROLYNEE
NYC, USA Tue 04/12/2005

FERRIES TO SCANDINAVIA
Mandi~~~ I always do a google.com search for “Ferry Copenhagen” for routes to and from that city.~~~ Do the same for each city you will travel from.~~~ When I traveled from Helsinki to Stockholm I found three ferry lines and had a choice.
HOWARD T.
CHICAGO, USA Tue 04/12/2005

Munich Hotel
The Europaischer Hof is a great place to stay in Munich. The trick to getting the super low fares is to go through their website and do a price inquiry. The prices listed on the site are NOT the same as the prices in the web inquiry. There are usually internet specials. I booked a room a month ago for a trip to Munich in May and it was only 49 Euros for a double room with a shared WC. I believe it called the "tourist special rate." It is the best deal in Munich.
Tracy M.
Onalaska, WI USA Tue 04/12/2005

Ferries to Scandinavia
Has anyone traveled to Scandinavia from Germany? And then back to Denmark? I want to leave from Germany, go to Finland, Norway and sweden and then go to Denmark but am having a hard time pinpointing ferry info. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Mandi <email>
Seattle, WA USA Tue 04/12/2005

Venice to Cinque Terre by Train
Can anyone recommend a sane way to get from Venice to Cinque Terre by train? I've been looking at the available routes and it all seems very confusing.Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Jim Floyd <email>
Brooklyn, NY USA Tue 04/12/2005

Rome to Siena & Bag Q
I am getting so many good tips here!! Thanks for all the posts so far. Can I get some advice on the train from Rome to Siena? I'm getting into Rome on a Thursday morning 7:50 in June. Plan to take the train to Siena but know that I'll need to transfer somewhere, is it better to take the bus on the second leg to the center of Siena? And if so, do I buy the bus tix separate when I get to the terminal or buy in Rome w/ the train ticket? Is it cheaper either way? Another Q: Should I trade in my Eagle Creek backpack w/ zipper-off day pack that weighs 7 lbs for Rick's carry-on 3 lb bag? When I backpacked in Europe back in 2000 I found the Eagle was okay but I usually felt very top-heavy and sometimes the straps didn't feel so great, not to mention the horrible back sweat it trapped- eeewwww (that's probably unavoidable w/ every bag). Is Rick's bag worth the $99 switch? (will they even let me post that?) Thanks from a poor grad student trying to pinch every borrowed penney.
Dorothy S. <email>
La Grange, IL USA Tue 04/12/2005

January in Paris
The bright side?It's Paris!!It will still be a beautiful city; even more so with the rare dusting of snow. There won't be huge crowds and long lines for all the amazing museums, restaurants and monuments, all of which are inside. I'll go in your place!
Susan
WI USA Tue 04/12/2005

token host gift
I am traveling to Italy in Sept. I was there 20 years ago and stayed in hostels, pensiones, and B&B's. I left as a token gift at these places a packet of seeds from California. After getting back I realized this was a no-no. Any suggestions for a lightweight token gift for my hosta in Italy this time?
woody <email>
west linn, or USA Tue 04/12/2005

To DiDi--munich airport hotel
Hello DiDi. I checked out the Strauss Airport (Munich Airport) website, and they have a hotel finding service--including hotels right in their area. I've found a lot. They also have information about getting to and from the airport. Hotel websites may also have this information. The Munich Airport website:http://www.munich-airport.de/EN/index.htmlGood Luck!
Ann <email>
IN USA Tue 04/12/2005

re: Europaischer Hof
Wow, I looked at your Website and it's the same hotel.. Go figure. I contact the hotel directly (don't use a booking agency). E-mail address is: info@heh.de Above the quoted prices it said "Super Saver Summer Sale." However, we've always gotten good prices --except once my folks had to pay top rate during a fair. Octoberfest would be top rate too.
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Tue 04/12/2005

Bed & Breakfast Directory
Does anybody know of either an online directory or regular book directory of Bed & Breakfasts and/or small pensionsIn Germany and Austria (if possible, if a book--an ISBN number would be helpful). Thanks!
Ann <email>
IN USA Tue 04/12/2005

Please, Help Me Find the Bright Side!
The Good News...my niece and her fiance (a Parisian man) have finally set "the date!" The bad news, it is January 21st, in Paris! I admit it. I am a weather wimp! We will be in Paris for about 10 days what with all of the festivities going on and some sight seeing thrown in. I really despise cold, (read below 60 degrees farenheit)rain, fog, wind, etc. And I hear that some years it actually snows in Paris. Ok, my weather rant is over and thank you for your indulgence. So, what is the bright side of travel to Paris in late January? I love my niece but I really need something to hang my hat on! I look forward to being cheered up by all of you.
Casandra
San Diego, CA USA Tue 04/12/2005

re Europaischer Hof:
Try this site for a good rate:http://www.online-hotel-bookings.co.uk/germany/munich/hoteleuropaischerhof80335.html
Jeff <email>
OR USA Tue 04/12/2005

paestum temples
We will be staying in Maiori on the Amalfi coast and would like to day trip to Paestum and the beaches of Cilento National Park.

My question is:How much time should we allott for walking around the temples and ruins of Paestum (which is one hour from our accomodations)?
ellen <email>
toledo, oh USA Tue 04/12/2005

MIlan Airport
I need to meet my hubby and son in the Milan airport. We're arriving at the same time on the same carrier (British Airways), but on different flights. Is the British Airways section of MXP compact enough that it will be feasible for us to find each other there, or are British Airway's gates spread around the airport? Thanks.
Kim <email>
Ithaca, NY USA Tue 04/12/2005

Lunch in Assisi
To Bill in Danbury:When in Assisi, try the Osteria Pozzo della Mensa at Via del Pozzo della Mensa, 11/b (phone: 075 8155236). Last summer, we met the owner in a shop while asking the clerk if she knew of a good place to eat nearby. She pointed behind us, we turned around, and met the owner of the Osteria. He had the keys in his hand, so we followed him to the restaurant which he opened for us. I might note that people were already waiting outside to be let in. Anyway, quaint atmosphere, friendly service, great food and wine! I was with a group of 9 friends. We all had something different, shared a few bottles of wine and everything was wonderful.Candace in CO
Candace <email>
Evergreen, CO USA Tue 04/12/2005

Hotel in Paris
OOPS, bad typing on the location of the Hotel Louvre Rivoli, meant to say it's 2km from the Gare du Nord. Sorry
<email>
FL USA Tue 04/12/2005

Hotel in Paris
bluedenim (sorry don't have your other name)Hotel Luvre Rivoli, formerly The Violet hotel was very convenient, moderately large rooms (by Paris Standards), reasonably priced. Located near the Seine, 2 kms to Fare du Nord. Decor a bit tired but service was great and more than made up for it. Have recommended to others with no complaints. Go to tripadvisor.com for additional reviews.
bluedenim <email>
FL USA Tue 04/12/2005

European curling iron
You can buy 220 volt curling irons at many of the Indian stores located in most cities. If you live in a small town there are thousands of reputable Indian stores to be found on line and you can order one from there. Last option is to wait until you get to your destination and purchase one there. I have done that as well when I lost the one purchased at home. Hope that helps.
DiDi <email>
FL USA Tue 04/12/2005

Festspielhaus in Bayreuth
Have any of you ever toured the inside of Bayreuth's Festspielhaus? I will be there July 11th and was wondering if it is open for tours. I know the operas start near the end of July, so I am a little worried.FWIW - I sure do wish I could actually see an opera there.Thanks
Stefan <email>
PA USA Tue 04/12/2005

Munich Airport Hotel
I need a recommendation on inexpensive hotel at Munich Airport. Have early flight out and prefer to be there. Thank you in advance
DiDi <email>
FL USA Mon 04/11/2005

Steepness and Lake Como
While there are steep streets in Bellagio, these are situated away from the Lake. Hotels on the lakeside are on reasonably flat ground. Como is a city, and while it is adequate, it is nothing special. The real beauty of Lago Como is found in places like Bellagio,Menaggio and Varenna. In each, there are steep climbs- but also nice, flat areas.
Paul n Sara <email>
Newburyport , MA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Dorothy S.--Cinque Terre Lodging
I like to stay in Monterosso at Mueble Agave (in Rick's books). They have singles at 40 Euros, with refrig and a little view. I can hear the surf all night. They take reservations by phone, but not by e-mail as far as I know. The hotel is very convenient to the train station and is only a few minutes by train to Vernazza, etc. I enjoy walking around the old town. It isn't quite as hilly as Vernazza. There is a man on the train station platform who helps folks find rooms. Look for a posting in this traveler's helpline page.
Swan
USA Mon 04/11/2005

Eurostar
Marcy~~If I were you, I would take the train from Gatwick to Ashford International Station (in Kent). You can get on the Eurostar at the station in Ashford. If you go into London and leave from Waterloo you will be back tracking.

Oh USA Mon 04/11/2005

Cinque Terre cheap room (solo woman traveller)
I'm taking the train from Rome to Cinque Terre in the morning in early June to spend 3 nights, hopefully in Vernazza. I'll be arriving Tuesday. I know Rick's book says there are plenty of rooms but I want to get some advice on a cheap place (hopefully w/ a view!) Also, I'm interested in hearing from any women that have travelled solo to the CT and Siena. I'm 26 and have always travelled w/ others in the past. Thanks!
Dorothy S. <email>
La Grange, IL USA Mon 04/11/2005

Lunch in Siena, Ravenna and Assis
Hello, Does anyone have any recommendations for lunch in Siena, Ravenna and Assisi? Thanks
Bill <email>
Danbury, CT USA Mon 04/11/2005

Hotels in Munich
My parents (in their 80's) stay at the Europaischer Hof every year...they fly United in and out of Munich when they go to Europe. I already have a reservation for this summer. It's right across the street from the train station. The rooms are nice and the breakfasts are great. A standard class double room is 74 E/night.
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Mon 04/11/2005

Re: Stefan, When to book.
I generally use a compromise when deciding to book. First let me say that I travel pretty easy going, don't require much in the way of a room (I spend so little time there). I do generally try to book my first stop before leaving the US, and I will book a major destination like Paris due to competition for rooms. July may also be an issue, peak season in a lot of places. But still, I intentionally do not book everything to give my schedule flex. Particulary smaller destinations, I either wait until I get there to check out the area, or I call a day or two ahead if I know my schedule. Typical three week trip, I don't have more than 6-8 nights booked before leaving the US, on occasion, not a single night. This makes some people nervous, but trying to book rooms long distance in unknown hotels makes me nervous. Some of the best places I stayed(and cheapest) were private rooms that do not take long term reservations or can be difficult to reach. Planning a trip to Greece in September, looks like I may not even book my first night.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Bellagio or Como?
I found some reasonable looking hotels in both Bellagio and Como. My question: which city would be better for a couple in their 80's who get tired climbing? Would a waterfront hotel (like Hotel Metropole in Bellagio) mean a lot of climbing? I saw something about stores on steep cobblestone streets.
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Mon 04/11/2005

Hotels in Munich?
Hi, I'm leaving for Munich soon and having trouble finding a reasonably priced hotel near the train station or city center. Any suggestions??
Judy <email>
Gaston, OR USA Mon 04/11/2005

Re: Mark; Rome area
The classic answer would be just about any town in Tuscany, and I would find it hard to disagree. Some possibilities: Siena, San Gimignano, Orievto, Civita, Montalcino, Montepulciano, the list goes on. Have heard that the cycling is awesome, and know the wine and food is great. All are just a few hours out of Rome. Not sure if you could go wrong by just picking one at random.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Blois Hotel recommendation requested
Can anyone recommend an affordable (less than E80 a night) hotel or B&B in Blois in the Loire Valley? It would be great if English was spoken there. I tried getting reservations at the Hotel du Bellay, but did not receive a reply.Thank you!
Rod <email>
Santa Cruz, CA USA Mon 04/11/2005

When to book hotels/B&B's...
In Rick's books, he says that he generally does not feel the need to reserve in advance. But obviously a lot of people are reading his books and staying in his recommended places. I will be in Germany/Austria/Switzerland throughtout July. Should I book ahead of time or just wait til I am there?
Stefan Antwarg <email>
Fawn Grove, Pa USA Mon 04/11/2005

Re: Topher; Siena-Florence Bus
You are correct. You can catch (or get off) the bus either a short distance from the City Center, or at the Train Station in Siena. The train station really is not within easy walking distance from the city center, so bus or train, you will take the bus for part of the trip. In Florence you get off at the Main Train Station. I found the buses comfortable, coach type buses, cheap, and the drive through the Tuscan contryside is pleasant.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Gatwick to EuroStar
Marcey, why don't you check out the National Express bus, http://www.nationalexpress.com. If the timing is right, you could catch a bus directly from Gatwick to Ashford. The Eurostar train stops at Ashford.
Tony
San Jose, CA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Gatwick to Waterloo
Marcey - The Gatwick Express goes directly to Victoria with no stops. The route you read about means taking a Southern Train to Clapham Junction and transferring there for a Southwest Train to Waterloo. You can also take a Thameslink Train Ltd from Gatwick to London Bridge and transfer there to a South East Train to Waterloo (East). Then walk from there to Waterloo International.

The Gatwick Express has an up-to-four-for-the-price-of two special. if there are three or more of you, take the Express to Victoria and then take a taxi to Waterloo.

If there are only one or two of you and you want to save money, either take one of the combo routes listed above or take a Southern Train all the way to Victoria and then take either a taxi or the tube to Waterloo.
Tim
USA Mon 04/11/2005

Paris hotel suggestions
I travel to Paris each spring break with a group of college students. This past year, we weren't happy with our hotel, so we're on the lookout for a new one. We would like a hotel near a metro stop or main attraction, quite inexpensive since we are college students and therefore have no Euros to spare, in a safe neighborhood and preferably offers a tasty little breakfast. Hey...we don't ask for much! Thanks in advance!
Brandie <email>
USA Mon 04/11/2005

Phone cards and pay phones
My English friend says that pre-paid phone cards will not work in British pay phone. This doesn't sound right. Anyone know for sure?
Tony
San Jose, CA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Rome B&B
Does anyone have any comments about 58 Le Real B&B in Rome ? We will be staying there in June..Thanks for any help.Dean
dean jackson <email>
alton, va USA Mon 04/11/2005

Parker Villa bus vrs metro
Staying at Parker Villas Rome. on Via Aurelia. Can I get there from terminal via metro or would bus work better? if bus # if someone knows it. andDo you need advance purchase tickets museum in Naples>thanks
Joanne <email>
Los Banos, ca USA Mon 04/11/2005

Best way to find family-type accommodations in Europe
Our family of 5 is spending 3 weeks in Europe (Paris, London, Vienna, Rome, Milan). Rather than renting 2 hotel rooms, I'm hoping to find a suite with a couple of rooms whenever possible. However, most of the Hotel Search sites don't provide for that type of search. Any suggestions?
Louise <email>
Portland, OR USA Mon 04/11/2005

Airline Choices
We are traveling to Pair on April 21st on United. I used Milage plus miles (60,000 miles.)to upgrade to 1st class to Dulles then Business class to CDG.Only problem is you can not get an economy fare on UAL and be eligable for the upgrade. It cost me serveral $100 more to get to an upgradeable fare.
Bill Carpenter
San Diego, CA USA Mon 04/11/2005

travel to Japan
My son is traveling to Sendai, Japan this summer. What tips might someone have for him? Places to see? Special items needed in a far eastern country (this is first trip to a very different country)?
Tina WIll <email>
Fredericksburg, VA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Via Appia
A wonderful, non-touristy, bucolic experience , is the Via Appia. The road is a national park. Some 11 miles are set aside as such- with farms and elegance astride the road. The ancient funerary stele are still there (at least SOME are) and it is special to trod the few stones left from Roman engineering, as well as the later additions. The Via Appia once went all the way to Bari (about 400 miles) and was the main route to Roma for the Dalmatian (Yugoslav) importers.
Paul n Sara <email>
Newburyport , MA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Rome area
I will be in Rome for business dinner June 30th & plan to stay over for July 4th. I will do the sights in Rome for 1-2 days but will have 2 more days to travel. I prefer small towns/outdoors/excercise--I'm a cyclist--and am wondering what would be close by that would be fun to explore for a couple of days. Do you have anything to suggest? Thanks, Mark (age 46)
mark <email>
Hou, Tx USA Mon 04/11/2005

Airline choices
I fly United to Europe, and use Lufthansa too. Unless you are a frequent flyer and can get an "economy plus" seat, there isn't much room on United. If you have enough miles to cash in for business class...leg room isn't great. You can ask for an aisle seat...that helps...and don' t get stuck in the 5-6 seat middle section! Personally we like Lufthansa for trans-Atlantic flights. Great service, good food. Not sure about the other airlines. Good luck booking your flight with "miles" Hope you have planned ahead and can allow for changes in your desired fly dates...it's hard to get what you want when you fly for "free"!

