Graffiti Wall: Travelers' Helpline

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Travelers' Helpline: June 2005

All together, the community of Rick Steves' travelers has a wealth of European travel experience. This is your chance to help or be helped. If you've got a question about traveling in Europe, we think there's another traveler our there with an answer...

These posted responses are from the traveling public and are not supplied by Europe Through the Back Door staff members unless specifically noted.

Sleep sheets
I know that a sleep sheet is highly recommened for staying in hostels, but I was wondering whether hostels supply comforters of some sort. Seems just a sheet would be a bit chilly. For reference: going to germany, prague, florence, venice, and paris in sept.

Thanks!
Ali
WA USA Thu 06/30/2005

RE: Souvenirs in the UK
"Walkers Nonesuch" also makes toffee. I'm not sure if they're the same company that make the crisps. Yum, what a combo... crisps and toffee!
Jason
Reno, Nv USA Thu 06/30/2005

Calling home
I just returned from a month long trip to Europe. I had to make several calls both within Europe and to the U.S. I learned from another traveler that most phones (at least in Germany, Switzerland and Austria) accept credit cards. I have used credit card calls before and they have been outrageous! However, I found out it was much cheaper to just use my credit card and not have to worry about phone cards for each country. I made two phone calls to the U.S. from Switzerland. One call was about 20 minutes long and the other was about 30 minutes. The calls came through on my credit card as $1.62 and just over $2, respectively. The only place I paid a lot of money for a phone call using my credit card was at the Frankfurt train station. I paid about $30 for 30 minutes worth of calls to Amsterdam. To call the U.S. it was about $12 a minute! Just check the rates before inserting your credit card and forget about phone cards.
Mariana
Stoughton, CA USA Thu 06/30/2005

Dublin~London~Amsterdam
Todd~~I am not sure if you have a reason to fly into and out of London, or if you chose to do that. I would fly into Dublin, take Ryanair to London (about $30.00), then fly easyjet to Amsterdam. Then fly out of London. If you fly into London, go to the other places then back to London, you will be back tracking and spending money unnecessarily.
Ohio USA Thu 06/30/2005

Night Crawl....
Any info on the Night Crawl in Rome please??
Liz
Fargo, USA Thu 06/30/2005

westpoint hotel
Has anyone stayed at Westpoint Hotel in London near Paddington Station. We just want something clean with toilet and shower we are seniors. thanks
Sue
USA Thu 06/30/2005

Nice and Marsielle
I am going to be traveling through the French Rivera region, specifically Nice and Marsielle. I am only going to be in each city for one day. What does everyone recommend for best sightseeing? I don't care about gambling. Is is easy to rent a scooter and tour the coastal region? Please advise.
Sue
USA Thu 06/30/2005

Calling Home
Calls from the UK to the USA are about £0.02/minute if you use the right phone card. The best way that I know of is to buy a Swiftcall EPin (http://www.swiftcallepin.co.uk/). You type in your credit card details over the internet, and all the card information is emailed to you or shown on screen. This is good because you can store it in your PDA, or write it down, or even share it with a number of people in your party - there's no physical card. While you can use EPins from outside the UK, the price will rise dramatically.
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Thu 06/30/2005

Power Outlets on Trains
The power outlets on trains depend on the train you take. Different countries in Europe have different types of train, and not all trains have power outlets. Those that do will have a standard plug (either the standard 3-prong plug in Britain/Ireland or the continental plug in those countries) for the country you're travelling in. Therefore, a normal travel adaptor will plug in fine. Bear in mind two things though - 1) the voltage is 220V like a normal plug in Europe; 2) The wattage is quite low - you can charge a laptop/mobile phone etc., but don't plug in a kettle! As a rough guide, not many trains have them. The more modern Virgin trains from London to the north do, and some TGVs in France. Eurostar are being refurbished at the moment, and will feature both UK and French plugs, but I doubt you will see them yet as only a few trains are done. I am taking Eurostar and TGV tomorrow, so I will check! I don't know about other trains. For more information ask at uk.railway on Google groups - there are a lot of people there who travel on European trains a lot!
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Thu 06/30/2005

call home
I guess phone cards are not hard to find in Europe. I bought one at a Post Office in Germany. Get an international one. The local ones have high rates to the U.S. You can also buy prepaid cards over here that can be used to call from Europe. Their rates are higher, though. I think my "MinutePass" card charges 21 cents a minute from Germany. However, you can use whatever is left on the card over here.
USA Thu 06/30/2005

Auto Europe
We have used Auto Europe 3 times now, and my parents have used them once, as well as my brother. Between all of us, of the five times we have used them, 3 of the times, when we arrived at the car rental agency where we were to pick up our car, our reservation was not in their system. While it all worked out in the end, it could have been a problem. Once, at the Munich airport, the rental agency didn't have the reservation in their system, and didn't have a car available for us. We had to call Auto Europe, and they sent us to Hertz and we were able to get a car through them. This also did create some billing problems, but they were eventually worked out. Apparently, Auto Europe has some sort of relationship with Europcar and may even have access to their reservation system.They will usually arrange for your car rental through them. The two times we didn't have any problems, we were picking the car up at Europcar. The times we had problems was when the rental was arranged with another agency other than Europcar. This is just something to be aware of.

Auto Europe also always seems to have the best prices, so that is why we have always gone with them. However, be aware that if you do the all inclusive price (includes CDW insurance, etc.) there still may be a hefty deductible should you be in an accident or damage the car somehow. The deductible is given in an ESTIMATED dollar amount, depending on the exchange rate. In our case, they did not give the deductible amount in Euros. After cracking the taillight, the deductible ended up being substantially higher than we thought it would be. We felt that the dollar estimate originally given to us must have been out of date, because the difference between Auto Europe's original estimate and the actual amount that we ended up having to pay could not have been accounted for by just the decrease in the value of the dollar. We were never able to get any paperwork as to the actual damage costs, and the deductible was just charged to our credit card. We could have probably pursued it further, but dropped it after 1 or 2 phone calls to Auto Europe. These are just things to look out for and be aware of.

We also rented cell phones through them on one of our trips, and that worked out well for us.

I would probably use them again for car rental because of their good prices, but would keep in mind these potential problems. I probably would not get the CDW insurance through them and just use our credit card. Hope this helps.
Conny
Williamsburg, Va USA Thu 06/30/2005

call home
In Italy, you can purchase a phone card at a tobacco shop and use it in some phones. I have called here a couple of times on a 5 euro card.
Linda
USA Thu 06/30/2005

todd
if you are starting and finishing in London I would go from London to Ireland and then to Amsterdam and then back to London. You can fly easjet Amsterdam to London Gatwick for cheap. I am sure you can fly Irelend-Amsterdam with one of the cheap airlines as well. I know you can fly Edinburgh-Amsterdam
bluedenim
canada Thu 06/30/2005

Auto Europe -- excellent service!
We have used AutoEurope 4 times in the UK and have had only success with them. We also have gotten our cell phone free from them three times. (Next time I'll compare other ways of getting cell, though. We pay a FedEx charge to have the phone delivered to us, and a dollar a day insurance. Incoming calls are free, but outgoing 60 cents a minute -- we never used it for outgoing. It wasn't that bad, but it seems like other options are becoming available, such as my next cell phone will probably just need a different card to work in the UK.)
Patricia
Dallas, TX USA Thu 06/30/2005

car rental
Bonnie, Both Auto Europe and Europe by car have good reputation as per the RS website. I have rented from Autoeurope last year for a car in Haarlem,N etherland. Autoeurope arranged my rental with Europcar. Very good experience. No problem at all. I even needed to change the pick up location/date after the booking and had to call them 2 times. Everytime, I talked to a different agent but all of them are efficient and polite and the matter was dealt properly.
HT
Calgary, AB canada Thu 06/30/2005

phone calls
How does anybody call home when they are abroad? Are there some kind of phone cards to buy?
dinah
pa USA Thu 06/30/2005

Direction of travel help!
Any recommendation on which way one should travel when hitting London, Ireland, and Amsterdam. London will be the arrival and departure stop. My main concerns would be, ease of traveling(air probably), and costs.

Thanks!
Todd <email>
Soquel, CA US Thu 06/30/2005

train power outlets
If available, what type of power connection do trains in europe have? Car-type dc adapters? Euro 220V? Other?
mike
austin, tx USA Thu 06/30/2005

Auto Europe or Europe by Car Rentals
Any comments on Auto Europe and Europe by Car? The quote I have with Auto Europe is $91.62 lower than Europe by Car, but if you have had better experience with Europe by Car I will use them. Thanks.
Bonnie
Portland, OR USA Thu 06/30/2005

I must decide which to visit; Assisi or Orvieto/Civita
As I see that I'm running out of time to see all I'd like to see for my upcoming Italy/Umbria trip it now looks like I'll have to cut either Assisi or Orvieto/Civita out of the plan .... I am having a hard time deciding which one must be eliminated and would really appreciate some suggestions and comments - thanks!
Barbara <email>
Castro Valley, CA USA Thu 06/30/2005

inflatable hangers
Does anyone know of a physcial store to buy inflatable hangers? I really don't have time to order them before leaving for Germany next with with the Goethe TOPS program for teachers. Thanks.
Michelle
Atlanta, GA USA Thu 06/30/2005

Hostels in Paris
Visit www.mije.com for information on three hostels (linked with central reservations and phone number) that are converted 17th century private mansions located in the Marais district. Great central location. Both Rick Steves and Lonely Planet call them the best budget accommodations in Paris. My wife and I and our adult daughter stayed in one the first week in June. We'd agree. The Marais is a beautiful area, looks like medieval Paris, and the hostels are very close to the heart of the city.
Tim <email>
Minot, ND USA Thu 06/30/2005

Cindy...Paris hotel
I stay at the Republique Hotel, in the Republique area, hence the name! It's fairly cheap, offers a continental breakfast and is near a number of great restaurants (there's also a McDonalds, KFC and Quick) and near a number of metro stops. It's fairly safe and I haven't had any problems. You can check out the web site at www.republiquehotel.com
Brandie
KS USA Thu 06/30/2005

Jeans
Speaking only of the two countries I know fairly well (three if you count Scotland separately from England, which you should)I'd say that in Germany, a nice pair of blue jeans for everyday and a nice pair of black jeans or slacks for evening (meaning a mid-range restaurant)will get you just about anywhere, including church. This is all my husband and I brought on our last trip, and we're in our late 50's. No-one looked askance or spoke a disparaging word; in fact, people sometimes came up to us and asked questions in German, which is great fun--I get to practice my German--and quite flattering, as they are a very good-looking people; everyone has great posture and looks fit and bright-eyed. This description fits everyone including people from ethnic minorities, so it has to be a mind-set; wish I knew what it was! England is more conservative and Scotland is even more so. I wouldn't want to wear even nice slacks to a church service there.

