Jump to content

Europe On A Budget


Recommended Posts

If you earn in pesos europe on a budget is still fooking expensive.

 

Check out the youth tours like kontiki etc. They can get you the most bang for the buck generally. Quick stops to the most frequent places at western youth prices. It's still expensive but an easy way to see many countries and their most frequented places.

 

If you scrimp in London that's at least 10-15 pounds a day 1,000-1,500 pesoses. If you scrimp in Berlin you're looking to spend 3/4 that money daily. This is without accomodations. Throw in a show that's halfprice and that's like another L20, 2,000 pesoses.

 

Here's a quick day breakdown of how much London's going to cost you, generally the other most developed Euro countries will cost you 3/4 this. On absolute scrimping.

 

1 Day Bus Pass - 3.00

Breakfast - 2.75 (pret a manger sandwich)

Lunch - 6.50 (china town value meal)

Dinner - 6.50 (indian econo meal)

Museums - Free (perhaps the only good thing about London)

Show - 12.50 (at halfprice)

Grand total without night gimmick where cocktails are ridiculously priced at L3.

 

L31.25 = P3125

 

You can scrimp a lot more but you lose a lot of what London has. The other euro country I'm familiar with is Berlin and they charge for museum entrance. The best part about Germany is actually the countryside and that's also a lot of money to add on your tour.

 

As you may have noticed I'm not a huge fan of scrimping in Europe. My logic is basically that my opportunity to visit the west is limited. Rather than force myself towards the budget areas accesible to me I'd rather be able to splurge that one time to have access to all the things a particular country has to offer. Sadly, some of the best things about first world countries do cost money. With this being said, I'd suggest you reduce your travel time to two weeks, reduce the countries your visiting to 2 or 3 and thereby granting yourself twice the money to spend in these countries.

 

August is the start of fall. It can get cold but you won't be needing thermals or even a thick jacket unless you're malamigin or are visiting a high altitude country.

 

Ditch Geneva, boring! Or just forget europe and bring me to Boracay.

Rock on!

Link to comment

I agree. Ditch Geneva. It's a boring place. If you're bent on traveling to Switzerland, other cities will probably be of better cultural value. Lucerne is a popular tourist place but all I saw was one huge shopping complex. Actually, I find Switzerland boring. If you're into gorgeous scenery and quiet, then it's a good place for you (parang retirement place nga e :P). And it's where Nestle hails from (Vevey -- if you notice the address on all the Nestle packaging :boo: ). Everything's super clean and the people are friendly (not too much in the big cities though). It's like the twilight zone dammit. :D

 

Oh, and going through Central Europe means having to go on a diet of meat and potatoes since you'll notice on the map that it's landlocked. That means seafood is of not-so-good quality and/or hugely expensive. When I was there, I got really really sick of beef, pork, potatoes and bread :sick: Sabik na sabik na akong magkanin paguwi ko. :blink:

 

Ay. Switzerland isn't using the Euro yet. Wag mo na lang puntahan unless gustong gusto mo talaga yung place. Sayang lang exchange rate mo. Papapalit ka pa ng pera tapos saglit ka lang doon :P At ang hirap pang maghanap ng bangko na nagpapalit ng Euro = Swiss Francs. :P

 

Another tip: If you're wanting to shop, the cheapest country will be Czech. So if you find something nice there, buy it! :boo: Everywhere else is more expensive :unsure:

 

Short addendum:

 

If you're going to eat fish and chips consider it a cultural experience rather than a culinary one.  There's really nothing special about it and if you want good cheap food there are thousands of gems in London.  I can list some if you want me to.

