Rick Steves' Europe: Travelers Helpline

RE: transportation

2012-02-09T02:25:00-08:00

.You would still have to change at Victoria, but it would be cheaper and you wouldn't have to buy 2 different tickets or switch from the rail station section of Victoria to the tube section.

I'm really sorry but I have to fundamentally disagree with the information posted above.

There is no train which goes from Victoria to Paddington. The only rails that go there are the London Underground.

It is completely mandatory to change from the rail system to the Underground system at Victoria.

To be perfectly clear, it is not possible to take a train from Gatwick to Paddington, even with a change.

Also, First Capital Connect does not and never has served Victoria. It goes nowhere near.

I don't want to be argumentative but I deal with these trains every day.

RE: Fiat 500 rental

2012-02-09T02:09:00-08:00

My Dad used to own an original 500, in the late 1950s.

They are seriously cool cars and maybe one day I will own one.

Do be aware if you do manage to score one that they run out of puff at about 50 mph, are >>very<< compact, and the gears have (had) no synchromesh. Biggest thing you can fit in the back "seat" is about a 10 year old. There is no luggage storage to speak of - the front bonnet conceals the spare tyre and the tool kit, and a tiny space for something else.

If you get a yet older version you may get the doors that open backwards.

Let me know what you find... make sure it is black with white sidewalls.

Roma Pass?

2012-02-09T02:03:00-08:00

will be in Rome for 3 nights in May,2012 and wanted to purchase Roma Pass online. Some sites are included but require reservations (Villa Borghese)? Any suggestions? Ross

RE: Italian train schedules: is it too early for May schedule?

2012-02-09T01:44:00-08:00

check out the"mini fares" if you want a set schedule and you will save "euros".
Ross

RE: transportation

2012-02-09T01:41:00-08:00

OK, to take up from Margaret, BTW - there are deals available online at the moment for the Gatwick Express.

A little less expensive, but also slower, is the Southern service from Gatwick to Victoria.

The even slower Capital Connect service from Gatwick to Kings Cross is not really suitable for Paddington.

It is possible that Dorsey actually want to reach Heathrow, but they did not say that. If that had been the case there is the option of the motorway coach but that was not the posed question.

Margaret, you say that the Underground is most straightforward but most expensive. Other than walking or using a Boris' bike I don't know of a less expensive way to get from Victoria to Paddington. How would you go?

Formula 1 Barcelona

2012-02-09T01:32:00-08:00

Firstimers any suggestions? Where to stay. Bus transportation back and forth etc. Thx.

RE: transportation

2012-02-09T01:01:00-08:00

Maybe most straightforward, but also much more expensive. (Sorry, not a fan of Gatwick Express or Heathrow Express--both are overpriced and a bit of a tourist trap IMO).

I also know that you are very, very knowledgeable about the train system, and I greatly respect your opinion.

RE: Marrakech or Fez for a several day trip from Spain

2012-02-09T00:46:00-08:00

Both are fantastic. How many days to you have? Fes can be seen in two days, Marrakech has more "sites" to see. In Fes I would recommend taking a medina tour, it's the most amazing old city in Morocco for sure! There is little to see in the new city. In Marrakech you can spend a day in the Djemaa el Fna (the main square) and it's souks (market streets). Then spend a day exploring the historical sites: Bahia Palace, Badi Palace, Si Said Museum, Menara Gardens, Ben Youssef Medersa, cool sites. There are also day trips to the mountains from Marrakech. If you have time to do both go for it! The train is a full day journey though, takes from 7 to 9 hours from Fes to Marrakech. Alternatively you could hire a driver or rent a car if you are flying in and out of one of the cities. The roads are tricky within the cities but the roads between Marrakech and Fes are excellent. Hope you have a great time!

RE: Hotel in central London

2012-02-09T00:41:00-08:00

My favorite hotel for location is the Strand Palace. It is about a block behind Covent Garden and is walking distance to numerous sights: Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly, River Thames, Buckingham Palace, and others. In fact, when I stay there I rarely even use the tube, but there are several tube stations close by as well.

Prices are at the upper end of your budget, but you can sometimes find cheaper rates on wotif.com.

Strand Palace: http://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/
Wotif: http://goo.gl/gc9Xq

Tripadvisor reviews: http://goo.gl/S1Lil

Re the Tower, I agree with Lola that you should get there early before the crowds.

RE: transportation

2012-02-09T00:25:00-08:00

What Michael S said is the most straightforward. It should take about 15 minutes after you get on the Underground train.

Two alternatives are Victoria Line northbound, change at Oxford Circus on to the northbound Bakerloo Line. That may take about 16 minutes.

Or there is a bus - the 36 does direct via Hyde Park, Park Lane and Marble Arch. that will take around 23 minutes plus traffic delays if any.

RE: travel from seville to gibraltar

2012-02-09T00:21:00-08:00

I would rent a car for just a day trip. You are looking at well over 4 hours (maybe 5) of driving there and back. Leave early and when you arrive park along the roadway next to the border (that's where we parked for the day). You'll walk across the air strip and then you'll feel like your back in jolly olde England! Wander around town and don't miss taking the aerial tram up to the top, it's breath taking. Watch out for the apes, great photos but they will bite. After you've enjoyed the views of Africa & Spain head back down and find a pub to eat in. Wander around and enjoy the sights. WE quite enjoyed our visit to Gibraltar and you will too. Some may say NO to a day trip from Seville but I say by car it is quite doable. We stopped in Gibraltar on our way from Granada to Tarifa.

RE: Good French-English Translator Off-Line App for Ipod Touch?

