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tbl
11/9/2006, 01:29 PM
I have enough miles now to buy 2 tix to Europe, so I'm probably going to go next year sometime. My wife doesn't want to go overseas, so I'll be going with my brother-in-law (also my holmeslice for life).

Anyways, where do you guys think would be a cool place to go and why? Also, when is a good time to go over there? I'm thinking of Western Europe, in particular Italy, Germany, England, or Netherlands, but I'm not sure.

:pop: :pop: :pop: :pop: :pop:

royalfan5
11/9/2006, 01:36 PM
I hear Slovenia is very nice as well as some of the Adriatic Coast. Why do the usual?

OKLA21FAN
11/9/2006, 01:38 PM
pig in the poke winnar?

oink oink!!


at least it all worked out for the Griswalds

tbl
11/9/2006, 01:38 PM
None of it is usual for me, since I've never left this country (cept for my walk across the Rio Grande from El Paso to Juarez for lunch).

picasso
11/9/2006, 01:39 PM
Prado man. the Prado.

http://museoprado.mcu.es/ihome.html

Fugue
11/9/2006, 01:42 PM
:les: LUCERNE

tbl
11/9/2006, 01:48 PM
Prado man. the Prado.

http://museoprado.mcu.es/ihome.html
I thought about Espana. I have a former co-worker that moved back to Madrid, so I would have a tour guide.

What about doing a full tour? I was originally wanting to do that but it seems like it would be a huge hassle and I would miss a LOT of stuff. It seems to me like it would be better to go to one place and really eat it up.

King Crimson
11/9/2006, 01:50 PM
i thought Barcelona was a great city. had a pretty swank time there.

tbl
11/9/2006, 01:54 PM
:les: LUCERNE
That's another one I thought about. Switzerland seems like it would be an awesome place. I also thought about just going along some of the Mediterranean countries (Greece, Espana, Italy, etc).

I wish I was one of those people that "always wanted to go to" so & so.

I haven't ruled out staying stateside either... If I did that, I could have the wifey come with.

Conundrum...

TUSooner
11/9/2006, 01:55 PM
I've heard Prague is awesome.

I actually loved me some Paris, France. But I doubt Mrs. TU's cousin would let you stay at her place, and that made it great.

I have only been to London a couple of times in 25 years, and Paris once. I'd go back to either place in a heartbeat, but I'd try to go in the fall, or maybe early spring, definitely NOT the summer.
I've also heard Scotland is the wee bomb, laddie, especially Edinburgh. I'd love to tool around the whole island of Britain.
Wherever you go, DRINK THE LOCAL BEER.

tbl
11/9/2006, 01:55 PM
I still think Rome would be awesome... It doesn't get much more historic than Rome.

Mex
11/9/2006, 01:55 PM
Some of my favorites were Prague, Scotland, Normandy, and Venice.

TUSooner
11/9/2006, 01:56 PM
Oh yeah, ixnay of the ourtay.
Pick a spot or 2 and soak it up.
JMHO. :)

tbl
11/9/2006, 01:59 PM
I've heard Prague is awesome.

I actually loved me some Paris, France. But I doubt Mrs. TU's cousin would let you stay at her place, and that made it great.

I have only been to London a couple of times in 25 years, and Paris once. I'd go back to either place in a heartbeat, but I'd try to go in the fall, or maybe early spring, definitely NOT the summer.
I've also heard Scotland is the wee bomb, laddie, especially Edinburgh. I'd love to tool around the whole island of Britain.
Wherever you go, DRINK THE LOCAL BEER.
I thought about Paris, but two dudes going to the city of love is borderline the gayest thing on earth, next to actual physical contact.

King Crimson
11/9/2006, 02:04 PM
ditto on the beer. i had a great time with my Dad in Scotland. i liked it a lot. people were really great, i thought.

but, as for my own travellin', i'm more a mediterranean kind of guy (southern France is pretty cool too). and i'd second the stay in one place/area idea. you won't see all the churches in Rome, as they say. if you find a place you like, stay there. if i found a little pension or something in a cool town that i liked i'd saty for a few days or pay through a week and get to know the place and hang out in bars (that's how you meet people)...when i was there.

and go where there's good food. it can be had at little corner shops/markets and bars for cheap....and not the touristy places with the linen tablecloths.