 

Yes, I agree. Gusto ko lang i-try. Saka mas mura siya kasi parang sa tabi tabi lang na food stall e. Basta Indian food! That's where I learned to eat and love (North) Indian food. Ironically, it was a white guy who introduced me to the joys of eating Indian food! Now when I'm in Singapore, I make it a point to eat Indian at least once! Kahit magisa ako! (My friends and family think I'm crazy :D)

 

Actually, if you think about it, the UK isn't really a part of Europe. Ayaw nga nila ng Euro diba? Hahahaha! Palagi sila hiwalay. Ah basta I love England :wub:

Link to comment
Another tip: If you're wanting to shop, the cheapest country will be Czech. So if you find something nice there, buy it! :boo: Everywhere else is more expensive  :unsure:

Yes, I agree. Gusto ko lang i-try. Saka mas mura siya kasi parang sa tabi tabi lang na food stall e. Basta Indian food! That's where I learned to eat and love (North) Indian food. Ironically, it was a white guy who introduced me to the joys of eating Indian food! Now when I'm in Singapore, I make it a point to eat Indian at least once! Kahit magisa ako! (My friends and family think I'm crazy :D)

 

Actually, if you think about it, the UK isn't really a part of Europe. Ayaw nga nila ng Euro diba? Hahahaha! Palagi sila hiwalay. Ah basta I love England :wub:

 

 

While they don't use the euro, the UK is still part of the EU. They're just suwapang about their currency because it's so strong at the moment. Give it a year and the Czech republic will be using euros too, they've been approved to join the EU.

 

While generally speaking London is crap to shop in due to prices, go over to Camden market. It's like a western ukay-ukay if you're patient and thorough you can find cheap stuff.

Link to comment

been to europe 5 years ago but sadly i was still a travel tyro then so we took a bus tour. its okay if you want to see the highlights of europe and don't want any of the usual hassles but i would prefer to go backpacking and explore places on my own. good thing we had a whole week to k*ll before our bus tour which we spent exploring London.

Link to comment
I agree. Ditch Geneva. It's a boring place. If you're bent on traveling to Switzerland, other cities will probably be of better cultural value. Lucerne is a popular tourist place but all I saw was one huge shopping complex. Actually, I find Switzerland boring. If you're into gorgeous scenery and quiet, then it's a good place for you (parang retirement place nga e :P).

 

I couldn't agree more. You can get tired of Geneva in minutes. I was in Geneva once for a two-week conference. Geez! There is absolutely nothing to do after the day is over and for two freaking weeks, I'll end my day feeding the ducks and swans at the lake.

 

I've stayed in Bern as well and it isn't that much better. Highlight of my day was to watch the clock tower every 12 noon and that's it.

Link to comment
i'll be traveling parts of it alone, parts of it with a cousin and some parts with a few friends. and depending on the location of family and friends who live there, i've definitely decided to drop in london, geneva, paris, barcelona, lisbon, amsterdam, rome, florence, vienna, berlin and prague. still thinking if two months is enough for all these places or not.. or if i can squeeze in a couple more cities.

 

At the very least, I'm guessing you've already been to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, and Florence. Instead of them, why not visit Edinburgh or Dublin, Lyon, Warsaw, Budapest, Athens, or Istanbul? Those cities are relatively off the beaten path and all are rich in history, culture, and less expensive to stay in.

Link to comment

Here's an FR on one of my most favorite cities in Europe:

 

MADRID

 

Spain is one of the few places in Europe where you can actually afford to take a cab. Taxi fare from the airport to downtown Madrid would cost you around 20 Euros. Ok, ok, that's around 1,500 pesos, I know. But compared to most other European cities, this is a bargain. Of course, you could always take the train as long as you know which station is closest to your hotel. :)

 

Places to stay: I like staying in the hotels along Gran Via. Depending on the time of year, you can get rates as low as USD 40/day! Plus, from Gran Via, it's walking distance to the Don Quijote monument, Palacio Real and Plaza Mayor. Retiro Park is merely a 10 Euro cab ride away (again you could always take the train). :)

 

Places to see: As always, this would depend on how much time you have and what interests you. There are historical sites aplenty! Places popular with tourists include Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real, etc. If you want to visit places which have a bearing on Philippine history, visit Hotel Ingles. There's a historical marker there that tells you this was the place where Jose Rizal and company met frequently in the late 1800s. At Retiro Park, there are streets named after each former Spanish Colony. Look for Calle Filipinas. :huh:

