Rick Steves' Europe: Travelers' Helpline

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Travelers' Helpline: Classic View

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

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RE: RyanAir luggage restrictions
Tom and Paula,

I've found Ryan Air to be brutal with baggage limits. On my last flight with them, my Pack was only a small amount over the limit but that didn't seem to matter - I got 'nicked' with an overweight baggage charge anyway.

After determining that my Pack was over the limit, I had to leave one queue to stand in another to pay the additional charge. After paying I had to return to the original queue and stand in line again (of course I "lost" my original place, so the wait was longer).

As the others have said, you'll probably find that some agents will be "by the book" and will weigh and measure everything, while others will be more "relaxed".

Hopefully your flight won't be the one where they implement the €1 charge to use the WC on the plane (they've been considering that).

Happy travels!

Ken
Vernon Canada 11/7/09
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RE: non registration with police in Italy/e.u.
Frank II,

Thanks for the clarification on that.

I don't think my current Passport has any "biometrics" attached to it, but I suspect that might change when I renew in a few years.

Cheers!

Ken
Vernon Canada 11/7/09
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RE: Southern Italy: Help with accommodations
John & Boni,

Travelling "throughout southern Italy" covers quite a broad area. Which towns / cities in southern Italy are you planning to visit?

When you have a list of destinations somewhat finalized, I'd suggest checking some Guidebooks (including Rick's) or TripAdvisor for suggestions and ratings on Hotels in those locations.

Happy travels!

Ken
Vernon Canada 11/7/09
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RE: non registration with police in Italy/e.u.
Ken....Canadian and Mexican citizens are exempt.

Frank II
USA 11/7/09
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RE: Travel from La Spezia to Cinque Terra
Azim,

When you buy your ticket in Rome, specify whichever Cinque Terre village you'll be staying at as your final destination. That way you won't have to buy an additional ticket when you arrive at La Spezia.

As the others have mentioned, you'll be boarding the local Regionale train in La Spezia, so reservations won't be required. The two stations in La Spezia are Centrale (which is the main station) and Migliarina (which is a smaller station).

If you're travelling to Riomaggiore, the ride from La Spezia will be about 8-10 minutes. Be ready to disembark promptly (even if the train is in a tunnel) as it doesn't stop for long. Be sure you're familiar with the mechanism that releases the door (sometimes this is a button, sometimes a latch that has to be lifted). In Riomaggiore you may have to go through a Sottopassagio (tunnel) to reach the main station platform. If you're travelling to Vernazza, the ride from La Spezia will be about 22 minutes.

Happy travels!

Ken
Vernon Canada 11/7/09
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RE: Rome versus Paris
David,

I've been to both cities and in my opinion they are quite different in character but both are equally wonderful and enjoyable. A few comments on "differences and similarities":

> The Metro is not as well developed in Rome, although a third line is presently under construction (this probably won't be in service for a few years yet).

> Paris has Notre Dame and other impressive Churches, but St. Peter's in Rome is incredible. If you decide to hike up to the roof, you'll find that no building in Rome is taller than St. Peter's.

> The food in Rome is also great (IMHO of course) but of course somewhat different than in Paris.

> At times I've had the impression that Rome is more chaotic than Paris and not as "orderly", but everything always seems to function well in a wonderfully Italian way.

I'm looking forward to returning to both cities in the near future, as they're both awesome!

Happy travels!

Ken
Vernon Canada 11/7/09
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RE: shipping gifts home from germany
Steve,
yeah names change. I just wanted to point out that "post office = slow and cheap vs DHL = fast and expensive" isn't all that meaningful, because the post office is DHL.

I agree with your advice to use the post office though. There may well be other companies which are cheaper than DHL standard or quicker than DHL premium, but the convenience of having a post office at virtually every corner is, at least in my mind, more valuable than that small gain for the average traveler.

Mark
Berlin Germany 11/7/09
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RE: One day in Frankfort
Well, the Christmas market is on for one thing and it is a very lovely one too, IMHO.

I have quite a few posts on here about what to do in Frankfurt for a day or for a layover. Have you already searched this forum?

Not a fan of Ricks walk through Frankfurt, he misses half of the good stuff.

Jo
Frankfurt Germany 11/7/09
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RE: Learn Italian in Italy?
Barbara,

I've also considered studying Italian for a couple of months in Italy, and in my research so far I've found there are LOTS of schools in various parts of Italy. I probably won't be able to pursue this until I retire, but this is always a recurring item that comes up when I'm planning trips to Italy.

You might have a look at www.linguasi.it/en/ or www.it-schools.com/ for examples of some of the language training schools in Italy.

Buona Fortuna!

Ken
Vernon Canada 11/7/09
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RE: London car rental - where??
Thanks for the input. To clarify, we'll fly into Gatwick early Friday morning, cab to our hotel, drop our bags, sightsee around London, spend the night. We'll get up the next day PICK UP A CAR and head for Stonehenge/Avebury, Cotswolds, Ironbridge Gorge, then back to London to DROP THE CAR and stay 3 more nights. Staying in London at the beginning and end of our trip will let us store our 8 extra bags for free (we're moving back to the USA.) Sounds like airport rentals cost more so we should look for something closer to Kensington Gardens?

Lori
Napoli, Campania Italy 11/7/09
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RE: DB passes for regular commuters?
Thanks, that was just the information I was looking for. BTW, are there direct ICE trains between Frankfurt and Brussels? I know Thalys does not service Frankfurt, and as I remember from a previous visit, Mannheim is a very short ride from Frankfurt.

Tom
Somewhere Else Not in USA 11/7/09
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RE: Safe driving
A snowstorm significant enough to affect traffic is unlikely in early November, even in the Alps. Fog is more likely, though.

Tom
Somewhere Else Not in USA 11/7/09
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RE: shipping gifts home from germany
Oops, forgot about the name change when the German post office privatized, at least I know its also not the Kaiserliche Reichspost anymore.

