cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on May 16, 2006 1:30:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestions... I looked at a map again and it made alot more sence this time! I've got my mum's sence of direction which unfortunatley isn't too good! So changing my route... I thought I could start in Rome
Rome - Florence - Sienna - Milan - Marseilles and Aix en Provence - Paris - Normandy - Belgium - Rhine (From Cologne?) - Berlin - Munich - Salzburg - Interlaken - Lucerne - Venice - Ljubljana - Izola area? (not sure where) - Budapest - Brasov - Bucarest - Istanbul - Turkish coast?
Greek island [insert name] -- not 100% where yet... - Athens - UK
So please tell me what you think of this new itinery! Oh and I really like the idea of going on a ferry trip while in the Rhine valley.. I looked into the bonuses and there are quite a few goodies to pick up around the place... Lol... I just realised I had already been on part of the Rhine as when I was on exchange I visited Cologne and the area but never the less I want to return and explore at my own pace!
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cher1e
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Post by cher1e on May 13, 2006 20:32:15 GMT -5
Thanks, I guess I didn't think about that too much... I think I was just thinking about one country at a time, but thats a good observation, thanks. I was hoping that I could get a ferry across, to say Venice, from Greece, (however I hear its expensive...) and then I was going to head south and then fly out from Rome... any suggestions on how I should change it?
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on May 12, 2006 5:37:42 GMT -5
Thanks alot for that! Especially the suggestions! I was thinking Luzern in Switzerland, and funnily enough Zurich - pretty much because it was a familiar name! Also, do you think that the budgets alright since i will be visiting several expensive cities? So is 4 days in Berlin too long? And I have been reading other posts about Venice... should I give it a miss all together? I guess I always loved the whole Venetian mask thing - thanks to my brother!
Its crazy... 11 months away and I feel so excited about it!
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on May 11, 2006 0:06:40 GMT -5
Hello everyone Even though I'm not planning to travel til April next year, I figured that in bordem, theres nothing wrong with creating an basic itinery - cos I know from experience, the more time that goes by, the less I will feel like doing it! Any ideas, tips, or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Also, I have been to Europe before on exchange. Went all over Belgium, Paris, France, Barcelona and areas, Amsterdam and some Germany. I have a tiny understanding! Ok, well the idea is 9-10 weeks and then work in London/UK for a few months, with travelling while living there.. Fly (from Melbourne, Australia) to Paris... Paris: 4 days - daytripping to Versailles etc. South France - Provence? any ideas where exactly? : 3 days Normandy - friend has a castle in the area : 3 days Belgium - where I did my student exchange : 2-3 days Berlin: 4 days Rhine Valley: 2 days Munich: 3 days Switzerland (not sure where --read guide books but it all looks so beautiful!) : 4 days Austria (was never a place I really cared about visiting, should I see it anyway? well the capital?) - Vienna: 2 days Slovenia (once again not entirely sure WHERE- probably Ljubljana and Izola area) : 5 days Croatia (Zagreb and Dubrovnik): 7 days Hungary (again I was never keen, except that the Hungarians whom I work with tell me I should go there...not ecstatic because my brother had a terrible time there)- Budapest : 2 days Romania (Brasov, Bucarest) - for some reason I've always wanted to see this place!: 4 days Turkey (at first this was about a stop over but the more I read about it, the more I like...) Istanbul and Antalya I think it was..: 3/4 days Greece -Athens and Dodecanese islands: 5 days Italy: (in no order) Venice: 1 day, Rome: 4 days, Milan: 2 days, Florence: 2 days, Tuscany area somewhere?: 2 days.... THEN fly to London, for a day or two before working... Is that too ambitious? Like I said, not all places were high on the list so should I cut them? I was planning on buying a 2 month Eurorail Youth Pass... Also, does it seem like I am backtracking? I was planning on taking the ferry in a couple of places for something different...? I decided to budget around 60E per day although many places I read about say that more than enough - I guess it gives me help in the expensive countries to experience them a bit more! Thanks alot - any ideas/suggestions would be great!
