Post by: BringBackEcoKat on September 06, 2015, 08:47:44 PM
Post by: star seed 7 on September 06, 2015, 08:50:47 PM
Post by: BringBackEcoKat on September 06, 2015, 08:55:48 PM
Post by: star seed 7 on September 06, 2015, 08:56:48 PM
Post by: wetwillie on September 06, 2015, 09:22:28 PM
Post by: hemmy on September 06, 2015, 09:45:37 PM
Post by: The Big Train on September 06, 2015, 10:07:24 PM
Post by: BringBackEcoKat on September 06, 2015, 10:37:58 PM
Post by: The Big Train on September 06, 2015, 10:42:08 PM
Post by: cfbandyman on September 06, 2015, 10:52:40 PM
If in France expect them to be a little haughty when you speak english, but they'll get over it. Also they will probably know you are American even before you open your mouth so don't let it surprise you when they just straight up start talking to you in english. Also when eating out expect that the waiter/waitress to not visit your table but twice a meal (that's very typical).
Drink flat/tap water. They'll look at you a little crazy but GTFOOMF sparkling water (it's expensive and stupid)
Expect that said water to be at/near room temp (which is fine with me as I do that anyways)
Buy a converter plug for your computer (the little black box/white one for apple will take care of the rest) since your plug will not work there. The rest you should be able to charge via usb (camera)
Buy a decent camera. Sure take a few pics with your phone but a decent camera will give you much more fulfilling shots.
Go everywhere with a backpack, less touristy looking than a fanny pack +more storage
Take a photo copy of your passport and keep it in your wallet/purse. Not a bad idea to make a second one for your parents as well. It obviously won't substitute for a real passport but it'll help you out if you happen to lose/have stolen your passport.
Post by: Tobias on September 06, 2015, 10:54:06 PM
Post by: mocat on September 06, 2015, 10:59:01 PM
Post by: eastcat on September 06, 2015, 11:51:42 PM
1. Spend more time in places like Lisbon and Budapest and less in places like London and Rome.
2. Bring a roller bag, I carried everything on my back for a month and it was hell.
3. Look for laundry mats before you travel, some cities don't have them
4. No AC in europe and it rough ridin' blows in the summer
5. Airbnb will save you a ton of money
6. eff the trains, especially overnight ones. Your time is expensive over there, flying is faster cheaper if booked in advance.
7. Get ready to eat like crap. I haven't the slightest idea how european food got a positive reputation (I have a theory) but it's really pathetic and meats suck.
8. Visit some crap hole like Belgrade or Bratislava and stay in the cheapest hostel possible. It will really put your life in perspective.
9. Buy and international phone plan. Constantly looking for free wifi will drive you nuts.
10. Euros typically have false delusions of worldly competence and grandeur because they constantly tell each other how great everything around them is and they think visiting other european countries makes them just as cultured as visiting countries on other continents. The reality is Europe is closer to Mexico than the United States and everywhere I have visited in east Asia blows it out of the water. Have fun sipping your 5 euro tap water *No refills*
Post by: mocat on September 07, 2015, 07:50:57 AM
Post by: Kat Kid on September 07, 2015, 08:01:31 AM
Post by: Canary on September 07, 2015, 09:57:16 AM
go to mediterranean EuropeWould be my plan to repeat. The south of France and basically most of the Mediterranean is beautiful and made for a great holiday.
Post by: SdK on September 07, 2015, 10:05:36 AM
Post by: Canary on September 07, 2015, 10:16:50 AM
Post by: SdK on September 07, 2015, 10:21:45 AM
Post by: Canary on September 07, 2015, 04:38:30 PM
Post by: SdK on September 07, 2015, 07:27:20 PM
Post by: BringBackEcoKat on September 07, 2015, 08:24:59 PM
Post by: Canary on September 07, 2015, 08:27:58 PM
Post by: eastcat on September 08, 2015, 12:21:11 AM
Post by: Cire on September 08, 2015, 05:47:38 AM
Post by: AbeFroman on September 08, 2015, 08:00:10 AM
7. Get ready to eat like crap. I haven't the slightest idea how european food got a positive reputation (I have a theory) but it's really pathetic and meats suck.
10. Euros typically have false delusions of worldly competence and grandeur because they constantly tell each other how great everything around them is and they think visiting other european countries makes them just as cultured as visiting countries on other continents. The reality is Europe is closer to Mexico than the United States and everywhere I have visited in east Asia blows it out of the water. Have fun sipping your 5 euro tap water *No refills*
Wow, please stop travelling internationally and embarrassing America with your awful (wrong) opinions
Post by: hemmy on September 08, 2015, 11:14:55 AM
As for the food, it depends on what country you. Of course every country has good food but some have more than others. In my experience for instance, don't expect great pizza in Poland for instance. But they and other central europe countries have a lot of good meat & potato dishes. Ireland is the exception, it has no good food. Food in Italy is overrated IMO, but still pretty good. Their gelato is excellent.
Agreed on trains vs planes - only take a long distance train if you want to experience a train ride. Planes are faster and often cheaper. Longest train ride I have been on was from Czech Republic to Slovakia on an old beaten up train. It sucked.