USA Mon 04/11/2005

Carte Orange
Martha,Pretty sure you mean ZONES 1 and 2, not lines. The first two zones are all you need to get pretty much anywhere in Paris proper.
Jon
Dearborn, MI USA Mon 04/11/2005

Which airline is best?
Looking for advice on which is the most comfortable airline. I'm going to be cashing in my AMEX pts for a free flight to Rome and I have some options: American, United, US Airways, or Air Canada. There's only one non-stop from Chicago to Rome on American, but I heard United has more leg room, which is important for me (5'10" woman who has a tiny bladder & has to get up a lot), and I've never flown Air Canada. Also many of these flights have the second leg on Alitalia, Lufthnasa, etc. Any thoughts?
Dorothy S. <email>
La Grange, IL USA Mon 04/11/2005

Train Reservations
I will be traveling to europe at the end of May. I will be getting a Eurail pass and will be jumping around to most of northern Europe. I was ckecking the train schedules and some of the trains I want to take have the R next to the time. I am aware that means I need to reserve a seat, but how do I do that in Colorado?
Justin <email>
Denver, CO USA Mon 04/11/2005

Carte d'Orange
For those of you who know. If one buys a Carte d'Orange on arriving in Paris on a Monday, the price is listed at 14.50 euros. Is this for all lines? When we get there, we will probably go all over the city on more than lines 1 and 2. Does this mean that lines 3 and 4, etc. won't be covered by the pass? It did sound like too good of a deal. Thanks for your help!
Martha
Key West, FL USA Mon 04/11/2005

Accommodations Amsterdam
We will be arriving in Amsterdam at 8:15am on a Thursday and then leaving to Milan at 2:00pm the following day - Friday. Any suggestions for places to stay and what to see?
Jon D <email>
Renton, WA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Car safety in Eastern Europe
We are driving my in-laws (fr UK) older Honda to Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Czech & Netherlands this summer. We will have our camping gear and backpacks in the car. We have been told horror stories about car theft in Czech, Hungary & Poland (and from a Polish man). Our initial intention was to camp outside of main cities, leave the car and take public transport into the big cities (Prague, Krakow, Budepest). We're not sure what to do now as we have to leave our gear in the car when sight-seeing. We had also hoped to park the car and do some hiking over night with a small pack, again leaving our gear in the car.

My other question is we are getting insurance from my in-laws, should we pay for additional insurance which we have been reading about when using a rental car?

We are wondering if we should stay the night in the larger cities and pay for secure parking instead of going to the outskirts of town and then using campsites for the more rural places?

Thanks for any help you can give us.
Karen Leigh

ps. Rick Steve's philosophy about traveling is awesome. I wish everyone could travel and feel that sense of "one people" we are all brothers and sisters.
Karen Leigh <email>
Eugene, OR USA Mon 04/11/2005

Siena-Florence Bus
Anyone ever take the bus? I have heard that it is much closer to the city center (Siena) than the train.
Topher <email>
Charlottesville, VA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Sara, Rail passes do work on overnight trains, but if you want a place to sleep you have to book a reservation for a room or a couchette. Lots of the overnight trains sell these out early so book as soon as you can.

USA Mon 04/11/2005

Re: Florence Accomodations
Bill5 years ago I stayed at the Hotel Balcony in Firenze. It was reasonable, clean, and centrally located. Nice Balcony, too (duh..) At the time I was traveling with 2 other friends so we got a triple. One of the funniest memories of the trip came when we were all groggily getting ready for the day one morning and 'Knight rider' was on TV, dubbed in Italian. We were all doing our own thing- grumpily (pre-coffee)- and we heard "Grazie Kitt!"
Topher <email>
charlottesville, VA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Re: Becky; CT or Amalfi
Been to both, really comes down to what kind of experience you want. The Cinque Terre is pretty much scenery, food, and wine; in early May it will not be overly crowded, so pretty serene. The Amalfi coast is much more developed, lots of shops, but lots more to see. I guess for two days, and being closer to the CT, being in Florence, I would opt for that. Given travel time, Amalfi may be stretching it for that short of time.
Paul <email>
IA USA Mon 04/11/2005

Lake Como accomodations--help!
I'm traveling with my elderly parents to Italy's Lake District this summer. Our time on Lake Como is meant to be relaxing. My dad is legally blind and neither of my parents walk all that well. My mom likes to shop and they both like to eat and sit at cafe's. One challenge in finding accomodations is finding something centrally located and with a minimal amount of climbing. It looks like there are a lot of great expensive hotels, but does anybody have any suggestions for something that is centrally located, not on a hill and more in the Rick Steve's price range. My parents suggested staying in Como which Rick does not cover in his book...but I could talk them into something else.
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Mon 04/11/2005

Positano or Cinque Terre
In 2004 my close friend visited the Amalfi Coast and I visited the Cinque Terre. We both had a great time! I had the impression that the Amalfi Coast is more expensive although my friend got on the internet and found a little place in a town outside of Amalfi. My husband had been to Positano 35 years ago and he thought that the Cinque Terre now is like the Amalfi Coast was then. What impressed me about my friend's trip was all the old ceramic pieces that she found on the beach. From the Amalfi Coast they could take day trips (using public transportation) to Pompeii, etc. There is not a lot to do on the Cinque Terre except eat great food, drink great wine, relax and hike through the most gorgeous scenery that you'll ever see--and that was enough for me!
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Mon 04/11/2005

Gatwick to EuroStar
Does the Gatwick Express stop at any stations before Victoria? The only info on the website is stopping at Victoria Station. We need to get from Gatwick to Waterloo Station to catch the EuroStar. One website suggests transfer at Clapham.
Marcey
MN USA Mon 04/11/2005

Customs-London
You may consider just flying onto Edinburgh. It MAY be possible to have your bags transferred for you (if you'd booked this as one trip), and time wise it should be a little shorter. Customs only requires you to fill out a card and speak briefly with an agent. When we went through, we were travelling on by plane to Edinburgh, and the line we went through was very short.

USA Mon 04/11/2005

RE: Cherry Court hotel
stayed there in 2002, the room was extremely small,and the shower was extremely small, the whole bath was in decay. It was clean, and the Patel's are nice, I'd look for an alternative if I go back

USA Mon 04/11/2005

Positano vs. Cinque Terre?
We have 1 - 2 days to spend in either Positano/Sorrento area or Cinque Terre. Any suggestions on which one is the better choice? (We will be in Italy May 3 - 11 and will spend most of our time in Florence, Rome)
Becky <email>
Dallas, TX USA Sun 04/10/2005

Custom's delay
Dot, As mentioned, unless you're very unlucky you will just walk through customs. What takes time is immigration control and waiting for your checked luggage to show up. You should probably allow 30-45 minutes for getting into the arrivals hall. Then you have to get to London, and across London to the right station for the Edinburgh train, most likely Kings Cross.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Sun 04/10/2005

London: 48 hours
Jim, Do you have any special interests? There are so many museums, shops, restaurants... If you're there Sunday or Monday consider the Dennis Severs house (better Monday evening). It's the closest you can get to living in another century. http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/ Also, in the same general area, the Geffrye Museum is a series of rooms decorated with period furniture. http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/ I'd also recommend just walking, London is full of interesting surprises. If you want a specific route, try Andrew Duncan's "Walking London".
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Sun 04/10/2005

LONDON 48 HOURS
Jim~~~Since you have seen the usual sights, I wonder if you have seen the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, a little town about 20 minutes by train north of London.~~~ Even if you are not interested in aircraft, you will enjoy the many ancient and unusual planes.~~~ It is free.~~~ What more incentive can you have? ~~~ If you like aircraft it is worth 4 hours. ~~~Find all about it at:www.rafmuseum.org .~~~ And I wonder if you have seen the underground headquarters of the British High Command which served as the nerve center of Britain's war effort during World War II.~~~It is located 20 feet underground under Whitehall.~~~ That was the special control room built to protect all the high officials who conducted the defense of London and the conduct of the war.~~~ It is little known. Find it at: cwr.iwm.org.uk.
SIGMUND R.
JERSEY CITY, USA Sun 04/10/2005

Doug- Wallet with chains
30 years ago I went to Europe with my then fiance, and he had the same type "trucker" wallet. It sure made us feel like our money was safe...however, post 9/11, I'm not sure you would be able to take that chain on the plane.....you should call the airline you will use to make sure it's OK. Other than that, I'm sure it would be OK for travel...although a neck or belt (hidden) wallet would advised.

USA Sun 04/10/2005

Cherry Court Hotel
Has anyone stayed at the Cherry Court Hotel in London? Any comments?

USA Sun 04/10/2005

map of Montepulciano, Italy
Try: http://www3.mappy.com/
Jim <email>
Port Angeles, WA USA Sun 04/10/2005

London: 48 hours
Planing to travel to Europe, on the return leg will have a 48-hour layover in London. Have seen the usual sites there; any interesting suggestions as to what to do for 2 nights and 2 days?
Jim <email>
Port Angeles, WA USA Sun 04/10/2005

map of Montepulciano, Italy
We will be staying at Mueble il Riccio in Montepulciano this summer. Does anyone know of a website with a street map of the town so we can find it.
Bill <email>
Summerville, SC USA Sun 04/10/2005

Dina in Seattle
In my humble opinion, you should go! Anytime you have an opportunity to travel go for it! I just spent only 5 days in Rome and they were the most magical 5 days of my life. Travel provides great adventures! Bon Voyage
Annette <email>
Federal Way, wa USA Sun 04/10/2005

passport validation
I am planning a trip to Spain and/or Portugal May 1-16. My passport runs out September 5. I heard there might be a problem entering a country if my passport will not be valid in less than 6 months. Is this true of either of these countries?
Cody <email>
denver, co USA Sun 04/10/2005

wallets with chains
what do people think of wallets that have a chain attached to them....I have one and it hooks to my belt loop and I tuck the chain into my pocket.Do ppl thing these are safe...
doug
USA Sun 04/10/2005

Donna - Paris Hotels
Donna - I forgot to say that the Hotel Beaugency was rated #939 on Tripadvisor.com. And, Hotel Muguet is actually #17. :-)

USA Sun 04/10/2005

Campbell - Shipping from Scotland
I too would be very interested in what you find out on shipping from Scotland. I know that we will probably be mailing items from there to home.
Kelly <email>
Seattle, Wa USA Sun 04/10/2005

Claim area
Dot~~if you have nothing to claim, which you probably won't you just walk thru. There will be signs directing you to clain and nothing go claim. Have a great trip.

Oh USA Sun 04/10/2005

Hotel Muguet
Donna - I haven't stayed at Hotel Muguet yet, but am going there in 3 weeks. I also had reservations at Hotel du Champ de Mars and had to decide between the two. It's been hard since C. de M. is closer to the Rue Cler stuff (although Muguet is close too) and is highly recommended by Rick, but I've read the reviews on Tripadvisor.com for a few months and Hotel Muguet wins out. It's rated #19 out of about 1,400 Paris hotels, but C. de M. is rated #166. Muguet will cost me about $15 more per night, but the reviews are so good that I'm staying there. Hope that helps a bit.

USA Sun 04/10/2005

Overnight trains with Eurail pass
How does booking reservations for an overnight train work with the Eurail pass? Does the pass apply to night trains?
Sara <email>
Boston, MA USA Sun 04/10/2005

Hotel in Florence
Bill in Long Island~~We stayed at Hotel Johlea in Florence and would definitely stay there again. It was around $100 per night and is actually a Karen Brown B&B. It fits your description of what you want. It had a roof top terrace and also a refrig near the terr which was well stocked with bottled water for guests. It is two blocks or so from the Accademia.
Susan <email>
Ga USA Sun 04/10/2005

Gare Du Nord
I can't give you specific information on Gare Du Nord, but I can tell you that it is confusing. Some of our party took a taxi with luggage to the station and the others rode the metro. We couldn't find each other!! Turns out it is a two story place and we were on different floors. Nearly missed our train to Italy.

USA Sun 04/10/2005

gare du Nord
Bluedenim~~~we arrived at GDN from Amsterdam and had no problem at all getting our rental car. Used Hertz which was on a level below or very near the Gare. Only problem was the Hertz people spoke not a word of English but since you live in Canada I'm sure this will not be a problem for you! Anyway we made two right turns between the exit of Hertz and the freeway. It could not have been easier. Happy travels!
RK
USA Sun 04/10/2005

Shipping from Scotland
What is the cheapest way to ship a package from Scotland back to the US? I hear that it is very expensive, but I do not want to travel with excessive luggage.
Campbell <email>
Chicago, IL USA Sun 04/10/2005

Gare Du Nord
Does anyone know if there is any online guide or map or anything for Gare De Nord in Paris? It looks like we will be picking up a car here when we arrive in Paris, then driving to the Loire Valley, returning a car here, as well as making train conneections on the way home. I have heard it is a very confusing station. I have tried searching for maps or some sort of guide but found nothing.
bluedenim <email>
vancouver, bc canada Sun 04/10/2005

Florence-Orvieto-Rome Train Help
Hi, we will be taking a train from Florence to Rome & it appears that it stops in Orvieto along the way. We would like to spend a half-day there before traveling to Rome. The rail europe website says that it can be done with point-to-point tkts. Anyone tried it? I also read that you have 6 hours to complete travel with trips less than 200km & 24 hours to complete travel with trips more than 200km. Any advice would be appreciated. Oh, & we already have our tkts (Florence-Rome) & reservations (required with tkt purchase apparently--guess we should have read the msg board first to save money)
MRP <email>
Round Rock, TX USA Sun 04/10/2005

Florence Accomodations
Greetings Fellow Travelers,My wife & I thank everyone for helping with hotels and places to see in Europe. We are thinking of visiting Florence also this year and was wondering if anyone has some inexpensive but nice, clean pretty hotels, or B&B's. Any help is greatly appreciated.Happy travels,Lisa & Bill
Bill <email>
Long Island, NY USA Sun 04/10/2005

Paris hotels
Does anyone have any recent thoughts on the Hotel Muguet in Pais? I know there is a lag time between the publishing of the guide book and the original writing. Muguet seems more personally oriented but it is a tough choice between Muguet and BeaugencyThank you
Donna <email>
Alexandria, VA USA Sun 04/10/2005

Customs delay
I will be flying into London on May 4 and continuing on to Edinburgh on the train. Can anyone give me an idea how long it will take to get through customs after deboarding the plane?
Dot Huntley <email>
Sutherlin, OR USA Sat 04/09/2005

Travel to Barcelona
I have an opporutnity to meet my husband in Barcelona this summer for only one week...around July 4th. he will be there on tour with a band. The airfares are bit pricey that time of year. Is it worth it for me to go there only for the one week? My schedule is restricted due to my work and his. Also, what are some "must sees" there...besides the Gaudi architecture and the Picasso museum?
Dina <email>
Seattle, WA USA Sat 04/09/2005

MORE TRAIN QUESTIONS
Nicole ;;;;there is no advantage in buying your tickets now. Wait until you get there to buy them. Last time I bought a 7 day Swiss pass which I used 5 days. When I met a Swiss couple on the train they told me that I paid too much because I could have bought point-to-point tickets to the towns I visited for less. I believe them.
ANDY McW
WACO, USA Sat 04/09/2005

CAR RENTAL OR RAIL
Louise; Price the rail passes for 4 persons and decide if you can rent a car for less. I have done that many times and find that rail passes for five countries will be prohibitive. Fly into Frankfurt and rent your car for use in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland. Buy a round trip point-to-point rail ticket to Greece. I believe you will find that the cheapest way to go.
MATHILDA Z.
ALAMO CITY, USA Sat 04/09/2005

EUROPE POINT TO POINT RAIL TICKETS
Arnie; the cheapest way to buy point-to-point tickets is at the RR station where you catch your train. You don’t need to buy them here. I never waste my money by buying them before I get to Europe.
MARIANNE S
USA Sat 04/09/2005

Nice is nice
In June, we stayed at Hotel Mercure Marche aux Fleurs. It is in Rick's book, and can be found on the Accor hotels website. It is right on the Promenade overlooking the Mediterranean. You can pay extra for a sea view; we didn't, but the room at the back of the hotel overlooking the market, was great. I didn't try breakfast, but you only get charged for it IF you go. There is street noise-there are soundproofing metal shutters-but during the day you can hear the ballet and opera practice next door. Bon voyage!
Susan
USA Sat 04/09/2005

TRAIN ANXIETY
Candace~~~Your first time in travel by train will be a little anxious because it is different than anything we do here in this country. My advice is to take your time and read everything you find including schedules and signs in the railway station. Ask the clerk who sells your ticket to give you a computer print of your journey which should show stations where you change trains and departure AND arrival times. Make sure you get to the right platform to catch your train... Ask several people where your car is and after you get on your coach ask if your coach is going to the town you want to go to.You will find people everywhere will help you if you ask. Don’t be bashful about asking.Be aware that Venice and Munich will be spelled differently, but you can identity the names. Don’t buy a pass; buy point-to-point tickets covering only the route you want.
McGill
CHICAGO, USA Sat 04/09/2005

Views from the top
Beth, Nothing beats the Eye! If you go early in the day and/or make reservations, there's no line-and more room in each capsule. The view from the top of St. Paul's is worth the climb as well. Printemps, the department store in Paris that does free fashion shows, has a rooftop cafe where the views and the drinking water are free.
Susan
WI USA Sat 04/09/2005

view of paris
thanks to all who responded with Tour Montparnesse! That IS it!Hope to view London from Kensington Roof Gardens, which maintains a website and the view looks as wonderful as the one from the Eye. Any comments?
beth <email>
shalimar, fl USA Sat 04/09/2005

Re: Louise, Car or Train?
Based on the places you listed, you will be using a variety of transport, you certainly would not want to rent a vehicle in London and try to go everywhere you mentioned. First ask what types of places are you planning on visiting. If it is a tour of the major cities, with other places sprinkled in, then Train will most likely be the best bet for major transportation, budget airlines if it is a long hop (to Greece). You do not want to deal with driving in Paris, Rome, etc. If you are planning on seeing some of the country, say a route through Bath and the Cotswolds, then a car for 2 or 3 days would be the better bet for that part of the trip, partly due to the freedom, partly because the size of your group makes a rental economical. I guess the first thing I would do is don't consider it one trip, but a series of legs of a trip, and make the best decision for each part.
Paul <email>
IA USA Sat 04/09/2005

Argentina message board?
Thanks Rick! This site was way helpful on my first european trip to Italy, Croatia and Germany! What I am wondering is if there are any websites, or preferably message boards devoted to budget travel/backpack style travel in South America that anyone knows of. Argentina to be exact. Any tips appreciated.
Marla Palmiter <email>
Park City , UT USA Sat 04/09/2005

Paris accomodations
Any personal picks for affordable hotel rooms on the right bank? I'd like to stay somewhere between Gare St-Lazare and Place de la Concorde, but am flexible as far as location goes. I welcome your comments, thanks!
Mike <email>
Seattle, USA Sat 04/09/2005

May Day trains
Does anyone know if train service will be affected in France and Belgium on May 1 (May Day)? Do trains in that region run on a holiday or Sunday schedule? Thanks.
Mike <email>
Seattle, USA Sat 04/09/2005

A safe Place to stay?
My girl friend and I are going to Paris for the first time we are both 50 and on a budget. We would love to stay at a B&B or small Hotel near the Eiffel Tower or that area. We found a Hotel called Hotel de l'Avre at 21, rue de l'Avre 75015. It says it clean and safe.Do you know anythig about the place?
Cathy Richardson
CA USA Sat 04/09/2005

To Cathy and others looking for reviews of hotels
Go to www.tripadvisor.com for user reviews of hotels in various cities. (I see there are about 60 reviews of Hotel De L'Avre on there now). I've found the comments useful for planning, and for the hotels where I've stayed in, the comments seemed pretty spot-on.

