travel thread

[WonderMeal]

Alright, gE.c globetrotters, time to offer your  .

Mrs. WonderMeal and I are going to ditch the junior WMs and head to Europe. We're thinking either Spain, Italy, or Greece, sometime in October. Which should we pick, and what city/cities in those countries should we stay in given the info below:

-Will be there 5-6 nights
-Priorities are eating great food, going on adventures, learning things.
-We are grown-ups, and will be using copious amounts of UR points to stay in nice accommodations

After your guidance, we will head on over to the credit card thread to make sure all the points and things line up.

[michigancat]

Why aren't you considering other countries?

[WonderMeal]

We've considered other countries. Those are the three we landed on, for various reasons that are kind of boring. Any pro-tips appreciated it.

[ChiComCat]

Spent a day in Venice and that is one of the coolest cities I've been to.

[pissclams]

spain has the best food in the world.  i did a madrid- seville trip a few years ago, it was way better than going to olathe.

also, this- http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/04/etihad-a380-residence/

[michigancat]

also, this-http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/04/etihad-a380-residence/

damn, $43k for a 7 hour flight?

[pissclams]

ya i'd think anyone w/ that kind of money is flying charter

[mocat]

well technically it's $43k for two 7-hour flights

[WonderMeal]

ChiCat says Italy, 'ssclams says Spain.

No one for Greece? Anyone want to break this tie?

[Tobias]

I'd do Spain personally (haven't been but ms Tobias has).  Dat food!

[puniraptor]

I'd do Spain personally (haven't been but ms Tobias has).  Dat food!

Dem Bulls Doe!

[Dugout DickStone]

Dallas is just like Rome.

[OB_Won]

We're doing western Europe for approximately 10 days in late September or early October, too.  Neither of us has been yet so we're going to some of the usual tourist spots.  We're debating whether we want to work west to east or vice versa. Option 1; fly into Dublin, take a 5 hour train/ferry ride to London, and then a 2 hour chunnel ride to fly out of Paris.  Option 2: fly into Milan, 7 hour train to Paris, 2 hour chunnel to London, either back to Paris to fly out or onto Dublin to fly out.  We're not flying into or out of London because of the ridiculous taxes.

Any alternative suggestions?  We want to see lots of stuff, but we also are a little worried about trying to fit too much into one trip.

[HerrSonntag]

You know thats Oktoberfest time, right?  Can't see why you'd pass that up.

[SkinnyBenny]

You know thats Oktoberfest time, right?  Can't see why you'd pass that up.

Lol

[steve dave]

We're doing western Europe for approximately 10 days in late September or early October, too.  Neither of us has been yet so we're going to some of the usual tourist spots.  We're debating whether we want to work west to east or vice versa. Option 1; fly into Dublin, take a 5 hour train/ferry ride to London, and then a 2 hour chunnel ride to fly out of Paris.  Option 2: fly into Milan, 7 hour train to Paris, 2 hour chunnel to London, either back to Paris to fly out or onto Dublin to fly out.  We're not flying into or out of London because of the ridiculous taxes.

Any alternative suggestions?  We want to see lots of stuff, but we also are a little worried about trying to fit too much into one trip.

that sounds like a good plan. Travel bloggers say Milan is meh compared to other parts of Italy but I have never been. the eurostar between London and Paris is very convenient. drops you at the center of each city.

[OB_Won]

I actually think Oktoberfest would be pretty cool. 

Thanks, SD.  I actually wasn't super excited about Milan, other than we wanted to see Italy.  Now you have me thinking fly into Rome, take Chicat's suggestion and go to Venice, then on to Paris and London.

[steve dave]

I actually think Oktoberfest would be pretty cool. 

Thanks, SD.  I actually wasn't super excited about Milan, other than we wanted to see Italy.  Now you have me thinking fly into Rome, take Chicat's suggestion and go to Venice, then on to Paris and London.

yeah, flying into Rome would be a much better idea imo.

[mocat]

If i go back to Europe i will try to do London/Paris/Lisbon

[Phil Titola]

Confirmed. Milan is worthless.

We're doing western Europe for approximately 10 days in late September or early October, too.  Neither of us has been yet so we're going to some of the usual tourist spots.  We're debating whether we want to work west to east or vice versa. Option 1; fly into Dublin, take a 5 hour train/ferry ride to London, and then a 2 hour chunnel ride to fly out of Paris.  Option 2: fly into Milan, 7 hour train to Paris, 2 hour chunnel to London, either back to Paris to fly out or onto Dublin to fly out.  We're not flying into or out of London because of the ridiculous taxes.

Any alternative suggestions?  We want to see lots of stuff, but we also are a little worried about trying to fit too much into one trip.

that sounds like a good plan. Travel bloggers say Milan is meh compared to other parts of Italy but I have never been. the eurostar between London and Paris is very convenient. drops you at the center of each city.

[puniraptor]

go to spain and watch jake play and go to greece and watch J Massey play

[asava]

Confirmed. Milan is worthless.

Double confirmed. Unless you are huge into fashion there is really not much need to go to Milan. I would suggest Tuscany though, Florence and the countryside that surrounds it is incredible. Orvieto is another great stop between Rome and Venice. Both are easily reachable by train. Can't recommend the train enough. Definitely the best way and easiest way to see the country. It can be a little difficult to navigate, but it is manageable if you know what you are doing. If you are doing the train in Rome, do not listen to any mother rough rider that approaches you and tells you that your train has already left, unless it is an agent of the station (which case they will not approach you, but hide from you).

When you get to Venice, check out Burano if you have the chance. A ferry goes between the two regularly.



Eat Gelato as much as possible. Eat cured meats as much as possible. Drink wine as much as possible. Molto Bene.

[Tobias]

how many months did it take you to get to italy, asava?

[puniraptor]

Confirmed. Milan is worthless.

Double confirmed. Unless you are huge into fashion there is really not much need to go to Milan. I would suggest Tuscany though, Florence and the countryside that surrounds it is incredible. Orvieto is another great stop between Rome and Venice. Both are easily reachable by train. Can't recommend the train enough. Definitely the best way and easiest way to see the country. It can be a little difficult to navigate, but it is manageable if you know what you are doing. If you are doing the train in Rome, do not listen to any mother rough rider that approaches you and tells you that your train has already left, unless it is an agent of the station (which case they will not approach you, but hide from you).

When you get to Venice, check out Burano if you have the chance. A ferry goes between the two regularly.



Eat Gelato as much as possible. Eat cured meats as much as possible. Drink wine as much as possible. Molto Bene.

what is their motive for telling you your train has left?

[asava]

how many months did it take you to get to italy, asava?

1 1/2 years to build the boat, and 3 months to cross the Atlantic.

what is their motive for telling you your train has left?

this usually happens in the late day. the people who do this are associated with hotels or vacation rentals, and will essentially tell you that you are in a situation where you are stuck in Rome for the night, and that they are so very sorry this happened, but that they know a good place to stay for a good deal... blah blah blah you just paid three times what you should have to stay at some crap hotel on the outskirts of town. if you are stuck in this situation there are a few hostels around the train station that are way cheaper and have better locations.