European Travel

[publius2k4]

I want to give myself a graduation gift, and travel to Europe sometime this spring. I was thinking about a cruise, but there are also other options. Any suggestions on travel agencies or things like that?

[dewisant]

I wouldn't take a cruise to see Europe and I wouldn't go there only once. The Rick Steeves' info is very good. I spent four years of my life in West Germany back in the Eighties and I would move back in a second. See all of Europe and use a Eurail pass as a tool to get around. Sleep on the train, wake up in another country.

[Prloko]

I'm not sure if you have been to Europe before so I'll write this as a brief summary.

Cruise.com lists pretty good deals for cruises. Southern Europe's weather is still fairly cool in the spring, so a cruise may not be the safest bet. If you are looking for a flight destination, go to the Canary Islands. The weather in the Canaries is great in the spring (mid 70s and sunny). In my opinion, Lake Como is the best kept secret in Italy (rent a house on AirBnB). Or use Ryan Air and you can travel throughout Europe for cheap. The trains in Europe are not as cheap as people think. If you love beer, visit Belgium, some of the best beer in the world, especially the one's made by the Trappist Monks. The Swiss Alps are a sight to be seen, and the drive is awesome. France gets a bad rap, many of the smaller towns have never forgot the contributions by the Americans and welcome us as guests (stop by an American Cemetary and be ready to be humbled). My wife and I like Paris a lot, make sure you visit the Louvre on a slow day so you can enjoy the art. The Champagne region is really nice, and you can get a rental car and travel to the border countries like Luxembourg, Western Germany (Cologne, Trier), and Belgium.

[ShotoJuku]

I cruised the Mediterranean last Spring - here is my review: Click Here ---> ShotoJuku’s LEGENDary Mediterranean Adventure - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums

[LaterBloomer]

Great gift to yourself! My two "go to" travel series books for any travel are Rick Steves and Let's Go. They both offer very specific advice, such as which bus or subway will take you here, there, or the other place. The Let's Go series is directed toward frugal travelers. I'm not a cruise fan, so I won't comment on that. You'll hear this a lot, and I'll reiterate it - don't cram. If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium is a difficult way to travel. Wherever I have traveled in Europe (Britain, Spain, France, Andorra, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Austria, and Belgium), the locals have always been nice. My suggestion is to try to learn at least a few phrases in the language of any country you visit. As I usually travel alone, and I stay in hostels, I don't use a travel agency. While I'll normally travel in February (cheaper), spring should be lovely. I STRONGLY recommend avoiding the summer months. When taking a school-aged niece to France, we spent half of the trip in lines.

Bon voyage.

[burbuja0512]

I would take trains around Europe. It's easy to do and a great way to see the countryside. I enjoy this so much that I actually do it for business when I have several European countries to visit.. often times it's actually quicker than a plane.

Here is what I would do based on the places I've been in Europe:

Fly to Scotland.. you can probably get there cheaply if you go to Glascow. You can take a 45 minute train ride to Edinburgh and then spend a day or two in the city.. it's so beautiful.

Then, you can take a train to London if you want. I personally find it to be less charming than other European cities, but it is kind of a "must see."

From London, there are tons of cheap flights to Europe, or if you want to take the Chunnel, it would be an experience.

You could start off in Copenhagen or Amsterdam, then make your way to Belgium. If you do see Belgium, IMHO Bruges is the place to go, though you won't need more than a day.

From Bruges, it's about an hour an a half train ride to Paris, which is my FAVORITE city in all of Europe. I wouldn't even consider staying in Paris for fewer than four days, especially if you like art museums. It's so easy to get around.. you can find a cheap place to stay anywhere within the city and use the Metro. I LOVE the metro.. yes it's gross and stinky, but it makes Paris so easy to go wherever you want quickly!

If you still have time after this, I would probably go to Germany.... So far Cologne is the best place I've been there, but keep in mind that I primarily go for business, so Frankfurt is my usual destination. I will save you the time and let you know that Frankfurt is a nice city, but very boring from a tourist's perspective. However, if you take the train to Cologne, you can rent a car to drive in Germany on the autobahn, which is pretty darn cool.

I have driven from Germany to Italy, which I would highly recommend. You can start off in Germany, then go through the Alps. When I did it, I spent the night in Liechtenstein just so I could say I'd been there. I'm glad I did because it was amazing! Not nearly as amazing as the drive from Vaduz to Milan via Switzerland though.. soooooo beautiful!! You can get to Milan from Liechtenstein in about 3 hours if the weather is good. Just don't stay too far north in Italy. Milan is kind of dull so then you can end up your trip seeing the rest of Italy!

Anyhow... that is what I would recommend, but there is a lot more to see and do and I don't think you will go wrong with any of the suggestions listed!

[PonyGirl93]

basically... what burbuja said ^

Maybe I'm just a control freak, but I wouldn't go with a tour agency. With a little (okay, a lot of) planning, it is really not difficult to travel independently.

