Never Been to Europe. WHERE SHOULD I GO?? (nightlife, budget)

[SouthCity09]

Croatian coast is amazing...spend a month there last summer and i am going again in July.

[Douglas Dakota]

How about when to go? We were thinking mid/late September. Decent time?

Mid/late September is a good time. Less Tourist traffic. Not so hot and humid.

I would like to mention the Octoberfest in Munich, even it is named "Octoberfest", it begins in mid September, so it maybe interesting to visit Munich in this time if you like to go on the largest festival on the world (about 6 million visitors). If not, this may not be the very best time for a visit because of all the tourists and visitors. It does not mean that the city is overcrowded, but the hotels prices and tourist traffic is on a higher level in this time.

From Munich, you could also do a 1-2 day flight trip to Vienna, Prague etc. flight time takes only about 45 minutes.

[M3 Mitch]

Just to throw out a different option, you could fly direct from Atlanta or New York to Kiev, you don't need a visa for Ukraine. A lot to see and do in Kiev, you could take an overnight train to Odessa and go to the beach there.

Would help if you can speak Russian, but there are tourist services available for non-speakers.

Maybe a little hard-core for a first Euro trip though.

[2360039]

I've read lots of good suggestions on here, but my suggestion is:

Fly to Brussels (center of the EU), rent a car and make a trip to Holland (Amsterdam, Rotterdam...).
Drive to Cologne and Dusseldorf. Go south through the Eifel, Luxemburg, Strasbourg and the Champage-region.
Then: go to Paris.

Maybe you can visit London too!

If you do this in 2-3 weeks, you have a good view of Middle-Europe, of Roman, Germanic and Anglosaxon cultures.

And when you are older, you can come back and visit lovely countries as Italy or Spain.

[Bad Mad Vlad]

I recomend a tour to eastern european and central european capital cities, Prague, Belgrade, Moscow, Budapest, Athens, Warsaw, Wiena and if you more prefer the sea i recomend, Dubrovnik in Croatia, it is too much expensive in Dubrovnik, but very good clean sea, great hotels, restaurants etc, and i also recomend Budva in Montenegro who is near Dubrovnik.

[Dark Khan]

For those interested, we decided on flying into Zurich and staying there for a night. Then heading to the Berner-Oberland area for 2-3 days.

From there, we'll head down to Italy for the rest of the trip. Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Pisa, the Siena area, and the Cinque Terre (sp?). Hopefully we'll be able to squeeze all of this in.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

[Kate109]

You could spend two weeks in Italy and Switzerland. There is so much to see in Italy and Switzerland is too pretty to miss. Let us know what you pick.

[minniemouse]

Hi!
for a young boy...the very great places are:

Barcelona
Amsterdam
Milan
Octoberfest in Munich

[BaronOB]

Originally Posted by Dark Khan

I'm 21, male, white, and American. My parents and I are planning to go to Europe for ~2 weeks in a few months and I was wondering what people thought the ideal spots to hit would be. Looking to spend around 10k fwiw. I haven't done much research on where the best tourist type places are so I was hoping people with some experience could enlighten me.

We're interested in seeing whatever typical tourists go to Europe to see. Since I'm with my parents I'm not looking for hot nightlife or things like that, looking more for a family type atmosphere. Probably looking to stay in 3-4 different cities and 2-3 different countries. Right now we're leaning towards 1 of 3 possible trips:

A.) Italy/Switzerland/Austria (maybe)

B.) some combo of Scandinavia/Finland

C.) Belgium/Holland/Germany

By no means are these the only ones we're considering. We're open to go just about anywhere. All comments appreciated. Thx.

Eight great days in Europa:

1. Düsseldorf
2. Amsterdam
3. Paris
4. Milano

You can drive a car or railway.

[dougie86]

Originally Posted by Dark Khan

06-05-2009, 12:59 PM
For those interested, we decided on flying into Zurich and staying there for a night. Then heading to the Berner-Oberland area for 2-3 days.

