Europe

[FlaSoxxJim]

Out of curiosity, is there any kind of market for Beatles type tours?

 

Yeah, there is some of that in London — EMI Abbey Road Studios, etc. — but not as much as there is in Liverpool where the Beatles are still pretty much their biggest export.

[Chisoxfn]

Is Westminster Abbey a place that you tour or more that you look at for a bit? Want to get an idea of how much time to set aside for some of this stuff (I'm also reading around online) as I try to design my full itinerary.

 

Also are there anythings that are recommended for at night or daytime (i.e., that are much better at night or during the day). Maybe a romantic place for a sunset or anything along those lines.

 

I know we are going to do Bath and a few other places during one day trip. And than also do a tour of the city in a double-decker bus (plus a river tour). Outside of that I assume there is enough stuff to see within the city that I should stay there (we are there for 4 days). Basically 1 day trip, 3 days in the city.

 

I was thinking of getting tickets to wicked (found some discounted ones) and I've never seen it and am not usually an artsy fartsy guy but I think it would be a fun thing to do.

[Rex Kickass]

I would give some tips about Amsterdam, but I don't remember much from it. I can really only offer this bit of advice. Do something you want to do in the city BEFORE you get a joint at a coffee shop. Because you'll just end up eating McDonalds in an internet cafe for the rest of the day.

 

Brussels is a colossal waste of a city and has nothing of interest. Paris can be a lot of fun. The left bank, St Germain is really nice and I also really love the museum in the Pompidou Centre. If I were taking day trips from Paris, I would do Versailles and then Epernay/Reims in the Champagne region. Stunning cathedrals/churches in Reims (Cathedral where I was an altar boy during the summer, and St Remi Basilica which is like 1000 years old). Epernay you can take a tour of the champagne cellars which is a really wonderful experience. Champagne region is probably my favorite part of France.

 

I also loved Copenhagen. Something about that city that's got a little bit of the nasty fun of Amsterdam, coupled with the gentleness of Scandinavia. Plus there's Christania as well which is a really really wonderful unique squatter community that's worth a visit.

 

My non French side of the family comes from Berlin. I love this city more than any place on earth, and I would give advice but everytime I go, its different. I will recommend the Relax-Art Garden if it still exists in Stadtmitte, and the Doner Kebab at Zoo Bahnhof is really really great. Also the Checkpoint Charlie Museum is super wonderful as well.

 

Are you doing the hostel thing in Europe? If you are, just get a cheap hotel in Paris instead, the hostels are about the same price and are kinda gross and if you do the hotel thing you don't have to share a room with 85 of your closest friends. Amsterdam has some of the best and some of the worst hostels, so do your homework before you go.

[southsider2k5]

Is Westminster Abbey a place that you tour or more that you look at for a bit? Want to get an idea of how much time to set aside for some of this stuff (I'm also reading around online) as I try to design my full itinerary.

 

Also are there anythings that are recommended for at night or daytime (i.e., that are much better at night or during the day). Maybe a romantic place for a sunset or anything along those lines.

 

I know we are going to do Bath and a few other places during one day trip. And than also do a tour of the city in a double-decker bus (plus a river tour). Outside of that I assume there is enough stuff to see within the city that I should stay there (we are there for 4 days). Basically 1 day trip, 3 days in the city.

 

I was thinking of getting tickets to wicked (found some discounted ones) and I've never seen it and am not usually an artsy fartsy guy but I think it would be a fun thing to do.

 

Wicked is a great show. The wife and I saw a performance in Chicago.

[Rex Kickass]

Is Westminster Abbey a place that you tour or more that you look at for a bit? Want to get an idea of how much time to set aside for some of this stuff (I'm also reading around online) as I try to design my full itinerary.

 

Also are there anythings that are recommended for at night or daytime (i.e., that are much better at night or during the day). Maybe a romantic place for a sunset or anything along those lines.

 

I've never done it, BUT if I was gonna do a sunset in London, it would be on the London Eye.

 

Apparently nightlife is kinda popping in Clerkenwell, but it kinda depends on what you want to do. London is a city of villages, best option is to pick up a London A-Z map and a Time Out and figure out what's happening when you're there.

