Topping for mom

Looking for Advice---Is Christmas vacation a good time to visit Italy?<BR>Anyone have an opinion or advice?

Thanks for a great trip report, Belinda! LOL about your walking comments! The are SO true! Reports like these are why I keep coming back to Fodor's!

Carin - No kidding. We walked so much I broke my shoes. But every step was worth it.<BR><BR>In response to another poster - I only wore my jacket in Italy on travel days and I took it off once we got settled on the train etc. I think I might have worn it one night to dinner when the temp was quite comfortable. I did wear it more often in London and Paris.<BR><BR>Thanks for kind words. Keep it up and I really will post a trip report. I found so much helpful information on this message board before our trip I just wanted to give a little back.

Hey, Belinda, we call it "scrapbooking"! I've used old music sheets from the flea market or city maps for background, taken photos of the horizon (several in a row) then hooked them together for a grand city view, glued coins onto the page, and used a lace bookmark from Burano to add more flavor to my photo albums. My husband is trained to empty his pockets every night for me to scoop up tickets, programs, brochures etc that he knows to save.

GUIDEBOOKS: Before we left I read a number of guidebooks, Fodors, Rick Steves, Michelin, etc. I now have quite a library. I decided to take the Rick Steves books with me as I like how they are organized and, because of the type of paper used in publishing them, they are light weight.<BR><BR>I used yellow plastic post-it flags to mark the key pages in each city. On the flags I wrote the key word, like, Louvre, British Museum, Restaurants, etc. That way I could easily turn to the page that I needed.<BR><BR>As we left each city, I left my guidebook behind. Sometimes donating it to the hotel library, sometimes to an arriving guest as we were departing.<BR><BR>In addition to the guide books I had purchased maps for each city. For Paris I had a really handy map book where I used the same procedure of flagging pages, Hotel, Eiffel Tower, etc. I can't recall the name of the map book, but it was extremely helpful. I'll try to find it and post it later.<BR><BR>I also compiled a small spiral notebook with key information. The front couple of pages were flight information. Next few pages contained train info - times, train numbers, station name, etc. Then each city had its own section beginning with hotel name, address and phone number.<BR><BR>Because we were doing so much in so little time, I thought it was important to make access to information as efficient and pain-free as possible. For the most part it worked.<BR><BR>I like the idea of including coins in the scrapbook. Thanks.

topping

<BR>Your reports are very interesting and charming. Thanks for bringing back some memories of discovery. <BR><BR>One Q:<BR>I've spent a lot of time in Europe and have a number of phone cards from France, Italy, and other countries. I do not understand your comments on the phone card in France. You wrote: <BR><BR>" In Paris you have to<BR> use a phone card that you insert in the pay phone. So we went in search of a<BR> phone card which we bought at a wine shop as the tobacco shop nearby was<BR> already closed. We went back to the pay phone on the street, but couldn't use<BR> the phone card without some other card you have to insert into the pay phone<BR> first. A very nice guy waiting to use the phone offered us his card to use while<BR> we made our call. Someone who understands Paris pay phones can no doubt<BR> explain this better. My guess is we screwed something up."<BR><BR>I've never experienced a need for a "second card" as you report. Does anyone have any experience with this?

topping for newbie

Hi all, about the calling card. I used an AT&T calling card as well, and I know that if you're using a payphone in Switzerland, you have to click in one of the little 5sfr cards you buy at the newsstand just to get a dial tone; but as soon as you do, you continue w/your at&t instructions re the access number.<BR><BR>Here's my question, Belinda. Is it possible for you to estimate how much international longdistance time you were able to get from a 600-minute card? Obviously, 600 minutes for intra-US calls will not mean 600 for international. I want to send a couple of cards to an elderly friend in spain, so she can call her US friends, and I'd like to be able to give her a realistic idea of how much time each will give her. I know, I know "call AT&T". This is more fun. So shoot me. J.

Belinda,<BR>Will you be doing the actual trip report soon? What was your experience on the overnight trains -- sleeping compartments, etc.?

Belinda, you're pretty funny. I've traveled a lot and still appreciate all the information you are giving. thanks - and thanks for "turning Mr. xxx into Mr. ZZZZZZZ" - great comeback!