and if you have an "in" like you say in Madrid. i'd consider that....it can make all the difference. i stayed with some friends of a friend of mine in Antwerp, Belgium and they put me up, paid for everything....food, liquor, smokables....it was great. really cool guys.

tbl
11/9/2006, 02:05 PM
Oh yeah, ixnay of the ourtay.
Pick a spot or 2 and soak it up.
JMHO. :)
I have no idea what this means...

tbl
11/9/2006, 02:07 PM
ditto on the beer. i had a great time with my Dad in Scotland. i liked it a lot. people were really great, i thought.

but, as for my own travellin', i'm more a mediterranean kind of guy (southern France is pretty cool too). and i'd second the stay in one place/area idea. you won't see all the churches in Rome, as they say. if you find a place you like, stay there. if i found a little pension or something in a cool town that i liked i'd saty for a few days or pay through a week and get to know the place and hang out in bars (that's how you meet people)...when i was there.

and go where there's good food. it can be had at little corner shops/markets and bars for cheap....and not the touristy places with the linen tablecloths.
I'm all about Mom and Pop dining, even here in the states. I don't get drunk, but I'll definitely have a brew wherever it is that I go. Scotland would be pretty cool.

TUSooner
11/9/2006, 02:08 PM
I have no idea what this means...
You don't speak pig latin? (It was supposed to be "ix-nay on the our-tay.")
In other words:
Don't take a f***ing "zillion cities in a zillion and one days" tour. Go to one or 2 places and spend several days there so you can enjoy it, soak up the atmosphere, and learn something about it that you can't get from a book.

'Zat better? :)

tbl
11/9/2006, 02:22 PM
You don't speak pig latin? (It was supposed to be "ix-nay on the our-tay.")
In other words:
Don't take a f***ing "zillion cities in a zillion and one days" tour. Go to one or 2 places and spend several days there so you can enjoy it, soak up the atmosphere, and learn something about it that you can't get from a book.

'Zat better? :)
Much. The "of" instead of "on" and the lack of hyphens totally threw me, especially since we're talking about Europe and all the foreign languages. I thought maybe it was a beach you were recommending and to "soak it up" (the sun). I actually did a Wikipedia search on it and this is what I came up with.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/The_Offspring-Ixnay_on_the_Hombre.jpg

:D :D :D :D

picasso
11/9/2006, 02:50 PM
ditto on the beer. i had a great time with my Dad in Scotland. i liked it a lot. people were really great, i thought.

but, as for my own travellin', i'm more a mediterranean kind of guy (southern France is pretty cool too). and i'd second the stay in one place/area idea. you won't see all the churches in Rome, as they say. if you find a place you like, stay there. if i found a little pension or something in a cool town that i liked i'd saty for a few days or pay through a week and get to know the place and hang out in bars (that's how you meet people)...when i was there.

and go where there's good food. it can be had at little corner shops/markets and bars for cheap....and not the touristy places with the linen tablecloths.

and if you have an "in" like you say in Madrid. i'd consider that....it can make all the difference. i stayed with some friends of a friend of mine in Antwerp, Belgium and they put me up, paid for everything....food, liquor, smokables....it was great. really cool guys.

smokables in Antwerp huh?;)

King Crimson
11/9/2006, 02:57 PM
smokables in Antwerp huh?;)

of course, the Belgians are famously famous for their high quality rolling tobaccos....next to waffles it's their claim to fame.

and a different note, the Belgians are fiercely bitter that fried potatoes are called french fries....while the belgians are adamant that their fried spuds are far superior to anything you would get in france. and they are friggin good.....kind of like waffle fries in consitancy and served with a fresh mayo (aioli)....they rock.

TexasLidig8r
11/9/2006, 02:59 PM
Two huge events in Espana in late June/early July 2007.

America's Cup going to be competing for the first time evar in the Mediterranean off of Valenica Spain. If the finals goes long, then you can hop on over to the annual... Fiesta of San Fermin.. or as we ugly Americains call it... The Running of the Bulls.

Hot, Spanish topless women on the beaches of Valencia.. followed by the drinkfest and adrenaline rush of Pamplona.

OklahomaTuba
11/9/2006, 03:14 PM
Luxembourg.

You can thank me later. ;)

IronSooner
11/9/2006, 03:26 PM
I've been all over France - If you're a history buff check out Verdun and Normandy in that order. Verdun was a huge battle in WWI that wiped out several towns. Going to Normandy afterward you can see how much better people got at killing each other in 20-25 years. Very interesting and sobering.

