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...
RE: How do I get a Passion Play Ticket for July 2010?
Kelly, have you gone to the official website yet? The packages that are on offer will be for your hotel for the night, the play and also the meal during the four hour break in the play. If you do not have a ticket for all of this together, it will be impossible to have lunch. Everything is completely booked together. Just book the package deal.
http://www.oberammergau-passion.com/en-us/home/home.html
Jo
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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Will Italy be warm enough in May?
i love beaches and would like to go to italy mainly to flock on the beaches in cinque terre/sorrento/amalfi regions. i'm planning to go for three weeks in may. will it be warm enough to sunbathe and swim?
Helen
San Francisco 11/19/09
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RE: How do I get a Passion Play Ticket for July 2010?
Take your time machine and go back to the day tickets went on sale. Make sure you are one of the lucky ones that day to score a ticket. If you weren't lucky enough and then waited until later to secure a ticket you will need to purchase a package including tours and hotel rooms. That's how those who are tardy in buying tickets can get one for this once every ten year event.
You can also try Craigslist and eBay to see if you can get one from a scalper.
Sorry.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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How do I get a Passion Play Ticket for July 2010?
I'm going to be in Germany next July, and I would love to see the Oberammergau Passion Play, which only happens once every ten years. But the only thing I can find for sale is entire tours. I just need a ticket to the play, and a hotel for one night in that town. Anyone have an idea how to get it?
Kelly
Ramona, CA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
You are backtracking quite a bit, costing you much time and money. Why not land in Dublin, do your tour, then down to London, then over to Paris, after that move on to Belgium and Amsterdam, then over to Northern Germany to Berlin, then start moving South to Munich, etc. ending up in Italy where you can fly home. Please get out a map and figure out a more logical travel plan. Something that keeps you moving in the correct direction instead of East and West and East again or North, South, North.
I like Milan, but I think Berlin is far more interesting. You only have 2 days there! Consider adding more time to this wonderful city.
Jo
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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RE: WHERE TO STAY IN PAIS
Parisattitude.com apartment #3635...$97/night on Ile Saint Louis, the little island behind Notre Dame Cathedral, the most charming neighborhood in all of Paris, imo. Location doesn't get better than that and the apartment is charming. Check out the photos on their website.
Susan
Sausalito , California 11/19/09
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RE: Day trip to Reims
Moet & Chandon (producer of Don Perignon) has a very nice champagne house in Epernay. There are others their also. It's about 40 min South of Reims. They are closed Jan-Feb...
Sam
Gangelt Germany 11/19/09
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RE: One afternoon in Frankfurt
Steve, they have a train layover, so will not be at the airport to utilize the left luggage services there.
Just as a note, the Dom museum is about my least favorite museum Frankfurt, unless you are into priests vestments from the 1400-1600's and chalices, etc. give this a pass. With limited time in the city, please consider some of the other museum suggestions.
Jo
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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RE: Travel Insurance
We have bought trip insurance for the last 7 years for our Europe trips and we are currently 50 and 52 years old and healthy. We buy it for the evacuation coverage if there was an accident. We also bought it for our kids. It is not very expensive when you figure the cost of the trip.
Janet
Maple Grove, MN 11/19/09
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RE: information overload
Andrea as many posters have already stated--this is way too many countries for a 3 week trip. You will get home and feel as if you saw nothing. On one of our trips we spent 3 weeks just in Croatia and Slovenia ending in Venice for 4 nights. Assume you will return!!
Janet
Maple Grove, MN 11/19/09
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RE: North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
On our '07 Italy trip we enjoyed our time in Verona, Padova, and Ravenna. We also visited Sirmione and a number of the villages (Lazise, Bardolino, Garda, Torri del Benaco, up to Riva del Garda at the north end of the lake) along the east side of Lake Garda. On the recommendation of Roberta, who ran the agriturismo we were staying at near lake Garda, we drove to Mantova which is lovely and very untouristy. Mantova is bordered on 3 sides by lakes formed by the Mincio River and the highlight of Mantova is the 13th century Palazzo Ducale. Roberta also recommended stopping at Valeggio Sul Mincio, which is not far from Mantova. Valeggio is also on the Mincio River and is a charming village serving the best tortellini in Italy. We had a rental car and I think you really would need one to visit the villages on Lake Garda. If you haven't been to Venice yet, I would for sure put that on the itinerary. Happy planning!
Janet
Maple Grove, MN 11/19/09
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RE: Day trip to Reims
Tara: Here are 4 champagne caves in Reims: Mumm is closest to the train station. Then these 3 are about 20 minutes, by foot, southeast of the cathedral: Taittinger, Piper Heidsieck, and Martel.
Kent
Pacific Northwest 11/19/09
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RE: WHERE TO STAY IN PAIS
Wow...I've noticed a lot of Andrea's on this forum lately!
I too recommend an apartment. We rented one in the Latin Quarter (5th) for 10 days over New Year's last year. I don't know what "not expensive" means to you. The apartment we rented goes for $1450/week. Check out vrbo.com #5967. The apartment was fantastic and in a really good location. During the period of time you will be there it may be cold (it snowed during that time for us) so luckily there is a metro stop on each end of the small street where the apartment is located. It is also easily walkable to many places. It's up 4 flights of stairs, but the reward is a view of Notre Dame.
Have a great time in Paris...my favorite city!
Andrea
Sacramento, CA 11/19/09
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RE: Babelfish Hostel, Wurzburg
Since you're not getting answers here, a good source of traveler reviews of accommodations is here. Just input the name.
Kent
Pacific Northwest 11/19/09
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RE: England Itinerary
Unless you are doing a Beatles pilgrimage, I wouldn't do Liverpool. There are 100 other places more interesting.
And the one touristy place I would caution people against is Bath. It's way too packed with tourists and Roman baths are not exactly unique in Europe. There must be dozens you could see on another trip somewhere else. Americans just go nuts for this one because it's in a place that speaks their language.
Also, give stonehenge a pass. It's like expecting the Grand Canyon and finding a pothole. But there are wonderful places to go, like the Cotswolds (100 miles west of London), the Lake district (50 miles SW of the Scottish border) and Edinburgh, which has a really cool, medieval feel and is a nice manageable size.
Driving is fine everywhere except London. Driving is necessary in the Cotswolds. If limited to public transport, and time, I would spend about 40% of the time in London, 30% of the time in Edinburgh, and the other 30% in places not too far off that path between the two. But I would rather spend three weeks + and rent a car for two of those weeks. Then you can really see a lot, on your schedule.
Randy
Minneapolis, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: Visiting Terezin Concentration Camp
Only been a few prior discussions, here, of Terezin, to review those click here
And you might want to also post your question here
Kent
Pacific Northwest 11/19/09
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RE: Travel in Greece
Ellen: You may get additional answers if you post this question in the To The East section of this board.
Kent
Pacific Northwest 11/19/09
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RE: Apartment in Paris in July
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p210926
We stayed in this apartment for a week in July and it's location COULD NOT BE BEAT, I kid you not!
It's on Rue de la Houchette which is one short block back from the Seine, just across from Notre Dame. You can stroll from your door to the cathedral in 2 minutes.
Plus it is right on the St. Michel metro stop which is one of the most convenient in the city with direct connections to CDG airport, the Eiffel tower, and Versailles.
On top of that, the street, itself is hub of nightlife, packed with restaurants and shops, but the apartment is set back in a couryard and has NO noise.
It's not fancy, but it's clean and functional. If you are sharing, the price is right at about $170/night, which is cheap for Paris.
I would not recommend staying near the Eiffel Tower unless you want to have to hop the metro to see ANYTHING else. The city center is Notre Dame, three miles away.
If you will be there on Bastille Day (7/14...or 14/7) be sure to come REALLY early (like 5:00) for the fireworks behind the Eiffel Tower. The 3-mile walk back to our apartment (because the metro stops were blocked off) at midnight along the Seine was my best memory of Paris - the ony time our children have ever walked that far and not complained. It was magical.
Randy
Minneapolis, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: Bed & Breakfasts in London
Close by near the British Library is the Methodist International Centre, a Christian hotel and conference center. Filled with students and the top floor is always for travelers. 28 comfortable rooms with nice bathrooms. Sb 140GBP DB 153GBp. Click for their web site. Lots of pictures and booking info. The conference center offers dining in their beautiful Atrium.
The students are gone June-August and you can rent their rooms as well a simple double goes for 45 GBP.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: Florence Airport - May 2010
Thank you Steve & Liz - sounds really easy.
Linda
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Paris on Christmas Day
Yeah, you're probably right...LOL! I'll have to stop evangelizing about it. :-)
Jen
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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RE: Transportation between Edinburgh & Dublin: Dublin & London
Fly via Ryanair.com for both city pairs.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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Bed & Breakfasts in London
We're looking for a b & b in Bloomsbury. Can anyone recommend one? Thanks! Kathy
kathy
tucson, arizona usa 11/19/09
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RE: accomodations in prague
I stayed in a GREAT apartment in Mala Strana. I thought it was pretty affordable compared to a lot of hotels.
http://apartments-in-prague.org/rental-apartments-in-prague/apartment-vlasska-3/
Jen
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
OK, that looks like it can be done. And most of it doesn't even look very brutal.
One thing sticks out, though: Milan. To me, Milan is completely skippable. I'd rather spend those couple of days visiting the Rhine castles and seeing Neuschwanstein, or someplace else in Italy (Sorrento, Siena). And two days in Interlaken? I'd skip that and spend a couple days in Normandy or the Loire Valley. I might shave a day here or there from some of the places you're staying 4 days to get to those places.
But overall, your trip now seems like it won't kill you. I might quibble over some of the details, but we all have different tastes.
Have a great trip.
David
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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Early morning taxi to Lisbon airport
We are staying in an apartment in the Baixa area of Lisbon and have an early morning (8:00) flight home. Does anyone know where we can catch a taxi near the Martim Moniz metro station that early in the morning? Since we are staying at an apartment we can't schedule a taxi through the hotel concierge and our Portuguese is extremely limited. Thanks!
Sue
Chicago 11/19/09
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RE: Venice stay
I adored Locanda Ca'Zose. Really cute rooms and great location, just one "block" from the Grand Canal in Dorsoduro. It's near the Salute church/vaporetto stop. It's on a canal and a few rooms have a canal view.
http://www.hotelcazose.com/index.html
Jen
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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RE: Is this honeymoon possible?
Travel agents are part of a dying industry. The internet has rendered them irrelevant.
As others have said, get a copy of Rick's guide, get an idea of where you might want to visit, and come back to this site with questions. We're happy to help, but the more specific you can be, the more helpful we'll be.
One itinerary note: I'd caution against trying to see too much. You're better off seeing a few places in a relaxed way then seeing a lot of places in a rushed and hectic way.
Congratulations on your engagement!
Michael
Harrisburg, PA 11/19/09
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RE: Venice stay
Another vote here for Pensione Guerrato. Not exactly cheap, but nothing in Venice is. We loved staying there.
David
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: One day in Lyon...
Very useful advice. Thank you!
Gabriel
Pico Rivera, CA 11/19/09
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RE: Is Ireland good without a car?
It depends on how badly you want to go to the Southwest Coast. A car is almost essential for Dingle and Ring of Kerry. If you focus on Dublin and Galway and take a few day tours then not having a car won't affect you much.
Having said that, I'd recommend the car. The Southwest is one of the best part of Ireland to visit. For a week, you should be able to get a car with automatic transmission for about $700-$800. I know you're traveling cheap but two months in Europe must be costing a heck of a lot more than that. It's worth spending a little more to get the most out of it.
Michael
Harrisburg, PA 11/19/09
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RE: What books should I check out before heading to Ireland and the UK?
I really enjoyed Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. Also [oldie but goodie] Katharine by Anya Seton - about John of Gaunt's mistress, Katharine Swynford; it was a thrill to see her tomb in Lincoln last summer. Georgette Heyer wrote a lot of lighthearted Regency romances, and D.E. Stevenson has light novels set in relatively modern times [also writing in the 50s and 60s]. Dorothy Sayers' Peter Wimsey mysteries are also excellent.
Thomas Costain also wrote a very easy-to-read history of the Plantagenets in 4 volumes - I know you said fiction but I can't resist recommending them! And of course that leads me to Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time which clearly demonstrates that Richard III did NOT kill the Princes in the Tower...
Kathleen
Reston, VA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Day trip to Reims
I don't understand David's question. I live 30 min from Napa Valley and it doesn't come anywhere close to the wine regions of France for beauty, history, and culture.
Susan
Sausalito , California 11/19/09
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RE: Sienna
Would you be interested in an Agriturismo that is 10 min from the city walls in Siena? We had an absolutely incredible stay at the Agrit. Marciano. The rates were good & the experience was wonderful. My husband and I agreed that our stay there was the highlight of our recent trip to Italy. It's a working organic farm; they produce wine & olive oil. Breakfast is included in the rate & is served around the farmhouse table; it's a nice opportunity to meet other guests from all over the world. They offer dinner a few nights a week and the food was to die for. Everything is fresh & they pair their own wines with each course. It was a great experience & I thought I'd suggest it in case it's something you might be interested in. Have a great trip.
