Calling all Europeans, Britains, or people who have travelled to.. - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Ah well I'm the wrong person to ask about driving in Paris as we lived there for 3 years and pretty much drove everywhere so it doesn't phase me. (Ask Cheryl about driving around the Arc de Triomphe).
You could easily pick up a hire car at the airport which is well out of Paris.
But I understand what you are saying about taking the ferry although you probably have a romanticised view of it
I'll look into returning the car to Paris since it's not too far from Calais. One of the reasons I hadn't planned on it was because orginally I looked at picking up a rental in one country and dropping off in another and it was an extra $400.00. I will be looking at transfers from airports to cities, one of the things on my to do list.
That is true, you do pay a lot more for picking up in one country and dropping in another. We changed our plans when we came back from the Med cruise. We were going to fly home from southern France, but came back from Italy when we found out the difference in price between staying in the one country and returning it to another!
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I'm nervous about driving in Paris, how horrendous is it? All the quide books I've read said do not drive in the big cities. The other reason is because I really want to cross the channel where I can see and enjoy the ocean and crossing. I know the train is faster but I want to also have the experience of the crossing. I've went back and forth on this issue and am currently with a ferry crossing and picking up the car on the coast before heading north. I've read about picking up their food for the day, I might try it depending on how close we are to a grocery store or a market. DD would love croissants for breakfast
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Originally Posted by Thomhazel
Ah well I'm the wrong person to ask about driving in Paris as we lived there for 3 years and pretty much drove everywhere so it doesn't phase me. (Ask Cheryl about driving around the Arc de Triomphe).
You could easily pick up a hire car at the airport which is well out of Paris.
But I understand what you are saying about taking the ferry although you probably have a romanticised view of it
I wouldn't drive around Paris and I'm a confident driver, let's put it that way. DH had always wanted to drive around the Arc de Triomphe and did it one Sunday morning, but there is no way I'd ever do it - it's just nuts there. It was certainly an experience and Graeme was way braver than me to do it!
Ah well I'm the wrong person to ask about driving in Paris as we lived there for 3 years and pretty much drove everywhere so it doesn't phase me. (Ask Cheryl about driving around the Arc de Triomphe).
You could easily pick up a hire car at the airport which is well out of Paris.
But I understand what you are saying about taking the ferry although you probably have a romanticised view of it
Good to know that the airport is outside of Paris.
Of course I have a romantic view of crossing the channel
but it's more than that; I am a history teacher and WWII is my main interest. I want to cross so that not only can I better relate to the D-Day crossing but can describe it to students, bringing alive what is seen, & heard if that makes sense?
[/B] Quote:
If you haven't already, I'd check out the Dorling Kindersley range of guidebooks, as I swear by those for giving you the low-down on places. I love them and I have the ones for every place on your list bar Salzberg, although I haven't actually made it to all of them.
[B]I'll tell a funny on myself. I went to Amazon to search Dorling Kindersley, I thought she must be a British author as I had not heard of her before. The results popped up and began with the Knowledge Encyclopedia & The Philosophy Book. Since neither were travel books I next googled her and while scrolling down the page saw the large red DK logo, I knew DK books! I've even checked DK's Eyewiteness travel books from the library. It took me awhile but I finally figured it out. I've been reading travel books but too many all recommend the same thing or give limited basic information. If I remember correctly DK gives more details so I'll get some of those. Thanks[/B__
Slight hijack here, but I had to LOL because I, too, have seen Cheryl mention these travel guide books and I've always thought, "Those sound interesting, I should try to find out more about them." Unlike you, I never bothered to search and so have never made the connection to the DK books (which I am very familiar with, I currently own several). They do give a lot more info on attractions and sights than any other similar guides I have looked at.
Good to know that the airport is outside of Paris.
Of course I have a romantic view of crossing the channel
but it's more than that; I am a history teacher and WWII is my main interest. I want to cross so that not only can I better relate to the D-Day crossing but can describe it to students, bringing alive what is seen, & heard if that makes sense?
Slight hijack here, but I had to LOL because I, too, have seen Cheryl mention these travel guide books and I've always thought, "Those sound interesting, I should try to find out more about them." Unlike you, I never bothered to search and so have never made the connection to the DK books (which I am very familiar with, I currently own several). They do give a lot more info on attractions and sights than any other similar guides I have looked at.
Thanks for solving that mystery for me .
Not a problem, yeah after I figured out the connection I felt silly but am glad I know the proper type because I always called them DK books. . Yesterday I stopped by Half-Price books and found a DK travel on London and it contains so much information and not just in a general way but where to specifically the information is attatched in a building or attraction that I was sharing with DD and she told me that while we were in Europe I had to look around and not just read the book.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Oh gosh that makes complete sense.
