Calling All Fodorites . . . Help a Student Traveling Abroad
Aug 9th, 2006, 02:26 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Calling All Fodorites . . . Help a Student Traveling Abroad
Fodorites:
In less than 14 days I will embark on the experience of a lifetime. I'm studying abroad in Berlin as a visiting student at Freie Universität- Berlin through the fall. So, I guess I'm asking a general question: what advice do you have for a first time European traveler? Although I'll spend most of my time in Germany, I'm also making stops in Prague, Barcelona, Paris, Cannes, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Vienna. Any suggestions for restaurants, hotels, or sites? Any general traveling tips?
Please Advise!
In less than 14 days I will embark on the experience of a lifetime. I'm studying abroad in Berlin as a visiting student at Freie Universität- Berlin through the fall. So, I guess I'm asking a general question: what advice do you have for a first time European traveler? Although I'll spend most of my time in Germany, I'm also making stops in Prague, Barcelona, Paris, Cannes, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Vienna. Any suggestions for restaurants, hotels, or sites? Any general traveling tips?
Please Advise!
Aug 9th, 2006, 02:48 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting first post.
My advice...
1. Get a guide book that covers the areas you want to travel to.
2. Read the guide book.
3. Research using this Forum's search function.
3. Ask specific questions.
Be honest...are you seriously asking for hotel, restaurant, and site recommendations for 8 European cities over the course of 4 months?
My advice...
1. Get a guide book that covers the areas you want to travel to.
2. Read the guide book.
3. Research using this Forum's search function.
3. Ask specific questions.
Be honest...are you seriously asking for hotel, restaurant, and site recommendations for 8 European cities over the course of 4 months?
Aug 9th, 2006, 02:53 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
JY
What kinds of things do you like? Mtn. hiking? Big city adventure? Music? Art? historical stuff? Lakes?
Are you locked in to the cities you mentioned? If not, your answers to the above questions might lead folks to suggest other places. If you are locked into those places, your answers to the above will help people determine the advice most helpful to you.
What kinds of things do you like? Mtn. hiking? Big city adventure? Music? Art? historical stuff? Lakes?
Are you locked in to the cities you mentioned? If not, your answers to the above questions might lead folks to suggest other places. If you are locked into those places, your answers to the above will help people determine the advice most helpful to you.
Aug 9th, 2006, 03:03 PM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm more interested in the shopping and museum aspects of traveling. I like historical stuff (museums etc.), but no on the hiking. Being from Los Angeles, a big-city adventure is a must.
And by the way Sapa - I have several guidebooks and have read extensively on most of the cities im interested in; however, I came to the disussion board for broad answers . . . a.k.a responses that detailed what one must do if they visited country X.
P.S. thanks Baldworth, that's the kind of answer I'm looking for.
And by the way Sapa - I have several guidebooks and have read extensively on most of the cities im interested in; however, I came to the disussion board for broad answers . . . a.k.a responses that detailed what one must do if they visited country X.
P.S. thanks Baldworth, that's the kind of answer I'm looking for.
Aug 9th, 2006, 03:09 PM
#7
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Museums? A-dam? By ALL means do the Rijksmuseum at a minimum. Even though it is partially closed for renovation there are still 400+ of the best works on view. There is also the possibility of Van Gogh and Rembrandt viewing in aditional separate venues.
Paris...museum central but you already know that and they are, IMO, worth it..all of the biggies to include the absolute monster Louvre.
Barcelona for all the Gaudi stuff including Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, etc. AND IMO if you DON'T go to Las Ramblas at least once you have not been to Barcelona.
Overall, definitely check out the cheap airline connections using sites such as www.skyscanner.net
Paris...museum central but you already know that and they are, IMO, worth it..all of the biggies to include the absolute monster Louvre.
Barcelona for all the Gaudi stuff including Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, etc. AND IMO if you DON'T go to Las Ramblas at least once you have not been to Barcelona.
Overall, definitely check out the cheap airline connections using sites such as www.skyscanner.net
Aug 9th, 2006, 03:11 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. Go with an open mind. Europe is not the United States, so just about every aspect of life is different.