Sheron
Alta Loma, CA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Getting to Norway/Sweden from....TEXAS!
I'll second the recommendation for the RS tour plus a few days after to explore on your own [either back in one of the cities you've seen, or perhaps in a new city]. His tours do a great job of orienting you to a place and showing you how to get around - at least that was my experience with the Germany-Austria-Switz tour that we did a few years ago. And your interests [hiking, historical sites, cultural vibes] also fit very well with what RS tours offer. Congratulations on the new job, and have a wonderful trip!
Kathleen
Reston, VA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Touring the Brunello Wine Region
Bill: "Patrick, Seems like the professionals in the industry disagree with you..."
They certainly may. Just giving my own opinion. It wouldn't be the first time I've disagreed with experts*, and I'm not the only one who has suggested that Montalcino is something of a Brunello tourist trap.
_____________________
*Although, as I said, I like Brunello. It's a good wine. I just like the Spanish Riojas more.
Patrick, Arkansas
Jonesboro, Arkansas USA 11/19/09
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RE: Day Trips from Rome
I would definitely visit Orvieto; you can easily get there by train from Rome. You don't need a tour for Orvieto. It's very easy to walk around on your own...however I would take the underground tour when you're there. It's an hour-long tour & it's very interesting. I never made it to Ostia Antica but it's definitely on my list for my next trip to Rome. It's also very easy to access via train & you don't necessarily need a tour there. I heard that Rick Steves is putting together an audio MP3 tour for Ostia which might be of interest. Have a great trip!
Sheron
Alta Loma, CA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Dulles - Heathrow; Manchester - Dulles?
With five people, 3 of them around 80 years old, it seems to me you'll need a fairly large car - which may be a problem on some of the smaller English roads. On the other hand, will the elders be able to manage their luggage, or will you and your wife be wheeling double or triple bags? I've done a couple of trips with my 80 year old mother, and with all her meds and other comforts, she needs a 24" bag as well as a 21" carryon. So I usually find myself wrangling one of her bags as well as my own, which can be challenging in trains especially if you have to change. So perhaps a largish car would be the easiest - just load all the bags in and hit the road. Good luck and have fun!
Kathleen
Reston, VA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
You may consider Mobal expensive, but it's really a function of your usage pattern.
We don't make many calls but it's convenient to have a cell phone. The stored value on a OneSimCard SIM expires after 10 months, and then there's a $25 minimum refill. So if you go to Europe once a year you're in to the tune of at least $25 every trip. On my trip to France in May I ran up a total of $18 in charges on my Mobal SIM.
The upfront cost of the SIM is also a consideration, athough currently it appears to be a wash between Mobal and OneSimCard. A Mobal SIM is $19 (it was free when I got mine about a year ago) vs. $40 (with $10 credit) for OneSimCard. Add in shipping for the Mobal SIM and it's about even.
Peter
York, PA 11/19/09
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RE: Venice, Florence, Rome April 2010
Thanks for the replies. We are changing our plans to 3 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Florence and 5 in Rome with a side trip to Pompei. Appreciate your suggestions.
ron
loganville, ga usa 11/19/09
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Venice 2 days 1 night
If you had two days and one night in Venice what would be your favorite activiites? Resturants not to miss, places out of the way?
Suzy
Oakland 11/19/09
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Transportation between Edinburgh & Dublin: Dublin & London
My husband and I are planning to travel independently in Edinburgh and London. We are scheduled for a tour in Ireland. Can anyone suggesttransportation options from Edinburgh to Dublin and then from Dublin to London? We are travelling in May. Thanks, Linda
linda
Yardley, PA USA 11/19/09
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RE: accomodations in prague
My husband and I have stayed twice at the Pension U Zlateho Jelena, Celetna 11, in Stare Mesto. it is right off Old Town square. It was a wonderful location. While it was not a problem for us when our room faced the street, I would ask for a courtyard room if visiting again.
Lois
Lancaster, PA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Day Trips from Rome
Siena is doable...either via train or bus. They take the same amount of time to get there. You can take the bus close to the Tiburtina train station.
Jennifer
Denver US 11/19/09
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RE: staying 3 months in Cinque Terre
Thank you for the link. I will be sure to check it out.
Ryan
Edmonton 11/19/09
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RE: Chester, England
Hello Dorothy, When our friends go to London and ask for recommendations for a bit of the countryside, I suggest the following circuit (involves a bit of backtracking) ---you can start it at any point and go either direction---it's a total of about 500 miles of driving: Winchester, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Avebury, Maiden Castle, Glastonbury, Wells, Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle. Coventry Cathedral is also supposed to be fascinating, but we haven't been there yet. If you look at a map, you will notice that that area has lots of historic attractions and the scenery is very pleasant, although not spectacular like Scotland or Cornwall. Lots of lovely old pubs and inns, too. Also Stratford, Oxford, Cotswolds, but you have probably already visited those.
Cynthia
Monterey County, California USA 11/19/09
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RE: Venice stay
#1 Pensione Guerrato, just over the Rialto Bridge at the Fish Market. Has everything you are looking for.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
You might want to re arrange the last part of your trip to be in Rome last, then fly to Paris.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: Turkey and Greece?
Lee is correct - no problem getting from Turkey to Greece and your Itinerary sounds spot on. I've spent a lot of time in all the places mentioned and you will love them
Greg
Greg
Jupiter, Florida United States 11/19/09
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RE: staying 3 months in Cinque Terre
Hi Ryan - As you can , contrary to the webmaster's request and rule that responders to poster's should stay on subject , there are a few on this site that have to run their mouths. To answer your question try http://www.nerinarooms.it/ It's located in Vernazza, directly on the harbor - reasonably priced and a super location.
Ciao, Greg
Greg
Jupiter, Florida United States 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
Day 1: Arrive in Paris. Days 1-5: Paris. Day 6: Travel to London (2,5 hours trip). Days 6-10: London. Day 11: Travel to Dublin (1,5 hours trip by plane). Days 11-14: Dublin & Irish Tour. Day 15: Back to London (1,5 hours trip by plane) and then travel to Brussels (2 hours trip). Days 15-16: Brussels & Brugges. Day 17: Travel to Amsterdam (4 hours trip). Days 17-19: Amsterdam. Day 20: Travel to Berlin (6 hours trip). Days 20-22: Berlin. Day 23: Travel to Prague (5 hours trip). Days 23-25: Prague. Day 26: Travel to Vienna (4 hours trip). Days 26-28: Vienna. Day 29: Travel to Munich (4 hours trip). Days 29-31: Munich. Day 32: Travel to Interlaken (7 hours trip). Days 33-35: Interlaken. Day 36: Travel to Milano (3 hours trip). Days 36-37: Milano. Day 38: Travel to Florence (2 hour trip). Days 38-40: Florence. Day 41: Travel to Rome (2 hours trip). Days 41-45: Rome. Day 46: Travel to Cinque Terre (4 hours trip). Days 46-49: Cinque Terre. Day 50: Back to Paris.
It will probably still seem a lot of travelling to many of you, but I am happy with this plan. Of course it’s still subjected to change! For those who suggested staying in a sole area, I would love to do that, but I would need more time or know for sure that I will be back. And, although I would love to think that I will go back, I have to be realistic. I’ve been saving up for this trip for years; you should know that 1 euro equals around 5,75 pesos, so it’s very difficult to reach an appropriate amount to travel. Moreover, I plan to start a family after this trip and that will make travelling even harder. Those are probably the reasons why I became so excited and added so many cities to my tour! Thank you all for reading and giving your opinions, I hope you keep helping me!
Natalia
Parana, Entre Rios Argentina 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
Thank you all very much for your opinions! As Bob and Toni said, I wrote down more a wish list than a real itinerary. I already knew it was crazy, and that is why I asked for your advice. I loved that many of you suggested cutting out some destinations, that’s mostly what I expected! The only city I’m not willing to cut out is London, since it’s always been my dream to go there. Maybe some of you don’t find it that interesting because of the cultural similarities; same thing happens to me (as an Argentinean) when I think of Italy or Spain, we are so similar! But what I really expect from my trip is to know different places and cultures, to have different experiences and to mix cities with natural landscapes. Therefore, I won’t either cut out Cinque Terre, Interlaken or the Irish Tour. I started reviewing my itinerary. I’ve already cut out Spain and Portugal. And I added more days to every destination. I like the idea to stay longer time in a few places so as to feel part of the city. I also look for the time I would spend travelling between cities. I went from 21 destinations down to 14.
Natalia
Parana, Entre Rios Argentina 11/19/09
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Venice stay
What are the 3 best places to stay in Venice ? We are staying for 4 days. Want to stay in walking distance to everything. Preferable with a canal view. We want to stay in the $125.00 - $ 170.00 per night. Either a hotel or a B&B.
james
Virginia Beach, VA United States 11/19/09
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American Announced Europe Seat Sale (other airlines sure to follow)
Europe Flight Deals!
Immerse yourself in European culture. Enjoy low fares to exciting destinations like Frankfurt, London and Paris. Discount fares are valid for travel now through April 27, 2010.
Hurry, these sale fares must be purchased by December 3, 2009!
Go to AA.com Europe On Sale!
I found fares from JFK to LHR for 686.10 USD round trip including all taxes and fees.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: A Place To Stay in Melk
We stayed overnight in Melk, and took the morning boat down river (just the pretty part) and then the train from there to Vienna. It was a nice (but quiet) night there.
We stayed at Rick's recommended Gasthof Goldener Stern listed in the Vienna book.
Check boat schedules to see if taking the boat there, overnight and then the train works out for you, or just going on to Salzburg.
You'll want to take time to see the Abbey, though, that is a must.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: need help with train schedule/tickets
Gare de l'Est and Gare du Nord are mainline train stations north of the Seine River and are only a few blocks apart. Trains to Metz depart from Gare de l'Est. Eurostar trains to London depart from Gare du Nord.
The RER is the suburban train system. The lines run underground where they pass through central Paris. The Metro is the Paris subway system. Go here for a zoomable map of the Metro and RER systems.
Orly is south of Paris proper and appears on the map. The black dotted line shows the route of the airport shuttle bus from the Orly Sud terminal to the Orly Ouest terminal and on to the Pont de Rungis RER station. Do not confuse the shuttle bus with the Orlybus which goes into Paris.
Vueling flights arrive at the Ouest terminal. The pickup point for the shuttle bus is at entrance G on the Arrivals level. According to the Aeroports de Paris site, the bus ride takes 10 minutes and costs €2.50 so apparently it isn't free after all.
Follow the yellow RER C line to the east and then to the north to Gare d'Austerlitz. You'll see that you can connect there to the orange Metro line 5 which goes north to Gare de l'Est. Your son will need to follow the correspondances (connections) signs and walk through the tunnels from the RER station to the Metro station. At any station the direction RER and Metro trains are running is indicated by the name of the station at the end of the line. Your son would take the RER C (Direction: Montigny-Beauchamp) to Gare d'Austerlitz and transfer to Metro line 5 (Direction: Bobigny-Pablo-Picasso) and take it to Gare de l'Est. Everything is clearly marked and it isn't as complicated as it sounds. He should keep his ticket until he exits the system.
Yes, your son certainly could take a taxi from Orly to Gare de l'Est, but the fare will be around €35 (more if traffic is heavy because the meter will be running).
Tim
Minot, ND USA 11/19/09
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RE: Is Ireland good without a car?
The places you mention in Ireland are all in the west, where there is really no train transportation. That only leaves you with the bus. You could base in a couple of cities and take day tours from there, but you'd really be much more flexible with a car. Since you have plenty of time, you might start watching how the prices run so that you'll recognize a good deal when you see one. If conditions permit, you can book whatever looks good, and change your reservation if you find something better in the meantime. Many companies let you cancel or change a reservation without a fee.
As for your plan to fly into Dublin, since the things you want to see are all in the west, you might consider flying into Shannon instead. If you do decide to rent a car, it's a lot easier there to get used to driving on the other side since Shannon airport is out in the middle of nowhere instead of on a major street like the Dublin airport.
Nancy
Bloomington, IL USA 11/19/09
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RE: Travel in Greece
Porto Carras is 130km from Thessaloniki airport. A transfer by taxi takes approximately 2 hours. Avoid expensive taxi rates, you can also find "super low cost" transfer fares, a shared shuttle service online. Check with your hotel for recommendations. A taxi from Thessaloniki to Porto Carras costs about 80 EUR. Bus connection to Neos Marmaras (near Porto Carras) is also very frequent.
