Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with europe and resolved

I know basically nothing about football, but I know I like to drink beer and shout profanity with people wearing team colors

little e — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:19:15 -0800

Help a clueless American attend a football game in Europe!! I'll be travelling in central and eastern Europe approximately October 21 through November 10. I just up and decided to take this trip a couple of days ago, so I'm still in the very early planning stages. I am tenatively thinking I'll begin in Amsterdam or Berlin and end up in either Athens or Istanbul. Intermediate locations under consideration include other parts of Germany and Greece, Kraków, Prague, and Budapest. Or whatever looks exciting when I go look at all the pretty pictures in the travel section at the bookstore. (Yeah, I just listed half the continent. But it all sounds exciting, I want to go everywhere and I can't make up my mind!! Anyway, my intent is to actually spend several days in each of four cities with some sightseeing in between.)

I would like to go to a football game while I'm there. I know basically nothing about it, but I know that I like to drink beer and watch sports and shout profanity with people wearing team colors. For someone who's not supporting a particular team, where in this part of the world would be fun to go to a game? I'm more concerned with having an interesting experience than with seeing, y'know, a really good team or a big matchup. I'd prefer not to spend a ridiculous amount on the ticket. Is it feasible to buy a ticket the day of the game, or would it be easier to buy one online ahead of time? (I'm assuming based on my American football experience I can buy tickets online, so correct me if this is wrong.) What else do I need to know? Thanks!

In Ghent

Lord Force Crater — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:12:51 -0800

I'm leaving for Ghent, Belgium on September 2nd and I will be staying there for 5 months. Let me know your opinions about the city, what I should do there and if there is anything I can bring from the United States that will thrill the locals. Also feel free to tell me interesting things to do and see in Europe. I'm a scientist so science related things will appeal to me most.

Help identify a music video from MTV Europe

ciocarlia — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:46:56 -0800

Help identify a music video I recently saw on MTV Europe...70s style video with a female lead singer and a banjo? I recently saw a music video on MTV Europe, but didn't get a chance to catch the artist name or song title. It was shot in a style that made it look like a 70s TV show (think American Bandstand). The lead singer was a female, with bangs, and the song featured a banjo throughout. Any ideas?

NTSC XBox 360 in Europe?

ninotchka — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:30:25 -0800

Using an American (NTSC) Xbox in Europe (land-o-PALS)? I have a 2008 XBox 360 Elite (120GB), bought in the US, NTSC. I'd like to bring it (and my NTSC games) with me to Europe to hook up to the television (which has already been provided) in my new apartment. My landlord was unable to answer me as to whether the TV was able to accept both PALS and NTSC, or only the former.
What I'm bringing: the XBox, the games, all of the cords that came with it (the AV cable, the HDMI cable, etc), a 1000-Watt step-up/step-down transformer (so as to, I hope, safely sidestep any power issues), and the other little peripherals.
Assuming, worst-case, that the TV is not HDMI and, for whatever reason, is PALS-only, do I have the basic physical bits necessary to eke even a mediocre picture and hookup out of the whole thing? Or should I buy some NTSC-to-PALS conversion kit before I leave? Any other problems with this scenario?
Any advice from anyone who's lived in Europe and made a U.S. video game system/XBox 360 work would be tremendous. I'm not disheartened by an imperfect picture, but if I'm missing a whole component I'm eager to know. Thanks, all!

Planes, trains, and lots of bags; Germany, France, and the UK.

Devika — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:35:17 -0800

InsaneLast-MinuteEuropeanTravelFilter: How to get one procrastinator and three bags from Berlin to France and England. Read on, it's probably crazier than you think! I'm coming from Canada to do a semester abroad in Glasgow, and I'd like to do some traveling before the start of term. Currently I'm finishing up a summer program in Berlin. The plan is to meet a family friend in Reims, travel around France with them, visit my aunt in London (with a few days in Hampshire to see the partner), then head up to Glasgow.

A couple of problems with this pretty good plan. The first hurdle is that none of the tickets are booked yet. Strictly speaking I should be out of Berlin by the 17th, but am considering spending a night in a hostel or begging the institution to let me stay another day if the saving is significant enough.