2. Learn (at least some of) the local language.
3. Don't just talk with other Americans--talk with the locals, ask for their recommendations, help, etc.
4. Don't discuss politics unless all parties can do so with respect for the party.
5. When you get stressed, take some time and realize that you are on the trip of a lifetime!
6. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
2. Learn (at least some of) the local language.
3. Don't just talk with other Americans--talk with the locals, ask for their recommendations, help, etc.
4. Don't discuss politics unless all parties can do so with respect for the party.
5. When you get stressed, take some time and realize that you are on the trip of a lifetime!
6. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Aug 9th, 2006, 03:24 PM
#9
When you get into a new city use the resources available there. Usually there is a tourist kiosk at the train station, pick up free or buy weekly entertainment guides, keep your eyes open for special fetes and festivals and go to them (parades, BBQ, wine festivals, street fairs, farmers markets, school pagents, etc.).
In Paris Luxembourg Gardens and The Tuileries for excellent people watching.
Amsterdam the Leidseplein and Vondelpark. Museum of the Tropics and the two museums of erotica are strangely interesting. Hotel Kap is a decent budget choice in a good location.
In Paris Luxembourg Gardens and The Tuileries for excellent people watching.
Amsterdam the Leidseplein and Vondelpark. Museum of the Tropics and the two museums of erotica are strangely interesting. Hotel Kap is a decent budget choice in a good location.
Aug 9th, 2006, 03:50 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Enjoy the beer in Germany. Be sure to get to the Bamberg and the surrounding area with its concentration of some of the world's finest beers.
Then try the Czech Republic and Belgium for scientific comparison. Take copious notes on the beers you guzzle, er, sample.
Then try the Czech Republic and Belgium for scientific comparison. Take copious notes on the beers you guzzle, er, sample.
Aug 10th, 2006, 08:34 AM
#13
When you have a chance to deal with someone local (clerks, waiters, fellow train-riders), who are your age and by appearance may have similar interests, and if they speak English and seem open... ask them where they like to hang out, what they do, if anything special is going on the next few days.
As I mentioned above I've had great luck in finding free or cheap things to do. Maybe there's outdoor movies, a street music festival, or a special exhibit (not the usual museums in every guidebook), get lucky & you might even get invited along somewhere.
As I mentioned above I've had great luck in finding free or cheap things to do. Maybe there's outdoor movies, a street music festival, or a special exhibit (not the usual museums in every guidebook), get lucky & you might even get invited along somewhere.
Aug 10th, 2006, 09:52 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I took a bicycle tour in both Barcelona and Berlin this past summer and enjoyed both. Great time to meet people and the guides are very knowledgable.
Visit the Therman Spa in Berlin. Drink what the locals drink. In France, wine, in Germany beer and white wine.
Try to be open-minded. Don't always have an opinion. Listen to both sides as there always are two sides.
When you meet another American, try not to be too loud.
Visit the Therman Spa in Berlin. Drink what the locals drink. In France, wine, in Germany beer and white wine.
Try to be open-minded. Don't always have an opinion. Listen to both sides as there always are two sides.
When you meet another American, try not to be too loud.
Aug 10th, 2006, 09:54 AM
#16
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you don't have one get a copy of Let's Go Europe, a student/youth oriented guide whose listing of cheap accommodations is more than worth the purchase price. No other guide that i've seen does such a sterling job on hostels and low-budget youth accommodation as well as lots of practical stuff and youth nightlife, etc.
Aug 10th, 2006, 01:27 PM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi iy,
>what advice do you have for a first time European traveler? Although I'll spend most of my time in Germany, I'm also making stops in Prague, Barcelona, Paris, Cannes, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Vienna. <
Learn how to say
Hello/Goodbye
Please/Thank you
Yes/No
Where is the toilet?
In German, Czech, Spanish, French and Dutch.
>what advice do you have for a first time European traveler? Although I'll spend most of my time in Germany, I'm also making stops in Prague, Barcelona, Paris, Cannes, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Vienna. <
Learn how to say
Hello/Goodbye
Please/Thank you
Yes/No
Where is the toilet?
In German, Czech, Spanish, French and Dutch.
Aug 10th, 2006, 01:36 PM
#18
1.Try to get hold of the Rough Guides to the countries you are visiting. they too are aimed and the young/impecunious traveller.
2.THe notice Board in your uni may have offers for shared travel or arranged trips.
3. Learn some basic phrases and smile a lot!
2.THe notice Board in your uni may have offers for shared travel or arranged trips.