USA Sat 04/09/2005

Re: Car Rental or Rail
I don't think that there is a definite yes or no answer to your question. If money is an issue, I would definitely rent a car. If it's not, I would do a combination. Driving in Europe can be very stressful, especially if you are in the more congested areas of Germany and France. However, in the outlying areas, a car enables you to see what you couldn't otherwise. On my last trip to Europe we intended to rent a car, but didn't (long story.) We took a train & were so glad we did! The weather was not good for driving, but the scenery out of the train was great, and we arrived at our destination very relaxed.
Karen Herreid <email>
Austin, MN USA Sat 04/09/2005

A safe Place to stay?
My girl friend and I are going to Paris for the first time we are both 50 and on a budjet. We would love to stay at a B&B or small Hotel near the Eiffel Tower or that area. We found a Hotel called Hotel de l'Avre at 21, rue de l'Avre 75015. It says it clean and safe.Do you know anythig about the place?
Cathy
CA USA Sat 04/09/2005

Still Confused about the Swiss Transfer ticket
SO one of Rick's Train people told me that the Swiss Transfer ticket does not have to be a round trip; as long as there is one 'central ' site. So our trip from the zurich airport to lautenbrunner and then lautenbrunner to the italian border should be fine- according to her.Anybody have any specific experience with the swiss transfer ticket?
Topher <email>
Charlottesville, VA USA Sat 04/09/2005

Car Rental or Rail?
Flying in & out of Heathrow in July with three kids (aged 17, 14, 10). Over 3 weeks, we plan to visit Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, and perhaps Greece. Would you recommend rail passes or car rental? Any other tips would be VERY appreciated!
Louise <email>
Portland, OR USA Sat 04/09/2005

babysitting in dublin
Does anyone have recommendations for babysitting services in Dublin for a trip we're taking in late June?
dan ojeda <email>
san francisco, ca USA Sat 04/09/2005

Barcelona accomodations
We will be going to Barcelona in Sept and would be interested in any advice on where to stay. Hotels or bed & breakfasts. There will be 3 adults. Thanks!
Cindy <email>
Ramona, CA USA Sat 04/09/2005

Paris Museum Pass
The Rodin Museum, Invalides and the Picasso Museum are all good places to purchase the museum pass in Paris. We have always purchased ours at the Cite metro stop on our way to Notre Dame. I'm pretty sure you can purchase it at any metro stop as well. If you're buying a carte orange or metro tickets, you can go ahead and get your museum pass and be done with it.
Brandie
USA Sat 04/09/2005

Beth
I believe, also, that it is the Montparnasse Tower. Rick says it offers the best view, mainly because you don't see the Montparnasse Tower. *wink* Here's the web site: http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/uk/
Brandie <email>
USA Sat 04/09/2005

Travelers Checks in Euros
We are traveling to Rome next month and can get travelers checks in Euros with no conversion fee from AAA. Has anyone used Euro denominated travelers checks in Europe? Is a fee charged for cashing them for Euros?
jgm <email>
Southport, NC USA Sat 04/09/2005

Train Reservations
Last year I reserved my "train hotels" (Lisbon-Madrid and Barcelona-Milan) through Raileurope, and also reserved my Eurostar seat (picked up the ticket in the UK). I reserved my UK trains directly with Scotrail & picked up the tickets in Glasgow because I got cheaper fares this way, but none of the trains were full. I reserved my French TGV (Paris-Bayonne) from sncf.con and printed the ticket, again this was cheaper, but the train was pretty full. All the rest of my European trains, four months Scotland-St. Petersburg, I bought as I went along, no problems. In Italy, tickets for Milan-Stresa-Milan-Rome-Ferrara-Venice-Ljubljana (all day trains) were all bought day of travel or a few days ahead in Italy. So, I'd advise reserving night trains ahead and buying the rest as you go, unless you're sure of the dates and get a better deal online.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Sat 04/09/2005

Re: Italian Eurstar Passholder Fare
Yo, there is in fact a supplement for the ESI trains. How much depends on the particular route. From Milano to Firenze, for instance, was Euro17, when I was there about three weeks ago.
Bob <email>
North Little Rock, ar USA Sat 04/09/2005

Re: Train reservations
I have never reserved train tickets, except for Eurostar (Mandatory) and have always gotten where I am going. Yes, on high speed trains I have paid for the reservation, although I bought the tickets at the time of departure. If I had the need for a couchette, yes I would probably reserve that well ahead as well, just never saw the need for one. Especially in Italy, if the high speed option is "Sold Out" (Never seen it happen) there is a regional or intercity train leaving within a half hour. The R and IC trains never sell out, in the sense that you can always stand or sit in whatever space you find. But, this all fits my style of travel. My best trip, I left the US with a ticket to Athens and leaving from Milan 3 1/2 weeks later...with not a reservation for anything between. Not everyone likes that, but I like the adventure.
Paul <email>
IA USA Sat 04/09/2005

Nice, France Inexpensive Rooms
Hello,First off my wife & I would like to thank all the people who have helped us with our questions about traveling in Europe.We are headed to Europe in Sept. and would love to Visit Nice France. I know it can be expensive there and was hoping that someone could recommend some inexpensive accomadations. We thank you in advance for your time & help.Sunny regards,Bill
Bill <email>
Long Island, NY USA Sat 04/09/2005

Italian Train Travel - ancora!
To reserve, or not to reserve? There has been so much talk here lately about the advisability of reserving tickets ahead for popular Italian routes that I want to check out my assumption. I've been assuming that I will have no problem waking up in Milan on a Friday in June, walking into the station, and purchasing (after the familiar irksome wait) a ticket for Florence for that noon or afternoon. Does anyone think I might have a problem with this? Two years ago I never had a problem obtaining a seat on the next train leaving for my destination (I generally traveled on slower trains). Was that a fluke? Or are people principally concerned with couchettes, Eurostars, holidays and other complications when they decide to reserve? Thanks for your perspective!

USA Fri 04/08/2005

Nicole-- train reservations
Nicole-- like someone said, I definitely recommend making reservations as far in advance as you can, especially if you are travelling in the summer, on a friday night, and/or if your travel itenerary is locked in, as mine was. (I.e., hotel reservations everywhere and itenerary "deadlines" to meet.) The reason that we made all of our reservations for hotels in advance, was because we are young, and this is our first time to Europe, so we didn't want to take any chances. I tried booking 6 weeks in advance and found almost every route I wanted from Munich to Venice booked overnight, and finally on my "Plan D" route, found 2 couchettes in a 6 person compartment, arriving at 5:55am-- needless to say, I gladly took it and learned my lesson. I was trying to save some shipping money by buying the tickets in Europe, but I realized that on RailEurope, if your purchase exceeds $200, the shipping costs are free. So, I have the peace of mind knowing that our seats are reserved on all of the necessary trains, we have couchettes reserved, our EuroStar tickets are reserved, and they came shipped all together at once, so I don't have to worry abou standing in line once I'm there. I guess you just have to weigh the costs of what is important to you on the trip-- but having the tickets and reservations ahead of time has brought me some peace of mind :)
Megan <email>
Hillsboro, OR USA Fri 04/08/2005

View of Paris
Beth--maybe you're thinking of the Montparnasse Tower? It's at the Metro Montparnasse-Bienvenüe.
Darcy
Lewiston, ID USA Fri 04/08/2005

More Train Questions
Another question on train travel. My husband and I will be following this itinerary exactly two months from today: Vienna to Venice to Munich to Prague to KrakowWe did all of the figuring and with our configuration, buying second class point to point tickets will be the cheapest way to go. So, my question is...should I be trying to purchase these tickets now via the various online sites? Or can I wait and buy our tickets/reservations after we arrive? My plan was to for example, Travel from Vienna to Venice and the day that I arrive in Venice to go ahead and purchase our outgoing night train tickets to Munich (an advance purchase of three days). Thanks for all your advice.
Nicole <email>
Chicago, USA Fri 04/08/2005

Mandy - Battery Charger
Mandy - I bought a charger that has bulit in power supply (100-240VAC). It comes with 4 AA rechargable batteries and a European adapter (you would need to get a different adapter for ...say...the UK). The charger will charge AA/AAA NiMH and NiCd batteries. I bought it for my digital camera. It only cost $29.99. The brand is "Promaster". I've not had a chance to use it overseas yet...but it looks like it should do the trick nicely. Better safe than sorry....though you could buy batteries, but then that just adds to the landfills and ultimately costs more.
Kelly <email>
Seattle, Wa USA Fri 04/08/2005

best view of paris
i read about a skyscraper in Paris that affords wonderful views of Paris-possibley even better than from the Eiffel Tower. Does anyone know the name or address of this building...i have lost my info!
beth <email>
sahlimar, fl USA Fri 04/08/2005

Airport to Paris transportation
Go to www.ratp.fr, the site for the Metro and RER. There are buses and trains form CDG and Orly. Also Air France has busses into Paris. The RER (train) costs 7.85 Euro from CDG to anywhere in Paris. Switch from the RER to the Metro without crossing the exit bariers in the stations to avoid extra charges. The site, with patience, can give yo the cost of the buses and the cost from Orley. www.airfrance.com has info on their busses. You have to dig for it though.

I've used the RER to and from CDG. Though it has a reputation for pickpockets and sneak thieves, I didn't have any problems. Then again I never, ever, ever let go of my luggage. Never, Never, Never place it on the overhead shelf or another seat! Don't relax and take a cat nap until you are in your hotel!
Jeff Wilson <email>
Placerville, CA USA Fri 04/08/2005

Metro Carte Orange
No need to get a professional photo for the Carte Orange. I set my digital camera on a tripod, use the time delay and take pictures until I'm satisfied. Then I print a sheet of them on my inkjet printer using photo paper. Cut out the ones you like! Voila!

Just a reminder... the Carte Orange is good for Monday through Sunday only no matter what day you buy it. You can buy one for the current week up to and including Wednesday. Starting Friday, you can buy one for the next week. The Carte Orange is not on sale Thursdays.

If you normally use three or more metro tickets a day, it can be cheaper to buy a Carte Orange as late as Wednesday.
Jeff Wilson <email>
Placerville, CA USA Fri 04/08/2005

Help with accomodations in Ennis/Limerick Ireland
Help!!! We are traveling to Ireland in June/July and have all of our arrangements witht the exception of our last night. As we are flying out of Shannon we would like to stay in Ennis or Limerick. Thoughts anyone? Also - any recommendations? Givent that we will leave at about 4:30 am - breakfast is NOT needed. THANKS!!!
Tracy <email>
Chicago , IL USA Fri 04/08/2005

marcy-london day trip
my note for london day trip should be addressed to HUGH. sorry.
beth <email>
shalimar, fl USA Fri 04/08/2005

marcey -london day trip
Marcey- I don't know if budget is a consideration for your trip but it was for us. I had to abandon Eurostar plans as I found flying to be far cheaper.(Ryan Air, British Midland and Easy Jet are just three of the options) I ended up doing booking London-Paris for less than 1/2 of what it would've cost for me and my three children to do it on the train. We won't be able to say we DID the chunnel, but the extra $$ in pocket will go for other great things.
beth <email>
shalimar, fl USA Fri 04/08/2005

European curling iron
Does anyone know where I can buy a curling iron for use in Europe? I don't want a dual voltage curling iron; I want one for 220 volt useage only.
dianne <email>
kitchener, ON canada Fri 04/08/2005

Help with this train itinerary
Going in May

Fly into zurich from copenhagen
1. zurich to Gimmelwald (off at Lautenbrunner) -monday
2. lauterbrunner to riomaggiore (via interlaken-spiez-milan, etc.- wednesday

I think our best bet for this is the swiss transit ticket ($88 2nd class, $134 1st class)Since I have always traveled with a pass (and 1st class)- how is second class on swiss trains?I'm not too worried about it being overcrowded since it is a wednesday...

How will I purchase the italian leg of the trip? If I pre-order at trenitalia.com, what do i put in as the origin (italian border)?thanks
Topher <email>
charlottesville, VA USA Fri 04/08/2005

Mandi - batterys/chargers/adapters
Read the Technology Tipline wall on this site...all the questions you have about converters, etc are there...the question you are asking has been answered several times! I'm sure you will find what you need.

USA Fri 04/08/2005

Batter charger question...
One more question (ok, so there may be more) but which would fellow travelers recomend: buying a new 110/220 battery charger or using the one you have and buying a voltage converter? I have the plug adapters. I need it for my digital camera, otherwise I'll spend a fortune on batteries!

Also, has anyone had a problem using outlets in hostels?
Mandi <email>
Seattle, WA USA Fri 04/08/2005

Re: Train Anxiety
Candacedon't be anxious, just be SMART. Read rick's advice about train travel here- it is vERY good. As 3 young women, you will have to take some practical steps. Learn about scams ahead of time. For which pass to get- well that depends. where are you planning on going- or is it open-ended?Passes are not always the best deal.Do you plan any night train trips?I would advise reading as much as you can before going. You can check schedules (for all europe)on the german train site: www.bahn.de, the italian site http://www.trenitalia.com/ is not bad.

If you have any specific questions, i would be happy to answer them.A few general tips;

1. Always be respectful of the local culture
2. Never leave yourself open to theft or scams
3. Buy a phrasebook and attempt some local language
4. PACK LIGHT!
Topher <email>
charlottesville, VA USA Fri 04/08/2005

Train tickets in Italy
Barry L, on train tickets in Italy: Check out www.trenitalia.com (has English version) for schedules and the opportunity to buy tickets on line, at least for journays taking place relatively soon. I can't answer your other question about advance purchase.
Kim
NY USA Fri 04/08/2005

Pyrenees in september
I'm going to the Pyrenees in early September. Is it a going to be a problem going that time of year without hotel reservations? We want to be flexible with our itinerary so aren't making any, yet.
Joe <email>
Snohomish, WA USA Fri 04/08/2005

Are Train Reservations Necessary in Italy?
We'll be travelling through Italy in June (2 adults, 2 kids). We will be taking the train from: 1) Venice to Florence; 2) Florence to Naples/Sorrento; 3) Sorrento/Naples to Rome. Should we buy our tickets in advance? Or should we get them there so we are not locked into travel times? And, if we buy them in advance, any suggestions on where we can purchase? Thanks for your help.
Barry L <email>
Salt Lake City, Utah USA Fri 04/08/2005

First time European traveler
I have a couple of questions... leaving for Europe for 3 months next month and that OMG feeling is setting in... I will turn 25 while I'm there.

First of all, has anyone used the Cooks Timetable book? Was it useful? I will be using a 2 month rail pass, as I will be on the continent for 7 weeks and have determined it to be cheaper than points to point for my destinations... still unsure of the whole train system and how it works. Any pointers?

Does anyone know of any good recomendations of alternate accomodation (like a convent)? I am still in need of places to stay in Italy, Spain and Belgium. I've never stayed in a hostel and even though I've read a bunch I am a bit unsure of what to expect.