And here in the USA, its not the "United States Post Office," anymore, its the "Postal Service." All though I still go to the post office to buy stamps.

And here in the USA, DHL no longer handles domestic shipping in competition with FedEx and UPS, but they still do international shipping. Things change.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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RE: non registration with police in Italy/e.u.
Beatrix,

When were you in the U.S.? I made a trip to the U.S. last week (by air) and was never asked for either finger print or a retina scan. I wonder if this is something that's applied to travellers at random?

Ken
Vernon Canada 11/7/09
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RE: shipping gifts home from germany
"Though Bundespost owns DHL so that's the easiest, fastest way, but more expensive."

There is no such thing as the "Bundespost" any more. The postal service was privatized in 1994.
They've fully integrated DHL, hence the new name "Deutsche Post DHL". When you use the post office for packets you're using DHL.

Mark
Berlin Germany 11/7/09
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RE: Vernazza vs. Manarola
My favorite was Vernazza, better access to the water than Manarola, nice dining right by the harbor. Great places to stay, check Rick's Italy book for some great recommendations for rooms (affitta camere), there are only two pensions there, lots of rooms for rent.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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Vernazza vs. Manarola
Which town would be better for a home base for 4 days. Any pension recommendations. Joe / Coronado

Joe
Coronado, California usa 11/7/09
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RE: Itinerary for 6 days in Ireland
Joycelyn,

It would help if you give us a sense of what you're interested in. For example, why did you choose these particular places to stay? The more info you can give us, the more helpful we can be.

Michael
Harrisburg, PA 11/7/09
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RE: D Day Civilian deaths
Thanks for this post Norma. Sobering information that should be told. In addition to the Allied soldiers and the civilians that were killed or wounded, I often think of the Resistance fighters as well. Such bravery during that time,

Susan
Sausalito , California 11/7/09
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RE: Rome versus Paris
Joe,, you could be a little more helpful..LOL , , I mean , she did as for opinions and experiences ..not just votes.. LOL

I have a feeling with your last name you may have some interesting experiences to relay.. LOL

pat
victoria Canada 11/7/09
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RE: D Day Civilian deaths
Good post Norma,, its so easy to forget what we all should remember,, war was hard on EVERYONE.

pat
victoria Canada 11/7/09
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RE: Advise on Newark International Airport and flying with Alitalia
We booked flt for Nov21-28 w/Delta out of Newark & the flight is still on Alitalia. So you may book thru another airline & still end up on them! I'm worried about checking bags, so am trying to figure out how i can get all our stuff in carryons only!

Stella
Caldwell, NJ USA 11/7/09
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RE: Frankfurt Pealing of the Bells - 28 Nov.
Jo, how I wish I could be there to listen to the bells! I lived in Wiesbaden for five years and never knew about this. Thank you for telling us about this. Anna

Anna
Lawrenceville, Georgia 11/7/09
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RE: shipping gifts home from germany
Steve, thanks for the info , I kinda figured that, I lived in Germany for 6 years but that was back in late 80s early 90s,Bundespost was great then. thanx again

jim
spring hill, fl us 11/7/09
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RE: One day in Frankfort
Just going into the city would be an easy and fun time. Rick has lots of nice things to do in Frankfurt in his Germany book.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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RE: Help with England Scotland Itinerary - July/Aug.
If you do happen to be in Edinburgh in August 6-28, the Military Tattoo will give you more bagpipes from around the world than you may be able to handle. You sit in huge bleachers just outside the castle, get tickets as soon as you can commit to dates. they go on sale December 1 and popular dates sell out quickly, but there are lots for mid-week shows.

Driving will get you out to the smaller villages you may want to visit. Driving is easy and fun there, once you are outside of London. Rent a car in Scotland and get out!

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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RE: One day in Frankfort
Hope Jo in Frankfurt sees this and can give you some suggestions. Mine would be to get a hotel room and rest for a few hours.

Anna
Lawrenceville, Georgia 11/7/09
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RE: Help with England Scotland Itinerary - July/Aug.
Claudia - I noticed that you posted for July/Aug. When exactly are you travelling? That may change things up a bit since the Edinburgh Festivals take place during August.

http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/festivals

Bonne
Columbus, OH USA 11/7/09
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RE: Seat 61 cautions on Paris-Italy sleepers
Thank you for your terrific website. The detailed info and photos are most helpful!

Adrienne
San Francisco, CA USA 11/7/09
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RE: Queen's Birthday Amsterdam 2010
Sandy -

I was in Amsterdam a couple of days after the 2008 Queensday Celebration and everything was still decked out in orange. Hard to tell what it will be like next year after last years events, but I know that typically it is wall to wall people. Tourist activities are not a good idea on that day - you won't be able to get anywhere. Just thought you would want to know.

Enjoy!!

Bonne
Columbus, OH USA 11/7/09
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RE: Christmas Gift Idea for Paris
Your $50 would translate into about 30 euros (even less if you had to do the exchange in the States), so I would get them a little something rather than “buying” them euros to take to Paris. How about treating them to a concert at Ste. Chapelle (http://www.classictic.com/en/Special/Concerts-in-La-Sainte-Chapelle). Or maybe a wine tasting (http://www.o-chateau.com/select-your-tasting.php). If nothing else, a river cruise would be a very good and safe option, however, your budget would not be enough for a dinner cruise (not worth it anyways), so only do a regular river cruise.

Maryam
Washington, DC 11/7/09
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RE: shipping gifts home from germany
Cheapest, slow post office (Bundespost) Always works for my treasures, takes 2-4 weeks. They have nice boxes for sale, and they are everywhere.

