Trip through Europe

Hello all

This summer, my husband and I are planning on realizing one of our dreams, a
long trip thru Europe. Starting from our home in the Netherlands, through
Germany to Poland, Tzech republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy,
South-France, Spain, Portugal and back to France, Belgium and the
Netherlands. The first part, all the way to Dresden, will just be a long
drive, we know that part of the world already. Same with the last part, when
we leave Spain to come back home thru France.

We do want to be well prepared when we leave, but we don't want to book
anything in advance. Just go with the flow and take it by day. Put our bags
in the car and start driving. We will take a lot of maps, books etc with us
but I also would like to get first hand experiences from other travellers.
Has anyone done this thing before? Can anybode give me hints or clues on
what not to miss etc. Maybe there are people in this group that live in any
of
the countries we plan to visit?

As for the period, we are thinking of leaving around August 20th and get
back
around October 1st. That makes 6 weeks, should be just enough.

Lodging, we are thinking about B&B or campsite with readymade tents or
mobile homes. We do not want to go by hotels or motels, because this will
get to expensive. But we are not really the camping kind either, with a
small tent etc. So we want to find a nice compromise.

Okay, I hope it is a bit clear, I now there will be a lot of mistakes in the
language, but I hope you will read past them. I hope to get a lot of
response ofcourse.

Bye
Ilvi

ilvi wrote:
> Hello all
>
> This summer, my husband and I are planning on realizing one of our
> dreams, a long trip thru Europe. Starting from our home in the
> Netherlands, through Germany to Poland, Tzech republic, Slovakia,
> Hungary, Croatia, Italy, South-France, Spain, Portugal and back to
> France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The first part, all the way to
> Dresden, will just be a long drive, we know that part of the world
> already. Same with the last part, when we leave Spain to come back home
> thru France.
>
> As for the period, we are thinking of leaving around August 20th and get
> back
> around October 1st. That makes 6 weeks, should be just enough.

That's funny. Right now I'm planning my summer trip through eastern Europe,
which is exactly the first half of your trip in exactly half of the time
you're taking. (except for Poland).

My idea was Czech Republic (entering from Desden), Slovakia, Hungary,
Croatia (and then returning through Slovenia, Austria, etc.) in three weeks.
I also live in Holland. Maybe we should keep in touch to keep eachother
updated on our plans.

I will use a tent, because that has worked very well on similar trips
through the western part of Europe in the last couple of years. It's
generally very easy to find a camping site with a spot to stay just one or
two nights. The cost is very low (except in Italy, were campings have crazy
prices). If you decide to take a tent after all, I would reccomend one that
can be set up and taken down very easily and quickly. Also it helps to use
different bags for different purposes: one for clothes, one with cooking
stuff, one with tent stuff, etc. This will ensure that you can pack and
unpack very quickly at each camping site.

I bought Lonely Planet Eastern Europe which has it's information grouped
into the regions of each specific country and lists the highlights etc.,
which really helps my planning process. Also, get the free ANWB maps of
Europe (if you're a member), you can draw on them and make a general outline
of your trip. Like I said, I've done these big trips in previous years
through Western Europe, and it helped me to plan, but very loosely.
Something like, after 4 days I should be in Italy, on august 3 I should be
on the ferry to Corsica. Things like that. Don't plan the stuff inbetween.
Just go where you want to go. Don't drive every day. Take your time to relax
and see things too. I like to mix nature (mountain hiking) with culture
(visiting interesting cities, museums) and relaxation (swimming in the sea,
or doing nothing ;).

Good luck and I'm very interested in your plans.

Yorick.

> That... may not be enough time except for the shortest of stays in each
> place. I spent a whole month in Italy alone, and that didn't include
> anything in the north. I recommend goes to you local bookstore and
> getting a good all-Europe guidebook. I appreciate having a flexible
> schedule; however, a rough plan is adviseable to know just what is too
> much to try to do.

A whole month in Italy? Wow, I think we are a bit to impatient for such a
plan. We are actually skipping most of Italy, just going thru the northern
part, to venice and Pisa. I don't know why, but Italy just doesn't say too
much to us. Is that stupid?

>
> > Lodging, we are thinking about B&B or campsite with readymade tents or
> > mobile homes. We do not want to go by hotels or motels, because this
will
> > get to expensive. But we are not really the camping kind either, with a
> > small tent etc. So we want to find a nice compromise.
>
> Cannot help you here. I staying in 2-star places mostly.

What kind of places did you stay and what did they cost you?

> > Okay, I hope it is a bit clear, I now there will be a lot of mistakes in
the
> > language, but I hope you will read past them. I hope to get a lot of
> > response ofcourse.
>
> Well at least you have the advantage of already being over there! And
> a guidebook will really help you.

Yes, we are here and can go whenever we want, that is an adventage. We will
be sure to get some good guidebooks, thanks for your help.
Ilvi

>>This summer, my husband and I are planning on realizing one of our dreams,
a
>>long trip thru Europe. Starting from our home in the Netherlands, through
>>Germany to Poland, Tzech republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy,
>>South-France, Spain, Portugal and back to France, Belgium and the
>>Netherlands.
>That's way too much for six weeks. You could easily spend one month
>in France alone. Cut that list in half, if not even farther. What
>are you most interested in?

