Do's & Don'ts
Oct 19th, 2005, 04:13 PM
#41
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DO listen to St. Cirq, maitaitom and anyone else who says "DON'T be intimidated by the prospect of driving (almost) anywhere you want to drive in Europe".
(My own exception is London; never driven there, and likely, never will).
(My own exception is London; never driven there, and likely, never will).
Oct 19th, 2005, 04:41 PM
#42
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Have driven from Paris to Athens and back - being Australian its "wrong side" for us - no problems except for scarcity of parking in some small towns, although Naples traffic was a trifle scary.
Oct 19th, 2005, 08:26 PM
#43
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Take time to enjoy your trip. Don't try to see everything, just because someone told you it is a "must see". Spend some leisure time just soaking up the atmosphere. Some of our best memories came from sitting on a bench in the old part of town just watching the local activities.
If you are driving, use viamichelin or another mapping program for door to door directions. Even with maps, and printed directions, it took us 2 hours to find our way out of Mainz when I took a wrong turn out of a parking lot.
If you are driving, use viamichelin or another mapping program for door to door directions. Even with maps, and printed directions, it took us 2 hours to find our way out of Mainz when I took a wrong turn out of a parking lot.
Oct 19th, 2005, 09:55 PM
#44
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Hello wifist, added to all these thoughts I would add:
Do expect some miserable weather whether it be heat and humidity, cold and windy or rain and electrical storms.
Don't expect to feel 100% absolutely healthy and well every day of your trip. Between preparing for your trip, traveling overseas, jetlag, unusual food etc. there may be a period of time you do not feel at your absolute best.
Do know that this too will pass.
Don't panic or get upset when something goes wrong. A vacation is part of real life, and day to day real life always seems to have some small problem.
Do know that your first trip overseas will probably be the trip you will remember the most the rest of your life.
Best wishes to you with hopes that you have several more trips in the future.
Do expect some miserable weather whether it be heat and humidity, cold and windy or rain and electrical storms.
Don't expect to feel 100% absolutely healthy and well every day of your trip. Between preparing for your trip, traveling overseas, jetlag, unusual food etc. there may be a period of time you do not feel at your absolute best.
Do know that this too will pass.
Don't panic or get upset when something goes wrong. A vacation is part of real life, and day to day real life always seems to have some small problem.
Do know that your first trip overseas will probably be the trip you will remember the most the rest of your life.
Best wishes to you with hopes that you have several more trips in the future.
Oct 19th, 2005, 10:02 PM
#45
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Hi, wifist!
Here's a good thread--
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...&tid=75551
Have a great trip!
Here's a good thread--
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...&tid=75551
Have a great trip!
Oct 19th, 2005, 10:32 PM
#46
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Read, read and read! Guide books and history about the places you'll be going. Then you'll have a good idea about where you'll be going and what you'll be seeing.
Use the "search this forum" box and you will find answers to questions you may not have thought to ask.
If you are going with someone else talk about your expectations and your budgets.
If you plan to drive call your credit card companies and auto insurance and make sure that someone will cover your insurance.
Use the "search this forum" box and you will find answers to questions you may not have thought to ask.
If you are going with someone else talk about your expectations and your budgets.
If you plan to drive call your credit card companies and auto insurance and make sure that someone will cover your insurance.
Oct 19th, 2005, 10:44 PM
#47
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Do lots of research first - especially on this Fodors site re: restaurants, hotels and sights.
Don't try and see everything, you will run yourself ragged. Spend more time in less places.
Don't speak in loud voices particularly in restaurants.
Please take off your headgear when entering a church/chapel and a restaurant.
Enjoy all the new experiences and laugh at the bad ones. (when you have calmed down!)
Accept that you will feel overwhelmed at times - this is normal.
Most of all "have a great time"
Don't try and see everything, you will run yourself ragged. Spend more time in less places.
Don't speak in loud voices particularly in restaurants.
Please take off your headgear when entering a church/chapel and a restaurant.
Enjoy all the new experiences and laugh at the bad ones. (when you have calmed down!)
Accept that you will feel overwhelmed at times - this is normal.
