Travel advice sought

[BoSoxGal]

In the category of dreams over doldrums and memories over money, I have decided to travel to Europe this year to fulfill a lifelong dream to see where I came from.

Focus will be the UK, with trips to Amsterdam, Germany, France, Italy, etc. - as much as I can see in three weeks with a EuroRail pass and lodging with friends and/or in hostels. (I have an online friend who once extended an open invitation to lodge with them in England, a friend in Amsterdam, and family in Germany. Any Europeans here who would like to meet BSG in person, I'd be happy to darken your door & promise not to stay more than one or two nights at most.)

Questions - is the weather generally pleasant in September and tourist crowds much reduced? Should I really try to make it 4 weeks? What tips does anyone have for frugal European travel in these times of a weak US dollar?

[MajGenl.Meade]

September was always our preference to visit the UK. If the weather can ever be said to be "generally pleasant" then that was about as pleasantly general as it ever is!

Having never been frugal (at least, not since 1974), I can't offer any tips on Euro-travel. Look into advance purchase train tickets - they used to do European "rovers" good for many days - travel anywhere any time.

[Burning Petard]

All my personal information is old and obsolete. I envy your pleasure in planning and preparation for this trip. I loved traveling around Germany, France, Italy, Austria by bicycle, post bus (which does not even exist now but was great back then) and 3rd class train in the '60s.

[Big RR]

I agree that September is a good time to go--the crowds are much thinner and the weather cooler, although if you propose to go to Scandinavia make sure it is early in September as darkness comes earlier and earlier.

My only tip on budget travel is to try and set up as much as you can in advance; I recall a couple of college friends who did h proverbial backpacking trips and said they spent a lot of each day finding the night's lodging. Check on line and you can find out a lot about the better priced hotels and hostels. If you do fly into London, also check if there are cheaper fares into airports other than Heathrow (like Gatwick) which can save you quite a bit in some cases.

Also, I'm not sure if it is still in effect, but the last time I was on vacation in London (about 10 years ago), they had a London pass which included an unlimited tube/bus travel card and the entry fees to a large number of attractions (including things like the British museum, the Globe theater, and the Tower of London. It wasn't cheap, but if you got a two or three day pass and visited many of the attractions you could save quite a bit over doing it on your own. If I recall, it had to be purchased in advance of your arrival. If you are interested in west end or Fringe theater, there is a reduced price ticket booth for same day tickets in Trafalgar square (as I recall, you should check it online) which can save you up to 50% or more on tickets. Be sure to use this and not the ticket agents in the area, as many will offer a discount and then slap on a fee for issuing the ticket.

Also, for food, many pubs have pretty good deals for lunch and dinner--not great food, but good food. Also, don't be shy about visiting the coffee shops/cafeterias, which also can be reasonably priced.

Depending on your agenda, I would suggest making your trip as long as you can afford, as the airfare will be a big component of what you pay. And finally, look into what it will cost to fly into one airport and leave from another so that you won't have to spend a lot of time backtracking.

Finally, if you use credit cards, be sure you get one that doesn't charge for currency conversion; sometimes you may have to pay for a premium card to get this, but it may save you much more than the cost in the longrun.

[Scooter]

Don't be surprised when you have to pay to use public toilets - it usually means that there is an attendant who is keeping them a lot cleaner than some of the alternatives.

[TPFKA@W]

I would talk to a travel agent. They usually do the booking at no charge and usually have experience working with different budgets.

[BoSoxGal]

I appreciate that there is wisdom in that suggestion, @w, but I'm definitely the sort of person who likes to do the planning in advance myself, as it extends the pleasure of the vacation months longer. I will however check with an agent to see if she can find me a cheaper flight, but in 10 years of using travelocity and tripadvisor websites I've never found an agent who beat my own lowest price fare finds.

Lots of other great advice too, hope to hear more.

[rubato]

In the category of dreams over doldrums and memories over money, I have decided to travel to Europe this year to fulfill a lifelong dream to see where I came from.

Focus will be the UK, with trips to Amsterdam, Germany, France, Italy, etc. - as much as I can see in three weeks with a EuroRail pass and lodging with friends and/or in hostels. (I have an online friend who once extended an open invitation to lodge with them in England, a friend in Amsterdam, and family in Germany. Any Europeans here who would like to meet BSG in person, I'd be happy to darken your door & promise not to stay more than one or two nights at most.)

Questions - is the weather generally pleasant in September and tourist crowds much reduced? Should I really try to make it 4 weeks? What tips does anyone have for frugal European travel in these times of a weak US dollar?

The dollar is strong, not weak, vs the Euro, pound &c. Quite a lot.




I think you're right to plan your trip yourself. In the age of google earth and more travel sites than you can shake a stick at, it makes sense for you to do it yourself. Start long in advance and use the online resources and you'll have a great trip. 4 weeks is better than three.


yrs,
rubato

[Daisy]

Use travel republic to book places to stay, you can reserve many places for a pound.

In the UK you can eat pretty cheaply and quite well at all the Wetherspoons pubs.