Quickest? DHL, UPS, Fedex Air. Not so easy to find in smaller places. Though Bundespost owns DHL so that's the easiest, fastest way, but more expensive.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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RE: Blue Grotto in Capri and claustrophobia?
I am mildly claustrophobic and I didn't have any problem in the Blue Grotto. Even when the rowboat squeezes through the opening - it all happens so fast, you hardly have time to be nervous. It's quite open inside and so beautiful that it takes your mind off the fact that you are in a cave!

Terry
Lake Country, BC Canada 11/7/09
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RE: Madrid - Granada
Another option is taking the AVE train to Malaga (10-12 trains per day, 2.5 to 3 hours) and a bus from Malaga to Granada (hourly service, two hours). While slightly longer than the direct train, it gives you more schedule options.

Leon
Defiance, OH 11/7/09
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RE: hotel familia paris
Thanks for the recommendation. I think I have the problem solved. Looks like Hotel Familia has two different websites for booking. I had used their official website with no luck. But when I tried the other, which charges a nominal booking fee, I was able to get a confirmation instantly. Many thanks!

Adrienne
San Francisco, CA USA 11/7/09
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shipping gifts home from germany
on shipping gifts home from germany, am looking for the best way to ship it home so it arrives in 1 piece,lowest cost, and or quickest method,Bundespost? UPS ? or any better thoughts thanx - jim

jim
spring hill, fl us 11/7/09
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RE: rental car from France to England?
Thanks, Steve and David. Now I understand!

We'd drive back to Paris for the return flight, so we shouldn't encounter the drop fee.

I appreciate y'all taking the time to help me! Elizabeth

Elizabeth
McKinney, TX USA 11/7/09
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RE: D Day Civilian deaths
Norma: Interesting Normandy stats. The book title is?

The WW2 casualties are staggering, been estimated that total people killed in WW2 (say 1937 - 1945), world-wide, was 60 to 80 million people (those numbers per Wikipedia). That includes 8 to 10% of the total population within the 1937 German borders killed. And the range is so wide mainly due to uncertainty re the number of Chinese killed.

Kent
Pacific Northwest 11/7/09
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RE: rental car from France to England?
A drop-off fee is what a rental company charges if you pick up the car in one place and return it in a different location. If you pick up the car and drop it off in the same country, there's usually no drop-off fee. But if it's in a different country than where you picked it up, there usually is. And it's often shockingly high. Taking a car from France and dropping it off in the UK, I would not be surprised to find the rental car company wanted a substantial extra charge.

David
Seattle, WA USA 11/7/09
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RE: non registration with police in Italy/e.u.
Last time I entered the US I had to get finger printed, had a retina scan AND got scolded for not having registered my planned travel ahead of time online. This last point is a provision that came into effect only this year.

Beatrix
Calgary 11/7/09
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RE: rental car from France to England?
Drop fees are what it costs you to pick up a car on one place and drop it in another. They vary by rental company. You can research them on the big web sites like Expedia and Travelocity. But with Hertz it will be €655 ($971) from France to the UK. Plus the cost of the rental. OUCH!!!

I have dogs, and while I don't like to travel them via cargo, they don't seem to mind a bit.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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RE: Higher Air Fares To Europe
Lower fares were available last week on a three day sale. It may happen again, watch your fares at web sites like yapta.com and farecast.com. When the low fare hits, buy quickly.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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RE: non registration with police in Italy/e.u.
No, but upon entering the country they have to have their fingerprints taken as well as their retina scanned.

Frank II
USA 11/7/09
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RE: affordable travel for Peace Corps volunteer
Olga, you might look into "couchsurfing" or AirBnB. I do not have personal experience with either one, but the son of friends did 2 weeks in Germany couchsurfing before his senior year in college, and came back saying he will never travel any other way! Others on the board have mentioned AirBnB positively. Both are networks of hosts where you stay in someone's house/apartment, perhaps on a couch or airbed but perhaps on a real bed. That also connects you with residents who can give you good advice on things to do, where to eat cheaply, etc. I think the general rule is the farther south you go, the less expensive, so you might look at Spain, Portugal, or Italy to keep costs down.

Kathleen
Reston, VA USA 11/7/09
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Higher Air Fares To Europe
My wife and I flew on British Airways from Washington to London and back in September. The coach fare was $724 each. I just checked with British Airways to see what it will cost us for the same round trip next April, and it comes to $904 each. I knew that fares were going up a bit, but thats $180 per person. A lot more than "just a bit". I'm in a quandary. Should I buy tickets next month as planned, or should I wait a bit longer?

Jim
Lovettsville, va USA 11/7/09
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RE: affordable travel for Peace Corps volunteer
Well, Olga, have you thought about what you mean by saying you want to enjoy the holiday? Would you be going alone or with someone else? Could you meet with someone you already know and like? What country would you like to celebrate Christmas in and what traditions are dear to your heart? Do you just need to get away for a few days and want to be around people who remind you of home? Is religious observation of Christmas important to you? Christmas traditions vary quite a bit in some Western European countries. It is a very family oriented holiday, would that make you feel lonely? Do you have enough time to get there and back and still spend a few days? You didn't say how old you are....Maybe someone on this forum has some hostel information and has some idea what the Christmas season hostel scene would be like. Depending on what you're looking for, maybe you need look no further than Istanbul. For a real celebratory Christmas atmosphere, however, I'd suggest Vienna or Munich. You'd need to get there several days before Christmas, though, because the Christmas markets shut down on the 24th. There you'd find crowds, Christmas music and Christmas cookies. The churches will have midnight masses and perhaps daytime concerts. This is the website for a Munich hostel. Click on the little English flag upper right for an English version. They're open all year and have no age restrictions. http://www.the4you.de/ Best wishes and regards, Anna

Anna
Lawrenceville, Georgia 11/7/09
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RE: non registration with police in Italy/e.u.
Yeah, that's true. It's also true that Italians traveling in the "good old USA" don't have to register with the police, either.