[FlaSoxxJim]

Is Westminster Abbey a place that you tour or more that you look at for a bit? Want to get an idea of how much time to set aside for some of this stuff (I'm also reading around online) as I try to design my full itinerary.

 

Also are there anythings that are recommended for at night or daytime (i.e., that are much better at night or during the day). Maybe a romantic place for a sunset or anything along those lines.

 

I know we are going to do Bath and a few other places during one day trip. And than also do a tour of the city in a double-decker bus (plus a river tour). Outside of that I assume there is enough stuff to see within the city that I should stay there (we are there for 4 days). Basically 1 day trip, 3 days in the city.

 

I was thinking of getting tickets to wicked (found some discounted ones) and I've never seen it and am not usually an artsy fartsy guy but I think it would be a fun thing to do.

 

Yeah, Westminster is a place to tour inside and out. Depending on how into architectural grandeur ypu are, you could spend anywhere from 45 minutes to half a day there. Westminster is in the West End, so you have Soho and lots of entertainment in the area.

 

Places like Avebury and Stonehenge you have to do in the day. I can't recommend Avebury enough; it's huge, totally dwarfing Stinehenge. The largest stone ring actually encircles the village of Avebury. Plus you can still walk among the stones unlike at Stonehenge.

[knightni]

I liked "The Final Countdown", but the rest of their music has been mediocre.

[Chisoxfn]

If I was going to pick one of these 2 tours, which would you go with?

 

Leeds Castle, Canterbury, and Dover

 

or

 

Oxford, Cotswolds, Stratford-on-Avon, and-Warwick-Castle

 

 

We are for sure going to do a day tour of Bath, Stonehenge, and Windsor Castle already.

 

 

 

Basically that would fill 2 days outside of England. And than we were going to spend 2 days in England. Within England one day was going to be set aside for a double decker bus tour, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and Wicked. The bus tour will allow us to see almost all of the key areas, plus it includes a river cruise. Not too bad for 30 bucks a person.

 

The 4th day would be for the changing of the guard, pub crawling, etc.

[FlaSoxxJim]

If I was going to pick one of these 2 tours, which would you go with?

 

Leeds Castle, Canterbury, and Dover

 

or

 

Oxford, Cotswolds, Stratford-on-Avon, and-Warwick-Castle

 

We are for sure going to do a day tour of Bath, Stonehenge, and Windsor Castle already.

 

Basically that would fill 2 days outside of England. And than we were going to spend 2 days in England. Within England one day was going to be set aside for a double decker bus tour, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and Wicked. The bus tour will allow us to see almost all of the key areas, plus it includes a river cruise. Not too bad for 30 bucks a person.

 

The 4th day would be for the changing of the guard, pub crawling, etc.

 

I'm sure you mean outside of London, not outside of England. Otherwise I think your first stop should be a good geography book.

 

if you're a rabid fan of The Bard then the Cotswolds and Stratford-on-Avon trip is the one. But the Dover cliffs are pretty breathtaking and the rugged terrain along the coastline is pretty cool.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

If I was going to pick one of these 2 tours, which would you go with?

 

Leeds Castle, Canterbury, and Dover

 

or

 

Oxford, Cotswolds, Stratford-on-Avon, and-Warwick-Castle

 

While going to Warwick castle would be ultra-cool (to me at least) since it was commissioned and built by William the Conqueror, I'd go on the first tour you listed. Canterbury Cathedral is one of the most famous churches in Christendom and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

[Chisoxfn]

While going to Warwick castle would be ultra-cool (to me at least) since it was commissioned and built by William the Conqueror, I'd go on the first tour you listed. Canterbury Cathedral is one of the most famous churches in Christendom and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Sounds like we got a winner. You recommend Canterbury, Jim talks about Dover being awesome and that is 2/3rd of the trip alone. Sweet.

 

Thanks for the help!!! I'll be hammering out the details of my France segment tomorrow. The past couple months I've just been bulletting all the things I want to see as I read various articles. Now I'm trying to narrow everything down based upon area to try and segment into specific days and boy is it a pain in the ass. On top of that I'm reading all kinds of reviews and relying on you guys/gals to help narrow down the good vs the bad as well as weigh in what me and my fiance's particular interests are.

 

I'm glad I budgeted a good amount for site seeing/food because It is my first time to Europe and I want to really enjoy everything and not be bummed that I didn't spend the extra 50 bucks to go see ______. Which I should point out is rare for me, since I'm a total cheap ass, haha.