My personal "can't miss"
-the Swiss Alps. Plenty of great places to stay in the Bernese Alps. Be prepared for outrage cost of living in Switzerland, but it is so worth it. The Lauterbrunnen Valley has easy tourist access and is absolutely gorgeous. Whether you like hiking or not, the views and the clean, clear air, water.... ahhh. And the cowbells. Why are they so charming?

-Paris. I recommend renting an apartment from airbnb.com. We rented a roomy (well. for Paris) studio apartment for less than a hotel would have cost (but more than most hostels) and it was perfect. It was in the Jewish Quarter, which is quiet and clean, perfect for our last (exhausted) stop. The art museums are a must, but make sure you always check the opening days and times. Paris was our day-late, dollar-short stop. We tried to go to the Louvre on the day it is closed, d'Orsay on the day it is closed, got to the Père Lachaise Cemetery 10 minutes after it closed, and tried to visit Versailles on a day when the train tracks were broken. Nevertheless, Paris was phenomenal and just walking around the city would be magnificent enough. Musee d'Orsay was my favorite museum of all time, it has the largest Impressionist collection in the world & is made from a converted train station so it has a magnificent vaulted ceiling with windows & is all airy and roomy, quite unlike most museums. The Louvre is of course magnificent but so overwhelming. You could spend 3 days there. Make sure to walk the city at night at least once, the lights are beautiful.

-Prague. Two words: Cheap. Wonderful. Prague has so much character and history. Definitely get a walking tour (I believe ours was Bohemian Walking Tours or something, our guide was amazing - so knowledgeable and endearing,) Prague is not a city that explains itself. Costs are astronomically lower in the Czech Republic and it is a very easy train ride from Germany or Austria.

-Southern Italy. Agreed with burbuja, Milan is boring (unless you can shop!), and I haven't yet made it to much else in northern Italy, but southern Italy is raved about for a reason. Be prepared for a different sense of time, however. The promptness and efficiency that is widespread across Europe is on vacation in southern Italy. In peak season, everything is crammed full. But do some research online before you go and you can find some local haunts. ex. here is a little cove outside of Sorrento that most tourists haven't found yet. It's gorgeous.

I would only cruise if you have really really limited time. One of my favorite things about Europe is watching the varied countryside roll by while riding trains and listening to an audiobook (get a nice long one if you get a rail pass.)

Personally, I recommend backpacking, but if you are not up for carrying your possessions, I would still only pack one small carry-on-ish (rolling!) suitcase. There is always a truly astounding amount of walking to be done and luggage is not what you want to deal with.

Definitely learn the "niceties" in the native languages, but "everyone speaks English" is not an exaggeration. Even outside of the major MAJOR touristy areas, if you are in an area with hotels/sights... people speak at least basic English. Possible exception is Italy, but almost everyone we encountered was happy to gesticulate and reach a mutual understanding. Not that you shouldn't try to communicate in the local language, but it's nothing to stress about. I speak some German and was a bit terrified to leave Germanophile Europe, but almost never encountered a problem.

OMG shut up already. I'm done.

[burbuja0512]

.

My personal "can't miss"
-the Swiss Alps. Plenty of great places to stay in the Bernese Alps. Be prepared for outrage cost of living in Switzerland, but it is so worth it. The Lauterbrunnen Valley has easy tourist access and is absolutely gorgeous.

One hint to save money if you are a bit brave and don't get offended easily is the red light district. When I go to Switzerland for business, I don't mind, but when I was there a few months ago with my husband, we stayed in the Zurich red light district. It was a relatively short walk to the "nice" part of Zurich and honestly if I hadn't read online that I was staying in a "bad" area, I would have never known. Even the crappy zone in Zurich is nicer than many places I've ever been. I didn't see any prostitutes and the only questionable establishment was a tattoo parlor. It was around 100$ a night - compared to the rest of Zurich it was very cheap! I have heard the same thing said about the red light district in some other European countries. Definitely read reviews and do research first, but in many places, it may not be dangerous.. just not as nice as the rest of the city.

Another way to save money is to check whether breakfast is served in the hotel. In many European countries, there will be an amazing breakfast either included or for just a few Euros (or pounds or CHF) more. Eat as much as you can as late as the breakfast will allow, then do a very late lunch. Skip dinner all together, or just swing by a grocery store for some bread and meat.

Definitely learn the "niceties" in the native languages, but "everyone speaks English" is not an exaggeration. Even outside of the major MAJOR touristy areas, if you are in an area with hotels/sights... people speak at least basic English. Possible exception is Italy, but almost everyone we encountered was happy to gesticulate and reach a mutual understanding. Not that you shouldn't try to communicate in the local language, but it's nothing to stress about. I speak some German and was a bit terrified to leave Germanophile Europe, but almost never encountered a problem.

