15

I detect a bit of hard headedness here.

Why do newbies insist on flying to London from US first?
Keep the cluster, OP. Flying makes everything down there look pretty much the same. And you don't have the eperience and warm interaction that you'd get from talking with real people.

You may have done a lickedy split trip around the U.S., with four people. But that was by commity. OMG and in a van too.
Same stories ever day?

You mention hostels by name in several places. I hope you don't make all res. for beds b4 leaving home. Leave slack to change mind and route! You'll learn so much along the way, IF YOU DON'T TALK MOSTLY WITH YOUR OWN NAYTIONALITY!!!!!!!!

Every guidebook has a chapter on security. They don't write that stuff for filling pages. Every one of them says MONEY BELT.

Robbers in Spain, for instance, never use guns or violence. They use momentary distraction. Scams aplenty. And stealth.

ATM charges are good rip-off insurance. Like going gambing; Never carry more cash on you, than you can afford to lose.

Cheapo airlines charge mucho scam money for overweight. 50 lbs? Some charge for checking a bag. Not cheap either.
If you are gonna tour England etc. fly to London.

Otherwise fly to a hub like Frankfurt or some other thats on your circle of countries. My cheap ticket from DFW to Madrid. went through Frankfurt for changing planes. Zig zag.

Do some research on airline route maps on der web.

One time I used kayak.com, who booked me through Orbits. I had to cancel. Every middle man got a huge discount fee. OOh.

My refund from U.S.Air was in the form of same or less ticket value flight, if taken within three months! Ask me if I'll fly with them again!

KEEP EARS AND MIND OPEN. Be a good listener. That's one benifit I got through backpacking.

16

I detect a bit of hard headedness here.

Why do newbies insist on flying to London from US first?
Getting back to your fly home depot cost mucho dinero, and kills a good learning trip where you ran outta valuable gawking and listening time.
Keep the cluster, OP. Flying makes everything down there look pretty much the same. And you don't have the eperience and warm interaction that you'd get from talking with real people.

You may have done a lickedy split trip around the U.S., with four people. But that was by commity. OMG and in a van too.
Same stories ever day?

You mention hostels by name in several places. I hope you don't make all res. for beds b4 leaving home. Leave slack to change mind and route! You'll learn so much along the way, IF YOU DON'T TALK MOSTLY WITH YOUR OWN NAYTIONALITY!!!!!!!!

Every guidebook has a chapter on security. They don't write that stuff for filling pages. Every one of them says MONEY BELT.

Robbers in Spain, for instance, never use guns or violence. They use momentary distraction. Scams aplenty. And stealth.

ATM charges are good rip-off insurance. Like going gambing; Never carry more cash on you, than you can afford to lose.

Cheapo airlines charge mucho scam money for overweight. 50 lbs? Some charge for checking a bag. Not cheap either.
If you are gonna tour England etc. fly to London.

Otherwise fly to a hub like Frankfurt or some other thats on your circle of countries. My cheap ticket from DFW to Madrid. went through Frankfurt for changing planes. Zig zag.

Do some research on airline route maps on der web.

One time I used kayak.com, who booked me through Orbits. I had to cancel. Every middle man got a huge discount fee. OOh.

My refund from U.S.Air was in the form of same or less ticket value flight, if taken within three months! Ask me if I'll fly with them again!

KEEP EARS AND MIND OPEN. Be a good listener. That's one benifit I got through backpacking.

17

I like your list very much as it shows that you have absolutly no idea about what will going on. Just one little example: The description from the eastseven hostel in Berlin says wherever you come in (airport or train) to Berlin take the subway to the hostel. Today, from the Tegel or Schoenefeld airport is no subway at all you can take and even not next year from the new BER airport - if he is open. In clear it means, beside taking a taxi, you need an overground connection and to change in town for a second line, or subway or bus. Locals who knows how it works need one hour, you probably a little bit more to reach the hostel. Up to the time of the day, up to the traffic situation and how little your luggage will be - have a nice trip.

18

Hi Amanda and boyfriend!

Just some thoughts.. If I travel too fast, I don't remember what I saw in which city (or it has to be the Eiffel Tower or something like that :-)). All cities have somehow melted together in my head. A church is a church, a building is a building, ... I learned, the hard way, that I enjoy my trips much more when I also take the time to travel around the country. Not only is it cheaper, less time consuming and less tiring, it also makes the best memories! Cycling and drinking wine in the Wachau valley in Austria, taking a train to Kutna Hora to see the bone church in the Czech Republic, visit the wooden houses in Cicmany in the Slovak Republic, ... Close to every capital, there are easy-to-reach interesting places, and they are in every guidebook :-)

Have fun planning! And enjoy the trip!

(I am planning a trip to the US :-))

19

Good Afternoon Lonely Planet :)

We have looked over your replies and we cant tell you how thankful we are! We are already knocking alot of stuff off. As I said we do know about ATMs and have international banking, we only want the cash because we are under the mindest that here in America there are many many places that accept cash only. As far as traveling differences we DEFINITELY see that! Here in the states you can drive everywhere and some of those places (like Nevada) are desolate. Here we are used to most everything being centered around one large city, we forgot that Europe is pretty much ALL small cities that we dont necessarily need to be around a large city to access.