Airport transfers are provided to easyJet customers by Holiday Taxis (although they will take anybody's money). You can book those at HolidayTaxis.com
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: San Sebastian, Spain
That's exactly what I want to do...we are planning on 3 weeks, starting in Paris...then down the west coast of France (via car), staying where ever we find an intesting town...then into the Basque country (both French and Spanish)...ending up in San Sebastian (with a side trip to Pamplona and Bilboa, and maybe Santander). We are fortunate here in the Bay area to have one of the great Basque restaurants in the US...I intend to find a lot more like it.
http://www.piperade.com/
Bill
San Leandro , CA USA 11/19/09
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RE: "Open Jaw"
The big travel sites like Travelocity and Expedia will allow you to search multi-city flights.
Frequent fliers may need to call their airline to book multi-city using miles. Some can't do that online. But US, United, Delta and American all allow multi-city itineraries using miles if you call in to reserve.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: Help with my itinerary
Before you buy the pass, double check the price of train tickets purchased individually. Divide the cost of your pass by 10 to get the daily average. Your trips will need to be above this to make the pass work out for you.
You might find cheap advance purchase tickets at tgv-europe.com if you can commit to your travel dates. Select UK as your "home" to keep things in English and get the better exchange rate.
For travel suggestions to lots of Rick Steves' "back door" places, try his France and Italy books, clock "Books" at the top of this page.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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A Place To Stay in Melk
As part of our itinerary next April, we are planning a day cruise on the Danube from Vienna to Melk. Am I better off spending the night in Melk (and if so, suggestions for the overnight accomodations)or just going on to Salzburg...via train...after our afternoon in Melk?
Ed
Huntington, WV 11/19/09
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RE: Touring the Brunello Wine Region
Patrick,
Seems like the professionals in the industry disagree with you...check out the top 100 wines from Wine Spectator each year and you will find an unusually large number of Brunello's on the list...
As for staying in or around Montalcino, we stayed here and found it to be one of the most enjoyable experiences we had on our trip (voted #1 in Montalcino)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g635634-d539569-Reviews-Palazzina_Cesira-Montalcino_Tuscany.html
or try their web site:
http://www.montalcinoitaly.com/eng/viseng.htm
The town is great fun, with good restaurants and good local wines. If you go in the middle of October, there is a great medieval festival that will capture your imagination should you decide to stay awhile.
Bill
San Leandro , CA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Day trip to Reims
Thanks for the responses so far. We have travled all the great wine regions of California many times. (Napa, Sonoma, Anderson Valley, Santa Barbara to name a few) We have also been to Paris mnay times, but never our to the Champagne region.
Tara
Oakland, CA 11/19/09
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Help with my itinerary
Long story short - i'm moving back to Florence, Italy to study wine in August. After extensive travel during my last stay (Aug-Dec of 2008) we explored a lot of Europe and learned from many mistakes. We are beginning phases of the trip, getting rail passes, booking hotels, etc. We are purchasing a Select 4 country EuroRail pass for 10 travel days within a 2 month period.
We have 14 weekends + one full week break (per semester). We are currently planning that week trip in France to see the wine harvests in the Rhone and Burgundy region, with a stop in Paris. The only other place we plan to visit (for the third time because its the most beautiful place in the world) is Belgium. Of course some weekend we'll explore Tuscany.
Any suggestions on some places to visit that might be off the beaten path? We've been to most major cities and plan to see some more.
JB
Charleston, SC USA 11/19/09
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RE: "Open Jaw"
Biggest downside for me are frequent flyer restrictions which don't allow open jaw itineraries. But, flights within Europe are dirt cheap so I just add an additional leg on my return flight to the city my round trip ticket is for.
Otter
Santa Clara, CA 11/19/09
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Travel in Greece
I am palnning a trip to Greece in the middle of April, landing in Thessalonkia and going to Porto Carras, Halkidiki, Greece. I'm not sure I want to rent a car. How do I find out what transportaion is available between those two points?
Thank you Ellen
Ellen
Minden, Nevada USA 11/19/09
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RE: Fräulein Maria´s Bicycle Tour, Salzburg
My boyfriend and I took the Bob's tour in September 2008. We both really enjoyed it (and he barely knows the movie)! Our guide drove us by the von Trapp's real home, through the beautiful Lakes area, to the Mondsee Cathedral, Hellbrun Palace, and across from Schloss Leopoldskron (and a few other places).
DW
Bothell, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: One afternoon in Frankfurt
24-hour left luggage facilities are available in both terminals at the Frankfurt airport, perhaps safer than the lockers. (tel: (069) 6907 3277).
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: staying 3 months in Cinque Terre
We don't plan on staying in any other country other then Italy, so we are good. Thanks for the info though.
Ryan
Edmonton 11/19/09
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RE: Train reservations for Germany
Thanks Lee! Given that our trip is next week, it looks like most of the discounted fares are no longer available, so I guess we will have to book the trip in 3 separate legs as you suggest. Thanks again.
sandy
San Francisco 11/19/09
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RE: North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
Hi Liz,
For Bologna we used Lonely Planet and NYT 36 Hours in Bologna
Sharon
Sharon
Atlanta 11/19/09
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RE: Is Ireland good without a car?
You can, but so much of the charm of Ireland is outside the cities. I would get a car, you'll figure out driving on the left very quickly.
You can get good prices on cars at AutoEurope.com or EuropeByCar.com.
The places you mentioned, including Dingle, Kerry, ruins, etc don't have good public transportation connections.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: Travel Insurance
Well, I'm in my 60's and have using trip insurance for the the last several years. It's so cheap...why not?
At the minimum, the total outlay for your trip could justify it, but the medical thing (H1N1!?!) could really add to your costs.
So, before I leave I go to Squaremouth.com, or Insure My Trip, plug in my variables and pick out a lo-cost plan that covers what my VISA and health insurance don't cover.
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: Cinque terra
March might be to cold and stormy for the CT. The rest of the boot should be nice, but for weather forecasts you might want to check the FAQ on this board first.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: One afternoon in Frankfurt
Joy,
We had a layover in Frankfurt a little over a year ago and utilized the lockers to stow our bags while we hit the town. As expected, our bags were safely waiting on us upon our return but the couple we had dinner with had their locker opened and everything stolen. The police informed us that this is a daily occurence and that there was nothing they could do. How very solicitous of them. If baggage check is available, you may want to use that option.
Anyways...after visiting the Dommuseum in the cloisters of the St. Bartholomew Cathedral (2 thumbs up), we ate at Erno's Bistro on Liebigstrasse (2 thumps way up!!!).
Have a great time and be safe...Ed
Ed
Huntington, WV 11/19/09
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RE: Apartment Rental in Brussels
Tom, when we rent apts in Europe we usually rent from VRBO.com, and Homelidays.com.
As with any rental agency make sure that you rent a unit that has been listed for a while. It is really helpful if it has lots of good reviews.
I always ask for the address, turn on Google maps, and check out the street view. If it is on a main street I acknowledge that it may be noisy. This also lets me check out the neighborhood.
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
I assumed you would fly into Milano for a Northern visit, it is a ways to Lake Como if you fly into Venice. You may want to fly into Milan and home from Venice for this trip since you have to change somewhere after flying out of Seattle to get to Milan or Venice anyway and save the long backtrack.
Vareena and Lake Como is not far from Milan.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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Cinque terra
Would you recommend going there in late March? What about the rest of Italy?
ERNEST
RAMSEY, MN. USA 11/19/09
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RE: One Week In Tuscany
Wow! Our trip we're planning for April/May is almost identical. We are flying into Rome and staying 6 nights, taking a 4 hour train to CT and staying 3 nights, picking up a rental car in La Spezia and staying 2 random nights in Tuscany somewhere (maybe Lucca), then a week in Montepulciano (seems like a perfect location to me for daytrips even into Umbria - we will take a day trip by train to Florence), then 4 days traveling up to and staying in Venice.
I don't know where you prefer to stay, but we wanted to stay in apartments as much as possible and many of them in both towns and in country homes/agriturismos require a week stay. They are also usually a better price when you stay for a week.
I've been planning this trip (our first) for a year and feel like that's part of the vacation! Have fun!!
Cindy
Ely, MN USA 11/19/09
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Is Ireland good without a car?
I am planning to take my daughter to Europe for her high school graduation in 2011. The plan (at the moment) is to spend about a month in the UK + Ireland, and another month in Italy/Greece. Right now we’re focused on Ireland, and everything I read seems to say we can’t have a full on good Irish time without renting a car.
I’d love to rent a car, and I’m not worried about driving (although I realized I’d have to do it all since she’ll only be 18), but the cost seems way out of our budget. We’re more of the travel cheap and stay longer mind set, and it seems renting a car in Ireland would rule out visiting one or two other cities.
So I guess what I’m asking is if any of you think we can still have a marvelous visit and experience only relying on public transportation.
Since I know these things are sometimes helpful when asking for help: We’re planning to fly into Dublin, visit Galway and the Islands, see the Dingle peninsula, the ring of Kerry and then leave for Scotland. We like history, the out of doors, and ruins (the more ancient the better). Thanks in advance for any encouragement (or otherwise)!
Shelly
Lawrence, KS USA 11/19/09
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RE: Train reservations for Germany
For a single leg Dauer-Spezial fare, it's possible to start the trip one day and finish it by 10 AM the following day, but you'd have to get up awfully early in Koeln to get to Munich by 10:00. So, you are probably looking at three legs (Frankfurt-Köln, Köln-Munich, and Munich-Frankfurt), at a minimum of €29 for each of you per leg, €261 total.
You could book a SparPreis 50 trip from Köln to Munich and back, and get off in Frankfurt on the way back. No one is going to check to see if you went all the way to Köln. I just saw SparPreis tickets for January for €168 for 2 adults, 1 child. Then go from Frankfurt to Köln via Koblenz on regional trains using a Quer-durchs-Land ticket (weekday) for €44 or a Schönes-wochenende-Ticket (weekend day) for €37. It would take a little longer but allow you to see the scenic Mittelrhein (castle, vineyards) on the way.
I just noticed that you are doing this next week, sorry. Many of the discount fares sell out well in advance. This might be a challenge. I'll send you my email address so we can work this out off-line.
However, you should be able to book the entire trip online on one ticket, but it is not necessary. As long as you are not trying to get discount fares, individual tickets are just as good.
Another possible advantage of online booking could be to get reservations. They will sell an unlimited number of ICE tickets, you just might not have a seat. I don't usually go by express trains, but when I have, advance reservations were not normally necessary. Only one ICE was SRO; all seats were occupied but many were not reserved. I could have bought reservations a few minute before train time, at the counter, and had a reserved seat. The rest of the time (at least 4) there were plenty of seats.
Lee
Denver, CO USA 11/19/09
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RE: "Open Jaw"
Keep in mind that some airlines don't allow you to search an open-jaw trip on their website. I got a great price through Swiss Air flying open-jaw into Rome and out of Venice, but I had to call the airlines to get their prices.
Cindy
Ely, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: Turkey and Greece?
It's not at all difficult to get from Turkey into Greece. It all depends on where you end up in Turkey which Greek island is closest. For example, if you are going to Ephesus the closest Turkish port from which you can travel into the Aegean Sea is Kusadasi. From there you can catch a ferry to Samos, and from Samos you have several options depending on where you want to go next and where you want to end up. Since Santorini, Naxos and Mykonos seem to be among your choices then Samos would be where you want to go first out of Turkey.
Turkish Port <-> Greek Island: Ayvalik>Lesvos Cesme>Chios Kusadasi>Samos Bodrum>Kos & Rhodes Marmaris>Rhodes Fethiye>Rhodes
http://www.ankertravel.net/ferry2.asp
http://www.openseas.gr/OPENSEAS/index_en.vm
Most Greek Island ferry schedules for next year will not be available until a few weeks before they're needed.
I suggest you get yourself a good Greek island guide book such as T. Cook's "Greek Island Hopping" before deciding.
Lee
Global Family 11/19/09
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RE: Paris...don't want to miss the magic
Grace, when we were in Paris last spring we found the time for "just sitting" occured for us at night.
We would come back to our apt after dinner, rest a little, and then head back out ..for dessert.
That was our impetus to get back out after a day of hard touring. Sometimnes I found that taking a shower revitalized me, and we would head out.
One night, using dessert as our excuse to get out and moving, we wandered the park in front of the Eiffel Tower just before Midnight. It was magical. Teenagers and 20 somethings were out on blankets in small goups, listening to music, or just talking. We waited until the special twinkiling lights came on and just marveled at the view.
On other nites we would just find a cafe where there were a lot of people walking by, share a small dessert and drink, and watch the crowds.
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: One day in Lyon...
The food really depends on what you like--I'd ask a local for a recommendation so you can try something authentic. We liked a restaurant called La Nef des Fous Their website can give you an idea of the type of food they serve.
Sharon
Atlanta 11/19/09
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RE: North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
Oh these are such lovely cities! I would add Ferrara--a very easy train trip from Padova, Ravenna or Bologna.
I'd recommend checking out Palazzo Schifanoia and eating there at Al Bridisi (the oldest wine bar in the world) Via Guglielmo degli Adelardi, 11 44100 Ferrara (Emilia Romagna), Italy.
