Eurotrip

[Shlup]

I'm gathering information on Europe because my husband and I plan to spend some time there in Summer 2009.

So, queries:

1) Have you visited Europe? Where did you stay? What did you do?

2) Has anyone stayed at a hostel? Any recommendations on that?

3) Do people tip in Europe?!

4) Anyone fly from the US west coast to Europe recently? How much was an airline ticket?

5) Someone explain this "rail pass" thing to me?

6) Other information. Tell it to me.

ETA: I'm mostly interested in money-related info and specifics, like where to sleep.

[Rye]

As for what I can answer:

1) Have you visited Europe? Where did you stay? What did you do?
I went to Italy for 2 weeks! I stayed with my grandmother in her condo. My family and I went around Bologna, my father's home town, where my grandparents were married. We also went to Venice. I met a lot of distance relatives. It was nice.

3) Do people tip in Europe?!
Yup!

BRING ME WITH YOU SHLUP, I'LL GET YOU DISCOUNTS.

[Shlup]

7) If I don't tip will they hit me?

[Kirobaito]

1. I have visited Europe. I've been to, in terms of cities, Rome, Venice, Florence, Salzburg, Lucerne, Paris, and London. It was all very touristy stuff, lots of sites, lots of walking, museums, etc.

2. I have not.

3. Yes, for the most part. I wouldn't say it's as necessary as it is here, but yeah, you tip.

4. I went from Texas to Rome, so nope.

5. Never took the rail!

6. Europe is lovely. I LOVED Italy and Switzerland. I loved all the cool history stuff in Rome, the atmosphere of Venice and the little isles around it, and the culture of Florence. Lucerne... I sooooo want to go back. It was the coolest place. I'm going back to Europe, but this time to Edinburgh for the semester, where I'll do some exploring of the British Isles that I really didn't have the time to do last time I was there.

[Freya]

1. Went to Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France in that order. German people are really nice. Switzerland is beautiful the people, kinda rude. Italy was meh, Venice was dirty. Maybe it wasn't so grand cause I hated the heat -.-

2. Nah we just stayed in cheap hotels.

3 AND 7. I didn't tip a few times and they didn't seem too bothered... 'Cept in france I forgot once and I got yelled at o.o

4. I flew out of Denver So dunno :/

5. Depends on where you are. Me thinks I don't remember it's been a while.

6. Germany I think was the best. It was quite pretty and the people were very friendly. Try the Neuschwanstein castle it was pretty much awesome. It's the one they based the disney one from.

[Clawsze]

1) Have you visited Europe? Where did you stay? What did you do?
I live there. In my house. Play video Games.
Lol, but I've been on mainland Europe a few times, stayed at hotels, and went sight-seeing/bought stuffs/ate foreign food, yummy!

2) Has anyone stayed at a hostel? Any recommendations on that?
Not in Europe, but advise would be keep possesions under close guard.

3) Do people tip in Europe?!
Hell yeah! It's not complimentary, but it is always nice to give a few euros/pounds.

4) Anyone fly from the US west coast to Europe recently? How much was an airline ticket?
Nope, East Coast all the way.

5) Someone explain this "rail pass" thing to me?
You would buy one, this would allow you to go on a subway for the rest of the day using that pass. Good if you don't like walking and you'll be using the subway a lot. Not so worth it otherwise.

6) Other information. Tell it to me.
Most countries take Euros, however some (UK, Switzerland, Sweden) take of currency. Check online for any places you're going to to check if they use euros or not. Also, visit England, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?!?!

[rubah]

whatever plug they tell you you'll probably need in most places will NOT be the plug you actually need >:[

I stayed at the Strand in London, twin beds in a hotel room were a new experiences.

Be prepared for crazy taxes. there are hugely high VATs everywhere (but if you spend so much they'll probably refund you when you leave the country).