Paris pretty much sucks, but I disagree about London and Rome - both are fantastic cities to visit. I guess it depends on what you enjoy to do when traveling. I have made it a point of mine to try and visit a concentration camp anytime I am
In terms of air conditioning - as said before its extremely limited but some places do have it. If you schedule all your accommodations ahead of time you can make sure you have AC in most places. Depending on the time of year you go this might not even matter.
Post by: hollacat on September 08, 2015, 03:53:35 PM
Can anyone vouche for eurail? Since I'm under 24, I get a student pass so I was planning on train travel but I wasn't sure if it's cheaper to get the pass or individual tickets in each country.Did the Eurail thing this past winter. Pretty great, convenience and flexibility make it worth it. Audibled and checked out Turin and Gibraltar on a whim. Only con is the required reservations for every train worth taking, 10 euro a reservation will add up. Might be difficult to get reservations during the summer, no idea.
You can probably do it cheaper if you buy tickets way in advance but you'd have to lock everything in. Personal preference.
Sent from my SCH-S968C using Tapatalk
Post by: eastcat on September 08, 2015, 04:32:59 PM
What is the goal of this euro trip? Frantically run around and take pictures of things or actually have a good time?
Post by: eastcat on September 08, 2015, 04:38:36 PM
7. Get ready to eat like crap. I haven't the slightest idea how european food got a positive reputation (I have a theory) but it's really pathetic and meats suck.
10. Euros typically have false delusions of worldly competence and grandeur because they constantly tell each other how great everything around them is and they think visiting other european countries makes them just as cultured as visiting countries on other continents. The reality is Europe is closer to Mexico than the United States and everywhere I have visited in east Asia blows it out of the water. Have fun sipping your 5 euro tap water *No refills*
Wow, please stop travelling internationally and embarrassing America with your awful (wrong) opinions
You sound like a european peasant.
I generally avoid europe now unless I have to go for business or meet friends. East Asia is seriously very cool though (and less whiney/economically depressed).
Post by: Tobias on September 08, 2015, 04:40:03 PM
Post by: stunted on September 08, 2015, 05:02:02 PM
7. Get ready to eat like crap. I haven't the slightest idea how european food got a positive reputation (I have a theory) but it's really pathetic and meats suck.
10. Euros typically have false delusions of worldly competence and grandeur because they constantly tell each other how great everything around them is and they think visiting other european countries makes them just as cultured as visiting countries on other continents. The reality is Europe is closer to Mexico than the United States and everywhere I have visited in east Asia blows it out of the water. Have fun sipping your 5 euro tap water *No refills*
Wow, please stop travelling internationally and embarrassing America with your awful (wrong) opinions
You sound like a european peasant.
I generally avoid europe now unless I have to go for business or meet friends. East Asia is seriously very cool though (and less whiney/economically depressed).
:love:
Post by: The Big Train on September 08, 2015, 11:37:09 PM
Post by: BringBackEcoKat on September 09, 2015, 12:26:36 PM
Post by: illBisonYourdele on September 09, 2015, 01:10:00 PM
Can anyone vouche for eurail? Since I'm under 24, I get a student pass so I was planning on train travel but I wasn't sure if it's cheaper to get the pass or individual tickets in each country.Did the Eurail thing this past winter. Pretty great, convenience and flexibility make it worth it. Audibled and checked out Turin and Gibraltar on a whim. Only con is the required reservations for every train worth taking, 10 euro a reservation will add up. Might be difficult to get reservations during the summer, no idea.
You can probably do it cheaper if you buy tickets way in advance but you'd have to lock everything in. Personal preference.
Sent from my SCH-S968C using Tapatalk
used eurail in the summer. my travel companion didnt have the pass. comparing our expenses, it pretty much came out as a wash with all the reservations I had to make.
Italy/France/Spain were all very eurail friendly. Training to and transferring trains in Germany cost me the most money.
Post by: Mrs. Gooch on September 09, 2015, 01:30:18 PM
So don't do that.
Post by: illBisonYourdele on September 09, 2015, 02:17:46 PM
I'm going to become more cultured. I need to explore, I'm tired of being a hick from Kansas. Plus I've been to Spain, loved it. Now I want to see the rest of Europe. I want to experience different cultures. I won't be bringing my selfie stick.
since I am feeling nostalgic, where are you planning to start from?
Post by: hemmy on September 09, 2015, 02:48:41 PM
Post by: HerrSonntag on September 09, 2015, 03:43:58 PM
Granted, at the time you validated by getting stamps on a journal page on your Eurail pass. I'd always write in pencil and if no one stamped me I'd just erase it, which got e about 3 free trips.
Even still, if I wanted to do it on the up-and-up and pay for a full 1 month Eurail pass, I still think I'd have come out on top.
Post by: The Big Train on September 09, 2015, 03:53:01 PM
Post by: Mrs. Gooch on September 09, 2015, 03:56:41 PM
of the two European countries I've been to, Italy was the best and Rome was the best city
What is the worst European country you have been to?