Have a fantastic trip!
Matti
Chicago, IL USA 11/19/09
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RE: Lost Luggage on Alitalia
That could be very helpful information for someone, thanks. And I hope you have good news about your bag today. Hey, at least you were on your way home when the bag was lost, not just starting your vacation!
Nancy
Bloomington, IL USA 11/19/09
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RE: Florence itenarary in March
I second Fiesole. It's not a day trip but rather a bus ride into the hills. There's a very steep walk up to the top of the hill that has the most incredible view of Florence. We were fortunate enough to eat at La Reggia which is slightly up the hill from the view terrace.We sat at the window drinking wine and looking out over an amazing view of Florence at night. The last time the restaurant was closed so we ate at Ristorante Perseus and it was incredible. Other than that, I would shorten Venice to 3 days/2 nights, Florence 3 days/3 nights, drive to Rome stopping in either Siena or Montepulciano, definitely stop in Orvieto and then to Rome.
Teena
lexington, nc usa 11/19/09
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RE: One afternoon in Frankfurt
Many times when we fly in and out of Frankfurt we layover one night. We always find a lo-cost hotel near the Hauptbanoff, and wander the area.
We love to walk South of the river and head over to one of the Appel wine (Apfelwein) restaurants. Our favorite is the Zum Gemalten Haus, on Schweizer Str. 67. It's located in the fun Sachsenhausen neighborhood across the river near the museum district surrounded by lots of shops, bars and restaurants.
It is typical Frankfurt food, its cheap, and the place is always a lot of fun.
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: Estimating costs?
In my experience, cars are always more expensive, even for two or more travelers, than rail.
My last trip for two to Germany we flew into Stuttgart, went by train to Rothenburg, then to Berchtesgaden, and then to the Allgäu, which is the south-west corner of Bavaria, near the border with Baden-Württemberg, just up from Bodensee. While in the Allgäu we made side trips to Lindau and Füssen. Finally we went by train via Ulm to Sigmaringen and the last day we returned to Stuttgart. We traveled almost 900 miles. Total cost of rail was $305 for two people for two weeks. Because we made extensive use of Länder-Tickets, five people would have cost about the same.
A compact car, which would have been fine for two people, way too small for five, would have cost us $452 for the two weeks (Gemut, no CDW). Fuel, per ViaMichelin, would have been another $160, $612 total, so a rental car with fuel would have cost us twice what we paid for rail.
But, that is without CDW. Some people have had a good experience using their credit card for insurance; some have been burned. Using CC insurance is not equivalent to using the train, where you have no liability and no worry. Taking CDW would have added over $300 to the rental, making it 3 times ($971 vs $305) as expensive.
It's hard to hold expenses to $200/day ($100/person) when you are spending $45-$70 per day on a car.
Lee
Denver, CO USA 11/19/09
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RE: Day Trips from Rome
RS lists several good day trips from Rome in his Rome book. Well worth buying. We particularly enjoyed Ostia Antica (and it's really easy to get to).
Michael
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Sienna
Excellent advice about checking to see if it's on a noisy street. We stayed in Siena a few years ago at an RS recommended place - Casa Laura. We decided it should have been called Casa Loud. Our bedroom window opened out onto a major intersection in the historic center. We had no air conditioning but couldn't open our windows at night because of the noise.
Michael
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: WHERE TO STAY IN PAIS
Thank you all for your prompt replies...I will start looking into this as you suggest! Merci beaucoup!
andrea
eugene, oregonUSA 11/19/09
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Turkey and Greece?
I am starting to plan a trip for next year. I am planning to start in Istanbul, then to Ephuses (sp), and then I may or may not have time to do some other areas in turkey. But what I want to do is the greek islands. I was thinking about doing the greek islands by ferry. I understand it is not easy to get from turkey to greece...is this true? I did read about a ferry that goes from ephesus to Samos. I am not sure what islands to do and which to miss I was thinking one night samos one naxos 4 nights mykenos 2 nights Santorini Then I was thinking flying santorini to London.
macboy
N.Van, British Co Canada 11/19/09
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RE: North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
Steve: I checked the train schedules and Varenna seems a bit out of the way compared to the rest of the places on my list. It's a possibility if we fly in or out of Milan, but otherwise might be difficult to fit in?
Lexma: Re small towns and cars, yeah I'm afraid that could well be the case. Unfortunately neither of us feel up to driving and part of the attraction of a European vacation is to go car-free. We loved Orvieto, so ideally a small city that's not full of tourists would work and it sounds like Bologna may fit the bill.
As far as basing in one spot goes, I had originally considered something like 5-6 days in Bologna and 5-6 days in Venice and day tripping around the area on the trains. My three concerns with this idea are 1) Venice is more expensive, 2) I gather Bologna caters more to business travel lodging while we prefer homey B&B style places that are 100E or less a night, and 3) I fear we may miss some of the charms of Verona, Padova, etc. by not staying overnight.
That said, I'm not a fan of Tuesday=Belgium travel, so I'd like to not rush from place to place.
Sharon: Did you use another guidebook to cover Bologna? Any recommendations? I really enjoy Rick's books, but I'm looking forward to seeing some places he hasn't covered. Those blue and yellow covers are just a bit too ubiquitous in some areas!
Liz
Snohomish, WA 11/19/09
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RE: One day in Lyon...
For just $2.40 you download the Lyon chapter of the Lonely Planet France guide just click this link.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
Hi Liz,
Your plan sounds like a great one! My two favorite cities in that area are Verona and Bologna. Make sure they stay on your list! Rick covers Verona in his guidebooks but not Bologna. We liked our stay at Albergo delle Drapperie in Bologna. Nice hotel and excellent location! The restaurants in Bologna are excellent!
Happy trip planning!
Sharon
Atlanta 11/19/09
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RE: San Sebastian, Spain
Sounds great Regina--we drove through St Jean de Luz when we stayed in San Sebastian--it looked really interesting. Now I know that if we return, we should spend more time there! thanks and Happy Birthday!
Sharon
Atlanta 11/19/09
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RE: One day in Lyon...
I don't speak French, but I can understand written French a little because I know Spanish. I was hoping to purchase a guidebook here in the states before my trip so I can plan out my day. I will be there on a Wednesday, but I've already read that there are a couple of street markets that go on during the week. I especially will be visiting Les Halles. I am so much looking forward to trying out the food there and going to the bouchons. Are there any dishes you recommend?
Gabriel
Pico Rivera, CA 11/19/09
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RE: Cardinal Hotel
Hello - yes and there are a lot but only the few few pages are in English. Also, I am more interested in getting reviews of the courtyard apartment, not just the hotel rooms. I was hoping this post might draw some out.
Monique
Pittsburgh, PA USA 11/19/09
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RE: One day in Lyon...
Hi Gabriel,
Do you speak French? My husband is fluent so we went to a bookstore in Lyon and bought a Routard Guidebook for Lyon--they have a good website as well--Routard.com.
I hope that you'll be Lyon on the week-end as they have a wonderful market along the river! We loved the city--especially the food.
Sharon
Atlanta 11/19/09
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RE: Frankfurt Pealing of the Bells - 28 Nov.
The website to hear the bells is on my 2nd post.
Jo
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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RE: iPhone apps for Paris
Hi Laurie,
Two free Paris apps that I love:
The medieval museum in Paris, the Musee du Moyen Age (Cluny Museum), has an absolutely awesome official app with short descriptions of many of the museum's works as well as opening hours, directions, etc. I'm enjoying it even though I don't have a trip to France planned!
There's also an official app for the Louvre, which has much less content but beautiful photos and very short descriptions of a handful of works. It includes visitor information and video clips, but the videos are narrated in French.
Now if only we could get every cathedral to create an app as well...
Emma
Northern California 11/19/09
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RE: North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
Are you planning on staying in one base location for the entire time, or do you plan to have several cities that you'll stay in?
Without a rental car, it would be difficult for you to get to any lovely little towns that aren't covered in any of the guidebooks. Well, and the fact that I'd bet that ALL the lovely little towns in Italy are covered by the guidebooks!
Definitely Venice. I love Bologna; it's a beautiful little non-touristy city with fabulous food, a decent amount of art and culture, and a fun market area. It would make a good base for visiting Ravenna (a definite must-see if you like mosaics), Parma, Modena, etc. Verona is also a lovely little city.
The Piedmont area of Italy is wonderful, beautiful like Tuscany but with less tourist, and also fabulous food, but difficult (impossible?) to get around without a car.
After failing to visit Milan over the course of several trips where we flew into the Milan airport, we visited there for two days several years ago. I really liked it! Also not touristy, some good art museums, lots of good people watching, and despite its reputation as a fashion focus, not everyone was dressed fashionably.
Enjoy!
Lexma
Denver 11/19/09
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RE: One day in Lyon...
I actually stumbled upon Lyon's Metro website and saw that they had a day pass for 4.50 euro. Not bad! Does anyone know of a good guidebook that covers the major areas of Lyon and has a good map inside? I'm surprised that Rick Steves does not cover Lyon in his books.
Gabriel
Pico Rivera, CA 11/19/09
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RE: WHERE TO STAY IN PAIS
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p210926
We stayed in this apartment for a week in July and it's location COULD NOT BE BEAT, I kid you not!
It's on Rue de la Houchette which is one short block back from the Seine, just across from Notre Dame. You can stroll from your door to the cathedral in 2 minutes.
Plus it is right on the St. Michel metro stop which is one of the most convenient in the city with direct connections to CDG airport, the Eiffel tower, and Versailles.
On top of that, the street, itself is hub of nightlife, packed with restaurants and shops, but the apartment is set back in a couryard and has NO noise. It's not fancy, but it's clean and functional. If you are sharing, the price is right at about $170/night, which is cheap for Paris.
If you are on your own, check that same web site "home" for studio apartments more appropriate for 1.
Randy
Minneapolis, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: Florence Airport - May 2010
In another thread, I posted the following about the Florence airport:
1) I assume you're talking about FLR. Sometimes "Florence" gets applied to the airport at Pisa.
2) FLR is on the outskirts of the city core. I think it was about a 20 minute cab ride.
3) The airport is TINY. Only 4 gates. It was very easy to navigate.
4) Because the airport is tiny, they bussed us out to our plane and we had to board from the tarmac.
5) Security was thorough, but very polite. No lines at 7am, which was a blessing since a ticket snafu made us very late for the flight.
Our hotel called a cab for us as they did not offer a shuttle. I believe it cost us 25 euro from the hotel (near Ponte Vecchio) to the airport, which is much closer to Florence than Rome's airport is to Rome.
Liz
Snohomish, WA 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
Steve -- what about data service using a local country SIM? I don't believe you can use a "convenience store" SIM to check your email from your phone. And I won't be running to hand over my credit card information to them either. Say hello to identity theft!
And I paid the same 50 cents or so whether I was calling back to the U.S. or to my Italian hotel for example.
So far I'm unconvinced that there's a better alternative to what I've been using...
Art
New York, NY USA 11/19/09
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RE: 3 Weeks in Europe: Ireland or Mainland Europe?
I should add (from my earlier post) that we have looked into Ireland also, and while I'm sure that the lovers of emerald green would disagree, I think it's more of a 10-14 day trip for people who like to keep busy traveling. When we go (someday) we'll probably combine it with 10-14 more days doing the Scottish highlands.
I would love to go there someday, but it's just about the last place I would go, outside of North America, on someone else's dime.
Randy
Minneapolis, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: Getting to Norway/Sweden from....TEXAS!
Here is a suggestion you may not have considered:
When planning a similar trip two years ago, I never considered Finland - it was too far away across the Gulf of Bothnia - then I read the RS Scandinavia book and discovered the ferry/cruise ship that connects Stockholm to Helsinki overnight. I looked into the price and it was barely more than a hotel room for the night, which means the transport is almost free. Helsinki was wonderful, with great day trips to Tallinn, Estonia, and the lake district resort town of Savonlinna with it's castle. The best part was being able to tell one of my friends that I couldn't be at my class reunion because I was going to be in Helsinki that weekend.
Priceless...
You can take the ship round trip or fly back from Helsinki, as we did.
Randy
Minneapolis, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: Florence Airport - May 2010
Florence airport is very easy to navigate, its really tiny. Just take a shuttle from your downtown hotel early in the morning and enjoy your last night in Italy.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: Train reservations for Germany
Thanks so much Lee! Based on your recommendation, we will book online.
We are going from Frankfurt to Cologne, staying the night in Cologne, then 4 nights in Munich before traveling back to Frankfurt. Is it possible to build a fare for such a trip on DB online? I have not figured out how to. Those stopovers on DB online don't allow you to stay a whole day/several days, do they?
sandy
San Francisco 11/19/09
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RE: Estimating costs?
