I'm Going On A Trip, And I'm Going To Take With Me.....What?

[Berger_4_]

Hey all...I'm off to Europe for a month here on Friday, and I thought I'd consult the CP oracle to see if there's anything I should be taking along that I haven't thought of...think I've got the neccessities down, but I just thought I'd check and see if you guys have any good little travel tricks and tips. Oh and if you've been to Croatia, Slovakia, or anywhere around there are there any places you absolutely recommend I go?

[Bill Bumface]

Bring a travel towel. They fold up super small, can be packed away wet and won't stink. Oh yeah, and that laundry soap you can wash your stuff by hand in a sink with. Super handy if its really hot out and your hauling around a pack and destroying your shirts every day.

I was just in Bratislava for one night. The old town was smallish, but really nice. The castle looked cool, but it was closed by the time we got there. The most important part... the hottest girls I have seen anywhere in the world. It was rediculous. I might be in Croatia in September, so I'm curious to hear more as well.

[Phanuthier]

First off, make sure you have the necessary vaccinations.

Stuff to bring - you can usually find it on a simple google search, they're pretty comprehensive.

Croatia:
- Dubrovnik (3 days, I stayed with a lady 2 min walk from the old town, $15 a person, if you want name/phone/email, just give me a PM)
- Plitvice Lakes (worth a full day, place i stayed was 5 min walk, $15, PM me for details)
- Split / Korcula / Hvar / Bol etc
- consider a day trip to Mostar and Kotor; I stayed at both for a few days and loved it, among the highlights of my trip; I have accomidation for both at between $12-15 per person as well, details just ask via PM. Or, just stay there too, I spent 3 days in Mostar and loved it.

Bosnia:
- Mostar : see above
- Sarajavo - good for a connection if you wanna go to Belgrade. Not a bad place, but not really worth the time if you are on a time crunch

Albania - never went, but it looks sweet

Slovenia: I like Ljubljana alot. I also went camping in Soca.

I thought Zagreb was worth a few hours at max, Rijeka wasn't worth the detour but if you do head that way, Krk island is nice.

Slovakia - Bratislava is neat, but not worth more then 1-2 days. If you are in Slovakia for longer, Trencin was interesting for half a day. I'd suggest nearby Vienna, Budapest, Pecs, Prague instead.

(PS : you mean Slovakia, not Slovenia right?)

EDIT : re-read thread

[Berger_4_]

Yup I mean Slovakia. Going on a youth leadership conference in Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic for 12 days, then the rest of the family is coming over. We're staying in Slovakia for a week I believe since we have family there who we haven't seen for 5 years now I think, then it's off to Croatia for a week of sun and surf I guess.

[Phanuthier]

Ah right on. For places that I really liked,

Hungary - Budapest (3-4 days), Pecs (1 day)
Austria - Vienna (never went anywhere else, mind you, suggest 3-4 days)
Croatia - Dubrovnik (2-3 days), Plitvice Lakes (1 full day), Korcular / Hvar / Bol. I would say going Zagreb > Plitvice > Split > Korcular / Hvar / Bol / Dubrovnik is a good path to go.
Bosnia - Mostar (2-3 days)
Montenegro - Kotor (1-2 days), Budva is another option
Albania, Serbia - if your family doesn't mind a rougher and grittier experiance
Slovania - Ljubljana (2-3 days, the "next-next Prague")
Slovakia - Bratislava (as you know)
Poland - Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk

and yes I really liked alot of places in East Europe

Most of those places have sobe/zimmer/private rooms you can get for $15-20, and you get your own room and sometimes even bathroom. Like I said, for locations you want if any, give me a PM and I have some recommendations, all of which were within 5 min walking distance of the cities old town.

[Vansmack]

You absolutely have to spend time in dubrovnik. I'm not sure if it is possible, or how many people you are travelling with, but if you stay in a pension in dubrovnik, ask if they know Mladen. He is a legend and has a wicked house. He is probably the happiest person in the world as well. It can really make trip special if you have interactions with the locals, and he is definately the best.

[troutman]

PM Aeneas - he has a real affection for the places you are going to.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by troutman

PM Aeneas - he has a real affection for the places you are going to.

Like the woman who married the Berlin Wall?

[St Loomis]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

Hey all...I'm off to Europe for a month here on Friday, and I thought I'd consult the CP oracle to see if there's anything I should be taking along that I haven't thought of...think I've got the neccessities down, but I just thought I'd check and see if you guys have any good little travel tricks and tips. Oh and if you've been to Croatia, Slovakia, or anywhere around there are there any places you absolutely recommend I go?

Weird, I too am heading to Croatia this Friday. Thanks for all the tips, and thanks for asking Berger!