From there, we'll head down to Italy for the rest of the trip. Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Pisa, the Siena area, and the Cinque Terre (sp?). Hopefully we'll be able to squeeze all of this in.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

That sounds like a wonderful itinerary.

Here is logistics bit in Rome that I noted from my Summer 2006 holiday in Italy. Hope it makes sense and of some use.

Arriving at Fuomico Airport
It appeared that there was only one carousel for all arriving flights at Fuomico Airport in Rome that morning. After collecting the luggage, customs checking was smooth; in fact, I didn’t see any tourists being stopped or questioned.

Out in the arrival lobby are rows of counters: tourist information, taxis, hotels and train ticket sale.
After purchasing your train-ticket, the clerk at the ticket-sale-counter will point out to you the escalator that leads to the Train Station one level below.

Leonardo Express: From Fuomico Airport to Roma-Termini Station
Leonardo Express is a direct train between Leonardo-da-Vinci (or Fiumicino) Airport and Roma-Termini.

The main characteristic of the Leonardo Express:
There are no mid-way stops on this route. *1)
The frequency are two trains every hour in each direction.
It is a thirty-one minute run covering a 37km distance.

Airport-bound trains depart at 22 and 52 minutes after the hour,
The first train leaves Termini at 5:52; the last at 22:52.

Termini-bound trains depart at 07 and 37 minutes after the hour.
The first train leaves Fiumicino at 6:37; the last at 23:37.

A ticket is Eur 9.50
For frequent customers, a carnet of 7 tickets is available for Eur 60 (a savings of Eur 6.50)
This could also be a good option for group travellers.

You can purchase tickets of Leonardo-Express from:
- Ferrovie dello Stato - Homepage, online
- ticket windows at all train stations, and Roma-Termini Station
- newspapers/tobacco stands (“edicola/tabacchi”) at major national airports, and Fuomico Airport
- all Trenitalia automatic-ticket-machines
- qualified travel agencies where the Trenitalia logo is displayed on the window

Tickets are sold at a flat rate at all Leonardo-Express ticket vendors, including travel agencies.
However, if you wait until the last minute before boarding to buy tickets, there is another convenient location for you: ticket-sale on binario (platform) 25. The tickets issued from this platform are in the form of a cheque, and a small fee is added to the price.
Don’t forget to validate your tickets from the yellow machine on the binario before boarding.

*1) If getting off at Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana or Tiburtina, then board the FR1 or FM1 train to Fara Sabina instead.


Taxi: Fuomico Airport and or Roma-Termini Station

Beware of taxi offers from anyone in the lobby area of Airport or Termini.
Those drivers are illegal and they give Roman taxi drivers a bad name.
Walk out to the street level and look out for a line of white or yellow cabs.
They all bear the city shield on the side doors.
They are parked in order and you are expected to take the first cab in line.

When in the city, ask any merchant where you can find a taxi stand.
At the taxi stand, you will see a line of licensed cabs, waiting.
Roman taxi drivers are licensed and regulated.
They always turn the meter on and charge by the city-regulated rate.

There is an extra fee before 7am and after 10pm on weekdays, plus all day on Sundays and holidays.

Also, large luggage comes with an automatic luggage fee of Eur 1 a piece.


Take taxi from Fuomico Airport to your hotel, or
Take train from Fuomico Airport to Roma-Termini Station, and then take taxi to hotel
(you and the taxi-driver can agree on the exact fares in advance + allow a 15%-20% tip esp for heavy luggage) .

Travel within the city costs around Eur 10.
From the airport, it costs about Eur 45 +plus luggage +plus weekend +plus evening charges applied.
In case of contention, the driver will provide at your request a receipt specifying itinerary, taxi number and amount paid.
And watch your luggage and your personal belongings.

Airport buses

I read that a businessman arrived in the airport, took an airport bus to his hotel and when the bus arrived at his hotel, his suitcase was gone and he claimed that it was an organized scam. So I did not research in to this mode of airport-hotel transfers.

