Messages: 186,449 - Threads: 33,160
posted
26-Jun-2008 20:01
by:
Irene_Adler »
last reply
13-Jan-2009 12:14
by:
Irene_Adler »
0
replies
,
6,689
views
Welcome to the Thorn Tree's Western Europe branch.
We hope you find plenty of useful information about travelling to Western Europe here. It is highly recommended that new users check out the Western Europe FAQ thread before posting a new thread as you may find many of the answers you seek there. It also contains helpful information about how to search the forum, advice for how to post your questions, and obsolete information was deleted as recently as June 2008! If you are a returning user or a Europe guru, please help us keep the FAQ thread up-to-date by adding important information which is absent, or pointing out information which is no longer being represented accurately.
Choosing a country to post to:
When you make a post and choose a country from the drop down menu, your post will be added to that...
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posted
07-Jun-2003 05:22
by:
Luddite »
last reply
03-Oct-2009 18:07
by:
lea81 »
109
replies
,
131,394
views
This branch covers: Western Europe.
I've made a start with a load of links. Please add to this if you've got some useful information that'll answer questions that come up again and again and again.
Here are some simple tips about looking for information:
1. Research before asking a question. It will help you get better, more detailed and useful answers from the community if you've already done some homework. It's also polite. The community is here to help, but we're not your personal search engine. Invest some preliminary time and we'll help you fill in the gaps.
2. Explore Lonely Planet's Destinations online, which has a wealth of key info and tips.
3. Have a good look around the Thorn Tree before asking your question - quite often your question (or one very similar to it) will have been asked and answered many times al...
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posted
24-Nov-2009 06:22
by:
Nabs4 »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 06:22
by:
Nabs4 »
0
replies
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11
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location: Greece
I'm going to Athens with my girlfriend over new year. I'm looking for recommendations for some good restaurants where i can make a booking for a meal on new years eve. I've heard of some places with rooftop bars overlooking Syntagma square...? If not there then some other central (& romantic) location would be nice.
alternatively, i assume it will be possible to book a restaurant somewhere when we arrive a few days before new years eve?
any suggestions welcome,
thanks!
posted
24-Nov-2009 01:43
by:
pittpurple »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 06:00
by:
Bjoern »
4
replies
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53
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Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions for where to take my mom in Italy next summer. I am just at the beginning stages of planning this trip and would love some starting points.
She works at a school and can therefore only travel in summer. She would fly from the states over to visit me in Edinburgh in June / July and then we would go to Italy from here. She has never travelled in continental Europe. I've been to Italy twice - Florence, Dolomites, Venice and Verona and am planning a trip to Rome in the spring. Both times in Italy I've thought of my mom immediately, I just know she'll love it.
I really want to initially take her to a beautiful city with lovely buildings and beautiful squares. I really loved Florence so my thought was to fly to Pisa (via RyanAir) and take the train to Florence for a couple days. The thing is, my mom isn't much of a city person...
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posted
24-Nov-2009 00:21
by:
su1712 »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 04:25
by:
TMPACA »
3
replies
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52
views
location: Germany
Dear all,
I´m heading to Berlin. Can you recommend some ( not all, of course ) sort of authentic pubs and restaurants, where the "Berliners" like to go. I´d like to avoid the typical touristic spots. I´m not 18 years old any longer, which means I´m not necessarily looking for very noisy and crowded places. I´m looking forward to enjoying nice atmosphere and tasty food!
Thanks a lot for your advice!!
posted
23-Nov-2009 15:21
by:
angiesbell »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 03:23
by:
tony_b »
13
replies
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156
views
I desperately need a vacation and I need some help in the scheduling department. I have about four weeks of vacation saved up and a mostly empty passport. I would like to tour various parts of western Europe. I'd love to hit up Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Greece. I find I can't sit still and I over schedule, which largely defeats the purpose of a vacation. I'd be traveling alone because all my friends are broke. I've been looking for a cruise but I can't find one that goes to all the places that I want to visit. My dates are pretty open and I can fly wherever for an initial destination (living in NYC). I'd rather not over plan the entire trip. Can anyone think of a tour group or some way that I can travel safely ... without really being all alone? Any help would be appreciated. I know this is a little unfocused at this point.
p.s. I'm deathly afraid of flying, so I nee...
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posted
23-Nov-2009 14:26
by:
Firehazard Jack »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 03:32
by:
laketraveller »
8
replies
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134
views
Question for regulars and semi-regulars...how do you normally browse the branch here?...by recently posted or recently replied?...
The default mode of the old TT3 was recently posted so I just stuck with that and read back 3 or 4 days posts at a time every second day or so...