I figure on $100/day/person. This does not include airfare, but includes a rental car and gas every inch of the way. This is for three trips of about a month each (each with two travelers) in the past twelve months. Each had a few (but not many) days in Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, or London. Admittedly the cost is creeping with the falling dollar, but we can still do it. The bulk of the time is spent outside of major cities. Hostels are out except in remote parts of the UK. Budget hotels are in. Supper is pretty darn nice, but not extravagant. Breakfast and lunch consist of bread/cheese/sausage out of the shopping bag in the back of the car (usually). Cross-channel car ferries are included. A daily shot or two of grog is included. T-shirts are not. Note that RS seems to exclude intra-european transportation in his thoughts. I include it. Cars trump trains for two or more travelers.
Ed
Pensacola 11/19/09
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RE: 3 Weeks in Europe: Ireland or Mainland Europe?
I agree with Randy that Scandinavia (especially on the Company's dime) would be an excellent choice. Oslo is one of my favorite cities!
Toni
Charlotte, NC USA 11/19/09
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Florence Airport - May 2010
My question is similar to another poster asking about the Rome airport in early a.m. My plans are the same except my flight from Florence via Paris and on to Seattle leaves at 7:20 a.m. Do you recommend a hotel shuttle, airport shuttle or hiring a taxi? What are the price differences? Thanks
Linda
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
Day 1-5 London and area Day 6 travel to Wales Day 6-7 Snowdonia area of Wales Day 9 travel to Scotland Day 8-13 Inverness and Highlands Day 14 fly to Oslo Day 14-17 Oslo and area Day 18 travel to Copenhagen Day 19-21 Copenhagen and area Day 22 travel to Prague Day 22-25 Prague and area Day 26 travel to Salzburg Day 26-29 Salzburg and area Day 30 travel to Rome Day 30-37 Rome Day 38 Travel to Barcelona Day 39-42 Barcelona area Day 43 Travel to Madrid Day 44-50 Madrid and area. This is a mix of places I have already seen and love to revisit and new places. Of course if you ask me tomorrow, I'd probably pick differnt destinations. Realize that if you give yourself time, you will probably enjoy anywhere you go!!! Just don't RUSH!!!!!
Toni
Charlotte, NC USA 11/19/09
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RE: staying 3 months in Cinque Terre
First make sure you don't over stay your visa, you get 90 days in Italy.
There are lots of marvelous places to stay, mostly privately run and they only have a few rooms each. You might want to get Rick Steves' Italy book (click Books above) to see a list of his recommended places.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: 3 Weeks in Europe: Ireland or Mainland Europe?
What kind of company is this?!? and do they have any job openings? :-)
Given your two choices, I would choose the ME itinerary. And in fact, we are going to take much the same trip, plus Budapest & Krakow in 5 weeks, this coming summer.
However, under the circumstances, I would highly suggest you go to Scandinavia, instead. We went for exactly three weeks in summer 2008 and loved it. Here was our itinerary: Iceland (on IcelandAir) for one night stopover, Copenhagen 3 nights, Stockholm 2 nights (3 days), night train to Narvik (above the arctic circle in Norway), one night on Lofoten islands, night train down to Andalsnes for one night (Norway), Gieranger fjord cruise, bus to Alesund for one night, short flight to Bergen, Norway for 2 nights, train and fjord cruise to Oslo for 3 nights, train to Stockholm to catch the overnight cruise ship to Helsinki for 3 nights.
The travel expenses were large, as were the costs of food and lodgings. If your employer covers it.....
In the summer Scandinavia is beautiful. Temps in the 70s-80's in the south and 50's-60's above the arctic circle. The capital cities are wonderful, with fantastic museums, and not so large that you get overwhealmed. Stockholm, in particular, will take your breath away as the sun sets and the city lights come up.
Plus, you will be able to come home and tell your friends all about places they have never been, or perhaps never even heard of.
Contact me if you want more specific information.
Randy
Minneapolis, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: planning a trip to Villetta Barrea Italy
Steve gave good advice to get started. I suspect Villetta Barrea is too small to be featured in most guidebooks, so I think the Internet will be your best friend. Consider not only the TA forum, but also Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree or SlowTrav.
How comfortable are you with driving? Italy can be a whole other ballgame in that respect, but on the backroads is a lot different than city driving, which is usually not recommended. If you don't want to drive, you'll have to research public transportation or hiring a driver.
As a woman traveling alone, Italy is no more dangerous than other European cities and most people feel it is safer than American cities! You are far more likely to be the victim of a pickpocket or a scam artist than a mugger/murderer/rapist. While Italian men do have a certain reputation, it's not as bad as it sometimes sounds and it's toned down quite a lot since the 70s and 80s.
The best defense against trouble is knowledge. Use a moneybelt. Pay attention to your surroundings and your belongings. Walk with confidence. Use a moneybelt. Keep some personal space about you if at all possible and when on public transportation, be extra-alert.
While this advice pertains more to big cities, it's good to keep in mind no matter where you are. And if I didn't mention, use a moneybelt! ;-)
One last tip--if you can trace some of your relatives who might still be living there, try to make contact. Then you won't be alone for very long!
Liz
Snohomish, WA 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
Also in the same camp as Ed and Patrick. The computer is now the new dresser drawer for photos. But, ended up saving a bunch of nice entry tickets from Japan, and recently read of laminating them as bookmarks. Fun and practical and cheap I think.
Denny
Columbus, OH USA 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
I don't want to pay $1+ to call in country.
You don't have to change numbers with a Euro SIM, but you will pay roaming while in a different country, and usually much less than the $1+ "international" cards. Recharge is simple in country, but once you leave you should set up with auto-credit card recharge, where you buy can help you do that.
The prepaids are now very cheap in Europe, so that is all I use now. At 5€ they are actually a steal now!
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
Rather than giving us a dream list of cities, why don't you tell us your interests. Then we can suggest some regions/cities for you to explore. I'd give a major organ and an arm or leg to have 50 days to travel! But I'd want to do more than zip through my destinations. What do you want to experience or learn? What is your passion(s)? Art? History? Architecure? Food? Any of these (or many others) could help define your trip and make choices easier. Takes Rick's advice- assume you will come back again! I'll do another post and give you my "dream" 50 day trip.
Toni
Charlotte, NC USA 11/19/09
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RE: Last Minute Passport - is it possible?
Julie nailed it. Do exactly what she said and you'll be okay.
Ed
Pensacola 11/19/09
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RE: Caves in Tuscany
Check out the web page for Grotta del Vento Generally regarded as the best cave system in Tuscany.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: WHERE TO STAY IN PAIS
I have found wonderful studio apartments near Notre Dame for as low as $79 per night on airbnb.com, you book direct with the owner, so no commissions.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: If you could pick just one city to visit: Amsterdam or Vienna
Amsterdam is fun, Haarlem is an interesting day trip. Vienna is stuffy (and I'm old and conservative) and not much constrast to the rest of the agenda, as others have stated.
Ed
Pensacola 11/19/09
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RE: If you could pick just one city to visit: Amsterdam or Vienna
Vienna was an imperial city for many many centuries and has all the elements remaining from those ages. It is a truly historic European city. Beautiful, palaces,museums,etc. Plus all the outstanding charm that has returned after too many years after WWII with Russian heartlessness.
Amsterdam is beautiful but a very small city comparatively speaking with a world class art museum and of course the Van Gogh museum. Charming canals, the interesting north european architecture.
Both good choices but were it up to me, it would be Vienna. More old worldly, still has that Fin de Siecle charm characteristic of a bygone age.
David
Houston, Texas USA 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
I take a small glue stick on my travels and as I am writing in my journal paste small items like museum tickets (some of them are lovely) and restaurant bills in my journal. It makes my journal much more enjoyable. I put the postcards in my photo albums and get a laugh when someone points to one of the postcards and remarks what a fabulous photo it is. I also paste in my journal a currency calculator page from Oanda so I can remember what the exchange was during my trip.
Laurie
Edina, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
Steve -- I've tried buying SIM cards in foreign countries, and while you can usually find them in corner-type stores, you have to keep buying a new one (with a new phone number) every time you go to a different country. And they are not easy to add airtime to. I just want one international cell number for all my trips. The less I have to worry about while I'm traveling the better...
I don't see OneSimCard listed on your website, have you tried/reviewed their service?
Tim -- you would not want to use an international SIM card to make calls while you're in the U.S. as it will be very expensive. If your blackberry is unlocked, then you would just take out your SIM and replace it with the international SIM when you arrive.
I think T-Mobile has an international calling plan, but you should check the rates as they are probably very high. The OneSimCard website shows T-Mobile & AT&T rates along side theirs, but check T-Mobile for yourself.
Art
New York, NY USA 11/19/09
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staying 3 months in Cinque Terre
My wife and I, along with our 1 year old are hoping to spend 3 months in the 5terre, beginning in January. Does anyone have any recommendations of short term lodging? My wife and I enjoyed staying in Cinque Terre 3 years ago, and we would like to take our son to this wonderful place.
Ryan
Edmonton 11/19/09
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RE: Safe driving
Craig,
FYI. Below is a link that tells which countries or in the case of Germany (Bavaria) that require winter tires during specific months.
http://www.edwintertires.com/eurolaws.htm
Lane
Mansfield, GA 11/19/09
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RE: Zagreb to Venice
Trains are fine from Croatia, you'll go right into Austria, make a quick change and back south to Venice.
Its like going from San Diego to Santa Barbara, via Bakersfield, a bit out of the way, but not much.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
Hi Jen, We don't take pictures (strange to many I am sure) and suspect that our immediate and extended family and friends are thankful. Keep brochures/maps/reference books in "future trip" drawers. We do purchase a keepsake from every new Country we visit and enjoy the latest on a mantel in our family room. The rest are kept in an open wall unit. It works for us - 47 Countries, nice memories. Everything else is tossed.
Susan
Derry 11/19/09
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RE: need help with train schedule/tickets
Tim, I appreciate all your helpful information, but I am finding it very confusing. In describing how to get from Orly to Metz you say to take the free airport shuttle bus to the Pont de Rungis RER C Station. Is that a train station? I don't know what RER C means? It seems like it might be much easier for him to just get a cab from Orly to where ever he needs to go to get the train to Metz. All that shuffling around seems overwhelming to me. We are not very familiar with public transportation. Your thoughts? Also, Gare de l"Est and Gare du Nord are both train stations?
Nancy
Vestavia 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
Dear Natalia,
Please revise your dream list to honestly reflect the travel needed. In doing this, you will cut your list in half, but STILL will give you a fantastic trip.
When you have done this, please come back for more specific guidance. Have a great trip!
Bob
Gettysburg, PA 11/19/09
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RE: 4 people in 1 hotel room???
I agree with everything that Kathy said, and would give the same advice. Often, hotels have some quad rooms, but it may not be obvious on their website.
Also, travelling as a family of 4, with 2 middle-school kids, you might want to think about how many 1- and 2-night stays you have. With our kids, at least (who are currently 14 and 10), I'm still doing a lot of the packing and repacking for the 10yo, and giving the 14ho some help. Those shorter stays get old real fast, when you doing a lot of that packing to move to a new hotel.
Lexma
Denver 11/19/09
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RE: If you could pick just one city to visit: Amsterdam or Vienna
Two of my all-time favorite places. Don't think you can go wrong with either.
I'd pick Amsterdam just for a little more contrast with the other cities you are visiting. Have fun.
Brad II
Charlotte, NC USA 11/19/09
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RE: iPhone apps for Paris
I have Rick's App for the Orsay. Its the same commentary as on his free walking tours podcasts, plus pictures, videos, maps, eating guides and more. Very worth the few bucks.
It doesn't use the data plan at all. Also the Metro apps, that don't use data either, are convenient for knowing where to change and what direction to look for in the Metro.
Rick's books are now available as an iPhone for Kindle through Amazon for about $9.00 each. Much better when you're on the street and need to do a quick look-up, but not so easy for planning (due to not being able to flip around).
There are a lot of other great iPhone apps, including Google Maps (and that does use data), that tells you where you are and how to walk to your destination. Shows photo street views of where you are, pretty amazing.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
Do you have to use a different SIM card in EU from the States? I have a quad-band blackberry and will be traveling with a group. The only calls I plan are between us if we get separated. Rather than getting a new SIM, and thus a new number, could I just use my existing SIM and pay the international calling charges? I am with T-Mobile in the States.
Thanks!
Tim
Suwanee, GA United States 11/19/09
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RE: Day Trips in and around Lake Como
Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. Yes we have a hotel, we are staying at Hotel Olivedo, with a lake view.
Suzy
Oakland 11/19/09
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RE: iPhone apps for Paris
Point one. You don't need an app for the Metro. The system is very well diagramed all over every station.
Point two. Turn OFF all data capabilities on the iPhone when you leave the U. S. or you will have an outrageous bill on your hands when you get home. Just walking around with the thing in your pocket will ruin your whole trip.
Ed
Pensacola 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
Better yet is to take an unlocked GSM world phone with you and purchase a SIM card upon arrival. They cost about US$10 and have ten dollars of talk time on them, and can be easily topped off.