Anything else anyone would like to say to a first time traveler to Europe (but as been to Guatemala, Costa, Mexico and Canada)?
Mandi <email>
Seattle, WA USA Fri 04/08/2005

GAELIC MAPS OF WEST COAST
Dan~~~Don’t buy your maps here.~~~ Wait until you get to Ireland to buy and then you will have a more useful map and because it will have the roads labeled the same way the signs are labeled.~~~ And it will be more current.
O'ROURKE
BOSTON, USA Fri 04/08/2005

Re: Museum Pass, Rodin
Actually the Rodin is a great place to get the pass, typically no lines, no crowds, no waiting. Another is Napoleans Tomb and the Military museum just up the street, as well as a number of Metro windows.
Paul <email>
IA USA Fri 04/08/2005

Paris Museum Pass - Rodin Museum
You can buy the Paris museum pass at any participating museum. That includes the Rodin Museum.
Tim <email>
Minot, ND USA Fri 04/08/2005

re: London day trip
You can get EuroStar tickets online at raileurope.com Buy early, we could not get the lowest price for the dates we wanted in May. We received our tickets in the mail, no problem.
Marcey
MN USA Fri 04/08/2005

Train Anxiety
I am a first time traveler that will be heading to Italy and Germany this August with my sister and friend (all of us are 20 -22 years old). We will be relying soley on public transportation. I am a little nervous about the whole train thing though. I don't have a lot of experience with trains and schedules etc. Is it hard to decipher the schedules once there? We will be taking a train from Venice to Munich at one point; is train travel between countries different than in the same country? How far in advance should I make a reservation, or do I need to make a reservation. We are considering buying the flexipass, but I must confess the Eurail tickets all kind of confuse me! Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated and help calm my nerves! :0)
Candace Vocelka <email>
Longwood, FL USA Fri 04/08/2005

paris museum passes
Can you buy the museum pass at Musee Rodin?
mary
cape may point, nj USA Fri 04/08/2005

Kathy - India
Hi again. I would e-mail, but for some reason it says "access denied." We're not completely set on staying in Delhi the whole time, it is just where we're flying into. We're going for 2-3 weeks, and we're planning on going to Agra and Punjab. Where were your favorites?
Callie <email>
Seattle, WA USA Thu 04/07/2005

Munich-Paris night train
How far ahead should I reserve a sleeper on this train? We will be going to Paris on May 26 after spending three weeks in Bavaria so I don't know if I should get the reservations before we leave home or can wait until we arrive in Europe.
Norma Szabo <email>
Chehalis, WA USA Thu 04/07/2005

re: Transportation to/from Siena
I'll counter the other post, and suggest the bus or train. My thought, the time and expense to go to the rental place, pick up the car, arrange parking, drive back the next day, return the car and move on to Rome, is too much for one night. If you were planning on seeing Tuscany over several days...great, but you will really only have time for Siena. Siena is a couple hours by bus from Florence, maybe 3-4 to Rome; cost was minimal as I recall. I thought the buses were comfortable, even full, I still have my own seat. By train it is more roundabout, easier from Florence, Rome usually means back to Florence, then to Rome, but it is still only two hours to Florence, then another 3 hours to Rome.
Paul <email>
IA USA Thu 04/07/2005

Re: London in a Day, added note
One note for using Eurostar. If you are relying on the Metro to get you from where you are staying to the train, verify what time the first service starts, and when it will get you to Gare De Nord. I nearly had problems last trip...early train to London, did not know that first Metro would not be by until about 6:00 AM; just made my check-in time (30 min before departure) for the Eurostar. Hate to think what a Cab would have cost.
Paul <email>
IA USA Thu 04/07/2005

Abbeys, convents & monastaries as overnight accomodation ?
Husband & wife travelling to Germany, Austria, northern Italy & Switzerland for 1st time the end of May & early June for 3 weeks. Has anyone ever used an abbey, monastery or convent for overnight accomodation ? If so, any recommendations ? Thanks.
Mary Anne <email>
North Bay, Canada Thu 04/07/2005

Where to stay
Nicole~~you could take the train into London which arrives at Victoria Station, go to Paddington Station either by tube of taxi and to go Windsor. Windsor is only a 15 minute drive to Heathrow. You would be able to enjoy the beauty of Windsor on your last night in England. Harte and Garter is an excellant hotel, but they have alot to chose from.

Oh USA Thu 04/07/2005

India
Callie, best thing you can do is go buy a copy of the Lonely Planet India guide, or Footprints if you don't like LP. I was in India four years ago - would advise cotton clothing, covering shoulders and legs, suggest buying salwar suits in India (clothing is cheap). I used TCs, but imagine ATMs will work now (check LP). How long will you be there? I found other places much more interesting than Delhi. With limited time you can do Agra as a day trip, don't miss the Taj Mahal. English proficiency less than I had expected, although some difficulties were due to the difference in accent.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Thu 04/07/2005

Dean - train ticket
Dean, If you go to trenitalia.com you can get the price quote yourself. Looks like your agent has quoted for a single first class sleeper. Double first or any second class sleeper/couchette will be cheaper.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Thu 04/07/2005

Teens in Dublin
Katie, we were in Dublin last year with 3 teens from 2 families. We very much enjoyed the tour of Newgrange that is in Rick's book (Mary Gibbons is the guide). It was nice to get away from the city for the day. Our family also really enjoyed Kilmainham jail, especially as we had all recently watched In The Name of the Father, and scenes from the movie were shot there. The other family saw the Book of Kells (their daughter is an art student - she thought it was great). We always enjoy riding the hop on-hop off bus in cities and used it for the general city tour. Also, the girls went shopping one afternoon, while my teen son & husband did the Guinness Factory - definitely a highlight for my son.
Karen <email>
Atlanta, ga USA Thu 04/07/2005

Trenitalia
On the main english page of Trenitalia, http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html you will get an error message if you try to input your start and finish points of your trip. However, if you click on the "timetable and purchasing" tab, a similar window comes up. Enter your information there, and it should work. They've had a few problems since they unveiled the new site a few weeks ago....this is one still getting ironed out, I guess.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Thu 04/07/2005

Re: Belfast
We only spent a couple of hours in Belfast. There was a train strike and we were travelling back to Dublin from Derry. We went to a black cab and asked for a tour of the troubles. It was the best money that we could have spent. (I think it cost us about $50 for just over an hour, and that might have included a tip.) If you like modern history, by all means go to Belfast. Derry (Londonderry) was great too. We had seen the movie "Bloody Sunday." History is interesting but the highlight of visiting Derry (and all of Ireland) was the pub "Peader O'Donnell's." If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
Karen Hereid <email>
Austin, MN USA Thu 04/07/2005

India?
Although this is a site for Europe, I'm hoping I can find some help, anyhow =) I am planning on traveling to Delhi, India in September on a budget (staying in hostels, etc.), and I was wondering if anyone who has been there has any advice...clothing, ATMS, proficiency of English there, the best places to stay/visit? As it will just be my sister and I, are there any precautions regarding female traveling? Any help, info, or inspiration would be great!!! Thanks!!
Callie (calaroni@earthlink.net)
Seattle, WA USA Thu 04/07/2005

shuttle from Heathrow to London
I read information about this in a Rick Steve's book - but the website he listed is different so I'm wondering if anyone has ever used this shuttle service or heard of it http://www.hotel-link.net/airport_shuttle/london.htm (It's $30 USD for a shuttle from Heathrow to "any" London hotel) You have to give credit card info first so I was hoping someone else might have used it - since it looks like an easy alternative to the tube/airbus etc
Julia <email>
Mi USA Thu 04/07/2005

Dean-- train ticket answer
Dean, that rate sounds about right, if I'm understanding what you're asking-- you don't have a railpass ticket already, and what you want is a point to point ticket simply from Rome to Munich, with reservations in a 1st class sleeper car as well? If you already have a ticket covering those areas, then all you should be paying for is a supplement (anywhere from $40-90 for a 1st class private sleeper car compartment, per person. It can actually be more if you want a single, private, 1st class sleeper.) But if you want the train ticket as well, then yes, that rate sounds pretty accurate.
Megan Hertel <email>
Hillsboro, OR USA Thu 04/07/2005

re: London in a day
Providing you are not wanting to see everything, you can do pretty well in a day from Paris. Eurostar offers a roundtrip, one day leisurepass for $94 dollars US. This would involve getting to Gar De Nord for an early train (8:00 AM or so), being in London by 10:00 AM. Catch the Hop-On Hop Off bus, get a good overview of the city. Do a quick pass through a couple museums (most are free). Have a good meal in a pub and some cask ale, walk the Thames and Southport area, visit a market; then catch the last train back to Paris, leaving 6 or 7 PM (I thought there was some later, but didn't see them) Most will say that it is not worth the cost or time, do London on it's own, but, this gives you a good taste for a couple hundred US a person.
Paul <email>
IA USA Thu 04/07/2005

overnight train
My travel agent says that an overnight sleeper compartment (train) from Rome to Munich willcost about $275US per ticket. Does this sound about right?Thanks for any feedbackDean
dean jackson <email>
alton, va USA Thu 04/07/2005

Dublin, Ireland
I will be in Dublin with 2 teenagers from July 20 to July 24. What do you guys recommend for us: accomodations, sights, food, etc?
Katie McBurr <email>
San Jose, CA USA Thu 04/07/2005

Europe Point-to-Point Rail Tickets....cheapest?
What is the least expensive way to by point-to-point rail tickets for Vienna to Prague this coming November. I know that Rail Europe's prices are usually higher. Should I use the German Rail site? A travel agency in the US? EurAide (in Munich/Berlin) helped before but not sure if they do tickets outside of their own country. Thanks.
Arnie Tharp <email>
Portland, OR USA Thu 04/07/2005

Jessica to Mykonos
I recommend traveling to Santorini over Mykonos, or better yet, try to hit both!
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Thu 04/07/2005

travel to Belfast
We are spending 2 weeks in Ireland and are wondering whether to include Belfastand for how long.Any info appreciated.thank you
jack <email>
sheboygan, wi USA Thu 04/07/2005

One Day London Excursion
Easy to do with Eurostar, which runs from Paris Nord station to London Waterloo....takes about 2:40 for the run, and you can get same-day return specials fromabout $94 round trip, per person. First train leaves Paris at 6:22 am and arrives in London around 8 am (you gain an hour). Then coming back, the last train from London leaves at 7:43 pm and gets into Paris at 11:23m (you lose an hour). Schedule is good until mid July. Book early since these trains are popular....you can usually book 90 days in advance. See www.eurostar.com
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Thu 04/07/2005

It works for me
I know this is counter to everything Rick says, but I usually check my bag when I travel because I don't want to fool with hauling it around and finding a place to stow it in the overhead. The only time I do carryon anymore is if it is a really short trip, say four nights, and I am really packing light. For a two week trip or longer, I always check my main bag. that way I can take a wine corkscrew too.

I pack a small tote-like bag with anything that is absolutely necessary to my trip and one change of clothes and I take that on the plane with me.I put my empty purse in my checked bag, and just carry my wallet etc., in my tote-bag.

I know I'm risking losing my luggage, but I pack pretty light and think I could easily replace anything I really need after I get to my destination. So far, I haven't lost any luggage or had any delayed. If I get to travel every year like I hope to, I'm sure I'll find out if I am being foolhardy or not.

I am also one of those crazies who doesn't use a money belt. I bought one years ago for my first trip and I have packed it every trip since but have never used it. If I am going somewhere where I am afraid I am at risk of being pickpocketed, I just carry enough cash for the day and nothing else. If I have to have a ticket or want to carry my ATM card or a credit card, I wear pants with a zippered pocket for that.

Most of the time I am just taking the bus or the subway to save time (yes, I have even taken bus #64 in Rome) and could walk back to my hotel if worse came to worst. I carry a copy of my passport with me and leave my passport in a safe at the hotel or at the house or apartment where I am staying.

USA Thu 04/07/2005

Swiss -French trains
RK --As a Swiss resident, I can tell you that the Swiss timelines are current until mid December. You can try www.sbb.ch to get times in Switzerland (doesn't include prices). Let me know if you need any help. I use Swiss public transportation every day.Tess
Tess <email>
Wadenswil, Switzerland Thu 04/07/2005

One London Evening
If you've never been to London before, I'd recommend doing the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour (you'll see most of the major sites) and Rick's city walk starting at Parliament. Both would be nice ways to see the city in the evening (assuming the bus runs in the evening - ? check the book). Have a fun dinner in a pub or in the theater district.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Thu 04/07/2005

One Day London Excursion
We're visiting Paris and wondering about the prospect of spending a day in London. Does anyone know how I go about taking a train to London? About how much for two? I'll probably want to take advantage of the entire day and leave early in the morning. Thanks!
Hugh <email>
Boston, MA USA Thu 04/07/2005

Expedia
We got an incredible rate through Expedia last year for London and had no problems, BUT they did change the flights a couple of times between the time we booked and the time we left. This didn't impact our trip, but if you're making a connection on the other end, you might want to be careful to give yourself plenty of time. Direct flights (which have come to be worth the extra $ to me) would probably not be affected this way, but the super cheap fares usually have stops.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Thu 04/07/2005

expedia
We used expedia to book a trip to San Fran a few years back as we got a great special rate through it.Safe, no problems, They are known as is Travelocity for good on line, secure services
bluedenim <email>
vancouver, bc USA Thu 04/07/2005

Margi in Paris
Margi, check out: hotelvaladon.com. This hotel in the Rue Cler area has been mentioned in Ricks's earlier books. Small hotel, clean and recently renovated. On a quiet side street with reasonalbe rates and a family room available. The owners are very friendly. It fills up fast, however.
Rob
Little Rock, AR USA Thu 04/07/2005

Re: Jessica, Florence to Mykonos
Nothing specific, but take a look at budget airlines, there are a number of small airlines that would fly from Florence, Rome, or Venice to Athens, then Ferry (or even flight) to Mykonos. There probably will not be a direct flight to Mykonos, nearly all will use Athens as a hub, and you may have to shop the airports within a few hours of Florence to find one that flies to Athens, but there should be something.
Paul <email>
IA USA Thu 04/07/2005

Just returned from Rome
I got back last night from 6 magical, incredible days. Our first day there we climbed the top of the Vatican, spent several hours in the square and later that night at 9pm the Pope died. We stayed in Trastevere and loved it. I truly feel like I left my heart behind and can't wait to get back.
Annette Sturzen <email>
Federal Way, wa USA Thu 04/07/2005

Northern Ireland Sunday Day Bus/Train Trips?
I'll be in Belfast in early May, and will have one Sunday free to take my Mom anywhere in Ireland, provided it's by bus or train. I'm not including Dublin because I think we're doing a trip down there the day before, I can't change the date to a Sunday for that.

Any tips for where to go or good day trips (bus day tours?) I checked Ulsterbus, but they don't have much for Sundays and none for May. Thanks for any tips!
Bonnie M <email>
Coral Springs, FL USA Thu 04/07/2005

Sleeping accommodations in Paris
Any great B&B's in Paris that have family rooms or hotels that aren't too expensive? Any area would be fine.
Margi <email>
Bakersfield, CA USA Wed 04/06/2005

Gaelic Maps of West Coast
I have heard that certain counties in West Ireland are removing road signs in English in order to promote Gaelic in the area. This will render our current English maps not very helpful as we are driving through the Gaelic territory.

Does anyone know if new maps are available of the Galway, Connemara area, or the West coast generally, in Gaelic?
Dan Ojeda <email>
San Francisco, ca USA Wed 04/06/2005

Florence to Mykonos???
HiI am going to be studying in Florence this summer. During a brief week long break between sessions, I would like to go to Mykonos. I am wondering if anyone can recommend the most efficiant transportation method/ route. Cheers
Jessica <email>
Vancouver, BC CA Wed 04/06/2005

Overnight In London
My husband and I Just got our flight plans and we have a lay over in London. We arrive LGW on a Friday afternoon at 4:15 pm and then leave from Heathrow at 9:35a the next morning .Any tips on where to stay? Transportation issues? What to do with a few hours in London?
Nicole <email>
Chicago, USA Wed 04/06/2005

Is EXPEDIA.com safe, reliable?
Has anyone made flight and hotel accommodations on EXPEDIA.com? How was your experience?

We are in the middle of planning our honeymoon and we dont want to make a "mistake."

Any help, advice, or suggestions would be much appreciated!
Danny <email>
San Antonio, TX USA Wed 04/06/2005

Prague Accomodations
I am staying in Prague this June with my hubby. For cheap but nice accomodations with honest people, about 1/2 an hour from the city center, consider staying at the International Baptist Theological Seminary. They have a hotel AND hostel accomodations. Only restrictions are that non married http://www.hotel-jeneralka.cz/
Nicole
Chicago, USA Wed 04/06/2005

Hotel Lancelot, Rome
Joan,We stayed there back in 2001 Great veiw of the coliseum. Nice helpful hotel, you'll like it we did. First class all the way. With in walking distance of the subway and Coliseum
buggeon <email>
el sobrante, ca USA Wed 04/06/2005

Rentng a car outside of London
Judy~~you could take the train to Slough, pick up the car and then return to Slough. Get the train from Paddington Station. I have rented cars for Budget in Slough and it worked out well. Happy travels!

Oh USA Wed 04/06/2005

Carry-on/purse on B.A.
I can't make any promises, but here was our experience last year traveling out of San Francisco on B.A.

We each had a carry-on piece of luggage (A Rick Steves wheeled bag or backpack) PLUS a purse/shoulder-bag (something that obviously didn't look like luggage).My husband's luggage weighed in over the limit. The counter attendant suggested that we re-arrange. We put a few items of his into one of the lighter bags, and he put several items (including his laptop) into his cloth shoulder bag. He carried a folded newspaper under his arm. She said it was fine - didn't even re-weigh the other bags. (He later re-did it to the original packing configuration, and nobody said a thing).

On the way home, we had acquired lots of souveniers - including many books- so we just put the heaviest items into one bag and checked it.

Others may have had different experiences, however, so be prepared to re-arrange and check one bag that doesn't have your absolute necessities.Have a nice trip!