Jim
Lovettsville, va USA 11/7/09
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RE: Hostels for an older solo traveler
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions and even the ribbing from the "older solo travelers" than me. Some great links and leads. Much appreciated.

Steve

Solo Steve
Olympia, WA US 11/7/09
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RE: Go to Fatima from Lisbon
Hi WCK,

Thank you for your reply. Do you think we should book one-night hotel in Fatima? In addition, should we take bus or train, or takeing a a tour bus? Please advice.

Thanks,

Hoi

Michael
SouthBay 11/7/09
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RE: rental car from France to England?
Thanks so much for the information.

Can you tell me what a "drop fee" is?

The link to the other post was very helpful!

Elizabeth
McKinney, TX USA 11/7/09
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RE: Which direction???
Czech Rail Timetable - English.

http://www.vlak.cz/connform.asp?tt=a&cl=E5&p=CD

Trains and Bus - English

http://www.vlak.cz/JRCis.asp?tt=c&cl=E5

JB
Brentwood, CA USA 11/7/09
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RE: Which direction???
Czech Rail Timetable - English.

http://www.vlak.cz/connform.asp?tt=a&cl=E5&p=CD

Trains and Bus - English

http://www.vlak.cz/JRCis.asp?tt=c&cl=E5

JB
Brentwood, CA USA 11/7/09
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RE: Paris...don't want to miss the magic
Sorry,, didn't note that, but if you are flying back out of Paris it still stands. If not, ( flying open jaw into Paris and out of Nice) then everyones suggestion of arriving earlier stands as good advice. On the one and only RS tour I took( a 14 day Family tour with my 12 yr old) we flew into Paris, spent 7 days there, then picked up tour in Rome( flew to Rome one way on Vueling , 80 euros each) then when tour ended in Paris we stayed another 5 days in Paris and flew out of Paris. For us,, we just couldn't find an open jaw flight that wasn't very expensive so this worked. Hopefully you will be luckier that way.

pat
victoria Canada 11/7/09
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RE: Hostels for an older solo traveler
BugEurope and Hostelz.com provides reviews of hostels.

JB
Brentwood, CA USA 11/7/09
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RE: Hostels for an older solo traveler
Older????????????? LOL I am 68 and my daughter and I primarly use hostels when we travel together on a self-guided tour.

You will have no problems.

JB
Brentwood, CA USA 11/7/09
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RE: rental car from France to England?
No pets on the Eurostar train. Only registered assistance dogs are accepted on board.

You can drive a left drive vehicle (like ours in the USA) on the left side in England.

But beyond it being hard to pass someone being on the "wrong side" of the car, are the huge drop fees if you drop a French car in England.

There was a long discussion on this topic elsewhere on the board, putting the car on a ferry, or on the Chunnel car-train. You can find the whole thing at this link.

The best suggestion from there was

"Option 3, take a normal domestic UK train train to Dover (dogs go free of charge), a ferry across the Channel, then a domestic French train to Paris. See the London-Paris train+ferry page for train and ferry times and fares. There's a problem here too, as most ferry companies do not allow foot passengers to take pets, only motorists. However, P&O Ferries (Dover-Calais & other routes) will now accept cats or small dogs with foot passengers under the PETS travel scheme, as long as the dog has the appropriate veterinary cover and documentation, and is carried in an approved PDSA carrier at all times whilst on the ferry. Please confirm by calling P&O Ferries."

Wouldn't this option be ok, as your pet is small and it's only about an hours journey time? "

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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RE: train travel from Edinburgh to Isle of Skye, UK
I took the train in August 1989 from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh. A wonderful trip, but a long time ago, before the bridge to Isle of Skye was built. Even longer ago, Michael Palin made an episode for the series, Great Trian Journeys of the World - he travelled from London to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Wonderful memories, and hard to believe it was so long ago - I really should get back to that part of the world.

Chris
Vancouver, BC 11/7/09
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RE: rental car from France to England?
Yes, you are right. We have already started the rabies titer process.

The difference is that for plane travel to England, dogs aren't allowed to be in the cabin with the owner, all dogs must travel in cargo. At least that is what my research has shown so far!

We prefer to have our small dog travel in the cabin with us, so we're going to fly to another country that allows it.

That's what brings up the dilemma about the rental car!

Elizabeth
McKinney, TX USA 11/7/09
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RE: Paris...don't want to miss the magic
Pat, the tour Grace is going on ends in Nice, not Paris.

Frank II
USA 11/7/09
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RE: train travel from Edinburgh to Isle of Skye, UK
I am not certain, but check on Kyle of Locash. If not, try Inverness then you could get a tour or bus to Skye.

Toni
Charlotte, NC USA 11/7/09
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RE: rental car from France to England?
The rules for entering the UK with a dog are no different regardless of how you enter--plane, train, boat. You will have to go through immigration and customs. And the paperwork is the same.

Frank II
USA 11/7/09
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RE: 2 Weeks in France for WWII history trip
WOW, Paul. What a wonderful graduation gift! My husband and I took a sort of WWII trip in June, 2008. Flew into London and home from Brussels. After a few days in London seeing the remarkable Cabinet War Rooms and the AMAZING Churchill Museum, as well as the Imperial War Museum and the American Memorial Chapel in St. Paul's (and seeing Her Majesty and family on her official birthday celebration in June), we took the Eurostar to Paris for a couple days (day trip one day to Rouen, where my father served in WWII with the 179th General Hospital), then train to Bayeux for 4 nights. We took the Battlebus American Experience Tour and the Band of Brothers Tour; THESE TOURS ARE INCREDIBLE. You will NEVER forget the places and stories, the hedgerows, the beaches, the tiny churches, the cemeteries, and especially the stories of the men who fought or died there. We also visited the beautiful cathedral in Bayeux and also saw the tapestry, which shouldn't be missed if you are there. From Bayeux, we took the train back to Paris, then hopped high speed train to Brussels, where a guide picked us up and drove us to Bastogne. We spent two days touring the Ardennes and many of the small areas where my husband's father's tank unit served in the Battle of the Bulge. We stood in foxholes in the Ardennes. We saw more memorials to the U.S. Army that we ever dreamed. We saw tanks that still sit where they were disabled. Oh, my, I can go on and on. We had so many memorable experiences in those two weeks. We shall never forget. Have fun planning your trip. Your journey will be amazing.