So how do you guys read here and what do you think the 'pros and cons' are?
posted
23-Nov-2009 10:09
by:
gigglyone »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 00:34
by:
qwovadis »
3
replies
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70
views
We are possibly going to be granted a great opportunity to "house sit" in tuscany this Winter, Jan-Apr...i'm curious if anyone has a point of reference on what they think the costs for daily expenses could range? Our housing, heat & a car is at our disposal & paid for. We will cook a great deal at the home so i'm trying to ascertain a "ball park" idea of food costs, etc Thanks for any references. I haven't been to Europe since 99....been a while & of course the Euro is strong!
posted
23-Nov-2009 10:00
by:
group35 »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 00:29
by:
qwovadis »
3
replies
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73
views
location: Spain
Hi all
Im just wondering coud any of you suggest a good hotel or hostel located fairly central in Barcelona. We will be travelling in March for 4 night . Our budget per night is about €15-25 per night and were looking to have a maximum of 6 people per room
Thanks
John
posted
23-Nov-2009 08:43
by:
jvitor »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 04:34
by:
neckervd »
6
replies
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77
views
Hi,
I'm arriving in EuroAirport (Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg) on 28/11 at 14:00, and I want to go to Grenoble, FR, as soon as possible (so I don't have to spend the night somewhere else, although I'm not against a night bus or train). I have to stay in Grenoble until after a conference that ends on Tue 01/12 at 15:00. Then I have to be back in Olten, SW, by wednesday morning, 02/12 ('back' because as I understand it's really near to get there from EuroAirport).
I'm not finding as many possibilities as I thought I would. The TGV is an option, but not so cheap (~90EUR for a return journey) and it arrives in Grenoble after midnight, and since I'm not yet sure where I'm going to stay, I'm not sure if it's a problem. SBB has decent times, but it costs more than 160EUR.
So... advices? Any choice I might have overlooked?
Thanks.
posted
23-Nov-2009 08:20
by:
DanCymru »
last reply
23-Nov-2009 09:05
by:
tony_b »
1
replies
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40
views
location: Spain
Hola, can anyone recommend a good spanish language school in the city of Valencia, have found Don Quijote there but they're expensive (are they worth it?)
I'd appreciate any advice...
Dan
posted
23-Nov-2009 07:07
by:
sbutler0641 »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 01:27
by:
Eggert »
2
replies
,
41
views
location: Germany
Hi all
I am thinking of spending a few days over New Year in Hamburg. What is it like that time of year and is there anything particular I should do on my trip? We plan to find a Salsa or Latin night to attend on the 31st December but will also be in Hamburg on the 30th and maybe the 1st January also.
Thank you
posted
23-Nov-2009 06:57
by:
smallsen »
last reply
23-Nov-2009 21:09
by:
artemis2 »
2
replies
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53
views
location: Spain
hello,
does anyone have some tips about some cosy hotels in the centre of Girona? not of the most luxurious ones,mid range preferable.
thanks,
posted
23-Nov-2009 06:37
by:
tazjia »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 01:57
by:
tazjia »
6
replies
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172
views
location: Italy
Two weeks is a very short trip, I know, but it's all we have! We fly into Rome the morning of May 22, and out of Venice the night of June 6. (Have a full day layover in Helsinki each way, which I'm hoping will help a bit with jetlag...)
Here's what I have in mind:
Rome: 5 nights
Florence: 4 nights
Bologna: 3 nights
Verona: 2 nights
Venice: 2 nights
Part of Florence will be a day trip to Siena, and part of Bologna a trip to Ravenna (and Ostia Antica from Rome). Our primary interests are pre/early Christian archaeology and art, and... food/randomly hanging out at cafes.
What say you all? I'm particularly concerned with this 3/2 day split between Bologna and Verona, and wonder if we wouldn't be better off adding a night in Florence and Venice, cutting the stay in Verona? (Venice: ouchy expensive, but it likely will be our only trip there.)
Thank you in advance!
ta...
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posted
23-Nov-2009 05:21
by:
malvolio »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 05:28
by:
malvolio »
13
replies
,
203
views
location: France
I know this sounds like a joke question, but I really need to know. Is there a Korean grocery in Aix-en-Provence?
Anywhere in the area would be good. Aix, Nice, Marseilles, all I need is a gallon of good kimchi.
A correct answer will (besides helping me out) prove what I have always claimed: Thorn Tree collectively knows everything about everywhere.
Thanks in advance.
posted
23-Nov-2009 03:24
by:
Erdinger »
last reply
24-Nov-2009 03:07
by:
artemis2 »
2
replies
,
54
views
location: Portugal
Does anyone knows the exact dates of the Queima das Fitas festival in Coimbra, Portugal?
posted
23-Nov-2009 03:17
by:
kukuigirl »
last reply
23-Nov-2009 03:38
by:
sushi75 »
1
replies
,
40
views
I am extending my tour of Italy in April for an additional 8 days to explore Tuscany and Umbria more on my own. My interests are: Orvieto, Perugia, Assisi, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano. There may be an opportunity while I am on the tour to take a side trip from Lucca to San Gimi and I'll be making my way up from Rome to Tuscany/Umbria with a stop in Orvieto for a night or two. My question is, once I get up to the Northern part of Tuscany and Umbria, where should I base myself keeping in mind interests and costs. Since I will be on my own, I would like to have accommodations where I can interact with other travelers and locals. My interests are: cooking, fine craft work, art, wine, nice walks. Please give me your thoughts on favorite hostels or B&B's that are central to the cities as I will not be driving. Prefer to spend no more than $50-60 a night. Thanks TT bloggers, you... more »
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