Most of all "have a great time"
Oct 19th, 2005, 11:18 PM
#48
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Don't visit family and expect them to amuse you for your entire visit - they have families and routines.
Research your trip and have a 'wishlist' You might not be able to do everything but at least your hosts will know what your interests are.
Let your hosts know of any food issues you might have - I personally like to fill the fridge/freezer so I can spend more time with my guests. Therefore please don't arrive and tell me you don't 'do' carbs when I've got 4 days of pasta dishes in the freezer
Research your trip and have a 'wishlist' You might not be able to do everything but at least your hosts will know what your interests are.
Let your hosts know of any food issues you might have - I personally like to fill the fridge/freezer so I can spend more time with my guests. Therefore please don't arrive and tell me you don't 'do' carbs when I've got 4 days of pasta dishes in the freezer
Oct 20th, 2005, 01:23 AM
#49
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That thing about not driving on the right in the UK is serious.
A couple I know were hit by a car being driven by an American on the wrong side of the road.
He got away with a fine of £1000 for careless driving.
The woman died of her injuries after a month but by that time he was back in the US.
A couple I know were hit by a car being driven by an American on the wrong side of the road.
He got away with a fine of £1000 for careless driving.
The woman died of her injuries after a month but by that time he was back in the US.
Oct 20th, 2005, 04:12 AM
#50
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I don't enjoy driving anywhere--even around our little town.
But I agree with maitai and others that there are times that the advantages of driving definitely outweigh any disadvantages.
And there are times that the advantages of train travel definitely outweigh any disadvantages.
But I agree with maitai and others that there are times that the advantages of driving definitely outweigh any disadvantages.
And there are times that the advantages of train travel definitely outweigh any disadvantages.
Oct 20th, 2005, 05:00 AM
#51
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"MO, that's hogwash. Sure, it's daunting to drive in and out of some big European cities, but unreadable roadsigns?"
Your opinion is hogwash. Yeah, the street signs are usually on the sides of buildings where they are hard to se during the daytime and absolutely invisible at night. Unlike US cities with wide straight streets, European streets are a narrow maze. They are usually one-way, so you can't back track when you get lost. When you get lost, you stay lost. You can't ask directions because the bits of language that you have learned to say "please" and "thank you" will be insufficient to deal with something as complex as driving instructions. In some countries, the insurance rules are more complex than the plans for the space shuttle. You are never sure what you are covered for. And of course, I needn't get into the difficulties in places where you have to drive on the left.
Some freeways are good, but some are terrible mazes. They never have signs to specific attractions. You approach a city and want to get off to got to some specific sight and you never know which of the 5 exits to take, so you end up getting lost going through the city maze. What ever time you think that you will gain driving you will lose more in being lost.
Then there is parking, which is non existent. Then there are DUI laws. You have to worry about drinking and driving because they take that stuff very serious there.
Americans who have never been to Europe need to be aware of all this stuff. The people who post on these sites are not average tourists. They are people who mostly spend a lot of timer travelling. For a newbe like the original poster, it is important to know in advance what you will be facing. Ignore all these ridiculous, facuile posts about how easy it is to drive in Europe. It's out ansd out nonsense. It may be necessary at times, but is lots o aggrevation.
Your opinion is hogwash. Yeah, the street signs are usually on the sides of buildings where they are hard to se during the daytime and absolutely invisible at night. Unlike US cities with wide straight streets, European streets are a narrow maze. They are usually one-way, so you can't back track when you get lost. When you get lost, you stay lost. You can't ask directions because the bits of language that you have learned to say "please" and "thank you" will be insufficient to deal with something as complex as driving instructions. In some countries, the insurance rules are more complex than the plans for the space shuttle. You are never sure what you are covered for. And of course, I needn't get into the difficulties in places where you have to drive on the left.
Some freeways are good, but some are terrible mazes. They never have signs to specific attractions. You approach a city and want to get off to got to some specific sight and you never know which of the 5 exits to take, so you end up getting lost going through the city maze. What ever time you think that you will gain driving you will lose more in being lost.
Then there is parking, which is non existent. Then there are DUI laws. You have to worry about drinking and driving because they take that stuff very serious there.