[rubato]

Screw the costs and have a good time is my travel philosophy. The UK has great, and free, art museums, btw. If you go to Paris get a museum pass good for several days, not only is it cheaper but you can cut the line at the Louvre by a lot. Doesn't work at the d'Orsay, no idea why the difference.



yrs,
rubato

[Econoline]

Take a look at Rick Steves' travel guidebooks, as well as those from Lonely Planet.

Haven't looked into it lately, but when we were in Europe around 10 years ago there were incredible deals on various national and multinational rail passes; there probably still are.

Take a camera (but don't get too obsessive about recording everything...sometimes the best things are in front of your eyes, not in front of your lens!).

Travel light.

[Gob]

Should I really try to make it 4 weeks?

4 months would be better.

To be honest, if I only had 4 weeks I'd stick to one country, and get a feel for, and some experience of, that one.

[Scooter]

Are Let's Go guides still published? I remember finding quite good budget accommodation and other money saving ideas in those when I last travelled Europe on my own dime.

[Gob]

Lonely Planet are good.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/europe

[Sue U]

I agree with Gob: lengthen your stay and shorten your itinerary. There are simply too many sights to see; you're not going to see it all, so see more of what you can. Focus on experiencing the things you really enjoy whenever the opportunity arises. It's been nearly 40 years since I've been to the UK, and my most cherished memory is going on a lark to see Bob Marley at the Rainbow Theater (bought "tickets" from a security guard outside who was reselling seats; didn't care). If you love opera or ballet or theater or the symphony, you will be close to the world's greatest venues and artists, so try to take advantage of that. Talk to people along the way, ask them what they would want you to experience to remember them and their locale and why. Don't feel you have to go to The British Museum or the Louvre or the Anne Frank House if you don't have a real desire to go. If you'd rather spend a few hours just wandering in and out of shops and restaurants, do that. Learn at least a few phrases in French so the locals can both aid the pauvre petite and feel superior about their language skills (most other countries are not so obsessed with language and their citizens will openly want to practice their English). Above all, if you're not having fun, stop what you're doing and go do something fun.

[Scooter]

Learn at least a few phrases in French so the locals can both aid the pauvre petite and feel superior about their language skills

"Excusez-moi de vous déranger, monsieur/madame..." can get you very far, especially if the context allows you to add "mais j'ai un problème."

[Bicycle Bill]

Learn at least a few phrases in French so the locals can both aid the pauvre petite and feel superior about their language skills...

I'd actually recommend against that, Sue.  Speaking in the native tongue is apt to bring back a response, again in the native tongue — and I dare say that for 97.59% of tourists today, they will be able to understand poor English far easier than good French.
(don't believe me? — look at the last ten text messages you received)

-"BB"-

[MajGenl.Meade]

I got by with 'fous moi le camp' when some oily frog pretended to snap a photo of a girl I was with at la Tour Eiffel and then demanded money with menaces from the cochon anglais. But I was rude back in 1971.

On that same trip I heard a British gentleman from the north country loudly ordering at a restaurant, "deux steak and chips, mate".

[Sue U]

Learn at least a few phrases in French so the locals can both aid the pauvre petite and feel superior about their language skills...

I'd actually recommend against that, Sue. Speaking in the native tongue is apt to bring back a response, again in the native tongue

Ah, but that's exactly the plan! If they haven't already picked up from your terrible accent that you can't actually speak French, you say this useful phrase: "Monsieur/madame, un peu plus lentement, s'il vous plait; mon francais n'est pas trop bon." At this point your respondent is charmed that the barbarian is at least making an attempt to speak something of the most elegant language in the world, and will therefore acknowledge the effort -- although clearly an impossibility for your anglophone tongue -- by saying, "Would you be more comfortable speaking in English?" You then express your relief and gratitude ("Oh, merci beaucoup") and get on with the conversation. It's very much a matter of politesse, which as I recall is still taken seriously in many quarters.

[rubato]

I would very much agree. Make an effort and they will love you.

Its like this: French is a beautiful language. It is musical and graceful and French public conversation is a continuous flow of pleasantries between people solely so they can enjoy the sound of their language together. When you make an effort they are delighted that you are trying to appreciate a thing that they love. And when you travel to another place the inhabitants are always happy when you appreciate something of their culture and place. When we see foreign tourists in Yosemite enjoying the spectacular sights we are pleased too. I bought my wife a Michelin Red guide in French because if you put a good meal on the other side of an obstacle she is sure of overcoming it. And it worked!

And a final point: Outside of Paris and heavily touristed areas not as many people are bilingual in English so you'll have to work a little harder, but it is all good. You are working to understand and be understood, they are working to understand and be understood and the shared efforts and successes and mistakes are something you can enjoy together.

Still more generalities.

It is very difficult to get a bad meal in France. Even the most unpromising places are fantastic. But they are strict about shutting down service at 2pm and not re-opening until dinner, so keep it in mind. And never try to order a martini in France, you will get some nasty sweet concoction instead.


yrs,
rubato