Sharon
TX 11/7/09
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rental car from France to England?
We are traveling to England next year for a dog show. It is complicated to travel by plane with a dog into England, so we thought about flying into a nearby country (probably France), then renting a car and taking a ferry to England.

But I realized that England drives on the "other" side of the road, so I'm not sure if it will be more complicated to drive or if it's even allowed to have a French rental car in England.

Should we take a train from Paris to England and then rent a car once we get to England?

Anyone have advice? Thanks! Elizabeth

Elizabeth
McKinney, TX USA 11/7/09
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RE: Christmas Gift Idea for Paris
Give them some euros and tell them to have a nice lunch.

Norma
Montreal, Quebec Canada 11/7/09
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RE: Learn Italian in Italy?
Barbara, the Italian Consulate in Montreal used to give Italian lessons, and perhaps still does, and if I wanted to pursue that in Italy I would contact the Consulate. Is there a Consulate in Vancouver or Victoria where you could inquire re this? If not, call the Embassy in Ottawa.

Norma
Montreal, Quebec Canada 11/7/09
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RE: travel in Italy with children, ages 8-18
Yes. DON'T !!!

Joe Capparelli
Tryon, N.C. USA 11/7/09
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RE: Learn Italian in Italy?
Do you know where you are going? It might help people recommend a specific school if you said what city/cities you'll be near.

Either way, if you're on a tight budget you could probably find someone on the couchsurfing site who would be down with bartering some English language conversation for some basic Italian conversational skills. Extra bonus: you'll have someone who knows the area well to talk to.

Tamara
Pordenone Italy 11/7/09
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D Day Civilian deaths
So many of us have either visited the Landing Beaches in Normandy, or plan to, it is sobering to remember that many French civilians died then, as well as the Allied soldiers whose cemeteries we visit & honour. In a new book by historian Antony Beevor, he reminds us that 15,000 French civilians died in the bombing preparatory to D Day and 20,000 more were killed during the campaign.

Norma
Montreal, Quebec Canada 11/7/09
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RE: Ordering Parmigianno
Just go on the internet and order. A good quality will run about $18-$20/pound. Buy chunck verses grated or shredded as it will keep longer and not dry out as quickly. Joe

Joe Capparelli
Tryon, N.C. USA 11/7/09
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RE: Rome versus Paris
ROME. ROME. ROME!!!!!!

Joe Capparelli
Tryon, N.C. USA 11/7/09
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Christmas Gift Idea for Paris
Hi everyone! My aunt and uncle are going to Paris for a few days this December and we're thinking of getting them a Christmas gift that they could use once in Paris. We have a smal budget of around $50 so we were thinking maybe a private tour of Versailles or a dinner cruise or something. What do you think? Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

Corrin
Louisville, Colorado USA 11/7/09
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RE: non registration with police in Italy/e.u.

Here's a perfect reason to be thankful for living in the USA. We can travel anywhere in this country we want to, and never have to worry about "registering with the police".

Registering with the police is only for foreign travelers. Italians traveling through Italy don't have to register....just like in the good old USA.

Michael Schneider
New Paltz, NY 11/7/09
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RE: Paris...don't want to miss the magic
I disagree about going early,, I think you should go a day or two before tour( just to get adjusted from jet lag etc) but then STAY after tour. Then you will have gotten the lay of the land from the tour, you will have been taught how to use the metro, you will have seen a few sites you may want to return and see more of,, and the RS guides( as you know) are great at suggesting other sites to see on your free time. You will have time to do these things, plus sit around and enjoy a cafe or glass of wine at your leisure. Plus, if you have befriended anyone on the tour you can meet for a dinner or two, I found on the one RS tour I did that many people did stay on for a few extra days. I had changed hotels from the RS one( I wanted to spend my last 5 days in a different area, plus the RS was too expensive) after my tour ended,, and still was able to meet tour friends.

pat
victoria Canada 11/7/09
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RE: fat tire bike tour in paris
I have taken three of the Fat Tire Bike tours,, and LOVED them, and I am in your age bracket! Hadn't been on a bike for years,, and was a bit intimadated getting on one in Paris ( big city) but my friend wanted to do it so bad she offered to pay for me. So, we did the Night Bike tour( we did have a larger group,, about 20, but we had three guides with us), and had so much fun,, we signed up for the daytrip to Versailles the next day. Also a great trip( we had only about 14 people on our tour). Loved it .

This past trip I was solo, and I did their Giverny Bike tour, and it was one of my best days yet.

I really think their guides do a smashing job.. and the bikes are super comfy,, BIG comfy seats, large thick tires,, and three speeds.

On the night bike tour we encountered few issues with traffic( and this was in summer) we did alot of quieter streets, bike paths, alleys etc. We did have to go up two or three busy streets, but it was actually really fun.. what a great way to see out of the way places and get a basic run down on things( no bikes tours really give indepth history,, more like 'History and sites lite," but they are fun.

pat
victoria Canada 11/7/09
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RE: Problems With Travelocity?
Jim, I just got on the Travelocity site with no problems.

Carroll
Pittsburgh, PA USA 11/7/09
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Problems With Travelocity?
I have logged on to Travelocity 4 times in the past two days, and every time my computer has locked up. The only thing I can do is to cut off the power switch, re-boot, and then try again to access the website. Anyone else have this problem?