Americans who have never been to Europe need to be aware of all this stuff. The people who post on these sites are not average tourists. They are people who mostly spend a lot of timer travelling. For a newbe like the original poster, it is important to know in advance what you will be facing. Ignore all these ridiculous, facuile posts about how easy it is to drive in Europe. It's out ansd out nonsense. It may be necessary at times, but is lots o aggrevation.
Oct 20th, 2005, 05:09 AM
#52
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<<Then there are DUI laws.>>
How barbaricly oppressive!
If DUI laws constitute a reason that imhornet thinks driving in Europe is to be avoided, then far be it from me to do any dissuading!
How barbaricly oppressive!
If DUI laws constitute a reason that imhornet thinks driving in Europe is to be avoided, then far be it from me to do any dissuading!
Oct 20th, 2005, 07:27 AM
#53
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While I agree with Imhornet's opinion about driving in cities, especially for a first time visitor, the rest of it is clearly "hogwash". (And since I've been learning some German would that be "schweinebaden"?)
It may interest Imhornet to know that there are things called maps! The idea is you study them before you get in the car and figure out where you're going. Admittedly, they are harder to use the closer to a DUI you become but details, details. If you really plan ahead you can use Mapquest. The nice thing about Mapquest is you can put in addresses, this may be helpful if one needs to find their way from a European jail after they've run up against those pesky DUI laws.
It may interest Imhornet to know that there are things called maps! The idea is you study them before you get in the car and figure out where you're going. Admittedly, they are harder to use the closer to a DUI you become but details, details. If you really plan ahead you can use Mapquest. The nice thing about Mapquest is you can put in addresses, this may be helpful if one needs to find their way from a European jail after they've run up against those pesky DUI laws.
Oct 20th, 2005, 08:57 AM
#54
"The people who post on these sites are not average tourists. They are people who mostly spend a lot of timer travelling."
Well, except for that darned 49 - 50 weeks I work a year, I am a traveling fool.
I have driven in Europe since my first adult trip in 1984, when there was no internet, and guide books didn't have nearly the info they have now. I had an Auto Club map that was about three decades behind. Somehow, I was able to navigate through France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland on that trip.
On this past trip, we had a couple of great maps, and finding our destinations was simple. The online info from mappy.com and viamichelin provide a wealth of information, too. Yeah, sometimes you get lost, but so what?
As for getting lost, I still get lost in L.A., and I've lived here my entire life. I've been lost in Saarbrucken, Florence and other parts of Europe, and have lived to tell about it. Actually some of the getting lost stories are better than planned trips.
My wife and I have a special place in our heart for Sarrbrucken, Germany, where we spent an hour trying to find the road to France. We and our friends who traveled with us this year and in 2001 still laugh at being stuck at a toll gate outside Florence until a voice came over the speaker saying, "Take the ticket and go away."
If taking a car, makes you nervous, by all means take the train, but you are going to miss some fabulous places and even more fabulous memories along the way if you never drive.
Just remember:
Enjoy the Journey. Attitude is Everything.
Well, except for that darned 49 - 50 weeks I work a year, I am a traveling fool.
I have driven in Europe since my first adult trip in 1984, when there was no internet, and guide books didn't have nearly the info they have now. I had an Auto Club map that was about three decades behind. Somehow, I was able to navigate through France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland on that trip.
On this past trip, we had a couple of great maps, and finding our destinations was simple. The online info from mappy.com and viamichelin provide a wealth of information, too. Yeah, sometimes you get lost, but so what?
As for getting lost, I still get lost in L.A., and I've lived here my entire life. I've been lost in Saarbrucken, Florence and other parts of Europe, and have lived to tell about it. Actually some of the getting lost stories are better than planned trips.
My wife and I have a special place in our heart for Sarrbrucken, Germany, where we spent an hour trying to find the road to France. We and our friends who traveled with us this year and in 2001 still laugh at being stuck at a toll gate outside Florence until a voice came over the speaker saying, "Take the ticket and go away."
If taking a car, makes you nervous, by all means take the train, but you are going to miss some fabulous places and even more fabulous memories along the way if you never drive.
Just remember:
Enjoy the Journey. Attitude is Everything.
