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2 weeks driving around Europe at Christmas - what not to miss?

allkindsoftime — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:12:48 -0800

European road-trip for the holidays (filter). Meeting up with a friend in Paris on the evening of the 19th - both of us traveling there from different continents and wrapping up on Jan 2nd back in Paris. Here's the current plan:

Week 1 (Road Trip!):
12/19 - Arrive Paris, stay overnight.
12/20 - Drive to Munich, staying with friends.
12/21 - Explore Munich, Christmas markets, etc.
12/22 - Drive to Vienna with a stop in Steyr, Austria*.
12/23 - Explore Vienna, Christmass markets, etc.
12/24 - More Vienna, Christmas Eve Mass at St. Stephansdom*.
12/25 - Drive to Venice.
12/26 - Explore Venice.

Week 2 (based out of Geneva, where we have a free apartment):
12/27 - Drive to Geneva.
12/28 - Ski Chamonix, stay in Geneva
12/29 - More skiing, still in Geneva.
12/30 - More skiing, last night in Geneva.
12/31 - Drive to Paris for New Years.
1/1 - Explore Paris
1/2 - Friend flies out, I'm off to London for a day then flying out myself on the 3rd.

*Both of these were "local recommendations" given by friends - cool things to see and do. I am particularly interested on these around our route.

My questions:

1. Cheap / decent hotel near the airport in Paris - any suggestions?

2. Driving - we're both pretty set on it because a) we both love driving / road trips, and b) we crave the flexibility of being able to stop off in this or that place along the way, stay at a B&B outside the city rather than a hotel in it, etc.. We realize trains are good around here but would really need a strong argument against driving to sway us at this point. Any tips on tolls / etc. appreciated, as well as things along our routes not to miss.

3. Hotel in Vienna - same as above, we are looking for something more local / small, preferably on the city outskirts. From what I understand most of Europe will shut down on the 25/26th, so I figure on spending Christmas day on the road.

4. Hotel in Venice - see above.

5. Best skiing recommendations within reasonable driving distance of Geneva? I'm pretty set on Chamonix as I've been reading about skiing there my entire life, and extreme skiing is my "thing," although not my friend's, so I'm only pushing for one day there - the other 2 days we're looking for something more enjoyable to ride together.

6. New Years Eve in Paris - where to go? What to do? Where to stay?

Any input on the above or anything I'm not thinking of is appreciated in advance. I've only been to the UK and Greece before so if parts of (hopefully not all!) my plans are idiotic, please hope me. We're pretty much going off of the Lonely Planet guide and the AskMe tags (i.e. Vienna, Venice, etc.) for things to do in the cities we are at, but any other suggestions on stops along the way that are don't-miss are appreciated.

Vegetarian seeks tasty food in Western Europe

embrangled — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:57:04 -0800

What tasty foods should an adventurous vegetarian eat in the UK and Western Europe? I eat eggs and dairy, but not meat and only rarely fish. I'm not overly uptight about trace animal products or stock. I'll be travelling through England, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. These countries aren't generally known as hotbeds of vegetarianism, but I'd still like to try as many interesting local foods as I can.

A meat-eating friend has been joking that I'll starve - I'm more optimistic, so help me prove him wrong. I'm not worried about what I'll eat, but I'd like to expand my culinary horizons beyond "That one vegan cafe in the hippy district". Which quintessential European meals and snacks just happen to be meat-free?

Berlin cabaret help needed.

Xalf — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:22:14 -0800

We will be in Berlin from this Saturday until Wednesday. Please recommend a cabaret-type performance that will be comprehensible to non-German speakers, is not overly risque, and will make for a fun evening.

Seeking tips/advice for a trip to Oktoberfest (and surrounding area) for 2010.

gummo — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:54:49 -0800

Seeking tips/advice for a trip to Oktoberfest (and surrounding area) for 2010. Myself and 3 friends (American, 2 guys, 2 girls, 25-37 yrs old) have decided to go to Oktoberfest for 2010 (the 200 yr. anniversary). Our plan is to spend approximately 2 weeks on the trip. I'm looking for tips and advice on what we should do. We're initially thinking we probably want to do 2 or 3 days at the actual festival and in Munich, and the rest of the time, either before or after or both, in surrounding areas.

