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Post by Eagle on Feb 12, 2014 2:09:24 GMT -5
As usual, MTH has provided an exceptional amount of information. I have a couple of comments and questions.....
It would help to know whether you've travelled in Europe before and where you're from? There are quite a few things to know that will hopefully avoid having problems on the trip, so doing some homework would be prudent. One example is the fines that are applied in Italy for those that have any "irregularities" with their tickets on trains or other public transit. I can provide more information on that if you need it.
For first timers to Europe, I normally recommend reading Europe Through The Back Door, as it provides a lot of good information on "how" to travel well in Europe. I'd also recommend having a look at Guidebooks for each of the places you'll be visiting for information on sightseeing, transportation, lodgings, etc.
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Post by Eagle on Jan 12, 2014 2:27:46 GMT -5
stearnz33, For information on validating tickets and other things that are good to know, here's my usual "boilerplate" on the subject.... When travelling by train in Italy, there are a couple of VERY IMPORTANT potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of. When travelling on Regionale trains which don't require reservations, it's ESSENTIAL to validate (time & date stamp) the tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel. This includes the Leonardo Express which travels from the airport to Roma Termini. The validation machine will either be yellow or green & gray with a digital display on the front. These are easy to find and located near the tracks or in transfer tunnels. If the machine is not working, writing the time & date on the ticket may be acceptable (ask the Conductor as soon as possible). If using the small tickets, these are inserted on the left side of the validation machines. Those caught with unvalidated tickets may be fined on the spot! The fines start at €50 per person and if not paid on the spot, they DOUBLE and increase from there! The same fines apply to those travelling via Bus in Rome and other places (in that case, validation machines are often located on-board the Bus). Conductors are now carrying portable debit/credit card Terminals, to process payment of fines. Those travelling on the "premium" trains such as the Freccia (high speed) trains MUST have a valid reservation or again may be fined on the spot! These fines also start at €50 per person, PLUS the cost of the reservation, which is currently ~€10. Reservations are compulsory and are specific to a particular train, date and departure time. It's NOT POSSIBLE to simply buy a ticket with reservations and then board any train. The ticket or reservation will specify the train number (ie: ES-9718), so it's important to verify that before boarding. Reservations will specify a Car No. (Carrozza) and a Seat No. (Posti). You may find it helpful to watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n8rITO1Eek. The Freccia (and new Italo) high speed trains run at ~300 kmH when out in the open, so it's a very efficient use of travel time. I don't have any information on the parking situation in Empoli, but perhaps MTH can offer some suggestions. It sounds like you won't get a chance to get to Cortona, but there's a nice (free) car park there, and then two outdoor Escalators that go up to the town. It's a pleasant town, and of course it was the location made famous by Under The Tuscan Sun.An excellent restaurant (IMO) in Florence is I' Cche' c'e' c'e' which means in the Florentine dialect "What there is, there is" (or at least so I'm told). It's located at Via Magalotti 11r. I also really enjoyed www.trattorialostracotto.it/ and www.trattoriakattifirenze.com/?act=home&l=en. I you have time for dinner in Montalcino, I'd highly recommend www.grappoloblu.it/. Best Bruschetta I've ever had! I'd have to check my notes for other suggestions, which could take some time. I don't usually visit Wineries, but I'm sure you could get some information by checking a few Guidebooks. Again, MTH may be able to help.
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Post by Eagle on Jan 9, 2014 17:33:53 GMT -5
stearnz33,
When taking Taxi's from FCO into Rome, be sure that you use an "official" Taxi. There's info in the Guidebook as I recall.
Your plan to drive to Empoli and take the train from there into Florence sounds like a good idea. I haven't travelled that route, but the travel time is about 30 minutes and tickets are €4.20 PP each way. Most of the trains on that route will be Regionale, so DON'T forget to validate prior to boarding the train!
I was in Florence in June, and really enjoyed my stay there. Are you planning to be there in the evenings for dinner? I can recommend a good restaurant if you're interested, however as I recall they don't open for dinner until 19:00.
The RS Guidebook should list the websites for reservations for the Museums in Florence, etc.
I just had a look at the Italy Guidebook, and agree that Rick hasn't exactly given San Gimignano an "enthusiastic" endorsement. My usual favourite home base in that area is Siena, so you might consider that instead. There aren't a huge number of sights, but the Duomo is beautiful (there IS a dress code!), the Baptistery is interesting and lingering around Il Campo in the evenings with some Gelato is really nice. I got a type of Pastry there one night that was wonderful, but can't remember what it was. I'm sure MTH will have some good suggestions to offer.
One other thought - if you're planning on staying in Siena for a few days, you might consider taking the train from Rome to Siena, and then rent the car there at the end of your visit (instead of Orvieto). That would save some money as you wouldn't have to pay for the rental or parking during your time in Siena. Just a thought......
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Post by Eagle on Jan 9, 2014 1:46:35 GMT -5
stearnz33,
A few comments to add.....