USA Wed 04/06/2005

Train schedules changing
The SNCF website seems to have had problems with its English language pages for several days now. Trying it just now, it goes to a "cannot find server" error. Hopefully, they're now taking it down to fix things.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Wed 04/06/2005

Train schedules changing
I'm trying to find train schedules and fares in France + Switzerland in July, but at the usually-helpful DeutscheBahn site, most of the trains say they run only through June 11 (they put together a 36-hour round-about itinerary for a trip that is really just 4 direct hours!). Can I assume that the schedule will be similar after that? Also, when I try to find a price at the SCNF site, I keep getting a "technical difficulty" message. Any advice?
R.K.
Berkeley, CA USA Wed 04/06/2005

bus/tube tickets in London
You don't say who "we" includes. If it includes any kids under age 16, your very best deal is family travelcards. Buy one each day at the tube station. It is just like an off-peak all-day ticket (valid on all tube and bus lines after 9:30 weekdays, all day weekends), but much cheaper. You pay per adult, depending how many zones you plan to use (it's 3.10 for zone 1-2, which should be enough for most sightseeing; ALL buses are included, regardless of zone), and only .80 per child age 5-15, for any zone combination. On weekends, the kids' tickets are free!So, if you don't have any kids going along, maybe you should borrow one!
R.K.
Berkeley, CA USA Wed 04/06/2005

gps units
need info on handheld gps units for car travel in europe.ie; magellan,garmin,cobra,tom tom etc.model that will not break the bank,but with enough mem to get me aroun well. thanks pete
peter <email>
west chester, pa USA Wed 04/06/2005

Sidney
Hey Sidney, I just returned from Paris last week...so beautiful there! You'll have a wonderful time.1. Yes, as previously stated, you will need a color photo for the carte orange. DO NOT rely on getting a photo from the little photo booths in the metro...chances are, it won't work and will just eat your euros. The photo needs to be approx. 1x1...mainly a head shot. You can get it at any place that offers passport photos. Just crop it to the right size.

2. I'd either call your hotel or e-mail them to see if they have hairdryers provided. We stayed in a two-star and they had hairdryers in the rooms. Also, they may have hairdryers at the desk to lend out to travelers...I'd check to make sure. Sometimes the adapter/converter sets don't work. I had one from Wal-Mart and blew out the fuse in the hotel. So, someone had suggested trying Radio Shack...it may cost a bit more, but that way you won't be like me and have a 'fro going on.

3. The Mona Lisa did move from the Salle Rosa to the Salle des Etats, newly refurbished. Now, Mona hangs opposite Veronese's monumental "Marriage at Cana". Here is one of the web sites discussing the move: http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/04/06/Arts/MonaLisa-050406.html?ref=rss

4. Don't worry. When it rains, the umbrella vendors will come out by the droves. Sometimes you can get a lower price...don't be afraid to bargain with the vendors. Also, you can find an umbrella and/or a poncho at any store listed below as well as the souvenir stands...if you want a poncho with the Eiffel Tower on it. Have fun in Paris!
Brandie <email>
USA Wed 04/06/2005

Hotel Garni Trumer Stube
Hi, I would appreciate any opinions on the Hotel Garni Trumer Stube in Salzburg, Austria. Am planning to spend about 3 nights in Salzburg and wondered whether it was a comfortable hotel.

Also has anyone rented a car from Auto Europe Cars? Did you have any problems with this company? Thank you in advance for your time.
DiDi <email>
FL USA Wed 04/06/2005

phone cards
Thanks Nicole for the AT & T suggestion..Fiona:-)
Fiona Saulness <email>
Phoenix, AZ USA Wed 04/06/2005

Normandy home base
Would Bayeux make a good home base for exploring Normandy? I am planning to be in the region for two days - one day for Bayeux and the D-day beaches, and one for Mt. St. Michel. I am also unsure if there is direct transport from Bayeux to Pontorson/Mt. St. Michel via train or bus. Any suggestions for affordable lodging there would also be appreciated. Thanks!
Mike <email>
Seattle, USA Wed 04/06/2005

RE: A few questions
1. Earlier post got it right....you need one, but just bring along a head and shoulders shot. 2. Probably....if you can't travel without a hair dryer, get a small dual-voltage one and an adapter plug, about 10 bucks at places like WalMart. 3. It's still in the same area of the Louvre, just in its own separate display area. 4. Monoprix, Uniprix, La Samaritaine stores will have that, as well as department stores Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps will have umbrellas and ponchos, but they may be slightly more expensive than you find at Walmart,etc. 5. The sixth arrond. should be considered Paris Downtown, so the rate to and from CDG for two people would be 29 Euros each. Be prepared for traffic delays.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Wed 04/06/2005

Plitvice Nat'l Park-Help
Piran, Slovenia to Plitvice National Park, CroatiaI'm trying to make travel arrangements to get from Piran, Slovenia to Plitvice National Park in Croatia. I'm wondering if there is a bus route that stays on the Adriatic coast, or if it will be neccessary to transfer in Ljubjana. Thanks for your suggestions!Meghan
Meghan <email>
WA USA Wed 04/06/2005

london car rental
My son and myself will be in London for 5 days. I would like to rent a car for a day trip to bath and the outside area. I do not want to go on a tour. Where is the best place to rent a car outside London for a day trip in that area?
judy <email>
covina, ca USA Wed 04/06/2005

MONEY
GREG----My wife and I stay in hostels and in homes when we travel, but we don’t take any extra precautions with money. We find a neck pouch safer and more comfortable than a money belt. I keep 50 U.S. dollars, credit cards and my ATM card in my neck pouch. It is easier to get into than the money belt and will hold as much.
ADRIANNE
CHICAGO, USA Wed 04/06/2005

UK ITINERARY
Robert....While seeing the places you mention is important , so is Edinburgh. Don’t miss it. Driving the distances you already plan will not hamper your driving the distance to E. And you will find the castle (and other sights) there worth the effort. I will vote for it over the Lakes Country or Wales. You might consider choosing between Ireland and N Ireland; they are so similar that I would choose Ireland and forget N. Ireland.
AROUKEY
NYC, USA Wed 04/06/2005

Transportation to and from Siena
Laura~~~Renting a car is best if you can afford it.~~~ But don’t plan on driving in Rome.~~~ Park your car in a suburb and take public trans. ~~~ The train will be best if you have plenty of time and don’t plan to stop along the way.~~~ Buses are crowded and take longer most times. ~~~ They are cheaper than renting a car.~~~ I always rent a car because I like the convenience of leaving when I want to and stopping where I want to. ~~~Gasoline is over $4 a gallon and the toll road between Venice, Florence and Rome is quite expensive.
McWilliams
Duluth, USA Wed 04/06/2005

Correction re London Travelcard
While it's true that a photo is required for the Carte Orange, the London Travelcard no longer requires one.
Tim <email>
Minot, ND USA Wed 04/06/2005

Paris question
You need a passport-sized photo for the Carte Orange(or London travelcard). It can be any photo that's small enough to fit on the card, so you can bring one from home-even a portion of a snapshot that has your face on it. The ID card is seperate from the weekly pass and you can save it for future trips.
Susan
WI USA Wed 04/06/2005

A few questions
I'm traveling very soon to Paris. Please help answer my questions:
1. Do I really need a photo for the carte orange? Can I do this myself?
2. Do I need a hair dryer? We are not staying in a fancy place (2 stars)
3. I saw in the news yesterday. Where did they move the mona lisa?
4. I don't want to carry an umbrella. Can I easily find places that sell umbrellas and ponchos cheap?
5. I went to parisairportservice.com and cannot figure what rates I'll be charged for 2 person from the airport into the 6th
e. Any guesses approx how much?
Thanks!Sidney
Sidney <email>
Boston, MA USA Wed 04/06/2005

Athens to Istanbul
My husband and I will be in Athens for a few days before going to Istanbul to join Rick tour of Turkey. We are looking for suggestions on the best means of travel between Athens and Istanbul - fly, train, bus? We have seen mixed reviews of the train - good in Greece, bad in Turkey...have others expereienced this? How long is the train ride? Approximate cost, etc.?

Also would like recommendations of hotels in Athens. Thank you.
Donna <email>
Parrish, FL USA Wed 04/06/2005

Woman's haircut in Italy?
Can I get a stylish woman's haircut that won't break my budget in Milan, Venice, or Florence Italy? Any recommendations?
Lisa Martin <email>
Rosemont, NJ USA Wed 04/06/2005

World Traveler Plus
Thanks to whoever posted about the British Airways World Traveler Plus. I had not heard of that before. We checked it out and it looks like a great way to travel for the money. My husband and I just booked that class on British Airways for an upcoming trip to Italy.
Sherry <email>
Memphis, USA Wed 04/06/2005

Florence to Siena
You can go by bus or train. Both about 1 hour, both leave often. Bus is better because in Siena train station is a distance from the city center and you need to take a bus to get to Siena center from train station.
Linda <email>
PA USA Wed 04/06/2005

Hotel Alimandi Rome
i booked a hotel in rome that was in your book "hotel alimandi" but there are 2. That are owned by the same family. I am at the one on Le Vaticano in Rome. It is a 4 star. can you tell me anything about it. What is it close to? There is nothing on their web site other than a pix.
Ann Williams <email>
Peachtree City, GA USA Wed 04/06/2005

putting your credit card number on a fax
i am just about to send several faxes out to secure reservations in italy's major northern cities-roma, seina, florence. i will be using rick's recommendations for accomodations. is it ok to put your credit card number on a fax ? with all the trouble with computer hacking, is a fax safe ?
carol <email>
jamestown, ny USA Wed 04/06/2005

Transportation to/from Siena
Hi,We are taking a trip to Italy in May to Venice (2 nights), Florence(3 nights, Siena(1 night), and Rome(final 4 nights)...I am SO EXCITED...so here is my question:

What is the best form a transportation to and from Siena? We will be in Florence before our night in Siena and will be moving on to Rome after Siena...not sure if train, bus, or even renting a car is the best option (we've never been to Siena before)...I would LOVE to hear your suggestions on what has worked for you....
Laura Horvath <email>
Fremont, CA USA Tue 04/05/2005

UK Itinerary
We will be going to the UK for the same length of time. Arrive London and take bus to Bath right away. Rent a car. 3 Days in Bath, see some (not a lot) of Wales, Cotswolds, York, Edinburgh and then to Ayr, Scotland (near Glasgow to see a friend there). We are then taking Ryan Air to London and will spend 6 nights there. I already feel like we'll be seeing a lot. I can't imagine also seeing Northern Ireland and Southern Wales, etc. Oh - also, we'll be staying 3 nights each in Bath, York and Edinburgh and 2-3 nights with our friend. Any other places on our 21 day tour will be on the way. I want to see it all....but we have to go back. We sat down with a Rick Steves travel planner and he did a great job helping us. By the way - our flight on Ryan air was less then 1 pound each!! With tax brought it to about 10 pounds each. Not kidding! I thought I was reading the web site wrong but we weren't. Check it out.
Kelly <email>
Seattle, Wa USA Tue 04/05/2005

To Lynn Re; Bergen, Norway
Hi Lynn -My best friend and I stayed at Park Pensione in Bergen. It was clean, affordable, and very quaint. http://www.parkhotel.no/They had a nice breakfast, and I recall it being "walkable" from a neighborhood to the sights in Norway.

There was a big hotel -- Ramada, Radisson?? -- that was also in a great location. And, right on the busline from the airport.
Steph
Columbus, OH USA Tue 04/05/2005

B & B TYPE LODGING-NAXOS
HAS ANYONE EVER STAYED IN EITHER THE STUDIOS MARGO OR THE BARBOUNI STUDIOS IN NAXOS TOWN ON NAXOS ISLAND, GREECE? OR HAVE YOU A B & B TYPE PLACE THERE TO RECOMMEND? THANKS, MARGO
MARGO <email>
SEATTLE, WA USA Tue 04/05/2005

Robert
I have to add my thoughts here. We are in the middle of planning our first trip to Europe...and two weeks to do what you want is just not long enough....you will be spreading yourself too thin.To give you some idea we are doing 10 days with Family. 2 nights in the south of England, then 8 in Northern England. Three of those 8 will be in the Lake District, the rest will be outside of Manchester with family where we will do day trips to Blackpool, Manchester, Liverpool and possibly a few other areas.

I first wanted to cram so much more in but upon looking at it closer it is just too much to do in a short period of time.Decide what you really want to see. I know it is tough to make choices but I think you will be much happier in the long run.
bluedenim
USA Tue 04/05/2005

Too many place
Robert~~you are planning to see to many places in two weeks. You names nine different places you were going to see, that would even give you two days in each area and that isn't even taking in consideration for driving time. I would suggest that you decide on which areas you really want to see. For example you could fly into Manchester, England pick up a car go north to the Lake District, on up to Scotland, down to Yorkshire on to York and then to Cambridge. You could spend a week in each of the places I mentioned and still wouldn't see everything. Don't try to cram to many places in to your plans. If you do you will not be able to enjoy yourself. All you will be doing is rushing from place to place, not able to enjoy the beauty of the country. Please reconsider where you want to go. You want to remember your trip for the beauty you see and not for all the rushing you will be doing.

USA Tue 04/05/2005

Paying proper respect to the croque monsieur
This is for Chris in Colorado, but also for Brandi, and MV.

There are some acceptable variations to The Croque, but to the French there are not many. If you vary, I am told, you may have a ham and cheese sandwich but that does not make a croque. Following is a recipe from Silvie, who is an editor of an English language e-zine for the French Tourism board. She lives in Lyon.

Prep time is 20 minutes, serves 4.
Ingredients:
For the sandwiches use 8 slices of white bread, 4 slices of cooked ham (best choices are French or Virginia ham); 4 slices Swiss cheese
For the mixture, 1 cup whole milk, 2 egg yolks, salt and pepper.
Directions: Pour the milk, yolks, and seasoning into a large bowl. Mix with a fork to break the yolks and obtain a uniform cream color.
To prepare the sandwiches put the ham and cheese between two slices of bread. Heat a frying pan with 1 tbs of oil to prevent the bread from sticking. Using a spatula, dip each face of the sandwich for 3 seconds into the mixture. Soak each face for a few millimeters only. Place it immediately in the hot frying pan. Cook on mediium heat and flip the sandwich every minute. Repeat 4 times (cook each face twice.)

Sylvie says to "serve immediately with a salad. It is so easy to cook and so good." This recipe is substantially the same as one I got from Jamie, one of the owners of La Petite Nice cafe in Avignon, and the owner of the Restaurant du Marche' Ste. Catherine, a Rick Steves Paris recommendation. The restaurant has since closed and reopened under other ownership. Now, a translation of Silvie's terms. White bread is not the bleached white thinly sliced stuff you increasingly find at the Monoprix or Casino in France, or the supermarket in the US. It is made with unbleached flour by a person who only bakes bread.

Rick Steves' friend who runs restaurant in the Rue Cler neighborhood says a baker cannot do both bread and cakes well. When you dip the sandwich into the egg mixture you will understand why it must be substantial bread in a substantial slice. Regarding the ham, it is implied the ham is a "regulation" French slice such as what might be served as a meal sized portion. It is not a thin, ultra skinny deli slice. In France, you will find some places usually with lower standards or a cash flow problem which, more and more (unfortunately), serve these single cheese slice, single deli style ham slices on what they sometimes call "American style white bread".

As to the cheese. "Swiss" in France usually means emmenthaler francaise. There is also a Swiss emmenthaler. Sometimes the cheese may be gruyere. In Avignon Jamie swore by cantal and emmenthaler together. In the Savoie, one uses emmenthaler unless you are a barbarian I was told. Finally, as a matter of showing that you are well-raised, always slice the croque with a knife, not a fork edge, and put the pieces into your mouth with a fork. Though croque in slang means a snack or nosh it is not finger food. In the States, who cares.
Harvey G
Park Forest, IL USA Tue 04/05/2005

Automotive Museum
Has anyone seen a British Automotive Museum? MG's Triumph's Healey's etc?
Dan Shrader <email>
Longmont, CO USA Tue 04/05/2005

London travelcards
The website for all London area travel is www.tfl.gov.uk. You don't say how you are getting from the airport into town or what zones you will be traveling in. Talk to the guy at the window if you can't figure out what is the best deal for your 7 days, it really depends on where you plan to travel. Buy off peak unless you have a masochistic desire to push into the morning pre-9:30 throng, you save a bundle. A one-day all zone off peak card is only about 5-6 pounds, cheaper than buying a "carnet" strip of ten single ride tickets(for your two partial days). Off-peak cards ONLY mean you won't be riding until 9:30 a.m. They are otherwise identical.
Diane Yaghoobian <email>
Reading, PA USA Tue 04/05/2005

Terri Nanko - Sicily
Terri, my husband and I will be on Sicily, then on to the Amalfi coast in May. We are taking a self guided bike tour. Our tour will take us on the Western side of the island only, but I do have info about the towns that are most visited and the sights to see. If you'd like my info, feel free to email me. You might also check into getting some guidebooks...there are several available for both Sicily and the Naples /Amalfi areas.
Ellen <email>
USA Tue 04/05/2005

Kathie - Ferry info for Amalfi to Sicily
Kathie, I have the info you need, but I'm not at my home computer today. If you'd like me to respond..i.e. you still need the info,please email me, I'll foward the web site to you. There is a ferry service that you just drive on to, the website has the charges and requirements. I can send the info to you Wednesday night, April 6.
Ellen <email>
Centennial, CO USA Tue 04/05/2005

bus/tube tickets in London
We will be in London from May 11th to the 19th, with the first and last day just really 1/2 days. I was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions on how would be the best way to do bus/tube tickets. One 7 day travelcard and two 1 day card? Or just the 7 day card and pay single trip for the two 1/2 days. I am so confused. Thanks for any ideas and sites to check out.
Norma <email>
Denver, CO USA Tue 04/05/2005

UK itinerary
We have about two weeks in the car, then a week in London. Planning on SW England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, SW Scotland, Lakes Country, Yorkshire, then to London Via York and Cambridge.