To Lisa from San Jose: Heavens, does the temperature in San Jose really never fall below 65 these days? I grew up there and remember many a morning of walking to school past frosty lawns, with snow gleaming on Mt. Hamilton. And the rest of California certainly has its share of below-65 temperatures! It's more accurate to say that those of us who live on the coast seldom experience temperatures ABOVE 65! We are in for a huge shock when we travel to places with hot, humid summers and no overnight fog.
Meg Rosenfeld <email>
Santa Rosa, CA USA Thu 06/30/2005

Travel pants for women
I second Patricia's comments about the Ultimate Travel Pants form Travelsmith - they were about the only ones I was able to wear during an unexpected heat wave in Krakow and Berlin at the end of May, and dried amazingly quickly when caught in the rain later in the trip.
Jan
Chicago, Il USA Thu 06/30/2005

Argus Car Hire, Ireland
Any comments with your experience with Argus Car Hire? The "extra" charges with renting, i.e. road tax, airport pickup surcharge, extra driver plus $1,050 deductible even with CDW insurance almost makes it the same price as buy back program with Ideamerge.
Bonnie
Portland, OR USA Thu 06/30/2005

Paris hotel
Paris: Does anyone know of a hostel or budget hotel for 4 nights in August that would be good for 2 college students? Money is very tight!! Thanks
Cindy
Ramona, CA USA Thu 06/30/2005

Jeans and Europe
I'd say that most Europeans wear jeans. I definitely do (I'm wearing them now at work!), as does my French girlfriend! In the UK it's unlikely you'd be able to get into a nightclub or posh restaurant wearing jeans/trainers, but other restaurants/pubs will be fine. In France trainers/jeans are fine for nightclubs/restaurants, again, unless it's a very posh restaurant. Don't really know about other EU countries, but I'd guess they're more or less the same.
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Thu 06/30/2005

Souvenirs in the UK
The only toffee I can think of in the UK that begins with a W is "Werther's Original", which I always thought was American or German. They make harder and softer versions. Another option is fudge - www.fudgekitchen.co.uk - but I've never tasted American fudge (and fudge is American after all) so British fudge might be entirely the same as in the US! British fudge is often made with Cornish clotted cream - I love it!
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Thu 06/30/2005

Travel Pants for Women
I bought a pair of these before going to the UK in March -- and loved them so much I bought another pair when I got home. I wear them all the time. The Ultimate Travel Pants from Travelsmith (http://www.travelsmith.com/ts/cookie.jsp?ContentOID=226673&Category=%2fProductHierarchy%2fWomen's+Travelwear%2f+++++++Pants+%26+Shorts&Category1=%2fProductHierarchy%2fWomen's+Travelwear&source=subcategory.jsp) at http://travelsmith.com. They're light weight, fold down to nothing, weigh next to nothing, and are so comfortable in the heat, yet when it was cool I wore silk-weight long johns under them and was fine. Try them out -- they're great. Hand wash and quick dry.
Patricia
Dallas, TX USA Thu 06/30/2005

Fashion
We were in France and Italy for three weeks in May. Everyone was wearing jeans. Young and old. The locals tend to wear nice jeans with nice shirts (not tees). My husband and daughter had light weight jeans. They dry in 24 hours if you squeeze the water out in a towel. In Italy there was almost a uniform of jeans and denim jackets. Florence was a sea of denim! Paris was more diverse but jeans are everywhere. Runners were also quite acceptable in France (including Paris) and Italy but in interesting colors. My 24 year old daughter bought bright orange Mephistos in Avignon. Also, in France the young people are very into the ethnic clothing that we are seeing in the US. Long flowing skirts with bright runners and a bright scarf, Indian shirts and jewelry. There is not a show of skin as is acceptable here (a bare midriff will get more attention than you maybe will want) and did not see many tattoos - maybe they are hidden. French women wear little detectable makeup (and are so beautiful without it), Italian women often wear a lot of makeup. Just some observations. I hope this helps.
FL USA Thu 06/30/2005

Security locks
Unlike Ken below, I've used my TSA approved locks 2x now, and neither time did anyone request they be removed. Neither in Europe, or in the US.
USA Wed 06/29/2005

Security approved locks
B. W. Durlin ~~ Last October as we came back to Denver from Zurich via Newark we were made to take all locks (TSA included) off before rechecking the luggage for onward travel. We were not allowed to have any locks on bags as they were scanned & routed to our next flight. Also: having been unexpectedly & hurridly made to remove the locks I unthinkingly dropped them into my pocket where they set off the metal detector -- of course!
Ken
USA Wed 06/29/2005

Souveniers in the UK
Rich is right about Cadbury bars as being great to pick up. The important thing that a friend of mine from there told me (I'm going for the first time this fall) is that Cadbury chocolate in the UK is NOT the same as the Cadbury here. I can agree with that. I tasted some that he brought here and it was much more chocolate flavored. He told me that American chocolate is too "waxy". Another thing is the toffee in the UK. There is a company that make it, I think that it starts with a "W" and it's fantastic. There are a lot of flavors, including treacle which I had never heard about before. Maybe Rick knows what I'm talking about.
Kelly
Seattle , Wa USA Wed 06/29/2005

Night crawl...
Hi everyone...my comment on jeans is I love em and have always worn them in my travels, unless it's too hot, then I wear lighter clothing. As far as TSA locks, I love em and I use the combination kind and have never had to reset them. They offer some peace of mind. OK now, on to my question. I will be traveling with some friends to Rome in October and we have been told that going clubbing in Rome is super expensive, so I read in Ricks book about the night crawl however the website he lists doesn't seem to exist anymore. Has anyone gone crawling and if so can you recommend one to me and my friends??? Is it safe for 3 20-30 something women?? Do they offer this in other cities like Venice? Thank you all in advance for your help!
Liz
Fargo, ND USA Wed 06/29/2005

Jeans
I would think that the trouble with jeans is not whether or not you look like a tourist, but how long they would take to dry. I've never taken them for that reason, and also because they're so much bulkier than the lightweight trousers I travel with. I travel in Asia more than Europe, and there's no way I can do that without looking like a tourist, so I've stopped worrying about it.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Wed 06/29/2005

Security locks
Love em. My bags were opened - had the little slip of paper from TSA. I felt secure having locks on my bike cases and my suitcases on my last trip, just 3 weeks ago. I recommend heading to Target to get a set of 2 with keys for $6. I don't like the combo locks...too hard to see the combo, plus they have to be "reset" after opened. the key version don't have any reset...just unlock and go.
USA Wed 06/29/2005

Jeans and Europe
Thanks to all ... such great comments. Yes, I definitely think that age has something to do with it. We're in our late 20's/mid-30's, so on the younger side. (wow - can't believe that the husband is mid-30's!) ;-)

I have traveled in the Scandinavian countries, and I mostly wore dark jeans and/or black pants. I never worry about looking like a tourist (I am), but I always strive to be neat, clean, and not-to-expensively dressed. That's my motto.
Stephanie
Columbus, OH USA Wed 06/29/2005

Security approved locks.
What are your experiences useing the new security approved lock on you checked luggage?
B. W. Durlin <email>
Golden, CO USA Wed 06/29/2005

more about jeans I also think ones age makes a difference....
USA Wed 06/29/2005

London in September
Stephanie, I've worn NICE jeans on almost every European trip. As soon as I speak, I give myself away as a tourist, so I don't worry too much about that. In Germany, I've seen lots of Germans wearing jeans, so it's not an accurate statement to say that only tourists wear blue jeans. Nice black jeans can be used to sneak into a nicer restaurant. And jeans are great when the weather turns cold and damp. I will say that torn, grubby jeans and white gym shoes will give you away as a tourist.
Rick Manyik <email>
Chicago, IL USA Wed 06/29/2005

London in September
You won't see the British wearing jeans. The post below is right when stating that you will stand out as a tourist. I would take black and/or navy blue slacks with tops that you could wear with both. I did that my last trip and it worked out great. Have a great trip.
Ohio USA Wed 06/29/2005

Athens Hotels
I am having more trouble than I anticipated finding an affordable room in Athens, in September. The Hotels that Rick Steve's suggest are booked, the hotels I have found available are 95 euro a night for a double bed room. I am also weary of bad areas in Athens, since I want to be close to the main attractions. If anyone has any hotel suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
Nicole <email>
Dixon, CA USA Wed 06/29/2005

London in September
Thanks all who responded. I appreciate your thoughts. I will definitely check the weather. What is the scoop with jeans and Europe? I talk to some people and they say "jeans are on everyone". Others say "only tourists wear jeans".

I naturally wear a lot of black, gray, and neutral colored clothing; even my jeans are very dark. I seem to not wear Khakis while traveling b/c they show dirt so much more rapidly than black or dark brown.

Thanks for all advice [we already did a test pack, and I'm good to go with just a carry on.] Gotta love being so short!
Stephanie
Columbus, OH USA Wed 06/29/2005

London in September
I'm always cold in London (often go in May and September), and I live in Seattle. The wind is what gets to me. Take layers and buy the cheap pashmina scarves from the street vendors. You may get lucky with warm weather, but be prepared for cold winds of Thames and rain. Go to weather channel's website just before you leave to see the 10 day forecast.
Sheila
Seattle, WA USA Wed 06/29/2005

London in September
With all the climate change that's going on it can still be hot in early Sept. Equally it can be cold... England has weather, not climate, so you need layers so you can cope with either. Londoners wear a lot of black, you will likely stand out even in khaki, especially if it's cold.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Wed 06/29/2005

London in September
Dress in light layers. Definitely take a windbreaker or a light rain repellant jacket. Too cold for shorts. Jeans are OK, but you will pegged as a tourist. I like to take wrinkle-free khaki type pants. You can dress a black pair either up or down. If your going to a restaurant, not a pub, you won't see people in jeans. Londoners, like NYC and SF, tend to dress up a little. You can’t go wrong with black. I was in London last October and I was cold, but I'm from California and not used to weather under 65 degrees. The London average for Sept is 65, but with the fog and rain, it will seem colder. It will probably be just a little colder than a typical Sept in Ohio.
Lisa
San Jose, CA USA Wed 06/29/2005

london theatre
has anyone used http://www.londontheatrebookings.com they seem to have some reduced priced seats. Looking to go and see Stomp and Chicago
bluedenim <email>
vancouver, bc can Wed 06/29/2005

London in September
If you're just staying in London then that should be fine, though you may want long sleeves. Be prepared for wet weather - it can happen at any time of year! Make sure you take a jumper/sweater with you, as youu might be unlucky. Have a look at the BBC's climate guide for London for more information http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT003790
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Wed 06/29/2005

London in September
Hi All -

My husband and I are going to London 9/5/-9/13. What's the weather going to be like -- short sleeves, jacket, and jeans -- or something else?
Stephanie <email>
Columbus, OH USA Wed 06/29/2005

Swiz/France Question on 6/23
I just did this trip and I bought the 4 day swiss rail pass, then bought a ticket from Paris to Geneva. Once you are in Interlaken, you very well may train or bus around the region and the pass was good for everything except the trip to Jungfraujoch (but that was discounted) and a lift to Almendhubel that ended up only being around 3sf with the Swiss Pass discount. I was with my 11 year old daughter who traveled free with me and my swiss pass, so that factored into my decision. To get a pass that included France, I would have had to pay half for her. Also, I think the Swiss Pass gives you better free travel in Switzerland than the combined passes. If you buy your Paris - Geneva tickets early enough, they are not very expensive. It's easy enough for you to do the math though, if you know what you will be doing in Switzerland while you are there.
Linda
GA USA Wed 06/29/2005

Crista - that sounds like a good plan. I go to France from the UK every few weeks, and while I am quite happy driving a UK car in France, I wouldn't drive it in Paris! Your plan seems feasible - the trains in France and Belgium are fast and very reliable and will stick to their timetables - you should be fine! There is a train from Tours to Chenonceaux but as it is a more rural area than Bruges/Brussels/Paris, a car will be more useful. Have a great trip!
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Wed 06/29/2005

Re: Crista Itinerary
Rich - we were planning on train, but would consider renting a car, as well.