Post by: The Big Train on September 09, 2015, 04:00:28 PM
of the two European countries I've been to, Italy was the best and Rome was the best city
What is the worst European country you have been to?
Spain. When I was on la rambla some dude died of a drug overdose, like in the middle of the street. I did get my samauri sword there tho
Post by: BringBackEcoKat on September 09, 2015, 10:15:26 PM
I'm going to become more cultured. I need to explore, I'm tired of being a hick from Kansas. Plus I've been to Spain, loved it. Now I want to see the rest of Europe. I want to experience different cultures. I won't be bringing my selfie stick.
since I am feeling nostalgic, where are you planning to start from?
I'm going to fly into Moscow. I think that the plan is to fly out of Dublin. I'm wanting to go to the festival de Wiltz in Luxembourg July 24th because the band "Cats" are playing.
Post by: star seed 7 on September 09, 2015, 11:34:18 PM
I'm going to become more cultured. I need to explore, I'm tired of being a hick from Kansas. Plus I've been to Spain, loved it. Now I want to see the rest of Europe. I want to experience different cultures. I won't be bringing my selfie stick.
since I am feeling nostalgic, where are you planning to start from?
I'm going to fly into Moscow. I think that the plan is to fly out of Dublin. I'm wanting to go to the festival de Wiltz in Luxembourg July 24th because the band "Cats" are playing.
Wow
Post by: eastcat on September 09, 2015, 11:39:43 PM
You could have a kid by then, live in the moment and get wasted in the ville. You only need about 90 days notice to get decent europe airfares.
Post by: Tobias on September 09, 2015, 11:41:39 PM
Post by: michigancat on September 10, 2015, 01:06:59 AM
Post by: HerrSonntag on September 10, 2015, 08:30:28 AM
moscow seems far from everythingYeah F that noise, Moscow is a backwoods Commie cess pit. Hit up St. Peteresburg, its the historic capital of Russia, not out in the middle of some Slavic tundra, and a beautiful city.
Post by: wetwillie on September 10, 2015, 11:53:48 AM
Post by: mocat on September 10, 2015, 12:19:06 PM
Post by: BringBackEcoKat on September 10, 2015, 03:40:04 PM
Post by: hemmy on September 10, 2015, 03:52:08 PM
Post by: eastcat on September 10, 2015, 06:31:41 PM
Post by: Muldoon on September 10, 2015, 08:43:56 PM
Post by: Tobias on September 10, 2015, 09:30:32 PM
Post by: highway61 on September 11, 2015, 07:13:59 AM
How old are you?
1. Spend more time in places like Lisbon and Budapest and less in places like London and Rome.
2. Bring a roller bag, I carried everything on my back for a month and it was hell.
3. Look for laundry mats before you travel, some cities don't have them
4. No AC in europe and it rough ridin' blows in the summer
5. Airbnb will save you a ton of money
6. eff the trains, especially overnight ones. Your time is expensive over there, flying is faster cheaper if booked in advance.
7. Get ready to eat like crap. I haven't the slightest idea how european food got a positive reputation (I have a theory) but it's really pathetic and meats suck.
8. Visit some crap hole like Belgrade or Bratislava and stay in the cheapest hostel possible. It will really put your life in perspective.
9. Buy and international phone plan. Constantly looking for free wifi will drive you nuts.
10. Euros typically have false delusions of worldly competence and grandeur because they constantly tell each other how great everything around them is and they think visiting other european countries makes them just as cultured as visiting countries on other continents. The reality is Europe is closer to Mexico than the United States and everywhere I have visited in east Asia blows it out of the water. Have fun sipping your 5 euro tap water *No refills*
The roller bag idea is bad advice. Cobblestone streets are common in Europe and roller bags won't work well on them. A backpack is what you want.
The only other advice I have is do it. It was the best experience of my life.
Source: backpacked through Europe for 4 months
Post by: mocat on September 11, 2015, 07:27:50 AM
Post by: slobber on September 11, 2015, 07:35:08 AM
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Post by: The Big Train on September 21, 2015, 08:51:43 PM
Go to Lyon France. Better than Paris. Never eat any American food.
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what about the region specific cuisine from american fast food restaurants?
Post by: hemmy on September 21, 2015, 09:38:32 PM
Post by: HerrSonntag on September 21, 2015, 11:04:49 PM
Post by: Tobias on September 21, 2015, 11:06:06 PM
Post by: star seed 7 on September 21, 2015, 11:09:01 PM
no ice for a year motherfuckers :gocho:
Post by: Tobias on September 21, 2015, 11:11:39 PM
Post by: star seed 7 on September 21, 2015, 11:12:06 PM
Post by: wetwillie on September 21, 2015, 11:16:25 PM
crabgrass got into the compressor?
"Like"
Post by: star seed 7 on September 21, 2015, 11:17:30 PM
Post by: Trim on September 21, 2015, 11:27:46 PM
no ice for a year motherfuckers :gocho:
Evil.
Post by: Bloodfart on September 22, 2015, 12:32:59 AM
Post by: mocat on September 22, 2015, 06:56:42 AM