Travel EUROPE: Travel Tips & Tricks

[wce4premiership]

Lay out everything you plan on taking with you, take half the clothes and double the money.

 

[Lion for Life]

A mate just did 4 months, 8 grand with good conversion over last Winter. 150 is plenty.

30 grand is just stupid...

Well, that's just like your opinion man, but in all seriousness a typical day on tour would go something like this;

-drinks, snacks for the road =5-10 euro
-lunch inc. drinks & tips =15-35 euro depending on where I would eat
-tourist expense e.g. Eiffel Tower, arc di triomphe etc. =20-30 euro
-dinner inc. drinks & tips = 30-50 euro again depending on where I would eat
-souvenir expense = 10-20 euro as an average, some days a lot more others nothing
-public transport= 5-10 euro could be more if catching a cab

That's an typical day at an approx minimum €90 up to €150 a day averaging out at say €120 and that's not even including what I would spend on a night out on the piss, it all adds up and as I said, I certainly didn't hold back in keeping the party going.

With the current exchange $150AUD will buy approx €105 even less in pounds, admittedly you could go less by cutting down lunch and dinner expenses, can be hard when on tour though and other unknown expenses always pop up. I personally would go no less than €120 a day being conservative and cutting right down on the piss, but I'm on holiday, so why would I want to that?

 

[Dagless]

Well, that's just like your opinion man, but in all seriousness a typical day on tour would go something like this;

-drinks, snacks for the road =5-10 euro
-lunch inc. drinks & tips =15-35 euro depending on where I would eat
-tourist expense e.g. Eiffel Tower, arc di triomphe etc. =20-30 euro
-dinner inc. drinks & tips = 30-50 euro again depending on where I would eat
-souvenir expense = 10-20 euro as an average, some days a lot more others nothing
-public transport= 5-10 euro could be more if catching a cab

That's an typical day at an approx minimum €90 up to €150 a day averaging out at say €120 and that's not even including what I would spend on a night out on the piss, it all adds up and as I said, I certainly didn't hold back in keeping the party going.

With the current exchange $150AUD will buy approx €105 even less in pounds, admittedly you could go less by cutting down lunch and dinner expenses, can be hard when on tour though and other unknown expenses always pop up. I personally would go no less than €120 a day being conservative and cutting right down on the piss, but I'm on holiday, so why would I want to that?

Way over the top on souvenirs (From a backpackers perspective, but 10 euro a day is well over the top anyway, especially for extended stays, even on an average)
Well over in regards to the amount on food (Again, backpacking)

Didn't mean to offend personally, just regarding the amount moreso

 

[Ed_Gein]

I could probably halve your costs Lion for Life I mean it sounds like you had a great time, but looking at your list i would be more than content in seeing Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe from the outside (i'm assuming the costs are for the ability to climb the structures?), would fore-go public transport a majority of the time and walk everywhere, would cook back at the hostel staying at which would be cost considerably less than eating out and my souvenir is the photos i take from my camera. So that's probably a bit less than half your quoted minimum price. Not saying that's what twce13 is going to necessarily do, but you can find a nice balance in being able to do and see the things you want to do without having to spend a fortune.

 

[The Dice Man]

Exactement Ed. As for lunch you can get a great baguette sandwich for 5 euros. dinner you can find some great deals on Groupon or fourchette. My girl and I did Paris for 5 days last month, and including renting an entire apartment(from AirBnB), we didnt spend more than a 100 euros a day... And we ate at restaurants every night.

If you are on a budget then take advantage of apps/websites such as groupon/forchette/AirBnB etc.

Another way to get around europe is car pooling. Its quite common and is about a 5th of the cost of rail. Plenty of websites for it.

 

[Ed_Gein]

The carpooling websites sound interesting, what are some of the more reliable/popular ones? Something i'll bookmark and look into.

 

[The Dice Man]

http://www.carpooling.fr/covoiturage
http://www.karzoo.fr/en/home

Those are French ones... but just google carpooling with whatever country/ies you're looking at and there ya go. Alot cheaper as its usually just the driver wanting to share/petrol/toll costs.

 

[The Dice Man]

Just be careful if you do it in the north of France, this guy is apparently a little dodgy....


Merde!!!!

 

[Ed_Gein]

Which guy?

EDIT: Ah right, the image wasn't loading before.

 

[twce13]

Cheers for the responses guys.