Cheryl, thanks so much for the links to your TRs that were relevant to my question about information. The TR's help my decide that we would like and not get so lost in Bruges (I want to go to that Christmas store better than Brussels. So that is one issue resolved.
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Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Last edited by Alaskan Mom; 02-08-2016 at 02:30 PM..
Reason: forgot information
Cheryl, thanks so much for the links to your TRs that were relevant to my question about information. The TR's help my decide that we would like and not get so lost in Bruges (I want to go to that Christmas store better than Brussels. So that is one issue resolved.
Glad I could help out. Honestly, out of the two, for a first time visitor to Belgium, I'd go with Bruges too.
Sorry I'm a bit late to the party - I just saw this thread today. Is there anything in particular I can help you with? I live in Germany and have traveled to a ton of places around Europe.
Definitely rent a car - I find public transportation bothersome unless you're right in the middle of a city (like Paris or London).
I'm a bit confused about why you picked the cities/places you mentioned in Germany? I mean, Munich and Neuschwanstein sure, but why on earth would you visit Colditz? I assume in Dachau you plan to tour the concentration camp?
And why Haarlem in the Netherlands? I live right by the Dutch border and have no idea what's in Haarlem, to be honest.
Sorry I'm a bit late to the party - I just saw this thread today. Is there anything in particular I can help you with? I live in Germany and have traveled to a ton of places around Europe.
Definitely rent a car - I find public transportation bothersome unless you're right in the middle of a city (like Paris or London).
I'm a bit confused about why you picked the cities/places you mentioned in Germany? I mean, Munich and Neuschwanstein sure, but why on earth would you visit Colditz? I assume in Dachau you plan to tour the concentration camp?
And why Haarlem in the Netherlands? I live right by the Dutch border and have no idea what's in Haarlem, to be honest.
No Problem Sabine, about joining the party late.
I'd like recommendations to places or sites that you think are amazing! I would love to see and do everything but know I cannot so the hardest thing is finalizing the itinerary and keeping it within budget. Places that are currently not on the list but we are considering adding 1 or maybe 2 are Rome, Berlin, Prague, and Istanbul. We are doing Venice so we do have Italy stop ( I know Rome and Venice are very different) and we are in Germany quite a bit so we are leaning towards Prague and I would love to somehow squeeze in Istanbul. Have you been to these cities? What was your experience? Love? Hate?
Everyone has been positive about renting a car so that is a definite although I am not driving in London or Paris and I've read that cars rented in Western Europe countries cannot be driven to certain Eastern Europe countries so I don't know if I can include Prague in road trip?
As to cities picked: I am a history teacher and am working on my PHD to hopefully teach at the college level, WWII is my specialty. I read a book as a teenager, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom who was part of the Dutch resistance in Haarlem during WWII and their house "the Beje" is now a museum. Also, Haarlem is close to Amsterdam and I was hoping to take a tour to see tulips & windmills in the countryside.
Colditz is also a WWII site and l learned of from the book Colditz. This was a 'escape proof' camp that held POW's who had previously escaped other camps and is now a museum.
Yes, we are planning on the concentration camp at Dachau. I read and yy DD read The Book Thief for school which references Dachau and agreed to go because of the book.
Any information you provide would be helpful, thanks!
AM looking at including Prague during road trip but cannot drive there with rental. My two options are park the rental at Dresden's train station (can't find how much costs) and take the train to Prague for maybe 2 days 1 night then back again. The second option is after return rental car, include Prague on flying cities which right now are Athens, & Venice. Any recommendations?
Places that are currently not on the list but we are considering adding 1 or maybe 2 are Rome, Berlin, Prague, and Istanbul. We are doing Venice so we do have Italy stop ( I know Rome and Venice are very different) and we are in Germany quite a bit so we are leaning towards Prague and I would love to somehow squeeze in Istanbul. Have you been to these cities? What was your experience? Love? Hate?
Out of those, we've done Rome, which we thought was Ok. We didn't feel safe there, if I'm absolutely honest, and that's what stayed with us after the trip. Don't get me wrong, the sights were amazing and I wouldn't want to put anyone off, as I am so glad we saw them, but it just didn't feel like a nice city, if that makes sense?
Elsewhere in Italy, and closer to Venice is Florence. Now that I would thoroughly recommend if you want to see history and a beautiful city. We visited it on our road trip from Venice.
We've also been to Berlin and loved it - it was absolutely fascinating to us to see sights that would, once upon a time, have been in East Berlin. We loved seeing more recent history, if that makes sense?
Prague is on my to-do list and I've heard nothing but great reports from friends who've been there.
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Everyone has been positive about renting a car so that is a definite although I am not driving in London or Paris and I've read that cars rented in Western Europe countries cannot be driven to certain Eastern Europe countries so I don't know if I can include Prague in road trip?
I really don't know. At one point, I was looking at a road trip out to Prague, but that would've been in our own car.