The second complication is the three bags I brought over. I'd started out one hard suitcase and one soft bag, but added another suitcase to keep under the weight limit. The two hard suitcases weigh 30 and 50 pounds (about 14 and 23 kilos) respectively, and the soft bag weighs 50 pounds (23 kilos). Lugging three bags around Europe seems like it would be a nightmare, and very costly if I fly an airline like EasyJet or Ryanair. It seems around 108 GBP to ship two suitcases from Germany to the UK according to this site, assuming the same rate applies backwards. Is shipping one or two heavy bags to London a good idea, or not cost-effective?

If I'm traveling by train, I'd think that the bags would be less of an issue. However, booking by train at the last minute seems rather costly. I've been poking around the Deutsche Bahn website for ages and can't get it to tell me how much money a ticket would be before asking me to put in a credit card number. I remember seeing a fare of around 230 euros (Berlin-Reims) on another rail site, as opposed to 88 euros (Berlin-Paris, assuming Paris-Reims will be a cheap train journey) from EasyJet on the 18th. A random thought also occurred - would it be more cost-effective to fly on a better airline, even perhaps first class, if I can take my bags with me?

My question in all its barely suppressed hysteria basically boils down to this - when making travel plans within Europe at the last minute and with considerable baggage, is it better to take the train or fly, and should I keep my bags with me the entire way or ship two of them up? I'm having trouble conceptualizing all of this, and the partner and I have been at our wits' end trying to figure it all out at the last minute. I hope the all-knowing hive mind can give me some much-needed guidance!

European Leisure Travel Statistics / Effect of economic downturn

cheez-it — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:00:52 -0800

How badly has the economy affected leisure travel to Europe over the summer of 2009? How are the major tourism destinations in Europe weathering the current economic conditions?

Any ideas on where I could find multi-year travel statistics?

Any personal feedback from those who are living in or who may have traveled through Europe would be appreciated.

Where should I live in the USA? I like music, culture, etc - but I need to be close to Europe.

wingless_angel — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:13:01 -0800

Where should I live in the USA? I like music, culture, etc - but I need to be close to Europe. So I have the opportunity to be a US permanent resident next year and am starting to research as much as I can about where I might live. But there's a glitch - the timing is kind of bad and I am going to need to spend a fair of time in Europe over the next 3 years for work. I've got the permanent residence maintenance issues in hand (assuming I get the visa next year of course! I'm a DV winner) but the big question is: where should I live in the US (probably a few months each time) and establish my life/residence until I move for good?

I have spent about 4 months in the US across the past 5 years for vacation and conferences, places I've liked best have been Seattle, Chicago, especially Evanston, Santa Monica (but not so much the rest of LA), New York. I have only spent a day in Boston, but it seemed good. I don't drive so public transport is critical. I would not move to San Francisco for this reason. Climate I am not so worried about.

I have previously lived in Sydney, The Hague, and currently London. I like areas that are lively but not on top of the action - we live just north of Camden Town, and I lived in Newtown when I was in Sydney. I eat a lot of Asian and ethnic foods - I like variety. I also like living in a place with a lot of music, good bars, bookstores, museums etc and access to open spaces and parks. Living in London and the Hague, I'm used to an overpriced cost of living. My husband is an academic so a city with lots of academia would be good. Most of my US friends live in NYC.

The kicker is that I would be going back and forth between the US and Europe often for a couple of years, so I would prefer somewhere that is close flightwise to keep costs and flight times down (7hr flight vs 11 hr, for instance). A city with ample short-term leases would be good (or long-stay holiday apartments). We also need someplace where establishing a life is not too difficult - places where you can open a bank account and get ID and build credit. London for example, is tedious at this.

Where should I go, MeFi?

I want to go somewhere between Cairo and Dublin.

ananda gale — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:14:53 -0800

Where should I spend my final week, after a summer of study abroad? I am open to almost anything, only limited by my pocketbook. I am a 20-year-old female who has been studying, traveling, and volunteering in Europe and Egypt all summer.

I love exploring new places, with a penchant for the odd or beautiful, and have less interest in partying or otherwise engaging in activities that could be done back in the U.S.

Where have I already been? A day or two in Dublin, Barcelona, Padova, Venice, Berlin, and their surrounds. Two weeks in Prague, one in Krakow, and am presently partway through five weeks in and around Cairo.

The free week is August 1-7.

I would prefer to stay in one area, so that I have the freedom to relax and explore it fully. I'm on a tight budget, and intend to couchsurf/stay at hostels.

