Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with europe

Question asked & answered; I can't understand! Cell phones in France?

primate moon — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:07:16 -0800

I know this question has been asked many times, but I cannot understand the answers! They use terms like CDMA and other stuff that I don't get. I am an old woman (53) who thinks she's tech savvy, but is not really. Going to France for 10 days with teen daughter. We have T-Mobile (we're still on the old service plan, have not converted to no-plan yet). She's addicted to her smart phone. I used to have one, but it was stolen so for now I'm just using a little, old flip phone.

I'm been told we can't use our phones in Europe. To just go and buy a "throwaway" phone when we arrive. Do we put our existing sim cards in these phones? How much should I expect to pay for this type of phone? And the minutes/service?

Can my daughter use her existing smartphone over there for emails and getting online even if she's not using it for voice calls?

I'm afraid to ask T-Mobile about all this: they'll probably convince me that I have to pay some huge fee to do anything.

Please tell me, like a 5-year-old, what to do when we get off the plane! Thanks.

How difficult is it for a US citizen to work in the UK/Europe?

pianohands — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:19:44 -0800

What are the options for a skilled US citizen (advanced background in structural engineering) to get a work visa in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, or Switzerland? I am looking at pursuing a PhD in either the UK, Germany, Switzerland, or the Netherlands and need to know what options there are for US citizens to work abroad. My boyfriend recently received a PhD in structural engineering and would ideally like to get either a lecturer position or post-doc experience in his field (his ultimate goal is to teach), so that he would be able to join me for the 3 year period. From what I've seen with the UK, he would require a Tier 2 visa for either of those options, both of which are strictly limited to ~20,000 a year. So just how difficult is it for US citizens to work in academia abroad?

Not THAT kind of long distance relationship

sockandawe — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:02:13 -0800

I'm going to be an aunt, and I'm super excited. But I have some logistical questions about being part of the kid's life when I actually don't even live in the same country. How can I see the baby regularly (1) without spending a whole lot of money and (2) without imposing overly on its family? This is what I am trying to figure out:

I don't make a ton of money.

My sister and her partner live in Germany. I live in the UK. It's easy to go back and forth using Ryanair or Easyjet or whatever. The cheapest way to go and see them and the baby would be using a low-cost airline and then putting up at their place for a weekend. This way, I could theoretically visit them a number of times a year for brief visits and only really have to pay for the flight, as well the cost of eating, etc, while there.

However! They're going to be new parents. They probably won't have a huge amount of space, and they're likely to be overwhelmed with it all especially towards the beginning. I worry that coming and staying frequently when the baby is really small would be unfair to them. Of course, I would not be a demanding houseguest - I'd cook, wash up, babysit and let them get a few hours sleep, and whatever else they need. But still, I worry that I would be imposing.

Another option would be staying at a hotel or hostel, which would be a little more expensive. If I took this route I probably couldn't go and visit that frequently but I would probably stay for a bit longer just to make it worth it. Say, once every 4-6 months, if that. But this way I wouldn't be in their hair for the whole of the time.

But this is the first baby in our family, I'm really excited, and I also know it means a lot to my sister that her family be part of the baby's life. I know that the baby itself isn't really going to care at the beginning. But I don't want to miss out on the super-cute early stages and I want it to grow up knowing who I am.

My sister has often said she expects me to visit frequently once the kid is here... but she may think differently when she's subsisting on 2 hours sleep a night.

So what would you do, Mefites?

Bringing ginseng and beef/pork jerky to Europe

andrewesque — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:54:16 -0800

My parents are leaving from the US on a trip to Europe, entirely within EU Schengen Area countries. They've been requested to bring ginseng and beef/pork jerky by family. I don't think the jerky is admissible, but what about the ginseng? Port of entry will be Amsterdam Schiphol. This and this seem to indicate that the jerky is inadmissible -- am I correct there?

As for the ginseng, my Googling is failing me. It's worth quite a bit so my parents would rather not just "bring it and see," as they'd prefer to keep it at home if there's a risk they'll have to throw it out.

The trip will include the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and France. Thanks!

Getting to Italy via Frankfurt?

RobotVoodooPower — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:49:38 -0800

I'm trying to get to Umbria, Italy during the first couple of weeks of October, but I hate layovers. There are nonstop flights from Orlando to Frankfurt. According to the Google I can take the ICE to Munich and the CNL to Florence, then meander toward Umbria, about 19 hours of travel time. (Even if I flew to Milan it would be 18!)

Would this be a cool way to spend a few days? What are the logistical issues and where should I stop? Is there a different route from or back to Frankfurt that would also be fun? Will I be able to sit next to my s/o on the train(s)? Will there be Doppelbock and Spätzle?

