europe peeps

[Amby 490]

my sis and I are going to spend the entire summer in europe. we only decided to do this last week so we need suggestions because we're leaving on may 6. my sis gave me a list of places she wants to go but it's pretty short...rome, venice, amsterdam, paris, london. I need more things to do/see to fill up the 89 day vacation. where should we go? what should we see? my sister is really into historical stuff and I'm a non-touristy type traveller.

things I've planned so far are...dublin, london, york, edinburgh, amsterdam, paris, positano.

also trying to decide if we should take the train everywhere or fly. thoughts? I've used one of those passes for so many days of travel in a 2 month period before and it worked out pretty well.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The Colonel needs to post here.

[milimelo 4,572]

my sis and I are going to spend the entire summer in europe. we only decided to do this last week so we need suggestions because we're leaving on may 6. my sis gave me a list of places she wants to go but it's pretty short...rome, venice, amsterdam, paris, london. I need more things to do/see to fill up the 89 day vacation. where should we go? what should we see? my sister is really into historical stuff and I'm a non-touristy type traveller.

things I've planned so far are...dublin, london, york, edinburgh, amsterdam, paris, positano.

also trying to decide if we should take the train everywhere or fly. thoughts? I've used one of those passes for so many days of travel in a 2 month period before and it worked out pretty well.

Spain - Madrid and Barcelona - Guadi's architecture is a must see. Also northern Spain if you like hiking is very nice.

Eurotrain could be your cheapest fare. Look up Rick Steve's books on Europe.

[Otto 83]

A few ideas that come to mind:

• Koln/Cologne Dome/Church (oldest Gothic structure) really cool
  
• Neuschwanstein Castle (it's not Disneyland)
  
• Charles Bridge in Prague (for luck)
  
• Wine country in the south of France (Champagne?) or on the Rhine (Riesling?)
  
• Wein/Vienna
  

Best experience (from my point of view) is to stay in small local hotels and avoid the chains as best as you can. Europass (train) is worthwhile if not renting a car - can't be purchased while there.

Sounds like you're going to have fun.

[alienlovechild 75]

my sis gave me a list of places she wants to go but it's pretty short...rome, venice, amsterdam, paris, london. I need more things to do/see to fill up the 89 day vacation. where should we go? what should we see? my sister is really into historical stuff and I'm a non-touristy type traveller.

things I've planned so far are...dublin, london, york, edinburgh, amsterdam, paris, positano.

also trying to decide if we should take the train everywhere or fly. thoughts? I've used one of those passes for so many days of travel in a 2 month period before and it worked out pretty well.

Mostly major cities? I usually bypass them unless they are along the way or had big role in history. In less populated places there's less hassle, slower pace and get to see more of the locals. May depend on if you're a big city vs. small cities/rural type of person.

I usually think in terms of counties to visit first then settle on more exact destinations later. Next European trip for us probably will be Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Germany. Second tier: Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Tunisia.

Isn't a train usually cheaper than flying and time isn't a big factor for you.

Edited April 17, 2010 by alienlovechild

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

It all depends on how you travel (i.e., Eurorail pass), and how much time and money you have, but as someone who lived in 6 European countries (plus a 6-month stint in India), here are my favorites for such a "see Europe" trip:

1) London. Less culture shock because of language.

2) Paris. Get to France through the tunnel!

3) Any city in Southern France

4) Geneva

5) Ibiza. A must see.

6) Monaco. My favorite place in the World.

7) Rome

8) Any of the Greek Islands

If I started in London and had only 2 place to choose, it would be Ibiza and Monaco.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

The Colonel needs to post here.

Totally. I know he is on my speed dial when I need travel advice.

[Amby 490]

Mostly major cities? I usually bypass them unless they are along the way or had big role in history. In less populated places there's less hassle, slower pace and get to see more of the locals. May depend on if you're a big city vs. small cities/rural type of person.

I usually think in terms of counties to visit first then settle on more exact destinations later. Next European trip for us probably will be Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Germany. Second tier: Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Tunisia.

Isn't a train usually cheaper than flying and time isn't a big factor for you.

I'm more into smaller places as well but my sis is younger and has things she wants to see. She basically told me she wants to go to those few places and then she'll go wherever I want. I'd like to rent a car, but my mom wants her to experience something other than riding in a car to get everywhere. She almost died when I told her she couldn't bring her massive storage container of shoes with her

[Amby 490]

It all depends on how you travel (i.e., Eurorail pass), and how much time and money you have, but as someone who lived in 6 European countries (plus a 6-month stint in India), here are my favorites for such a "see Europe" trip:

1) London. Less culture shock because of language.

2) Paris. Get to France through the tunnel!

3) Any city in Southern France

4) Geneva

5) Ibiza. A must see.

6) Monaco. My favorite place in the World.

7) Rome

8) Any of the Greek Islands

If I started in London and had only 2 place to choose, it would be Ibiza and Monaco.

Thanks! We had loads of time since we'll be over there for 3 months. Technically I can spend however much I want so money isn't really an issue, but my mom wants me to teach my sister how to be less...less...like herself? We have a two week timeshare through RCI so I was thinking we'd use one week somewhere in Greece and another somewhere in southern France.

Spain - Madrid and Barcelona - Guadi's architecture is a must see. Also northern Spain if you like hiking is very nice.

Eurotrain could be your cheapest fare. Look up Rick Steve's books on Europe.

love hiking! any towns in nothern spain you suggest for hiking or should I just check it out?

[john & jean 37]

saw a new roller coaster in EU the other day, Spain, I think.......

[Amby 490]

A few ideas that come to mind:

• Koln/Cologne Dome/Church (oldest Gothic structure) really cool
• Neuschwanstein Castle (it's not Disneyland)
• Charles Bridge in Prague (for luck)
• Wine country in the south of France (Champagne?) or on the Rhine (Riesling?)
• Wein/Vienna

Best experience (from my point of view) is to stay in small local hotels and avoid the chains as best as you can. Europass (train) is worthwhile if not renting a car - can't be purchased while there.

Sounds like you're going to have fun.

my stepdad's mom lives in germany so we'll have her as a guide there!

[Amby 490]

no wonder I took someone with me last time I took a train journey around 5 countries. was just looking at the timetables

[rika60607 215]

Not any island. Some are not cool enough.

Go to Athens, then take a ferry or a small plane to a good island.

I suggest going to Kefalonia for a week, rent a car, stay near Lassi and drive to all the beaches: red sand, yellow sand, white sand, pebbles... Mountains and valleys... Ithaca island (Odyssey's birthplace) is right next to Kefalonia.

Don't go to Greece in July-August or you will burn.

8) Any of the Greek Islands

[Amby 490]

bump for the people not on vj during the weekend. I need more ideas. planning a trip this long is really hard!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

bump for the people not on vj during the weekend. I need more ideas. planning a trip this long is really hard!

in UK it's cheaper to fly to Edinburgh from London than it is to take the train. Train fares here are notoriously expensive. Even eurostar, for a short distance you're looking at about $100 if I remember rightly.

I recommend a trip to Munich, Salzburg and Innsbrouck. Best places to go if you like mountains, more to do than in Switzerland anyway.

Edited April 20, 2010 by Its a MADHOUSE