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***NEED HELP*** 3 weeks Europe Trip (Budget)

***NEED HELP*** 3 weeks Europe Trip (Budget)

Old Aug 20th, 2015, 12:46 PM
  #21  
 
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Italy: Rome, Venice, Milan, Pisa, Florence
Switzerland asel, Interlaken, bern, Zurich, Geneva
Netherland : Amsterdam
France – Paris

22 days that should be just dandy but I would skip places that don't seem to wow first-time travelers as much as other places - Milan, Zurich, Geneva - spend more time in the Jungfrau Region around Interlaken - 4 days there could be filled not only with Alpine adventures but boat rides on the two lakes bookending Interlaken and a day trip to Bern (one less relocation) and substitute lovely Lucerne for Geneva and Zurich - two modern cities that don't excite too many it seems (though like anyplace they have their pluses.

Lucerne is a cute city on a cute lake - great boat rides and excursions to place like Mt Rigi - celebrated lookout point and Mt Pilatus - one of the world's steepest trains climbs 'Lucernes' mountain' that you can see clearly right from town.

Trains? There is an overnight train between Paris, Milan and Venice - save travel time during the day and the cost of a hotel - fares as low as 49 euros or so including sleeping berth - www.thello.com for discount tickets - here are some great sites to gather rail tips and such for planning a European rail holiday - www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. In Switzerland a Swiss Pass can be surprisingly cost-effective if there only 4-5 days or so - www.swisstravelsystem.com for lots on Swiss trains.
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Old Aug 20th, 2015, 02:50 PM
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Of course, getting from Paris to Brussels will eat up a few hours.>

2.5 hours either via Lille or Brussels - could take the Thalys to Brussels - throw bags in station locker - look around for half a day and then go onto Bruges for two nights. The Thalys ABS fare lets you take a train from where your Thalys train lets you off to All or Any Belgian Stations for just 5 euros or so - it can be as long as 24 hours later - any train anytime - ask for it when buying your Thalys tickets: www.thalys.com - early bird gets the worm - 29 -39 euro tickets can easily be had IME by booking way way early.

Bruges to Amsterdam you go via Antwerp and could use the Abs FARE I think to go to Antwerp on any train - spend a few hours there and hop the Thalys you've booked to Amsterdam. (About 3 hours Bruges to Amsterdamned.)
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Old Aug 20th, 2015, 05:01 PM
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Sassafrass & pariswat : we are big fan of chocolate, waffles and fries, wonder if we can try out all in one day, lol~ just in case i manage to get this done in one day, perhaps i will depart to Amsterdam a bit earlier.

PalenQ: I think i will let go switzerland, given the possible bad weather that spoil most of the plan but i will surely keep your info for my next europe trip, as for the thello, is that fine and safe for us (me and my female partner) to get 6-berth couchette? instead of 4-berth? we are now working on fixing the stops and places that we will be going, in sequence, then we shall continue on deciding if we seriously need a pass or just get individual ticket on the spot, not forgetting the type of transportation from one place to another, for i know that the transporatation fees will take up a lot of fund if we didnt plan properly.
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Old Aug 21st, 2015, 11:19 AM
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Yes Thello is safe - like any night train IF you keep the compartment door locked with the bolt lock on the inside - tdhat is the ultimate in safety - I've always ridden the 4-berth ones over the 6-berth ones - 4 beds in one same-size compartment is obviously more roomy than one with 6 - but in 4- and 6-berth compartments you must share with others - unisex and sleep in your street clothes or PJs and these compartments are a bit less safe as folks may go out at night and leave the compartment door unlocked when they come back.

I always try to book the very upper level and keep my bags and valuables up there - well out of the way of someone just opening the door at night and snatching bags there. The upper berths extend over the hallway so have an alcove you can easily fit all you bags in.

4- and 6- person couchettes are much cheaper p.p. than a private double but the price of a double is probably about what you would pay for a hotel.

Railpasses only cover 25% of the full-fare rate of Thello trains - discounted tickets are usually cheaper!
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Old Aug 21st, 2015, 01:47 PM
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we are now working on fixing the stops and places that we will be going, in sequence, then we shall continue on deciding if we seriously need a pass or just get individual ticket on the spot, not forgetting the type of transportation from one place to another, for i know that the transporatation fees will take up a lot of fund if we didnt plan properly.>

Well vs full fare wlak up tickets a railpass for several longer train trips is usually a great deal but you can easily if you book NOW discounted tickets on most portions - deep discounts at times like Paris to Amsterdam on the Thalys for 39 euros vs full-fare of well over 100 euros (railpasses charge a surcharge for Thalys trains of about $30 in 2nd class - one of the very few trains in Europe that passholders face a surcharge and especially one that steep (the surcharge can be more expensive than deepest discounted tickets and you don't use a day on your pass).

But also keep in mind that if over 25 most passes are first class only and that has significant benefits - a much more realxed trip - especially if just showing up at stations because IME of decades of European rail travel shows me first class nearly always have at least several if not more empty seats - 2nd class often more and more full - especially if carrying luggage you'll be more comfy in 1st class - i often can put mine on an empty seat near me - 2nd class you often have to fend for space in the overhead luggage rack. Anyway 1st class price of a railpass should not be compared to the cost of 2nd class tickets as it offers much more IME.

Railpasses also allow flexibility to chose which trains to take once there - discounted tickets are sold in limited numbers so must be booked weeks/months in advance and then typically can't be changed nor refunded. But that would no doubt be your cheapest route as you don't indicate you are taking zillions of trains. Full-fare however only a few longer trips can make a pass pay off.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2015, 06:53 PM
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PalenQ: Thanks for the tips about the safety, i just want to reconfirm if during the reservation, we can actually choose the beds? either upper or the lower? additional charge applied? besides, i got a question here, for train tickets that need reservation, be it Thello, Thalys (freaking me out for the shooting incident), Eurostar etc, do i need to confirm the date upon purchasing or there is such thing as open ticket?
(note: the itinerary of my partner can only be obtained after October, thus i have a hard time deciding when to buy the ticket in advance, that is why i intend to buy open ticket first, then set the date only when i do the reservation, if possible).

1st class will most probably be out of the picture, we intend to save more in transportation while keeping the comfort at reasonable level. as for the luggage, i have seen many travellers suggesting backpack, instead of luggage, i totally agree with that if we are talking about convenience and mobility, but what about the souveniers (chocolate & non-food items) that we wana buy for our relatives?
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 07:43 AM
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Well train questions - you can buy a full-fare ticket that can be used on any Thalys or Thello train but that would cost tons more than advance discounted tickets and then you'd have to make a reservation subject to their being empty seats - if full fare just wait until Europe to buy - if you go thru the official sites I think you can chose lower, middle (in 6-person couchettes) or upper - two uppers would face each other across the aisle - if at all physically limited getting up top could be a challenge - ladders must be climbed.

I think Thalys trains could be the safest in Europe now as I suspose extra security - under cover and open will be put in place.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 11:06 AM
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For luggage on trains pack light - you may have to life the bags into overhead luggage racks - will have to if taking many trains in 2nd class - I say anything without wheels would be out - wheels make it so you can walk long distances not only thru trains but in stations and out of stations - many wheeled backpacks convert to backpacks when you want to carry them as such.

But I'll never go without wheels again - when a young buck I could carry anything on my back for hours but a heavy backpack can get tiring. I'll never forget the young gal in Nice train station retrieving her heavy backpack from baggage storage and when she put it on fell right over on her back. Pack light!
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