I have only had problems with this in Switzerland and Liechtenstein so far. I speak Spanish and Portuguese and usually can get by almost anywhere in Europe with at least one of the languages I speak, but in Switzerland I had to make do either trying to understand their Italian or their French. (I have found that many cab drivers all over Europe are from Portugual so it's turned out to be more useful than I would have ever imagined!) I can't even begin to understand German, so Italian and French were my only hope. However, I would agree that English is so universal that you'll be fine in about 95% of situations that aren't off the beaten path. Any major city will be ok. LOL I have been all over Germany and I have yet to find a place where their English isn't amazing. I have no idea why anyone learns German! German schools must be excellent because their English is wonderful.

[Getiton1]

I agree with pretty much all the suggestions listed. If you are going to see Europe, it's almost a sin to see it by cruise. So much of Europe is about walking. Nice benefit is you usually lose weight even eating yummy fattening food!

I loved:

1. France: I just love France. Everything is beautiful. Take note of the above comments from others about timing and lines). Best places are: Paris, Dinan, if you like peace and quiet Provence.
2. Italy: Gorgeous Countryside. Any of the island towns on the lower portion of Italy closer to Greece. The cities are nice (Rome, Venice) but the coastal cities are just way more my speed and beautiful.
3. Spain: Huge pick pocket place, but such a fun, vibrant country, decent beaches, people are fun there.
4. Germany: See above
5. England: Nice, but expensive and as much as I love it…it's cloudy there a lot. My favorite places are Bath, Startford-on-Avon and Oxford area, London and Cornwall.

I really like the one persons idea of if you have a lot of time off do the Eurorail package and see loads of places. If your trip is well planned you can see a huge hunk of Europe for a fraction of the cost of traveling by rental car. Gas is WICKED expensive in Europe. Cost 120.00 to fill a tiny Ford Focus in France.

If you are looking for a relaxing trip…the Caribbean has great deals. I like Vacations, Resorts, and All-Inclusive Packages | CheapCaribbean.com

I am not sure of your physical health/place in life right now….but if you are fit, and able see Europe while you can. When you get older and walking long distances and up stairs and tiny alleys becomes an issue, that's when Cruises and trains become the only option. My frame of reference is my folks. They did a lot of trips to Mexico and the Caribbean when they were in their 20's and 30's. They loved it. But when I married my British Husband in England, they got the travel bug to see more of Europe. But my Dad gained a lot of weight post retirement, and he ended up having diabetes which means the heat affects him as does extra exercise. Plus my Mom has a bum knee so stairs are out. They are in their mid sixties and still fairly fit. My Mom still works, so she doesn't mind the walking, but my Dad whines…so my Mom just doesn't ask to go anymore…I think she still would go if he were up for it. Anyway, my point is, see all the places that require a lot of walking now, if you are able. Down the road there will be plenty of opportunities for cruises, train tours and lounging at the beach. But hey, if you are into that…do that! YTo each their own

Congratulations on your accomplishment! I think it's great you are doing this fun thing for yourself!
Tara

One hint to save money if you are a bit brave and don't get offended easily is the red light district. When I go to Switzerland for business, I don't mind, but when I was there a few months ago with my husband, we stayed in the Zurich red light district. It was a relatively short walk to the "nice" part of Zurich and honestly if I hadn't read online that I was staying in a "bad" area, I would have never known. Even the crappy zone in Zurich is nicer than many places I've ever been. I didn't see any prostitutes and the only questionable establishment was a tattoo parlor. It was around 100$ a night - compared to the rest of Zurich it was very cheap! I have heard the same thing said about the red light district in some other European countries. Definitely read reviews and do research first, but in many places, it may not be dangerous.. just not as nice as the rest of the city.

Another way to save money is to check whether breakfast is served in the hotel. In many European countries, there will be an amazing breakfast either included or for just a few Euros (or pounds or CHF) more. Eat as much as you can as late as the breakfast will allow, then do a very late lunch. Skip dinner all together, or just swing by a grocery store for some bread and meat.



I have only had problems with this in Switzerland and Liechtenstein so far. I speak Spanish and Portuguese and usually can get by almost anywhere in Europe with at least one of the languages I speak, but in Switzerland I had to make do either trying to understand their Italian or their French. (I have found that many cab drivers all over Europe are from Portugual so it's turned out to be more useful than I would have ever imagined!) I can't even begin to understand German, so Italian and French were my only hope. However, I would agree that English is so universal that you'll be fine in about 95% of situations that aren't off the beaten path. Any major city will be ok. LOL I have been all over Germany and I have yet to find a place where their English isn't amazing. I have no idea why anyone learns German! German schools must be excellent because their English is wonderful.

[publius2k4]

I really appreciate all these awesome suggestions, guys! I'm going to take them all into account, as I look into this further over the next few weeks. THANKS A LOT!