I'm get to take my first full-fledged European vacation this spring! I've been personally slaving and saving - okay, yes the booming market and good investment advice did have something to do with it - and am about to book some tickets. But now, with the news of another serious airplane crash, I refuse to fly out of New York. What I'm trying to do is get some good traveling advice from people who do this. The only things I'm set on are some days in Dublin - family reasons - and some time in Paris - literary reasons - and probably some time in Greece - obvious reasons. What kinds of inside info should I know? Any great restaurants in Paris I shouldn't miss? Any great pubs for music in Dublin? Any little known out-of-the-way places in Greece? And kind of importantly, what's the very best travel book series? I hear varying opinions, but none from people who've actually traveled with them. Armchair traveler advice. <BR>Sorry to pump for so much info, but I've been wanting to do this for so long, and it took forever to save for it - directadvice.com finally put me over the edge - and now I don't have to do the whirlwind version. I get to spend a total of six weeks travelling - what a good boss I have, huh? But having more time than I'd originally planned almost makes it harder to decide what I have to see, and what I can miss. It seems like just enough time to do everything and nothing. <BR>Nancy <BR>

Good pub outside Dublin for traditional music session on Monday nights in the Ceili House Bar Oldcastle (1 hr 30 mins from Dublin). Lots of pubs in Dublin but they are a bit touristy ? Where are you staying - Northside or Southside ? Check out Chapter One (underneath the Writers Museum on Parnell's Square for a excellent lunch- it is more expensive than the coffee shop upstairs but it is just great food and service)Have you checked out Ryanair to fly with from Dublin to Paris - they are a cheap no frills airline but very cheap. They fly to an airport outside of Paris.

Rather than the airport, I'd worry more about the BA 767. <BR> <BR>Paris food: Cote Seine on the quai Voltaire; Montebello due east of Notre Dame on the Left Bank (view of N-D); any of the restaurants south of the quai Voltaire around rue St Andre des Arts; roof cafeteria at Galeries Lafayette or Samaritaine for pretty good food and a great view of the city. <BR> <BR>Paris, if you really want to get to know her: early Sunday morning, watch the sun rise over Notre Dame (best view is from the Pont St Michel); wander along the quais and look at the stuff the bouquinistes have for sale; visit the bird market; go shopping at any of the street markets (rue Mouffetard comes to mind) and buy some fruit; visit Vanves flea market early Saturday morning; walk through the 16th (see Guimard buildings, le Corbusier buildings, Balzac's house); visit Pere Lachaise then walk through Menilmontant (there are little 'villages' throughout); take a canal cruise; walk down the NORTHside of the Montmartre butte and see the only surviving vineyard in Paris; visit the musee Cognacq-Jay (you'll probably be all by yourself); stroll through the Marais (don't miss the Picasso Museum). <BR> <BR>Greece: Athens is very dirty; it's good for a couple of days to visit the Acropolis and archaeology museum and the plaka. Head for either the islands (pick any) or other cities like Thessalonaki. Eat squid; try kitron; drink ouzo and metaxa at your own risk; take the ferries between islands for day trips. <BR> <BR>In general: stay in one hotel or apartment for a while, and do daytrips; eat MacDonald's when you get real homesick; eat at restaurants that cater to tourists when you're fried and can't deal with translating; for the vast majority of the time, find restaurants that cater to the locals and struggle with the menu (it's worth it); get lost; plan for the worst, hope for the best; dawdle; talk to people; make fusses over children and animals; act goofy (these people will never see you again) but not carelessly; take lots of pictures; buy souvenirs; take more money than you think you'll need and fewer clothes and luggage. <BR> <BR>right now, do a happy dance and sing "im going to europe i'm going to europe" over and over and over....