Really enjoyed all your posts. I'll be leaving the end of month for Paris and London for the first time. Thinking a blazer could be a good idea--I'm really a jeans and t-shirt gal normally. But when in Europe...<BR><BR>Hope you'll ASAP post a complete report. Thanks for all the good tips.

Belinda, thanks for all the tips! My first trip will be in 14 weeks .... finally getting close! I had already seen some of your tips in other boards, but some were new. Keep up the good work!

JW - The insert that came with the card listed countries and the associated minutes. Seems to me the 600 minute domestic card translated to about 60 minutes of international calls. However, I found that I got more than 60 minutes out of my card. I bought the card at Sam's Club and it cost around $20. Hope that is helpful.

Belinda,<BR><BR>Loved your report. As a first timer who traveled to Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland just a few weeks ago, may I add a few remarks to yours?<BR><BR>-To Blimey, You are allowed to bring nail clippers as a carry-on now. <BR><BR>-Regarding trains in Italy: The Italian trains were much more disorganized than we found the German trains. When we arrived in Munich we booked seat reservations (we had a Railpass already) for the train segments that we needed them for our whole trip. The German trains listed the Platform # right on the seat reservations - very organized!<BR><BR>Like Belinda I found with the Italian trains you could arrive 30-45 minutes before your departure and your platform would not be listed on the departure board. Also on the seat reservation it lists your car #. We had a lot of trouble finding the car #s on the outside of the Italian trains. Just not posted!!<BR><BR>In contrast, the German train stations would have a display alongside the platform showing the car #s, the class of car, and Smk/Non-smk cars. We had a Cisalpino train come into Stuttgart from Milan on Platform 1. We had 10 minutes to connect with another train on Platform 15. We were told to stand by the train doors to be the first ones off to manage that connection. No problem! Train arrived right on time, we were first ones off, down the stairs, all the way to the other end of the station, up the stairs, check the platform display, discover our car is the first one (at the far end, that is), hike all the way to the letter 'A', and walk right into our car. This could never happen in Italy. The German stations have the letters A, B, C, etc. posted overhead alongside the platform so you can stand at the correct position for your car.<BR><BR>Our Stuttgart to Munich train even had individual video screens in the seatbacks. We watched movies on the way to Munich in German, of course.<BR><BR>Hope this info helps other newbees.<BR><BR>Dee

Dee - Thanks for the input. All good information is appreciated.

Thanks, Belinda. I'm enjoying the continuing exchange. J.

Belinda,<BR>How are you doing on the report? We're waiting!!!

Shannon - I'm working on it. Don't rush me. :o) I'm still trying to get the photos in albums. If it wasn't for my darn job I'd be done by now. Course if it wasn't for my darn job I'd never be able to travel. Ah, life's little ironies. If only I had time to contemplate them. And so it goes.....

topping

x

topping

Belinda<BR><BR>Your preparation was just IMMENSE!!<BR><BR>And I love the layout of advise. I don't agree with all of it, but, hey, life would be boring if we were all the same, no?

Thank you so much for all the info. I'm to Italy for three weeks leaving Sept. 16. First time and I can put to use much of what I have read here. Thanks again Belinda.

Sheila - I'd love to hear what bits you didn't agree with as I'm always up for learning something new. This was obviously my first trip (first of many I hope) and it was definitely a learning experience. Thanks - belinda

Belinda<BR><BR>email me if you like. It's no big deal. I'm sure if I put it on here I'll be accused of attacking you, which I do not in any way intend. It was a great contribution

topping for train advice

belinda don't worry, Sheila always likes to have a go at newbies on this site but she's ok. A mother-hen type, aren't you Sheila. Just watch the claws and beak :-)<BR><BR>I liked your comments although I'd gladly wring the neck of whoever it was that said Europeans didn't wear jeans or that they all dress in black or whatever. Absolutely misleading. Please tell all your fellow countrymen/women that it's not so.

This post is the perfect example of why I surf this talk site daily,I've learned more about traveling here than from all the books I've bought in my lifetime. Let's keep up the good work!

Mr/Ms xx, don't be such a pompous ass. All of us, even you, were first timers at one time. This lady has spent a lot of her time to post this information and it is of value to people planning their first trip. For those of us that have been many, many times, we can choose to ignore it, or better, we can read and supply our additional ideas/thoughts. I am quite happy that Belinda chose to post this and I am quite happy to share my experiences with beginners. So, why don't you just go away and we will all be better off.