Go. To. Switzerland. Beautiful country, very hospitable people, very clean air (few cars anywhere). You can speak just about anything to the people there and they will understand you. We stayed in a place called Wengen, which is near the Eiger mountain people always try to climb, and JungFrauJoch, a mountain with an observatory that gives you a view of a good chunk of the country. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

I have a friend who just spent a summer in Europe and she had a great time in Spain and Portugal, so I'd check those out, especially if you have an "in" in Madrid.

There's also a town called Bellagio in Italy (not just a casino in vegas) that's very beautiful and rustic - not touristy at all. Sits on a lake amid the mountains, great place to relax and hang out.

Red October
11/9/2006, 04:27 PM
AMSTERDAM!!!!

Awesome place. Great City. TONS of stuff to do. lots of history, great food, Great bars/clubs. Very easy to get to and very easy to get around. The train system is wonderful. Nearly everyone in the city speaks english. Also, I remember doing a couple of other things, but I dont remember what they were.
\

PhxSooner
11/9/2006, 05:16 PM
Italy is awesome. We did Rome, Venice, Assisi, Pompeii, Florence, and Sorrento/Capri on the coast. It was busy in the summer, but never really felt crowded. To see things like Pompeii, St. Peter's, and all those things you read/hear about for years was really cool.

trwxxa
11/9/2006, 05:46 PM
So many choices. My only recommendation is, unless you are going to see a specific event, do not go between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Too many Americans on holiday.:D

Chuck Bao
11/9/2006, 05:58 PM
I vote Paris, Madrid and Rome. For Scotland, I really get the feeling that they don't like Americans. Switzerland is really beautiful and clean, but there is so much more to see and do in Paris, Madrid and Rome. The Prado, the Louvre 100% worth it, but wandering around the streets and people watching while having a glass of wine or beer in a sidewalk cafe ranks pretty high up.

John Kochtoston
11/9/2006, 09:48 PM
FWIW, my fave cities are Edinburgh and Berlin. They are pretty cosmopolitan-type cities, but much less crowded than London or Paris. Munich is nice as well, but is more "typically" German. Switzerland was very expensive, at least in my experience.

tbl
11/9/2006, 10:56 PM
Thanks for all the input. This is going to be a really tough decision. It seems like I should have done this over a decade ago and just stayed a summer, bumming all over the place.

tbl
11/9/2006, 11:01 PM
How much $$$ would one need to stay in a Hotel and eat for 7-10 days? Does it totally depend on which country or is it about the same as the states ($50-100/night)? I've heard horror stories about some of the hotels there...

tbl
11/9/2006, 11:02 PM
and transportation. Rent a car? Cabs? Train?

King Crimson
11/9/2006, 11:12 PM
admittedly, i was on the 10 years ago bumming around plan....but the train is good. i can't imagine renting a car is cheaper per mobility dollar.

maybe some spot trips here and there....

in my experience, there are cheaper places to stay overnight than a typical US motel.....but dont' expect HBO and porn....it's basically a place to sleep, a shower, and you usually pay for breakfast in the AM. but, you are travlleing, who cares?

if i were you, i'd go to a bookstore and check out the Lonely PLanet guides to places you are thinking of going....they have some good budget travel tips and such.

picasso
11/9/2006, 11:22 PM
Two huge events in Espana in late June/early July 2007.

America's Cup going to be competing for the first time evar in the Mediterranean off of Valenica Spain. If the finals goes long, then you can hop on over to the annual... Fiesta of San Fermin.. or as we ugly Americains call it... The Running of the Bulls.

Hot, Spanish topless women on the beaches of Valencia.. followed by the drinkfest and adrenaline rush of Pamplona.
my only real plan once I ever get to Spain is to see the artwork (museo del Prado). also to visit Senor Dali's add-on mansion on the coast at Cadaques.

I also think a venture to the coast of Greece would be quite cool and that little island (?) off the coast there. I saw a special about it once. fresh pistacios and no tourists.

tbl
11/9/2006, 11:31 PM
KC rocks! This looks like a really good idea...

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1740597796.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1108002144_.jpg

King Crimson
11/9/2006, 11:37 PM
my only real plan once I ever get to Spain is to see the artwork (museo del Prado). also to visit Senor Dali's add-on mansion on the coast at Cadaques.