That means skipping Edinburgh.Is this a reasonable option, or should we spend days/miles going up to Edinburgh?Thanks
Robert Sanford <email>
Puyallup, WA USA Tue 04/05/2005

Money
Greg – Your best bet is an ATM card (to be kept in your money belt.) You’ll absolutely get the best exchange rate with it. There are numerous posts on this board on the subject. You may also want to bring a small amount of cash or travelers’ checks to be changed in an emergency (if all of the ATM in the area are empty or down – it can happen . . .).
Angela
USA Tue 04/05/2005

Money
I have a question pertaining to money. What is the best combo for money?I don't really want to bring a credit card or travelers checks b/c i'll be staying at hostels, but I'm not safe with having a bunch of cash on me even if its just in big bills. I'm 18 too, so mabye that will play into how i should bring the money.(Money Belt obvously)
Greg <email>
USA Tue 04/05/2005

Extended Europe
For what it's worth, here is my (one) experience: in autumn 2002 I went abroad for a year of academic study. Naturally I had a one-way ticket, since it was not even possible to buy a round-trip one with a return date so far ahead, and I wanted to travel afterward anyway, without fixing a return date. At Seatac airport I was rigorously questioned by the SAS man at the baggage check. He would not let me continue until finally I showed him my official letter of invitation from the University of Geneva. I asked a travel agent about this incident just recently, and she said that personnel on the US end have to act as gatekeepers now, screening out people who have what seem "suspicious" travel plans. On the European side, however, I was never questioned. I guess the moral is that in considering what to do, you need to begin with possible questioning on this side. Since one-way tickets are often as expensive as round-trip, you might want to first compare prices of specific tickets before risking not being allowed to board.

USA Tue 04/05/2005

Venice jogging
We saw quite a few joggers in Venice (nice and flat!). I'd recommend heading out to the end of the canal, near the opening to the lagoon -- there's a neighborhood Rick mentions in the book that's really quiet and open, where you won't have to dodge tourists. Really anywhere away from the crowds would be good --remember, you can't get lost!
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Tue 04/05/2005

Extended Europe
Like Leif, I would like to stay in Europe for 6 months to a year immersing myself in all that there is to see and do. I have enough money to cover my basic needs, but would also be open to working the occasional "under the table" job--if not too risky. Since I want to leave my return open ended I would rather not buy a round trip ticket if I don't have to. Is this dream still possible?
Andy
Arcata, CA USA Tue 04/05/2005

Jogging
Hello fellow joggers. I will be traveling to Italy the first part of May. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to jog in Venice? Thanks you!
Chris <email>
Green Bay, WI USA Tue 04/05/2005

Rome ATAC Bus 110 Tour
ATAC Rome Bus 110 Tour. Does anyone know if this 2hr bus tour can be boarded in the Vatican area? Are tickets available in the Vatican area or do we need to go to Termini Station to purchase tickets and board?
john <email>
San Jose, CA USA Tue 04/05/2005

B&B NEAR AVIGNON
Sue ...read “budget lodging” below. Do a search for “Avignon B&B”; you should find plenty of them to consider.
RUDOLPHO
EL PASO, USA Tue 04/05/2005

WEATHER IN ROME AT THE END OF APRIL
Jim; you can find the average highs and lows for every month of the year by going to http://www.weather.com/search/enhanced? At the top of the page, enter the city , click on “GO” and then on next page under Item 1 click on “Averages and Records”. Remember that this is only averages and weather can change from year to year. Take a jacket.
ELIZABETH D
NYC, USA Tue 04/05/2005

BUDGET LODGING AMS. BELGIUM SWITZ
I always do a search on google.com for housing by asking for “Brussels B&B” or “Brussels Rooms” (or pensions) for a listing . Do the same search for each town you will be in. I always use the email address to check on availability and to confirm the rates. Or you can do what I did when I arrived in Andermatt without a room; I went to the Tourist Information Office at the RR station and asked for a B&B. The agent called several and found one who came to the station and drove me to his home.
HENRIETTA S.
USA Tue 04/05/2005

AIRLINE TICKETS
Leif: Choose 2 or 3 airlines and call them; ask about countries requiring return tickets. The only country which has required me to have a return ticket is Russia. Never in other countries has anyone even asked me about tickets.
CHANDLER
TULSA, USA Tue 04/05/2005

Rome weather
Jim McBride~~~we were in Rome in mid May last year and the weather was perfect. You may need a light jacket for evenings. there was no humidity at all. We had one minor rainshower and ducked into a church for 30 min until it was over. Walking the grounds around the Borghese was a pleasant way to spend an hour or so. Happy travels!
RJ
USA Tue 04/05/2005

Piran, Slovenia to Plitvice National Park, Croatia
I'm trying to make travel arrangements to get from Piran, Slovenia to Plitvice National Park in Croatia. I'm wondering if there is a bus route that stays on the Adriatic coast, or if it will be neccessary to transfer in Ljubjana. Thanks for your suggestions!
Meghan <email>
Seattle, WA USA Mon 04/04/2005

Italian car travel
Driving in car from Amalfi to Sicily. Is there a car ferry from the toe of the boot to the island of Sicily? Email address of fares/time schedules, etc?

Kathie <email>
West Linn, OR USA Mon 04/04/2005

RE: Day trip to Tangier from Marbella
dude you people are crazy. your biggest mistake was taking a large tour group. you should have taken a small private one. my trip to tangier was one of the most memorable parts of my entire european tour.we did the walking private tour with Abdelhamid Idrissi E.mail: tangiertour@yahoo.co.uk because we really didn't have much time. he will make it last as long as you want it to last. i really wish we could have taken the His Mini-bus to the caves. he will make sure you get back in time for your transportation. you cant see ANYTHING like tangier in europe.you just cant.
poppajon
New york, NY USA Mon 04/04/2005

Booking in Prague
Stayed at Dientzenhofer Pension in Mala Strana 21/2 years ago. 2 minute walk to the Charles Bridge. Very reasonable, good breakfast, nice size rooms, lots of charm, excellent location. Highly recommend making reservations.
Conny <email>
Williamsburg, VA USA Mon 04/04/2005

salzburg festival
I am trying to book accomodations for the festival 7/20 or thereabouts. Any recommendations about where to stay and how to obtain tickets for musical events such as the opera premier of Schreker on the 23.
suzanne <email>
Seattle, Wa USA Mon 04/04/2005

Booking in Prague
Michel, I would strongly recommend making a reservation for Prague. I was there last August and could not believe how crowded it was, and I was told the crowds had started at Easter. I stayed at the Hostel Unitas, bare room but very clean and good bathrooms (down the hall).
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Mon 04/04/2005

Budget lodging Benelux
In Amsterdam you could try the Prinsenhof (http://www.hotelprinsenhof.com/hotel/info.html) good location close to a tram stop on the Prinsengracht canal. 65 euro double w/out bath, 85 euro with. In Bruges the Marieke B&B (http://users.belgacom.net/marieke/english.htm) is 60 euro for a double with wonderful hosts. In Brussels I stayed at the Hotel Welcome, but they certainly seem to have put their prices up. Of course, there are always the youth hostels, many now have double rooms.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Mon 04/04/2005

Irish Hostels/Seaside towns?
Favorite Irish Hostels and small coastal towns?? Thought I would ask again as March has been archivedThanks for all the help from everyone and sort of glad I am not going to Italy this year....looks crowded from all the posts.
Destiny <email>
Park City, Utah USA Mon 04/04/2005

Airline Ticket
I am planing to go to Europe in the fall and want to stay for a year or so. I am thinking about bying a one-way ticket but don't know if this will cause me trouble with entering Europe and certain countries. Does anybody have any experience with this? Thanks!
Leif Miller <email>
Bellingham, WA USA Mon 04/04/2005

Budget lodging -- Ams, Belgium, Switz
We'll be in the Brussels/Bruges/Amsterdam areas this summer before heading down to the Berner Oberland in Switzerland, all on public transport. Rick's recommended lodgings in all of these areas seem high-priced -- I guess things are just getting expensive. We're used to finding a "Db" in a simple, well-located place (small hotel/pension or b&b) for 60-70 euro, but haven't traveled in this area before. Any recommendations?
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Mon 04/04/2005

Hotel Lancelot, Rome
Has anyone stayed at Hotel Lancelot in Rome? Have reservations in June and am curious about other traveler's experiences.
Joan Gray <email>
San Rafael, CA USA Mon 04/04/2005

highland games in scotland
My husband and I would like to see the Highland Games when we visit Scotland in May. What is your experience with watching the Games? Did you have to buy tickets or do you just "show up" at the location?
Debbie <email>
Austin, TX USA Mon 04/04/2005

Weather in Rome at end of April
Anyone been to Rome at the end of April? I understand that the temperature averages in the 60s in April, but does that mean it will be 70, 75, or 80 degrees come May 1 in Rome? Help!--I don't know what clothes to bring.
Jim McBride <email>
New York, NY USA Mon 04/04/2005

chris ebay backpack
Chris -rather than go into e bay on ricks travel wall, pls. feel free to e mail me and i will tell you what my experience has been with purchases and how to do it...incidentally, I have had great purchases off e bay...
beth <email>
shalimar, fl USA Mon 04/04/2005

CinqueT and Vernazza Crowd
Vernazza was filled with what seemed like half of Germany and ALL of the UK. We could barely walk the streets due to the crowds. That was during the day. Most of those we encountered were hikers and day-trippers. We could not get a room (tho we tried at only 3 places) and thus left for Firenze (Florence). Perhaps another CT town would be a better idea (like Corniglia). You might have better luck. Our journey there was about mid-May of 2004.
Paul n Sara <email>
Newburyport , MA USA Mon 04/04/2005

F/U to the question re Internet cafes and photos
We lived in Paris for a few years until recently, and traveled around Europe when ever we could. I studied photography and took lots of pics. Here is what we found:

Although Internet service is available in many, many places, the machines almost always are running Windows 98 ( this was still true in Paris in 2004 ) and you cannot make a USB connection to a machine running 98.

Also many of the machines were locked behind walls or enclosed in Plexiglass and regardless of the Op Sx, you could not physically attach anything to the machine. Or... There was installed software to prevent you from adding anything to the machine, cutting CD's etc etc.

Of course, this was not always true. Some places were simple enough that they did not phsyically barricade the machines. Some places were more tech advanced, especially in the city in Germany, Switzerland or Scandanavia and did run 2000 or XP.

Many internet cafes are going away due to the increasing availability of wireless all over Europe, but there are still plenty to be found. However, little is being invested in upgrading Op sx to 2000 or XP.

My advice is not to count on being able to download photos--borrow extra cards from friends, buy a small harddrive that you can off load your cards to ( costs about $150-400 and has huge capicity, try B& H photo or E Bay for the best prices )

Buy or borrow as many cards as you can afford, I found the best prices at costco.

Sorry for bad bad news!
Mary Beth <email>
Bainbridge Island, WA USA Mon 04/04/2005

Sicily
Teri - Spent a week in Sicily twice. Loved Taormina. Loved Cefalu. You can get a ferry to Aeolian Islands at Milazzo. At Palermo, if you like the beach, they have a great one called Mondello, served by public bus. Haven't been to Siracusa or Erice - next trip. Look at trenitalia for rail map - I traveled all rail but it doesn't go everywhere. Loved Sicily, put me in your pocket and take me with you! PS sicilyheaven is a website with a lot of info on Sicily sightseeing. Linda
Linda <email>
PA USA Mon 04/04/2005

Airports in UK
Airfares this year are unbelievable. Planning on making a "circle" trip to Edinburgh, Hadrian's Wall York over to Lake District, back to Glasgow or Edinburgh. It appears by flying into Manchester, UK instead of to Edinburgh or Glasgow, fares are much cheaper. Anyone had any experience with that airport? Any other suggestions re: planned itinerary? Thanks.
Eleanor <email>
Sarasota, FL USA Mon 04/04/2005

ATM's, etc
I've read a lot of good info on ATM's, bringing Euros, etc. My one word of advise: contact your bank before heading over with your credit/debit cards and let them know where you are traveling. Multiple ATM withdrawls from foreign countries will raise red flags, and they could cancel your card suspecting theft or fraud. After all the advise I've read on this site, I plan to buy a few Euros and Pounds from my bank, take Debit and Credit cards, and couple of hundred USD. Having options never hurts!
Sheila
Seattle, USA Mon 04/04/2005

Night train from Poland
I can only stress keeping your valuables on you at all times. Wear your moneybelt to sleep, if possible, strap your bags around a secure item in the train. I took this train about 7 years ago, but didn't sleep in a berth. The German border guard made us wait outside our compartment while he searched under seats, etc., so you may be woken up and asked to enter the hallway at the border. I have taken night trains from Krakow to Budepest and Prague several times. I've never had a problem, but I always secured my valubles on my body. I also slept with my handbag as if it were a pillow under my covers.
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Mon 04/04/2005

Sicily
My husband and I will be flying into Sicily for a week then heading up to Naples/Amalfi coast for another week. We are not sure if we can get by in Sicily without a car but have no plans for a car the rest of the trip. We plan to visit most of Rick's tour sights in Sicily. Any information on Sicily travels would be appreciated.
Teri Nanko <email>
Newport Beach, CA USA Mon 04/04/2005

gatwick express
I researched this and it leaves from the south terminal. If you are arriving in the North Terminal there is free rapid transit every three minutes. You can check out the web site.
bluedenim
USA Mon 04/04/2005

Hotels in Collioure
We stayed at Hotel Caranques last May and found it very pleasant. The rooms are basic but very nice. All rooms have beautiful views as they all face Collioure from accross the bay.It was just a few minutes' walk into town. The only drawback was a very tight parking area but the gentleman who runs the place is very helpful in getting situated.Have heard good things about Hotel Templier also.
pat
pa USA Mon 04/04/2005

Avignon train stations
There are 2 train stations at Avignon. A new one, on the outskirts, is tgv. The other is immediately opposite the main entrance to the old city and the papal palace. From the tgv station is a navette to the old station. I believe the navette is still free. The schedule is frequent and travel time is about 10 minutes.

USA Mon 04/04/2005

Money Exchange
Randy - Take a look at the archived postings for March, starting with Tuesday 03/29, titled "Those first Euros". And take a look at the Graffiti Wall forum "ATMs: Minimizing Fees".

Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Mon 04/04/2005

small inn on Lake Lucerne?
I am having trouble finding a small inn or small hotel on line or in books here. I am imagining the typical Swiss coutry inn or room in a house and would like to stay in one of the following towns for one night en route between Lucern and Fluelen to connect to a train to Italy.

Does anyone know of a good place to stay in ANY of the following Swiss towns: Beckenried, Brunnen, Bauen, Gersau, Isleten-Isenthal, Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock, Sisikon, Tellsplatte, Treib, Vitznau, Weggis, Flulen or Verkehrshaus-Lido. We do NOT want to stay in Lucern. Thanks!
Mary Beth Abarbanel <email>
Bainbridge Island, WA USA Mon 04/04/2005

Money Exchange
I am leaving for Germany and Austria on the 12th of April. Should I exchange US dollars to Euros before I leave or when I arrive. Which place will give me the best rates?
Randy <email>
Kaysville, UT USA Mon 04/04/2005

Gatwick Express
What terminal does the Gatwick Express depart from, North or South? What is the best way from Gatwick Express to Waterloo Station? We will be taking EuroStar to Paris. Thanks.
Marcey
MN USA Mon 04/04/2005

Money Exchange
I am headed to Germany and Austria on April 12th. Should I exchange money before I leave or when I arrive? Which place will give me the best rate?
Randy <email>
UT USA Mon 04/04/2005

Thanks for the backpack suggestions!
I have been looking on Ebay, but reluctant to buy without being sure of the quality of the product, so I appreciate the suggestions of a couple reputable sellers. Consignment store is a really good idea, though, I might try that first. Thanks!
Chris
MA USA Mon 04/04/2005

B&B near Avignon
I will be traveling in France the last week of May and due to some problems with their website my reservation with L'Ecole Buissoniere has fallen through. Does anyone have a recommendation for a B&B near Avignon?
Sue Barrett <email>
S. St Paul, MN USA Mon 04/04/2005

Day trip to Tangier from Marbella
My friends and I would like to take a day tour of Tangier from Marbella on May 14. Are there any tours that include transport from Marbella (through Algeciras) all the way to Tangier? Can you direct me to any websites? We would like to book ahead of time because we will be arriving in Marbella late Sunday night and have no time to book with a tour agent there.Thanks!
John P.Dawson
Chicago, IL USA Mon 04/04/2005

To Book or Not to Book - in Prague
I'll be in Prague in early June. Is it necessary to book now in order to get an affordable hotel room in the city center? Also, what is considered a 'deal' when it comes to budget rooms in Prague? I heard it's possible to get some good deals if you show up without a reservation, but I don't like the hassle and time this demands. Any help you can give me for my travel 'Czechlist' will be great.
Michel <email>
Los Angeles, CA USA Mon 04/04/2005

Taxi to Avignon
Alnoor from Vancouver - I believe the travel time between Isle sur la Sorgue and Avignon is only about 35 minutes by car. The train sounds like a good option as long as the station isn't far from the Palace of the Popes.
Sue Cramer <email>
Peoria, AZ USA Sun 04/03/2005

Night train fares - Ams to Basel
Thanks, Larry! That's what I figured too (price not too bad, considering). And I never would have known about CNL's site if it weren't for one of your previous postings -- thanks for the info!
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Sun 04/03/2005

taxi
Between L'Isle Sur la Sorgue and neighboring little towns, taxis are about 10 euro. I think it would be considerably more from Avignon, but the train from Avignon to L'Isle is really fast and easy.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Sun 04/03/2005

taxi ride from Avignon to Isle sur la sourgue
Hello, Does anyone know how much a taxi would cost and the ease of availability from Avignon to isle sur la sourgue?
Alnoor Aziz <email>
vancouver, canada Sun 04/03/2005