I'd love to hear about some of your favorite experiences, and welcome completely random recommendations. I'll be sure to update when I decide! ^-^

A few possibilities:
-Jordan (but I'll have to return to Egypt as plane tickets are prohibitively expensive out of Jordan, which adds considerable travel time)
-other parts of the Middle East (kind of worried about traveling alone as a female, though)
-Greece (relaxing on an island sounds rather inviting)
-Budapest (highly recommended by several different travelers I met in Eastern Europe)
-Istanbul (MeFites seem to be big fans)

What do you recommend?

Books about Europe?

Dilemma — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:36:03 -0800

What are some books I can read before my trip to Europe that will help me get in the mood? I'm going on my first ever trip to Europe in September. I am already very excited, but I'd like to read some books related to the places I am visiting that will help me get even more excited or in the mood. Novels, historical fiction, history, nonfiction; anything is fair game. I'm going to Paris, Rome, some of the smaller towns in central Italy, and Venice. What are your favorite books about/set in/remotely related to these places? (I'm not looking for guide books, I already have that well-covered.)

Who can arrange pet-transport from Kastrup?

misteraitch — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:18:21 -0800

Does anyone know of an individual or organisation based in Copenhagen, Denmark, who can organise the transport of pets (specifically dogs and cats) from Copenhagen's Kastrup airport to the UK?

Back to school, for a different career... in Europe

janek — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:31:09 -0800

After one year of getting BSc and working in the field, I'd like to switch careers and re-locate from Canada. Are there any schools in Europe that would take in foreign students interested in cartography? I have been working as a web developer since 17, I am now 25. I am sick of web development and had epiphanies after epiphanies about doing other things with my life, especially now that I'm quarter-century old. (Quickie background info) I figure map-making is one area I can go into... (others are marine navigation, electrician, librarian technician). I do have familial obligations so I'm sticking with the more "stable" career choices.

I really yearn to live in Europe, doesn't matter which country exactly. I have beginners background in Swedish, Dutch when I visited the country, and French from highschool. There's also Japanese that I taught myself on and off since highschool 6 years ago. Basically I know I'm going to be a keen learner and adapt once plopped into something (as with rugby and dragonboating).

Are there such schools with a program in cartography (or its parent, geography) for someone like me? I don't care if it's a trades school, undergraduate, or masters... as long as what I learn will earn proper income and in the process, be in a totally different culture from the one I spent my formulative years in.

(And yes, I do like maps.)

Help me make my camping eurotrip even better!

tumples — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:28:12 -0800

I am going on a eurotrip in a camper van this summer. What tricks and tips can you tell me that I wouldn't get from reading the normal internet based guides? Do you have any camping or eurotrip based wisdom you would like to share? My three friends from university in the UK and I are going to the Fusion Festival in north east Germany at the end of June. We are taking a borrowed Mazda Bongo for the convenience that driving gives as well as a few home comforts in the form of a fridge and shelter. We plan to get the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland and camp outside Amsterdam for a week before heading on to the festival above Berlin.

I am trying to plan this trip as best and as thoroughly as I can, and I wanted the advantage of a few tips from metafilter to ensure we don't get caught out anywhere or even some tips that would make the trip easier and more fun.

So please send me your pearls of wisdom that you have learnt whether you have done a trip similar to this before or not.

Thanks!

Best cheese in Paris?

ransom — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:10:01 -0800

What cheese shops should not be missed in Paris? We're in Paris in early April and want to have great cheese experiences. Where should we go?

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's a great vacation spot between London and Brussels?

canine epigram — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:20:56 -0800

Help me plan a connecting leg in my winter trip to Europe! My wife and I are going to visit friends in London for a week and then traveling onward to Brussels to stay with another friend. What are some great ideas for places on the way from the first to the second that might make for a great stop-over for a few days of just the two of us? We're going in February because that's what works for the friends who will be hosting us on either end and we can afford it. It was my hope that the two of us might visit somewhere neat and different in between for a few days if at all possible.

(We've both been to Paris and will probably be visiting it again with our friend from Brussels so that's off the list.)

So lay out your suggestions for wonderful spots betwixt the two cities that we can get to easily. I imagine we'll be taking trains from one city to the next. Bonus points for romantic, unique, or picturesque even in winter.

If you don't have any ideas for that, I wouldn't mind hearing suggestions for the area around Brussels (I've heard that by itself it's not much to look at). I've been to London a few times and know all the big sights but my friends are newly arrived there and might want to check some of them out.

What exactly is 'stout footwear'?

