getting around Europe, July, 1999
There are several web sites that make life easy. I LOVED the Michelin web site. You can put in a beginning point, and ending point, and 4 or so intermediate destinations, and it will calculate your best route for several dollars on a the good old Visa! Told what signs to watch for, where there was construction, km. and hours between sites. So in two swoops, I was able to determine our 4500 km circle tour!
Also good for finding information on trains, Eurail, etc. was
http://www.bahn.de/home/index.shtml It is the German train system with schedules, but seems to have info on other countries...and there is an English translation.
We found the car to be much cheaper than Eurail. If you were doing daytrips, Eurail might be fine, but lugging your luggage to the Louvre, from train station to hotel, etc. wasn't my idea of a good time. When I found cars were cheaper...well I determined to try it.
I was warned that the traffic and driving is fearsome...it's not. It was like being on US interstates, going 15-20 miles faster. Not a big deal if you have a car that can go 150 km/hr or so. You must stay out of the left lane except to pass. Otherwise, no big deal.
France is big on toll roads. Take a credit card and swipe it at the toll booths. No big deal. Just not cheap. I think we spent $60 on tolls. All of the continent drives on the right like the USA...it's just Great Britain that's "backwards."
|
Paris, 1999
Prepurchase your tickets to the Louvre. It will allow you
entrance at the Richelieu Street entrance, no waiting.
The Louvre is online but in French. It is also possible to
take an English tour, you must buy an additional ticket and there
IS a waiting list so you may want to sign up for the tour then return
later.
Getting into the Eiffel tour is a trick, the lines become long very
early! Get there EARLY or book a tour, tour groups have
prepurchased tickets and can get in quicker than the ordinary person.
We found our best deal on RATP/Metro to be the packet of 20 tickets, it could be used over weeks and we had very few left over from our 3 days there. It takes 5 tickets, I believe to get from the airport to the Louvre. The tickets are good for the RER, metro, and bus.
|
|
Germany, 1999
Our favorite hotel of our tour was the Rubezahl in Schwangau, Germany,
near the Germany/Austria border in southeast Germany. They have an web site in English. e-mail: Hotel-Ruebezahl@t-online.de. Homepage:
www.neuschwanstein.net/hotel-ruebezahl. We were in the new part, it
was incredible with marble bath. The prices were reasonable. The
website is user friendly. The restaurant was awesome. Getting around: Wear your walking shoes.
|
|
Germany, 1999
We used our base in Potsdam as a springboard to visit Berlin, an interesting way to live as the locals, taking the streetcar,
then the S-Bahn and city busses. We purchased a daypass, which allowed us access to anything. Know that you must punch your ticket yourself. We were saved a hefty fine for our ignorance because we had the full-day pass and the policeman was kind.
|
|
Copenhagen, 1999
A trip from the mainland across the most incredible bridge is pricy, but less than a flight...which will probably take longer in the end. This structure spans 10 miles across the ocean. An incredible feat!
|
|
Amsterdam, 1999
This city is a must-see. A cultural shock for those who are anti-drugs, as marijuana is not only legal, but sold and smoked in coffee houses by grade and effect. The floating flower market
sells 2 dozen roses for 3 dollars, there are daily specials. It is
possible to stay in a canal house if you book early, don't delay
making reservations months in advance for this city!
|
|
Brugge & Brussels, 1999
Take lots of film and wear sneakers, walking on cobblestone and
poor public transportation other than horse-drawn carriages would be a problem if it weren't so beautiful. There are an abundance of lace, table linen and tapestry shops.
|
|
General, 1999
Stick with reputable tour agencies and five star hotels. All over India. Unless you have a personal recommendation. Taj Group, Oberoi, Leela, Sheraton are good names. Once at the hotel you can arrange all your other travel plans: guides, tours, car and driver, etc. Not the budget way but the safe way.
|
|
General, 1999
Consider Buses to be very risky at all times. Public buses, tour buses, any kind of bus. They drive too fast and on the wrong side of the road. They bully other vehicles and people out of the way. If another large vehicle happens to be in the way then there is a head-on crash. If the road has a curve in it then the bus goes over the cliff.
|
|
Agra, 1997-1999
Flights into and out of Agra (the Taj Mahal) are never reliable. They get canceled and delayed without notice. Driving or taking the bus into Agra from Delhi is dangerous - the road is divided and known as the "highway of death" because vehicles drive on the wrong side. From Delhi, take the Shitabi Express Train, a mostly-tourist train. It is clean and reliable and inexpensive. It leaves Delhi at 6:00am and returns in the evening. Driving into Agra from Jaipur is OK because the road is not divided and is very straight. At all times drive during the daylight. Camels and goats and cows don't have headlights and it is a good chance your car/bus won't either.
|
|
Agra, 1999
The Taj Mahal is closed on Mondays. It is free on Fridays.
|
|
Agra, 1999
The hotel Clark's Shriaz has gone downhill for the price. Clark's Shriaz is on Taj Road and a roundabout off Taj Road is Fatehbad Road. On Fatehbad road there are many nice hotels in a good price range. Where Taj Road turns into Fatehbad Road there is a good restaurant called "Twins Restaurant."
|
|
Bombay, 1999
Have your hotel pick you up at the airport. Otherwise, take a taxi but black taxis are not air conditioned. OK only for short distances (very short) because all four windows are rolled down and you get engulfed by fumes and beggers. Their meters are out of date so they all have rate cards and must use them to determine the amount you pay (a multiple of the amount on the meter). They don't like to use them, they like to pick a large amount out of the air instead. Insist and walk away if they refuse - you have never seen a rate card appear so fast. It shouldn't be more than around 250 rupees to travel from the airport to downtown or around 100 rupees from the airport to Juhu. Make this clear before you get in. Blue taxis, or "cool cabs" are air conditioned and hang around the airport and major hotels. They are more expensive but the windows stay rolled up. Their meters are up to date and do show actual amounts. Make sure the meter is at 0 when you get in. If there is a surcharge for picking you up at a hotel or airport, is shouldn't be more than 30 rupees. Make sure they use the AC or you may as well have taken a black taxi.
|
|
Goa, 1999
The very best information about history and sites in Goa is found at the Archeaological Survey of India (ASI) in old Goa. The booklet is called OLD GOA and cost Rs.10. All taxis know this place, it is next to St. Francis of Assisi church. When facing the ASI sign near the gate drive-in entrance, walk past the sign and turn left at the end of the road/driveway. A few steps later turn right, down a short sidewalk and you will see the entrance into the ASI straight ahead. Buy the book there before you explore the rest of the sites.
|
|
Jaipur, 1998
Riding the elephant to the palace is worth doing! The price pays for up and back - they don't tell you that.
|
|
Delhi, 1999
The Imperial Hotel is great atmosphere but also great price. If you have the money, stay there. Very near the Imperial Hotel is the Centerpoint Hotel - it is reasonably priced and very nice.
return to the top
go to PAGE 1
THIS IS PAGE 2
go to PAGE 3
go to PAGE 4
|
|
|