The Conservative Cave

The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: A7X_foREVer on April 28, 2012, 09:27:44 PM

Title: Travel
Post by: A7X_foREVer on April 28, 2012, 09:27:44 PM
A coworker of mine just booked a trip to go all around Europe so she is looking now for fun things to do anyone have any suggestions?
She said she is planning on spending a couple of days in each of her spots she is very lucky and I wish I could be in her suitcase since she is going to so many great places like London and across Germany and finishing her trip off in Italy.
If anyone has suggestions or tips I know she would love anything and everything you could offer.
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: obumazombie on April 28, 2012, 09:32:24 PM
A eurail pass.
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: A7X_foREVer on April 28, 2012, 09:45:22 PM
How much are those and does she have to buy a new one at every country or one for her entire trip?
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: Chris_ on April 28, 2012, 09:50:05 PM
How much are those and does she have to buy a new one at every country or one for her entire trip?
Looks like anywhere from $50 to $500. 

http://www.eurail.com/home
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: Eupher on April 28, 2012, 10:30:35 PM
Oktoberfest occurs throughout Bavaria throughout the summer.

Have fun.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWjcrt_FNsk&feature=related[/youtube]
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: seahorse513 on April 29, 2012, 12:43:52 AM
I would avoid London until after the Olympics....Many European countries are typically historical, alot depends on whether she wants to visit castles and manors, or does she want to do  a pilgramage of all the cathedrals and churches.
London: Westminster AbbeY,St Pauls Cathedral, The London Dungeon, Catch a London Broadway show, Soho London, Picadilly Circus, pub hopping, Haunting Tours
Paris/France/, The Louvre, Versailles, The Bastille, Arc de Triomph. The Loire Valley,Notre Dam
Rome Colosseum, The Catacombs
City bus tours are always available in all these places.
Remember that England does not take Euros, though Ireland does....
The best bet is to pay for purchases through a debit/credit card. If she uses an Atm , especially in England cash on small amounts, so she wont have to worry about, trying to get a proper exchange. Banks in England will not exchange Euros for her either....
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: Chris_ on April 29, 2012, 12:45:56 AM
I've been to Westminster Abbey.  Bunch of large rocks. :yawn:

If I went back, I would go see Parliament, Windsor Castle, Stonehenge (again), and as many Roman ruins I could find.  They had Stonehenge blocked off when I was there and we couldn't get within 100 meters of it.
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: chitownchica on April 29, 2012, 01:59:40 AM
I love traveling by train in Europe. I've been a number of times for both business and pleasure and feel fortunate to have had so many great trips and seen so many wonderful sites. I hope the same for your friend.

I love Paris and many other areas of France. Beyond the Paris environs, the south is especially pretty. The train from Cannes to Monaco is very picturesque.  I also love Amsterdam. I had a Dutch roommate in college whose husband was once a cop in the red light district.  The first time I visited, he decided to take us on a night tour that included all sorts of x-rated scenery :).  The last time I was there, he warned me to avoid the space cakes because he didn't want to bail me out of the drunk tank - haha.

Vienna is lovely.  Barcelona is another great city I enjoyed very much.

I haven't made it to Italy yet.  I think that's where I'll visit next.

I hope your friend has fun!
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: A7X_foREVer on April 29, 2012, 07:12:07 AM
I will pass all of these tips on to her she is going to London for the opening ceremony to the Olympics that is why she is taking her trip :-)
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: whiffleball on April 29, 2012, 08:04:52 AM
Stonehenge used to offer a morning visit where you can actually go up to and touch the stones.  It was worth the price and early hour.  I got bummed the first time I went and had to stand behind the ropes.

In Germany Rothenberg is one of my favorites.  The Nightwatchman Tour is very entertaining.  Neuschwanstein (I didn't enjoy the inside of the castle very much) is touristy, but the skies can be filled with para-sails and hot air balloons which makes it so cool to watch.
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: TVDOC on April 29, 2012, 10:20:51 AM
Tell her not to miss Venice......the earlier in the summer the better (the smell can be a tad overwhelming in July and August, but you  get used to it).  Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Capri....if she's into art, Florence is a must.....also the best place to buy hand-made ladies leather goods (shoes and handbags)

Off the beaten track, Budapest is beautiful, as are the historic parts of Prague, and a bus ride (or driving a rental car) through the mountains in the Balkans is also worthwhile.

Greece is iffy right now due to the political climate, but a day in Athens is a day well spent, and they are so strapped for cash that everything is cheap......compared to the rest of Europe.......my wife has spent an entire week shopping in the plaka.

If she wants to spend more time in the UK, I'd recommend a visit to my ancestral homeland. Edinburgh is just a five hour train ride from London (on the express), the weather there is lousy, but doing the castle and loch tour is great, and there is nothing quite like the mist on the moors.....

doc
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: seahorse513 on April 30, 2012, 09:54:52 AM
Looks like anywhere from $50 to $500. 

http://www.eurail.com/home
A bunch of rocks indeed!!! :mad:
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: NHSparky on April 30, 2012, 11:39:23 AM
I've been to Westminster Abbey.  Bunch of large rocks. :yawn:

If I went back, I would go see Parliament, Windsor Castle, Stonehenge (again), and as many Roman ruins I could find.  They had Stonehenge blocked off when I was there and we couldn't get within 100 meters of it.

First time I was in London a trip to Stonehenge was entertained for about five seconds until the couple at the next table suggested a day trip to Paris on the Eurostar.  Nothing quite like zipping along through northern France at 200 mph.
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: BlueStateSaint on April 30, 2012, 01:56:24 PM
First time I was in London a trip to Stonehenge was entertained for about five seconds until the couple at the next table suggested a day trip to Paris on the Eurostar.  Nothing quite like zipping along through northern France at 200 mph.

Hell, the Wehrmacht did in 1940, right? :fuelfire: :tongue: :whistling:
Title: Re: Travel
Post by: NHSparky on April 30, 2012, 08:20:18 PM
Hell, the Wehrmacht did in 1940, right? :fuelfire: :tongue: :whistling:

I looked at the Eurail prices.  I'm getting up there in age to do backpacking, but $750 for a pass, hosteling it instead of $300/night for a hotel, and cheap airfare from the East Coast to pretty much anywhere in Europe looks like a good deal.

Not cheap, but certainly a lot less expensive than most travel to Europe.

http://www.hostelworld.com/