Europe!

[Fobulous]

The wife and I have finally booked our trip out to Europe for 3 weeks starting Sept. 29th.

As we have never been before I was looking for some tips as far as how to get around while we are there. We have been looking at the eurorail pass as our best option(?) If you have any suggestions for hotels or things to do while we are there that would be greatly appreciated as well.

This is what we have planned for our itinerary. Not sure if the logistics will work so any help would be great!

YYC -> Amsterdamn
Ams -> Paris, France
Paris -> Nice, France
Nice -> Rome, Italy
Rome -> Venice, Italy
Venice -> Vienna, Austria
Vienna -> Munich, Germany
Munich -> Amsterdamn
Ams -> YYC

Thoughts?

[Pinner]

So you didn't like the packages with guides ?

[kermitology]

You probably want a rail pass.

Munich is one of my favourite places in the world. The walk from Marianplatz to Karlsplatz, the beer gardens, (Hirschgarten was my favourite), the ladies, I love it so much.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by kermitology

You probably want a rail pass.

Munich is one of my favourite places in the world. The walk from Marianplatz to Karlsplatz, the beer gardens, (Hirschgarten was my favourite), the ladies, I love it so much.

Well, minus the ladies I agree. Munich was my favorite city of an 11-country visit last year.

[Phaneuf3]

Obligatory:

[Fobulous]

Originally Posted by Pinner

So you didn't like the packages with guides ?

Never really been into the guided tour thing...

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Forget guided tour, get the rail pass and then use things like TripAdvisor and books like Lonely Planet or Rick Steve's for the best insights/places to go.

Rome is an amazing city you'll love it there, that goes double for Venice .

[Pinner]

I've never been on a guided tour but I think I would feel a little lost in Europe with the language barriers and signage etc.

I've heard guides save you alot of time and money, and take you to the less touristy sites.

Good value this year with our dollar doing well.

[kermitology]

Germany/Austria is so very English friendly. You pick up what the German signs mean pretty quickly too.

[Jimmy Stang]

Like Kermit said, rail sound like the way to do. Once you see the schedules and that sort of thing, your itinerary might look completely different. That's a lot of travel for 3 weeks, for sure, but you'll get to see plenty of stuff.

Amsterdam is a beautiful place, and despite its reputation as the debauchery capital of the world, it is safe, clean, pretty, etc. The same may not be said about some of their hookers. My wife heard stories about pickpockets, drugs, etc. and made me buy a money belt because her friend made her think that we were going to be the victims of something. Not sure what, but something. The city was not like that at all, and even the red light district didn't feel unsafe. Thankfully the money belt stayed in the suitcase and remains unused to this day.

Rome is a hot (although might not be too bad in the fall - I went in July), busy, crazy place. The tradeoff is, obviously, the Roman sites and all of the history. There were just so many damn crowds at all of the obligatory tourist spots, it made it less enjoyable. Of course, we were only contributing to the problem. Places like the Colosseum are neat and you'll regret not seeing it, but I don't know that I'd go back again on my next trip. Been there, done that.

One of the most refreshing things we did in Rome was go across the river into Trastevere where the pace was a little more laid back and there were some nice restaurants and patios.

There is so much to see in Rome though... so if you're into historical sites, you'll be in heaven. But it requires a lot of metro-ing, walking, etc. and may not be the most relaxing part of your trip. Regardless of how much you're able to see, you'll always feel like you could have and should have seen more.

[icarus]

What do you like?

Partying?
Pretty scenery?
Architecture?

You can catch the end of Oktoberfest if you go to Munich first. Also, Nuit Blanche should be at the beginning of October in Paris... might be in some of those other cities as well.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Germany/Austria is so very English friendly. You pick up what the German signs mean pretty quickly too.

Once you realize that the word is twice as long as it needs to be, German signs are remarkably easy to read.

[Boblobla]

I typing this message from the Citizen M in Amsterdam. It is a little south of the Canal district but it is right on a tram line. Decent if you dont mind taking the tram and a cab home if you are out after 1.

