Advice needed for travel accross Europe please
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Advice needed for travel accross Europe please
Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, we are 3 female Oz Rotorheads arriving Europe end of August travelling to the following countries, UK, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Poland, Germany and Amsterdam. We are hoping to get some good travel tips/advice re travel these countries, especially on the accomodation cheap and reliable as we do not want to backpack or maybe someone may like to offer some accomodation, we can offer the same in Oz for you or your family etc
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Arriving UK 26th August prefer to check local sights then onto Scotland, been told pubs are pretty good in Ireland not sure how long in each country depends on whether we like it not. Want to go to October fest and also check historical places etc
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In the UK, there's lots to see and do in London (duh), although it's a bit touristy. If you can give a better idea of exactly what you'd like to see, one might be able to offer some more specific advice 
There's a fantastic pub just outside Blackfriars tube station, called the Blackfriar. Highly recommend the burgers and the bar snacks.
There's a fantastic pub just outside Blackfriars tube station, called the Blackfriar. Highly recommend the burgers and the bar snacks.
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In UK you could consider the following:
London, Bath, Oxford, Stratford and Warwick (great castle), York, Northumberland (Alnwick Castle, coastline), Edinburgh and back via Manchester and/or Liverpool, from where you could fly to Ireland.
We are on the rail line from London to Oxford - happy to put you up if you are passing - Mrs AA is Oz-bound in March 09. PM me.
edited to add Bath.
London, Bath, Oxford, Stratford and Warwick (great castle), York, Northumberland (Alnwick Castle, coastline), Edinburgh and back via Manchester and/or Liverpool, from where you could fly to Ireland.
We are on the rail line from London to Oxford - happy to put you up if you are passing - Mrs AA is Oz-bound in March 09. PM me.
edited to add Bath.
Last edited by airborne_artist; 4th Aug 2008 at 13:16.
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UK
Whiteoz welcome in advance of your arrival. Small as the UK may seem, there are many many places of interest to visit. City and town-wise London (my home city), Manchester, Bath, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Newcastle are just a few that are worth a look at. Then there's the Lake District, Peak District and Snowdonia National Parks, great for walking, scenery etc (but also lots of rain in the lakes) as well as the Scottish Highlands and lochs. The Dorset coast is lovely and some parts of the Yorkshire coast around places like Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay are rugged and interesting. Unfortunately most of those places are touristy, it's unavoidable when you have a place of interest, but school holidays finish at the end of August so they should calm down a bit. If you want to get away from it all there are hundreds of little villages and small towns where you could find solace, you'll just have to look them out. Some of the bigger hotels aren't too cheap, but many of them run weekend deals, especially if you stay a Sunday night and there are heaps of smaller ones as well as good, comfortable B&Bs with a personal family touch. France - the Normandy coast (especially if you're interested in D-Day history) and Brittany are worth a look and of course there's Paris. Italy, I love Bologna, Milan, Parma, Montecatini (think that's how it's spelt), Rome, Bari, Turin and a place called Limone near the French border. Trains are fab in Italy and cheap too. Amsterdam is always worth a visit but be prepared for hundreds of Brits on all day/weekend booze benders (stag nights, think you call em bucks nights, hen nights and general group drinking). Hope this helps, if you have any specific questions on any of the above places (although I'll struggle to remember much about Amsterdam owing to all day benders, heh heh) please don't hesitate to PM me. Enjoy your trip, you'll have a great time
best wishes
Sean
PS, do I get the job as European Tourist Board rep?
PPs, I apologise to anyone if I've left anywhere out they think should be included, I blame time
best wishes
Sean
PS, do I get the job as European Tourist Board rep?
PPs, I apologise to anyone if I've left anywhere out they think should be included, I blame time
Red On, Green On
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A lot of people from Oz buy a camper van in the UK, travel UK and Europe, and then re-sell it when they leave. Worth considering.
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Bonnie Scotland
WhiteOz,
I will be able to help you out with some of the details for the Scottish end of the trip depending on what your interests are i.e. country-side or city or maybe a bit of both and the length of time. Scotland in September can be unpredictable with the old weather side of things. So bring your anorak! I would not suggest camping!
Depending on the time of your visit I may be able to help out with some accommodation if am in the country.
Geoffers clearly hasnt been to Scotland otherwise he would know that its up here that is the best!!
IC
I will be able to help you out with some of the details for the Scottish end of the trip depending on what your interests are i.e. country-side or city or maybe a bit of both and the length of time. Scotland in September can be unpredictable with the old weather side of things. So bring your anorak! I would not suggest camping!
Depending on the time of your visit I may be able to help out with some accommodation if am in the country.