Scheduled Tourbus Airport-Hotel Transfers

Tour companies that provide tour packages plus airtickets, include Airport-hotel-airport transfers both ways.
Otherwise, they charges $60 x 2 passengers for Airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-Airport transfers.

Footing out $120 for to-and-fro Airport/hotel/Airport transfers was for peace of mind - not having to juggle with luggage and carryon bags on public roads and areas while waiting for the trains and cabs. Read on other travel forums the other travellers lost their stuff using public transport.

Their coaches pickup at the scheduled times advertised.
The pickup service is door-to-door,
- from airport arrival terminal up to your hotel and
- from your hotel up to your airport departure terminal

City metro-buses
http://metrebus.it

BIT (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo)= Eur 1,
good for 75 minutes from the time of validation

BIG (Biglietto Integrato Giornaliero)= Eur 4,
one-day ticket, valid for unlimited travel on the bus and metro from the time of validation until midnight of that day.

BTI (Biglietto Turistico Integrato)= Eur 11,
three-day ticket, valid for unlimited travel on the bus and metro for three days from the date you indicate at the time of purchase.

CIS (Carta Integrata Settimanale)= Eur 16,
a weeklong ticket valid for unlimited travel on the bus and metro for seven days (from the time of validation until midnight of day #7).

Don't Forget to Time Stamp Your Train Ticket BEFORE you get on the train.
You need to stamp your bus tickets when you get on the bus, too.

If it's not time-stamped or validated (in Italian, "convalida") and a conductor checks your ticket, you'll be fined (perhaps 5-10 Euros, but it could be 50 Euros, or as much as 500 Euros).

ATM

It is better to use an ATM in Europe than to purchase the Euros at home.
ATMs are easy to find and they give a much better exchange rate.
Make sure your card has the Cirrus symbol on it and the money is in your checking account.
You also need a 4-digit numeric pin #, no letters.

It can cost as much as 20-30% in charges to purchase Euros from a local bank.

No traveler’s checks. Nobody will accept them, not even the banks. Some money-changers may take them but give you 20-35% less after deducting their service charges.

Rome’s catacombs

Of Rome's more than 60 early Christian catacombs, only five are open to visitors and pilgrims.
All are open year round, except for major Church holidays; hours vary, so call before you go. Admission is about $5 and includes a 30-minute guided tour, available in several languages throughout the day.

The best-known and most-often visited is
The Catacombs of St. Callixtus
Via Appia Antica, 126
Tel: 39-06-513-0151).
Directions: bus 218 from near church San Giovanni in Laterano. You can get there by Metro - San Giovanni.
Great info: catacombe dot roma dot it

The four less familiar catacombs that are open to the public are:
The Catacombs of St. Agnes
Via Nomentana, 349
Tel: 39-06-861-0840

The Catacombs of Priscilla
Via Salaria, 430
Tel: 39-06-8620-6272

The Catacombs of Domitilla
Via delle Sette Chiese, 282/0
Tel: 39-06-511-0342

The Catacombs of St. Sebastian
Via Appia Antica, 136
Tel: 39-06-788-7035

Any attempts of rescheduling would affect the overall program. In my case, I spent Sunday morning from 10am - 2pm in St Peter's Sq, saw the Pope, received the blessings, but unable to attend the mass due to big religious groups from Poland and Latin American countries that day, and the Vatican Museum being closed on Sunday. So I had to go back on Monday to visit the Museum and Sistine Chapel.

My regrets were:
- never made it to Capitoline (Capitol Hill) where Casius Brutus and other senators locked themselves in one building after Julius Ceasar was murdered; the stairs and square were designed by Michaelangel; the statue of Marcus Aurelius on a horse where criminals were hanged during the medieval ages.
- did not stop at Castel Sant' Angelo or Ponte Sant' Angelo decorated with statues designed by Bernini - although I must have passed by it at least 20 times.