Oct 20th, 2005, 09:21 AM
#56
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I've been reading this thread with great interest, but do take exception to Imhornet's comments.
I just returned recently from 2 1/2 weeks in Spain - my first time ever in Europe in all my 40+ years on this earth - and my boyfriend and I did as a road trip. Neither of us had ever driven outside of the country (unless you call border towns in Mexico outside of the country!), so we were far from experienced.
We not only survived, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would not have done our trip any other way. Yes, the street signs were difficult to find - at first. Yes, the streets in most areas were narrow and maze-like, but between the two of us, maps, and speaking to the locals we were able to find our way just fine. Besides, getting lost is half the fun. We discovered early on that hotel desk clerks were our best resources. While checking out we would inform them of our next destination, and they would happily point it out on our map or print it out (in English) for us to take along.
As far as finding attractions? I had heard that getting to the Alhambra would be a nightmare, and was almost dreading getting there despite the assurances of two different hotel desk clerks who assured us there were signs everywhere. Sure enough, we followed the signs and we were suddenly and almost magically found ourselves in the parking lot for the Alhambra. It wasn't until I had my ticket in my hand that I believed I was actually there!
Driving in Europe is really no more or less difficult than in some areas of the US - well, except for Madrid which defies logic and even my boyfriend gave up. It may not be a logical choice for a solo traveler, but for 2 or more it can be a terrific way to see parts of a country one would not otherwise have a chance to see.
I just returned recently from 2 1/2 weeks in Spain - my first time ever in Europe in all my 40+ years on this earth - and my boyfriend and I did as a road trip. Neither of us had ever driven outside of the country (unless you call border towns in Mexico outside of the country!), so we were far from experienced.
We not only survived, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would not have done our trip any other way. Yes, the street signs were difficult to find - at first. Yes, the streets in most areas were narrow and maze-like, but between the two of us, maps, and speaking to the locals we were able to find our way just fine. Besides, getting lost is half the fun. We discovered early on that hotel desk clerks were our best resources. While checking out we would inform them of our next destination, and they would happily point it out on our map or print it out (in English) for us to take along.
As far as finding attractions? I had heard that getting to the Alhambra would be a nightmare, and was almost dreading getting there despite the assurances of two different hotel desk clerks who assured us there were signs everywhere. Sure enough, we followed the signs and we were suddenly and almost magically found ourselves in the parking lot for the Alhambra. It wasn't until I had my ticket in my hand that I believed I was actually there!
Driving in Europe is really no more or less difficult than in some areas of the US - well, except for Madrid which defies logic and even my boyfriend gave up. It may not be a logical choice for a solo traveler, but for 2 or more it can be a terrific way to see parts of a country one would not otherwise have a chance to see.
Oct 20th, 2005, 10:25 AM
#58
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To generalize about "driving in Europe" is absurd. I wouldn't want to be driving in any of the major city centers, but then I wouldn't want to do that in the US either if I could avoid it.
OTOH, we found driving around Tuscany, for example, a piece of cake. And there is no way we would have seen all those tiny villages and back road vistas except in a car.
OTOH, we found driving around Tuscany, for example, a piece of cake. And there is no way we would have seen all those tiny villages and back road vistas except in a car.
Oct 20th, 2005, 01:28 PM
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On driving, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Far too many tourists come here not taking driving seriously. I do hope that all visitors know, for example, the rather subtle sign that indicates (often on a 60mph road) that the road will become single track (usually on or under a narrow bridge) and the other direction has the right of way. There are no warnings for this...just a symbolic sign that i have never seen in north america.
there are a lot of joys to driving but if you are not comfortable with it or you have not taken the time to learn the rules and the signs...please don't drive.
as for the drink driving, we can all act repulsed that someone would mention this but i think that hornet's point was that what you might consider "innocent" at home can get you into a lot of trouble here. a point well worth considering.
there are a lot of joys to driving but if you are not comfortable with it or you have not taken the time to learn the rules and the signs...please don't drive.
as for the drink driving, we can all act repulsed that someone would mention this but i think that hornet's point was that what you might consider "innocent" at home can get you into a lot of trouble here. a point well worth considering.