Italy in May
Dotty, It's easy to get into Rome from the airport on the train, so I assume (and hope, since I'll be doing it this summer) it's as easy in reverse. We had no problems traveling Italy's hot spots without reservations in summer, but Vernazzans say that May is even more crowded than July - you can always get a room on the fly if you're flexible regarding towns in the CT. I like to call places the day before heading to a big city since it could be overwhelming to search for lodging when not oriented.
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Sun 04/03/2005

Roman Holiday
Dottie-- reservtns are not likely needed in May. The real influx of tourists begins in June. Altho you may be closed out at some places, you should not encounter a shut-out. As to your other questions, as we never fly, we are unfamiliar with airport stuff. Id suggest going online and typing in search of "getting to airport from Rome".
Paul n Sara <email>
Newburyport , MA USA Sun 04/03/2005

Night train fares - Ams to Basel
I knew I could count on you, Norm! I tried earlier dates, but still couldn't get pricing info. For any date it says "following the link [Order] you can order your ticket(s) online. In our Servicecenter the most favorable price for your connection will be calculated." Then when you do that, it takes you through the ordering process, including reserving your bed and giving your payment info. I couldn't find whether the tickets would be refundable if it turned out that they were more expensive than going through City Night Line -- ? RailEurope charges over 400($?) compared to CNL's 258e... CityNightLine shows 12 seats available in this class - do you think I need to worry about it filling up if I wait? Thanks for the advice!
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Sun 04/03/2005

Prague to Venice
Bill: try this page for Austrian Airlines which flies from Prague to Venice: www.aua.com/at/deu
Harvey Smith
USA Sun 04/03/2005

Hotels in Venice, Rome, Cinque Terre
We are traveling to Italy in May and have not yet made reservations in Venice, Rome or Cinque Terre. In Rome we want to turn car in,take public transportation into city and be able to get back to airport. Any suggestions?
Dottie <email>
Mesa, AZ USA Sun 04/03/2005

CINQUE TERRE APARTMENT
Patrick~~~ When you arrive in Vernazza people on the street will offer you apartments; just take a look at several to determine which one you like. I doubt they will rent for only 3 nights, but at that time of year it may be possible.
HERITTA S.
BOSTON, USA Sun 04/03/2005

PRAGUE TO VENICE
Bill....I checked several discount airlines for fares between Prague and Venice without success. I suggest your taking the train. Or if you have time the bus is cheaper and more scenic and at a leisurely pace.
MANDY W.
DENVER, USA Sun 04/03/2005

Collioure Hotels
Hello. I am trying to decide whether to stay at the Hotel Caranques or Hotel Templiers. Anyone ever stayed in either of these or have any input?Thanks a bunchMary
Mary <email>
Bellingham, WA USA Sun 04/03/2005

DRIVING IN GERMANY
Nancy~~~read the section called Driving Europe Crazy in this Graffiti Wall page. ~~~ You will find all kinds of experiences with rental agencies.~~~ Some have good luck and no problems with an agency while another has nothing BUT problems. ~~~ I have never had a problem with kemwel.com (800 576 1590) and autoeurope.com (888 223 5555) or sixt.com (800 800 4000). ~~~ My best experience was with Rentawreck in Stockholm, but they don’t have many offices in Europe.~~~ They rent older cars at a discount.~~~ As for driving.~~~you just have to be alert. ~~~ Streets are much narrower and signs are hard to read.~~~ If you can avoid driving in the towns you mention do it. ~~~ Park your car in a suburb and ride public transportation. ~~~ If you drive from Munich to Koblenz it will be easy autobahn driving. ~~~ Stay in the right lane and pass cars only after carefully looking behind you because other drivers coming upon you do about 100 mph and don’t allow you much time to pass. ~~~ My first visit to Europe I bought a car and drove 6,000 miles without mishap.
V. Dakefolug
NYC, USA Sun 04/03/2005

Night train fares - Ams to Basel
Kristin. As a general rule, European railways only open their reservations 60 in advance. So you won't be able to book the train until early May -- that's probably why it shows up as unavailable right now. Try Bahn.de again with a date in late May, and see if the cheaper pricing comes up....if so, count back 60 days from the 4th, and book then. Eurostar and Thalys are the exceptions, with 120 day and 90 day advance bookings, respectively.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sun 04/03/2005

Night train fares - Ams to Basel
Rail experts! We're planning to take the night train from Amsterdam to Basel (City Night Line) the night of July 2 for travel on to Bern and Interlaken. Tickets for 2 in an economy double on the City Night Line site are 258 euro (Savings Night rate not available). Bahn.de shows the trip and says something about SparNight savings (I couldn't read the german on "details"), but says pricing not available. What's the best way to get the best price for this train?
Kristin <email>
Bellevue, WA USA Sun 04/03/2005

Rick's Wheeled Bag as a Carry On?
I would like to hear from anyone who has travelled with Rick Steves WHEELED bag. Were you allowed to carry it on??? Thanks!
<email>
USA Sun 04/03/2005

Roma and the Pope's Death
Pardon, I meant the week that starts Sunday, April 17.
Charles M. Luther
USA Sun 04/03/2005

wimbledon
I'm going to the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament in June and would like a recommendation for a B & B in the Richmond or Wimbledon area.
Diane Hillery <email>
Charlotte, NC USA Sun 04/03/2005

Roma & The Pope's Death
To Michael K. - From what I understand, the Cardinals will be in conclave (like sequestered) in the Sistine Chapel for the election. They will be transported back to quarters for the evening, but I doubt they'd then open it up to tourists. According to the media, the 17th would be the earliest date we can expect to hear of the election of a new Pope. Sorry.
Debi
USA Sun 04/03/2005

Roma and the Pope's Death
Everyone seems concerned about the effect of the Pope's death on availability of sights. Honestly, since it has been 26 years since Roma experienced the death of a pope and since this pope made many changes in the procedure to be used, I don't think anyone can offer more than an opinion. Since we go to Italy every year and have been in Roma for Easter and Christmas, etc, I would guess that most sights NOT AT THE VATICAN will be open except on the days of the funeral, the day a new pope is announced and makes his first major public appearance. Of course St. Peters itself will be very crowded and tightly regulated for the viewing. After the conclave begins I would guess that the main body of the church will be open daily at the usual hours with some allowance for moving dignitaries from their apartments to the Sistine Chapel. As to the Sistine Chapel it will be closed until further notice. The museums will be open up to the point nearest the Chapel, ie, the Raphael rooms, which may be closed since they are almost directly above the Sistine Chapel. Other sights like the Borghese, the Forum, the Campidoglio museums, etc will doubtless be open with the above exceptions. Anything anyone says at this point is a guess but the local papers will have daily updates on changes. I suspect the conclave will only last about 3 or 4 days in spite of their having to resolve some contentious issues. The funeral itself will probably be next Thursday, April 7th. So perhaps by one day in the week starting April 11th Roma will be back to its chaotic, crowded, normal state of anarchy. Remember too that the Italians have a very different "work ethic" than we do so some may not go to work just because they are saddened. I do love that place.
Charles M. Luther
USA Sun 04/03/2005

Phone Cards in Eastern Europe
A friend of mine just left for a 2 week trip to Eastern Europe. He found an At&T phone card with great rates. He then went online and found what numbers to call from each country. Hope that helps.
Nicole
Chicago, USA Sun 04/03/2005

driving in Germany
I am looking for information on driving in Germany, from Munich, Salzburg, Innsbrook, Freiberg and Koblenz. Where is a good place to rent a car? Can I get a automatic? Not really good with a manual. Is it difficult to drive around? Or would train travel be better between the towns? Plan on renting in Munich and returning car in Koblenz and taking the train to Frankfurt for flight home. Any advise would be helpful
nancy <email>
spring, tx USA Sun 04/03/2005

Backpacks
In regard to inexpensive internal frame packs, my husband and I are going to Eastern/Central Europe for three weeks in June. We found both of our packs on Ebay, from a seller called http://okbuybuy.com/ We got two internal frame packs for around $120. Mine is 3200 c.i. and his is over 5000 c.i. Both of ours came with hydration bladders, and his has a zip off day pack. So far, as we've planned our trip, there's not been a single thing that we wish were different about our packs. These are off brand packs, but the construction is solid.
Nicole <email>
Chicago, IL USA Sun 04/03/2005

International phone cards
Going to Eastern Europe..who knows of the best phone card to use to call back to US?
Fiona <email>
Phoenix, AZ USA Sun 04/03/2005

British Air Baggage
Kim--we're flying BA out of Seattle in June and have learned that we're allowed a 13lb carryon plus a purse or laptop. I interpret that as meaning that the purse will not be weighed. Also, any bag that is overweight is $140, for each overweight bag. Ugh!We'll manage it somehow--I plan on wearing both my cardigan & raincoat, carry my waterbottle and put my camera in my coat pocket! (I prefer to have only 1 item as carryon.) (I weighed a friend's purse the other day and it weighed 4 1/2 lbs!)
Darcy
Lewiston, ID USA Sun 04/03/2005

Re: BA, Carry-on & Purse
You could try sticking your purse inside the carry-on for check-in and then take it out later on the plane. If anyone raises a fuss, just put it back inside the carry-on. Only make sure the combined weight is under the allowed limit.
Sue
Philadelphai, PA USA Sun 04/03/2005

Inexpensive Internal Frame Backpack?
Chris--I happened to find an Eagle Creek convertable backpack in a second-hand consignment sports store in Oregon for about $30.00. It is very comfortable, straps are adjustable, plus has the advantage of not "looking new". Look for a consignment store in a college city or larger city.
Jack
USA Sun 04/03/2005

RE; Carry-on + purse
"Kim. Why don’t you go to the British Airways web page and get their toll free phone number and call them.. They should be able to answer your question.LEAVENWORTH"For better or worse, organizational rules can differ substantially from actual, "in the trenches" practices. Besides, I'd rather spend 20 seconds posting a message to the kind folks on the graffiti wall rather than 20 minutes on hold!Many thanks to all who responded!
Kim
Ithaca, NY USA Sun 04/03/2005

night train poland
My husband and I are considering taking a night train from Krakow to Berlin in June. I've heard night trains in Poland are risky. Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it something we should definitely avoid (we will be getting a private sleeper berth)? Thanks!
Susan <email>
New York, NY USA Sun 04/03/2005

are you allowed to have cable locks or a small length of chain and padlocks (for locking up our backpacks once in europe) on a plane as part of your carry on baggage? thanks for helping out!
brian <email>
cincinnati, oh USA Sun 04/03/2005

Internal Frame Packs
Try HIgh Sierra. Great quality, life time warranty. Check on Sierra Trading Post's website for great deals on frame packs.

USA Sun 04/03/2005

Cheap internal frame
In response to the question about inexpensive backpacks... I went on ebay and found a brandnew internal frame pack by KCliffs that cost me a total of $40 including S&H. I'm not sure you can get any cheaper than that for a brand new pack. The vender was Steve's Garage.
Sara <email>
Boston, MA USA Sun 04/03/2005

Inexpensive Internal Frame Backpack?
I am considering using a backpack on our upcoming trip to Europe. Have never used one before, but this time we will be pushing a toddler in a stroller and I just think it would be easier to use a backpack than try to handle a rolling suitcase and a stroller at the same time. We'll have a rental car, so the backpack will just be for the flights and transfers. Can anyone suggest an inexpensive one that will be kind to my back? Thanks!
Chris
MA USA Sun 04/03/2005

Driving in London
For those thinking of driving in London, the city's mayor has announced an increase in the congestion charge from five pounds to eight (about 15 dollars) daily, as of July. That's for anyone driving a vehicle in London's downtown core...covering just about every sight tourists come to see.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sun 04/03/2005

When the Vatican will be re-open for tourists, please?
I didn't mean to disrespect. I'll be in Rome from April 10-17. We can still visit the St. Peter Sq. and Basilica, but cannot enter into the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum, right? Please advise.
Michael K.
USA Sun 04/03/2005

The Crees of Bellvue, Beynac
Perhaps in his 1999 or 2000 book, Rick Steves listed a b&b just outside of Beynac, France, which was run by Douglas and Jennie Cree, a Scot and an English ex-pat. They had two Shelties (one of course was named Whisky),but the couple was mainly known for his extensive grasp of American politics and her wonderfully set breakfast table highlighted by at least three different varieties of strawberry. Has anyone information on or an e-mail address for them?
Harve <email>
IL USA Sun 04/03/2005

Wrong name on tix
Wrong name on train tixI recently purchase 2 train tickets online(printed tickets) from snfc, this french website. I realized that there was a typo error and one of the letters of my first name is wrong. I emailed them for help and they told me they cant do anything about it and that I would have to explain it to the controller on the train. If the controller's agreeable, good for me. If not, i'll have to buy a ticket for a much higher price. They adviced me to purchase a new ticket at this promotional price or run a risk of having to purchase a ticket on-the-spot at a steep price. Anyone has similar experience or advice? Really don't wanna spend another 80 bucks on tix. Cant't undertsnad why they cant do anything about it.
Rene <email>
USA Sat 04/02/2005

help in Paris
I'm going to France for 2 months this summer, but just traveling around for 2 weeks. Since I don't want to all my bags around while traveling, is there a place I could leave the bags in Paris? I looked in to mailing my bags, but it's extremely expensive.
Annie <email>
Madison, WI USA Sat 04/02/2005

WHERE IS IT OK TO DRINK WATER
Kim~~~We have traveled in over 4 countries including southeast Asia and never had a problem drinking water. ~~~ You will definitely not be concerned about water in Europe. ~~~ If there is a problem in Flanders, it will be the exception.~~~ But follow local advice. ~~~ I would certainly seek a second opinion after you arrive there.~~~ The natives will be far more informed on the reason for not drinking it than travelers on this page.
HENY O.
NYC, USA Sat 04/02/2005

eurostar
Usually, you can book Eurostar tickets 90 days in advance...unless you're wanting to make a connection with French or Belgian trains. That's only 60 days in advance, since that's the advance period those two countries have for their national railway (you could, of course, still book your Eurostar tickets, then hope you get the right rail connection in Belgium or France.) So count backwards, and book as soon as you're within the 90 days.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sat 04/02/2005

CARRY ON PURSE
Kim. Why don’t you go to the British Airways web page and get their toll free phone number and call them.. They should be able to answer your question.
LEAVENWORTH
MEDMORE, USA Sat 04/02/2005

ATHENS HOSTEL
The web site I included is correct:www.bugeurope.com/reviews/Greece/Athens/gr012/. It lists the email address as: athenshostel@interland.gr. And the address: 16 Victor Hugo Street, Athens; bus: E91; metro: Metaxourhio; tel: 01 0 5234170; fax: (1) 4234015.
C. CHANDLER
USA Sat 04/02/2005

Eurostar not chunnel.
To Everyone in the USA, it is not called Chunnel. It is the Eurostar;.

USA Sat 04/02/2005

Hotel choices in Bergen, Norway
Has anyone stayed at either the Hotel Bristol or Hotel Rosenkrantz in Bergen, Norway? Both are Rainbow hotels recommended in Rick's book. We're trying to figure out which might be a better choice for location and quality for our extended family of 10, ranging from grandparents to young children. Thanks for any feedback!
Lynn
VA USA Sat 04/02/2005

eurostar
speaking of eurostar how far in advance can you buy your seats and reserve them on rail europe.I put in our dates and it said that the schedule was not confirmed.Is it still a smart idea to book that far in advance or wait until you can actually reserve a seat.thanks
bluedenim
USA Sat 04/02/2005

To Mario re: 'chunnel' tickets
We purchased our Eurostar (they don't call it chunnel in Europe) tickets from Paris to London several weeks in advance from the states. This was for September travel last year. The cheap tickets were sold out on the days we wanted, causing us to have to change our hotel reservations at each end (or pay a huge difference in price). Kind of a pain! Since your travel date is fixed and is in a prime travel month I'd highly recommend purchasing them asap. There's a link on Rick's website where you can buy them or you can use the Eurostar website itself I supposed. Good luck and happy travels!

Loveland, CO USA Sat 04/02/2005

Reserving Chunnel Tickets
I'd book them ASAP....that's less than 2 months away, and it's starting to get busy with tourists then. Are you taking Eurostar back to London, too? If so, you might want to consider raileurope.com. They have some special deals available on round-trip tickets, depending on when you travel, that might be worth considering. These never seem to show up on the Eurostar website.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sat 04/02/2005

Prague to Venice
I will be arriving in Prague in late April and want to go next to Venice. Any suggestions on best way to accomplish this?
Bill Burton <email>
Snowmass Village, CO USA Sat 04/02/2005

Apartment or House
I would like to spend 1- 2 months in Italy and rent an apartment or house in Tuscany or Umbria. Can anyone recommend any affordable accomodations?SusanOH USA Sat 04/02/2005
Susan
OH USA Sat 04/02/2005

apatment or hose accomodation Italy
I would like to spend 1- 2 months in Italy and rent an apartment or house in Tuscany or Umbria. Can anyone recommend any affordable accomodations?
Susan
OH USA Sat 04/02/2005

Correction....
I mean il Papa Giovanni Paolo.. 1920-2005

USA Sat 04/02/2005

carry-on + purse?
Anyone know if Briish Airways allows a small purse or similar personal item in addition to the 13 lb carryon? (In the "world traveller", aka, cheap seats.) I checked the British Airways site, but couldn't find an answer. Thanks in advance.
Kim <email>
Ithaca, NY USA Sat 04/02/2005

Where is it OK to drink tap water?
Kim - I too have had the tap water in all those countries (except Switzerland) and never had a problem. I totally agree with the previous answer. However, you might want to limit your water drinking while sightseeing, since public bathrooms can sometimes be hard to find. And keep a few 50-cent and 1 euro coins handy, for pay toilets. Other than that, drink up!
Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Sat 04/02/2005

Front day pack
All I can say is....messanger bags are not very comfortable to carry...even when you swing it around to the front. You will have all the weight on one shoulder. Just go with a small bag...like the Eagle Creek Guide Bag, or take your daypack and wear it on your chest when you are in an "unsafe" situation. My Guide Bag has enough room for my camera. a small water bottle, hand cream/chapstick, etc. There are several pockets in the bag to organzie. Plus, there is a "security" zipped pocket on the back of the bag, closest to your body - passport, money would be most secure in there if not wearing a money belt or neck wallet. Go as small as you can for your personal comfort. don't try to carry everything all day - you will be miserable!