3. Learn some basic phrases and smile a lot!
Aug 10th, 2006, 04:31 PM
#19
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
jy-
coming from a girl who just spent a year studying abroad I think the biggest tip is to remember how much time and energy travel takes. it's always tempting to plan 3 cities in three days but it really SUCKS when you actually do. what's the point of traveling if you can't relax and enjoy yourself and see enough of a place to be able to say you've actually 'seen' it.
Paris is unbelievable and I personally think 1-2 days won't cover it. I spent 5 and could have spent more. The metro system is really easy with stops for all the major sight seeing destinations (bastille, louvre, opera house, down-town, etc). just know not alot of people will respond to english or any other language then french. what worked for me was to constantly carry a tourist map and metro map. that way I could point at the destination I wanted to get to and then pull out my metro map (to the metro employee behind counter) and they all wrote down what numbers to take to get there. of course I always at least said thank you and goodbye in French which was all i knew and I first attempted italian and english just in case.
the latin quarter is the cheapest neighborhood to eat in-by far and you will be so glad if you go there the first day so you can go back again and again for anything from a cool jazz dive bar to 2 euro crepes filled with brie cheese to other yummy things.
Barcelona is sooooo cheap to eat out nicely if you look around and compare menus first and stay off Las Ramblas. I found everyone out at night in the neighborhoods to be friendly. but seriously i hated Las Ramblas. The gothic cathedral was the most amazing church i saw in Europe second only to Notre Dame. Parc Guell is also very cool and Gaudi's house is nice but I don't think the tour is necessary. I also liked the Picasso museum.
for accommodation remember that hostals are nicer than hostels and some of the hostels are seriously nightmarish so i'd go with the hostals. (25 euros a person will get you a room for two with two beds and your own bathroom!)
Don't forget the grocery stores! manchego cheese is dirt cheap there while costing an arm and a leg here and great spanish wines can be had for a few euros. loaf of bread, hunk of cheese and yummy spanish ham would cost under three euros all together!
oh! watch your wallet, keep it in a bag that you keep diagonally on your body rather than on one shoulder and keep it down inside at the bottom with a zip up top. I seriously saw a girl from my school get her purse ripped off of her arm and she wouldnt have had she remembered this. no need to be overly paranoid though. spanish people are so great!
coming from a girl who just spent a year studying abroad I think the biggest tip is to remember how much time and energy travel takes. it's always tempting to plan 3 cities in three days but it really SUCKS when you actually do. what's the point of traveling if you can't relax and enjoy yourself and see enough of a place to be able to say you've actually 'seen' it.
Paris is unbelievable and I personally think 1-2 days won't cover it. I spent 5 and could have spent more. The metro system is really easy with stops for all the major sight seeing destinations (bastille, louvre, opera house, down-town, etc). just know not alot of people will respond to english or any other language then french. what worked for me was to constantly carry a tourist map and metro map. that way I could point at the destination I wanted to get to and then pull out my metro map (to the metro employee behind counter) and they all wrote down what numbers to take to get there. of course I always at least said thank you and goodbye in French which was all i knew and I first attempted italian and english just in case.
the latin quarter is the cheapest neighborhood to eat in-by far and you will be so glad if you go there the first day so you can go back again and again for anything from a cool jazz dive bar to 2 euro crepes filled with brie cheese to other yummy things.
Barcelona is sooooo cheap to eat out nicely if you look around and compare menus first and stay off Las Ramblas. I found everyone out at night in the neighborhoods to be friendly. but seriously i hated Las Ramblas. The gothic cathedral was the most amazing church i saw in Europe second only to Notre Dame. Parc Guell is also very cool and Gaudi's house is nice but I don't think the tour is necessary. I also liked the Picasso museum.
for accommodation remember that hostals are nicer than hostels and some of the hostels are seriously nightmarish so i'd go with the hostals. (25 euros a person will get you a room for two with two beds and your own bathroom!)
Don't forget the grocery stores! manchego cheese is dirt cheap there while costing an arm and a leg here and great spanish wines can be had for a few euros. loaf of bread, hunk of cheese and yummy spanish ham would cost under three euros all together!
oh! watch your wallet, keep it in a bag that you keep diagonally on your body rather than on one shoulder and keep it down inside at the bottom with a zip up top. I seriously saw a girl from my school get her purse ripped off of her arm and she wouldnt have had she remembered this. no need to be overly paranoid though. spanish people are so great!
