Travel EUROPE: Travel Tips & Tricks

Mar 6, 2007
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My mate lost nearly everything on the first day in the train station.
One person talked to him the other grabbed his backpack and ran
I was with my brother in Barcelona. We had an argument because he was being a drunken knob. He went out and won a stack of money at the casino, then picked up a nice looking girl and went to a hotel. Did the deed, then woke up and his phone, wallet and underwear were gone.

Not sure why she took his undies. Maybe as a trophy??

He was devastated, but we still had a decent time once we went up the coast a bit to a small town call San Jose.
 

ash_1050

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Albania, what a s**t hole and the worst drivers on the planet.

You've obviously not been outside Tirana then, which is the equivalent of going to Canberra and calling Australia boring. Berat is an interesting and beautiful place while Gjirokastra has one of the best preserved fortresses in Europe. Agreed the drivers are terrible though.


Guys, I’ve a mate coming next year to visit me in Italy, and we were thinking to have a couple of nights without the women folk somewhere cheap and soaked in beer.
At present, Kraków is leading all comers, but haven’t really weighed the options that thoroughly.

As someone who lived in Krakow for three years go for it, you'll have a blast. If you're going during the summer and want somewhere with less tourists Poznan is just as beautiful and Lodz has a more industrial hipster feel about it.
 
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Apr 6, 2005
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Guys, I’ve a mate coming next year to visit me in Italy, and we were thinking to have a couple of nights without the women folk somewhere cheap and soaked in beer. I live in Florence, so if anyone can suggest an Eastern European city we could go to, I’d be happy to hear.

At present, Kraków is leading all comers, but haven’t really weighed the options that thoroughly.

If anyone needs info on Italy, I’d be happy to help.
Budapest has some great bars and is cheap.
 
Aug 19, 2004
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Budapest has some great bars and is cheap.
Some of the best fine dining in the world at throwaway prices! if you are into Michelin star food, then budapest is heaven, for as little as 100 euros for a 8 course menu. I often fly on weekends when i am free,the ruin bars in the Jewish quarters of Pest are terrific.
 

raskolnikov

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I second Budapest. Zagreb is also great.
 

Big Cox 88

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I third Budapest. I have been twice out of my 3 trips to Europe in 2009 and in 2016. First time was a megabudget backpacker trip the last time was more a nice hotel and nice restaurant holiday. There is some amazing food, drink and entertainment in Budapest. Whilst Krakow is beautiful there isn't quite as much variety.
 
Aug 19, 2004
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Just returned from Budapest , what can i say? the pubs are amazing, the food is delicious! the Goulash in the traditional hungarian restaurants, followed by a chimney cake is just wow! then you have the ruin bars! Hungarian wines are truly amazing. I went to a wine tasting trip and soon found my favourite wine. The ruin bars are truly astounding, i found myself sitting in a bath tub inside a ruin bar watching a concert and sampling some of the finest wines! i will go back, as early as next month.
 

Big Cox 88

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Anyone here been to Norway?
Have a driving trip planned and looking for some advice on the route/stopover places as we travel from Oslo to Bergen over 6 nights.
If you are relatively fit and healthy two of the best experiences I had were hiking to Trolltunga and Kjeragbolten. Epic spots with epic photo opportunities.
 

Peter Sidorkiewicz

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Oct 2, 2004
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Second question, staying 3 nights in St Petersburg Russia in August.
The VISA request looks weird and confusing... not sure if anyone has done it?
Any recomendations on areas/suburbs (not necessarily individual hotels) to stay? Will be with my wife and it's our first time in Russia/the city.
Can't go wrong with staying on or near Nevsky Prospect (the main street in St Petersburg).

Visa is a bit different. You need someone to give you an invitation letter to accompany the visa. Tour companies and most hotels will do this. Also as I am based in Melbourne, I had to send my passport to Russian consulate in Sydney for processing with a reply paid return envelope.

Best tip i can give you is organise a tour or accomodation via a travel agency and ask them if they also help with Visa application.
 

donkeypunchd

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Guys, I’ve a mate coming next year to visit me in Italy, and we were thinking to have a couple of nights without the women folk somewhere cheap and soaked in beer. I live in Florence, so if anyone can suggest an Eastern European city we could go to, I’d be happy to hear.

At present, Kraków is leading all comers, but haven’t really weighed the options that thoroughly.

If anyone needs info on Italy, I’d be happy to help.
Not sure if it’s been mentioned but Wroclaw in Poland is a fantastic town for a party, was formerly a German city so great beer and prices very good by Aussie/West European standards. There’s lots to see as well especially the old city centre
 
Mar 6, 2007
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Not sure if it’s been mentioned but Wroclaw in Poland is a fantastic town for a party, was formerly a German city so great beer and prices very good by Aussie/West European standards. There’s lots to see as well especially the old city centre
Thanks for that suggestion, never heard of the place
 

dagriggstar

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Mar 23, 2009
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Going to be doing a UK working visa. Aiming to work on the Isle of Skye with my girlfriend, I assume some place with way too many tourists going through but hey we just did 2 years of that in Canada.