Everyone here speaks English.

[Jimmy Stang]

And a thing about Italians... learn some basic phrases because they are much more happy to help you if you fumble through a few words of Italian before asking if they speak English. Good courtesy in any country, but the Italians especially seem to appreciate the effort. And once you do inevitably ask if they speak English, everyone answers with "a little bit" and makes the universal sign for it with their finger and thumb. You'll get by fine in Rome and Venice, but when we went off of the beaten path in Southern Italy, there was no "little bit". It was simply charades! Good thing Italians talk a lot with their hands.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

Everyone here speaks English.

Amsterdam is amazingly English-friendly. The Dutch seem to spot tourists before they open their mouths and just automatically speak to you in English.

[4X4]

Jimmy Stang knows much about Rome and Italy. Heed his advice.

IMHO, your itenerary is a bit busy for three weeks.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Amsterdam is amazingly English-friendly. The Dutch seem to spot tourists before they open their mouths and just automatically speak to you in English.

I've lived in tourist towns so I can spot them easily too, different shoes/clothes.

I've heard they love Canadians, I would like to see some of the war cemeteries in Europe.


http://faculty.uccb.ns.ca/highlander...Cemeteries.htm

[Aeneas]

If you are willing to search I am pretty sure everywhere you are going has been discussed in some detail.

Have fun. I've been to everywhere you are going and there are so many things in those places to see and do. My least favorite on your list is Nice, but that's just my opinion.

If you want to stop between these places then the train might make that harder. You are covering much ground though, so a rental car may not be best for you.

I would drive, but again that's just my preference; it's not for everyone.

Munich: see also Dachau
Rome: many threads here. The obvious touristy things are not wrong in Rome. 4x4 lived there.
Paris: I think Furnaceface lived there.
Vienna: There was an excellent thread (with maps!) here also.
Venice: Just wander. Get lost.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Pinner

I've heard they love Canadians, I would like to see some of the war cemeteries in Europe.

Canadians are well-liked by young people in most places but among the older generation we are particularly well-liked in Holland and Belgium because at the end of WWII while the US, Britain, France, and the Soviets were land-grabbing in Germany, the Canadian regiments were sent in to liberate the low countries.

[CaptainCrunch]

Be careful when booking into German Hostels

Hostel Clerk: Hello, and welcome to Amsterdam's finest and most luxurious youth hostel. We feature one medium sized room containing 70 beds which can sleep up to 375 bodies a night. There is no bathroom. Nor is there one nearby. If you do not wish to have your valuables stolen I suggest destroying them or discarding them right now. You can also try hiding your valuables. In your anus. This will deter some but of course not all thieves. Once you are inside, the doors are chained and locked from the outside. They will not be opened again until morning, no matter what. Should a fire occur due to our faulty wiring or, uh, the fireworks factory upstairs you will be incinerated along with the valuables that you have hidden in your anus. Tips are greatly appreciated.

Make sure you know the Manchester United Song if you run into soccer holigans

Mad Maynard: If you're Manchester United supporters, sing the Manchester United song.
Scott: Excuse me? I'm sorry. I'm not much of a singer...
Mad Maynard: [slams a beer bottle on the floor] Sing!
Scott: [sings] My baby takes the mornin' train. / He works from nine to five and then / he takes another home again to find me... watching the Manchester United Football Team! Ah? The best freakin' team in all the land! Woo hoo!


MAke sure that you look up the famous club Vaandersex

Madame Vandersexxx: Welcome to Club Vandersexxx, Amsterdam's most erotic club. Where your every fantasy will be fulfilled.
Cooper: Also, says I get a free t-shirt with the flyer.
Madame Vandersexxx: He is American. How sad for you to grow up in a country that was founded by prudes. A country over run with crime and illiteracy. A country where a man is forced to make sex to only one woman at a time and one must learn the woman's name beforehand.
Cooper: It was horrible.
Madame Vandersexxx: I know, but you can come with me and let the Vandersexxx begin.

And don't forget the safe word