 

[Dirty Bird]

For those that have done a contiki tour.
Are the optional activities worth it?
I just went through all of those for mine and it's ~740 Euro for all.

 

[stewie griffen]

For those that have done a contiki tour.
Are the optional activities worth it?
I just went through all of those for mine and it's ~740 Euro for all.

What ones?

Some are, some aren't. The dinners tend to be a bit meh, but the activities are generally pretty worthwhile.

I did a dinner in Paris and it was pretty average, skipped most of the others and just did my own thing with other peops.

 

[Lion for Life]

For those that have done a contiki tour.
Are the optional activities worth it?
I just went through all of those for mine and it's ~740 Euro for all.

I tried to do as many as possible, although there were a few that I wasn't interested in and skipped. you will probably find that most of your group will do the majority of activities and the dinners are good on the basis that it is a great way to socialise, the food is generally standard fare though. the optionals i did do I thought were awesome and enhanced my trip, especially the paragliding, whitewater rafting etc. well worth it if you ask me

 

[Dirty Bird]

What ones?

December 12 - Paris - Moulin Rouge Dinner & Show - 144 Euro

December 14 - Lucerne - Mt Pilatus - 40 Euro, Swiss Fondue Lunch - 33 Euro

December 17 - Barcelona - Tablao de Carmen - 60 Euro

December 19 - French Riviera - Monaco Restaurant - 35 Euro

December 20 - French Riviera to Florence - Tuscan Hills Feast - 39 Euro, Space Electronic Disco - 15 Euro

December 21 - Florence to Rome - Souvenir Group Photo - 11 Euro

December 22 - Rome - Vatican Tour - 34 Euro, Imperial Tour - 26 Euro

December 24 - Venice - Venice Walking Tour - 11 Euro, Gondola Ride - 21 Euro, Venetian Restaurant - 37.50 Euro, Tour t-shirts - 18.50-29 Euro

December 25 - Venice to Vienna - Dinner and Mozart concert - 63 Euro

December 26 - Vienna - Old Vienna Schnaps Museum - 7 Euro

December 29 - Prague - Lunchtime Cruise - 27 Euro, Nuclear Bunker Tour - 18 Euro

December 31 - Berlin - Berlin Historical Walking Tour - 9.50 Euro, Eye Spy Berlin - 16.50 Euro

January 2 - Amsterdam - Volendam Restaurant - 31 Euro, Canal Cruise - 31 Euro.

Those in Green are those I am 100% certain I'll do, Blue are those I'll probably do, Yellow those I'm 50/50 on, Orange are those I may do, but unlikely at this stage, while those in red I wont be doing.

 

[Lion for Life]

BLUE- Mt Pilatus would be a definite, I wouldn't even think of skipping that. The Monaco dinner I would wait and see if the rest of the crew was in, also Monaco is insanely expensive, the less time you spend there the more your wallet will appreciate it.

YELLOW- I'd definitely do the imperial and Venice walking tours, they are usually worth it and will give you a good insight that you otherwise wouldn't have, you also pay to skip the queues. i would also say it's a must to do the dinner in Amsterdam as it will be your farewell dinner and I wouldn't imagine anyone else on your tour skipping it. The Tuscan hills feast isn't that flash hot but is always a good oppurtunity to socialise with new friends.

ORANGE- Schnapps museum is an absolute must, there is not another opportunity you will get to sample as many shots as you like for only 7 euro, and it sets up the night ahead. The photo and t-shirt depends on how much you value souvenirs, for me the photo is worth it where as the t-shirt is something I'll never wear but I have it anyway. Never been to Berlin, but for €9.50 I would do the walking tour. The Moulin Rouge depends on how much you can appreciate cabaret I suppose, seems very expensive but personally I would probably do it due to the simple fact that I'm in Paris and I wouldn't have the oppurtunity to do it ever again.

RED- I agree on all, wouldn't bother

Hope that helps a bit mate, for the borderline ones it often comes down to seeing what others are doing and rolling with the crowd. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!!

 

[stewie griffen]

I skipped Moulin Rouge as i have no interest whatsoever. I skipped the Barca dinner too and from what i heard my mates and i had a better experience on our own. The Vatican and gondola is worth it, but you could always get your own gondola... and probably cheaper. I think i did the Imperial tour... or maybe not, but the old area of Rome is fascinating and the guides are pretty helpful. The schnapps tour was pretty good, heaps of free schnapps is always good I skipped the mozart stuff as well, theres heaps of places to check out in Vienna instead.