I also think a venture to the coast of Greece would be quite cool and that little island (?) off the coast there. I saw a special about it once. fresh pistacios and no tourists.

that's what i like to hear. i spent a week on trains to see Greek Doric temple sites in Sicily at Agrigentos....to paraphrase, a man only needs his art and some bread.

pane et circem.

I saw a picture of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia on a postcard once.....and that's where i went....

John Kochtoston
11/10/2006, 12:23 AM
How much $$$ would one need to stay in a Hotel and eat for 7-10 days? Does it totally depend on which country or is it about the same as the states ($50-100/night)? I've heard horror stories about some of the hotels there...

With the dollar down against the euro now (no, I'm not starting a political/econ thread), it's probably more like $100-$150/night for hotel, though you might be ble to do better with some scouting. The Jury's Inn chain in the British Isles is pretty good. U.S. chains are fine as well, but you'll get a (mostly) U.S. hotel experience, minus porn and swimming pools. (tip: The dollar still kicks the everloving crap out of most Eastern European currency, so if you want to buy some big ticket items, try Prauge or Poland).

I would strongly advise against renting a car, IF you are going to be in big/medium sized locales. Driving in European cities can be a cast-iron pain in the butt, though to leave the big/medium cities you may not have much choice. Public transportation in Europe is generally much better than what is available in most of the U.S. (northeast excepted). Trains are awesome, and there are some pretty decent cheap fare airlines in Europe now.

Hope this is helpful.

tbl
11/10/2006, 01:05 AM
Very much so. I'm seriously reading all these posts and keeping this thread for when we start planning.

PhxSooner
11/10/2006, 01:35 AM
Wherever you go, get the "Let's Go..." for it. We found the best pizza I've ever had on some side street in Venice. The only way we found it was with that book. My husband and I went to London with it, and found our cheap hotel based on its advice. Some of the info is for the backpacking-hostel crowd, but their directions and restaurant suggestions are great.

You can get almost anywhere on public transport. London, all Tube. Florence and Venice, walking. Rome, walking and train. Don't bother with a car.

soonerboomer93
11/10/2006, 07:00 AM
I've always wanted to go to London, Amstradam and Prague.

i think next april I'm going to Sydney for my 10 day vacation though

soonerboomer93
11/10/2006, 07:01 AM
Oh, and my new rule of international travel.

Fly business class if at all possible

tbl
11/10/2006, 08:59 AM
Wherever you go, get the "Let's Go..." for it. We found the best pizza I've ever had on some side street in Venice. The only way we found it was with that book. My husband and I went to London with it, and found our cheap hotel based on its advice. Some of the info is for the backpacking-hostel crowd, but their directions and restaurant suggestions are great.

You can get almost anywhere on public transport. London, all Tube. Florence and Venice, walking. Rome, walking and train. Don't bother with a car.
That's another one I stumbled upon. It got better reviews than the Lonely Planet book on Amazon.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0312348908.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1134585426_.jpg

tbl
11/10/2006, 08:59 AM
Oh, and my new rule of international travel.

Fly business class if at all possible
That's what my cousin told me. She's been a stewardess for AA for 20 years, and she said you do NOT want to fly to Europe in coach.

trwxxa
11/10/2006, 09:56 AM
Don't rule out a cruise. Most of these are 10-12 nights either in the Med (Spain, Italy, Greece) or Baltics. May not be the cheapest way to travel, but you only unpack the suitcase once.

tbl
11/12/2006, 01:50 AM
So what about renting motorcycles? Too dangerous?

AlbqSooner
11/12/2006, 09:00 AM
You will never appreciate VanGogh until you see his originals. Make that a priority. Stand back and you see sunflowers - get close and you see a madman frantically splashing paint on canvas trying to exorcise the demons. Really amazing and something that only the originals bring out.

My experience is - the devil PWNS Amesterdam. Great fun!

If you take trains, always get a bottle of water/wine, a loaf of bread and some cheese before you get on. Also, be aware that the Nuns will run over you to get to an empty seat. I kid you not. They really know how to throw a forearm and/or elbow.

If you take a train for a short trip from and back to your hotel, be sure you look to see the name of the station where you got on. In Madrid I came across an American couple trying to find their stop to get back to the hotel. When I asked if they had checked the name of the station when they got on, they said "Yes, we looked just as we boarded the train. It was Salida station."
(Salida means exit.)