 

Places to eat: Paella is a MUST. Especially paella madrileña. Many restaurants serve paella. I enjoy dining in the restaurants in Plaza Mayor. Try going to the tapas bars in the early evening. Pag sinabing "tapas", baka isipin ninyo parang yung tapang baka natin. Mali! Tapas is the Spanish equivalent of our pulutan. Maraming klase. My favorites are chorizo and tortilla :cool: (hindi yung tortillang Mexicano ha? Pag nasa Madrid ka, ang tawag dun ay torta). Yung torta naman natin which is an omelet actually, yun ang tortilla! My favorite tapas bars are at "Las Cuevas" which are restaurants carved out from the stone foundations of Plaza Mayor. :cool: As you can expect, a lot of Spanish cuisine would be familiar to the average Pinoy. Even the sweets. Pastillas, polvoron, etc. :goatee: You'll also be pleasantly surprised how popular San Miguel beer is in Spain. On a budget? Go to the basement of El Corte Ingles and buy foodstuff at the grocery.

 

Shopping: El Corte Ingles is Spain's answer to Marks & Spencer of the Brits and our very own(brace yourself) SM. The last few times I was in Madrid, I bought Springfield brand shoes at the equivalent of around 1,500 pesos (they sell for 3-4 times more if you buy them at Glorietta). :P If you have a Spanish-sounding surname, it might be worthwhile to go the El Gran Bazar in Plaza Mayor and check out your family's origin and coat of arms. They have a checklist of surnames and you can order them to print your family's history and coat of arms (with authentication) for 20 Euros. And for another 5 Euros, you can order a "cartel". A cartel is a poster announcing bullfights with a picture of a "torero" (if you're a guy) o kaya flamenco dancer (if you're a girl) with your name on it. :)

 

Other things to do: Watch a bull fight! "Visit" Museo de Jamon which is actually NOT a museum but a restaurant with legs of ham hanging on all the walls. We're all familiar with jamon serrano. Try jamon jabugo. Mas masarap yon pero halos doble ang presyo.

 

This is also a good chance for you to brush up on your Spanish. You'll realize kung gaano ka-ogags yung mga Pinoy na pinagmamalaki na "coño" daw sila when you realize what that word really means. "Coño" ka ba? Sige na nga. If you insist. :evil: Subukan nyo rin yung mga salitang "puñeta" o kaya "leche". These really don't mean anything to the Spaniards and the only reaction you will probably solicit would be a blank stare. :blink: Indeed, Pinoy "Spanish" has really evolved light years away from its original roots.

 

Kung Atenista ka, visit Ateneo de Madrid. It's not a school, mind you. Check it out. :unsure:

Edited by Magaling
Link to comment
Been to Barcelona? Any tips on where to go and what to do?

Have you tried visiting the musuems in Madrid (Prado, etc.) or that isn't your thing? :)

 

El Corte Ingles is... uh... a shopping mall <_< Boring!

 

 

My Dear Lana:

 

Yes, I've been to Barcelona. There's a "rivalry" that exists between Barceleños and Madrileños (just like Tokyo-Japanese and Osaka-Japanese). Where Madrid is the political and economic center, Barcelona is supposedly the cultural capital of Spain. :cool:

 

Places of interest include the Gothic Quarter where you can find the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família which is one of Gaudi's more popular works. The magic fountains of Montjuic is a sight to behold in the evening. :goatee:

 

My favorite place is the Catedral de Barcelona (different from Sagrada Familia) is also one of the city's most famous landmarks (although it was undergoing renovation when I went there). The Catedral is walking distance from Las Ramblas where you can find hawkers of everything from souvenirs, birds, fruits, flowers, paintings etc. The streets between the Catedral and Las Ramblas are lined with shops selling polvoron, pastillas and other Spanish pastries. Try sampling these and bring some home for pasalubong. They are quite different from our "Pinoy" version. Once you get to Las Ramblas though, watch out for pick pockets! :huh:

 

Although I can appreciate art, I can't honestly say that I'm deep into it. Thus, I have not visited any of the museums. Not to mention that I travel mostly on business and so visiting a museum would not be high on my list of things to do. If art is your thing, you might be pleased to know that Barcelona is supposedly the showcase for Dali and Picasso, aside from Gaudi, etc. Copies of their paintings are sold at Las Ramblas. :wacko:

 

El Corte Ingles is not a mall. It's more of a department store chain just like Mark's & Spencer in the UK. That's only if you are into shopping and you're looking for a place where you might find everything under one roof. It's also where I buy food stuff in lieu of restaurants and burger chains. :rolleyes:

 

Well, happy traveling and I hope I can be of some help. :)

 

Cheers!

Edited by Magaling
Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

hey guys!

 

thanks again for all the info. found everything posted here absobloominutely helpful. my tentative departure date is sometime september. hope with all my might nothing comes up between now and then to force me to postpone it, or worse, cancel!

 

in the meantime, i'm bumping up this thread again. keep on posting guys! every little bit of information helps.

 

thanks again.

 

:flowers:

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...
AAACCCKK!!!

 

was told this morning i might have to fly out to switzerland as early as next month! will be there for a week on business but i'm sure i'll have downtime as well.

 

anyone else been there? what's to do in zurich and geneva? should i bring thermals?

 

You should at least be prepared for the temperature not too exceed 0 degrees at most during the day. And expect lower temps. Thermals .. mmm .. depends on how good u can hold yourself in this cold.

 

Both Zurich and Geneva are perfect tourist spots. Enough to see in the old towns, nice scenery and good restaurants and bars. Haven't been in geneva myself and only travelled past Zurich, but from a distance it looked great and from what what i heard its fun to spend there a few days.

 

By the way .. lots of snow is coming down this year. Make sure you plan a skiing trip.

Link to comment

first time ko sa zurich, i was on a red eye from ATL which arrived saturday morning, made the mistake of napping sa hotel and waking up at 3PM. well most of the shops in bahnhofstraße have already closed and there was really nothing else to do except to window shop, in hindsight this was good since tulo laway lang ako kasi i couldn't afford what i saw in the windows. this was back in 1998, don't know if it has improved any.

 

the nightlife is quite tame, it mainly in the old town. the time i was there, they has some sort of carnival. lots of brass bands competing against each other on the street, it was fun but it's not as wild as the new orleans mardi gras.

 

as far as bringing thermals, it's better to be safe that sorry. i don't know what your tolerance level is, but the temperature in march is usually in the single digit ©.

 

enjoy your stay in switzerland.

Link to comment

Lots of good info on theis thread already, but let me add a suggestion and a warning.

 

Suggestion - one way to save (even if you're over 26!) is to stay at youth hostels. They'll take pretty much anyone. Good if you're traveling alone. Cheap. Not fancy and you'll have to share a shower, but what the heck, right?

 

Warning - when in Rome.......be careful of the gypsy kids. REALLY GOOD purse snatchers/pickpockets. Best advice would be to keep your valuables in a waist or shoulder pack that's under your clothes. And just enough money in your pockets for your next stop or two. Nothing in a back pocket - always in a front pocket.

 

There are books by Rick Stevens that you should try to pick up if you can. You may need to buy them through Amazon if your local bookstores don't carry them.

 

Favorite cities -

London - shops, theater (nothing else like it, not even New York), great sights and old buildings (I'm a fan of old architecture)

Paris - great food, great museums, great (and cheap!) wine. So they're a bit on the rude side - look around and you'll see two levels of rudeness - one for Parisiennes and one for everyone else.

Beaune - small town feel, wonderful wine (burgundy! yum!), great food. Great place to walk around.

Amsterdam - EVERYONE speaks English! The funny stuff you can get a the "cafes" (you have to ask for the special menu). Van Gogh and other great masters. A canal tour at night.