International Smart Phone?

bodgy — Sun, 12 May 2013 09:13:18 -0800

I am an AT&T Customer with an iPhone 5. I am traveling to London, Paris, and Dusseldorf this summer and don't want to get killed with international data and cell charges. Plus I want good apps for translation, maps, etc. What's the best way to do this, and would I be better or worse off with an Android phone (Galaxy S4 or HTC One)? Any first-hand experience would be awesome. In a few years I have come to rely heavily on my iPhone for travel. Texting friends we're meeting, using the maps, taking photos and video on trips, plus just keeping up on eMails etc. while gone is vital to me personally and professionally.

But I rarely travel internationally. This summer, though, I'm going to England, France, and Germany. I've been trying to research pre-paid international SIM cards and such to keep costs down on the trip.

But then I read recently that Android, specifically on the Galaxy S4, has great translation apps where if I'm in Paris I can hold it up and it will tell me in text what someone is saying, and I can speak English into it and it will then say it in French, etc. That would be awesome in a pinch (though annoying for regular use).

I also really love the S4 having interchangeable batteries (I'm a battery hog when traveling and the iPhone 5 juice packs are not as inexpensive as they were for previous generations of iPhone)

Given that I'm under contract to AT&T that is my current limitation, but what phone would be the most helpful as a personal travel companion?

Tips and advice for a trip to London and Paris

xtine — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:16:05 -0800

I finally saved up enough flyer miles for a flight to Europe and I am super excited since I've never been. I'm planning on a week in London and then a week in Paris, advice for things to do while I'm there would be much appreciated. So I'm probably going to stay at an airbnb or hostel in London, and then take the Chunnel to meet my friend in the suburbs of Paris. I LOVE walking and wandering cities and taking various modes of public transport everywhere.

I have no idea what there is in London other than like... Big Ben? Buckingham Palace? (I am totally ignorant about England and would like to fix that.) I love cities but I also don't mind a day trip to the seaside or countryside if that is doable. But I'm pretty sure there may be well more than enough to fill my week stay in London with city stuff. Open to suggestions and things I should not miss in a week. Don't mind being a little bit of a tourist but I am most interested in local type things. I'll probably nom on all sorts of meat pies and street foods but will probably save most of my food coin for Paris.

As for Paris... I will be in the suburbs for a bit but then I plan on hitting up the Louvre for a few days and obviously see the Eiffel Tower. Other than that I don't know other things I should do. I love food, where are good places to eat that is not outrageously expensive and good for a potentially solo traveler? Not totally sure if my French friend will be joining me in Paris or not yet. I am also not picky in food and would like to try something authentic/local to the area. Oh and will probably go to the catacombs, so neat things like that too. I like museums but I like more of a balance of all things rather than spending most of my times indoors.

Oh and last question... I have an unlocked iPhone 4... what is the best SIM card I can get for a weeks data plan in England and France?

EU citizen travelling with outdated passport?

bwonder2 — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:57:46 -0800

My 18-year old stepson is supposed to be travelling from France to the Netherlands tonight and he has just realized that his passport is one month past its expiry. He is a French citizen, but he can't find his ID card (eighteen) ... is there any way around this. Or is it one of those life lessons?

Can you recommend companies for travel insurance? (For UK resident)

philipy — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:32:09 -0800

Can you recommend companies for travel insurance? (For UK resident) A quick look via comparison sites and media articles suggests that there are companies that appear to provide adequate cover for a lot less than the big brand names that I'm familiar with. Is that really the case, or is there some downside?

E.g. I got single-trip quotes for an upcoming short European trip, and HolidaySafe has reasonable cover for £7-8, while the First Direct quote was close to £25.

Anyone have experiences dealing with the likes of holidaysafe.co.uk, coverforyou.com?

Any recommendations for companies that you have had good experiences with, which also provide good value for money?

Can you help me plan my trip to Germany, France and Italy?

BitterYouth — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:29:22 -0800

I will be in Berlin, Prague, Venice, Florence, Rome, Marseilles and Paris this summer. I've never been to any of these places before. I will be spending about 2 days per city apart from Prague which is only 1 day. I realize it is a hectic trip and hard to see so much in such a short time, but that's the way the budget and time worked out. I will be traveling with two other students.

Advice I could use: where to stay (good hostels that you've stayed at?), tips/tricks to make things cheaper or easier to see (for example in Rome, I'm told that getting the bus tour package allows me to skip lines at the main tourist spots). We’re students and on a small budget and limited time in each city, so any ideas for making things efficient/cheaper would be awesome. Also things to see that I definitely don’t wanna miss in any of these places?