Cost per minute is about 4-5 cents domestic. Purchase a scratch off long distance card for about $5, to call the USA, cost is about 5 cents per minute.
You can visit PrepaidGSM.net to see all the options for prepaid SIM cards by country.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
You missed Lake Como's Vareena, lovely town across the lake from Bellagio. Milan, Turin. Get a copy of Rick Steves' Italy (and perhaps Venice) to help you plan the perfect trip.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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RE: One day in Lyon...
If you're not interested in the museums and such, skip the pass. The old (and most interesting part) of Lyon is very walkable. You might not use the metro at all unless you need to get to the center from distant lodging. In any case a single fare is about 1.5 E's per trip.
Ed
Pensacola 11/19/09
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RE: planning a trip to Villetta Barrea Italy
Jacki, pick up Rick Steves Italy book, and his Europe Thru the Backdoor and do some reading. He has some wonderful tips in there for the 1st time Italy traveler.
I assume that you will be visiting other parts of Italy, and that this will be just one of the stops, since it is so close to Rome.
While we have not visited Villetta Barrea we have done road trips out of Rome, and find that renting a car(if you have your own GPS, or get one at the rental agency) is a great way to see and get to some of the local areas. Train travel in Italy is really cheap and easy (bus is pretty good...in some places), but you may have to rely on a small car to get to the small towns.
Jacki, post this same question in Trip Advisor.com, and see if someone there a has experience with this area near the Parco Nationale D Abruzzo.
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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North/Eastern Italy: Early Planning Stage
I'm very tentatively planning a trip, perhaps for May 2010 to the north/eastern area of Italy. While I wait for my holds to arrive at the library, I thought I'd pick the excellent & knowledgable brains here on the Helpline.
The trip will probably be for approx. 12-14 days (not including arrival/departure), and will probably be me and my dad. We went to Rome, Orvieto, and Florence together last year and had a great time. Now I'm looking to concentrate on the northern part of Italy. Nothing is set in stone, except we will not be renting a car, so everything has to be accessible by train/bus/boat/plane/parachute...ok, not parachute.
Possible locations I am considering are Bologna, Ravenna, Verona, Vicenza, Padova, maybe the Lago di Garda region (Sirmione?), and Venice. Some of these would be daytrips, such as Bologna-Ravenna.
Any suggestions from my fellow Italiaphiles with experience in the area? Places I should skip or not miss? Is there a lovely little town not covered in any of the guidebooks that would be worth dropping in on? We like the "usual" stuff--food, scenery, art, architecture, history, churches, etc.
Liz
Snohomish, WA 11/19/09
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RE: Cardinal Hotel
Monique, have you gone to Trip Advisor.com, and looked up other travelers reviews?
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
Ed -- it sounds like Mobal is really quite expensive, which is what I've read elsewhere. You could still just buy a OneSimCard SIM and use it in the phone you already have. Incoming calls are free in many countries. There are also none of the extra charges or contracts that you mention, you just pay for the calls you make. But it IS prepaid, which I prefer, so I have total control over my usage. You can set up your credit card to automatically recharge your airtime once it hits a certain level so you will never run out of minutes.
Ken -- texting worked fine the little bit that I did. You just text like you normally would, and it was around 35 or 40 cents per text. Incoming text messages are totally free.
Art
New York, NY USA 11/19/09
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RE: Sienna
In Europe we generally use VRBO.com and Homelidays.com for our apt rentals. Make sure the place you are considering is "established", and has many customer reviews. We also have had good luck going to the local town web site, and finding apts. there.
Don't forget that the 2nd floor is actually the third, and that many places do not have elevators.
When you are picking a place get the address, go to Google maps, and turn on the Street View. Make sure that the place you rent is not on a noisy main street!
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: Chester, England
I've made a bunch of trips to the UK. On one of the recent ones I went to Chester since since I never had been there and the name sounded intersting. (You can pretty much count on anything with "chester" in it's name having Roman origins.) A waste of time, as others have said.
With that many cities, you've probably pretty well done England and maybe the south of Scotland. For something different, you might consider touring the coast of Wales. Plenty of interesting towns and villages and absolutely the best castles in the world. Cardiff to Conwy (or counterclockwise, it doesn't matter) is an easy four days drive with plenty of stopping time. Maybe six days if you poke around Pembrokeshire. Iron age hillforts all over the place if you are interested in those as well as a bunch of cairns and such.
Ed
Pensacola 11/19/09
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RE: B & B on Isle of Skye
We stayed at the Cliffe House located in Kyleakin this past September. It was a great place to base ourselves while we explored different parts of the island for a few days. It's right on the harbor and all rooms overlook the water. We plan to return again next year. I found the following websites helpful to find B & B accomodation as Trip Advisor's listings can be a bit limited for some areas: www.roomfinderscotland.co.uk and www.visitscotland.com
Karen
West Central 11/19/09
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RE: Zagreb to Venice
Not sure what options you would have if you don't want to take a train, plane, or drive... there are bus connections though.
There are some good trains, however. One leaves at 9AM and arrives at 6:24PM. There is also a night train leaving at 11:35 and arriving at 7:16. Both involve some bus as well.
Try http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml for more options.
Mike
Tampa, FL USA 11/19/09
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RE: Appartments & B&Bs in Rome on Cross-Pollinate
When we rented our apt in Rome we used VRBO.com (#13150)and found a place for only $100US/nite that was little ways out, but was in a great neghborhood; with lovely balconys overlooking a park and a river, and with lots of shops and restaurants.
The one item that is critical is the location, IN REFERENCE TO TRANSPORTAION. Our apt was less than two blocks from a train station( easy access from the airport), and a couple of blocks from two express bus lines that either took us to the Termini area or to the Spanish Steps.
Also make sure that you get the address, Google map the area, and turn on the Street View. If it is on a main street, it could be noisy!
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
Art,
The rates provided by OneSimCard seem to be really good, so I'm not sure if any of the other providers (Call In Europe, Cellular Abroad, Mobal, Telestial, MaxRoam, etc.) can match those.
OneSimCard appears to operate on a "callback basis" using an Estonian phone number. What has your experience been sending & receiving texts with this service?
I've used roaming with my home cell network (Rogers) up until now, but given the current roaming rates I might consider using a travel SIM on future trips.
Cheers!
Ken
Vernon Canada 11/19/09
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RE: Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
Here's the way I handle it. When traveling, I use a seperate cell phone which I bought from mobal.com. It has a UK number and works most anywhere in the world. No monthly charge, no roaming charge, no contract, no prepaid, no buying sim cards, no nothing. Calls show up on my credit card at about $1.25/minute. I keep the thing turned off except to check my home messages once a day and occasionally to call ahead for a room. The drawback is that I get charged at the same rate for incoming calls. In this regard I do turn it on twice a day for an hour at agreed upon times, but only when not traveling with my wife. Paid about a hundred bucks for it several years ago and it still works fine. I/we travel a lot and this seemed the simplest to us. Only other drawback I've found is that when a credit card self-expires and they send you a new one, you have to tell Mobal or you wind up listening to dead air -- the real kicker is they won't take the new CC number/info over the phone so you have to scurry around and find an internet cafe or something.
Ed
Pensacola 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
I really don't want to leave any city out
Köln, Bonn, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Nürnberg, Dresden, Bremen, Hannover, Hamburg. That's just in Germany and there are plenty more places to see there.
Vienna, Zürich, Luxembourg, Milan.
Why do people think Europe is only cities? I've spent about 130 days in Germany, but less than 20 days were in cities. Just in Germany you have Berchtesgaden, Allgäu, Bodensee area, Schwarzwald, Mittelrhein/Mosel, Harz. And those are just some of the places.
The point is, you won't see them all, so don't even try. Think quality, not quantity. Extensively research each city and see what you want to see there. Figure about two, maybe three, sites per day. You'll probably want to spend a lot more time in some places.
I counted 21 cities. That means 20 connections - probably average ½ day per. That's over 10 days of travel. If you spend more time in fewer cities, you will also free up some travel time.
Are you going to pack enough clothes for 50 days, or figured in time doing laundry.
Have you ever before spent 50 days traveling, moving every 2-3 days. That's tiring.
Lee
Denver, CO USA 11/19/09
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RE: Tivoli/Hadrian's Villa: take a tour or go my own way?
The bus to Tivoli takes you pass the bus stop for Hadrian's Villa. I think it was about two stops prior to Tivoli. Ask the bus driver for the stop. Another option would be for a taxi from Tivoli to Hadrian's villa once you were through with Tivoli. That was our plan until we spent too much time at Tivoli. Save it for the next trip.
Frank
Centennial, CO USA 11/19/09
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RE: Apartment in Paris in July
9.) July? does it have AC? (in early June we did not need it.)
10.) get the address and Google map it. Now look at the street view. Is it on a main street? It will be noisy. Look for an apt on a side street.
11.) make sure that has lots of good customer reviews!
.....and most important of all,
12.) is it established? Has it been in the rental pool for quite a while.
Some rental pools allow anyone to post a rental, and some of these are scams. Caveat Emptor. When we were leaving our Rome rental apartment, they asked us if we were leaving early. They had an emergency customer who had been scammed, and needed an apt. ASAP.
13.) is there a local contact that will be available? In every place that we rented in Europe, we always had a question about some apt. feature.
In Europe we rent from VRBO, and Homelidays. Our 1 bedroom apt in Paris was at the top of the 15th, within walking distance of the Eiffel tower, and was only $90 EU/nite.
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: Salzburg or Neuschwanstein?
Sara,
Depending on how much of a time constraint you have, since you say one day is reserved for Salzburg or Neuschwanstein, I would suggest you shorten the stay in Munich by one day and add it to Salzburg. If you can, Salzburg is worth more than just a day trip and should not be rushed. I'm glad you're leaning towards Salzburg.
Spend the extra day in Salzburg, if you can, and then the next morning take the train to Vienna.
Fred
San Francisco 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
I liked what Adam said about longer trips allowing you to slow down a bit. If you stay in a city longer than 2 days, you can become a "regular" at the corner bakery. You can get to know the man who runs the shop across the street. You can actually know the subway system and remember where to get off. You can learn some of the language. With your itinerary, you'll barely be able to keep track of what country you're in.
Maureen
Atlanta 11/19/09
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RE: Best place to get Indian food in London
Find a Convienent crowded place you will fine. if they ask do you want mild or spicy curry. They are not joking and spicy is about 4+ stars i have been to India 2 times and do eat spicy food and it took my breath away for a momment. Good though
John
Brangwin, Wa USA 11/19/09
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RE: Women Banned From Wearing Trousers in Paris
You want to see what everyone is wearing? Just Google map an area in Paris, switch on the steet view, and take a look around.
My wife and I wore jeans everwhere and anywhere we went........and so does everyone else!
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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iPhone apps for Paris
Has anyone used the iPhone apps for Paris? I would appreciate any feedback!
I also seem to recall there being a map for the Paris metro (not through Rick Steve). Any advice there also appreciated.
Any other apps I might need/like to have on my trip?
I'm trying to only take the minimum with me in terms of books (I'm notorious for having 4 guidebooks with me at any given time) so I'm trying to collect all the useful media I can!
Thanks in advance.
Laurie
Atlanta, GA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Portugal - where to stay
What time of year are you going? This could make a big determination on where you might want to visit.
We stayed in Lisbon, Porto, and Tavira while we were in Portugal two XMass ago. We loved all three! Each had something different to offer.
Lisbon has fantastic transportation, and is fun to walk around. In Porto we took the bus or just walked, and just absolutely enjoyed ourselves.(except for the rain during that time of year)
In the Algarve area, Salema and Taviara, etc, are SMALL and fun, but we needed a car to explore the Algarve. We really enjoyed the warm weather and walking in the warm water on the beaches.
Read RS Portugal book. Everything he had to say was "right on the money"!
Check Trip Advisor.com for more reviews on the type of place wher. you are thinking about staying
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: Tivoli/Hadrian's Villa: take a tour or go my own way?
We had a guide for our tour of Hadrian's Villa (not someone I would recommend) and could easily have wandered around on our own. I would say allow three hours for wandering around the villa.
Michael
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Purchasing a music CD in ITaly
Frank's advice is very good. CDs are indeed pricey in Italy. I've also had luck through tower.com. They carry some Italian CDs that even Amazon doesn't (like more Nek, one of my favorite singers).
Michael
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
Photos -- In the past, I have always labeled them and put them in a photo album. For my last trip, I got a digital camera. My pictures looks so nice on my computer, I don't see any reason to print them, though I may print my favorites. I'm still in the process of sorting through them and organizing them. It's very time-consuming (I took 2000 pictures), but it's really fun!
Postcards -- I have had a postcard collection since I was in grade school. I keep most of them in a drawer (a large drawer -- it's been a while since grade school). A couple of years ago I got this photo carousel thing from Pottery Barn which I use to display a selection. It's really great because I can change them whenever I like.