Rome (despite the gypsy kids) - old, old, old stuff. 2000 year old blocks of stone that I can STILL read (I took Latin in high school) in the forum and other places. The Pantheon is an architectural marvel, as is St. Peter's Square (actually, it's oval!). Piazza di Navona (an old, as in Roman Empire old, racetrack) is a good place to get some espresso and sit and wtch th epeople. Or, you can sit on the Spanish Steps and watch the crowd.

 

Eat where the locals do. Pub food can be a cliche, but some of teh best food I've had in London was at various pubs. Fish and chips? Battered fried fish (usually cod or haddock) and potatoes. With malt vinegar. When it's good it's very good, when it's bad - yecch! In Paris, the small neighborhood places are the best! Stay away from places with lots of foreigners - typically expensive and not too good (other than Tour d'Argent and Taillavent but those are very, very $$$$).

Link to comment

Won't recommend backpacking or travelling alone, all kinds of hassles, not only the expenses, the wasted time through immigration (Philippine passport kasi...), connecting transportation..., language problems pa.. ..you will end up frustrated....and dissapointed :( .... better to join an escorted tour group from any of the following, Contiki specializes for the 18 - 35 age group..., Insight or Trafalgar, also have tours for those below 40's..., if you join their regular tours..., sorry to say, ang kasama mo puro senior citizens..., whereas for the below 40's, puro bars and nightlife for your age group..., local agencies are Rajah and Pan Pacific... :)

Link to comment

unless you join an escorted tour as mentioned above....,you won't be able to cover "must" locations ...,

 

a 14 day itinerary from Insight....

 

http://www.insightvacations.com/asia/index...onent_seq_num=3

 

Superior Touring

Arrival & departure transfers between the airport & your Insight London hotel.

Comfortable Moderate First Class & First Class hotels specially selected for each departure.

Luxury, air-conditioned touring coachwith reclining seats.

Hotel service charges, taxes & porterage.

Stylish flight bag, travel wallet, map & information pack.

Cross channel transportation by modern ferry.

Professional Service

Experienced services of a professional multi-lingual Tour Director.

Qualified local city guides on major city sightseeing tours.

Helpful staff on hand at our London Service Centre to assist you with sightseeing, theatre tickets etc.

Included Dining

13 Breakfasts (B) 6 three course evening meals (D)

Highlights & Sightseeing

Guided tours of Paris, Rome and Vienna;Orientation tours of Lucerne, Venice, Innsbruck,Heidelberg, Cologne and Amsterdam.

 

France

See the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower & the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Cross the infamous River Somme

 

Switzerland

See the Lion Monument & Chapel Bridge, Lucerne

Spectacular Alpine drive

 

Italy

Cruise to St. Mark's Square by private launch & see the Bridge of Sighs & Basilica

Demonstration of Venetian glass-blowing

See the Forum & Colosseum, Rome

Visit St. Peter's Basilica, see Pieta, Vatican

Panoramic view of Florence

Italian Lake drive

 

Austria

See the Golden Roof Imperial Palace& Wilten Basilica, Innsbruck

Scenic drive through the Salzkammergut region

See the 'Sound of Music' wedding scene church, Mondsee

In Vienna see the Hofburg, St. Charles' Church, City Hall & Statue of Strauss

Drive through Carinthia's Lake District

 

Germany

View Cologne Cathedral

Relax on a Rhine cruise

See the Loreley Rock

Visit Heidelberg & view the Castle

Bavarian Alpine drive

See King Ludwig's castle of Neuschwanstein

 

Holland

See Dam Square & the Royal Palace, Amsterdam

Visit a diamond-polishing factory

 

:)

Link to comment

Good value escorted tour from Contiki :)

 

 

http://www.contiki.com/en-PH/Travel.Tools/Types+of+Tours.htm

 

 

TOURS / EUROPE / EUROPEAN ENCOUNTER / ITINERARY

 

European Encounter

 

16 days from $1349

 

 

Enjoy sightseeing in London, Amsterdam, the Rhine Valley, the Swiss alps, Innsbruck, Venice, Rome, Florence, the French Riviera, Lyon, and Paris.