Thank you
Crista
Harrisburg, PA USA Wed 06/29/2005

For Crista - France Itinerary
How are you travelling between Brussels, Bruges, Paris and Chenonceaux? I would probably use the train (Thalys between Brussels and Paris) for the whole journey. This would give you more time. For your trip to Chenonceaux, you could take the train to Tours, and pick up a rental car there, rather than drive from Paris.
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Wed 06/29/2005

Car Rental in Ireland
What is your experience renting from Kemwel in Ireland?
Bonnie
Portland, OR USA Wed 06/29/2005

Opinion on France itinerary?
We're going to France Oct.6-16th. Planning to fly into Brussels & spend 1 or 2 nights in Bruges, then on to Paris. Thinking of also spending a night or 2 in Chenonceaux & remainder of time in Paris. Does this seem like too much to do in the time we have? Thanks!
Crista <email>
Harrisburg, PA USA Wed 06/29/2005

TOP LONDON DISTINATION
Stefan~~~sights in London will depend on what you are interested in. Do a google.com search for “London Sights”. You will find many to choose from. My choice is historical sights. I would visit the Cabinet War Rooms under Whitehall. Where Churchill and the high command defended the UK during the war. Second would be the Tower of London. Third would be Windsor Castle. Learning the Tube will be a help in traveling the city. You can do that with a free map which you can get at any ticket booth.
D. B . Czer
TX USA Wed 06/29/2005

Car Leasing in Ireland
Bonnie - I assume you mean renting a car rather than leasing one (leasing usually requires a minimum of 17 days). Autoeurope is a consolidator that finds you the best deal with car rental agencies and does the booking for you. On my trip last month I booked cars through them for Ireland and France and got good deals in both countries. For the record, RS also recommends them. Visit www.autoeurope.com for more information, including a toll-free US phone number.
Tim <email>
Minot, ND USA Wed 06/29/2005

Top London Sights
First -- Westminster Abbey, and I'd take the Verger's tour. Not a taped tour, but a live guide. The history, the beauty, the majesty -- it is my number one "sight" in London. My next major sight is the Beefeater's Tour at the Tower of London.
Patricia
Dallas, USA Tue 06/28/2005

Hotels in Amsterdam and Haarlem
I need the names of a small family owned hotel in Amsterdam and in Haarlem.
Karen
Tampa, Fl USA Tue 06/28/2005

CAR LEASING
Bonnie; go to google.com and ask for auto rental agencies in Dublin or whatever city you prefer. The home page for each agency will list a phone number. Then call the toll free phone number and talk with an agent.
CHANDE
DALLAS, USA Tue 06/28/2005

Top London Destination
Stefan....you can get lost in the British Museum for weeks, so leave that for another time. For a quick hit, how about Westminster Square for Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey first thing in the morning, then up Birdcage Walk past St. James Park (about 20 minutes) for the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. That begins at 11:30 am, although they march in just before that, and lasts about 45 minutes, but you can leave if it gets boring. Then back down to Westminster and a quick subway ride on the Circle or District Line to Tower Hill for a quick gaze at the Tower of London before you hike over the Tower Bridge for a look up and down the Thames. Turn right on Tooley street and, in about 600 meters, you'll come to the London Bridge subway stop. Two stops along the Jubilee Line, and you'll be at Waterloo Station.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Tue 06/28/2005

reasonable souveniers for kids
I have given several british/european kids the annual OLD NAVY 4th of July t- shirts and flip flops. They are very inexpensive, sport the American flag, and the date July 4, 200?. All the kids loved them!
beth
nw florida, USA Tue 06/28/2005

London-Short Stay
Stefan, Easy, get to Trafalgar Square,(take direct underground from Heathrow to London, don't know station, but people will tell you) walk down the Mall, see Buckingham Palace, Turn left and walk along St. James Park, (possible visit to Cabinet War Rooms on left, see signs) see Westminster Cathedral, Houses of Parliament, cross Thames for great view or The London Eye ride, go back across river turn right walk up the Strand, see Whitehall and back to Trafalgar Square. You will see many of the great sites of London. Good Luck Bill
Bill
Danbury, CT USA Tue 06/28/2005

Re: Top London Destinations
I would choose one of the following: Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour, nice overview of the city. Hit a museum, most are free and a tube ride away, the Tate Modern is just down the riverbank from Waterloo, the British Museum can't be beat for Greek antiquities. Or do the low key, just a walk down the river Thames and into the South Bank area, besides the Globe, Vinopolis, the Tea Museum, there is a Market, then take lunch for Pub food and a pint before heading back to Waterloo. We ate at the Old Kings Head pub just off Borough High Street, been there forever, classic pub. If you look in Rick Steves London, this area is described pretty well.
Paul <email>
IA USA Tue 06/28/2005

Re: Kelly, shipping beer and chips
Just a couple notes from looking into something similar. Use a private shipper (UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL) You will not be able to ship alcohol via the USPS. I can confirm the note earlier about the beer, he wants Hefewiezen, a style of beer, but I disagree that it is readily available in the UK. Even though it is a German beer by tradition, my brother, in the UK for two years, repeatedly has mentioned the lack of availability of the beer he grew to love when in Germany. In fact when I was over in the UK, I found little else besides English beer in stores...except for, believe it or not, Coors Light and Bud Light. There are many great American Hefewiezens from microbrews available that he would love. Contact one of those shippers, or Mailboxes (they are a middleman) and talk to them, they should be able to answer your questions. Timing may be an issue...not sure how long it takes to get there.
Paul <email>
IA USA Tue 06/28/2005

Lodging in Amiens?
Any suggestions for lodging in Amiens in September?
Lee
Atlantic Beach, FL USA Tue 06/28/2005

Your top London Destination
On Friday July 8th, I will be in London just in the morning and early afternoon. I have never been to London and would like to take advantage of that time. I have to be at Waterloo station by 2ish. So, what would be your first choice?
Stefan <email>
PA USA Tue 06/28/2005

Trenitalia Phone Number
I believe the number Trenitalia lists is like a "toll free" access number, since there's no area code listed as part of the number. This allows people from all over Italy to call for the same per-minute cost (OK....it's not really toll free). I recall Trenitalia had a proper Rome phone number they used to list on their site, but it seems to have been disconnected last fall.....I don't notice it on the website any more. I have used their e-mail contact form before, and received satisfactory answers....but it did take a while for a response to arrive.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Tue 06/28/2005

Yes, you can order theater tickets for London theater over the internet. But, I like to talk to a person when ordering to make sure I am getting what I want. Sometimes, you can get better seats and lower costs by calling. I know once when my husband and I went to see Cats in London I had called and got two tickets paying 35.00BP each. When we were at the theater we were talking to a woaman and her son from the US and she had order their tickets over the internet and paid 50.00BP for each ticket.
Oh USA Tue 06/28/2005

London~~Souvenirs
Marissa~~you won't have any trouble finding souvenirs for children in London. There are shops all over, also street vendors. Have a great trip.
Oh USA Tue 06/28/2005

Rich is right about 011. That is the prefix for calling internationally from the US. 00 is the prefix needed in Europe to call out of those countries. ...In most European countries, a 0 is needed to call outside your local area but it is not needed to call into the country. However, in the case of Italy, the 0 is always required except for mobile phones. See the website, http://kropla.com/city_italy.htm. "Since December 1998, calls to land lines in the cities below and all other points in Italy must include a leading "0" regardless of whether the call originates within or outside of Italy. However, the leading "0" is not required with mobile phones."
USA Tue 06/28/2005

Tren Italia Phone Number
That phone number looks like the number you'll dial from elsewhere in the EU - the international code in Europe is 00 whereas in the US it's 011 (I think! It's been a while!) - therefore, try dialling 011 39 892021. It's quite possible that that is the whole number - different countries' phone numbers are different lengths.
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Tue 06/28/2005

London Travelcard
TravelCards from Transport for London work on the Bus, Tube (metro), Network Rail (normal trains), DLR (overground metro) and TramLink. They also provide a 1/3 discount on the river bus. You can buy one for zones 1&2 (the large majority of the touristy areas), 1-6 almost all of London, or 1-D for the whole of London. Full details at Transport for London's website: http://tinyurl.com/bk4rm
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Tue 06/28/2005

Souvenirs in UK
Obviously it depends on the type of souvenir you want, but if something like chocolate is a good choice, then you can get bars of Cadbury chocolate for about £0.40 (~$0.73) each in British supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, etc.
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Tue 06/28/2005

Questionable Emails
I wanted to comment on an email I recently recv'd from someone 'staying' on the Ivory Coast, also telling me that she had important info for me and asking for my personal email. Apparently, others from RS's site have also recv'd emails like this. BEWARE!
Kathy
USA Tue 06/28/2005

Shipping ahead
Kelly, the beer is Hefe Weizen, which is a type of beer, not a brand. It means Yeast Wheat beer. It is found all over Germany, particularly in the south, and most Hefe Weizen beer in our country is imported from Germany. It shold be easy for him to get over there. It is called Hefe because the yeast is not filtered out. It is left in the beer and gives it a cloudy appearance.
USA Tue 06/28/2005

