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Post by chakkenberg on Mar 6, 2007 21:28:22 GMT -5
Hello, First, I would like to thank all posters for the invaluable information I have obtained in the last week by reading the boards. The itinerary I have here has gone through MANY revisions( I'm sure most can sympathize  ). I am planning on going to Europe for the entire month of October. My trip will start in Munich for Oktoberfest. The I will go to Amsterdam, Paris, and finally leave out of Barcelona. I plan to stay in each city for 6-7 nights with possible day trips to the surrounding areas if feasible. My daily budget for food, lodging, and incidentals will be approx. 100 Euros. I found a deal on a rail pass for 420 USD ( 5 countries/ 5 days in 2 months). The only questions I have so far are: 1. Is the daily allowance right? I am staying in the cheapest/best hostels I can find and booking them in the next 2 months. I plan to eat from vendors most meals and cook dinner at night if possible most nights. 2. Did I pick the proper rail pass or should I buy point to point tickets in EU? |
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Post by me on Mar 6, 2007 22:16:20 GMT -5
FYI: Oktoberfest starts with a bang & ends with a whimper. at least it did the year i was there in the 80's. in 2007, seems it'll run September 22 - October 7. if you're just there for the last week, it isn't that great.
any way you could get to Munich by September 22?
regarding transport between cities: if i were you i'd look into flights Munich - Amsterdam and Paris - Barcelona. you could just pay cash for Amsterdam - Paris.
- d
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Post by chakkenberg on Mar 6, 2007 23:49:52 GMT -5
Unfortunately the friend that is going with me is taking her entrance exam for law school Sept 29th  . Thanks for the advice though, I may just go a week earlier and have her meet me, since she isn't so psyched about that leg of the trip (::Gasp:: Blasphemy!) Now to find a hostel with open bookings, lol. |
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Post by herrbert on Mar 7, 2007 5:05:06 GMT -5
Hello Chakkenberg, Personaly I would get bored in Amsterdam after 3-4 days. I would choose another city in Spain to visit for a couple of days, before getting to Barcelona. (For logistical reasons, I would choose Madrid or Valencia, check Vueling Airlines, if that sounds appealing). The 100 euros are OK (depending on how much you drink the first week  ) For flying Munich-Amsterdam, you would have to rely on a regular airlines (expensive), as budgetairlines, don't fly this route. But you can fly Munich-Cologne. (See a little of Cologne for 1 day), and travel the next 3 hours to Amsterdam), or you can fly Munich - London (Stansted, easyjet), and fly London - Amsterdam. (at least cheaper, than Lufthansa, or KLM, from Munich to Amsterdam) You will be better of flying, and buying a ticket Amsterdam-Paris. For getting to Barcelona also check Vueling airlines. |
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Post by me on Mar 7, 2007 16:50:49 GMT -5
must disagree with HerrBert on Amsterdam. the Rijksmuseum alone could take 2 or 3 of those days! Van Gogh, etc, on top of that plus all the interesting architecture - 3 or 4 days is a little on the short side.
i might get bored after a week. especially as the drug culture holds no interest for me. [if drugs are your interest, stick to soft drugs. the Dutch are just as much sticklers as the rest of Europe on the laws forbidding hard drugs! maybe more so.]