I have been using lonelyisland, ricksteves and seat61 but I was looking for more personalized advice.

THANK YOU!

Transportation - I'm traveling by train between most cities (already booked). So EuroRail pass is a nonissue at this point.

I have read some previous relevant threads, particularly this one about staying in Rome.

PS - I've never asked a Q before so I might be doing this all wrong....have mercy.

European Beach Bum

kidsleepy — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:46:55 -0800

Where should we go in Southern Europe for the fourth week of July? We know we'd like to be near water, preferably a beach. Good food is also necessary, as well as a walkable town and maybe a little nightlife. Other than that - we have no idea where to start. Barcelona? Nice? Croatia? Where have you been that you can't wait to go back?

Where to go for a child-friendly vacation in Europe?

Joh — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:28:49 -0800

My family are heading to Europe this summer for a vacation. Mainly we are visiting family in the UK and France, but we are planning on a week to go off by ourselves somewhere and have fun. We have two boys who will be 4 and 6 when we travel. We want to go somewhere that will be enjoyable for the boys, so that we all have a relatively stress-free time. Where should we go? We will be in London and Toulouse beforehand, but we aren't limited to being driving distance from either, happy to fly somewhere else. We are all EU passport-holders, so visas aren't really an issue. We all enjoy city vacations, if there are fun things for the boys to do and see i.e. interesting transportation, cool museums and bonus points for geeky fun things to do. Mr Joh and I love nature, views, and gentle hiking, but the boys are less enthusiastic than we are. We are not interested in somewhere like Disneyland Paris, or a beach holiday, we want to see and do things. We would prefer to go to one place and stay in one hotel for the week, using it as a base to explore an area. Moving hotels is a pain. The boys are great travelers, happy to sit in the car for a few hours if we are going somewhere fun. Some ideas we came up with but aren't sure where within these countries we might go and what we might do:

Italy - we hear it is the most-child-friendly country in Europe, the food is good and my kids like to eat it too. Mr Joh has been there once a long time ago, I have effectively never been before.
Sweden - none of us have ever been, and we have friends there we could hang out with.
Switzerland/Austria/Germany - the scenery appeals, Mr Joh has lived and traveled extensively in Germany, and we have friends there to hang out with.
Iceland - I desperately want to visit Iceland one day, but I'm guessing it won't be very fun for a 4yr and 6yr old.
Scotland - Mr Joh would like to visit the highlands and enjoy the scenery, and I would too, but I'm skeptical that the little ones will enjoy it.

I welcome feedback on specific areas or things to do in those countries, or any other places I might not have thought of.

Travel clothes for summer in Europe

OrangeDisk — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:54:52 -0800

I am a woman, live in the U.S., and I'm planning several trips to Europe over the next 3 years. They will be about 10 days to 2 weeks long, and will be in warmer months (spring, summer or fall). When I travel domestically, I always take just one bag (sometimes I take a second "personal item"). I need help thinking about what clothes I should take that will fit within these constraints. I am a plus-size woman, so that makes this more of a challenge. I want to find a small number of clothing items that will work for warm-weather touristing in Europe. I am happy to do my own laundry in the sink while I'm there. Most "travel clothes" won't work for me because they either don't come in plus sizes or they are made from non-breathable fabrics, which I know from hard experience will cause me serious chafing and overheating.

The trips I'm planning are for pleasure, not business, and although I'm traveling light, I won't be "back packing" -- I will be staying in small hotels, not hostels.

Can you help me think about what sorts of clothes I should be looking for? What sorts of fabrics will dry fast and also be breathable? I'd also like to not look completely like a tourist all the time, but comfort and packing light is more important to me than looking fab. Recommendations for specific items, brands or fabrics are welcome. I want to spend some time getting the right pieces -- I don't want to buy a ton of stuff all at once.

To give you an idea of me: My usual style is pretty minimal -- a below-the-knee black skirt or blue jeans, a decent shirt (often one of these), a scarf or a piece of statement jewelry. I'll be going minimal with the jewelry on these trips.

I've already got a bag I like, and I'm not yet ready to think about shoes. For now I'm just trying to focus on clothes.

Do you remember this zine article?

mai — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 12:08:22 -0800

Can you help me find a zine article I read some years ago? A man decided to say "yes" to all offers made to him during a 24 hour period. He was traveling in Europe by train. I think I read this a few years ago but it may have been reprinted in a book. The author was definitely male and was definitely traveling in Europe on a train. He said yes to everything people invited him to do for a day, and he was happy with the results.