Jim
Lovettsville, va USA 11/7/09
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RE: non registration with police in Italy/e.u.
Here's a perfect reason to be thankful for living in the USA. We can travel anywhere in this country we want to, and never have to worry about "registering with the police".

Jim
Lovettsville, va USA 11/7/09
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RE: Travel from La Spezia to Cinque Terra
At La Spezia you can buy three different kinds of tickets:

1. A single train ticket to a particular CT town.

2. A day pass that allows you to travel back and forth all day between La Spezia and Levanto with unlimited stops at all the CT towns.

4. A pass that does the same as #2 and also includes access to the hiking trails between the towns.

Tim
Minot, ND USA 11/7/09
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RE: fat tire bike tour in paris
Cheryl: Please take a look at Bike About Tours (http://www.bikeabouttours.com). We took one of their bike tours about three weeks ago and absolutely loved it - and BTW, I'm 57 and my wife is 52. In addition to the wonderful guides, Paul and Christian, the biggest selling point to us was the small groups they run - no more than 15 (on our day, we were in a 7 person tour). Read the reviews on Tripadvisor and I think you'll be sold.

Roy
Fredericksburg, VA USA 11/7/09
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RE: getting from Amsterdam Airport to Bruges
If you take IC trains from Schiphol to Bruges, you can simply buy your tickets at Schiphol and jump on the first available train. Reservations are not possible on IC trains and your ticket is good on any train.

You will need to make at least one connection (in either Antwerp or Bruxelles). Your route will vary depending upon your departure time. To see for yourself, go to www.bahn.de and click on the drop-down flag menu for English. After you get summary timetables for Schiphol (airport)-Brugge, click on the arrow to the left of each departure time to see the connecting points.

Do not take a Thalys train between Schiphol and Bruxelles. It's expensive and reservations are required.

Tim
Minot, ND USA 11/7/09
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RE: London car rental - where??
It was be better if you rent a car by Gatwick tour the south of England (like Tim says that covers a lot of territory) drop of the car then go into London. If you take a car into London you have to pay a congestion fee which is $11.00 a day if you don't pay that day and pay the next day it goes up to $16.00. There are several places by Gatwick where you could rent a car.

Robin
Troy, Oh USA 11/7/09
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RE: getting from Amsterdam Airport to Bruges
If I were going, I would wait to purchase the ticket at Schiphol Airport once you clear customs. It looks like there are hourly trains. If one isn't available immediately you can purchase your ticket for the next one.

Sharon
Atlanta 11/7/09
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RE: getting from Amsterdam Airport to Bruges
Wait and purchase your ticket at Schiphol. Lines at the ticket windows aren't usually an issue. Seat reservations aren't possible for inter-city trains in Holland and Belgium, it's first come first serve. So there's no real advantage to purchasing your tickets in advance.

Michael Schneider
New Paltz, NY 11/7/09
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RE: One day in Frankfort
Dear Lee, do typos really make you that nuts? Frankfurt Germany is one of few main cities/routes on the way to South Africa. Dear Cathy a 12 hour lay over will just make the already 30 hours worse, if you have not booked/paid try and lay over a couple of nights each way. Castles on the Rhine is good, Porches factory tours... Joanne

joanne
el dorado hills, ca usa 11/7/09
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RE: London car rental - where??
"south England" covers a lot of territory. There are car pick up points all around the outskirts of London which you could reach by Tube that are outside the central congestion zone. What direction will you go first when you pick up your car?

Tim
Minot, ND USA 11/7/09
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RE: fat tire bike tour in paris
We took a walking tour this summer with Paris Walks. I just took a peek at the website, and they have a November schedule there, so I'm guessing they are still offering walks. Go to:

http://www.paris-walks.com/welcome.html

We took the two hour family walk in the Latin Quarter in August, and had a great time; our guide was very informative. It didn't hurt that no one else showed up, so it was a private tour for my family!

Kathy
St. Louis, Missouri USA 11/7/09
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getting from Amsterdam Airport to Bruges
Hello-does anyone have advice on whether or not it's better to buy a rail ticket before arriving in Europe, or to just buy one at Schiphol Airport to get to Bruges? We'll be arriving early in the morning on a Monday morning and I'm a little concerned about being able to buy during a potential rush hour, but also concerned that buying in advance I won't have a good idea of what time we'll be able to get through customs and get on the train. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

ruth
Seattle, WA usa 11/7/09
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affordable travel for Peace Corps volunteer
I am a Peace Corps volunteer in Armenia and want to go to Western Europe for Christmas That means on a VERY slim budget. Here the Christmas is non existent and I want to enjoy the holiday .Any suggestions on a ridiculously low budget?Any decent hostels? I would appreciate any suggestions.Thanks

Olga
Ijevan, tavush armenia 11/7/09
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RE: Excavations Below St. Peter's Basilica
Wow!! Talk about lucky. I sent my request to the Vatican for the excavations about 2 am this morning. When I checked my computer this afternoon, we had been approved for tickets. We had two day window December 14 and 15. So if you are headed there in December, don't hesitate to try even though it may seem late. Super excited!!

Jip
Tampa, FL USA 11/7/09
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RE: Which direction???
Hi Susan,

Here's an option to think about:

Fly London to Vienna (EasyJet from Gatwick);

Train from Vienna to Budapest;

Fly from Budapest to Prague (Smart Wings Airline)--might be easier and even less expensive than a 7 hour train trip.

Fly from Prague to London.

I used Which Budget to check discount airlines between cities and the dBahn to check travel time on rail routes.

Sounds like a fun trip!

Sharon
Atlanta 11/7/09
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fat tire bike tour in paris
we are 4 50-yr-old ladies arriving in paris this friday, for 5 days. we would like a get-acquainted tour first off and are considering the fat tire bike tour. anyone done it? or can anyone recommend a good walking tour still operating in november? I think fat tire's classic walk only goes through october. thx!!

cheryl
gaylord, mn usa 11/7/09
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RE: Helpful instuctions for buying a ticket on the French SNFC website
Tim, your advice is always the best!