Geneva
Molly - We stayed in Lausanne and took the lake steamer to Yvoire, France. It has a cute medieval village with a number of shops and restaurants. Good for a few hours. In the Lake Geneva area you can also take the Chocolate Train or do some hiking through vineyards. Have fun.
Scott
OR USA Tue 06/28/2005

Marissa, Souvenirs
There are some small shops near Trafalgar Square which sell souvenirs. If you turn your back to the National Gallery (which is on one side of the square) and walk down Whitehall, you'll find these shops on your left side. I found some really cheap items as well as some higher quality, hence more expensive, things too. The former include toys like double decker buses, post boxes, flags, plastic swords, etc.
Jane Reed
Los Angeles, CA USA Tue 06/28/2005

Souvenirs
any ideas about where to purchase reasonally priced souvenirs for children in Dublin and London? thanks for your help.
marissa
floresville, tx USA Tue 06/28/2005

Trip in June or October
Italy is very hot in the summer. It will be much more pleasant to go in October. Also, the crowds are much smaller.
USA Tue 06/28/2005

Bus Tours in London
Doublecheck the websites -- I'm pretty sure there was a time when the Big Bus Tour was considered better because they had live guides instead of taped guides. Compare the two and you may make a better choice! But yes, they're both hop on/hop off and are great introductions to London!
USA Tue 06/28/2005

London Double Decker Bus Tour
Is the Original Sightseeing Tour in London (on double decker bus) the same as the Hop On Hop Off Big Bus Tour? Sounds like a good tour, especially with teenagers?
Alexandra Martella <email>
Longmont, CO USA Tue 06/28/2005

Car Leasing
Car Leasing in Ireland. Any suggestions as to car agency to use for lowest cost and no extras.
Bonnie
Portland, OR USA Tue 06/28/2005

travel card London
Is the 3 day travel card in London a good buy? Is it good for the tube as well as bus?
bluedenim
vancouver, bc canada Tue 06/28/2005

Trenitalia and night train
Leanne, you seem to have a few things confused. 1) A rail pass doesn’t “cover” the cost of a sleeper. It covers the rail transportation, but there is still the cost of the accommodation, sometimes called a supplement or reservation fee. 2) The 300 Euro you mention appears to be the full fare you would pay for two in a double compartment. No rail pass would be needed to get this fare. 3) A Trenitalia pass would not help you in getting the compartment. The rail pass has to cover all the countries traversed, and in this case there is also Austria and Germany, so you would need a pass covering all three countries. 4) The card price is not the price with a rail pass; that is a discount card. Trenitalia rarely sells reservations to go with rail passes. The actual price for a double with a rail pass is more like 60 EUR per person. 5) The Trenitalia website is no help in this case, because you can only get their tickets by mail, if you live in Italy, or by picking them up at a station in Italy. Looks like you have to use the ticket to get to Italy to pick up the ticket. 6) Although Rail Europe does not show tickets or reservations for this train online, I believe they can order them for you if you call. 7) The best fare would be what is called a SparPreis (savings price) fare from Nachtzugreise.de, the official website for the night train company. I just arranged for a double compartment for July 27 for 2 people for 69 Euro each. That is the full fare, rail and reservation, no rail pass required, and you can print out those tickets on your home computer. However, Nachtzugreise is in German. If you want to tackle it, I can help.
<email>
USA Tue 06/28/2005

Tren ph no.
I don't know about three digits, but in Italy you have to dial a 0 after the country code (39 0 892021). That is different from most European phone numbers, where the 0 is only needed for in-country calls.
USA Tue 06/28/2005

Tren Italia Phone Number
Does anyone know the Tren Italia phone number? I tried the number they have on the website, 00 39 892021, looks like it's missing atleast 3 digits. Can anyone help? Thanks.
MJ
Oakland, CA USA Tue 06/28/2005

Shipping Beer and Potato Chips
Kelly, why not call the manufacturer customer service department of the beer and potato chips and ask if they will ship directly to your friend.
Bonnie
Portland, OR USA Tue 06/28/2005

Theatre Tickets
Even easier - go to www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk and order online. Also, pick up your tickets at the box office rather than having them mailed.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Tue 06/28/2005

trenitalia and nighttrain
Hi - I want to take a nighttrain from Munich to Venice. I know there was some discussion earlier about this, but it wasn't clear if the Trenitalia pass covers the fare. I think the website indicates that it does (it's called a "card"), and it says it's about 300 euros for a double sleeper (I assume that's a private car?). Does this sound right to any of you? Has anyone had experience reserving a nighttrain on a trenitalia pass? Thanks for any info you may have!
Leanne <email>
Nashville, TN USA Tue 06/28/2005

Theater tickets
Jerry~~when I go to London I always go to the theater at least once. I have always ordered my ticket before I go. The Phanton is playing at Her Majesty's Theater on Haymarket. The phone number to call is 011-44-207-494-5400. I would get tickets for the orchestra stalls if possible, they are the best seats, I believe that they are arount 45.00BP. The tickets will be mailed to you. I have done this for Lion King, Cats, and other shows. I would call as soon as possible. If you are not able to get the tickets, try the Lion King. Lion King is fantastic. I saw The Lion King for the third time last spring. After the exchange rate we paid $144.00 for two tickets, stall seats. We were in the fourth row and it was great. If you are going to go to the theater you might as well get good seats and really enjoy the show. Have fun and have a great time.
Oh USA Tue 06/28/2005

Phantom tix
We were in London about this time 2 years ago and had no trouble getting tix at the theaters for any show half an hour or so before showtime at the box office. The only problem is you don't have a lot of choice in seats. It might be worth it to check out 1/2 price tickets first. If your day in London is midweek, consider a matinee - we always got prime tickets cheap at showtime.
Tricia
Tallahassee, USA Tue 06/28/2005

JUNE OR SEPTEMBER
Donna~~~~My choice would be to travel in Sept which my wife and I have done many times.~~~ That time of year the weather is cooler and the crowds have gone home. ~~~ I would travel to the towns in the North of Europe and in England first to avoid any cold weather there later.~~~ You might even find some of the prices lower than in June.
BILL W
TX USA Tue 06/28/2005

Phantom Tickets
We are going to be in London in mid Sept. We would like to see the Phantom of the Opera we only have one night. Do we buy advance tickets or take our chances on getting tickets at same day half price tickets at Leicester Sq.?
Jerry
Edmonds, WA USA Mon 06/27/2005

June/September difference
With so many Americans traveling again, there is almost no difference between June and Sept for people. The weather will be a bit cooler in Sept. Airline tickets will cost the same. Sept is no longer a "shoulder season" month...it's a high travel month, as is June. perhaps the only difference would be you will see no college students with backpacks, they are back in school, but their parents are traveling with their wheely suitcases. There are not many bargins to be had either month. If you are looking to save money and have less crowded sights...go in after Oct 1 or before May 1.
Frequent traveler
USA Mon 06/27/2005

June/September
I am Looking for some info. on the difference between visiting Europe in June (for 1 month) compared to visiting for the month of September. Differences in Weather, tourists, prices for accomodations, airfare ect... The itinerary is London, paris, berlin, krakow, possibly budapest, rome, venice and lake constance. Any info. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Donna <email>
Hillsboro, OH USA Mon 06/27/2005

Shipping Ahead of Arrival
Tony - thanks for the input. Yes - I actually had asked him what he missed the most about the "States" and he said Hefervizen (sp) beer and Tim's Jalapinio Potato Chips! So - now I'm trying to figure out how to get them to him without lugging them all over the UK before I get to his house. I might try Mailboxes, etc. I think that they shiop things.....any other advice on the subject would be welcome. Thanks - Kelly
Kelly <email>
Seattle , Wa USA Mon 06/27/2005

Museum tickets
There seems to be a number of websites for purchasing museum tickets ahead of time for Florence and Rome. Can someone recommend a site that does not charge a large fee ? and is reputable?We are just interested in avoiding standing in line! Nick
Nick
Keene, NH USA Mon 06/27/2005

Vienna Ljubljana
Mike, Rail Europe sells point to point tickets from Vienna to Ljubljana. Most of the connections require a change of trains in Villach. The cost will be $111 pP for 2nd cl plus $15 shipping. There is only one direct train for Vienna; it leaves at 7:57am. A 2nd cl. ticket from RE for this train would be $85 plus $15 shipping. All the Rail Europe tickets include reservations.

You can self-print a 2nd cl. ticket with a reservation from Vienna to Rosenbach for 42.20 EUR, about $53. When you are over there, you can then buy a ticket from Rosenbach to Ljubljana for about $13 more. If you just wait until you get over there, the ticket for the entire trip is about $62.

Buying a ticket for the whole trip over here before you go will cost more.
USA Mon 06/27/2005

London to Edinburgh
London to Edinbugh~~sorry, I should have said that the trip by train is 4hrs 20minutes.
USA Mon 06/27/2005

Where to go?
My husband and I will be arriving in Geneva on Saturday, July 9th. We will be meeting up with friends on Monday the 11th in Annecy to catch the Tour de France and then on to the Riveria. Any sugguestions on where to go or stay for those few days before Annecy?
Molly <email>
Aspen, CO USA Mon 06/27/2005

Siena, Italy
On May 20, 2005, we ended our day in Siena, Italy around 6:30 p.m. without reservations. We called several hotels listed in Rick's and other guides with no luck (except one at 170 euros). We walked to the TI and it was closed. We drove just out of town and saw a small sign "Rooms," "Camere," "Zimmer" and on a chance drove in. We ended up staying there, at Podere Le Vigne, www.levigne.ws. It was a delight! Highly recommended & great value. Beautiful, clean rooms with bathrooms, nicely decorated inside & out, simple breakfast included, wonderful hostess, Carla. 76 euros per night. Very close to Siena, almost walking distance. We would go back in a minute.
Sue
Denver, CO USA Mon 06/27/2005

London to Edinburgh
My first thought was which trip were you talking about, flying or train? Then I decided since it was London to Edinburgh, you must be correcting the earlier poster who said it was three hours by train. Funny thing though, by the time you consider transit time to Edinburgh, advance check-in, flight time, and Gatwick to London, flying actually takes slightly longer. Not only that, for the next 2 to 6 weeks, in most cases, it will cost less to take the train.
USA Mon 06/27/2005

London to Edinburgh
London to Edinburgh~~the trip takes 4hrs 20minutes (the minutes very from 20 to 35) depends on what time you leave London.
USA Mon 06/27/2005

Hotel du Clichy
I am traveling to Paris for 8 days in August this year and I have booked a room at Hotel du Casino at 41 Rue de Clichy. Does anyone have an experience of this hotel that they would care to share? It will be my first trip and even though travel agent highly recommended, I would like feedback from real time lodgers! Thanks much. . .D
D Lynn <email>
Midwest, MO USA Mon 06/27/2005

Eagle Creek Bags
Sorry to inform you that the Solo Journey is a discontinued style from Eagle Creek. As bag companies go, bags are redesigned every year, or popular styles get redesigned every other year. If you an find this at a closeout house like Campmor or Sierra Trading Post - good luck. it is no longer in the Eagle creek catalog for 2005.
USA Mon 06/27/2005

Bags
Ages ago Rick sold Eagle Creek's Solo Journey as an alternative to his own travel bag.