How are you planning to get from FCO into Rome? If you were planning to use the Leonardo Express, don't forget to validate your ticket prior to boarding the train or you could face a hefty fine (about €50 PP!). The same applies when riding Buses in Rome. Speaking of Buses, if you should use the infamous #64 Bus, be VERY vigilant, as it has a reputation as a haven for pickpockets.
Florence should still be fine on a Sunday. If you're planning to visit the Uffizi or Accademia, reservations would definitely be advised. I believe they can be made online.
As noted, driving into Florence is NOT a good idea unless you know your way around and can avoid the ZTL Cameras, some of which are located on one-way streets (which means you can't escape once you spot the Camera).
Whether to add a day in Rome or Venice is a difficult question. You may find that you're affected by jet lag more than anticipated, so don't get as much touring done in Rome as you planned. Therefore, you may need the extra time in Rome.
For driving around Tuscany, you might consider packing along a GPS unit along with a good Map. Some of the roads aren't well marked.
That's about all I can think about at the moment.
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Post by Eagle on Jan 8, 2014 1:58:53 GMT -5
Thomas,
As always, MTH has provided awesome suggestions. I have a few comments to add.
3/23 - you're probably going to be quite jet lagged on arrival day, so you'll probably only have time for a brief walkabout and then early to bed. That will only leave two full days for touring Rome, which isn't much.
3/26 - taking the train to Orvieto and renting a car there is a great idea. Don't forget that each driver will need the compulsory International Driver's Permit to drive in Italy. You'll also have to be very vigilant for the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato areas which exist in many towns in Italy (expensive tickets). Florence is just about locked down completely with automated ZTL Cameras. I assume the destination town you're referring to is Montepulciano?
3/31, 4/1 - You're only spending two nights in the Cinque Terre? That will only really allow one day of touring since you probably won't arrive in Manarola until late afternoon. Is there any way you could add a day or two there? One other important point to mention is that not all of the Sentiero Azzurro (No. 2) trails may be open at that time. The "official" start of the tourist season is April 1st, and not all of the trails may be open then. Only the Corniglia-Vernazza segment is open at the moment. Note the you'll need a Park Pass to hike the trails. Also, I'd suggest starting your hike in Monterosso, as that's the most difficult section and better to do when you're fully rested. Be sure to take lots of water.
4/2 - The train from the Cinque Terre to Venice will take about 6 hours (or the better part of a day). Are you clear on which Venice station you'll arrive at?
4/4 - Have you got your flight booked yet from Venice to Paris? Which of the Paris airports will you be arriving at? Are you planning to visit a lot of Museums, etc. while in Paris? If so, a Paris Museum Pass might be a good investment.
Overall your Itinerary looks reasonably well organized, although there's a lot of moving around which means you won't have too much time to spend in any of the places you're visiting.
Congratulations on your one year anniversary!
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Post by Eagle on Sept 14, 2013 2:00:02 GMT -5
firsttimer87,
First of all, welcome to GFE. It will take some time to look over your Itinerary and offer detailed suggestions, but I have a few preliminary comments.....
> Amsterdam - you could probably get by with 3 days, unless there's something specific you want to see there.
> Rhine - where are you considering on the Rhine?
> Rothenburg - you won't be able to see "Rothenburg/Romantic Road" in one day, as you'll need to allow for travel times.
> Salzburg - if you only want to spend one day there, I'd suggest using Munich as a home base, as that's a good location for day trips to both Salzburg as well as Füssen and the Castles. You can travel to the Castles on your own (timed reservations required) or use a local tour company such as Radius Tours (although you'll still travel by public transit, they make all the arrangements as well as the Castle reservations).
> Gimmelwald - it will take some time to get from Munich to Gimmelwald, which means you may not have two days to spend there. There's lots to see in that area, so at least one more day would be advisable.
> Zürich - could you clarify what you hope to see there? Lucerne is a much nicer city (IMO).
I'll try and suggest a logical route and provide more details shortly.
Good luck with your planning!
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Post by Eagle on Jul 21, 2013 0:46:11 GMT -5
An update from my previous post. I was in Paris in early July, and had no problems at all with pickpockets, even at the Louvre. I dived into the tightly packed "scrum" in front of the Mona Lisa, but except for a few light touches on my backside (probing for a wallet?), there were no theft attempts. There was a noticeable security presence this time and numerous signs warning of pickpockets, so maybe that's having some effect.
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Post by Eagle on Apr 13, 2013 1:55:03 GMT -5
One of the interesting aspects of this story is the fact that the pickpockets are now reportedly becoming "increasingly violent" towards Museum staff and also presumably against tourists on occasion. I wonder if there's any correlation between the increasing pickpocket activity and the current economic situation in Europe?
I expect to be back in Paris in a few months and it will be interesting to see if the pickpocket situation has really increased since my last visit.
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Post by Eagle on Apr 8, 2013 0:08:02 GMT -5
MTH,
Thanks for posting. It was only partially open when I was there in 2011, so it will be nice to see the complete version next time I'm in Amsterdam.