I have been advised against traveler's checks(overly cautious and too much trouble) and been told that ATMs generally work just as well and major credit cards (visa, master card) are generally accepted in most not-street-vendors

quit making these help threads outside the help forum you shlupbutt >:[

[Raistlin]

The Help Forum is lame outside of technical issues.

I've only been to France. I disliked Paris, but yes, people tip (just not as much).

[Aerith's Knight]

1) Have you visited Europe? Where did you stay? What did you do?

I live in Europe, Ive been to half of it. Mostly on vacations.

2) Has anyone stayed at a hostel? Any recommendations on that?

nope, mostly hotels and resorts and such..

3) Do people tip in Europe?!

no.. not normally, its all in the price. Also.. the tax is already included.

4) Anyone fly from the US west coast to Europe recently? How much was an airline ticket?

I did, and it was about hmm.. 1000 dollars for a retour ticket(i think, cant remem correctly.. could be more, as i used points for a large portion.)

5) Someone explain this "rail pass" thing to me?

Trains arent used a lot in Europe, as the distances arent that great. So they thought up a ticket that lets you travel for a certain amount of time, for a certain price.. kinda like a subway ticket on large scale. pretty nifty.

edit: appereantly its also a metro stuff.. ghehe prob didnt translate it right i guess ^^'

6) Other information. Tell it to me.

France: go near the ocean, or it will be unbearable.. youll need at least basic french skills as they are all lazy and arrogant and will not speak english.
The netherlands: Just awsome ..
Spain: Its better to either go to the canarian islands or to one of the large islands next to spain, as spain itself is usually crowded in the summer and unbearably hot.
England: You dont need to ask me, go for the english dudes ^__^
Germany: Some good places, but its not a great vacation country.
Austria: Great place, mountains where you can relax. In the summer its not crowded so its just great. You can also go down a stone slide in a cart.. its awsome ^__^
Greece: Mostly go for the touristy places here as everywhere else is just normal towns.. not much to do.

I could tell more, but i dont feel like it. PM me if you really want it

[Roto13]

You know all of those stereotypes about how French people are complete and total jerks? It's just Paris. They don't bathe, either. They just wear a lot of perfume.

[Ashi]

Can't answer all questions but I'll try to be somewhat informative.

1) Have you visited Europe? Where did you stay? What did you do?
Yes. Went to England and France. We stayed at a hotel each time. Things we did included hitting the shops, walking to nearby parks, feeding the squirrels/ducks/geese/etc, museums and galleries. In London I believe a Salvador Dali gallery is near to London Eye / Big Ben but I can't seem to recall very well (it has been four years and I'm sure I still have my ticket somewhere back home). All I remember of France is DisneyLand and La Tour Eiffel (Is it Le or La? One of my main problems with the language).

3) Do people tip in Europe?!
Yes. I haven't been eating out in my last few trips, but the person that helped carry my luggage earned himself a decent tip.

[Araciel]

Tip everywhere you go, whether or not they do it there, we do it.

[Aerith's Knight]

You know all of those stereotypes about how French people are complete and total jerks? It's just Paris. They don't bathe, either. They just wear a lot of perfume.

-_-

im betting you only went to paris?

Ive been in.. lets see.. 16 different places, every place for more then a week.. paris three times..

everywhere they are arrogant jerks.. they even demand that an 8yo orders bread in french even though they are in a freaking tourist resort.

[rubah]

You know all of those stereotypes about how French people are complete and total jerks? It's just Paris. They don't bathe, either. They just wear a lot of perfume.

-_-

im betting you only went to paris?

Ive been in.. lets see.. 16 different places, every place for more then a week.. paris three times..

everywhere they are arrogant jerks.. they even demand that an 8yo orders bread in french even though they are in a freaking tourist resort.

Listen, at the end of june I'll come back and give my report.

[Aerith's Knight]

very well.. who knows.. maybe theyve changed in the last 5 years..

i doubt it though. And of course the fact that they'd be nice to pretty girls .. (maybe of course, depends on the level of arrogance xD)