Anyone who has been to Europe or lives in Europe: I need yer advice

[Guest]

When my parents got married, 30 years ago, they never had the chance to go on a honeymoon since dad had to work (and they were a young couple). And 3 years after they married I was born so there went any ideas of them having it any time soon.

So now their 30th anniversary is coming up, the only place my parents have traveled to in their lives has been the USA (and that being when we moved here).

And i'm gonna send them on their honeymoon as a surprise gift.

Problem is, I can only send them to one place for 2 weeks. I've considered France and Italy since its the places my mom has always wanted to see.

And I've never been to Europe so I don't really know where would be best to send them.

Venice? Paris? Rome? Maybe Switzerland (they hate the cold but heck, they've never seen snow anyways)? Holland?

Any suggestions for a 50+ year olds on a honeymoon to go?

Also, ive been told that I MAY be able to send them to Paris AND to Rome or Venice by using the EURAIL system...

problem with that is I can get them visa for France and Italy but I dont know if they can hop on the train and pass through the countries between france and italy in the train.. do I need to get them visa for those countries too?

[DennyMala]

First of all, it's a very nice idea of you.

The option to send them to spend a week in Paris and the other one is Rome or Venice sound like the best to me and personally I'll go for Venice where you can move freely on foot without traffic problems since both cities are really a pleasure to the eyes.

There is no problems in travelling inside the European Community countries, no frontiers; so they can hop freely on a train and cross go from France to Italy. You'll encounter no problem going to Switzerland too even if it's not in the EC.

I might suggest to use plane for the trip as many low cost companies do that route and it will surely cost way less than doing it by train with a significant time save too.

Don't worry about that kind of air companies as the safety is not suffering from reduced costs. The disadvantages are that you don't have meals aboard, the cleaning of the planes is made once a day and not after each trip and so on....it's like travelling in a bus but consindering that it will be a 1 hour and 30 mins trip, 2 hours in the worse case I think that it can be a good option.

I hope to have been of help.

Let me know if you need to know anything else and I'll try to help.

Beside it's always good to hear from your consolate here for the papers as free border crossing is a standard here for EC citizens; I think that it will be the same for americans but better be safe than sorry.

[Guest]

Thanks Denny. My parents would need a visa since they are Colombian citizens.

I was thinking of flying them into Italy ..Venice sounds good since they love to walk around places... then after a week there hop them on a train on 1st class to Paris and have them spend the last week there then fly home.

But I dont know if I need to get visa for the other countries the train has to go through en-route to Paris. So I dont know if their visa for france and italy allows them to travel in the train through switzerland.Common sense says that like airplanes, they should be allowed but I need to be sure. I dont know where the train goes through..if its straight through the french/italian border then no problem. If not, maybe a problem

[DennyMala]

I don't think that passing throught Switzerland will be a problem. What I said for americans is valid for all nationality. There is free movement right between EC countries; something like between US states. You need a visa when you enter then you'll be ok I think.

Switzerland is not EC but has treaties to allow free movement.

I still suggest to use planes to move from Venice to Paris since a train trip will last long....I think something like a day and even if in first class it can be annoying.

If money is not a problem you can grab a business class flight or even a normal flight will be more than confortable for up to 2 hours.

But the decision is up to you; you know your parents and their tastes.

[Guest]

Yes, and knowing them they'd love to spend a day on the train going through the countryside. Come to think of it, it might be the first train they will ride on ... I dont think disney monorails count

[Marvin]

Tac,

What types of things interest your parents? Scenery? Art? History? Film locations? Beaches?

The reason I ask is because it could make a big difference in where to send them.

If you're a Roman history buff, you should visit Rome, Naples, and ... most certainly ... Pompei.

Italian art? If you don't spend a couple days in Florence, you might as well stay home.

When it comes to riding the train, I only have one piece of advice: don't be surprised if a third-class ticket-holder doesn't take your first-class seat. Even with a brassy Italian for a wife, I spent the entire trip from Naples to Rome standing up.

Nonetheless, having someone who speaks the language can make all the difference ... especially in France.

Oh, and here's one tip I gave my brother-in-law ... he laughed at it but did it anyway. They (my sister and family) decided to spend their vacation in Rome ... staying in a convent (my wife worked out the details but didn't get it in writing so, naturally, the nuns upped the price after the fact). I told her husband to buy a cheap wallet, put pictures of the Holy Family in it, and put it in his back pocket ... where he usually kept his real wallet. He then hung his real wallet around his neck.

It worked like a charm. During one of their excursions on the subway, my brother-in-law was "relieved" of his cheap wallet ... but his money and credit cards remained in tact.

Note: As far as my own experiences go, the above is only a problem in Rome, when riding crowded subways or busses. Elsewhere, just keep your valuables close at hand ... or in the hotel safe.

[DennyMala]

Wherever there are lots of peoples and turists, pickpokets are lurking.... sad but true. Keep your valuables safe in a place where you can phisically feel them all the time without having to check....that way you'll not have problems.