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on May 13, 2006 20:26:49 GMT -5
I'm also not a credit card fan, but there is another option. Many banks (ie ANZ, NAB) are issuing Debit Cards which are like your normal savings account but have the functionality of a credit card so by using your savings you can shop online or whatever you want because its all through Visa... hope it helps
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 28, 2006 20:50:21 GMT -5
Thanks mango... Lol, I was thinking about Cardiff, but I stopped when I started thinking about accents... it would take us half a day trying to communicate, but maybe thats more so for strong Scottish accents What really appeals to me in London is the big theatrical scene - which would be difficult to see if I lived elsewhere?
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 28, 2006 3:29:01 GMT -5
I checked up on that program, and like everyone said, it appears to be somewhat of a scam. I wonder how many people actually spend could-be travel money on those programs. I have a friend who lives just outside London, and said I’m free to stay with her until I find work or whatever. Is this a good idea considering she doesn’t live in London and commuting will add up (or so I hear)?
Also, London being the 5th most expensive city in the world to live in (Moscow surprisingly was the most expensive), would it be more logical to live elsewhere in England? Would it be as easy to find a job elsewhere?
Also, for Visas, with a return ticket (would this include open jaw, say leaving from Barcelona?), you need something like $2500, is this just when you apply for you Visa, or when you enter the country?? (Obviously a smart traveler would have backup anyway…)
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 19, 2006 2:34:51 GMT -5
Thanks for that advice, I'm really glad I asked... I looked at gumtree . com, and I saw job possibilities. For a small amount I found that I could rent a room in a shared apartment. I think if I budget wisely, I wont end up comeletely out of pocket like the table on their site suggests..It sounds like a tool to get people to use the program... I did actually find someone on gumtree again who had used passport and they had really liked it, but having used one of those type of programs (a student exchange several years ago) I can see how they work - a support line wouldnt end up to be t much at all. I will ask on the thorntree site and see if I get a response, and stay posted... To be honest I think I'm just a little unsure about going at it alone, although now it appears to be emerging as a better option..
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 18, 2006 0:16:55 GMT -5
No, the only accounts I have found are the (biased) accounts of people within that website - obviously they are only going to say good things.
I guess with food it would be optional when to eat? Generally i think it said the meals were typical pub meals so I'm not sure that would be great the whole time...
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 18, 2006 0:06:57 GMT -5
The program I was originally looking at was called Passport2Pubs.. they claim that with them you get: -Full accommodation and meals - Full on the job training - "The security of Passport2pubs only using reputable pubs, so you know you won’t end up in an undesirable location." - "A 24 hour support line"
The pay is $400AU = L165 per week, which according to the standard wage law looks slightly lower than it should be for a 40 hour week..but it seems to include accomodation, which would cost alot..
So is that reasonable, or is going at it alone still better?
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 16, 2006 23:15:16 GMT -5
Its always been my plan to backpack around europe, then work in London for a few months (finish backpacking end of June then work)..
I'm from Australia and I've been told that its easy to get a job, yet I've read sites which give you figures about how hard it is to get work and that you can end up losing alot of money
I've also found sites which have sites which find you a job in London pubs, no experience necessary and before you get there.. however, they generally cost $550+AU.
By the time I will get to London, I will have had over 2 years of waitressing experience..
So my question is this: Do I fork out the money for a guarentted job and accomodation or do I go at it myself?
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 8, 2006 1:58:06 GMT -5
Ok... thanks for that... would it be alright to put it in a locker if there are some, or dumb idea?
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 6, 2006 23:30:55 GMT -5
Ok i think it makes sens.... But what about the beach?
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 5, 2006 20:09:24 GMT -5
I couldnt help wonder what you do with a money belt if you wanted to.. say go clubbing, or relax on the beach and go swimming... do people lock it up at the youth hostel or something... cos I really cant see people sun baking with their money belts on! lol.. Just curious, lol, i dont know why I thoght about that!
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cher1e
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Posts: 31
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Post by cher1e on Jun 28, 2006 20:44:25 GMT -5
Yeah, i do know people around London, but will be starting out in Rome... Would it be worth posting it, or cost too much?
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