someone
This is going to be my first time out of the country ever. I am traveling to Germany, Netherlands,Switzerland, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, italy,Belgium, and Austria. I know I am extremely lucky to be going on this trip with my family. We have been saving money for many years to take this trip to Europe. We are mainly staying in Germany with family, but plan on visiting all these countries, but are having a hard time finding sights to see!
Thank you for your answers!
Answer
Germany- Bavaria. See the 3 castles (http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-526B-9E2103B-39F275D4-prod2 http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-2E68-1530A71A-39F3A455-prod5 http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-410D-5AFA0B5-39FB9631-prod1 ).. I was also profoundly moved visiting Dachau - a German Camp for Jews, Gypsies etc.. in WW2 --just outside Munich... very powerful but if you are going to Poland I have heard Auchwitz is much better... you might never have another chance to experience such a major part of modern history.
Netherlands- certainly you don't want to miss Amsterdam
Switzerland - I never found this a very interesting area to be honest... Lake Geneva is pretty but Switzerland is very expensive and I think there are more interesting places to see.
France - So much to see here... Certainly don't miss Paris. The castles in the Loire Valley (must see Chambord - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mireille/69515514/in/set-1497510/) I love the Dordogne ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/mireille/sets/315520/) region -- beautiful and they have alot of prehistoric caves there -- one that is really amazing is the Font-de-Gaume... until the day I die I will never forget this area. Provence is also amazing... Aix en Provence is a lovely little town... much of France is best seen driving and exploring the countryside.
Czech Republic- Prague... don't forget to visit the castles! and take time to explore the beautiful and unique architecture as well as the variety of churches... And the Charles Bridge is so photogenic - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mireille/9167190/in/set-227003/
Belgium - Bruges... so romantic
Austria - Vienna... there is a summer palace which has a fantastic collection of Klimt paintings... in such a great setting... certainly a highlight of my stay there.
If you can swing it, certainly go for a car rental. It will really allow you to get off the beaten path and see what the country is really like... don't be afraid to get lost... that's just part of the adventure! Plus Europe is pretty easy to navigate -- just look for signs to the next town/village -- this is especially true in France.
I really like the Fodor's books but Let's Go are another good series but the Fodor's books focus on road trips alot.
My best advice is not to try to do too much... far too often I see people try to do a "greatest hits of Europe" tour and really spend so much time jumping from one city to the next that they miss some really great parts. I have been lucky, having a parent who is French so I have visited Europe several times... I always try to pick a region and try to study up on the important parts of art, history, cathedrals etc.. in the area and build my trip that way. For instance I love Cezanne so in Aix I tried to see as much of the real landscapes I had seen in his work.. it was really interesting... but you and your family need to figure out what moves you and then launch from there... have a great time!!!
Germany- Bavaria. See the 3 castles (http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-526B-9E2103B-39F275D4-prod2 http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-2E68-1530A71A-39F3A455-prod5 http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-410D-5AFA0B5-39FB9631-prod1 ).. I was also profoundly moved visiting Dachau - a German Camp for Jews, Gypsies etc.. in WW2 --just outside Munich... very powerful but if you are going to Poland I have heard Auchwitz is much better... you might never have another chance to experience such a major part of modern history.
Netherlands- certainly you don't want to miss Amsterdam
Switzerland - I never found this a very interesting area to be honest... Lake Geneva is pretty but Switzerland is very expensive and I think there are more interesting places to see.
France - So much to see here... Certainly don't miss Paris. The castles in the Loire Valley (must see Chambord - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mireille/69515514/in/set-1497510/) I love the Dordogne ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/mireille/sets/315520/) region -- beautiful and they have alot of prehistoric caves there -- one that is really amazing is the Font-de-Gaume... until the day I die I will never forget this area. Provence is also amazing... Aix en Provence is a lovely little town... much of France is best seen driving and exploring the countryside.
Czech Republic- Prague... don't forget to visit the castles! and take time to explore the beautiful and unique architecture as well as the variety of churches... And the Charles Bridge is so photogenic - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mireille/9167190/in/set-227003/
Belgium - Bruges... so romantic
Austria - Vienna... there is a summer palace which has a fantastic collection of Klimt paintings... in such a great setting... certainly a highlight of my stay there.
If you can swing it, certainly go for a car rental. It will really allow you to get off the beaten path and see what the country is really like... don't be afraid to get lost... that's just part of the adventure! Plus Europe is pretty easy to navigate -- just look for signs to the next town/village -- this is especially true in France.
I really like the Fodor's books but Let's Go are another good series but the Fodor's books focus on road trips alot.