So far we have cut out Barcelona, like I said it was kinda up in the air anyway. We are looking at small places in the Netherlands and around Paris to take its place. Loved that link to the trains that is a big big help! We do have travel books that my father gave me about Europe but they are mostly for Greece and Italy, thats why we are spending so much time there. Athens we saw the hostel said it had great access to the ferry to the islands thats why we are staying there so long and were looking to see the islands and more of the mainland.

We looked into flying directly into London but it was $500 more than the round trip from Berlin for some reason, I said that was fine cause we would be spending that getting from Berlin to Amsterdam anyway lol.

I would be charged fees but nothing too major and we have decided to use that for emergencies only.

Hard to believe but no we are not couch potatoes, Bryan loves survival shows and owns almost ever book he can get his hands on and practices all the time. (Hes preparing for the end of the world) I dont think I know everything, quite the opposite, I think we are a couple of idiots to be honest, thats why we dont mind the criticism and help. We cant learn if we dont listen. We have over a year and both know that our big dreams of all these cities is going to be drastically reduced by the time we leave.

20

The Hostels
yes we have names and no they are not going to be booked, that just gives us something to look for, like a guide stone. We may get there and decide hey look at this place, it wasnt on the internet but this person said it was better, lets check it out.

21

For getting around by train check www.bahn.de for schedules (UK+US language option). It's the German railway company but you'll find most trains and local buses in Europe.
For small places around Paris: Maybe you like the Loire castles and towns. Blois (http://www.blois.fr/Album/106/ip/1/op//cp/d41d8cd98f00b204e980/mp/15/126-phototheque.htm#p and http://www.chateaudeblois.fr/?lang=en)might be a good base for exploring sites like Chambord, Tours, Chinon, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceaux, Amboise, Villandry, Beaugency, Meung-sur-Loire or Orléans (list is unfinished). Some sites are not on train routes, but some are. There are direct trains from Paris to Blois and Tours, as well as connections with change in Orléans.
For first impressions of that area 150 km south west of Paris have a look at this (site also available in English but more pictures in the French version):

http://www.amboise-valdeloire.com/decouvrir/les-chateaux-de-la-loire/autour-de-villandry
http://www.amboise-valdeloire.com/decouvrir/les-chateaux-de-la-loire/autour-de-chambord
http://www.amboise-valdeloire.com/decouvrir/les-chateaux-de-la-loire/autour-damboise
http://www.amboise-valdeloire.com/decouvrir
http://www.amboise-valdeloire.com/decouvrir/les-jardins

And that's just a selection of that 100 km-strip along the Loire valley and its affluents...

Or Tours as base....: http://www.tours-tourisme.fr/index_en.php with excursion offers to the castles

Edited by: european83

22

Happy to see that you are trimming back your schedule.

I would recommend, if possible, to give Paris 4 or 5 days. There is just so much to do in that city and with the Metro your transportation costs are kept at a minimum. You can also find two star hotels for about the same price as a hostel. Just ask and I am sure you will get some recommendations. Here is a web site with a lot of information on Paris and also a lot of photo essays that will give you a little idea of what you will be seeing. http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=paris Here is more information on Paris: http://www.parisinsidersguide.com/paris-landmarks.html

I would also recommend a visit to the Chateau de Versailles that is only about a half hour ride on the RER. http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

Here is more information on Europe: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=europe

23

Those places are so beautiful!!!! and I like that we can take the train to most of them.

Also we have a quick question, we are having a hard time finding a good way from Italy (Florence Tuscany area) or should we go from Paris to Zermatt area of Switzerland. If at all possible we would love to see the Swiss Alps and the Matterhorn area or Gimmelwald. We can rearrange so that we can either go from Paris down to Switzerland and then go to Italy and Greece since we are no longer going to Spain.

What is the best way to get around Greece? Is there a ferry that goes there instead of flying so we see more of southern Italy?

24

http://www.greekferries.gr/index.html This site lists ferries from Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and Venice to Greece.

25

Thank you so much! Thats way better than the site I ran into. The books my dad gave us are kinda old but it did mention ferries. Plus that allows us to see more of Italy.

We are looking at the Netherlands and are trying to decide between The eastern region (Zutphen, Zwolle and IJssel River area) or northern region (Groningen or Sneek)

26

Btw other than the flight in and out, whole first itinerary has been scrapped.
Heres where we know we want to go:
-Berlin (thats where plane lands lol)
-Netherlands
-Amsterdam
-Either Eastern or Northern Region
-Nottingham Shire (were family friend lives)
-Paris
-Versailles
-Rouen
-Other surrounding areas if possible
-Switzerland
-Matterhorn
-Italy
-Rome
-Tuscany
-Venice
-Naples
-Islands by ferry
-Greece
-ALL OF IT lol
-Munich
-Oktoberfest

We'd basically be making a big loop and may even look into going straight from Greece to Germany.

27

Best decision you have made.

28

you forgot Belgium : why not visit Brugge (www.brugge.be), small but oh so nice. Also Ghent and Brussels are worth a visit. Europe is so diverse and there's so much to see you have to make choices, and yes : just visiting the biggest cities will not give you the "European picture". Take your time and slow down ;-) , I know your time is limited but travelling by plane makes you spend a lot of your valuable time at airport security...why not try the train, you see more and meet more locals...anyway, welcome to Europe and enjoy your holiday !

29

You guys are so amazing!