Brochures -- I keep very few, only ones I think I might refer to again (I rarely do). They go in drawer with maps.
Tickets and small stuff -- I put some on my kitchen bulletin board to remind me of my trip. I throw them out after the next trip.
Carroll
Pittsburgh, PA USA 11/19/09
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Cardinal Hotel
Hello. Just wondering if anyone has stayed at the Hotel Cardinal of Florence, located near the Duomo? I have the option of staying in the hotel or the apartment in the courtyard of the hotel (for the same price) and wanted to know what other's experiences were.
Thanks!
Monique
Pittsburgh, PA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Night Train EN 314 - Bologna Centrale to Spiez
Ken,
my actual itinerary is La Spezia Centrale to Interlaken Ost. There are many options associated including day itinerary of about ~7 hours. This is a little long and I would rather by sight seeing. All night options include the EN 314. This is why I'm asking about the specific train.
My wife and I have take 2 night trains. Both experience where fun and different. I have read several post about lack of service and cleanliness on some night trains. This has been my experience with some of the Italian trains. I'm interested to know what others experience are specify EN 314. If people offer bad reviews I might opt for the day train option.
Thanks
Matt
Matt
Milwaukee 11/19/09
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RE: Travel from Zagreb to Venice
There is bus service from Zagreb to Triest. From there you can either change to another bus or catch the train. http://www.akz.hr/EN/voznired.aspx
Jeff
Bend, OR United States 11/19/09
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RE: booking hotels through travel agent v.s. yourself.
We used a travel agent to help capture a flight deal that had just disappeared from kayak.com or someplace. (The price had jumped $500.) But I don't know that you gain much going through a TA for a hotel room, unless you don't want to do the research and contacts yourself.
FWIW, the smaller hotels and B&Bs would prefer you make the reservations directly with them - that way they don't have to pay the fee and a bonus for you is that they might give you a slight discount.
Michael
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Frankfurt Pealing of the Bells - 28 Nov.
Is there any site online that has past ringings in order for us to hear them?
Would love to be there. It has to be awesome.
JB
Brentwood, CA USA 11/19/09
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One day in Lyon...
I plan to spend one day in Lyon while I'm in Paris. I haven't had much time to read into the city's sites, but I did notice there is a One-Day pass for 19 Euro that includes transporation and free entry to many museums. I don't know how much time I would have to visit any museums (I think I'm more interested in the food, sites, parks, etc). Is it worth it to purchase a day pass? How much are the Metro tickets there?
Gabriel
Pico Rivera, CA 11/19/09
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RE: Venice, Florence, Rome April 2010
I have a different opinion, which makes the world go round. I agree with your plans. Two nights in Venice is plenty of time. Florence one day and the majority in Rome. Purchase a few guide books. Each will give u a different perspective on the same sights. You can then determine what you really want to see and then plan how long you want to stay at each location.
Jeff D.
USR, NJ 11/19/09
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RE: Picturesque train ride - northern Tuscany
Most of the trains ride throughout Tuscany are one picture postcard scene after another.
Michael
Seattle, WA USA 11/19/09
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RE: WHERE TO STAY IN PAIS
To keep your costs down why not check out apartments? We did that in June, and found a great one bedroom place with an the Eiffel Tower view.... for cheap ($90 EU/nite). While the top of the Arr 15 is not centrally located, it was 1/2 block from a Metro stop.
But in Jan you should be able to find some great deals near the river.
In Europe, we rent from either VRBO.com, or Homelidays.com. As with any rental agency, only rent from places with a history and terms and payment plans that meet your needs.
steve
gaston, oregon usa 11/19/09
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RE: Venice, Florence, Rome April 2010
Ron, I just got back from Italy last week....basically the same itinerary that you are planning. We flew into Venice and stayed 3 nights, train to Florence for 2 nights, then train to Rome for 3 nights and flew home from Rome. I thought it was a perfect trip. I saw all my "must-sees" in each city and felt like I had experienced each city very well without rushing through stuff. It was my first visit to Italy and I knew I wouldn't/couldn't see everything on this trip....but, the 3-2-3 combination worked very well for me.
Terry
Dallas, TX USA 11/19/09
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RE: Salzburg or Neuschwanstein?
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond! I'm leaning towards Salzburg, with Neuschwanstein on my list of places to visit on another trip. Like Rick always says, "Assume you will return." Happy Travels!
Sara
Chicago, IL USA 11/19/09
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RE: Night Train EN 314 - Bologna Centrale to Spiez
Matt,
Just curious on why you'd want to take a night train on that particular route? For the shortest travel time, the train departing Bologna Centrale at 09:24 and arriving Spiez at 13:53 seems like a better choice (time 4H:29M, 1 change in Milano, reservations compulsory).
Cheers!
Ken
Vernon Canada 11/19/09
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RE: New Newark to Munich nonstop service on CO
I flew non-stop EWR to MUC on Lufthansa last summer. Nie wieder! The only airport worse, in my opinion, than Newark is Philadelphia. At EWR, to get from a domestic gate to the international terminal, you have to go outside security and come back in, and the TSA people at EWR are hostile. Half the workers seemed to have no other assignment than to scream at the passengers. And the food service in the international terminal was minimal and grossly overpriced (probably because they knew you didn't want to leave security to get better food).
At Philly, they still scream at you, but at least all the food service in the terminal is accessible and thus more competitively priced.
Lee
Denver, CO USA 11/19/09
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Using a U.S. Cell Phone in Europe
Does anyone have any experience or horror stories about using their U.S. cell phone overseas?
I've used OneSimCard before and had no problems making calls in the countries I was visiting. The only thing is you need an unlocked cell phone in order to use an international SIM card, but they sell and rent those too. My calls were generally 50-60 cents per minute which seems pretty darn good. Are there any other/better options to consider for my next trip in April?
Art
New York, NY USA 11/19/09
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RE: If you could pick just one city to visit: Amsterdam or Vienna
If art is your passion- Amsterdam. If History or music- Vienna. Food and beer- its a toss up.
Toni
Charlotte, NC USA 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
We do not keep postcards, brochures, etc. However, we do keep individual binders (for each trip) with our itineraries (which includes dates), copy of home pages for hostels, hotels, etc.
And of course albums on our PCs and online of the thousands of pictures we have taken.
I collect pill boxes, patches and stickers from all the countries I have visited. The patches were sewned on my day backpack by a shoe repair man. Yes, I am one of those that travel with my travel history on my back pack which my grandsons suggested.
We also buy posters which hang in the office.
JB
Brentwood, CA USA 11/19/09
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RE: Lost Luggage on Alitalia
Hi,
I know that this was posted in 2007 but during my google search for lost baggage, I came across this discussion. I flew from Rome FCO to Toronto Pearson International yesterday at 10:20am and arriving in Toronto at 2:20pm. I was the last one to check in and check in both suitcases that were wrapped in green security wrap. I only received 1 of my suitcases (the smaller one) and waiting anxiously for my other one which never arrived. I was tired and upset. I then waited in line which seemed like forever to file a report and was told that I would be contacted if my luggage was found. I decided to find it on my own because I didn't feel certain that the airline would be bending over backwards to look for my luggage. I called MANY numbers in Toronto and Italy without much success. I then found this number 'Lost & Found' at Toronto Pearson International and spoke to a very friendly and helpful woman named 'Angela' and she told me that my luggage wasn't in the 'Lost & Found' section (there was only a stroller left behind) and for me to call her tomorrow around 5:00pm because she suspects that it will be on tomorrow's Alitalia flight from Rome to Toronto arriving at the same time (2:20pm). The number is: 1-866-575-0059. I hope that this will help you and anyone who searches for information on lost baggage.
Good Luck.
Isabella
Courtice, Ontario Canada 11/19/09
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Zagreb to Venice
What's the best way to get from Zagreb to Venice? Trains and planes are way out of direction, and a car rental is very expensive. Any ideas?
Tom
San Diego, ca usa 11/19/09
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Travel from Venice to Zagreb
What's the best way to get from Venice to Zagreb?
Tom
San Diego, ca usa 11/19/09
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Travel from Zagreb to Venice
How can I get from Zagreb, Croatia to Venice, Italy? Rail travel involves 4 or 5 transfers, a flight goes way out of direction, a car rental is $700. Any ideas?
Tom
San Diego, ca usa 11/19/09
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RE: Rental car in La Spezia
Thanks again for the good advice. Got what I needed.
Skip
Atlanta, Ga 11/19/09
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RE: Train reservations for Germany
Online tickets from the Bahn are no more than the counter price, and often you can get significantly reduced prices online (although you will have to commit to a specific day and train). The German Rail query page will give you the option of purchasing a round trip, and if you purchase three days in advance and stay over a Saturday night, you can get a SparPreis 50 ticket, which is half the standard price for the first person and half that for the next four "Mitfährer" (co-travelers). If you include your own children under 15 on the ticket, they are free.
If you build the stop in Cologne into the ticket, it might not increase the cost of the ticket.
After reviewing the website, the lowest SparPreis fare would be €190,50, but six Dauer-Spezial fares (Frankfurt-Koeln-Munich and Munich-Frankfurt for three - children are full price on a Dauer-Spezial ticket) could be as low as €174. That's assuming you complete the Frankfurt-Koeln-Munich leg by 10 AM the day after you start. If you are going to stay longer in Koeln, you would have to book three legs.
You could probably put it all on one ticket, but the fare would still be for two or three legs.
Lee
Denver, CO USA 11/19/09
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If you could pick just one city to visit: Amsterdam or Vienna
My wife and I are planning a two-week trip next summer centered around Prague and Budapest. We were planning to fly into Budapest, take the train north toward Vienna/Bratislava, before continuing on the train toward Prague -- spending about four days in each location, plus or minus some time factored in for travel.
My flight will have a layover in Amsterdam -- and I have the option of taking some days there. Just wanted to get a feel of personal preferences: Which itinerary seems more appealing.
A: Budapest to Vienna/Bratislava to Prague B: Amsterdam then fly to Budapest then take the train north (one night in Bratislava to break it up) to Prague
We like art. We like touristy stuff. We love food and beer. We like local flavor. Point being: We are flexible, not really picky. I realize "to each his own", but just wanted to get some opinions here. (Plus, I just enjoy reading other peoples' perspectives.)
Ryan
New Jersey 11/19/09
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RE: Salzburg or Neuschwanstein?
As an Internet discussion grows, the probability that someone will mention Godwin's Law also approaches 1. In fact, if a discussion goes on long enough, the probability of any subject being mentioned approaches 1.
BTW, about the same time that Ludwig built Neuschwanstein, Kaiser Wilhelm I built Hohenzollernburg, a similar castle, at Hechingen, and wealthy Germans were rebuilding previously destroyed castles on the Rhein and Mosel as residences. Maybe it was the era.
Also, as an illustration of the futility of making Salzburg a day trip, note that by express train (RailJet), it's only an hour longer to Vienna than back to Munich. If one were to book the 7:29 RJ out of Munich, they could spend 8 hours in Salzburg and continue, arriving in Vienna by 7:30 PM. And all the travel, Munich to Salzburg and Salburg to Vienna, could be done on a single €29 (per person) Europa-Spezial Österreich ticket.
Lee
Denver, CO USA 11/19/09
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Train reservations for Germany
We are traveling from Frankfurt to Cologne, then on to Munich before heading back to Frankfurt next week. We are wondering if it is necessary to book the tickets for the ICE train in advance through Deutsche Bahn. Are the prices online the same as if we purchased at the DB ticket counter? Do we have to buy one-way tickets for each segment of the trip? We don't see any option online of buying the whole trip in one ticket. We have 2 adults and 1 child in our party. Are there any special tickets we should consider? Thanks!
sandy
San Francisco 11/19/09
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RE: Need travel tips near Nice & Monaco
Visit Villefranche sur Mer and the Rothschild house on Cap Ferrat. Drive the Corniches and visit Eze le Village for the views. Explore the port of Antibes. If you're into art, visit Renoir's house and garden in Cagnes sur Mer.
Grier
Carmel, IN 11/19/09
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RE: Rome Airport
Lisa, I'm not familiar with the area so as best I can recall, the boats to the blue grotto depend on how choppy the water is. However, I suggest you make a new thread with these latest questions, as people with the relevant expertise might not check a thread called "Rome Airport" :-)
P.S. If you mean Pompeii in half a day from Rome, no it's too far.
Liz
Snohomish, WA 11/19/09
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RE: Renting a car from Europe by Car?(ebctravel.com)
I have used Europe by Car several times, they work just like AutoEurope and give you a voucher that you take to the rental counter. Most likely it will be Europcar that provides the car.