Anyway, anyone been in a similar situation and bought (Or leased even) a car ? If yes how was the experience (Like, did you drive it to Europe, how much hassle was buying/selling, that kind of thing) ?
 

wadistance

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Going to be doing a UK working visa. Aiming to work on the Isle of Skye with my girlfriend, I assume some place with way too many tourists going through but hey we just did 2 years of that in Canada.

Anyway, anyone been in a similar situation and bought (Or leased even) a car ? If yes how was the experience (Like, did you drive it to Europe, how much hassle was buying/selling, that kind of thing) ?
Ive leased a car whilst living in Germany. Not sure how similar it will be to the UK, but I can definitely recommend over buying. So much more flexibility
 
Feb 23, 2009
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I have a trip booked to Europe in late July for a month, however there are still some flights and accommodation left to book.

I'm really worried due to coronavirus threat on the following things:

1. Getting stuck at the border somewhere and quarantined for 2 weeks
2. A total/partial travel ban either just before we leave or while we are away
3. Any issues getting let back in to Australia or quarantined on re-entry
4. Not being let in to countries on the route, and finding this out when we are over there.

Any advice? Not sure whether to keep booking things with free cancellation where possible, or to basically cancel the trip in the next month and try and get as much $ back as I can. But then the fear is I do all that, and by July things are okay and travel is fine.
 

pepsi

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Feb 4, 2008
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I'm meant to be in Europe from late June for a month. I've booked flights and some accommodation, but am fully prepared that I will have to cancel the trip. Italy is in lockdown til the 3rd of April. Who is to say that a) it will even work and b) it does not spread through Europe and other countries take similar measures?
 

Hawk Dork

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I have a trip booked to Europe in late July for a month, however there are still some flights and accommodation left to book.

I'm really worried due to coronavirus threat on the following things:

1. Getting stuck at the border somewhere and quarantined for 2 weeks
2. A total/partial travel ban either just before we leave or while we are away
3. Any issues getting let back in to Australia or quarantined on re-entry
4. Not being let in to countries on the route, and finding this out when we are over there.

Any advice? Not sure whether to keep booking things with free cancellation where possible, or to basically cancel the trip in the next month and try and get as much $ back as I can. But then the fear is I do all that, and by July things are okay and travel is fine.
and check if your travel insurance will cover you too
 
Feb 23, 2009
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and check if your travel insurance will cover you too
There are parts they might cover, others they don't. If I cancel I'll be out of pocket about 2-3k after fees/insurance I reckon, maybe less if they are really good. That's not the end of the world, it's more the uncertainty and disappointment. It's not that easy for me to travel so I might not get a chance to do this trip again.
 
Sep 15, 2007
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Where i need to be
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I have a trip booked to Europe in late July for a month, however there are still some flights and accommodation left to book.

I'm really worried due to coronavirus threat on the following things:

1. Getting stuck at the border somewhere and quarantined for 2 weeks
2. A total/partial travel ban either just before we leave or while we are away
3. Any issues getting let back in to Australia or quarantined on re-entry
4. Not being let in to countries on the route, and finding this out when we are over there.

Any advice? Not sure whether to keep booking things with free cancellation where possible, or to basically cancel the trip in the next month and try and get as much $ back as I can. But then the fear is I do all that, and by July things are okay and travel is fine.
july is middle of summer. Virus is probably a cold weather phenomenon that will be done with the northern hemisphere well before july.
 
Jun 19, 2011
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Going to be doing a UK working visa. Aiming to work on the Isle of Skye with my girlfriend, I assume some place with way too many tourists going through but hey we just did 2 years of that in Canada.

Anyway, anyone been in a similar situation and bought (Or leased even) a car ? If yes how was the experience (Like, did you drive it to Europe, how much hassle was buying/selling, that kind of thing) ?
Bought a car in the UK. Cheap as chips off gumtree. Drove all over Europe and England, no dramas. Offers so much freedom. Sell it when you leave. Easy as!
 
Dec 2, 2017
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I'm meant to be in Europe from late June for a month. I've booked flights and some accommodation, but am fully prepared that I will have to cancel the trip. Italy is in lockdown til the 3rd of April. Who is to say that a) it will even work and b) it does not spread through Europe and other countries take similar measures?
A few of the airlines are letting u change ur flights at no extra charge within 12 months if ur leaving before April 30

If it continues to get worse I assume you will be able to do the same thing and re book later on

The way things are going I don’t see this getting anywhere near better within 3 months

Personally I’m not worried about the virus but if I can’t go out and drink, go to amusement parks, sporting games, landmarks what is the actual point of risking going
 
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