[Flames_Gimp]

hookers n blow

[Hack&Lube]

Keep cash in your shoes. Seriously, wear it in your socks or under your in sole. It'll come in handy when you get mugged or robbed.

[Berger_4_]

Oh, I've got another couple questions...should I take my cell phone with me for texting and whatnot or just take the numbers I want to keep in touch with and buy a new phone there? Also, laptop? Yay or nay? Oh and one more...do those iPod wall chargers do the electrical adapty thinger? I've already got a plug for there, just need to know if I need a transformer...

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

Oh, I've got another couple questions...should I take my cell phone with me for texting and whatnot or just take the numbers I want to keep in touch with and buy a new phone there? Also, laptop? Yay or nay? Oh and one more...do those iPod wall chargers do the electrical adapty thinger? I've already got a plug for there, just need to know if I need a transformer...

I've been to most of the places you want to go and echo most of the sentiments that Phanuthier mentioned.

If you want to bring your cell phone, you need to activate it before leaving. I think those mall kiosk people can do it but I'm not sure how much it costs.

As for the laptop I wouldn't bring one unless there was some very specific reason for you needing it. There are internet cafes everywhere. The only place that we couldn't immediately find internet was Budva in Montenegro but we did find it eventually. A perk for the laptop could be that many cafes offer "free" wireless internet when you go in. I found this mostly in the more touristy areas, especially Dubrovnik.

I got an electrical adapter for Europe and every gadget I brought worked with it (ipod and camera mostly).

You might be interested in some pictures I posted when I got back:
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...=30914&page=16

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Like the woman who married the Berlin Wall?

Is Fotze off tonight? Usually I get these comments from him!

PM sent Berger, sorry sent PM before looking at thread, so ignore questions you have already answered above.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

If you want to bring your cell phone, you need to activate it before leaving. I think those mall kiosk people can do it but I'm not sure how much it costs.

I think that's only some providers. I think if you have Rogers, you're good to go. What kind of phone do you have? I unlocked my old Razr myself so I could just buy a SIM card for it in Europe. That way I had my numbers, but didn't pay ######ed roaming fees.

Laptop: Great for dumping your pictures, but in my experience not nearly worth the effort of lugging it and the power adapter around. Only did that once, and ditched it at my friends house in Switzerland the first day and only ever used it when I was there.

For power adapters, just check that all your devices are dual voltage (probably are) then you just need the cheapo adapter and not a converter.

[Aeneas]

Hey Berger,
If you are still around and not busy packing...a couple things I like about Bratislava.

St Michael's gate
St Martin's Church
Old Town Hall
St Elisabeth's Church (the Blue church)

Just walk around town, from castle hill to The Grassalkovich Palace, back through the old center to the Blue church. Then back into the center again, or along the Dunaj (Danube). I think most people will be suprised by how pretty Bratislava is in the center. Especially if you watched Euro Trip!

Doesn't take long to take in the sights, the center is fairly small, but no limit of time to see the Slovak women... just ask Flame Of Liberty.

Very close to Bratislava is the small town of Devin. I hear it is a small farm/ artist colony. Anyway the main attraction is the ruins there overlooking the Danube and the ... other river whose name escapes me. Really cool ruins. You can walk there from Bratislava, or it's a very short drive or bus. It is a nice hilly forested walk from the Dubravka neighborhood.

You said you have people to stay with in Bratislava, I am sure they will take you to Devin, especially if you have the smallest interest in history. The sight has been inhabited for thousands of years.

There's a fairly nice lake in Bratislava, I think it's called Zlatny Pies... means Golden Sands. Nicer if you go a little further to Senec, a short drive away.

A nice drive from Bratislava could take you to so many castles towns and ruins. Trnava, Trencin, Zilina, Orava, Banska Bystrica, Zvolen, Nitra, and back to Bratislava. Further east you have the Tatra mountains...

Have to go...more later.

[BuzzardsWife]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Keep cash in your shoes. Seriously, wear it in your socks or under your in sole. It'll come in handy when you get mugged or robbed.

I'd take that very seriously, from what I have heard from countless people. Someone tried to rip my sisters gold chain right off her arm on a bus in Europe, and my brother in law got mugged and had his gold ripped off him and his money taken. My sisters a tough chick and punched the guy a few times, so he ran off the bus.

[Berger_4_]

Jeez that's really comforting haha

[BuzzardsWife]

yeah, and that's only 2 of many stories i have..just be careful and have a great time! wish i was going somewhere right now!

[Bagor]

I've always used the money belts that look like ordinary belts with a zip in the inside for stashing extra currency.




Went to Pula years ago when it was part of the old Yugoslavia. Beautiful coast and beaches along there.