My best advice is not to try to do too much... far too often I see people try to do a "greatest hits of Europe" tour and really spend so much time jumping from one city to the next that they miss some really great parts. I have been lucky, having a parent who is French so I have visited Europe several times... I always try to pick a region and try to study up on the important parts of art, history, cathedrals etc.. in the area and build my trip that way. For instance I love Cezanne so in Aix I tried to see as much of the real landscapes I had seen in his work.. it was really interesting... but you and your family need to figure out what moves you and then launch from there... have a great time!!!
Planning trip through Western Europe?
Kebert Xel
My friends & I are all UK residents and are hoping to go on a road trip to Berlin in Germany next Summer when we shall all be 18. We may also be passing through France, the Netherlands, Belgium and possibly Denmark.
I would like to know about car hire schemes & restrictions there are in these countries, if visas are needed, the estimated cost of about a month on the road etc.
Obviously I don't expect the answers to everything I've asked, but any advice & stories from experience would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Answer
By saying you are UK residents, do you mean you are not UK citizens?
If so, you will need to do your own research on visa or you will have to tell us the nationality and residence status of each of you, as those make for whether and which visa.
You can find out a lot on a site like this:
http://www.klm.com/travel/ch_en/prepare_for_travel/travel_planning/travel_clinic/visaform.htm
If I misunderstand and you are all UK citizens, you will not need anything but a valid passport and enough money.
As UK residents you might be able to buy and insure a car in the UK, otherwise, traveling by car will be very expensive, specially if you want to travel one way only.
Car hire for 18 year old people is rare, many companies will not rent out to you, others will charge extra for the insurance, as the normal insurance will not cover young drivers.
Beyond that you will find very few restrictions. Mostly you will need an insurance covering the countries you want to travel and some things like a complete safety pack with things like high viz vests.
Most young people travel around by train or bus, just because renting is almost impossible and buying and paying for insurance and petrol very expensive.
If you will have been in Europe for 6 months by the time you want to start your travels, you can use InterRail, otherwise Eurail.
This page has good info on both, with a way to calculate whether a pass is better for you, or individual tickets, it also gives lots of information on traveling by train in general and how to get to places from the UK:
http://www.seat61.com/
For bus information you can search for Eurolines, that is the best known company.
You will find that only with 9 to a cheap van or 5 to a small car you can beat the prices of traveling by public transport when you buy your tickets at the best time.
Cost estimates is difficult, as you do not give any hint about the kind of accomodation, number of people to the car and class of car and so on.
At this time, young people traveling alone or in small groups, using hostels, doing their own cooking from supermarket food, spending little on transport and sightseeing and non on drinking, can get by with 50 pound per day each. Add your bar bill to that, and if you still want to travel by car, petrol money, and you can work it out for yourself.
Petrol and beer are about as expensive as they are in the UK, but when traveling you will need a lot more of both, specially when traveling in a group of all the same age.
Camping might work out a little cheaper, but you will need a car to make that work, so in the long run, it might work out dearer than using bus and hostels or even train and hostels.
By saying you are UK residents, do you mean you are not UK citizens?
If so, you will need to do your own research on visa or you will have to tell us the nationality and residence status of each of you, as those make for whether and which visa.
You can find out a lot on a site like this:
http://www.klm.com/travel/ch_en/prepare_for_travel/travel_planning/travel_clinic/visaform.htm
If I misunderstand and you are all UK citizens, you will not need anything but a valid passport and enough money.
As UK residents you might be able to buy and insure a car in the UK, otherwise, traveling by car will be very expensive, specially if you want to travel one way only.
Car hire for 18 year old people is rare, many companies will not rent out to you, others will charge extra for the insurance, as the normal insurance will not cover young drivers.
Beyond that you will find very few restrictions. Mostly you will need an insurance covering the countries you want to travel and some things like a complete safety pack with things like high viz vests.
Most young people travel around by train or bus, just because renting is almost impossible and buying and paying for insurance and petrol very expensive.
If you will have been in Europe for 6 months by the time you want to start your travels, you can use InterRail, otherwise Eurail.
This page has good info on both, with a way to calculate whether a pass is better for you, or individual tickets, it also gives lots of information on traveling by train in general and how to get to places from the UK:
http://www.seat61.com/
For bus information you can search for Eurolines, that is the best known company.
You will find that only with 9 to a cheap van or 5 to a small car you can beat the prices of traveling by public transport when you buy your tickets at the best time.
Cost estimates is difficult, as you do not give any hint about the kind of accomodation, number of people to the car and class of car and so on.
At this time, young people traveling alone or in small groups, using hostels, doing their own cooking from supermarket food, spending little on transport and sightseeing and non on drinking, can get by with 50 pound per day each. Add your bar bill to that, and if you still want to travel by car, petrol money, and you can work it out for yourself.
Petrol and beer are about as expensive as they are in the UK, but when traveling you will need a lot more of both, specially when traveling in a group of all the same age.
Camping might work out a little cheaper, but you will need a car to make that work, so in the long run, it might work out dearer than using bus and hostels or even train and hostels.
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