This came up in conversation with someone yesterday so I think this article may be pretty well-known as far as zine articles go.

Buying-a-Boat Filter:

Ned G — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:43:49 -0800

A friend and I are looking into buying a boat and living on it whilst sailing around Europe next year, I understand that there are going to be a lot of challenges, but the first one: is it financially viable. I imagine we'll have around £5,000 in savings altogether at the start of the trip, and we'd like to get a sailing yacht somewhere in the 24 foot - 30 foot range. The plan is to sail to the Mediterranean, not worry about jobs, live a hand to mouth existence, and have a bit of adventure. I understand it won't be utopic, but for now I'd like to focus on the practical issues surrounding buying it.

We are not averse to doing hard work ourselves, or living in a fair amount of squalor or discomfort. We also should have a place where we can store and work on the boat for free / minimal charge in the UK before we embark on the journey. Although we have experience of sailing inland, neither of us has done much on the sea.

I guess the question boils down to 4 parts:

Is a 24 foot sailer going to be suitable for living on for a whole year (for two early 20's males)?

What things are worth looking out for when buying one?

Is it best to buy in the UK where we're based, or in the Med, where we'd like to get to eventually

Is our budget realistic?

Any advice or anecdotes appreciated, thanks in advance!

Easter Weekend, starting in London, going where?

psycheslamp — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:24:09 -0800

Due to a last-minute work trip and a big difference in plane ticket prices, I have from Thursday evening through to a 2 PM Heathrow departure Monday free to go exploring. Where should I go and what should I do? Generally speaking, I like good food, local color, places of historical interest, and pretty scenery. I've done most of the major London tourist destinations, so my preference would be to go explore somewhere new. I'll be alone, but I've travelled solo before and enjoyed it, so that's unlikely to be a concern. Planes, trains and busses are all options, though renting a car and trying to drive on the wrong side of the road is something I'd like to avoid. Time is much more a limiting factor on this trip than money, but I'd rather stay in a quirky local bed and breakfast than a bland luxury hotel. There's no reason I have to stay in the UK, though I'd like to be efficient about my travel time.

My one concern is that since it's Easter weekend, will all of the places I want to see either be closed, or booked up weeks in advance? Where would I be most likely to find open restaurants and attractions or, even better, special celebratory activities like festivals, concerts, etc? Anything else I should plan in advance around the holiday?

I'm counting on your suggestions for an awesome, impromptu holiday!

Help me navigate the world of planning a trip abroad.

DoubleLune — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:19:35 -0800

I'm going abroad this summer. What advice would you give to someone who hasn't been abroad in a decade? What resources exist for traveling? Specific areas: Sardinia, Italy (mainland), France, possibly London. I'll be in Sardinia for a month on an academic trip -- this is organized by others and I have to do no planning. Afterwards, I plan to spend a week or two in Europe. I'd like to do something like fly to London, and then work my way back to Rome (it seems to be cheapest to ultimately fly in and out of Rome). How long is reasonable to allow for this? I'd like to spend 2 weeks, but may be limited to 1 week due to the expense. How can I keep my costs down and maximize my time in Europe? I don't have a budget yet, but how much should I be planning for (excluding plane fare)?

And the places I'd like to see most are southern France and Italy. Is it a bad idea to try to get to Paris and London as well? Or if I fly to London, will I be able to do it all in 2 weeks? I'd like to spend a few days in each place, but don't want to burn myself out from traveling. Should I spend more time in fewer places? I've been to Paris before, but would love to go back (it was on a school trip 10 years ago).

Are hostels the best option for lodging? How safe are they? I am female, late 20s, will probably be traveling alone for part of this (I do know some people also going this summer and may meet up with them, but they're backpacking and don't have their itinerary well-planned yet).

And my general travel preference is to feel relaxed, not obligated to be somewhere at a certain time, see a lot, and really soak up the culture. Also I know French well, but would love to improve it well enough to consider myself fluent while I'm there. Other than just not speaking English while I'm in France, what's the best way to do this? I know about 5 words of Italian, good resources to learn some basics in the next couple months?

Increased economic regulation in Europe over the past few decades?

espada0 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:52:28 -0800

Europe has seen a gradual but definite expansion in economic regulation. While in recent years it has had a lot to do with the financial crisis, there has been an increasing trend in economic regulation for the last few decades. Why has this been occurring exactly especially since so many speak of an era of deregulation prior to the financial crisis?

