Europe first timer: Expert advice needed
 

Hey y'all! I'll be heading for Europe (Paris, London, Italy, and Lucerne) on September and I'm positively clueless on what to do, no flights,accomodations,tours, etc. have been purchased yet! But these would be easy since I've travelled extensively to Asia before (btw, I'm from Chicago). I just need your input on the following:
1.)VAT refund- I'm planning to purchase LV bags in Paris but would be departing from Rome, with a connecting flight in London. Where should I have my papers stamped?
2.)For those who have gone to Mt. Titlis in Switzerland, how cold is it during September? What would be the appropriate clothes/shoes to wear?
3.)I would be going to europe around third week of Sept., will there really be less tourists in the countries mentioned above?
I guess that's about it for now, y'all! You're thoughts would be appreciated, tnx

1. VAT. I'm pretty sure you submit the VAT refund request as you depart your last EU country which, in your case, is Italy. But someone more knowledgeable might have better info. But why do you want to purchase LV bags in France? With the terrible dollar/Euro exchange rate, they may be more than on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. If you do purchase them, keep all the receipts etc. safe until you show them to the VAT official at FCO. Have the bags in their original wrapping and don't use them on your trip or you will be denied the refund. You must have the physical bags with you when you are requesting the refund. If you pack them in checked luggage, no refund.
2. Mt. Titlis is cold even in July and August. Dress in layers, a good windproof jacket on top, and wear sneakers if not hiking boots.
3. Somewhat less, but still crowded.

VAT - you can make a VAT eligible purchase anywhere in the Schengen states (which are borderless for visa purposes) and claim VAT refund on exit from any point within the EU.

Just remember a couple of things:

1) You cannot use the items you have purchased before claiming VAT refund (which actually applies on export and things not "consumed" during your stay). There are times you may get away with this, but could get stuck with an officer who wants to inspect everything.

2) Stamping occurs at exit (you merely go to another window to claim the actual refund)

3) Merchants charge a fee for this, which is usually a fixed amount - hence it makes sence to have your VAT eligible purchases made a single point like a large store, in as much as this is possible.

4) Large stores (like Galleries Lafayette) have in-store VAT processing. Very convenient if you are able to make most of your purchases there (they typically carry most high end brands anyway). Have a look at : http://www.galerieslafayette.com/int...3e9ad3365e624e

Lots of info on VAT in the EU at : http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs...u/index_en.htm

One more thing - for things packed in checked luggage, VAT forms are signed prior to flight check-in and you have to make available items for inspection. There will be VAT refund processing after check-in for hand carry luggage. The latter is usually preferable as it typically doesn't have long lines. Hence, if you can hand carry VAT refundable items, you are likely to have an easier time, otherwise, plan to arrive at airport earlier to allow for VAT processing. It can take a fair bit of time at busy airports.

Yes there will be a lot fewer tourists in Sep than in Aug - still will be lots in places like Rome, Venice and Florence but not nearly so suffocating as August. A fine time to go IMO

<(Paris, London, Italy, and Lucerne) on September and I'm positively clueless on what to do>

With the type of clueless questions as to how to get around i usually refer folks to some good sources: www.ricksteve.com for a good look at rail travel, railpasses, cheap flights, etc. and www.budgeteuropetravel.com where you find lots on rail travel and passes and can also request their free and excellent European Planning & Rail Guide that is a fine primer for understanding the rail system and passes. Passes aren't always a good deal so if thinking of rail travel post your itinerary here and some Fodorites will give you their opinions - perhaps online fares directly from European rail web sites are cheaper than a pass in your case - maybe not.
but IMO the train is the way to go, perhaps mixed in with a long flight or two. the European rail system is super and many Europeans use it daily.

roseannegon appears to be a troll or a second class honky, "positively clueless" as self defined.

<i>going to europe around third week of Sept<i> or would have tickets by now.

</i></i>

Thanks y'all for the quick response! I know I can rely on this forum more than anywhere else...Okay guys, so a couple of questions have come up again:
1.)For those who have gone to Paris, how far would the opera madeleine be from galleries lafayette? From Champs Elysee? How much would a taxi ride be?
2.)Versaille Palace, worth seeing or waste of time?
3.)Gucci belt bag-anyone know where the cheapest one I could buy?
4.)Can anyone make an estimate as to how much does a moderate-sized, authentic, Venetian mask cost (doesn't have to be real fancy)?
5.)Okay, bear with me guys, poll time:
Top souvenirs for the following places:
Paris
Rome
Venice
London
Lucerne
6.)How about &quot;must-eats&quot; in:
Paris
Rome
Venice
Florence
London
Lucerne
I hope y'all won't get tired of respoding to my Q's, ty!

Why are you worrying about the price of short Taxi fares when you're buying LV and Gucci?

&quot;1.)For those who have gone to Paris, how far would the opera madeleine be from galleries lafayette? From Champs Elysee? How much would a taxi ride be?&quot;

Madeleine to Opera - not far.
Opera to Galleries Lafayette - not far.
I can't see taking a cab for any combination of these - it would be ridiculous.

Opera to Champs Elysses - depends where you want to go on the CE, as it's a pretty long avenue. But it's not that far from Opera to the bottom of the CE.

If you want to figure out distances as a pedestrian, go to www.mappy.com and enter the start point and the end point and select Pedestrian.

Any taxi ride of the sort you've mentioned is probably going to be under 10 Euros.

2.)Versaille Palace, worth seeing or waste of time?

???

I agree with hopscotch. A troll.

Something tells me her whole trip will be a waste of time...

Actually, am still waiting for my blue passport so I haven't purchased anything yet...
And btw, if you don't have any input to this thread
apart from useless comments, stay out, please!

let's ban the word 'troll' from the Fodors lexicon!

3) yes there will be less tourists once school is back in session

you want to go to 6 cities in 4 countries - you'd better have 4.5 - 5 weeks for this trip . . . . . . .

&lt;you want to go to 6 cities in 4 countries - you'd better have 4.5 - 5 weeks for this trip . . . . . . .&gt;

why? i doth strongly disagree IMO

As for the Paris questions, I think you'd find it useful to buy a map so you can see how far these things are from each other. If so, you'd know it would be crazy to take a taxi from the Opera to Galeries Lafayette as it's right behind it, literally across the street. The Madeleine to the Opera is just a bit farther, about five blocks.

I know some other folks like talking about shopping a lot, but I am old fashioned and think people should buy souvenirs because they see something and like it and it means something to them, not because someone told them what to buy.

If I am not mistaken, you may be able to get your VAT refund papers stamped at an office in Rome. I did it at the airport in Rome and noticed on the envelope an office location in Rome (I think, near Pantheon) where I could have done it.

PQ: whay? because London 5 days, Paris 5 days, Lucerne/Switzerland 5 days, Venice 4 days, Florence 3 days, Rome 5 days = 27 days w/o any travel time. Adding 1 day each way for transatlantic travel and 1/2 a day each time one travels to a new city brings it up to 32+ days. So even cutting each by one day would still mean 21 days plus travel time still is a full 4 weeks.

oops - &quot;Why?&quot; . . . .