Thoughts:
-We're not afraid of a big noisy party (quite the contrary)
-None of us have been to Europe at all
-We want to see as much as possible, not just the Oktoberfest tents
-I've read that we want to reserve seats at a tent. I'm not convinced of this. The idea of being stuck at one table all day does not sound appealing. But would a reserved table be a good home base? Or when we get up, does our reservation end?
-Overnight trains to some far away destination sound GREAT.
-Can I rent a car one of the days and drive on the Autobahn to get us to one of our destinations? Is a car rental a valid plan for a more extended amount of time?
-How far can we get in 2 weeks if we just spend a couple days in Munich and jump on trains a lot? Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden? Where could we/should we go? (I obviously don't want to spend the entire vacation travelling)
-Can we get trains with cabins and use those as our hotel some nights?
-We're more the type to not make reservations, just so we are open to jump in a cab or on a train and head out if we hear of something great 100 miles away. But I understand we probably want hotel rooms for at least the couple nights for the festival.
-Should we stay within walking distance of the tents for the few days in Munich, or are we better off 40 minutes down the rail or road?
-We're not afraid of hostels or roughing it (though I've never stayed in a hostel and have no idea how that works)
-We can spend money when necessary, but don't want to be frivilous, and don't need too many luxuries
-Things I've seen mentioned: Volksfest, ICE Train, Castles, U-bahn, S-bahn, Mike's Bike tour.

So, Hivemind...

What should we do? Start at Oktoberfest, end up there? If we're only going to see 2 or 3 days of the actual festival, which ones do we want? Where should be book a room for the actual festival? Where else should we go? What else should we see? Are there any other events scheduled close enough? We're thinking of this more as a mini European vacation that involves Oktoberfest. Not simply an Oktoberfest trip. Any advice, experiences, ideas, cost estimates, are greatly appreciated.

Rockin' Mexico

freddymetz — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:16:08 -0800

GuitarFilter! I'm going to Mexico in september and i want to buy a guitar. Coming from Germany, are guitars much cheaper there? I specifically want to buy a Taylor Baby guitar (280 euros in germany), or should i buy a handmade one that mexico is so famous for? :p

How do we get our stuff to Germany without breaking the bank?

freudenschade — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:44:40 -0800

What's the best option for shipping several boxes of household items from Canada to Germany? In August, my girlfriend and I will be relocating from Toronto to Berlin. Seeing as we'll be there for at least a year, it would be great if we could bring more than just a couple of suitcases of stuff with us. Extra baggage charges on the plain are prohibitively expensive, as are the usual shipping options (Canada Post, UPS, FedEx, etc.). We've been looking for specific information on renting a small space in a shipping container, but online details are slim and mostly relate only to US companies.

We'd mostly be shipping some extra clothes, shoes, books and so on, and delivery time isn't that important. Any tips or experiences would be great. Thanks in advance!

Mobile software for the mobile traveller?

zaebiz — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:30:18 -0800

What applications/software for your mobile device did you find useful/essential for travelling? I will be travelling initially around Europe and then who knows.... I have an iMate JasJam phone running Windows Mobile 6 but would acquire another device if this will be more suitable for running useful applications.

I just want to save money on my insurance

creasy boy — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:45:33 -0800

I want to get married. Is there a European Las Vegas? I have US and German citizenship, my girlfriend is Spanish, and we live in Berlin. To get married here we'll have to run back and forth between the Spanish embassy and the district whateverthefuck office and get a ton of documents professionally translated in order to apply for Marriagability Certification. It will be expensive and time-consuming. Is there a city in Europe where we can just show up and get married? Amsterdam? Copenhagen?

Tourist fun in northwestern Germany

transporter accident amy — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:54:06 -0800

Family members who will be visiting me in Amsterdam in April have requested that we spend a day in Germany. What cool stuff can we do in northwestern Germany, fairly close to the Dutch border? I'd like to keep the train trip under three hours each way (and I would love to keep the tickets under €50 per person, round trip). They don't want to travel by air or stay overnight.

* Level of touristyness can be high or low.
* Museums are fine, although history is preferred to art.
* Old buildings/castles/churches are a big plus.
* Natural beauty is a plus.
* Everyone is able-bodied, but highly physical activities like hiking or horseback riding are probably out.
* They're non-drinkers, so no beer gardens/wineries.
* We're totally limited to public transportation.