[kapkomet]

I have heard on the news in the last couple of weeks that they are going to do away with the double-decker bus tours.

 

 

[Chi Town Sox]

Sounds like we got a winner. You recommend Canterbury, Jim talks about Dover being awesome and that is 2/3rd of the trip alone. Sweet.

 

Thanks for the help!!! I'll be hammering out the details of my France segment tomorrow. The past couple months I've just been bulletting all the things I want to see as I read various articles. Now I'm trying to narrow everything down based upon area to try and segment into specific days and boy is it a pain in the ass. On top of that I'm reading all kinds of reviews and relying on you guys/gals to help narrow down the good vs the bad as well as weigh in what me and my fiance's particular interests are.

 

I'm glad I budgeted a good amount for site seeing/food because It is my first time to Europe and I want to really enjoy everything and not be bummed that I didn't spend the extra 50 bucks to go see ______. Which I should point out is rare for me, since I'm a total cheap ass, haha.

 

I am a huge foodie, Not sure if you are interested in a very nice dinner or not but check out this website (also on the side there is a link for #'s 51-100) - you will see at number 43 is St John's, where Anthony Bourdain had a meal there that he said is one of the top 13 places to eat before you die. I'd love to get a reservation at the Fat Duck but it has been fully seated since last year sometime. I plan to visit a couple of these (hopefully), maybe one in London and one in Paris.

 

http://www.theworlds50best.com/awards/1-50-winners

 

Also, if you are looking for a bit of nightlife after your sightseeing, World's top 100 bars, MANY bars from London are shown on this website (not that this would judge a good time either way but some of these are really ancient and were frequently visited by many celebrities and figures in the London area and still are.)

 

http://www.worldsbestbars.com/public/top_listings.jsp

 

And if you are into dancing/nightclubs, try this website - their are 3 clubs in the top 6 alone in London, fabric, Ministry of Sound, and Matter (which looks really cool as it is in the amazing o2 Arena)

 

http://www.djmag.com/top100clubs/

 

 

 

 

[Chi Town Sox]

Sounds like we got a winner. You recommend Canterbury, Jim talks about Dover being awesome and that is 2/3rd of the trip alone. Sweet.

 

Thanks for the help!!! I'll be hammering out the details of my France segment tomorrow. The past couple months I've just been bulletting all the things I want to see as I read various articles. Now I'm trying to narrow everything down based upon area to try and segment into specific days and boy is it a pain in the ass. On top of that I'm reading all kinds of reviews and relying on you guys/gals to help narrow down the good vs the bad as well as weigh in what me and my fiance's particular interests are.

 

I'm glad I budgeted a good amount for site seeing/food because It is my first time to Europe and I want to really enjoy everything and not be bummed that I didn't spend the extra 50 bucks to go see ______. Which I should point out is rare for me, since I'm a total cheap ass, haha.

 

What area do you plan on staying in London? It seems like each of them has their positives, whether it is the most sightseeing around them, best nightlife, best food, etc.

 

[DBAHO]

I'm going to be moving to London from the 3rd of June it seems, will be staying out near Mile End and Tower Hamlets in the East End of London for a couple of weeks before I get my own place there. It's pretty close to where they are building the new Olympic Stadium for the 2012 games I think.

[FlaSoxxJim]

I'm going to be moving to London from the 3rd of June it seems, will be staying out near Mile End and Tower Hamlets in the East End of London for a couple of weeks before I get my own place there. It's pretty close to where they are building the new Olympic Stadium for the 2012 games I think.

 

Pretty cool! You've been able to live and work in a couple different places now, which I think is awesome.

 

Just don't chum it up too much with the Brits. I'm assuming it was one of them sent your ancestors off to the Australian penal colony a couple centuries ago, eh?

[DBAHO]

Pretty cool! You've been able to live and work in a couple different places now, which I think is awesome.

 

Just don't chum it up too much with the Brits. I'm assuming it was one of them sent your ancestors off to the Australian penal colony a couple centuries ago, eh?

You could say that. I've got a British Passport as my father was born in the UK.

 

So that's pretty lucky, especially with the new government beginning to crack down on immigration and visa's also.