[Ben Zwycky]

More good things about Prague, Czech Republic, apart from its prices, are that the public transport system is very cheap and very efficient, there are lots of places to walk through and lots of pretty good English-speakers everywhere (the city is well-geared up for tourists, and a lot of foreigners live there). People will generally give up their seats on the bus, tram or metro for older folk, but there is the problem with pickpockets that you get in every major tourist city.

[DennyMala]

I've been in Prague something like 6/7 years ago; wonderful city I might just say, and at that time it was very cheap in relation to Italy. Now I know thing have changed into a more turistic city with all the pros and cons of the case.

[Ben Zwycky]

Yeah, it's more and more tourist-based as time goes on, which suits some visitors more than others, so if your a culture buff, go see it now while it's still breathing

[rjy01]

Tac, you should send them to Las Vegas. You get Rome, Paris, Italy, Egypt, New York City, and King Arthur's court all in one visit.

[Guest Grayfox]

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Tac, you should send them to Las Vegas. You get Rome, Paris, Italy, Egypt, New York City, and King Arthur's court all in one visit.

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haha very funny... i miss home

i dont remember much from my stay over in germany (octoberfest rules). i stayed on post most of the time, but i did manage to visit spain, italy, and urinate on the french border (octoberfest rules again )

[Kevin Trotter]

I think Greece is a great choice due to the low cost involved. Great beaches, island cruises, history and some of the best scenery I have ever viewed. I wouldnt suggest buying any electronics as they have a 100% tax on luxury items, however food is inexpensive and plentiful.

I know that Mykynos is the the Island of choice, but Greek workers and smart tourist hit the more little known ones. My favorites are are Hydra and Poros both where you could see the Blue Gold factory where they make some wonderful china on sight, or tour Hydra and eat Kalamari at a seaside resturant. Good luck.

[Guest]

Hows Italy/France and Spain like in november?

too cold? rainy? snow?

[Cc]

No offense,and I actually don't even know,but how about England,Scotland,and Ireland?

Especially Ireland.

Keep it very simple.

No,or hardly any language problem.(except that ireland has changed their road signs).

Ok...A hard decision with conflicting info.

Might want to check a good travel agent.

[Guest]

I work for a travel agency CC Problem is nobody knows since nobody has BEEN there. All a travel agent really knows is commission, avaliability and whatever propaganda they have on the place.

[Marvin]

quote:

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Originally posted by Tac:

Hows Italy/France and Spain like in november?

too cold? rainy? snow?

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Well, every year is different. I toured Florence and Pisa in early December, 1984 and the weather was no problem ... as long as you wore a coat. Granted, the trees were bare and I don't recall seeing many flowers but it didn't really matter ... I was more interested in taking pictures of churches, statues and paintings. And leaning towers.

Btw, make sure they have a map of whatever city it is they're visiting. In Italy, a lot of the things you'd want to see are hidden away in some small alcove or piazza*. If they forget to bring one from the States, have 'em pick one up at their hotel, as soon as they arrive, or any street-corner magazine stand.

* The English translation is "square" ... but what's-his-name on Good Morning America is the only person I know who takes it literally ... and asks (on national TV) why a "square" (piazza) is round.

[LostInSpace]

I'm gunna throw my two cents worth in

I also suggest you catch a program called Rick Steves' travels in Europe (airs here on the local PBS channels). Even though I don't go anywhere, I love watching his shows they are chock full of info so when I do I know what to do and where to go. He spends most of the time staying at B&B's and showing off a lot of the non-tourist traps the best times of year to go etc...

Rick Steves web page

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With 30 years of travel experience, Rick Steves knows his stuff. Here you'll find thousands of articles on trip planning, a community of travelers, guided tours, and a travel store.

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[DennyMala]

November is definitely not a good time to visit Venice, it will be almost surely cold, rainy and with "high-water" (the laguna's sea level will rise and cover the city with up to a meter of water) that is very peculiar but can be a pain if you wanna tour.

The best bet would be the month just before or after the summer....something like end of may/june or end of september/beginning of october; the weather should be fine and the temperature confortable both in Italy and France.

[Cc]

quote:

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I also suggest you catch a program called Rick Steves' travels in Europe (airs here on the local PBS channels). Even though I don't go anywhere, I love watching his shows they are chock full of info so when I do I know what to do and where to go. He spends most of the time staying at B&B's and showing off a lot of the non-tourist traps the best times of year to go etc...

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Yep,probably the only time Lost and I agree.This show is fantastic.This guy seems to really know what he's doing.See if it's on your local PBS.

Plus he has some books.

Check PBS.org.

Sorry....too much info.

[Supreme Cmdr]

My advice, don't go ANYWHERE near central London in the Summer. You'd probably be the only one who speaks English.

If you go near my neighborhood (Bayswater) try not to cross the street. Those cabs around there are seriously suicidal.

Oh, and be sure to check out Nottinghill!!

[echo]

Tac

I don'thave any advise for you but just had to say.

You are sooo sweet!