I haven't been to Prague or Istanbul but have been to Berlin, Venice, Rome.
Unlike Cheryl, I didn't feel unsafe in Rome at all, and I'm usually not a fan of big cities. I found the historical sites absolutely stunning - it felt like the entire city was one big museum! Venice is indeed quite different and also beautiful. However, if I had to pick only one of the two, I'd go with Rome.
Berlin is interesting, of course, but not high on my list of favorite capitols.
Amsterdam is quite a charming city so do go if you have the chance. I've been to Anne Frank's house there.
Let's see, what else. I wouldn't drive in Paris. DH doesn't mind driving in England and even London but personally, I don't think I could handle driving on the left side of the road! Now any eastern European city, I wouldn't dare take my own car. We've taken a road trip through Italy before and that was perfectly fine even if some of the Italian cars look a bit beat up.
I have read and heard not very nice stories about Rome, and not sure due to us being two females. I would love to see several places in Rome but DD is a big Greek myth fan which is why we are going to Athens and doesn't really care one way or another about Rome; she'll go if I include it. It's so hard to have to decide... Guide books say it's not possible to see everything which I know and to plan on going back. Well, that is an issue for me because the only way my DH would go is if we did the Band of Brothers tour otherwise he's not interested in too much travel unless it involved racing. My youngest DD would be interested but is going into college and then off to her grown up life and I'm not to sure about traveling solo.
All that to say, if this is my only trip to Europe, I keep asking myself what places would I regret not going to this time?
Out of those, we've done Rome, which we thought was Ok. We didn't feel safe there, if I'm absolutely honest, and that's what stayed with us after the trip. Don't get me wrong, the sights were amazing and I wouldn't want to put anyone off, as I am so glad we saw them, but it just didn't feel like a nice city, if that makes sense?
It does make sense. One of the ways I've looked into seeing Rome is by tour, I've found a 3 day tour that includes everything except lunches and all the main sites for about $800.00 each. That might be on the expensive side but I would also have the peace of mind knowing I won't get lost and will have transportation everywhere and an English speaking guide.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Elsewhere in Italy, and closer to Venice is Florence. Now that I would thoroughly recommend if you want to see history and a beautiful city. We visited it on our road trip from Venice.
We've also been to Berlin and loved it - it was absolutely fascinating to us to see sights that would, once upon a time, have been in East Berlin. We loved seeing more recent history, if that makes sense?
I too, would love to see the history aspect of Berlin, just have to decide...
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Originally Posted by chezp
Prague is on my to-do list and I've heard nothing but great reports from friends who've been there.
I've heard and read great things about Prague too. I asked DD last night if we could fit in another city what would her pick be? She said Prague which surprised me so I asked her why? One of her friends has lived in France, Prague and traveled to several European countries and often says Prague is the most beautiful city and "when I was in Prague..." so DD wants to check it out.
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Originally Posted by chezp
I really don't know. At one point, I was looking at a road trip out to Prague, but that would've been in our own car.
'The trip would be doable with your own vehicle but not allowed in rentals.
I haven't been to Prague or Istanbul but have been to Berlin, Venice, Rome.
Unlike Cheryl, I didn't feel unsafe in Rome at all, and I'm usually not a fan of big cities. I found the historical sites absolutely stunning - it felt like the entire city was one big museum! Venice is indeed quite different and also beautiful. However, if I had to pick only one of the two, I'd go with Rome.
That's interesting that you felt safe in Rome whereas Cheryl didn't. Were you traveling solo or with family? Did you sightsee on your own?
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Originally Posted by Disneybine
Berlin is interesting, of course, but not high on my list of favorite capitols.
Amsterdam is quite a charming city so do go if you have the chance. I've been to Anne Frank's house there.
If you are willing to share, I'd be interested to know why Berlin is not high on your list?
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Originally Posted by Disneybine
Let's see, what else. I wouldn't drive in Paris. DH doesn't mind driving in England and even London but personally, I don't think I could handle driving on the left side of the road! Now any eastern European city, I wouldn't dare take my own car. We've taken a road trip through Italy before and that was perfectly fine even if some of the Italian cars look a bit beat up.
I agree about trying to drive on the opposite side of the road from what I'm used to; when DD and I first talked about it - I was thinking about driving and told DD she'd have to watch me to make sure I was staying on the correct side!
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that makes complete sense.
but am glad I know the proper type because I always called them DK books.
.
Honestly, out of the two, for a first time visitor to Belgium, I'd go with Bruges too.
We've taken a road trip through Italy before and that was perfectly fine even if some of the Italian cars look a bit beat up.
Guide books say it's not possible to see everything which I know and to plan on going back. Well, that is an issue for me because the only way my DH would go is if we did the Band of Brothers tour otherwise he's not interested in too much travel unless it involved racing
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