Geoffers clearly hasnt been to Scotland otherwise he would know that its up here that is the best!!
IC
My neck of the woods, Cambridge has a lot to offer and only an hours journey on the train from London, Kings Cross line
Or a 2 hour trip from london, via the M25
In cambridge, you can go punting, visit the university colleges, see the historic town and enjoy afternoon tea and dinner etc etc or theres leisure park where you can go bowling and have a different variety of restaurants plus from Cambridge you pretty much go anywhere, north, south, east, west because of its locality and close to major roads such as the M-11, A14 (east, west) and A1 (north, south)
Or a 2 hour trip from london, via the M25
In cambridge, you can go punting, visit the university colleges, see the historic town and enjoy afternoon tea and dinner etc etc or theres leisure park where you can go bowling and have a different variety of restaurants plus from Cambridge you pretty much go anywhere, north, south, east, west because of its locality and close to major roads such as the M-11, A14 (east, west) and A1 (north, south)
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When you're in Ireland, check out my home town of Castleblayney, Co.Monaghan. It's an hour drive north of Dublin. Lots of scenery, with the lake and the woods. Plenty to do with a Waterskiing & Wakeboarding club right in the town. Brand new tournament 18 hole golf course less than a mile outside the town(A 9 hole in the town itself). Plenty of Hotels & B&B's, and it's got 32 pubs & 2 nite-clubs for a population of only 5000(You can't go wrong there).
It's a good spot to spend a few days when traveling between Dublin and Belfast, which is a good party town.
).It's a good spot to spend a few days when traveling between Dublin and Belfast, which is a good party town.
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Thanks for all the info, a lot to take on board, We better check our maps and start to plan. Are there any heli companies that allow you to check out their operation, smaller operators etc away from the cities.
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A Kiwi friend of mine has a camper laying around that he imported from Oz in march, he may rent it ! If you want to look around an Ops or go fly then give me a shout! PM me.
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As mentioned before, Bath is an excellent place and has a great youth hotel near the student bit (so nice and cheap accommodation). Loads to see and do and a short train ride to Bristol which is a much bigger city.
Also don't forget Wales, Cardiff has a great city center and the docks is very impressive. Plus check out the Gower Peninsula (just past Swansea) has some of the best beaches and surf in the UK.
What about Switzerland, stunning scenery, beautiful lakes (perfect for swimming/diving), amazing mountains, perfect public transport and friendly people. Although probably not the cheapest place in the world
Also don't forget Wales, Cardiff has a great city center and the docks is very impressive. Plus check out the Gower Peninsula (just past Swansea) has some of the best beaches and surf in the UK.
What about Switzerland, stunning scenery, beautiful lakes (perfect for swimming/diving), amazing mountains, perfect public transport and friendly people. Although probably not the cheapest place in the world
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Oh boy... Poland... in September...
Well for one thing, prices will not be too high (food especially) and not so crowded like in previous "summer" months. Although the weather may not be the best (more British-like
).
So, Poland... welcome to the battlefield
Seriously, these lands were always a place all European powers had to cross on their way for known-world domination. French, Russians, Germans, Swedes and Turks, they all had to fight here. But in the times between conflicts, trading routs had also go through these lands... remains of both you will see in this country.
I'm not a tour guide type... especially for women (It's so easier to tour men here, it needs only one sentence !
). You would have to say what interest you.
If its sightseeing, than going to Tatra mountains will be a good choice. If you are interested in history, than Krakow is the first thing to see (especially as there is an international airport). That city is a good place to start anyway as it is not far to Tatras, there are some very good restaurants, and lots of small caffes, pubs and clubs. There is an old salt mine, converted into museum (Wieliczka), and not far away from there - Auschwitz (That Nazi holocaust camp converted into museum is not really recommended, unless someone want to deeply think about the humanity and what its 'dark side' is capable of).
If someone want to have a good time, Krakow, and Wroclaw are good places in that time - but it may be a bit to late for going see Mazury - part of northeastern Poland with lots of lakes and forests (and mosquito's). Or the Baltic sea coast line (Sopot, Hel, Leba, Ustka, Kolobrzeg, Swinoujscie).
Few words of advise:
- Even though the city of Lodz is considered a "Fun-loving", that "Fun" part sometimes go to extremes, and I don't recommend it
- If travel by trains, if possible - choose "InterCity". Those are less likely to be late, and represent higher standard... although may be expensive.
- Communication shouldn't be a problem, at least with people bellow 30-some. Olders rarely had English in schools, and if it was, it was teched poorly (the whole Soviet block thing you know )
- Polish language may sound funny - lot's of swish sounds. Trying to pronounce anything leads to tongue cramp, and its one of the toughest to learn (if not 3 different alphabets - even Japanese would be simpler). Although in many restaurants food names are in both Polish, and English. And many different things have their original French or English names.