Matti
Chicago, IL USA 11/7/09
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RE: Helpful instuctions for buying a ticket on the French SNFC website
If you go to www.tgv.com and choose the UK, you will be bumped to Rail Europe's UK site.

If you go to www.tgv-europe.com and choose Great Britain as your country of residence, the site will remain in English, and you will not be bumped to RE. You can book the same discount fares that are on www.voyages-sncf.com.

Tim
Minot, ND USA 11/7/09
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RE: London car rental - where??

View Larger Map
Heathrow cars will cost more due to airport taxes. If you don't mind driving in London (I did it last April, and did okay driving [parking is another matter, got a ticket at Kensington Gardens]). If you get a car within the congestion zone, you'll get a one day pass so you won't get nabbed as soon as you leave the driveway. Make sure when you return the car, you pay the "toll" online before the end of the day to avoid the fine. easycar can help you with that.

easyCar.com and Avis share a location in Paddington, at, 8 Balderton Street, London, UK, W1K 6TF, two miles from Kensington Gardens.

easyCar (same company as easyJet) has some of the best rates. Everything is ala carte, however, so there are lots of extra charges you can avoid if you are careful.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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London car rental - where??
We're staying near Kensington Gardens in London the day we arrive (through Gatwick.) We want to rent a car to tour around south England for 4 days before returning to the same hotel near Kensington Gardens. I can't find a car rental shop near the hotel. Is it best to TUBE somewhere downtown to get a car or should we train to Heathrow to rent? We'll be picking up and dropping the car at the same spot. Thanks!

Lori
Napoli, Campania Italy 11/7/09
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RE: Paris...don't want to miss the magic
Grace, are you making a statement or asking a question? :)

There's no law that says you can't go over early. When you find out which hotel you'll be staying in with the tour, contact them to see if they will let you check in a few days early --at your expense--so you won't have to move hotels. They may even give you a great rate. If not, there are plenty of hotels in Paris.

You have Rick's France book. Go through the Paris section and mark off the things you want to do. And then leave yourself some time for cafe sitting and people watching.

Personally, one of my favorite things to do in Paris is pick an area and just wander. When you get tired, find a cafe, sit down, order a drink, and watch Paris go by.

Frank II
USA 11/7/09
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RE: Travel from La Spezia to Cinque Terra
We bought tickets at the Central Station (Stazione Centrale) in June and were in Riomaggiore 8 minutes later. No need for reservations. It's just a little regional train. Runs pretty much every half hour. Kind of a hop on, hop off type thing between the CT towns. The tickets we got let us do that all day long (move between towns) on the same ticket.

The woman behind the ticket counter handled it all for us, got us the right tickets, and even walked outside and led us to the right platform! We must have really looked like tourists!

Patrick, Arkansas
Jonesboro, Arkansas USA 11/7/09
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RE: Paris...don't want to miss the magic
This is really a matter of pacing--to allow time for serendipity--and planning, so that you can make good use of your time, turning on a dime in response to the unexpected setback.

Besides cafes, think of parks and walks as opportunities for magic and refreshment of wonder.

I think your posts shows good instincts, so don't worry too much!

Adam
Boston 11/7/09
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RE: IRELAND vs SCOTLAND for Honeymoon
My husband and I spent our honeymoon on the west coast of Ireland and loved it. The weather was cool and rainy but is was so romantic to wander through the small towns, stop in afternoons for tea, find fun pubs at night, and snuggle under fluffy comforters when the weather was too rainy. Now we're traveling with our kids - totally different! Congrats and have fun!!

Lori
Napoli, Campania Italy 11/7/09
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RE: Helpful instuctions for buying a ticket on the French SNFC website
I should think that usually it would be easier to use tgv.com, saying you are from the UK, to buy the same tickets.

Is there something I am missing? I can even get TER tickets on the TGV site, not that I would bother most of the time.

Adam
Boston 11/7/09
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RE: Ironbridge Gorge?
Thanks all, we're going and are all looking forward to it. We LOVE "Discovery Channel" stuff, and this fits right in. Can't wait!

Lori
Napoli, Campania Italy 11/7/09
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RE: Blenheim vs Warwick or both?
Thanks all! We'll try for both Blenheim and Warwick. Our trip is rather badly timed - it seems things are hopping in London (gearing up for holiday season) but many sights in the country are closed or limited. Lucky for us Blenheim is open the day we'll be there, but many of Warwick's fun "kid stuff" runs summer only. Will try for the cathedral in Salisbury, a play in Stratford (my geeky family likes Shakespeare) and have fun wandering in the Cotswolds. Thanks again for all the inspiring input!

Lori
Napoli, Campania Italy 11/7/09
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RE: Docklands in London?
Thanks all! You talked me out of going the Hilton route. I emailed EVERY quad room hotel/B&B in the RS Great Britain 2009 book and they were all filled...except one. Apparently "holiday season" in London starts Nov 20. (And I thought it would be the slow season!) We got in at the Westland Hotel. Best part is that they'll stow our EIGHT EXTRA BAGS (we're moving back to the USA) for no charge while we tour around England.

Lori
Napoli, Campania Italy 11/7/09
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RE: Day trip from London to Paris
All the above info is great because I have been planning on a day trip to Paris, as well. Now, I might just do an overnight trip. Thanks so much!!! Theresa

Theresa
Redmond, WA USA 11/7/09
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RE: Italy's ex-cons get second chance as tour guides
Quiz: Select the most appropriate answer:

Question - Hello, I am a stranger that might have a criminal record and a) I will be helping you today b) I will be on the same plane/train as you today c) I will be in the same airport as you today d) I will be on the same Rick Steves tour with you e) I will be working with you f) All of the above

Ans: f

Peace, Edwin

Edwin
Arlington, VA USA 11/7/09
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RE: Paris...don't want to miss the magic
So go over early to Paris before your tour starts, buy a Le Monde, get a table at a nice cafe with some espresso and enjoy!