These wonderful bags are smaller (than Rick's) and have an adjustable internal frame.

Rick suggested them as a good pick for women or anyone with a small back. My wife and my sister both love this bag, but so do I, guyr back notwithstanding.

I can't imagine needing anything bigger (though I can imagine being tempted to fill up a larger bag and then regretting it) and have lived out if it for as much as five weeks at a time.

Thouse who are comparing bags should at least check this one out.
Adam
Boston, USA Mon 06/27/2005

JSC - Alma Domus
Clean, small, simple, no frills budget accommodation.

A good location in Siena with basic room and private bath. €75 for a triple. We had a balcony with a view of the dome of the Duomo and the top of the torre del Mangia.

The room was small, no TV, and the bath did not have a seperate shower stall; a shower head on the wall and drain in the floor. The room was very clean and the location was good. I recommend it if you want to save money.

11:30pm curfew
Henry <email>
Wichita, KS USA Mon 06/27/2005

Hostels in Milan
Part of the problem is that many hostels for July are already booked, which is why Hostelworld.com is only listing cheap hotel rooms. You can also try www.hostels.com. but a quick check of Milan for 18-21 July, for example, shows nothing available. You may have to opt for a hotel room and a mix of hostels, wherever you can find them on the websites listed.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Mon 06/27/2005

For Connie: Hostels in Milan
Hostelling International lists at least one hostel in Milan.

http://www.hihostels.com/
Rich <email>
Canterbury, Kent UK Mon 06/27/2005

Edinburgh to London
The other way to get between London and Edinburgh (or other parts of Scotland) are the sleeper train services - you leave at approximately 11pm, and arrive at about 8am. www.scotrail.co.uk for details.
Rich <email>
Cantebury, Kent UK Mon 06/27/2005

Contact info for BeeHive/Gift ideas
Thanks for all these helpful tips. I still need a couple of your ideas and suggestions.

1)How can I contact Beehivee's hostel in Rome? Their website email doesn't seen to work?

2)I will be traveling in Italy only (in July) and want to bring some type of gifts that costs 1 or 2 euros(I am a budget traveler) for 30 to 40 adults(teachers and family members) and 15 4th grader students. Any idea?

3) Are there any hostels in Milan? I search through hostelworld.com and guideforeurope.com, but they list the private rooms only.

I hope someone can help me.
Connie <email>
Dallas, Tx USA Mon 06/27/2005

Alma Domus (Siena)
I'd like to see responses on this board from those of you who have stayed at the Alma Domus in Siena this year. I've seen mixed reviews elsewhere and wonder what you think. I'm planning to take a college group to Siena next summer and would like to book accommodations at the Alma Domus--unless there are other suggestions. Thanks.
JSC
Pittsburgh, PA USA Mon 06/27/2005

EasyJet
Nicole in CA~~~the other poster was correct that Easy jet has a website with baggage limitations, etc. We flew EJ just last month from Edinburgh to LGW. Flight was on time, new & large aircraft--we were very concerned about my luggage being overweight which it was by several lbs but there was no extra charge and no mention of a weight limit on the carryon. It was an overall very satisfactory experience and cheap too--about $38 pp.
RK
USA Mon 06/27/2005

London to Edinburgh
We took a train from Edinburgh to London. Pretty ride, took about 3 hours if I recall correctly. Should be just as easy to go the other way
USA Mon 06/27/2005

curling irons
Thanks to all about the curling irons. I am heading to Target and Walgreens today. You have been a big help. Thanks!!!
sk
USA Mon 06/27/2005

G6 CAMERA LENSES
John.; after taking hundreds of pictures in the Alps, I can recommend buying the wide angle lense. I use it far more than my telephoto lense. I know you will see the difference once you use it.
R. A. CUTT
DALLAS, USA Mon 06/27/2005

CURLING IRONS
The lowest price I have found for the adapters you need you will find at Target stores.
RENO, NV USA Mon 06/27/2005

TRAINS IN SOLVENIA
Mike... Do a google.com search for RR tickets and use the toll free phone number to ask your question. There are many agencies here in the US which sell tickets and can help you.
DALLAS, USA Mon 06/27/2005

ARGUS
Why not use the toll free phone number for your auto agency and talk with an agent about drop charges? Every agency has one. I never rent a car without talking with an agent about it and renting it by phone.
ZUKASE
NY USA Mon 06/27/2005

Another reason the linger in Normandy
Lydia, in South Pasadena, points out why only one day in Normandy is not enough. You'd surely miss the calvados she "discovered" and the tastings that the distillers of the Auge countryside have from time to time. Lydia, this is for your next trip. In Breuil-en-Auge is the Chateau du Breuil which produces a 12 year old name controlled product. It should be given national treasure status. There is also a calvados cream (no "e") produced by the Dupont Family of Victot-Pontfol. www.calvados-dupont.com A votre sante'
HG
ILL USA Mon 06/27/2005

Train to Slovenia
Mike, since there are half a dozen day trains between Vienna and Ljublyana, I am not sure that an advance reservation would be necessary. Unless you want a specific train, you should be able to get your ticket in Vienna. If you insist on advance purchase, and all else fails, you CAN purchase online from Austrian Rail a ticket with reservation to Rosenbach, which is the last stop in Austria. That ticket can be printed out on your home computer. Then, when you get to Vienna, purchase the extension. Chances are no one will have reserved the same seat from Rosenbach to Ljubljana.
<email>
USA Sun 06/26/2005

London to Stirling in a day???
Hey ho! There is FAR more to see in Stirling than the Wallace Memorial (essentially an enormous tower which some could think was compensating for something...) If you are going to Stirling based on the movie "Braveheart", remember that Mr. Mel Gibson is an actor not an historian!! Slaughter happened on the bridge (can walk over the replacement) not a big open field among other things... On the other hand, the castle is well worth your time and Stirling is an interesting town as a gateway between the Lowlands and the Highlands. Lots of B&B's and even the opportunity to stay at the uni in self-catering if there at non-student time. Stirling deserves more than a one-day-wonder trip from London. Maybe Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth???
Joan
BC Canada Sun 06/26/2005

Trains in Slovenia
Mike, after briefly looking at the new website for Austrian Rail (oebb.at) I would say that tickets on those trains can be purchased online, but can only be received in Austria, by mail. There is a service center at 43-5-1717, but I don't know if they can arrange for pickup at a station in Austria or if they even speak English.
<email>
USA Sun 06/26/2005

canon
John I don't have the g6 but I have the 10D and I have three lenses for it...and personally I would not go anywhere wihtout my options. My suggestion is get a backpack type camera bag, there are many out there, that is what I have and love it!!! I would like to get a wide angle before the trip but due to expense I just don't see it. I am hunting tho. I love have the versatility of changing the lens. I guess it depends on how serious you are...personally I will suffer with the bit of weight to have my options. Photography is my biggest hobby
bluedenim
vancouver, bc can Sun 06/26/2005

argus...
was looking at car rentals through argus pick up in Brighton return in Manchester.... then I checked out alamo and all the major one...nothing....same with others and some did not have calls or a location how come argus can bring up rates.
USA Sun 06/26/2005

Trains in Slovenia
I will be taking a train from Vienna to Ljubljana. I can't seem to find a way to book the tickets in advance. I was interested in first class tickets. Does anyone know if there is a big difference between first and second class on this route and if it is possible to purchase the tickets in advance? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Mike
Wilmington, DE USA Sun 06/26/2005

Check in at Gatwick
HTE~~at that time in the morning 1 -l 1/2 hours should be enough time for you to check in, go thru security and get to you gate.
USA Sun 06/26/2005

Gatwick Check-in & Security - How long to allow?
We have booked a 07:30 flight from Gatwick to Venice (BritAir - North Terminal) in mid-October. We'll be staying in London & plan to take the Gatwick Express (about 35 minutes from Victoria Station). My question is how long should we allow to get through check-in & security?
HTE <email>
Bothell, Washington USA Sun 06/26/2005

Curling irons
RE: Curling irons--Many curling irons available at Longs/Walgreens in the US are dual usage and work with European electricity. You will, or course, need the adapter so the plug will fit their convenience outlets..they too are widely available here and only cost a couple of bucks.
Ruby
San Carlos, CA USA Sun 06/26/2005

Schengen agreement
You are welcome. I forgot to mention, but Finland is also a Schengen country, so your passport should only be checked when you get to Iceland. However, if you checked you luggage through to Finland, you probably won't see it until you go through customs in Finland. This process has been driven by the logistics of airports in Europe, so with the new construction in Iceland, they might do customs there. If you want more info on the Schengen agreement, see http://www.eurovisa.info/SchengenVisa.htm.
USA Sun 06/26/2005

Schengen Agreement
Thank you for the clarification!
K
MA USA Sun 06/26/2005

curling irons
NO. Anything with a butane lighter...as in this type of curling iron is forbidden on airplanes.
USA Sun 06/26/2005

Normandy in One Day
I would agree that trying to "do" Normandy in one day is impossible. In 1999, we had two days to see Normandy and nearly killed ourselves doing it. The Museum at Caen is wonderful and will take a couple of hours to do it justice. You need to allow time for driving on unfamiliar roads and for taking a few wrong turns. You will want to see the battle sites and the American Cemetary at the least. But there are many other important sites such as the German cemetary, the tapestries of Bayeaux and Lisieux, home of St. Therese. And how can you be so close to the Mont St. Michel and not go there too?? We also discovered Calvados - a happy surpise. I hope you will change your plans and give the area at least 3 days. There are some great B&Bs in the area.
Lydia <email>
South Pasadena, CA USA Sun 06/26/2005

curling irons
Are cordless curling irons still allowed on flights? They are powered with something that is similar to a lighter. Haven't been on a plane in a while but need to know the answer. Thanks.
sk
USA Sun 06/26/2005

Ryanair flights
I have booked many Ryanair flights from the US. I learned the hard way that there is no point changing a flight once you buy it because there is a change fee and you can usually come out ahead by just buying another flight and throwing out the unused ticket. The flights have been very reliable and there is a bus (for a fee) to take you to and from the airport. Ryanair uses small airports that aren't usually in the main cities (exceptions are Dublin and Rome). You must arrive at least 40 minutes ahead of the flight. One minute late and they will not let you board. You should arrive at the airport in plenty of time for security checks. They are also very strict about luggage restrictions. They will charge for overweight luggage. Your ticket is sent by e-mail. You must provide the e-mail confirmation number and a photo ID when you check in. All of this may sound like too much hassle, but when you get a flight from London to Rome for 40 euros or less, it's worth it!
Lydia <email>
South Pasadena, CA USA Sun 06/26/2005

Shipping suitcase home
My partner and I are traveling (fancy) for two weeks in Italy and then, would like to send the dressy stuff home and rough it for another 10 days. Any advice about the cost, safety and best way to send a suitcase home??
Ruby <email>
San Carlos, CA USA Sun 06/26/2005

G6 camera lenses
I have a question about lenses. I have a Cannon G6 and I am about to go to Switzerland for 3 weeks. I have thought about buying the telephoto and wide angle lenses for it, but I am unsure if I want to lug around the extra lenses (I already have the adapter and a filter set). Does anyone have any experience with the lenses for the G6? Would they really be necessary for taking pictures in the Alps? (I’ve taken awesome photos with a simple point and shoot camera in the past. Thanks for the advice John
John <email>
Berkeley, CA USA Sun 06/26/2005

shipping ahead of arrival
Kelly, before going to the expense and trouble of shipping beer ("coal to Newcastle"?) and potato chips to the UK, you might want to make really sure that the brands you have in mind are really not available in the UK. These days, you might be surprised to find that they are indeed available in the local Tescos.
Tony
San Jose, CA USA Sun 06/26/2005

This is from a website about Canada.