- Even though it won't be the summer time, it would be wise to look for hotels or lodging-houses and reserve place in advance
Well for one thing, prices will not be too high (food especially) and not so crowded like in previous "summer" months. Although the weather may not be the best (more British-like
).So, Poland... welcome to the battlefield
Seriously, these lands were always a place all European powers had to cross on their way for known-world domination. French, Russians, Germans, Swedes and Turks, they all had to fight here. But in the times between conflicts, trading routs had also go through these lands... remains of both you will see in this country.
I'm not a tour guide type... especially for women (It's so easier to tour men here, it needs only one sentence !
). You would have to say what interest you. If its sightseeing, than going to Tatra mountains will be a good choice. If you are interested in history, than Krakow is the first thing to see (especially as there is an international airport). That city is a good place to start anyway as it is not far to Tatras, there are some very good restaurants, and lots of small caffes, pubs and clubs. There is an old salt mine, converted into museum (Wieliczka), and not far away from there - Auschwitz (That Nazi holocaust camp converted into museum is not really recommended, unless someone want to deeply think about the humanity and what its 'dark side' is capable of).
If someone want to have a good time, Krakow, and Wroclaw are good places in that time - but it may be a bit to late for going see Mazury - part of northeastern Poland with lots of lakes and forests (and mosquito's). Or the Baltic sea coast line (Sopot, Hel, Leba, Ustka, Kolobrzeg, Swinoujscie).
Few words of advise:
- Even though the city of Lodz is considered a "Fun-loving", that "Fun" part sometimes go to extremes, and I don't recommend it
- If travel by trains, if possible - choose "InterCity". Those are less likely to be late, and represent higher standard... although may be expensive.
- Communication shouldn't be a problem, at least with people bellow 30-some. Olders rarely had English in schools, and if it was, it was teched poorly (the whole Soviet block thing you know
)- Polish language may sound funny - lot's of swish sounds. Trying to pronounce anything leads to tongue cramp, and its one of the toughest to learn (if not 3 different alphabets - even Japanese would be simpler). Although in many restaurants food names are in both Polish, and English. And many different things have their original French or English names.
- Even though it won't be the summer time, it would be wise to look for hotels or lodging-houses and reserve place in advance
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Hey guys great info thankyou. We do have to be a bit of a tourist and see the great sites eg tower of london, the palace, castles, etc each country has their own and we want to fit as much in as possible 9 countries - 40 days total inclusive of travel. We are'nt into camping its just way too hard, we just want to have a great time meet lots of nice people in the same industry as us and have a great time doing it
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If you find yourselves out Bristol way, I highly recommend the helicopter museum at Weston-super-Mare - I wish I'd had more time to look around last time we were there! It's not far from Bath, so you could easily do a day trip, or combine the two into a 1-day outing.
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Just to reinforce what Lt. FuBar stated, if you visit Poland, Krakow and the surrounding area are a great destination. Super-friendly people, there is a Polish saying dealing with hospitality which roughly translates as “get in debt, but look your best”. The old inner city of Krakow is gorgeous (although I hope they moved the McDonalds and its sign outside the city walls) and I was told it’s the only one that wasn’t razed to the ground in WWII.
If you do come to Krakow you really ought to plan to take a trip to the nearby town of Oświęcim and visit the remains of the Auschwitz concentration camp; fun it ain’t but terribly moving.
As for Amsterdam, the smallest country in Europe, its main attractions are the excellent connections with the larger adjoining (on all sides) country of the Netherlands, an altogether more civilized sort of place.
If you do come to Krakow you really ought to plan to take a trip to the nearby town of Oświęcim and visit the remains of the Auschwitz concentration camp; fun it ain’t but terribly moving.
As for Amsterdam, the smallest country in Europe, its main attractions are the excellent connections with the larger adjoining (on all sides) country of the Netherlands, an altogether more civilized sort of place.
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If you find yourselves in south Wales (particularly the Gower/Swansea area) drop me a PM and I'll sort out a visit to the Air Ambulance base at Swansea airport. It's only a Bolkow, but I'm sure the paramedics will find a way to make the visit memorable......
57A
57A
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missed one...
Wow, that sounds like a busy schedule, anyway I have to say that you shouldn't miss visiting Austria! Salzburg or Innsbruck for example are easy to reach an are nice romantic towns right in the Alps! I found a interesting short clip on Visions of Austria - Videos - Sneak Peak
accomodation infos salzburg.info - travel and tourism information
Cheers, K
accomodation infos salzburg.info - travel and tourism information
Cheers, K