This is my first time traveling to Europe in September. We already have flights and hotel bookings plus transportation from airport to hotel. But so many questions remain! We will be going by train from country to country. How best to do all and dress comfortably, etc?

1) My friend and I will be arriving in London (Gatwick). We will be there from 9/7 to 9/10. On 9/10 we leave for Brussels (earliest possible am train?). And on 9/12 we leave for Munich. How likely will have time to train over to Brugge? Seems to me we should settle for seeing all we can in Brussels. We leave Munich on 9/15 and arrive in Lucern. We leave Lucern on 9/17 and arrive Paris. Depart Paris on 9/21. Yes, a very rushed trip but any recommendations on train travel to make most of each country?

2) Any recommendations on exchange of currency? We've heard to use charge card for as much as possible. Recommendations? Also, since we are not a family, is it possible (like in US) to get separate checks for meals and so on so we can pay on our individual cards?

3) We have plans to bring clothes we can layer but any recommendations as far as long-sleeve clothing vs. short-sleeve? Are rooms generally hot/cold? Types of sleepwear?

We realize our trip is very aggressive on number of destinations and timeframe but both want to see as much as we can since likelihood of return "slim." Any timesavers as far as travel by night on train, etc. Would be most helpful.

Brussels to Brugge is a little more than an hour.

It looks like you are new here. Welcome aboard. Try some recent posts at Fodor's for more helpful train information:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752919
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34828090
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34826387

And try the search box above for rail to get plenty of other threads from this forum.

1. First Eurostar from London to Brussels on Sundays leaves at 08:33. Book ASAP at eurostar.com to get the best price. For Brussels-Munich you could take a train to Paris and then catch the night train to Munich. PREM'S (discount) tickets are as low as E50 for a bunk in a 2nd class six-person couchette and E70 for a bunk in a 1st class four-person couchette. (It's worth paying more for the extra space and comfort.) The SNCF site says only a few PREM'S are left for 9/12 so book ASAP. You can print your own PREM'S. Leave France as the default country and do NOT choose cancellation insurance or you'll have to have the tickets mailed to an address in France. For Luzern-Paris you could take a train to Basel and a night train from there to Paris. Again, PREM'S are available on the night train, but SNCF says there are only a few left so book ASAP.

2. Use a credit card for major purchases and get cash from ATMs for everything else. Here is the URL for a helpful article on changing money in Europe: www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm. Note what you need to do BEFORE leaving home to make sure your cards will work in Europe.

Ricksteves.com also has an excellent section on using the train, railpasses, etc. There are a variety /combinations of rail passes (3-country, individual country, etc).

Also go to www.railsaver.com, enter your itinerary and see if passes or tickets would be cheaper.

I don't think it's customary to split restaurant checks. Why don't you pay cash or one person pay with c.c. and the other person pay half back? Unless you have very different eating habits (one drinks alcohol, the other doesn't), take the easy way and just split costs.

I don't think the weather will vary all that much from London-Lucerne-Paris. September is an excellent month to travel; take a light jacket and plan to layer a bit in the altitudes.

Katnicki....travelling Europe by rail is an enjoyable and comfortable way to travel Europe. Bruges is an incredible, beautiful town, but if you are only in Brussels for 2 days it might be a stretch to fit it in. As far as currency, ATM machines give you the best rate. Also remember on the trains to pack a lunch/snack, including beer or wine, and enjoy it on the train. Have fun, Cheers, Mikek

Do NOT exchange any currency. Charge everything you can on credit cards. Use your STM card (linked to checking account only) to pull cash for walking around money.

No - it is not fair to ask the server to give 2 separate checks for 2 separate credit cards. You're doubling his work. Just switch off on paying for meals (unless one is a big eater/drinker and the other eats practicallty nothing it will be close enough for government work).

(I can't bear when someone starts on the well I only had the salad I should pay less. They're the same ones who want to split evenly when they're had the lobster and 14 drinks.)

Hi! Sounds like you've done a lot of research for your trip and are going to have a wonderful time. Some of the pp's have given you some great advice.

Just my two cents, I've been to Belgium a couple of times and for my money I just loved Brugges. Brussels is beautiful, no doubt, with lots of things to do and see, but Brugges has an almost magical quality to it. I highly recomend spending one of your days there.

Happy Travels,
Shannon

In the UK at least, it's perfectly acceptable to ask for half of a bill to be put on one card and half on another.

Thanks everyone for helpful tips. Yes, Hopscotch new to this so appreciate trains site info. Who is Rick Steves's?

OK no separate check but as nytraveler alluded to now there is the "I want the rewards on my card....." ugh!

Is viewing worth taking train during day on any of my segments?

What is customary tipping (on card or cash)? Amount considered "ok"?

tta

owain is right and nytraveler's is from the american's point of view...requesting separate payments in restaurants is perfectly acceptable in the UK. you don't get the look of disgust as you would if you asked the same in america. this is very common in the UK as many people use cards and people tend to be a bit tighter with paying for their own food.

when the bill comes for say, £60, just say something like put £20 on this card and £40 on that one. sometimes people will pay for part on a card and part with cash, rather than on two cards. This type of splitting is VERY common. don't worry about it.

<<<<<<<<
...you don't get the look of disgust as you would if you asked the same in america
>>>>>>>>>

Not true in most cases, especeially nowadays.

Even in America asking for split bills, or handing out 6 different credit cards by 6 diners dining together in one table as one group, is not an issue anymore.

It's common practice for, for example, co-office workers travelling together (or as a group) and dining together, but with separate expense accounts.

Tourist area restaurants have also not shunned this practice. I have experienced this when even in the island of Nantucket, where the wait staff asked us if the bills will be separated by the 3 small families dining rogether.

For the server or wait staff, in a lot of instance, the incentive in tips ususally comes out to be higher than if there's one bill for the group.

Hi Kat,

Rail schedules, prices and tickets for:

London/Brussels at www.eurostar.com
Brussels/Munich and to Luzern at www.bahn.de
Luzern/Paris at www.voyages-sncf.com

Almost all restaurants in Europe include a 15% service charge. This is what we call a tip in the US. Look for it in small print on the menu.

A "tip" in Europe is in addition to the service charge. Usually round up to the nearest Euro or so.

Have a nice trip.

I'd skip Brussels and go straight to Brugges. It's smaller and 'cuter' and easy to wander around. It has canals, a cute square, a nice art museum and it is different from the other cities you will be visiting.

Make yourself a mini picnic kit with a pocket knife, corkscrew, plastic utensils, plastic wine glasses and plastic coffee can lids as "plates".

You're going in September so the weather will be similar to New York, Philadelphia, etc. Layers will work. Take something for rain and a polartec that can wad up into a travel pillow.

Rick Steves is the 'guru' of traveling inexpensively and light. Check out his webpage:

http://www.ricksteves.com

Check your local library for his books and all the others. Photocopy what you think you might need and discard as you go.

Once you have completed this trip, I'm sure you'll be planning the next one almost immediately. Travel off season, stay in 2* hotels. Do whatever you can to see the world.

ttt