Be Prepared Before you arrive, please ensure that you have picture identification, proof of residence and proof of citizenship.
USA Sun 06/26/2005

To USA~~you can take the train from Kings Crossing, you will have to change trains in Edinburgh then on to Stirling. It's about 5hr.50minute trip. Could get a train as early as 6:15am if you. You can use this website to see the times. nationalrail.co.uk
USA Sun 06/26/2005

Kathy~~When you get to the borders of Canada and Mexico you need to show proof of citizenship of USA. You can use a passport or birth certificate. No visa is needed for Mexico.
USA Sun 06/26/2005

T in Boston/Kristin
T, if you don't get an answer to your question, I really do suggest ordering both and comparing for yourself. A little money invested in postage can make all the difference in the world in your satisfaction with your purchase. And please, let us know! Kristin -- I ordered the new rolling bag because it was on sale and I decided there might be times when I'd like that option, but I've never used it. Our old RS bags still look brand new, too. I laundered mine (remove the foam panel that gives it stiffening, gentle wash, air dry) and now it REALLY looks brand new. And I've not yet figured out what makes the improved style better than my style. Maybe it's just what we get used to?
Patricia
Dallas, TX USA Sun 06/26/2005

French Rivera
I am going to be traveling through the French Rivera region, specifically Nice and Marsielle. I am only going to be in each city for one day. What does everyone recommend for best sightseeing? I don't care about gambling. Is is easy to rent a scooter and tour the coastal region? Please advise.
Sue
USA Sun 06/26/2005

Gare du Nord, St Lazare
Excuse my poor spelling. St Lazare, St Lazar, Saint Lazare are the same place.
HG
USA Sun 06/26/2005

Patricia - RS bag
I'm nearly 33, so that makes the bag a mid-'80s model, I guess (my folks were RS-o-philes, I guess you're born into the cult!)... It's been everywhere and still is as good as new! My husband has the new one, but I actually like the old one a little better in some ways :)
Kristin
Bellevue, WA USA Sun 06/26/2005

Gare du Nord/Saint Lazare
This may simplify your route for you. Within the Gare du Nord (North Station) is an SNCF (national rail system), the RER (regional system), and Metro (part of the city system, or Ratp.) Ask one of the young people in the station where you arrive who is wearing a red vest or smock with the rail initials on it for directions. You want RER line E. Look for a sign saying " direction St Lazar/Hausmann" or just "St Lazar/Hausmann." Board there. St Lazar is at the end of the line and only a short distance. I think you still board the E line at Nord/Magenta. Ask the red vest person. ("Magenta" is main street at Gare du Nord and gives its name to a section of the station.) Gare du Nord is a big station with perhaps 2, maybe 3 feeder tunnels. At the end of one is Magenta. The tunnels and stairways (the stations are on various levels) take time especially if you are a novice. ------- At St Lazare, the departures on on the 2nd floor according to the way we count floors. There is a massive overhead sign with all the trains and the track (it says "voie") numbers. There are station aides here also. If you collar one for assistance right away on arrival at the north station and St Lazare you should connect ok. If you begin every contact with a bit of a smile and "Bonjour monsieur/madame" you will do ok. If you can pronounce in French "Will you (rather than "can you") help me?" you will do even better. Try it "Voulez vous m'aide?" Phoneticly, Voo-lay voo mayday. And end every contact with "Merci, au revoir." no matter how hurried you are.
HG
ILL USA Sat 06/25/2005

Need help picking a bag
I'm looking to buy a travel bag as my one and only piece of luggage to take on my next trip. I like the appearance of the Back Door Bag and the ability to carry it as a backpack is important to me. It's not fun having to haul around a shoulder bag for a couple of hours. But has anyone here done a comparison between the back Door Bag and the MEI Voyager bag? (seen here: http://www.californiaoutfitters.com/Online%20Store/store_index.htm)
T <email>
Boston, MA USA Sat 06/25/2005

PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS
Check this webpage for visa requirements for Mexico: www.travisa.com/Instructions/mexicoinstructions.htm.
M.P. CHAT
DALLAS, USA Sat 06/25/2005

shipping ahead of arrival
We are flying to the UK in Sept. We'll be going directly to Bath via the bus from heathrow. We'll be renting a car, traveling around and then ending up in Ayr, near Glasgow where we'll be visiting a friend for a few days before flying to London. I want to bring over his favorite beer and potato chips that I know he misses. He's a native Scot who spent a few years over here. I know that it's okay to bring that stuff over but since we are traveling with carry-ons only we really don't want to lug it around the UK before we see him. Does anyone know how we can ship beer and chips to him? Price really isn't the issue. I'm just wanting it to get there before we do. Help!!
Kelly <email>
Seattle , Wa USA Sat 06/25/2005

Hotel Recommendations for Solo Female Travel in Southern Spain
Will be in Southern Spain from October 24 to November 1. Likely route will be Seville, Jerez, Ronda, Nerja and Granada. Anybody have any good hotel/hostel/pension recommendations? Also curious about booking on Easyjet or Ryanair from North America. Any thing I need to know before booking by flights? (Have to admit I'm a little nervous as I haven't booked flights on-line yet) I would like to have all my travel booked by August. Thanks for any help in advance. Cheers!
mccorca <email>
Vancouver, BC Canada Sat 06/25/2005

Kristin/Room for souvenirs
I don't know how old you are -- I wonder if we have the same "old" RS bag. I love mine from 1990-something, before the update. As for bringing back souvenirs -- I ended up buying a cheap bag in Stoke-on-Trent to pack my books and souvenirs in -- had room so bought more (ooops) and checked it on the way back. Once we got here, I gave it away. (It was really cheap -- I just figured it was cheaper than postage and helped me bring home more stuff!)
Patricia
Dallas, TX USA Sat 06/25/2005

Patricia -- Duh! Thanks!
Why didn't I think of that?! I'm even taking my ancient RS bag (had it since I was 12 -- definitely recommend it as an investment purchase!) instead of my usual smaller one so I'll have space for purchases (much to my husband's dismay :)). I love remembering a trip every time I wear a "souvenir" -- thanks for bringing me to my senses :)
Kristin
Bellevue, WA USA Sat 06/25/2005

Passport Requirements
I'm very interested to hear that you already need a passport for travel to Mexico & Canada, because the State Dept. web site says the following: Proposed Timeline for Implementation for Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Requirements

The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed implementation timeline is as follows:

* December 31, 2005 – Passport or other accepted document required for all travel (air/sea) to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America. * December 31, 2006 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada. * December 31, 2007 – Passport or other accepted document required for all air, sea and land border crossings.

Not that that's much help when facing an immigration officer with another idea...

Also, on visas - some countries require them regardless of length of stay. Some can be acquired at the border, others must be obtained in advance. The advice to check the embassy sites is good.
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Sat 06/25/2005

Passport requirements
Considering that she lives in Miami, I think there is a good chance that her father is a Cuban exile. Not likely that he will get a new passport from Cuba!! Obviously, the US State department is probably the only one who can handle this. Until he gets US citizenship, there may not be a solution.
USA Sat 06/25/2005

Passport Requirements....
I want to correct an earlier post. The rule about needing a passport to get into Mexico and Canada is already in effect. I have been to both recently and we had to have our passports. Furthermore, I live one hour south of the Candadian border and we go there quite often and have had to take our passports with us since last summer. People who didn't have them were turned away!! As for the person with the green card, my husband has permanent resident status and he has to travel with his perm. res. card AND his passport issued by his country of birth. If your Father has an expired passport, then he can mail or go to the nearest embassy of his country of origin to renew it, although it's not necessarily a good thing to have an expired passport. There maybe extra fees. I'm not sure about that one. You really only need a visa for long stays in foreign countries. I'm not sure about Eastern European countries though. Look up the embassy on the web doing a google search. I'm sure it will come up and you can get the info you need.
Liz
USA Sat 06/25/2005

London to Edinburgh
Several years ago, my wife and I did the drive from London to Edinburgh in a day, including a stop in Oxford, so it is do-able. The biggest hassles were getting out of London, and having to report being sideswiped by a truck just across the Scottish border. So if you can, rent a car in a suburban London area and take a train or subway to pick it up. Also, if you want to end up in Stirling, go via Glasgow, taking the M-6 and the M-74.....faster highways than the roads along the eastern side. Total trip distance is just under 500 miles.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Sat 06/25/2005

London to Edinburgh
Anybody have any experience on going to Edinburgh (or more specifically the William Wallace Memorial in Stirling) from London? What is the best way to get there? Would it be completely crazy to try and do it in one day? Thanks!!
USA Sat 06/25/2005

Gare du Nord to St. Lazare
DeAnn, go to www.ratp.fr (I remember RAT Paris :) ). Select the British flag. In the box, select "station" for both departure and arrival. Use Gare du Nord and Gare Saint-Lazare. Input your date and time.