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Post by Eagle on Mar 5, 2013 2:21:57 GMT -5
Thanks for posting the video. Your past contributions have been very interesting.
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Post by Eagle on Jan 2, 2013 2:17:05 GMT -5
A 50L Pack would probably be easier to transport as carry-on in Europe, but that would depend to a large extent on how it was packed. Most Euro budget airlines have fairly stringent size requirements.
The cost for checking your 65L Backpack shouldn't be that much. The airlines allow a specific weight for checked luggage, and it's only if you exceed that weight that you'll pay more. You can pay for extra weight at the time of booking, which is cheaper than if paying at the gate.
You might check the websites for EasyJet, Vueling, Air Berlin, RyanAir or others for examples of their weight allowances. I suggest RyanAir reluctantly, as they often have numerous extra charges.
I normally just check my main Backpack, as it's not that that much of a hassle. It has a detachable Daypack and that's what I use for my carry-on.
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Post by Eagle on Dec 31, 2012 1:14:21 GMT -5
izzieraine,
First of all, welcome to GFE!
A 65L Backpack may get by as carry-on for flights to Europe, but it's highly doubtful whether it would be accepted for flights within Europe. The budget airlines in Europe have notoriously tough rules for carry-on size, and the DO enforce them.
You'll probably find that the overhead bins fill up very quickly, so there probably won't be room for a Pack that size. I'd suggest checking the websites for the airline you'll be using, as they will have the current information on allowable carry-on sizes.
Happy travels!
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Post by Eagle on Dec 1, 2012 1:42:03 GMT -5
It would help to know which country you're from? If you're not an E.U. resident, you'll have to ensure that you don't exceed the 90-day Schengen limit, as penalties can be severe if you're caught!
Using a Backpack is a good idea (that's the method I use). If you haven't bought a pack yet, you might consider a panel-loading model (with zippers), one with a detachable Daypack (good for carry-on) and one which has a "stowable harness" (so it isn't damaged by airport conveyor systems). Check Eagle Creek, Osprey or others.
On the topic of "packing", the general rule is to pack the same for three weeks as for three months. Try to travel "light" and plan to do laundry on a regular basis, even if it's just in the hotel room sink.
One of the most important points in planning, is to plan an efficient route and allow adequate travel time between locations. If you haven't been to Europe before, you may want to read Europe Through The Back Door, as that provides a lot of good information on "how" to travel in Europe.
Good luck with your planning!
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Post by Eagle on Aug 21, 2012 23:47:55 GMT -5
danielletc, First of all, welcome to the Boards! I have a few initial comments to offer. It's great that you're getting an early start on the planning. That will allow you to get all the arrangements "ironed out" and hopefully your trip will go smoothly. One of the points that stands out with your proposed Itinerary is the number of one and two-night stops. With Itinerary planning, it's extremely important to allow adequate travel times. In many cases, one-night stops actually only allow a few hours in a particular location so they may not be worth the effort to get there. One good example is the trip from Rothenburg to Füssen. Travel by train will be about five hours with three changes. Rothenburg is on a "spur" line so you'll need to get to Steinach before you can connect with other trains. By the time you check out of your Hotel, get to the station, wait for the train, get from the station to your new Hotel, get checked-in, etc., that's the better part of a day. My suggestion would be to add a day in Munich and take a day trip to Füssen (I'm assuming you want to see the Castles?). You can do the trip to the Castles on your own (but you'll have to make reservations) or take a day trip with www.radiusmunich.com. That's what I did, and they take care of all the arrangements. Regarding Greek Islands, you may find it very helpful to have a look at www.greecetravel.com, which is an excellent resource for planning trips there. In addition to Santorini, you might consider a visit to Naxos since in they're both in the same "group" of islands and Ferry connections are easy. Leave Santorini until the end, as it has an airport, so it will be easy to get flights to Vienna. I'd recommend Aegean Air, as they're a real "class act". You'll probably have to make a connection in Athens though. Croatia and Montenegro may be "problematic" as the transportation isn't as well developed there, so it will be harder to get around there and will require lots of time for travel. While there are some budget flights available in Dubrovnik, they tend to be seasonal so you'd have to determine if any are available at the time you plan to be there. If flights aren't available, getting out of Dubrovnik involves a Bus to Split (about 4 hours), where you'll be able to connect with the trains. Check www.whichbudget.com for flight availability. Ferries will also take time, and sometimes only run once a day. That's about all I can think of at the moment. My overall impression is that skipping a few of the locations you listed might be a good idea, to structure the Itinerary in a more "relaxed" fashion. However, I'd have to sit down and spend some time working on details, but hopefully the others will have some suggestions (calling MadamTrashheap!).Good luck with your planning!
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Post by Eagle on Jul 30, 2012 1:27:53 GMT -5
notthefall,
My knowledge of those two countries is extremely limited, so I don't have anything to add at the moment. I'm sure MadamTrashHeap would have some advice, but I'm not sure when she will be checking the Boards again.
Hope you're enjoying your trip!
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