I am sure we could spend a month in France. But since we live so close to it
(I could drive to paris in 6 hours) we don't find it worth the time for this
trip. This trip is something we will do once in a lifetime probably, so we
want to do mainly the things we don't get to see often. So France is not one
of them, sorry ;-)

>I would recommend taking trains rather than driving. You can always
>rent a car for those few regions that are hard to explore by train.
>The car will be a nightmare in any major city - traffic, finding
>parking, the issue of safety when you leave it overnight, not to
>mention the cost of petrol and highway tolls.

I travelled through Scandinavia by train and public transport..never again.
We almost always take our car on our trips, but to spain/france as to the
eastern parts. So we will surely take the car. Especially because it is much
easier with taking stuff with you. We are both not really the type for
camping and primitive packing. So we would rather drive and park somewhere
outside a city and then take a train.

>You said you already know France and Germany. I'd recommend cutting
>out Spain and Portugal and saving them for a future trip. They're
>both very rewarding destinations, but they're too far out of your way
>given the other places you're interested in.

That is something I am considering now, cutting out Spain. I will discuss it
with my husband, thanks! ;-)

>I'd suggest:
>
>Drive to Krakow, Poland
>4 days Krakow
>1 week Czech Republic (Prague is great but don't miss the rest of the
>country)
>skip Slovakia
>4 days Budapest, Hungary
>1 week Croatia (Dubrovnik) and Slovenia (Llubljana)
>2 weeks Italy (Venice, Florence, Siena, Cinque Terre, Rome)
>Drive home.

If we would do Italy for just one week instead of 2, that would leave us a
week for the southern part of france. That would be good.

Thanks for you help!
Ilvi

B Vaughan wrote:
>
> On Tue, 18 May 2004 13:20:27 +0200, "MaxRedaktor"
> <maxredaktor@oDWA.pl> wrote:
>
> >... [about Wraclow] Through the course of time the city has been known under five names, passed
> >between four different sets of rulers, conquered by pillocks ...
>
> What on earth are pillocks?
>
A bit like a doofus?

Sheila

I would not exaggerate. Besides, it's also a dangerous place, Poland.
Easy to get assaulted, robbed and beaten in the middle of the day just
because you're a western tourist and probably have those euros...

Just my 2 centimes.

/A

On 18 May 2004 13:54:05 -0700, in .europe, ajarmoniuk@msn.com (andrzej) arranged
some electrons, so they looked like this :

... I would not exaggerate. Besides, it's also a dangerous place, Poland.
... Easy to get assaulted, robbed and beaten in the middle of the day just
... because you're a western tourist and probably have those euros...
...
... Just my 2 centimes.

Now that you mention it... when is Poland taking the Euro wagon ?

"andrzej" <ajarmoniuk@msn.com> wrote in message
news:3ad765a8.0405181254.10dfc630@c om...
> I would not exaggerate. Besides, it's also a dangerous place, Poland.
> Easy to get assaulted, robbed and beaten in the middle of the day just
> because you're a western tourist and probably have those euros...
>
> Just my 2 centimes.
>
> /A

That, Andrzej, is a load of rubbish. My wife and I have visited Krakow,
Wroclaw, Gdansk and the tri-city, and Warsaw three or four times each over
the last two years, driving our own UK registered car and we have never seen
any trouble, we have never had any problems, and we feel safe to walk about
either during the day or at night.

Anyone thinking of visiting Poland, please don't be put off by what Andrzej
says. Go ahead and do it, it's a beautiful country.

John.

U¿ytkownik "andrzej" <ajarmoniuk@msn.com> wrote in despair:
news:3ad765a8.0405181254.10dfc630@c om...
: I would not exaggerate. Besides, it's also a dangerous place, Poland.
: /A

LOL! you coward! So sit at home and don't travel anywhere.

J

I confirm, I am from France, I live since 3 years in Krakow, my car
with French registration is in the street. No problem, never seen any
tourist aggression. I saw several thiefs in action in Paris, but here
nothing yet.

"Mogweed" <mogweedTWOTHOUSAND@m> wrote in message news:<c8gfhn$22c$1@titan.>...
> "andrzej" <ajarmoniuk@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:3ad765a8.0405181254.10dfc630@c om...
> > I would not exaggerate. Besides, it's also a dangerous place, Poland.
> > Easy to get assaulted, robbed and beaten in the middle of the day just
> > because you're a western tourist and probably have those euros...
> >
> > Just my 2 centimes.
> >
> > /A
>
> That, Andrzej, is a load of rubbish. My wife and I have visited Krakow,
> Wroclaw, Gdansk and the tri-city, and Warsaw three or four times each over
> the last two years, driving our own UK registered car and we have never seen
> any trouble, we have never had any problems, and we feel safe to walk about
> either during the day or at night.
>
> Anyone thinking of visiting Poland, please don't be put off by what Andrzej
> says. Go ahead and do it, it's a beautiful country.
>
> John.