Waitlisted events/places in Europe or Asia in Spring 2014

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:34:36 -0800

I'm slowly pulling together a plan to throughout Asia and/or Europe this time next year - March or April 2014. Are there any events or places that are difficult to get into that would be worth signing up for now? I'm thinking of things like elBulli, which had a year long waiting list. I'll have about 4-6 weeks (so more questions on the trip will be coming), and we'll be traveling west from Southeast Asia. Other than that, nothing is set in stone at the moment, so if there's anything we should plan for now, I want to know about it.

This will be 2-4 people at any given time depending on how individual schedules work out, and let's say money is no object.

There must be some kind of way out of here, said the joker to the thief

swimmingly — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:52:46 -0800

I want to migrate in five years' time. What skills/qualifications can I pick up now that would allow me to get a fairly OK job offer? My dream is to eventually move to the US, Canada, or western Europe. I know that most countries won't let you in unless you have a skill-set they want. Please help me figure out how I might achieve it. Let's exclude marriage.

I'm a citizen of a country in Asia, and don't have relatives in my target countries. Can't use ancestry either. I have an MSc in computer science from a reputable US university, but it wasn't very rigorous. I'm currently working as a financial journalist in my home country and don't remember much from school anymore.

From what I gather, I'll need a firm to sponsor me before I can begin any citizenship application process. I'm not sure how transferable my skills are internationally, especially since print media isn't doing so well and at any rate I'd like to move out of the media industry. Now seems like a good time to start thinking about what I can do in preparation for the uprooting, especially since I can feel myself getting dumber the longer I spend in the workforce.

I don't earn a truckload and have no entrepreneurial track record thus far. Would my best bet be to save up for (yet another) postgrad program and try to use that as a springboard? Even so, not sure if I might be at a disadvantage if I don't go for an expensive top-notch one. Also, I don't yet know which areas of study will really be in demand when it comes to getting hired in those countries. I would've guessed something tech-related, but it seems like the world is flooded with Chinese and Indian IT workers. Or something like accounting perhaps, but why would they be short of accountants?

Also, has anyone here successfully made the move from Asia to those places, and what did you do to pull it off? Particularly if your background is closer to mine.

Thanks!

Germany intern visas

threeants — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:35:15 -0800

Can / how can a US American get a visa to work a specific paid internship in Germany? I'm considering applying for an internship in Germany that says it welcomes non-EU nationals to apply if they can be granted a work permit prior to starting. My understanding of European immigration policies leads me to believe that there is almost no way to just get a generic work visa in most countries. I know that entities like BUNAC will arrange your legal situation if you land an internship in the UK or Ireland-- is there a similar broker for Germany? What would be the options here? Thanks!

Venice vacation part deux: Is going in August a terrible idea?

elizeh — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 06:16:17 -0800

For a variety of reasons, the second half of August is turning into a better time for us to take a vacation than October, as we had originally planned. We are hoping to go to Venice. We're OK with heat and humidity. Is there some other dealbreaker I'm not aware of? August appears to be low season for Venice, at least as far as airfare and hotels go. I assume there must be a reason. Is it just the weather, or something else?

Hubs and I live in a very hot, humid climate--Venice averages about 10 degrees *cooler* than our hometown in August--and we aren't too worried about coping with that part of it.

But I know August is the traditional European vacation month. Will many things be closed? Mostly we just want to walk/float around and look at art and churches and eat gelato, and maybe spend a day at the beach or see the Dolomites.

Also, "low season" seems to imply fewer tourists. Is that correct?

International Money Transfer

francesca too — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:04:36 -0800

I would like to transfer $ 5000 from an account in Italy to my bank account here in the State. Can it be done electronically and if so, how?

Where should we go on holiday in mid-February?

xchmp — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:40:36 -0800

Me and my girlfriend want to go on holiday in mid-February. Where should we go/what should we do? Some facts and criteria:

We're planning to go for four or five nights in mid-February (during the week rather than over a weekend so we'll be there for my birthday.)

Our maximum budget for flights and accommodation is £350 (per person)

We're UK based so we're mostly looking at European destinations

We enjoy wandering around looking at interesting things. We like museums, markets, offbeat tourist attractions, etc.

Tasty local food would be great. (My girlfriend doesn't like fish, though.)

The weather needs to be significantly warmer than mid-February in the UK - wandering around interesting places is more fun if it's warm(ish).

Maybe getting over-specific, but we're planning to fly out of either Manchester or East Midlands, so destinations served by those airports would be best

Where would be an awesome place to visit, hive-mind?

Large scale Land Art in Europe

quarsan — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 01:52:22 -0800

Do you know of any interesting examples of Land Art in Europe? I've been interested in Land Art for many years, but know little of what's been done in Europe, apart from Gormley and Northumberlandia. Has anyone seen or heard of any great, interesting or unusual examples?