Travel EUROPE: Travel Tips & Tricks

[robbieando]

Got a trip coming up in December for about a month. Going with my uncle who is 31 and I'm 20 (we're pretty close though). Only things booked so far are a flight into London, out of Barcelona and one Munich-Paris flight (got on a cheap Air France flight). Plan at the moment is:

London/elsewhere in England dependent on EPL tickets (5 nights) -> Dublin (2 nights) -> London/elsewhere in England dependent on EPL tickets (3 nights) -> Amsterdam (3 nights) -> Munich (3 nights + 1 on the night train getting there) -> Paris (4 nights) -> Barcelona (4 nights) -> Home

The first week is a bit messed up but we want to catch 3 soccer matches and that requires being in England on Saturday, Tuesday and Saturday.

Anyone got any thoughts/suggestions on this?

Be flexible with the dates for the soccer matches as the time and dates for December aren't 100% confirmed yet and thus you could get caught out if a match you plan on attending is moved for TV or European commitments. Also if you plan on doing games in just England think of getting club membership that get you a discount and a priority sales window for the tickets when they go on sale.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Be flexible with the dates for the soccer matches as the time and dates for December aren't 100% confirmed yet and thus you could get caught out if a match you plan on attending is moved for TV or European commitments. Also if you plan on doing games in just England think of getting club membership that get you a discount and a priority sales window for the tickets when they go on sale.

That's the reason I made sure im in London for a Sat-Mon in April next year.
Currently down for Saturday, but could always be changed 1-2 days.

 

[The Swans Blog]

Nice & Cannes are beautiful. Cannes is really just a rich kids playground, pretty much the same way Monaco is. When you're walking down the boulevard, you'll think it's eerily similar to Beach Rd from Port Melbourne to St Kilda, just much more wealthy.

 

[chunkylover53]

Had a week to kill on my trip so I thought I would head down to a place called Olympos in Turkey. Heard good things from several people I have met so thought I'd check it out.

This place is unbelievable, in the middle of nowhere, concrete is illegal so everything is made of wood. The town is literally nothing but a dirt road, on each side of the road there are a few bars and restaurants. Some hostels that are all set up as tree-houses, then at the end of the road you enter these amazing ruins that are untouched. Continue walking and you hit the crystal clear waters of the beach. You can do boat cruises, scuba diving, anything really.

The hostel I'm at has a great atmosphere. Huge lounge area with hammocks and such, chooks running around. Every night a bonfire happens where everyone drinks and socialises.

Just an unreal little place, the things you find.

 

[The Swans Blog]

Closing the deal with french girls is a little harder with the language barrier. But always keep in mind, there's buzzkillington friend lurking, so close that s**t fast!

fml...

 

[smiddy9]

Has anyone used Busabout on here before?

 

[brahj]

I'm back after a month in Europe. I loved all of it... except for Italian people. Arrogant dicks. That might have to do with the fact that I didn't get out of Milan or Rome, and it was peak-season for tourists. Apparently the people get friendlier the further south you go.

To whomever suggested I check out the Sedlec Ossuary while in Prague. Thank you. That was so cool, possibly the highlight of the trip.

 

[The Swans Blog]

I'm back after a month in Europe. I loved all of it... except for Italian people. Arrogant dicks. That might have to do with the fact that I didn't get out of Milan or Rome, and it was peak-season for tourists. Apparently the people get friendlier the further south you go.

To whomever suggested I check out the Sedlec Ossuary while in Prague. Thank you. That was so cool, possibly the highlight of the trip.

I found Italian people to be reasonably friendly, even more so if you spoke to them in Italian where possible. Gotta think that they have so many tourists from so many countries who barely speak Italian, let along refuse to try to speak it. That would be like them coming to Melbourne and saying * off I'll speak Italian, you figure out what I'm saying.

But as you could probably figure out, I didn't have any issues with Italian's, especially not the girls. They're very flirty, although saying you're Australian isn't as good in Italy as it is in Greece or most definitely France. Saying you're Australian is a pick up line in France, I love it!

 

[The Dice Man]

I found Italian people to be reasonably friendly, even more so if you spoke to them in Italian where possible. Gotta think that they have so many tourists from so many countries who barely speak Italian, let along refuse to try to speak it. That would be like them coming to Melbourne and saying **** off I'll speak Italian, you figure out what I'm saying.

But as you could probably figure out, I didn't have any issues with Italian's, especially not the girls. They're very flirty, although saying you're Australian isn't as good in Italy as it is in Greece or most definitely France. Saying you're Australian is a pick up line in France, I love it!

Worked for me. I married one.

 

[The Swans Blog]

Worked for me. I married one.

The French girls are hot, just about every French girl I've met, let alone seen, has been either devilishly attractive or just smoking hot! I never expected it, especially when the French girls I met who were traveling through Australia probably weren't the best looking of the bunch, but were really nice all the same.

All of the French people I met blew all French stereotypes out of the water. I didn't meet a rude or arrogant, a pain in the ass Parisian, or a smelly one. I had hilarious conversations with other French people about it, especially in Lisbon when I met a French couple and we had quite a few laughs and drinks while taking the piss out of the Stereotypes. I found it pretty funny that the French take the piss out of each other with the stereotypes as well. From what I gathered, almost all French people hang s**t on Parisians, and vice-versa.

 

[The Dice Man]

The French girls are hot, just about every French girl I've met, let alone seen, has been either devilishly attractive or just smoking hot! I never expected it, especially when the French girls I met who were traveling through Australia probably weren't the best looking of the bunch, but were really nice all the same.