[Chisoxfn]

I'm going to be moving to London from the 3rd of June it seems, will be staying out near Mile End and Tower Hamlets in the East End of London for a couple of weeks before I get my own place there. It's pretty close to where they are building the new Olympic Stadium for the 2012 games I think.

Well if all my flights go as planned, I'll be in London on the 5th of June.

[FlaSoxxJim]

Heads up for anybody who will be in the UK this coming Solstice Day (June 21st).

, with actual modern day druids coming out of the woodwork to be on site for the event. My wife and I went several years ago and totally by accident made the trip to Stonehenge on the Solstice. The guards who normally keep people away from the stones other days can make a special allowance to Solstice Day visitors and it's kind of a fun experience. Sort of like teh parking lot at a Grateful Dead show.

[Milkman delivers]

Heads up for anybody who will be in the UK this coming Solstice Day (June 21st).

, with actual modern day druids coming out of the woodwork to be on site for the event. My wife and I went several years ago and totally by accident made the trip to Stonehenge on the Solstice. The guards who normally keep people away from the stones other days can make a special allowance to Solstice Day visitors and it's kind of a fun experience. Sort of like teh parking lot at a Grateful Dead show.

 

Nice of the Undertaker to loan them out.

[DBAHO]

Well if all my flights go as planned, I'll be in London on the 5th of June.

I checked prices for flights today, and I don't know if it's the same in the US, but the 3rd of June was the last day before they went up before the peak summer season ($1200AUS for one - way on Singapore Airlines being the cheapest).

[Chisoxfn]

I checked prices for flights today, and I don't know if it's the same in the US, but the 3rd of June was the last day before they went up before the peak summer season ($1200AUS for one - way on Singapore Airlines being the cheapest).

I bought all my stuff a while back, but prices are quite a bit more than when I booked a few months ago.

[Chi Town Sox]

Does anyone have any good recommendations/findings for possible credit cards to use overseas. Such as 0% APR on purchases for a year, 5% back on hotel or restaurants charges, etc. I have a Capital One currently, which as far as I know is the only credit card that does not charge fees for overseas purchases (as of last year.) But I obviously am paying interest on that as I have had it for awhile...my girlfriend contacted Discover who had actually lied to her and said that hotels would accept the Discover card overseas (this card is 0% APR and 5% back on hotels) and then I check the website and they are not currently used in Europe. Terrific

[Chisoxfn]

Does anyone have any good recommendations/findings for possible credit cards to use overseas. Such as 0% APR on purchases for a year, 5% back on hotel or restaurants charges, etc. I have a Capital One currently, which as far as I know is the only credit card that does not charge fees for overseas purchases (as of last year.) But I obviously am paying interest on that as I have had it for awhile...my girlfriend contacted Discover who had actually lied to her and said that hotels would accept the Discover card overseas (this card is 0% APR and 5% back on hotels) and then I check the website and they are not currently used in Europe. Terrific

Discover has an affiliated name in Europe that I believe works over there. Might be wrong. Amex isn't used much, but Visa and Mastercard are golden over there.

[dyuen]

I am a huge foodie, Not sure if you are interested in a very nice dinner or not but check out this website (also on the side there is a link for #'s 51-100) - you will see at number 43 is St John's, where Anthony Bourdain had a meal there that he said is one of the top 13 places to eat before you die. I'd love to get a reservation at the Fat Duck but it has been fully seated since last year sometime. I plan to visit a couple of these (hopefully), maybe one in London and one in Paris.

 

http://www.theworlds50best.com/awards/1-50-winners

 

Also, if you are looking for a bit of nightlife after your sightseeing, World's top 100 bars, MANY bars from London are shown on this website (not that this would judge a good time either way but some of these are really ancient and were frequently visited by many celebrities and figures in the London area and still are.)

 

http://www.worldsbestbars.com/public/top_listings.jsp

 

And if you are into dancing/nightclubs, try this website - their are 3 clubs in the top 6 alone in London, fabric, Ministry of Sound, and Matter (which looks really cool as it is in the amazing o2 Arena)

 

http://www.djmag.com/top100clubs/

 

Nice info. I am going to London and Paris for my honeymoon in November. I really want to try the Fat Duck. After Europe we are headed to Maldives for a week for lots of sun.