Happy Dave — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:29:35 -0800

Help me choose the perfect boots for wandering around foreign cities... Having finally got to a point of relative financial equilibrium, the wife and I will be in the position for the first time to take some trips over the next couple of years. Most of our travel, at least initially, is likely to be in Europe, both Western and Eastern, with possible excursions to the Eastern Med and possibly North Africa too. In the past, I've gone between Teva sandals, skate shoes and heavy leather hiking boots, but they all have serious downsides depending on conditions (sandals suck if it's wet and cold, skate shoes get waterlogged easily, hiking boots are sweaty in the heat).

I'd like recommendations for good all-purpose shoes/boots suitable for walking around in dust, rain, wet and anything else your average European city can throw at you.

If possible, I'm looking for reasonably stylish ones that could go just as well with some jeans or khakis as they could with shorts, and that could, if given a quick rub-down with a cloth, get through the door at clubs or restaurants.

I've been looking at Docs, cos they look quite comfortable. Something like these maybe.

Any thoughts?

Holy GSM, help me find the cheapest cellphone for use in Europe!

theiconoclast31 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:25:46 -0800

Should I get the Motofone F3 or the Motorola V190 for my travels to Europe? I want a cheap (~50 USD) cellphone for my 3-week trip to Europe later this year. Reviews tell me that the Motofone and V190 are good phones, but some folks claim that they're locked. Why would people think this? If any of you own either the V190 or F3, what do you think? Would you guys recommend a different phone? I'd like something that supports all the GSM frequencies and can accept sim cards ("unlocked").

Thanks, and sorry to add to the growing pile of cellphone questions.

Making hostel reservations is what this question is about.

theiconoclast31 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:54:21 -0800

I'm going to Europe in December/January. How do I make hostel reservations? I'll be traveling with one friend for about a week, and then by myself for another week and a half. My ideal hostel is warm, safe, and my stuff won't get stolen. We're not too afraid of roughing it, but we're going in the winter. So how (much) should we plan?

When should we book? My dad says that hostels might get filled now, but we'd like to wait until we're on the road (for the sake of flexibility).
For the backpacking MeFites, how did you plan your trip? What do you wish you had done differently?
What are some good forums or websites with hostel reviews and travel tips? I've already read the threads regarding travel guides.
What are some alternatives to hostels and hotels?

Answers need not be specific to Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland, but that's where I'll be going. Thanks!

Accomodations in London, Belgium & The Netherlands

dhammond — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:49:14 -0800

I'm going to London, Belgium and the Netherlands from May 10th-24th, and I'm looking for great places to stay. My tentative itinerary:

London (5 nights - 5/10-5/15)
Brussels (1 night - 5/15-5/16)
Bruges (2 nights - 5/16-5/18)
The Netherlands (6 nights - mostly Amsterdam, but other cities as well - 5/18-24)

I'm traveling alone, and I'm interested in hearing from those who are quite enthusiastic about a certain place and want to tell me how great it is.

My basic requirements:

-- Located in or very to close to the city center, preferably away from tourist areas as much as possible.

-- Decent value. Less than $200 a night in most places, though I will go up on that in London or if it's a really spectacular place and gives a nice bang for my (floudering) buck.

-- No hostels.

--Big bonus points for buildings with nice, old-timey architecture.

For the Netherlands, I'll be spending a good deal of time in Amsterdam, but I would also be interested in hearing about other towns and cities that might be worth an overnight stay or long day trip.

As a point of reference, I stayed at the Strand Palace in London last year and, though I found it a bit shabby, it was a steal at under $200 in an incredibly central but not too touristy area. I don't mind staying there again, but would love to try something different if you can recommend something.

Thanks, y'all!

How do I insure my car for the whole of Europe??

moocheen — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:03:44 -0800

How do I find a cheap but good insurance company for my car for a trip through Europe? My friend and I are travelling through Europe in a few months in his car. He is currently insured in the UK but paying a huge amount (it seems that's the way it is over there) whereas, I'm used to pretty good premiums in Australia.

I want to know how do I make sure we are covered for driving through Brussels, Germany, Amsterdam, Italy, Greece, Croatia, France etc and how do I do it for a reasonable cost?

Shopping in Brussels

Wilder — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 14:39:47 -0800

Shopping in Brussels? A friend and I will be in Brussels for one afternoon and she wants to buy a dress for a wedding. Semi-formal but she is not into designer. Any tips on shopping in Brussels? I only know the main square and a few streets around that?