All of the French people I met blew all French stereotypes out of the water. I didn't meet a rude or arrogant, a pain in the ass Parisian, or a smelly one. I had hilarious conversations with other French people about it, especially in Lisbon when I met a French couple and we had quite a few laughs and drinks while taking the piss out of the Stereotypes. I found it pretty funny that the French take the piss out of each other with the stereotypes as well. From what I gathered, almost all French people hang s**t on Parisians, and vice-versa.

I'd agree with all that. I think it's a fallacy that they are, as a rule, all arrogant. They're very proud, but what they are is private. If you ask a French person that you don't really know how they are, they will wonder why you're asking. They're reserved by nature, but also extremely helpful and the very best of hosts.

 

[The Swans Blog]

I'd agree with all that. I think it's a fallacy that they are, as a rule, all arrogant. They're very proud, but what they are is private. If you ask a French person that you don't really know how they are, they will wonder why you're asking. They're reserved by nature, but also extremely helpful and the very best of hosts.

I never had any issues at all in France or with any French people since I've been in Europe. They've been great.

 

[00Stinger]

The French girls are hot, just about every French girl I've met, let alone seen, has been either devilishly attractive or just smoking hot! I never expected it, especially when the French girls I met who were traveling through Australia probably weren't the best looking of the bunch, but were really nice all the same.

All of the French people I met blew all French stereotypes out of the water. I didn't meet a rude or arrogant, a pain in the ass Parisian, or a smelly one. I had hilarious conversations with other French people about it, especially in Lisbon when I met a French couple and we had quite a few laughs and drinks while taking the piss out of the Stereotypes. I found it pretty funny that the French take the piss out of each other with the stereotypes as well. From what I gathered, almost all French people hang s**t on Parisians, and vice-versa.

Really, I thought the French were pretty average looking to be honest. Also 90% of the people were arrogant pricks

 

[The Swans Blog]

Really, I thought the French were pretty average looking to be honest. Also 90% of the people were arrogant pricks

Maybe we were looking in different areas. Because in Paris all I could see were babes everywhere. Get on the metro - babes. Get off the metro - babes. Go out at night, mama mia!

French girls from France have a distinct look about them and you can almost always pick them out in a crowd. I think they're a good looking bunch like that, but you do get a lot of girls with long faces. Personally, I like the French girls who have a mix of something else in them, maybe some arabic, because it really turns up the hotness scale (imo).

 

[MaddAdam]

Closing the deal with french girls is a little harder with the language barrier. But always keep in mind, there's buzzkillington friend lurking, so close that s**t fast!

fml...

Quoi?

 

[MaddAdam]

Saying you're Australian is a pick up line in France, I love it!

C'est vrai.

 

[The Dice Man]

Quoi?

Pourquoi tu dis "quoi" ?

 

[MaddAdam]

Pourquoi tu dis "quoi" ?

He says closing the deal is harder with French girls due to the language barrier. Never encountered that myself.

 

[strung_out7]

Hey.
I was looking at going over there in a couple of months to do an organised tour of western Europe then the UK/Ireland, then just backpack it around France/Germany. Do you need to get any visas? Or any visas if you stay in a certain country for a period of time?
Also on the flight over, most of them stop over in Dubai or somewhere similar. Do you need a visa to just change planes at the airport?

 

[The Dice Man]

You automatically have a 3 month schengan zone visa if your an Aussie. And no you won't need any visa for any flight stops

 

[The Swans Blog]

He says closing the deal is harder with French girls due to the language barrier. Never encountered that myself.

Only when you can't speak a word of it. When you can speak 2 or 3 words it's a lot easier Although I did get massively blocked once in Paris.

 

[The Swans Blog]

Hey.
I was looking at going over there in a couple of months to do an organised tour of western Europe then the UK/Ireland, then just backpack it around France/Germany. Do you need to get any visas? Or any visas if you stay in a certain country for a period of time?
Also on the flight over, most of them stop over in Dubai or somewhere similar. Do you need a visa to just change planes at the airport?

Check the Schengen area page on wiki for which countries are automatically covered by the 90 day visa. That's 90 days from your first stamp that you can use in any 180 day period. Just about all of western europe is covered, so just make sure you have a valid passport with at least 2 or 3 pages left so you can get the visa and entry stamps.

At international airports you'll never leave the transfer section unless your stop over is more than 12 hours, then you'll be looking at hotel accommodation. Just go to flight centre or somewhere else and book the fastest trip you can. The less time you spend dicking around at the airport, the sooner you get there.

 

[mcuzzy]

But as you could probably figure out, I didn't have any issues with Italian's, especially not the girls. They're very flirty, although saying you're Australian isn't as good in Italy as it is in Greece or most definitely France. Saying you're Australian is a pick up line in France, I love it!

Story time Chicky, please continue!

I know in the UK and US they love Aussies a fair bit, where else other than France are they keen on us?

 

[The Swans Blog]

Story time Chicky, please continue!

I know in the UK and US they love Aussies a fair bit, where else other than France are they keen on us?

Pretty much everywhere in France and just about everywhere I went in Europe. They love aussies, they want to travel to Australia, but usually can't afford to travel costs because its too remote for them.

 

[mcuzzy]

Pretty much everywhere in France and just about everywhere I went in Europe. They love aussies, they want to travel to Australia, but usually can't afford to travel costs because its too remote for them.

Everywhere except Greece and Italy, yeah? Sounds pretty good.