Nancy -- lucky you! <BR>Regarding Greece, there was recently (within the past few weeks) an excellent hosted forum on the Greek islands by Lea Lane. She had lots of wonderful insider tips on off-the-beaten-path places in Greece. From the Forums Home page, go to the very bottom of the page and click on Past Hosted Forums. Some of the threads will make you want to spend your whole trip in Greece! By the way, I wholeheartedly agree with Elvira's advice to see what Athens has to offer quickly and then head out of town -- it's really polluted and a lot more expensive than the rest of Greece, and a lot less beautiful too. I liked the island of Poros. <BR> <BR>Regarding guidebooks, I like to use two or three sources for each place I'm visiting, and if particular hotels, restaurants, or attractions are rated highly by more than one, then I know it's a pretty good bet. My personal favorite overall series (particularly for accommodations and restaurants) is Frommers, by far. Lots of good recommendations for accommodations on its website too (www.frommers.com) if you go to the left and click on Destinations, then Europe, then the cities you're interested in. Its forums aren't nearly as good as Fodors' though. Lots of people here seem to be fans of Rick Steves' guidebooks. I find his television shows on PBS (and videos) wonderful for getting a look at various places I'm interested in and helping me figure out where I want to go, but his guidebooks aren't as great in my opinion. Other guidebooks I've used and liked to varying degrees are Let's Go, Lonely Planet, and Insight Guides. I have not had the best luck with Fodors guidebooks, to be honest with you. These days, the internet is an incredible resource too.

Nancy: Forgot to mention -- my favorite part of Paris is the Marais. Wonderful neighborhood with delightful restaurants, shops, and my favorite bite-sized museum in Paris, the Picasso Museum.

Temple Bar area in Dublin is great. Also do a tour of the Guinness Brewery (they have a great shop there also. Good day trip is Glendoloch. (ck spelling ) and if you get a chance go to Kilkenny it is the most charming town I have ever seen and the castle is spectacular. Note it is closed on Mondays. you could do it as day trip or stay over nite would be worth it, easy train trip from Dublin. <BR>

Dear Nancy. <BR> My word what a lot to pack in and "ONLY 6 WEEKS" to do it in. Dublin is a great idea. It is wonderful city and you will get a great feel for both old and new Ireland. Try to stay in a local guesthouse outside the city if possible as it will give you a taste of the true Ireland and they are much more friendly than the big city hotels. I should know as I live across the Irish Sea in the UK. <BR> <BR>As far as Paris goes your guess is as good as mine because I have never been. I think you should forget Paris and go to London, but then again I am biased. One piece of advice, if you go to Paris don't eat the Freanch beef. As you can imagine there is a bit of rivalry there. <BR> <BR>Greece is wonderful. We stayed on one of the Islands on the West coast called Zakynthos. It was beautiful and the people were very very friendly. The Greeks are the friendliest Euoropeans that I have ever met. A trip to the neighbouring Kefalonia is well worth it. You MUST also try and visit Olympia (the home of the first olympic games) on the mainland. It is a wonderful experience and one of the most impressive things I have ever seen. <BR> <BR>Overall though no matter where you stay, if you have saved for this long you will have a great time and that's for sure. <BR>

Nancy- you've picked three wonderful, wonderfully different areas, and I'm sure a search under these destinations and looking at the really great past hosted forum on the Greek islands will help. <BR>But one thing--statistically-speaking, you should worry about driving to and from the airport, not the planes. I know, it seems scary, but think about the fact that it is news when a plane crashes, because it is the safest mode of travel. And those of us who travel mucho out of NY airports should worry more about the bus or taxi ride to and from!

OT: I was reading to find out some info on Greece myself. Planning my first trip their with my SO. That plane crash really got me thinking, and I am not usually skittish but I rec’d this link http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/a/AP...-Military.html from a friend about the crash. I am either going to grill the airline about the equipment, pilot experience, etc. Or I am going to check into cruises. <BR>About directadvice.com, online financial advice worked for you? I have a friend on wall st who advises me but our friendship has been a bit stressed lately and I think I would feel more comfortable separating that aspect of my life from our relationship. I just turned 30 and am trying desperately to uncomplicate my life. <BR> <BR>Have a wonderful vacation and remember from what I have heard the skies are STILL friendly. <BR>Tessa <BR>

Dear Nancy,

you can get more info regarding greece from www.igogreece.com
Another good thing with this mag is the information it gives for people with disabilities and the available facilities in every single island.
Best
Oddy

oddy, how come you are answering an enquiry made eight years ago?

ooops I didnt notice it was 7 years ago! I was looking for something at google in regards to facilities for the disabled and I saw this message. I thought I had to reply. sorry!