USA Sat 04/02/2005

Rome layover
OK, my airline just called to tell me my flight from Rome to Palermo will have a 6 hour layover in Rome's airport. I've been to Rome before, but can't remember how long it took to take the train to the Termini station. anyone have any idea if we'll have enough time to go into Rome and walk around for a few hours before getting back in time to go through security for our 7:30PM flight? Right now we are scheduled (if on time) to arrive Rome at 1:40PM...so say 2PM. I think I can check our luggage in Denver all the way to Palermo...even though it's Lufthansa over, then Air One (Rome -Palermo) 6 hours sounds like a lot of time, but with the transportation back and forth to the airport, I'm not sure. Suggestions?
Ellen <email>
Centennial, CO USA Sat 04/02/2005

The Pope
I agree with the posters about looking for the best in a sad situation. We are traveling to Italy next month and were considering the "what ifs" of that same senario. I'm Catholic and now I'm almost dissappointed that I'm not going to get to be in the middle of it. However, if we're lucky, we may get to see the new pope while we're there.A quick p.s. to Lynda re: day packs - Have you ever given thought to a sophisticated looking diaper bag? Most have the messenger-style flap (security), lots of compartments, even special holders for bottles (of water). Check some dept. store web sites. They're not the "duck and bunnies" pastel bags of the past.
Debi
USA Sat 04/02/2005

Reserving Chunnel Tickets
We're taking the Chunnel to Paris from London on June 1st, and we're buying the $90 economy tickets. Since we must leave on this day, do I have to purchase the tickets way ahead of time to secure our seats? Is it a good idea to get them when I arrive in London three days before, or should I buy them from the US?
Mario <email>
Los Angeles, CA USA Sat 04/02/2005

il Papa Juan Pablo
Sadly, the Pope has passed...

USA Sat 04/02/2005

downtown accomodation b&b
this is my first trip to rome. does anyone have any feed back on a b&b called downtown accomodations or the hotel in parione? thank you, deb hendrix
debbie hendrix <email>
merritt island, fl USA Sat 04/02/2005

OK to drink tap water?
KIM....I've had tap water in all of those countries and have never had a problem. If it's a rural home, you may find the same "well water" taste you find in wells here. But if it's any sort of municipal supply, there shouldn't be any problems at all. Perhaps a little regional rivalry?
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sat 04/02/2005

Where is it OK to drink tap water?
Is it okay to drink the tap water in Belgium? France? Netherlands? Germany? Switzerland? UK?These are the countries we will be visiting this summer. Our family is a water drinking famiy (6 - 8 glasses a day each) and the thought of purchasing so much bottled water at such high prices is discouraging. We are renting a private home in (Flanders) Belgium for a month and someone in (Walloon) Belgium told us not to drink the tap water. Just wondering: is this because of taste, or is the water not treated as well as US water?
Kim <email>
Sarasota, FL USA Sat 04/02/2005

Athens hostel
C.Chandler, I tried to find the hostel you mentioned in Athens, using the address you posted, but had no luck. Do you have an e-mail address for them? They sound great but I can't reach them. Thanks.

USA Sat 04/02/2005

cybercafes
I've booked my first-ever European Trip, Italy&Sicily. Please detail for me how cybercafes work. What is the procedure for "dumping" my SD digital photo card, costs, my CD or can I purchase one, assistance? Would a 4-start hotel have internet access?
Louise <email>
Pittsburgh, pa USA Sat 04/02/2005

transferbetween stations
Can anyone tell me the easiest way to get between Gare St lazare and Gare de Lyon? We are spending six days in Paris, two days in Bayeux and then traveling to Beaune. I tried to avoid returning to Paris but it loooks like that is really the easiest way to go.
Norma <email>
Chehalis, WA USA Sat 04/02/2005

Problems with cross-pollinate.com
Hello, I tried booking a B&B in Rome through the website cross-pollinate.com recommended by Rick Steve's Best of Europe. Strangely, VISA refused the transaction and I am told that this merchant is blocked due to fraud. Has anyone else had the same experience ?
Shilpa Lawande <email>
Nashua, NH USA Sat 04/02/2005

lynda-day pack
Lynda-I bought a bag from GAP that meets the description the other poster gave...slings across chest and can be carried with the "pouch" across the chest, back or under your arm for additional security. One main compartment and many additional zippered pockets for security. I just looked on EBAY to see if a bag like I have or similiar ones are still available....YES!! check MESSENGER BAGS (narrow the search to travel, backpack or sporting goods) and see if there is something that would suit your need. I saw many nylon ones that varied a bit on shape and style with prices starting at $4.99. Good luck!
lvn4ever <email>
shalimar, fl USA Sat 04/02/2005

Lisbon Hotels
Any recommendations for lodging in Lisbon? Has anyone stayed at the Residencial Flourescente? Many of Rick's better recommendations are already booked, so any advice would be helpful.
Trina <email>
Chicago, IL USA Sat 04/02/2005

BEST SWIMMING BEACH NEAR SORRENTO
We are looking for a good swimming/family beach in or near Sorrento. RS says there are none in Sorrento and recommends taking a bus to Meta, or bus/ferry to Positano. Can anyone give me some feedback based on their experience? Thank You!
Susan <email>
CA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Almafi Coast
When I went to the Almafi coast, I stayed in the Hostel Birkette in Positano. The view from the deck was the most amazing sight I have ever seen. However, it IS a hostel, which means bunk beds in a room of about 10 people. It was perfect for me, though, because I love to get out and done need a fancy place to stay. It is incredibly clean and classy, and for about 20 Euro a night (including breakfast), it was incredible. There are other places to stay in there, too. I would absolutely recommend Positano, the bus ride there was more than memorable and the town and the people were fantastic (and not even very touristy). It is the most beautiful place I've been, with fantastic beaches and an endless view of the sea.
Callie (calaroni@earthlink.net)
WA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Meeting Place in CDG Airport
Erika, I have a similar situation in my upcoming trip. I called Air France (my carrier) and asked them for their suggestion. They said there is an information desk at Terminal 2D, and that might make a nice meeting place. They assured me that there is only one information desk at Terminal 2D. I am going to use this advice to meet my friend. Hope this helps.
Sunny M.
Philadelphia, PA USA Fri 04/01/2005

thanks
thanks for the infoI think we will play it safe and book a later eurostar to ensure there are not issues
bluedenim
USA Fri 04/01/2005

Cinque Terra- Vernazza- apartment
Cinque terra- Vernazza- Apartments- Hi we are going to Vernazza and staying for 3 nights starting May 1st. We want to stay in an apartment but the few mentioned in Rick Steve's book and on the internet are full- Can anyone help? Thanks
Patrick <email>
Kalispell, MT USA Fri 04/01/2005

Meeting Place in CDG Airport
Three of us are flying into terminal 2A, 2C, and 2D respectively at different times. We'd like to meet and take one taxi to the hotel. What is the best (can't miss) place to meet in the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport?
Erika <email>
Houston, TX USA Fri 04/01/2005

Reservations in May
I would recommend making reservations in Paris for May. The Hotels listed in Rick Steves' guidebooks fill up fast! Not sure about the Italy portion.
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Amalfi Coast
We are planning on visiting the Amalfi Coast October and would like suggestions of where to stay. We prefer a more "back door" town.
Starr <email>
Parker, CO USA Fri 04/01/2005

DOLOMITES IN LATE APRIL
Natalie ... Depends on where you will be. Judging by what I read, the southern slopes will be warmer and some years the snow has melted. I would go, and once you arrive, ask for the best area to hike. I have driven through that area in April when it was very warm and not much snow, but weather will vary from year to year.
Mathilda
NYC, USA Fri 04/01/2005

ROOMS IN ATHENS
Isabelle....My wife and I stayed a week in a private room (with bath) in the Victor Hugo Hostel in Athens 2 years ago. It is located at 16 Victor Hugo Street.

We paid $22 a night for the room. It was clean and the free breakfast was great. It was so good that we ate all our evening meals in their restaurant.

You can email for reservations and get a confirmation by email. Read other travelers comments too. Go to :www.bugeurope.com/reviews/Greece/Athens/gr012/. Note the street address and the cost. Dorm beds are €6.75-9. It is centrally located and a 5-minute walk from the underground.

The travel agency next door gives discounts to hostel guests; we took air-conditioned bus tours every day we were in Athens, but many sights are within walking distance of the hostel.
C. CHANDLER
TULSA, USA Fri 04/01/2005

One week travel in Spain
My daughter(16)and I will travel to Madrid and arrive 6/25/05 in the morning and will be there until the following Sunday. What do you recommend we see in that short time and how long should we stay at each place?
Noreen Walters <email>
Gig Harbor, WA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Train reservations
I would advise getting advanced reservations for any train from France to Italy. We were in Paris three days early one year (in March) and all the beds were sold out for the train to Venice. Its a long trip to sit up all night!!
Kay
USA Fri 04/01/2005

re: Bluedenim, Eurostar
45 minutes to change from a regular train to the Eurostar may be tight. The Eurostar check in process is about like an Airline check-in. Stand in line to go through security, stand to show your ticket and passport to the French authorities, Stand In line to have your Passport checked by the British Authorities. If you look through the Eurostar information, they recommend allowing maybe an hour before departure, and may even have a time (20 or 30 min?) that you should have let your presence known by or checked in to hold your seat. It also seems that the higher your class of ticket, the less time required, and the later you can show up. Check out the restrictions, but I would consider leaving a little more time.
Paul <email>
IA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Do I need train reservations in late May?
I'm traveling from Paris to Gimmelwald to Cinque Terre (etc) in late May. I've always traveled March or November to avoid crowds, so I'm wondering if I need to reserve ahead for early morning trains. Also, if anyone has any advice on their favorite routes to these places I'd appreciate the help. Thanks!
<email>
OH USA Fri 04/01/2005

Dolomites in late April?
My husband and I will be in Italy the last week in April. We would love to do some hiking in the Dolomites. Can anyone tell me if the weather will be condusive to getting out and doing some moderate hikes (6 to 10 miles). Or is the region still "under snow" in late April? Thanks for any comments.
Natalie C. <email>
Baltimore, MD USA Fri 04/01/2005

Re: Front Day Packs
Over a number of trips, I found, for me, the best option is a black, "Canvas" type briefcase, similar to or sometimes sold as a laptop case. They come with a shoulder strap, so you can swing it around to the back, in front, or to the side, and the openings are right at your hands. It is a conservative look, so you don't "scream" tourist, you don't have to worry about something on your back that you lose sight of, or looking akward with a pack on your chest. Mine has plenty of room for the day, plus lots of little pockets for pens, change, papers,books, I can even stuff a jacket and water bottle in it. Best of all, $20 to $50 will buy you a good one.
Paul <email>
IA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Re: Pope
I understand your concerns regarding availability of sites, crowds, etc. that could be associated with the Popes death. But I think this would be balanced, regardless of your religious persuasion, by the opportunity to witness first hand a rather rare, structured and ornate (the death,memorializing, and election of a pope) cultural event. Go expecting the best, look for opportunity in the worst eventuality.
Paul <email>
IA USA Fri 04/01/2005

A FEW DAYS IN ATHENS
Donna~~~visit the travel agency next to the Victor Hugo Hostel at 16 Victor Hugo St in Athens.~~~ They give a discount if you stay at the hostel, but they may give you one if you ask. ~~~ They will advise you on the important sights in the area plus planning time for tours and the cost. ~~~ Every day the week we stayed in the hostelthe agency arranged for air- conditioned bus tours of the area.~~~ They were very reasonable and quite efficient in managing the tours and providing for stops for photos when we asked.
CARLOS
Dallas, USA Fri 04/01/2005

Budget Hotel du Commerce in Paris
I stayed at this hotel last year and enjoyed it. All rooms are private as far as I know. It is an ancient building that has been recently renovated, while still retaining lots of character. It is clean and quiet even tho on a busy street, thanks to the magic of double-glazed windows. The rooms have bright colorful decor. New mattresses were installed with the re-do. Toilets are down the hall; showers are downstairs and there is a fee. In the entry area area is a pleasant breakfast room with microwave, refrigerator for guests, and a coffee machine. A block away is a great bakery and across the street is a Chinese take-away. No breakfast is served, but the breakfast room is available at all hours. The desk personnel speak fluent English and are pleasant and helpful. The outside door is locked at night with a clerk available to watch the door and let guests in. I enjoyed my stay, and met people from various countries in the breakfast room. I paid 49 Eu for a single; doubles were 59 Eu. From this hotel, it is possible to walk to most of the tourist attractions.

USA Fri 04/01/2005

Re: Donna, Athens
Donna;Have been to Greece, Getting ready to go back in September. 4 to 5 days is really plenty of time to see some great things, and Athens is a good base. Obviously the Acropolis and surrounding areas, in conjunction with the Natl. Arch. Museum is is a good day or two along with the Plaka, just to shop, eat, relax. But easy day trips away are Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Delphi, all top rate sites. A longer trip, ideally overnight, would get you to Olympia or the Meteora. Another recommended option is to break up your stay in Athens by moving down to Nafplio for a night or two, from there, you also have easy access to Mycenae and Epidaurus. You don't have enough time to visit islands, but you might be able to do some close islands in the Saronic Gulf, just a few hours from Athens. Pick up a Frommers or Rough Guide from the Library and take a look at some of these places, you have lots of options, and plenty of time if you can limit your choices to a couple of places.
Paul <email>
IA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Airline Tickets
Has anyone ever used Airfares Unlimited (airfaresunlimited.com) based in Brooklyn NY to purchase airline tickets to Europe? Good or Bad experience?

Any help would be appreciated.

ThanksPat
Pat McCormick <email>
Minneapolis, MN USA Fri 04/01/2005

A few days in Athens
My husband and I will spend 4 o 5 5 days in Greece prior to joining a Rick Steeves tour of Turkey. With such limited time, we are looking for recommendations of places to see and things to do. Hotel recommendations (budget - mid-range) will also be appreciated. Thank you.
donna <email>
Parrish, FL USA Fri 04/01/2005

Budget Hotels or B & Bs in London, Bath and Paris
I've traveled to Europe twice before, always staying in hostels, and found out the hard way that websites can lie! :) Although we of course still had a great time I know now that it helps to do a lot of research and talk to those who have stayed before - to find out what places are really like! This time I am traveling with my boyfriend and we want to stay in more of a budget hotel or B & B (instead of a 10 bed hostel). I've found advice on a few from other's postings but am wondering if anyone has stayed in these places and has any advice on them or others:

1. Hotel Commines (Paris)
2. Hotel Du Commerce (Paris)
3. Easton Hotel (London)
4. Edward House Hotel (London)

We are on a very limited budget so any advice would be so helpful!
Julia <email>
Grand Rapids, MI USA Fri 04/01/2005

Croque Monsieur
Chris & Brandie~~~I disagree that the bread could be any of your choice for CM. It should be a very good hand sliced white bread from a bakery or in store bakery. Ham should be sliced very thin--good quality ham such as Boar's Head from deli will do. Cheese should be combo of Gruyere & Lorraine. Would not broil but do it in iron skillet using grill type method. Other directions sound fine. However, it will not taste just like those in France. Impossible!
MV
USA Fri 04/01/2005

Transfer between London Airports
Cosette--Not that I've had to do it, but keep in mind rush hour traffic! Depending on what your connections are and how much time you have, the traffic could be what most influences your decision.
Darcy
Lewiston, ID USA Fri 04/01/2005

travel between London airports
dont know about getting to Luton, but options between heathrow and stansetd

1)bus
2)cab
3)train/tube -
check each airport's web site for details

USA Fri 04/01/2005

Karla, B&B Paris
Not a specific recommendation for Paris but check out this site. We've found B&Bs through them and they've been outstanding. The page should be all Paris.http://specialplacestostay.com/search/listing.php?FileCode=FBB&CoDePro=Paris
pat
pa USA Fri 04/01/2005

Transport Between Airports in London
I'd appreciate advice on how to easily and cheaply travel between London airports. Specifically what are the best ways to go from Heathrow to Gatwick and Heathrow to Luton. The shuttles I've found so far seem expensive, but neither do we want to do anything too complicated (we will undoubtedly be exhausted from 13 hours of travel). Thanks for any suggestions!
Cosette <email>
San Francisco, CA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Lynda - Day Pack
I've been looking for the same type of thing! My friend had a sling bag that she wore in the front, but I can't fine anything like it anywhere (she got it in Italy). My best luck has been with Ameribags Healthy Back Pack. They are a little pricy, but I like them a lot (and they come in many sizes). They are meant to fit on your hip, but they easily sling in the front, too. The way they are designed to be carried is really handy for traveling...everything is very accessible and it would be difficult for a pickpocket to get anything. You can find them at stores that sell Birkenstocks, or online. Good luck!
Callie (calaroni@earthlink.net)
WA USA Fri 04/01/2005

Travelers' Helpline Archives: April 2005

Travelers' Helpline Archives:
April 2005