What I saw was a 5 min walk to Gare du Nord RER station, a 4 min subway trip, and another 4 min walk - 13 min total. The RER trains leave every 5 or so minutes. If you arrival train is on time, it should be no problem.
<email>
USA Sat 06/25/2005

Connection between Gare du Nore and St. Lazare (Paris train stations)
Hi, and thank you in advance. What I need is to know if our plan is veasible. Here it is:

Arriving at Gare du Nord (Paris) train station (via Eurostar from London) at 11:47 a.m. We need to be on a train for Rouen France which leaves from Paris's St. Lazare station at 12:40. Are we going to have enough time to get from Gare du Nord to St. Lazare in time to catch the train? Do you have a recommended type of transportation between these two Paris train stations? Thank you so very much for your information. D. Swanson
DeAnn Swanson <email>
Ridgefield, WA USA Sat 06/25/2005

Green Cards
The Alien Registration Card is not sufficient for travel outside North America on its own. To enter another country you need a passport and sometimes a visa as well. To reenter the US, you need both a passport and the Alien Registration Card. If, for some reason, your father's country of origin will not issue him a passport, he needs to talk to the INS. (Actually, he may be better off calling his Senator's office for help.) (Note: by the end of the year US citizens will need a passport for travel to Mexico and Canada.)
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Sat 06/25/2005

Backpacks
I took the 2001 RS backpack on a four and a half month trip and found that the hip/waist belt was indeed mainly decorative. I was carrying far too much weight on my shoulders. The next year I bought an Eagle Creek Continental and am still using it after around 14 months total travel. It doesn't have pockets for papers like the RS bag, but the hip belt works much better (provided I tighten the shoulder straps correctly). If you zip the straps out of sight for flights & posh hotels it looks reasonably presentable. The thing to do with the detachable day pack is to detach it - I carry it across my front instead of in back where is too stealable & would overbalance me. I would recommend a day pack, or something similar, to carry water, camera, map, umbrella, jacket etc, etc. (My packing list is on my web site, www.wilhelmswords.com, in the FAQ section.)
Kathy <email>
Cary, NC USA Sat 06/25/2005

Santorini
I am trying to stay 2 nights in Santorini, from Athens, but I need some help. Any suggestions on Ferries to take, the faster the better, and any affordable hotels to stay in. I understand that the port is in Thira, but should I stay there? Or go to another town? Please any suggestions!
Nicole <email>
Dixon, Ca USA Sat 06/25/2005

Has anyone use the
I am planning a trip to Italy in September and have found a great website www.initaly.com. I am a skeptical person and am a little hesitant to book things online without knowing someone else has used it reliably. Has anyone used this website and booked reservations? If so how was you experience with their services?
Angel <email>
San Carlos, CA USA Sat 06/25/2005

Schengen Countries
The Schengen treaty eliminates customs and passport checks for travel between Schengen countries, which are roughly the countries of the EU, but not exactly. UK, for instance, is not a party to the Schengen treaty; Iceland is. Therefore, when you enter Iceland, bound for another Schengen country, your passport will be checked. You will then be free to visit Iceland or go on to your destination, where your passport will not be checked. Apparently, for people going to non-Schengen countries, their passports will not be checked, but they will be kept separate, unable to actually enter the country, until going on to their destination. It is the same thing as the international lounge in Heathrow.
USA Sat 06/25/2005

E-mail policy
I want to comment on the e-mail policy. Unless you answer an e-mail that was sent to you directly, that person will not have your e-mail address. Unfortunately, unscrupulous persons are attempting to obtain private e-mails. I received 5 replies to my posting from a person from a country in Africa this way, claiming to have "an important business matter to discuss", and asking for my "private e-mail". Do not EVER answer these e-mails. These scams attempt to play on sympathetic people, eventually asking for money to help them to, for example, access their family fortune which is being held in a bank. They may even send you account numbers, bank names, etc. Do not be bamboozled!
Anonymous
USA Sat 06/25/2005

What is the Schengen Agreement?
We are flying to Finland via Icelandair in a few weeks and the Icelandair site talks about separating passengers going to Schengen countries from other passengers upon arrival at Keflavik, and that they rebuilt a part of the airport for this purpose. It doesn't explain much else.
K
MA USA Sat 06/25/2005

Getting into Florence museums
If you want to see the Uffizi and Accademia, all you have to do is go to any Banca Toscana branch, which is the biggest bank in Tuscany, and ask for the David prepaid card w/ Bancomat. It was created to promote the conservation of Michelangelos's David. It is very new ( about 2 mos. according to my B&B ). It comes w/ 2 coupons, one for each museum, and by presenting the coupon reserved for you ( + 1 ), you get in w/ no waiting in line. You do have to purchase the entrance ticket, which isn't much. This was the best advise I got on my whole trip, and it was so worth it ! It is a prepaid card and you charge purchases w/ participating retailers; I got the 50 euro, which was easy to spend.
Sally <email>
Southern Ca., Ca. USA Sat 06/25/2005

Smaller backpacks
This conversation interests me because I've wondered about the unstructured kind of trip -- where you simply get a railpass and take off, and stop when the mood strikes. But since you frequently wouldn't have a hotel or b&b already, you'd find yourself sightseeing with your bag on your back, I suppose? How does this work out? I'm thinking if it were me, I'd travel even lighter -- and I already travel light. I'd travel lighter and take an even smaller bag, even for 7 weeks. I'd probably just depend a lot on handwashables that dry quickly, and not take much. But I'm not young and not interested in fashion, just being clean and easy care! As for the RS bag -- it says it has a padded waistbelt. I don't know backpacks at all and always use my RS bag as a shoulderbag (I love it) -- is the waistbelt not the same as the hipbelts? Evidently not? Unless someone specifically says they've used it as a backpack and it didn't work, I'd still be tempted to order the 20" RS bag, get it in your home, pack it and try it out. You can always return it if it doesn't work. When I was looking for a "daybag/personal item" for our recent trip, I ended up ordering three different computer bags -- Eagle Creek, Crumpler, I forget the third -- and bought the RS Veloce bag, instead. It was more comfortable on my shoulder, less bulky than the others, and I liked the vertical orientation better than horizontal, which is more likely to catch things as you're walking through tight quarters. Half the fun of a trip is planning -- try different bags on for size. If you can, take them home and load them up with your things. Wear them around the house. See which one YOU prefer!
Patricia
Dallas, USA Sat 06/25/2005

Kristin/Switzerland
Kristin -- buy a sweater in Switzerland! You'll cherish it for years. I bought a sweater in the Lake District of England and never put it on without remembering! Have a wonderful trip and report back -- let us know what worked, what you might have done differently, etc!
Patricia
Dallas, USA Sat 06/25/2005

Switz advice - thanks!
Thanks to Bill and others for the tips! Just the experienced advice I was looking for! Think I'll get those silk/micro long undies, and maybe see if I can dig up a thin but warm sweater or fleece as well. Thanks again!
Kristin
Bellevue, wa USA Sat 06/25/2005

Smaller but non-ergonomic bags okay for back? Suggestions for stylish packs?
EB--Thanks for your thoughtful advice! Yeah, that backpack is huge. I will actually be gone for 7 1/2 weeks, but I think I'm just going to pack light. 3 of those weeks will be at a university, but if I need to just buy clothes over there and mail them back, I will. If I get something smaller, like the RS Back Door, do I even have to worry about back strain? Also, can someone tell me how much the RS bag weighs? And your 25% tip is super helpful too, EB, I'm a pretty small woman and I don't weigh very much, so yeah, I really shouldn't be carrying something heavy. As you suggested, I will go try on bags; it does sound like a hip strap and design that otherwise shifts weight to female hips is best (unfortunately, the RS bag just doesn't have that; hopefully they'll come out with a women's version in the future!). I'd love to find a bag that looks stylish too; the RS bag's a little bland for me, and the outdoorsy companies' stuff seems like it would look much better in a campground than a European city. (Hedgren's stuff looks nice (hedgren.com), but is probably not as functional/ergonomic as I'd like.) Any more advice is welcome.
a <email>
Seattle, WA USA Fri 06/24/2005

Austrian Rail's new website - German only?
Well, for all of you who have complained that you can get schedules in English on Austrian Rail's website, but when it comes to ordering, the pages are in German - OEBB now has a new website, and it is only in German! So now you probably can't even find the trains you want, let alone order a ticket. At least that is the status as of Friday night (early Sat. morning in Austria). Perhaps they will add English later.

Meantime, remember that on the western European continent, more people speak German than speak any other language.
USA Fri 06/24/2005

RS- need opinon on REI bag
That's one large bag at over 4,000 cubic inches. I'd reconsider based on that fact. Even though the bag itself is only slightly over 5lb...if you back it with 4,000 cu in of stuff...that's a lot of weight. A month seems like a long time, but think about really just packing for one week, perhaps two. A bag of just under 3,000 cu in should be enough. a lot depends on how tall you are and what you weigh...you shouldn't carry more than 25% of your body weight on your back at any time- especially if you think you will be carrying this bag a lot while walking. I'd hope you'd take the time to go into a store and try bags on...don't buy over the internet until you are sure of the size you need. As far as the detacable daypack...you can always leave that at home...the packs are designed to look great without it. Personally, I used the Eagle Creek ORV trunk on my last trip...but it doesn't have any internal frame, so not great for long treks.
EB <email>
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Need backpack help--opinions on RS Backdoor Bag and others
I had pretty much decided on the RS Backdoor Bag when a friend told me no way would she consider taking it--she pointed out that it's bulky and has no hip straps, and then I noticed it is probably meant for hotel travelers who won't be carrying their stuff around with them all day. So here's my question: Would you consider taking the Backdoor Bag on a trip that will last over a month, will probably involve lots of hiking around, and where you won't have the luxury of leaving it somewhere while you look around? I'm really hoping that the hostels I'll be at will let me leave it with them during the day, but I'm not counting on that. My friend got this bag: http://www.rei.com/product/47858442.htm What I like about it is that it has a supportive frame, hip strap, and is designed carefully to fit a woman's body--she doesn't have to worry about getting a sore back. I don't really like the removable day pack though. So please, share your views on what bags you've taken abroad and how they worked out for you, especially if you were gone for a long time and carried it with you everywhere. I don't really want a camping bag, but I'm dubious about the RS bag. Also: would you need a day bag if you're not going to be away from your main backpack for more than 8 hours? Thanks so much in advance for advice. (Responses from women especially appreciated, as we really do have different center of gravity, shoulder width, torso length, etc.)
a <email>
Seattle, WA USA Fri 06/24/2005