Prague cruise... meh, depending on time I'd head straight to the main area and castle district. Likewise Berlin, you can walk that by yourself with a little research. The canal in Amsterdam was just a massive piss up from memory i.e. i have no memory of that evening, so i'd recommend it

The only thing is if they have things in the middle of the days bus ride, there's nothing worse than being stuck on the bus while everyone else goes off rafting or something, but it looks like most of those are in the major cities so you should be ok there. The only issue i see is some things are on xmas and the associated public holidays, so alternatives might be hard to come by.

 

[Dirty Bird]

December 12 - Paris - Moulin Rouge Dinner & Show - 144 Euro

December 14 - Lucerne - Mt Pilatus - 40 Euro, Swiss Fondue Lunch - 33 Euro

December 17 - Barcelona - Tablao de Carmen - 60 Euro

December 19 - French Riviera - Monaco Restaurant - 35 Euro

December 20 - French Riviera to Florence - Tuscan Hills Feast - 39 Euro, Space Electronic Disco - 15 Euro

December 21 - Florence to Rome - Souvenir Group Photo - 11 Euro

December 22 - Rome - Vatican Tour - 34 Euro, Imperial Tour - 26 Euro

December 24 - Venice - Venice Walking Tour - 11 Euro, Gondola Ride - 21 Euro, Venetian Restaurant - 37.50 Euro, Tour t-shirts - 18.50-29 Euro

December 25 - Venice to Vienna - Dinner and Mozart concert - 63 Euro

December 26 - Vienna - Old Vienna Schnaps Museum - 7 Euro

December 29 - Prague - Lunchtime Cruise - 27 Euro, Nuclear Bunker Tour - 18 Euro

December 31 - Berlin - Berlin Historical Walking Tour - 9.50 Euro, Eye Spy Berlin - 16.50 Euro

January 2 - Amsterdam - Volendam Restaurant - 31 Euro, Canal Cruise - 31 Euro.

Those in Green are those I am 100% certain I'll do, Blue are those I'll probably do, Yellow those I'm 50/50 on, Orange are those I may do, but unlikely at this stage, while those in red I wont be doing.

Edited upon your feeback.

 

[Dirty Bird]

I skipped the mozart stuff as well, theres heaps of places to check out in Vienna instead.

Thoguht as it's Christmas, I'd take it a little lighter that night....Plus, I kinda like classical music Especially Mozart/Bethoven/That Russian who wrote the overtune.

 

[twce13]

Anyway know what Mt Pilatus is like in the inter, I've read the cog train is closed which is a real shame.

 

[Ed_Gein]

Mount Pilatus near Lucerne, Switzerland? Yeah i done a trip to the top of there. Really breathtaking views. Is a shame if they closed the cog train, was a different route as opposed to going back down the same way you came up. The cog train took you down the other side of the mountain to a lake where you caught a ferry back into Lucerne.

 

[TheStinger]

Mount Pilatus near Lucerne, Switzerland? Yeah i done a trip to the top of there. Really breathtaking views. Is a shame if they closed the cog train, was a different route as opposed to going back down the same way you came up. The cog train took you down the other side of the mountain to a lake where you caught a ferry back into Lucerne.

My folks went on that cog railway a couple of years ago. They said the view from up there was amazing. And judging by their photos they weren't wrong.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Eye spy berlin is a pub crawl and you get 'free' drinks at each place. Its decent value if you want to go out and experience the nightlife.

 

[treefingers]

December 31 - Berlin - Berlin Historical Walking Tour - 9.50 Euro, Eye Spy Berlin - 16.50 Euro



Those in Green are those I am 100% certain I'll do, Blue are those I'll probably do, Yellow those I'm 50/50 on, Orange are those I may do, but unlikely at this stage, while those in red I wont be doing.

Go to Sachenhausen Concentration Camp in Berlin if you get a free day, cost about 12 euros for a guided tour and they take you to the place - well worth the experience in my opinion. There's also free walking tours that are fantastic, didn't see the need to pay for one.

 

[treefingers]

I've got about a week in Barcelona lined up soon, I'll have a few days to myself - can anyone recommend any day trips out of the city to nearby places?

 

[stewie griffen]

They used to do Sachenhausen as a Contiki side trip, not sure if they still do, but its definitely worth it. Up there with Hiroshima's war memorial/museum for the most shocking place I have visited