Belinda--<BR><BR>Absolutely one of the best things I've read on this site--wonderful report. Now for all the travellers reading this posting--you can pack absolutely any kind of knife, including a swiss army knife, in your checked luggage: all the new restrictions only apply to carryon luggage. I ought to know, last trip to Paris, I stocked up on huge and potentially deadly kitchen knives and packed them in my checked luggage with no problem.

Is it too late to post an actual and in fact trip report?

Of course not, Belinda...post away!!!

Interesting input on the trains. I am going to Italy for the first time, leaving Sept. 13, and the train part is making me a little nervous. I will need to take a train from FCO airport to Termini, and at Termini find the IC train to Grosseto (I have already reserved my train tix). Is the train from the airport to Termini easy to find? I've already assumed I'll be overwhelmed at the train station, but I'm ready ;-)! Will I have an easier time finding the train to Grosseto if I know where the end stop is? Thanks for your input (in advance).

In case anyone’s interested, I bought an excellent travel jacket from www.sierra.com for about half the price of my old one from L. L. Bean. <BR><BR>I can empathize with the notation that people in train stations are often helpful whether or not they have a clue as to what they’re telling you. Last April I was traveling in Europe with an English friend. On the English leg of the trip we were taking a train from Cheltenham Spa to Great Yarmouth which is quite a journey. We were to change in London at Paddington Station, which is a place where I’ve always had trouble, take the Tube to Liverpool Street Station then catch the train to Yarmouth. The last place I assumed I’d have a language problem was in London.<BR><BR>Paddington was, as usual, full of construction and the resulting chaos. We corralled an amazingly tall fellow in a London Underground garb. His English skills were next to zero; his accent was so heavy neither of us could understand more than a few words. Eventually he wrote down instructions which were totally wrong! I’ve used the Tube for years and heretofore had considered myself a smug little expert. We went up and down stairs, lugging our bags, one of which was very large (brand new) and on wheels. Until a wheel broke off! The few escalators were mostly out of service. When we finally reached our platform I was looking for something in my pocket and I noticed the mangled bag was starting to fall, aimed right at my friends knees. I could visualize the bag knocking him into the path of the oncoming train and I made a desperate grab and managed to somehow bend the nail on my forefinger backwards, breaking it in two about halfway down!<BR><BR>As soon as we got settled and the train took off I looked up at the Tube map on the wall only to discover we were heading in the opposite direction! We disembarked at the first stop, crossed over, sweating, cursing, and starting to panic because we now had less than an hour to get to our connection. I stopped another Tube employee and this guy was French with an accent that was impenetrable! Although we were back at our original starting place he tried his best to convince us we were in the wrong station!<BR><BR>In the end we muddled through, arriving at Liverpool Street Station about 10 minutes before our next departure, sweaty and irritated, only to learn that the train was delayed by half an hour!<BR><BR>What to do? Only one thing…into the Hamilton Hall pub for two pints of surprising cold, outrageously calming pints. A great attitude adjustment after our trials…<BR>

Belinda,<BR>I believe that you and I were separated at birth. I plan trips to the "nth" degree like you do. I have post-it notes stuck all over my books like you do. I overdo the same things you overdo. I also had the idea to bring little gifts like keychains, etc., on my trip in November. I can get them at the same place you did, because I, too, am in Houston. The moleskin is on my ever-expanding list of things to bring (as opposed to the list of things to do, which is also different from the list of things to do/buy BEFORE the trip, etc.... I'm big on lists. I bet you are, too.) I am intending to put together the same type of "memory book," too. Whether I actually get to it or not is another question!<BR>Anyway, I have enjoyed your posts, and I'm looking forward to reading the complete trip report. <BR>Your sister (in love for travel, anyway!) Linda

ttt

Linda - Funny how when I read about you making lists and things you sound like a nut, but my lists and things are perfectly reasonable. :o) Seriously, here's my philosophy, plan to the nth degree and then be infinitely flexible. You can ruin a trip trying to follow a schedule, itinerary, etc. You can also ruin a trip by not planning. I haven't even posted my trip report and I'm planning my next trip (a week in Paris next May).

STREETS: Most european streets are of cobble stone. The first time I brought a suitcase and had the tremors when I dragged it on the pavements from the Metro to my hotel. The next time I brought a bag pack which was much better.