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Post by jennifer on Dec 22, 2003 20:24:57 GMT -5
Well well well, I can't stay put for long, I have to start planning my next trip, even if the money is still missing, I'll do whatever it takes to leave Canada once more!
Here is what I've been thinking, but i need so much more of your great advice until this actually looks like a plan. I want to go for a long period of time again, 2-3 months, I know I have a lot, but from my last trip, I know I don't mind changing places a lot, and that I am flexible even if I need to have a good tight schedule to be happy!
So here it goes, please comment, I know i'll drop out a few places, I've already changed my first idea so...
Fly into Brussels or Amsterdam, depending on ticket price Brugges Flanders (day trip) Antwerp (day trip) Cologne (to see friends) Luxembourg city for a day Paris for a few days (i've been there before in 98 but I want to see more stuff, plus it's a good transportation headquarters) Barcelona for a good few days Valencia (I've heard of it, is it worth it, I don't know!) Alicante (Kim, I know you've been there, is it worth it?) Granada (I read on the site it was good) Cordoba (once more, I read on the site it was worth it) Sevilla (I've heard so much about it but I can't find good info) Lagos (how is transportation to get there?) Lisbon Madrid (is it easy to get from lisbon to here) Toulouse a day or two Nice-Monaco a day with day trip to Monaco Venice Bologna (its on the way, should i stop?) Cinque Terre Florence Sienna (?) Roma Pompei (?) and then Greece but how, I just can't seem to figure all this out, i've posted questions just before, so I'll wait for answers, but I'd like to see the most important places and also some beautiful islands...(?)
Then I'd probably fly back home or fly back to Amsterdam or Brussels to catch my flight home!
Well, sorry guys, I know this is a heck of a lot of places and all, so the much info you have, I'll appreciate!
Thanks xoxo Jen
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Post by Kim on Dec 23, 2003 9:41:39 GMT -5
Those are all great places - and you are right, it will be cheaper for you to fly back to somewhere (usually Amsterdam or London) from Greece to fly home. A direct flight from Greece to Canada is pretty costly.
The only thing I want to mention is the Seville - Lagos section. The train tracks don't meet up between the two, which is a pain in the butt. You can do it using rail but it involves the train, ferry and bus. It's best just to do that leg by bus only if you can.
As far as Lisbon to Madrid, that is a common route, don't worry about that. It's a night train and arrives the next morning so you might want to reserve a couchette or something.
Alicante - personally, I wouldn't bother. We found it incredibly humid in the summer and didn't find much there.
Kim
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Post by jennifer on Dec 23, 2003 12:02:12 GMT -5
Thanks! If the connections are so bad, is Portugal actually worth it? xoxo Jen
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Post by Kim on Dec 23, 2003 16:41:08 GMT -5
I don't want to say it's not worth it - but I don't think for a short stay it really is. It's more somewhere where you need time to really explore - as in, it would be better to do as just a vacation to Portugal, you know?
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Post by jennifer on Dec 23, 2003 18:07:06 GMT -5
hum, I understand! Well, that will certainly correct my itinerary and take away some problems I saw that you bought many rail passes, did you find them worth it moneywise? I haven't yet calculated and compared to point to point tickets, but I know I will have to pay extra for busses and ferries in Greece, would you think it's better off to go point-to-point in your opinion?
Does anyone know about how much it costs to get around the greek islands?
Thanks!
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Post by jennifer on Dec 23, 2003 18:11:10 GMT -5
one more thingm security wise, how is travelling alone in all of these countries? Particularly in Spain, Italy and Greece?
I don't know if it's just me, but Greece is totally discouraging, I'm thinking on maybe cutting in out. I know it's beautiful, but it seems nearly impossible to find any good info on the islands and stuff, would Greece be worth a whole trip in itself? Or should I really include it?
Thanks!
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Post by Kim on Dec 23, 2003 18:36:40 GMT -5
Travelling in Greece is totally unworth getting any sort of railpass for.
You travel via ferry or hydrofoil to the islands then use public transportation or cabs while you are there.
Greece is definately worth a whole trip in itself - you could easily spend a huge chunk of time on the islands alone - I'd love to do that.
It is difficult to get to Greece and it takes time - with an ambitious intinary already, maybe save it for a separate trip.
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Post by jennifer on Dec 23, 2003 19:26:55 GMT -5
thanks for the advice kim, so here is what I have narrowed down! My point to point comes out to about 1200$ canadian, and the 2 month rail pass unlimited for 17 countries is 1361$. I have then so decided to go with the rail pass, this way I have full liberty for my 2 months and I can go places at the last minute if I feel like it! I guess it could come out cheaper with busses, but do I really want to always travel by bus and waste some time!!! So here it is, still waiting for comments, I know really nothing about this cities, compared to my last trip, so I put the number of days I think about staying beside, what do you think! Fly into Brussels (1) or Amsterdam, depending on ticket price Brugges (2) Flanders (day trip) Antwerp (day trip) Cologne (to see friends) (4) Luxembourg city for a day Paris for a few days (i've been there before in 98 but I want to see more stuff, plus it's a good transportation headquarters) (4) Barcelona (5) Valencia (2) Granada (2) Cordoba (2) Sevilla (2) Madrid (4) Toulouse (2) Nice-Monaco (3) with day trip to Monaco Venice (5) Bologna (2) Cinque Terre (5) Florence (4) Sienna (2) Roma (4) Pompei (2)
So, any ideas?
thanks Jen
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Post by Kim on Dec 23, 2003 20:55:46 GMT -5
OK, here are my comments:
You have Brussels/Amsterday down for one night and Brugges for 2 - with two day trips. You really should allow at least 2 days just for Brugges alone.