Steve
wishing I was in Europe 11/19/09
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WHERE TO STAY IN PAIS
I am coming to Paris for a week Jan 3 and I prefer the area by the river and Notre Dame....but am open....like to walk everywhere....not expensive :) thanks!
andrea
eugene, oregonUSA 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
My-sister-in-law made something for me to take on one of my trips that worked beautifully. She stacked up several small manila envelopes with the metal clasps, punched holes in the closed end and inserted brads to form sort of a book. Each day I put my accumulated tickets, brochures, in an envelope and journaled on the outside about the day's activities. On the front and back she attached a ribbon to keep it closed. It was small, didn't take up much room and at the end of the trip everything was neat and organized. Photos go in a scrapbook (1st trip) or a photo album just for that trip, postcards go in one of this old fashioned albums with the lick and stick corners so they can be removed. All very organized....now what do I do with the huge bag of other stuff I can't make myself throw away???
Teena
lexington, nc usa 11/19/09
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RE: showing credit card on train?
If you use Bahn.de, it will eventually take you to the German Rail Query Page, here. Might as well start there.
Be sure to put in your planned date, not today's date. The Dauer-Spezial fares only show up for dates three days in advance.
When you click "Check availability", if the lowest fare is no longer available on that connection, it will show you "Single ride no longer available". If you click "Change connection", it will return you to the connections page and the lowest fare still available for each connection will be shown.
Lee
Denver, CO USA 11/19/09
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RE: Dulles - Heathrow; Manchester - Dulles?
David - Yes train travel can be expensive in England if you buy tickets the day of your travel. If you know your travel dates, you can get great saving thru the National Express Rail. For example London-York for as low as £13.00 per person. Bath-London for as low as £10.00 per person.
Joel
Tempe, AZ USA 11/19/09
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Picturesque train ride - northern Tuscany
I was recently reading that there is a beautiful train ride through the Apuan Alps between Aulla and Lucca. Does anyone know anything about this or other train rides in that area?
Cindy
Ely, MN USA 11/19/09
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RE: Day Trips in and around Lake Como
Villa Carlotta is across the lake and is definitely worth a visit--nice gardens to walk through. Also the gardens at the monastery in Varenna are very nice. Bellagio is great for shopping.
Susan
Atlanta, Ga USA 11/19/09
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Caves in Tuscany
We will be in Tuscany the beginning of May and are looking for some things to do that will be interesting to our two teenaged boys. I have read about some amazing caves in northern Tuscany around Lucca. Can anyone tell me anything about them? We will also be staying further south in Tuscany later on and would be interested if there are any in other parts of Tuscany, as well.
Cindy
Ely, MN USA 11/19/09
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Another Travelodge Sale- £9 over Easter
I post this with some trepidation. Last post became rather heated at times. http://email.travelodge.co.uk/Pages/091119/Landing.aspx?ryan.cheetham&key=21byat51c8y673vb21t46wvp2l
John
Pantego, NC USA 11/19/09
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RE: Itinerary Critique - 50 days in Europe
Rather than say what you can't do (30 destinations in 50 days, ay!), I'd like to emphasize what opportunities a 50-day trip offers that a shorter tour cannot.
Which is a chance to slow down and really smell the cafe, to get to know the spirit of some new place a little, and also to cover a lot of ground, as you seem to want to do.
In the course of 50 days, you will benefit greatly by varying your pace as well as your venues. Go ahead, zip around from city to city, but then rent an apartment or cottage someplace for a week. See the great sights, but also find the best place to shop for groceries.
You are also shortchanging some of your destinations. It's going to take you a day or a night to get from Munich to Interlaken and from Interlaken to Venice. It's worth it--but you only spend two days there! If it rains one of those days you will regret this decision. (And don't stay in Interlaken, by the way.)
Similarly, two and a half days in Paris seems short rations on a 50-day trip, and so on. These are great destinations--spend some time there!
Finally, although it is hard for me to visualize, your itinerary zig-zags a lot, which means wasting time in transit. In particular, you might consider reconfiguring so that you visit all of your Iberian destinations at the start or end of your trip, flying home from, or in to, London or Berlin.
Have a great trip!
Adam
Boston 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
yeah, in another lifetime I might have had those ambitions to do nice scrap books. It just doesn't happen. So I end up using museum tickets as bookmarks till they go the way of all my bookmarks - lost somewhere in the universe.
Photos are different. I photoshop those within days of coming home. That means I get a selection of 100 or less (that's what you can show off to others) that are cropped, tidied up and titledand put them into an online folder which I can share with family and friends.
Beatrix
Calgary 11/19/09
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RE: Dulles - Heathrow; Manchester - Dulles?
Hi Roy, did the trip in 2006. When researching, I found the train to be very expensive. We used trains all over the continent, but not in England. I found Enterprise to be a great deal from Heathrow. We did not go to Bath, directly to Cheltenham and on to York, and back to Heathrow. The long leg is back from York but the highway is very good and it is a smooth drive. Be sure to get very specific directions back to the rental car agency. Can be difficult to find from the highway. If you are looking for a place to stay at Heathrow the night before returning, I would recomment the Premier Travel Inn.
david
washington 11/19/09
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RE: Day trip to Reims
Tara, if you go to Reim, be sure to go to Laon as well. But, as a native of Walnut Creek, I have to ask why someone from so close to the Napa valley would make a special trip to see anything wine or champagne related?
david
washington 11/19/09
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RE: Safe driving
Everyone -- Thanks for your information. We feel more confident to drive these routes.
Regards,
Craig
craig
Pittsburgh, pa usa 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
Flat items can go in a float frame (two pieces of glass in a frame-no mat-so you just place items between the pieces of glass). You can really pack things in for more of a collage look, or leave open glass for more of a framed look. I just used this method to frame several postcards and inexpensive faux sketches.
Kathy
St. Louis, Missouri USA 11/19/09
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Renting a car from Europe by Car?(ebctravel.com)
Has anyone used this company when renting a car in Italy? Just looking for opinions, as they are cheaper than Autoeurope.com and Europcar.com.
Matt
Raleigh, NC 11/19/09
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RE: Chester, England
You have probably been to York already. If not, it's one of my favorites (along with Bath and Oxford, which I'm sure you have visited).
Brad
Gainesville, VA 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
I get a dedicated box (I have several different kinds) to hold pictures, small souvenirs and other momento from the trip. I label it and put it on a bookshelf in storage.
When the discussion comes up or we're planning our next visit to the area. I can grab the appropriate box and look through it.
Bigger things are either displayed or stored carefully.
Brad
Gainesville, VA 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
Ed: "Wait a year, then try to organize it in some manner. Wait another year, then throw it away."
Yep, that's how I do it.
Patrick, Arkansas
Jonesboro, Arkansas USA 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
Wait a year, then try to organize it in some manner. Wait another year, then throw it away.
Ed
Pensacola 11/19/09
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RE: Best Time for Venice to Avoid Crowds & Bad Weather?
So that will be my excuse for sleeping in!
Chani
Tel Aviv 11/19/09
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RE: DB passes for regular commuters?
Sounds like we will have to have a "Welcome to Deutschland" party for you when you get here.
Jo
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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New Newark to Munich nonstop service on CO
Starting March 28th Continental, now in Star Alliance, will begin daily nonstop services from Newark to Lufthana's 2nd largest hub, Munich.
CO now connects EWR nonstop with Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. An open-jaw to HAM and back from MUC would be a very nice and ideal way to see all of Germany, not just Bavaria...
Andreas
Frankfurt am Main Germany 11/19/09
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RE: DB passes for regular commuters?
So, let me see if I understand correctly (as the DB website doesn't make this very clear)... With a Bahn Card, depending which level I bought, the usual 100 euro cost for Mannheim to Brussels would be discounted 25, 50 or 100%? Is that how the card works?
BTW, it looks like a near certainty that I'm moving to Mannheim next year.
Tom
Somewhere Else Not in USA 11/19/09
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RE: WHY GO TO SEVILLE, SPAIN
THanks Guys for the reply. I'll let you know how we like it!
Cheers!
Jennifer
Plymouth, MA USA 11/19/09
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RE: British Airways Sale
I just bought two round-trip tickets on British Airways from Washington to London for $644 each. When my wife and I flew BA on the same route in September, the cost was $724 each. Upgrading to "World Traveler Plus" for our upcoming trip was another $139....up from $129 in September. If anyone wants to get in on this sale, you better do it today. The sale ends at midnight tonight.
Jim
Lovettsville, va USA 11/19/09
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RE: Ladies fashions this winter in Europe
RE: the Jo and Claire comments..same here in Paris area..black leggings, knee high boots
regina
la frette sur seine 11/19/09
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San Sebastian, Spain
Last month someone asked about what do do en route to SS from Paris. We just did a quick down the A10, N10 with an overnight stop in Archachon to walk on Europe's biggest sand dune. Kept seeing signs to chateau towns, but kept going...guess the semi French family had seen enough castles AND they're always MILES away from the sign. If you have the rick book of france take a look at the Pays Basque section. Now back in our Paris suburb village I am so homesick for St Jean de Luz!! Mountains (foothills) and the ocean. Great food, charming villages, churches that are not "everyday" and Spain is just down the road. Dis not have the rick book with us on the day of our hotel search but ended up staying at one of his recommendations..Hotel de la Plage..a bit pricey, but includes breakfast and staff was super gentile..plus it was my birthday season so paid extra for balcony..i love balconies. We spent a lot of time at Place Louis 14 (weather was good), long walks on the seaside promenade, drives into the countryside, drive to Biarritz (not a highlight for most people, though a surfer paradise) where i had the best ever hot scallop shrimp salade in front of the church with ocean view. Also went to 830am sunday mass at St Jean-Baptiste.."bi lingual" mass..In French and Euskara/Basquaise..up in the highest balcony..The only Rich resto we went to was the Petit Grill Basque Chez Maya (that's Rick...i'm too lazy to correct)..Not expensive, but crowded mid week, off season. Staff not smiley at first, but they loved being asked about secret ingredients in the tomato sauce and were charmed that the woman who doesn't care for sweets ate all her flan. RE/ San Sebastian..I could have spent the whole day eating sandwiches at the Bideluze café/bar, Plaza Guipuzcoa, 14, but husband wanted to try others. Be warned..smoking still allowed
regina
la frette sur seine 11/19/09
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RE: Ladies fashions this winter in Europe
Wearing leggings under dresses seems to be very big here. I really hope wearing leggings on their own does not come back into fashion. Leggings were the in thing when I was in my teens and all I can remember is that we all looked dreadful (all I remember is a sea of enormous bottoms or knobbly knees!)
Laura
London UK 11/19/09
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RE: What do you do with keepsakes once you are home?
I keep everything in scrapbooks. They are great fun to flick through. I don't tend to buy souvenirs so I don't have to worry about where to put that sort of stuff.
Laura
London UK 11/19/09
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RE: Frankfurt Pealing of the Bells - 28 Nov.
Frankfurt - Gateway to Europe, 60 Years of Americans in Hessen A really special exhibit has opened at the City Archives this past week. From now until 31 Jan.you can go see the history of the Americans in Frankfurt and the state of Hessen from 1945-2005. This is an amazing exhibit with tons of photos, video recordings from everyday people and soldiers, fascinating films, and lots of memorobilia items.
The exhibit follows the time line of the initial march into Frankfurt by the American Army, the occupation of the IG Farben building as headquarters for Eisenhower, the Berlin Airlift that was based out of Rhine Main Airbase, life of the everyday soldier serving in Hessen, the building of barracks and housing for families, Elvis Presleys stint as a soldier in Friedberg, the visit of JFK to Frankfurt, the riots against America in Viet Nam, and ending with the draw-down and closure of the many bases in Hessen.
I really recommend seeing this piece of history while you have the chance.
Karmeliter Kloster on Munzgasse Open M-F from 10:00-18:00 and S & Sun. from 11:00-18:00 Entrance fee is 4 euro.
While there, you also have the possibility of viewing the Joerg Ratgeb frescos in the Refectory where the exhibit is located and also in the Cloister area. This Medieval artwork is a must-see in Frankfurt. http://www.stadtgeschichte-frankfurt.de
Jo
Frankfurt Germany 11/19/09
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RE: Beretta factory in Italy
What you describe of the Beretta response is typical of other people who've tried to do what you want to do. There are tough security rules, given the nature of the product as dangerous and made on private property. You'll have to comply or won't get what you want. The owner of the factory is completely in charge of who gets in.
Kent
Pacific Northwest 11/19/09
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RE: Paris on Christmas Day
I haven't read his Paris guide in many years, but reading your example Steve, he doesn't highlight the area...he just mentions 4 restaurants. I like Rick a lot, but when he focus' on a particular area (like rue Cler or the Cinque Terre) he spoils it, imo.
Susan
Sausalito , California 11/19/09
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RE: information overload
Andrea.
The travel books I would suggest that you consult in planning this trip and helping you decide what to skip this time are Let's Go: Eastern Europe, it's very informative, if you don't mind their editorialising,
and some of the books in the Rough Guide series, such as The Rough Guide to Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia. Both of these works provide all the needed information and are very readable. Most definitely, I use them in planning my trips and deciding where to go and stay.
Fred
San Francisco 11/19/09
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