 

Features: Belgium (in transit). Netherlands. Germany. Switzerland. Liechtenstein. Austria. Italy. Vatican City. France. Monaco.

 

 

Trip Itinerary

 

London to Amsterdam: Meet your Contiki crew as we drive to the White Cliffs of Dover for our cross-Channel ferry to France. Then through Belgium to Holland and its capital, Amsterdam for the evening. (D)

 

Amsterdam Sightseeing: Visit the cheese village of Edam, a cheese farm and see clogs being made. Shop for diamonds and take a bicycle tour of the Dutch countryside. Tonight why not get together for a local meal?(B)

 

Amsterdam to the Rhine Valley: Leaving Holland we enter Germany and head for the Rhine Valley. We travel past Cologne, seeing the barges and boats on the waterways. At St Goar we take a Rhine river cruise past vineyards, castles and the infamous Lorelei rock. (B, D)

 

Rhine Valley to Engelberg: Today we head for the Alps and lakeside Lucerne. Enjoy an orientation tour of the beautiful city of Lucerne. An opportunity to see the Lion Monument, cross the Chapel Bridge and shop for watches and Swiss chocolate. Later we take a short journey to Engelberg and our hotel. (B,D)

 

Engelberg at Leisure: This morning, an opportunity for your to take the revolving cable to the top of Mount Titlis for spectacular view at 10,000 ft. Relax in Engelberg for the afternoon. After dinner, enjoy the nightlife in Engelberg. (B,D)

 

Engelberg to Innsbruck: Now to Austria via Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. Perhaps take the opportunity to try white water rafting before arriving in Innsbruck to see the Golden Roof. (B,D)

 

Innsbruck to Venice: We head south over the Brenner Pass to Venice where we learn about glass-blowing. Enjoy our complimentary motor boat to see St Mark’s Square, the Doges’ Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Tonight why not treat yourself to a gondola ride? (B)

 

Venice to Rome: Southwards as we pass Bologna, climb through the Appennine Mountains, passing medieval hillside villages and on to the fabled Seven Hills of the Eternal City, Rome. Tonight a walking tour of this ancient city includes the Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. (B)

 

Rome Sightseeing: Today why not discover the ancient ruins of Rome with a local guide and in your free time leisurely discover the secrets of the Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel.(B,D)

 

Rome to Florence: We drive to Florence where our local expert guide takes us on a walking tour of the Duomo, Giotto’s Bell-tower, Piazza della Signoria and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Enjoy a demonstration of Florentine leathercraft. Tonight join the locals in a restaurant or club. (B)

 

Florence to Nice - French Riviera: We continue via Italy’s west coast to view the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then to the Côte d’Azur and our hotel on the French Riviera. Tonight, we drive to Monaco to see the Royal Palace and visit a casino. (B)

 

Nice Sightseeing at Leisure: Rub shoulders with the jet-set on the promenade at Nice. A chance to relax, swim or shop for French fashion – the choice is yours! (B,D)

 

Nice to Lyon: Visit a French perfumery before our drive to see the Palace of the Popes in the Papal city of Avignon. Then north along the Rhône Valley to Lyon.(B)

 

Lyon to Paris: Drive north to the Château of Fontainbleau before continuing on to Paris. Tonight we enjoy a magical evening tour of the city illuminations. (B,D)

 

Paris Sightseeing: Today, a full day for you to explore Paris. See the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and Nôtre Dame Cathedral. There’s time to shop on the Champs Elysées, take in a museum or stroll by the Seine. Tonight join us for dinner and a famous Parisian cabaret.(B)

 

Paris to London: Going north we first visit the Canadian War Memorial situated near the Valley of the Somme. From here to Calais and our cross channel ferry to Dover. Arriving London early evening. (B)

NB: the tour price does not include a night in London at the end of your tour.

Link to comment
Lots of good info on theis thread already, but let me add a suggestion and a warning.