The Flanders daytrip tour we took took all day and was FABULOUS. I'll look up the name for you.
The amount of days you are allowing for things is very good, just about bang on I'd say. As much as I love Cinque Terre though, I'd say 5 days might be a bit much. 3 or 4 days will be plenty.
You might want to allow more than 1 night when you first arrive in your first city for jet lag - I personally wouldn't want to fly in then have to travel the next morning.
All in all, looks like a great trip!
Kim
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Post by jennifer on Dec 24, 2003 9:16:53 GMT -5
Hey Kim! You're right, it sounds funny! What I actually meant was arrive in the city I fly into, then spend the night and day there and then the next day travel, so I guess it would be 2! Then Brugges 2 days, Flanders 1 day Antwerp 1 day! THey are day trips but not all on the same day! I didn't really express myself good! sorry!
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Post by madam trash heap on Dec 29, 2003 0:27:56 GMT -5
Sounds like a fab trip Jen! And I'm with Kim on her advice; Alicante isn't worth the trek unless you're going to spend a few weeks around the region on a separate holiday. Seville is definitely worth it, beautiful city with lots to do and a lot of history, best to get on to Tourist Info when you get there, or try www.tourspain.es. Greece is somewhere you want to spend time floating around on a separate trip as there are so many places to visit and stay. Go between May and September as the rest of the time the islands are "closed" and only the mainland is worth visiting at that time. Couple of other bits for you: Monaco is stunning at night and a great place to swan around being glamourous if you're up for it. Have dinner in Monacoville (the old town) on top of the rock, where the Palace is, then wander over to the Casinos (Monte Carlo district) and have a Champagne at Cafe de Paris. The cheapest thing will be the meal! Transport at night is limited; last train back to Nice is 10pm, a cab will cost around €60 so win big at the Casino!!! Daytime visits are also good, just no fairytale lights. Try the Museum of Oceanography (Jacques Cousteau was its greatest contributor), the Palace (if you're into that), wandering along the wharf to gaze at stunningly expensive boats and walking the streets that look down to the Grand Casino for great views. If you're staying in Nice, really watch your security, more than normal, as it's become really bad for pickpockets and is one of the few places in Europe where people are mugged on a regular basis. Don't be frightened, just don't walk back from the old town at night (take a taxi, regardless of distance) and don't go to the beach at night, it's not romantic, just dangerous! Bologna is worth the stop, even for one night if you want to explore a bit. There's a great Cathedral name is eluding me at the mo) with frescoes, old town with original architecture and it's not called "Bologna the fat" for nothing - great food, although mind the Spaghetti Bolognese, it's traditional so not a tomato in sight (wine and cooked minced beef instead). If you don't get to make it, don't worry, but if it's on your way and do-able, then go for it. Same for Siena, it's gorgeous and yet another postcard-town of Tuscany (I'm a bit biased!). Visit the fantastic Duomo with its black and white striped pillars and ceiling of blue and gold stars, and sit in the Piazza del Campo with a gelati (plural, you have to have at least two scoops!) before wandering around the town or climbing the tower for great views. If you want to see another Tuscan town instead, try San Gimignano, near Florence, for a day trip. It's busy in Summer (where isn't) but a great example of a Tuscan walled city. You walk through the town gate and follow the road up the incline to the central square (on your left is the best gelati shop in Tuscany!) where you can climb towers, visit the Torture Museum (interesting but gruesome), shop, wander down/up little streets or sit in a cafe and watch people. Pompeii is worth visiting at least once to see for yourself and is interesting, although Summer is like walking into an oven and baking yourself for a while (no shade!). If you're still spending a bit of time around that region, maybe you could base yourself in Sorrento and visit Positano, Capri (day trip) &/or Herculaneum (also covered in 79AD Vesuvius explosion, was a harbour town) as well as Pompeii. Naples is a great city too with amazing Cathedrals, architecture, museums, restaurants, etc, and isn't as bad as people will have you believe, as long as you get away from the train station ASAP and don't go to the Spanish Quarter area. I think that's about it! You sound like you have a good idea of what you want to see and how much time you'll need at each place. Oh, spend a night in Brussels if you can, if only to visit Celtic Pub (I know, but there's a reason) which has an obscene amount of beers on tap and is a good place to sample Belgian beer with locals! If you don't make it, don't worry, Brugges has some great little pubs and restaurants just off the church square (go the moules et frites!). Happy travels! ;D
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Post by Kim on Dec 29, 2003 1:01:16 GMT -5
Holy crap, what a great answer! ;D Please, please, please stick around - we could really use your help here on the boards! Kim
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Post by madam trash heap on Dec 29, 2003 7:01:54 GMT -5
Thanks Kim! V much appreciated and I hope the info helps Jen! I spend half my life in Europe and half my life in Australia and (clearly) I enjoy travelling!
Will keep checking in every now and then; am loving hearing about your et al travels and info, what a fab site!!!
;D
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Post by jennifer on Dec 31, 2003 9:30:29 GMT -5
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Thank you soooooo much! This is great! Surely stick around, if you can help others as much as youve just done with me, it will be a success! Thanks so much! xoxo Jen
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Post by jennifer on Dec 31, 2003 14:45:58 GMT -5
Hey everyone! How about Normandy? Im really interested in World War II so I was wondering if any of you have been there! Can you get back to me on that? Where are these things located in France, I have no idea, although I know its in Dieppe, and that is near Rouen! Is it a daytrip away from Paris or is it definetely worth going there from Paris for a night or two and then travelling from there to my planned Barcelona?
Thanks
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