2012-02-09T00:20:00-08:00

Ray,

You might have a look at Word Roll for a Dictionary app. It works off-line and is available for a number of languages. It's capable of bi-directional word searches, and is more comprehensive than it looks (lots of grammatical details are shown by tapping each word).

You could also look at LingoPal which is a talking Translator and Phrasebook (also works off-line, AFAIK). If you're using a first-generation iPod Touch, you won't be able to use the talking function, as that model doesn't have speakers. The phrases are fairly extensive and cover a variety of situations. There are several versions available.

Cheers!

RE: transportation

2012-02-09T00:17:00-08:00

Just FYI, you could also take a First Capital Connect train or Southern train from Gatwick to Paddington. The time difference is negligible, only about 5-10 minutes slower than the Gatwick Express.You would still have to change at Victoria, but it would be cheaper and you wouldn't have to buy 2 different tickets or switch from the rail station section of Victoria to the tube section.

Take a look at this website. Fares are usually about half the cost of Gatwick Express. The only caveat I have is that if you are traveling during rush hour (before 9:30 a.m. or after 4:30 p.m) the regular trains can be very crowded. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

If there are 3 or more of you, you can save even more by using Southern train's Groupsave option: http://www.southernrailway.com/offers/groupsave/

RE: Good French-English Translator Off-Line App for Ipod Touch?

2012-02-08T23:45:00-08:00

It's only a dictionary (ie won't do entire phrases), but I love the Accio French/English off-line translator. It has an incredible number of words, and unlike many other dictionaries, it actually recognizes all the conjugations for verbs.

RE: Malaga Airport Hotel Recommendations?

2012-02-08T23:37:00-08:00

There is an Ibis hotel and a Novotel both near the airport - we have stayed at neither but friends stayed at the Novotel last year and it was fine. The Ibis is cheaper and no doubt more basic.

There are 2 Novotels- one right in Malaga and the other on Avenida Velazquez which is the one you want. The Ibis is on the same road.

I would strongly recommend you not stay in Malaga itself.

I am sure the hotel would arrange transport to the airport for you - at that hour it would only be about 5 - 10 minutes.

RE: Travel Plan

2012-02-08T23:29:00-08:00

Hi,

Yes. From your schedule I suggest the Amsterdam-Berlin night train and also by night Munich-Venice (includes a transfer in Verona). Berlin-Munich isn't really worth a night train unless you continue on to Vienna, which I've done.

But there is a direct connection on ICE for Berlin-Munich...you want to arrive in Munich by 1430.

The two night train rides get you into Berlin Hbf and Venice early enough in the morning to give a whole day.

There's hotel/hostel two mins away from Berlin Hbf....Meininger Hotel. At Munich Hbf there are number of small hotels, Pensionen, such as those on Schillerstrasse, and three hostels not more than 5 mins from the Hbf. This is the immediate area I stay in Munich.

RE: Acommodations in Austria

2012-02-08T23:10:00-08:00

Hi,

I would suggest staying near the West Train Station in Vienna (Westbahnhof). Numerous street cars stop there as well as 2 subway lines, U-3 and U-6. These will get you to the center...Stephansplatz. It's also a good walk from Westbahnhof to the center.

If you're arriving in Vienna from Salzburg, you'll be coming into Wien Westbahnhof, which is being expanded.

AC Fiorentina Soccer Game Tickets

2012-02-08T22:27:00-08:00

My family and I will be in Florence this spring and plan to get to a soccer game there. I'm wondering if these games typically sell out well in advance, or could one pick up tickets several days in advance, or even the day of? Anyone done this or familiar with it? Thanks -

RE: purchasing train tickets

2012-02-08T22:24:00-08:00

Suz,

A few further comments regarding transportation from MXP to Milano. The choices are:

> Malpensa Express - terminates at Milano Cadorna, which is close to Sforza Castle. It's not difficult to get from there to Milano Centrale by Metro, but that's something I'd avoid by using other methods (unless of course your Hotel is somewhere near Cadorna).

> "Regular" train - as the others have mentioned, these run about twice hourly, departing from Terminal 1. Check the Trenitalia website for times.

> Malpensa Shuttle (Bus) - these have frequent departures, departing from Terminal 1 but also stop at Terminal 2. The trip is about 50-minutes (depending on traffic) and terminates at Milano Centrale. The cost is ?7.50 as I recall. You can buy tickets in the Terminal or from the Driver.

I've been using the Malpensa Shuttle lately, and don't mind the Bus ride, but have used the Malpensa Express in the past.

Are you you stopping in Milan for a few days when you first arrive, or traveliing directly from MXP to Rome immediately after your flight arrives?

Cheers!

RE: 2 weeks and first time traveler! Don't know where to go.

2012-02-08T22:03:00-08:00

Hanan,

As this is your first trip to Europe, I'd recommend reading Europe Through The Back Door to begin with. That provides a LOT of information on things like Itinerary planning, Rail Skills, money issues, languages, etc. Use the country-specific Guidebooks to plan sightseeing in each city, Hotels, restaurants, transportation, etc. You should be able to find Guidebooks at larger bookstores in your area, or at the Library. Click the "Books" link at the top of this page for some examples.

With only two weeks, you'll need to be very sellective. Be sure to consider travel times between locations, which will usually be a minimum of half a day each. Also, keep in mind that you'll lose two days in travel times to and from Europe. You'll generally arrive in Europe the day after you depart, and the last day will be spent on the flight home.

You won't be able to determine whether a Railpass is cost effective until you have some specific destinations worked out. Keep in mind that Railpasses do NOT include the reservation fees that are compulsory on some trains. You'll need to pay for those separately. For such a short trip, and especially in Italy, I doubt that a Railpass will be the best choice.

Good luck with your planning!