(I thought of Cologne, but it's kind of at the upper end of my travel time and cost desires.)

What would make my life cooler?

miles1972 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:54:22 -0800

is there anything special I need to bring back from Berlin to Canada for myself? It seems that somethings over here are great, and some are not. I have yet to find the perfect city, but I would say Berlin at the moment is the closest I have found.

Because of the Euro / Canadian dollar exchange rate, most consumer goods are more pricey here. So is there anything, that would be really cool for me to have, or technology that they have here in Germany that I am somehow missing, and could get for cheap and bring it back and it would work in Canada?

A mobile phone? A special hat? a super book? anything that I would be just insane not to pick up?

Screw Chevy Chase

Christ, what an asshole — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:03:51 -0800

I'm looking for underrated, obscure European vacation stops. A couple friends and I are going to Europe for a month (Nov/Dec), and we plan on doing the whole Eurorail/hostel thing across several countries. 1/3rd of the destination stops are for my choosing, and while I know they'll be making the saturated, obvious choices like Rome, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, etc., I'd like to spice things up with places that don't automatically spring to mind but offer the same level (if not more) of awe. Ideally, cities that aren't automatic tourist stops where most everyone speaks English and there's a McDonald's on every corner (but also not so far out of the way from mid-Europe like some hole-in-the-wall, Eastern-European Caspian city).

What sort of places have you visited that you would recommend?

Help me see some of Europe!

bDiddy — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:07:06 -0800

I need advice for planning a trip to Europe next summer. The wife and I are looking to see some of Europe next summer. Neither of us have ever gone. She wants to see Prague and I want to drink beer in Brussels. So, here's what I think is the best plan, but I don't know. This is where I need advice.

Fly into Prague and spend a few days there. Take the train through Germany, spending a night in some of the cities the train goes through. (Berlin, maybe Koln?) Then continue on to Brussels for a few days there. Then, if time permits maybe continue on to France.

So, as I've never planned a trip like this ever, I have a few questions.

Is it easier to fly in and out of the same city or can I land in one city and depart from another? Would it be significantly cheaper to do it one way vs the other?

Should I book train tickets in advance or when we're there? I've seen the seat61.com site so I know the Eurail pass isn't always the best bet, but maybe it will be for us.

Is it worth renting a car in Belgium? I want to see more than just Brussels. I'd LOOOOOVE to see some of the abbeys and some of the smaller breweries there. And getting up to the coast would be nice too.

How early should I be looking at booking this? And would a travel agent be any help to me? I've used a travel agent twice and I find them somewhat helpful, but not sure if it would be worth it for a trip like this.

Any other advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

Help me find a place to sleep.

defben — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:02:10 -0800

I'm currently backpacking through Europe and was given an invitation to Oktoberfest for this Friday. I'm really excited about this, but can't seem to find any places to stay that aren't booked or very expensive. I'd like to spend Friday and Saturday night there, giving me the opportunity to see the rest of Munich. What are my options in the area to find a place to sleep? Are there non-hostel options or perhaps one that isn't well known?

Be My Italian Guide

defben — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:24:23 -0800

I'm leaving for Europe this week and will be gone for about two and a half weeks. I've got a bunch of family in Germany so they'll be showing me around there, but I'm also planning on going to Italy for approximately five days, give or take (no rigid schedule). I was hoping some people could give me some first hand recommendations on what would really make my experience a blast. I've done some reading and am thinking of visiting Rome and Florence, but nothing set in stone

I'm a bit of a foodie/cooking enthusiast, so I'd love to sample some great authentic food while there. I'm not a nature nut, but do love its beauty (hoping to hike some of the FichtelGebirge while in Germany). I would love to get a feel for the culture, if that's at all possible. Maybe some market places and such. But really, any recommendations would be appreciated. Not a huge museum guy, but am open to hitting one or two. Maybe some music or nightlife?

Also, what does everyone recommend on travel? Is the Eurail the way to go or are they're cheaper alternatives?

Thanks for any recommendations.