VISA - fees vs cash
We just got home from Italy...a 115Euro charge incured a $4.37 fee from VISA. The exchange rate was 1.27 per Euro. Euro prices are coming down lately...today it was $1.20 - lucky travelers leaving shortly for Europe!
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Niki - trains in Italy, purchasing tickets
You can purchase at the train station. It might be a good idea to go the everning before you plan to leave to purchase. Sometimes the lines at the windows are very long. Rome has self-serve kiosks now, with a credit card you can purchase your tickets in minutes. we just used this for our train from Termini to the airport....went the evening before, bought the tickets, checked out what track it would leave from and went back to our hotel for a good night's sleep!
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Nicole/re Easyjet
The airline's weight and dimensions restrictions are posted on its website. These were checked, but even before I left for vacation I verified that my 2 pieces were in compliance. The airline ground staff in Marignane, where I boarded, was genuinely pleasant. On board, even a bit playful though the plane was crowded and nearly an hour late, they were in control and relaxed.
HG
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Travel documents
I have a feeling that his resident status in the US might not matter. It may depend on his actual country of citizenship. He still has documentation from that country, yes? Depending on the country, he might need a VISA for the Schengen block. You should check with the Spanish embassy in Florida.
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Trav. Documents for Resident Alien
Gertrude.....this could have important consequences for your trip. With that in mind, you might want to get the information directly from the U-S State department in Washington at 202-647-4000. I would assume your father would travel on the passport of the country of which he is a citizen, so if he dones't have one, he'd have to apply for one at their embassy in Washington. But call the State Deparment first, to find out.
Norm <email>
Ottawa, Canada Fri 06/24/2005

Trav. Documents for Resident Alien
My 78 year old dad would like to travel with us to Barcelona. He is not a US citizen, he has a permanent Resident Alien Card. What other documents will he need to travel through Europe if he does not have a passport.
Gertrude Rodon <email>
Miami, FL USA Fri 06/24/2005

trains in Italy
I am going to Italy in July and am planning to take trains between Rome and Florence and then later Florence to the coast and later back to Rome. Do I need to get reservations ahead of time or can I just get them at the station when I'm ready to go?
Nicki
Keene, NH USA Fri 06/24/2005

Easy Jet
I'm currently planning a trip to London, Athens, and Italy. I have been researching low cost airlines in Europe, both Easy Jet and Ryanair. I was wondering if anyone has had experiences on Easy Jet, because as far as I can tell there are not the strict baggage limits with this airline, as there are with Ryanair. Please just let me know if you have enjoyed your experiences with these airlines, or if you have any nightmares. Thank you!
Nicole <email>
Dixon, Ca USA Fri 06/24/2005

Christine~~the passports officals say that you need to carry your passport with you at all times. You never know if something would happen and you needed to show your passport, and if you do not have it with you there could be problems. Your younger children are old enough to where their money belts at all times with their passports in them.
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Car Rental
I have used Argus Rentals, good quailty, good prices, lots of extras. I shopped the net and they were by far the best value for the buck. I have two rentals set for July and August in France and England. The cars will be furnished by Alamo, but not the prices. Check their web site....argus rentals.com
BOB <email>
Enumclaw, WA USA Fri 06/24/2005

argusrentals.com
Has anyone used argusrentals.com? One RS traveler recommended it for car rentals in Europe. Has anyone else had good results using this rental agency?
Jackie
Portland, Maine USA Fri 06/24/2005

visa fees
I spent $1500.00 on visa they charged $47.00, last week.
Bill
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Fees vs. Cash
Can someone please elaborate on the fees Visa is charging for foreign transactions. How high are the fees and is taking cash any better since we get a horrible exchange rate here in the US and the currency exchange also charges a fee?
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Mykonos hotel
For a good hotel in Mykonos, try Makis Place - makisplace.com. Stayed there for a week and it was great. Only 35 USD (this was in September). Excellant pool, very nice room with bath and shower. Maki picks you up from the ferry or airport if you are flying in. A bus stop is right by the hotel - a 10 minute ride. He gave us a ride into town on several occasions. You will like Maki and his place.
Mike
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Passports / Moneybelts
While 5 passports is a lot, I would never advise anyone to carry them around in a purse, unless there is some sort of emergency reason for it - too easy to get the purse ripped off. You're better off carrying a small pouch with shoulder strap across your chest and under a jacket where it's at least a little harder to get at. Better yet, leave them in a safe deposit box at the hotel or in the room safe and carry copies instead.
Tallahassee, FL USA Fri 06/24/2005

Passport / moneybelt question
Christine, Some people may call me crazy, but I carry my passport in a zipped compartment inside my handbag when traveling abroad (not in my daypack or backpack). I don't carry it in my neck pouch, where I stash my cards and large bills. If I had a group that big, I would put them all in a ziplock bag and keep it securely in my hand bag. You could also carry photocopies and leave the originals at your friend's home if you are not traveling too far for your day trips. I used to live in Poland and Russia, and I never carried my passport with me at all times. I carried my student ID card or driver's license. Personally, no one has ever asked me for my passport unless I was traveling or buying train/plane tickets. Maybe others have different experiences.
Sheila
Seattle, USA Fri 06/24/2005

moneybelts/passports/children
I was wondering if you have to have your passport with you at all times. We will be staying with friends every night except three during our two week trip to Germany. Rick Steves recommends everyone carry their own moneybelt, but I'm wondering if it is really necessary for my children to carry their passports during the day when we're doing our day trips. I intend on having them use a moneybelt when we're "traveling" but do they need it on a daily basis. I don't want to, nor could I carry five passports in my moneybelt at once. My younger children are 11 and 14. The older ones are 17 and 19. I'm not worried about them, but I know they'll complain about having to use one, but they will have their own ATM and credit cards.
Christine <email>
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Credit card gouging...
Just FYI there's a good article in the Yahoo Finance section on the new fees Visa is charging for foreign transactions. Apparently Mastercard is going to be jumping on the bandwagon in October as well. Perhaps taking cash is really the way to go these days. Therefore definitely warranting the use of a money belt or bra wallet for women. Use cards only for emergencies, unless you're rich and you don't mind donating money to Visa and Mastercard....like they really need more money!
Liz
GF, ND USA Fri 06/24/2005

Mynonos hotel
Any suggestions for a hotel in Mykonos? We are looking for something convenient to the beach and the town and not too expensive. We're not renting a car.
James Zipadelli <email>
USA Fri 06/24/2005

New Years' Eve Italy
My friend, her husband and son spent New Years Eve on the Amalfi Coast. The weather was great and there was a lot of activity in the town--fire works on the square at Midnight, etc. Sounds good to me.
Karen <email>
MN USA Fri 06/24/2005

Root Beer
To Sarah, Cat and USA - thanks for the feedback, and actually this is my son's idea. He is shaping up nicely as a human being and remembered about Solange's "addiction". And she will be able to make root beer floats with their wonderful gelati in Paris. We will probably take along another gift for the family in general. A friend just back from Paris in May said that they loved the book on 9/11 they took over and so we may do the same thing, since we are from the area, etc. and their Solange was with us just a week when 9/11 occurred. Thanks again!
Riga
USA Fri 06/24/2005

Switz/France
If cost is the only issue, you are better off buying point to point tickets over there than buying them over here. Depending on how much time you have to get the Paris-Switz tickets when you arrive, and how important it might be to be on a specific train, you might be better off getting tickets for that leg over here.

However, just a rail pass would cost more than tickets, and you would still have to pay even more for reservations.

Don't get a rail pass.
USA Thu 06/23/2005

Charles M. Luther
Some years back I had a good friend who was a policeman. He used to come by work occasionally and sometimes bring a friend. We went out to lunch once with a friend of his and during lunch we got to talking about thieves, pickpockets, etc. I expressed the opinion, expressed just below this post, that I could certainly feel a pickpocket because I was always alert. When we went to pay, I found my billfold was missing. I panicked for a moment until the new friend asked me if this was my billfold and held mine out. It was of course. And was this your watch? And your pocketknife? My policeman friend laughed himself silly before he explained the new friend was here to teach a class on pickpockts.

There are three rules for traveling:

1. Wear a moneybelt of some kind, INSIDE your clothes. 2. Be alert. 3. Don't underestimate a professional pickpocket or scam artist. And you all know the old adage: If it looks too good to be true, It is.
USA Thu 06/23/2005

Switz/France
Any tips on going from Paris to Interlakken and back? Should I buy a rail pass or just point to point if this is the only travel between countries I'm going to do? Thanks!
USA Thu 06/23/2005

Prague to Venice
Elisha, I think you have two routes to choose from with two options on each one. You can go through Vienna or you can go through Munich. In either case, you can go from there to Venice during the day or you can take a night train.

The day trains from Prague to Munich or Vienna can probably be reserved when you are in Prague. However, if you prefer one of the night train options to Venice, I would highly recommend advance (a month?) reservations. These are popular trains and often sell out, especially during on summer weekends.

The night train from Vienna to Venice can be booked through the Austrian Rail website, oebb.at. The schedule part is in English, but the ordering is in German. Tickets can be printed online.

The night train from Munich to Venice can be booked through nachtzugreise.de. That site is entirely in German. The tickets can also be printed online.

Maybe a travel agent in Spain can help you with tickets.

The lowest cost option would probably be to take the 9:15 train from Prague to Munich (49 EUR), the 15:30 EC from Munich to Verona, and an IC to Venice (12,40 EUR). You do get into Venice at 11:00pm. The standard fare from Munich to Venice is 88,40 EUR (without the Verona to Venice fare) but if you book early, you can get the Munich to Verona leg on a Europa-Spezial for 29 EUR.

This connection includes a transfer in Munich Hbf from track 31 to track 14 in 15 minutes. It is doable if the Prague train is on time and you know where you are going. The Prague to Munich to Verona connection is listed on the Bahn as a single connection, so they expect you to make it. German trains are usually very punctual, and when a train is delayed, they hold connecting trains to allow passengers to make the connection, but in this case, I don’t know. The 29 EUR Europa-Spezial fare is non-refundable.
USA Thu 06/23/2005

Tilley hat
Bill, believe or not, they do sell all kinds of hats in China if you feel you need one....might be a nice souvenir.
Sue <email>
USA Thu 06/23/2005

New Year's Eve in Italy
We will be spending this coming new year's eve in Italy with our son, daughter, and two of their college age friends. Anyone have any suggestions that would be fun for kids and parents??
Lee <email>
Omaha, NE USA Thu 06/23/2005

Switzerland
Kristen, My wife and I stayed in Interlaken and did day trips up to the mountaintops. We needed the down blanket every night in the B&B. During day we wore shorts, but it is cool up at Jungfrau, Murren, etc, light sweater, poncho would be fine, but evening is a bit cooler. By the way we were there in July also. Have fun.
Bill
Danbury, Ct USA Thu 06/23/2005

Re: John, Croatia Ferries
I did some looking back a couple years, there are limited options, but it seems they grow every year. There are still only a few companies providing service...so cheap will rely on two things. 1. taking a slower boat. 2. Sitting or sleeping on the deck. I do not have updated info, but try this website: http://uk.geocities.com/my_ferries/croatia.html They claim to have info on all Italy-Croatia Ferries. I still am trying to get to Croatia after 4 years, hear it is great, have a good time.
Paul <email>
IA USA Thu 06/23/2005

Root Beer and the French
That's a great i