his idea about Cologne is a good one. but, Düsseldorf is also an option for flights from Munich. plus, Düsseldorf is a little closer to Amsterdam. [Düsseldorf isn't as interesting as Cologne, i don't think]
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Post by me on Mar 7, 2007 17:07:00 GMT -5
perhaps you could fly to Munich on Sept 21, to be there for the tapping of the keg on the 22nd. meet your friend later, in Amsterdam? with the extra time before she gets there, see some other places, too. there're other places in Germany/Netherlands/Belgium which are well worth visiting. - d Unfortunately the friend that is going with me is taking her entrance exam for law school Sept 29th . Thanks for the advice though, I may just go a week earlier and have her meet me, since she isn't so psyched about that leg of the trip (::Gasp:: Blasphemy!) Now to find a hostel with open bookings, lol. |
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Post by herrbert on Mar 7, 2007 18:40:31 GMT -5
must disagree with HerrBert on Amsterdam. the Rijksmuseum alone could take 2 or 3 of those days! Van Gogh, etc, on top of that plus all the interesting architecture - 3 or 4 days is a little on the short side. i might get bored after a week. especially as the drug culture holds no interest for me. [if drugs are your interest, stick to soft drugs. the Dutch are just as much sticklers as the rest of Europe on the laws forbidding hard drugs! maybe more so.] his idea about Cologne is a good one. but, Düsseldorf is also an option for flights from Munich. plus, Düsseldorf is a little closer to Amsterdam. [Düsseldorf isn't as interesting as Cologne, i don't think] How can I forget Düsseldorf, if I fly myself it is my first choice, as it is the largest airport in my area. It is connected to the railwaystation by a skytrain (if it hasn't broken down again) for free, so you can be at the station within an hour after touchdown, and on your way to Amsterdam. Personally I am tired of most of the general arts museums, in time all the normal works by Rembrandt, Renoir etc etc, seems like it has become one big blur in my head, and only a few made a lasting impression. (gives me an idea for a new topic). And the Rijksmuseum is still overgoing a massive facelift (until 2010), keeping me locked into the Rijksmuseum for three days would really be a punishment. But I honestly don't think Amsterdam is that attractive, that it warrents 6-7 days. It is just to small for it, at least the interesting part is. If you make some daytrips, to Haarlem, and maybe Arnhem (WWII-battlefields, Airborne Museum), and Maastricht, you can get close to the 6 or 7 days. But it can also be that I don't see the beauty of Amsterdam anymore. I might have been too many times in Amsterdam to see the beauty, that you as visitors see. Sometimes you miss the obvious, because it is right under your nose. (well my nose) |
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Post by madamtrashheap on Mar 7, 2007 19:40:41 GMT -5
I've enjoyed every one of the many times I've been to Amsterdam and still manage to find something to see/do each time, either revisiting a favourite place or tracking down a new area to visit. I understand your point about the Rijksmuseum Herrbert, but I'm with David on this one - Amsterdam has something for everyone. Having said that, I'd baulk at spending any more that 5 days there, which allows for trips to Edam, Gronigen, Haarlem or Maastricht. Other than the museums, I always enjoy wandering around the Jordaan area of Amsterdam and even getting out around Edam/the Ijselmeer and cycling (if it's not raining sideways!) for a day.
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Post by me on Mar 14, 2007 21:02:26 GMT -5
ah, yes, the IJsselmeer. the only time i ever went windsurfing was on that remnant of the Zuiderzee. but windsurfing probably wouldn't be a good idea in October. are you in Maastricht, Herrbert? i forget. getting out around Edam/the Ijselmeer and cycling (if it's not raining sideways!) for a day. |
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Post by herrbert on Mar 15, 2007 6:23:06 GMT -5
No, I live in Arcen (do a Google Earth search and you will find it). It's a small village near Venlo. If you ever took the train between Eindhoven and Cologne, you are likely to have passed Venlo. Arcen is 13 kilometres North of Venlo, and right on the German border. For me Düsseldorf Airport is about 45-50 minutes by car, and even nearer is Niederrhein/Weeze - Airport (what RyanAir calls Düsseldorf).
Maastricht is pretty close, but it takes more than an hour to get there. (that will be improved, when a new motorway will be opened later this year, or next year), then it will be doable in 45 minutes, I guess.
As sunday traintravel is for free (if you bought a book this week, worth at least 11,50 euros - it's a promotional thing, that happens every year), I am heading to Amsterdam. (call it a daytrip ;D)
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). I am planning on going to Europe for the entire month of October. My trip will start in Munich for Oktoberfest. The I will go to Amsterdam, Paris, and finally leave out of Barcelona. I plan to stay in each city for 6-7 nights with possible day trips to the surrounding areas if feasible. My daily budget for food, lodging, and incidentals will be approx. 100 Euros. I found a deal on a rail pass for 420 USD ( 5 countries/ 5 days in 2 months).
. Thanks for the advice though, I may just go a week earlier and have her meet me, since she isn't so psyched about that leg of the trip (::Gasp:: Blasphemy!) Now to find a hostel with open bookings, lol.
)