Where should we go and what should we see in Germany and Switzerland?

odayoday — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:40:31 -0800

My boyfriend and I will be meeting my dad in Berlin in mid-September. I've never been to Germany and my boyfriend has never been to Switzerland, and we'll be there a total of 10 days. How should we split up our time, and what should we see? My dad will be renting a car, so we're planning on driving between cities. Any suggestions are appreciated!

An American in Germany - keep me mobile!

FlyByDay — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:47:42 -0800

Help an American traveling in Germany get around for a month this summer - car or train? For a friend: I will be in Germany from June 5 through July 2. While I'm there I might rent a car or travel by train. However, I know nothing about doing either of those things as an American -- apparently there are different rules for buying tickets and renting cars when you are not German, nor an EU citizen.

If I could get an all-I-can-ride train pass (e.g. Eurailpass) for say $500 for the month I'll be there, then we're done -- I'd do that. I'm afraid it might be a lot more, though, in which case I'll need more research to figure out how to best get around.

For reference, I'm flying into Frankfurt and will get picked up at the airport... but after that, I'm interested in visiting Munich, Stuttgart, Saarbruecken, and very possibly Hannover and a few towns near Hannover.

Thanks so much!

Where should we visit or stay in Eastern Europe?

D J Robertstein — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:54:44 -0800

Where should we visit in Eastern Europe? Me and three or four freinds are planning to have a bit of an interrail this summer and unlike last time, we've opted for more of an eastern European slant. So far it's looking like this:

France - Italy - Greece - Bulgaria - Romania - Hungary - Poland - Germany

We're hoping to see a bit more of the countryside and will be camping a fair bit as well as using hostels. However, we know nothing of Eastern Europe save for a Michael Palin documentary.

Does anyone whos been around that area have any suggestions of places to go, things to see and stuff to do? We're on a fairly low budget, but we could save cash for certain things if it's worth it.

Sorry for the vague post but we're ignorant and in the early planning stages. Thanks!

Lookout Europe, here I come

barrakuda — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:20:01 -0800

What are some good job search websites/engines for Europe? I'm interested in jobs in international affairs, public relations, business and finance, advertising and marketing. I'm mostly looking for resources for Germany, Belgium, France and the UK, but pan-European websites are good too.

Looking for a European holiday apartment.

DirtyCreature — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:54:09 -0800

Where is a good place in a European city for a non-European to buy a small but nice two bedroom apartment for holidays? Looking for a city environment. How much would I need to spend? Are there any regulatory hurdles? Where do I find them? I was kind of leaning towards Paris but am fairly open. I am also open to Eastern Europe in safe areas and don't want to have to worry too much about the apartment when I am not there.

American buying apt in Berlin

suisse — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 08:40:30 -0800

I am an American interested in buying property in Berlin. Do any other Americans with experience in this have any advice to offer? I am particularly interested in finding an English-speaking agent or lawyer based in Berlin who could help me in dealings with German-speaking real estate agents, notaries, etc. and would appreciate any recommendations. I am also looking for information on tax implications for Americans buying property in Germany. TIA!

Wandervogel literature

Chrischris — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 19:21:56 -0800

Nicholas Mosely's Hopeful Monsters has an extensive section dealing with the German Wandervogel movement. Can you suggest any other novels (preferably in English, but auf Deutsch is also acceptable) deal with Wandervogeln or related themes?

Things to do in Freiburg when you're lucky and have a month to hang out and explore?

walla — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:53:22 -0800

Mr. Walla and I will be in Freiburg (im Breisgau, in the Black Forest) for the next month or so. We know it's not a big city, but we're hoping the hive mind might have some tips on the area. Favorite places to eat, drink, walk, go on day or weekend trips? English, dancing, yoga classes? We're open to just about anything. We'll be living in the Wiehre neighborhood, and we like to walk/bike. Unfortunate limitations: we speak no German and have no car. Thanks!

Working in Europe

borkingchikapa — Wed, 18 May 2005 08:26:50 -0800

How difficult would it be for a nineteen year old with one year of college, moderate work experience, a TEFL certificate and little to no European language ability to get a temporary work visa in the EU? I'm thinking Germany, specifically. I've checked out this thread, but that seems to pertain mostly to becomig a citizen. I'm not looking to become naturalized or anything (though that would be nice), just find a menial job to support myself for six months or less. Note: I'm willing to accept "impossible" as an answer.