And don't go in the height of tourist season to avoid the crazy lines at the attractions. But the cafes are always a good way to find some "magic" in Paris.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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Paris...don't want to miss the magic
I have reserved a spot on a Rick Steves tour, "Paris and the South of France". I have been on two other RS tours, really like the small hotels, the mix of sightseeing and down time, and the way everything is organized so well. My concern is that I don't want to "see all the sights and miss the magic". Which is what happened in Rome last year because it was so crowded. Like I want to spend some time just sitting in cafe's and feeling the atmosphere....

Grace
Apache Junction, Arizona USA 11/7/09
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Helpful instuctions for buying a ticket on the French SNFC website
I found this post on Eurocheapo's blog quite helpful:

http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/france-train-tickets-how-to-book-tickets-on-the-sncf-website-in-french.html

Matti
Chicago, IL USA 11/7/09
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RE: Travel from La Spezia to Cinque Terra
Beatrix, Thanks a lot. One more question - in La Spezia apparently there are 2 stations - Centrale and Main. Which is the one I need to take? I will be coming from Rome to La Spezia and then onwards to CT. Also, for trains to CT do I need to make any reservation ot just buy the tickets at the station? Thanks!

Azim
San Francisco, CA USA 11/7/09
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RE: Iceland Express
Andreas....you're confusing Iceland Express and Icelandair. Iceland Express flies 737's on all its routes. Icelandair flies 757's.

Frank II
USA 11/7/09
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RE: Which direction???
Instead of spending $50 to a company in Germany, why not just go to the top of this page and click on "railpasses." You will get all the information you need on railpasses. You can also download Rick's guide to railpasses.

If that doesn't answer all your questions, call or email the railpass desk at Rick Steves and they'll answer your questions. When you're ready to buy, you can even buy your passes from them. (At one point, Rick sold more railpasses than anyone else in the U.S. Now, he concentrates more on tours.)

However, with your itinerary, I think you'll find point to point tickets will be cheaper than a railpass.

Frank II
USA 11/7/09
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RE: Italy's ex-cons get second chance as tour guides
Hello, my name is Vito, and I will be your pickpocket today.

Frank II
USA 11/7/09
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RE: Which direction???
Saving with a train pass depends on how many days of train travel you'll be using, the length of each trip, and how many side trips you'll be taking.

You should start to research this all out using the "Railpasses" link at the top of the page, compare point-to-point tickets with the passes. Check out discounts on purchasing rail tickets in advance direct from the railroads at their respective web sites. Here's a list:

Ceské dráhy (Czech Rail)

Austrian Railways, ÖBB (in English)

Elvira, Railways of Hungary (English)

For English language rail schedules for all of Europe, the best place to look is bahn.de

My friend Allen at euraide.com can also help by selling you the best priced tickets and/or regional passes for the whole trip direct from their offices in Berlin and Munich. They'll charge you $50 for the service. You can call their US office at 1-781-828-2488. While Rick has the all the Eurail passes (and he is the best place to buy them), he does not sell individual tickets.

You can find cheap airfares from London to Eastern Europe at flycheapo.com, just try different city combinations to find your best route. Lots of discount flights to Prague are available for example from about US$42 on easyJet. skyscanner.net is a great place to check discount carriers fares.

Not sure why you want to do Vienna last, its in between Budapest and Prague. Fly back to London from Hungary, its as low as US$35 on easyJet.

You can train Vienna to Budapest or hydrofoil on the Danube River between the two capitals.

Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/7/09
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RE: Opera Garnier dress code
We went to opening night of a ballet there about 3 weeks ago and were concerned what to wear as well. we wore cocktail dresses and saw everything from what we had on to jeans, dress pants and jackets for women, etc. You will truly be fine in whatever you wear-have fun. It is a beautiful place.

Denise
Hillsdale, MI USA 11/7/09
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RE: Safe driving
Gentlemen,

Thanks!

Craig

craig
Pittsburgh, pa usa 11/7/09
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RE: Printing tickets from Bahn website
Thanks Lee for that information. I'm just in the planning stages of our next trip, and wanted to purchase the Europa-Spezial Schweiz tickets from Munich to Zurich at a later date, and was aware already from reading this site, that all forms of ID must match correctly with plane tickets, train tickets, etc. I think I've got those bases covered, but I know I will need some guidance along the way in my planning. Also thanks for the tip about the Europa-Spezial Schweiz tickets which I learned about from one of your earlier posts; otherwise, I probably wouldn't have known to look for these. This site has taught me so much about European travel. Thanks so much everyone for sharing your experience and guidance to those of us who aren't fortunate enough to travel often.

gina
gadsden, al 11/7/09
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Which direction???
My husband and I will be traveling from London to Prague,Budapest and Vienna this July. We will spend about five to seven days in each location. We plan to fly into and out of the mainland and take trains from city to city. Does anyone suggest any particular order of city travel? Were thinking - fly into Prague train to Budapest train to Vienna fly to London. Also, do you suggest we purchase individual train trips or buy a train pass? Listening for your advice. Susan

Susan
Derry 11/7/09
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RE: "Mauerfall Spezial" - for 20 Euro anywhere in Germany
The problem with those tickets is that unlike with the super-cheap tickets occassionally sold at Lidl's you need to book a fixed train and connection. So you can't just buy 4 tickets or so and then use them up as you please. Also all travels on those tickets must be completed by Dec 1st. But you can use them as a base ticket for a CityNightLine train as well. All in all it's an offer for a very limited audience ;-)...