 

Suggestion - one way to save (even if you're over 26!) is to stay at youth hostels. They'll take pretty much anyone. Good if you're traveling alone. Cheap. Not fancy and you'll have to share a shower, but what the heck, right?

 

Warning - when in Rome.......be careful of the gypsy kids. REALLY GOOD purse snatchers/pickpockets. Best advice would be to keep your valuables in a waist or shoulder pack that's under your clothes. And just enough money in your pockets for your next stop or two. Nothing in a back pocket - always in a front pocket.

 

There are books by Rick Stevens that you should try to pick up if you can. You may need to buy them through Amazon if your local bookstores don't carry them.

 

Favorite cities -

London - shops, theater (nothing else like it, not even New York), great sights and old buildings (I'm a fan of old architecture)

Paris - great food, great museums, great (and cheap!) wine. So they're a bit on the rude side - look around and you'll see two levels of rudeness - one for Parisiennes and one for everyone else.

Beaune - small town feel, wonderful wine (burgundy! yum!), great food. Great place to walk around.

Amsterdam - EVERYONE speaks English! The funny stuff you can get a the "cafes" (you have to ask for the special menu). Van Gogh and other great masters. A canal tour at night.

Rome (despite the gypsy kids) - old, old, old stuff. 2000 year old blocks of stone that I can STILL read (I took Latin in high school) in the forum and other places. The Pantheon is an architectural marvel, as is St. Peter's Square (actually, it's oval!). Piazza di Navona (an old, as in Roman Empire old, racetrack) is a good place to get some espresso and sit and wtch th epeople. Or, you can sit on the Spanish Steps and watch the crowd.

 

Eat where the locals do. Pub food can be a cliche, but some of teh best food I've had in London was at various pubs. Fish and chips? Battered fried fish (usually cod or haddock) and potatoes. With malt vinegar. When it's good it's very good, when it's bad - yecch! In Paris, the small neighborhood places are the best! Stay away from places with lots of foreigners - typically expensive and not too good (other than Tour d'Argent and Taillavent but those are very, very $$$$).

 

Correction on those books - they're by Rick STEVES, not Stevens.

Link to comment
unless you join an escorted tour as mentioned above....,you won't be able to cover "must" locations ...,

 

I disagree. I do agree that it's less hassle, and frequently (not always!) less expensive.

 

But, I find there are also some issues with guided tours - first, you are locked into the itinerary. If there's something you'd rather see, it's not always possible to do so unless you hare given a ree day in the right place at the right time. Second, you'd better like the people you're traveling with, otherwise that could be 2 weeks of hell. Also, traveling alone,you either pay more (the single surcharge) or take your chances as to who you'll be paried with. Third, you will get limited time at each of the places. Rushing from place to place, to spend 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there - it just leaves me thinking there should be so much more to travel than that. If that's all I wanted, I'd buy a DVD and watch it on my big screen in the comfort of home!

 

I NEVER join these tours, and by going out and around on my own, I've seen not just what the tours will get you to but places that the tour buses don't always go. Leidsplein and not just Dam Square. Place de la Madeleine and not just the Arc de Triomphe. Piazza Campo Marzo and not just Piazza di Spagna. St. James Palace and not just Buckingham Palace.

 

While it's good to see the famous sights, it's also much more rewarding to get to the places that are local favorites. The buses won't get you there. And as long as you are careful, remain aware of your surroundigs and ask the advice of locals, you'll be fine!

 

A better option, IMO, is to buy a package deal (air+hotel) to a city you want to visit. Buy a Eurail pass (before you leave!) and you can then go pretty much where your desire takes you.

 

Hint: take the night train. You can sleep on the train and find a local hostel or small hotel to use as a base the next town you hit. Saves at least one night of paying for a room. The trains even run between London and Paris via the Chunnel (the tunnel under the English channel - there will probably be a surcharge for this train, even with the Eurail pass).

 

With a bit of research, you can have a very enjoyable vacation on your own.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...