Worldtalker, I hadn't known about Ijourneys.com until i saw you mention them on the Rome/Vespa thread! I'll use them when I'm touring Italy for a week with my Mom this year-Thanks for the tip!

Limoncello!

I've learned to relax when I go someplace new. Oh, and have a second ATM card.

That there are people who will believe absolutely anything - no matter how silly (even when meant in fun).

I have learned so much on this site!! Great driving tours of southern Tuscany from Stu Dudley. Palazzo del Capitano, a wonderful hotel in San Quirico d'Orcia, Italy, thanks to Bob the Navigator. Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch thanks to cmcfong. Hotel Gletschergarten in Grindelwald has a wonderful apartment for families. Rent an apartment in Rome--it's much less expensive for a family. Stay in Oia on Santorini thanks to Brotherleelove.

Great European train help from BETS. Rent directly from the owner through Vrbo.com. It allowed us to stay in Seaside, FL, where rental agencies charge more than we wanted to spend. Kayak.com is an easy site to check airfare from numerous airlines-- thanks to Ira.

Thanks to everyone!!!

to look for ira's advice on Paris
to look for Stu Dudley's advice on Tuscany

(and was just telling someone I invited to check Fodor's for the first time that EXACT advice).

ira helped make my Paris trip a great success - and I'm counting on Stu's advice to be as helpful for my trip to Italy! :-)

On a more positives note, after 2 trips to Italy in the last 5 years this site opened up my eyes to renting an Apt.in Rome. Never would have thought about that and its become one of those things i will reccommend to anyone willing to listen!!!
Another bit of advise from Fodorites was used this last trip( last year) and that was a few restaurant choices that were repeated over and over.
One that came to mind was L'Orso 80. Low and behold literly right underneath an apt. my parents were renting at the same time we were there. It was quite the experience and we still talk about all that food!!
Cell phones, what to do and not. Information was sound advise to buy the phone here and go to a store to get the sim card. Worked like a charm except when i ran out of minutes because i was to cheap and did not buy enough!!!
I am sure there are other good tips i came across but at the moment these come to mind first and formost.

I can't always remember who posted the information, nor do I always know if they were the original source or if they in turn got it from someone else -- but I'm very grateful for being told about:

-- viamichelin.com (route planner site)
-- sncf.fr, trenitalia.it, and above all, bahn.de (rail sites with schedules and pricing)
-- seekitaly.com (information on Italian rail strikes, helped us a lot in working around a strike in May 2004)
-- Morgan B's fabulous sncf ticket buying thread, a true labour of love, thank you MorganB
-- the dear late ed of twenje, who persuaded us to stay in a Swiss mountain village over staying 'down in the valley'
-- the late Ben Haines, gentleman extraordinaire, for his tips on London lectures (amongst others)
-- whoever posted the idea of packing in Ziplock bags, thank you!

Other tips haven't worked out so well for us, but as they are always given in a generous spirit, they are appreciated.

CAPH52, or anyone else, what is the DCC in Ireland that you said to watch out for?

Dynamic Currency Conversion - that is when they run your charge in US$ (or whatever your home currency is) instead of the local currency. You will just about always lose out when that happens.

These are all very nice tips and fluffy bits of advice, but the good book and the new pajamas are really way more important than anything else. If you have those two items you can deal with everything else that the other tips are addressing.

That it's okay to wear jeans and sneakers in Paris.

OOPS....no, just kidding.

I love Fodor's and every tip I pick up is woven into the fabric of a wonderful travel experience. But more than anything, MorganB's SNCF guide has preserved my sanity. Thank you Morgan.

But, it IS okay to wear jeans and sneakers in Paris. And, who wears pjs anymore?

I'm going to! I just bought 2 pairs of Nick & Nora. They're absolutely awful/great/loud & my niece will crack up when she meets me in London & I pull those babies out of my suitcase. :)

Thanks to a tip on here from <b>Neopatrick </b> regarding AA 25th anniversary [Spring of 2006], I was able to get 2 FF tickets to Hawaii for 25% less miles and ended up being able to fly first class instead of coach for less miles than coach would have required!

I will be forever thankful to him for that great bit of info!
Debi

Whaddya mean who wears pjs anymore? What do you wear?

That there are other people like me who live to travel. Now I know I'm nor crazy, or if I am, then I have lots of company! Seriously, you guys gave me the courage to take 3 months off and travel. I hope to do it again someday soon. Thanks!

I agree with many of the above tips, and let's don't forget about the enormous amount of detail offered by Robespierre and xyz123 and others on on technical matters (phones, ppcs, laptops, etc).

That is so true! xyz123's clear and useful information on the very difficult international cell phone issue helped me to stay in contact with some important family issues when we were in Romania <i>without</i> breaking the bank.

When renting in the US and you're not from the US, it would be cheaper to rent thru a UK based website (in my case it was Budget) because the rate included insurance coverage. Saved me lots of $$$

To buy tickets for Louvre from the Tourist centre instead of spending hours queueing at the museum

Finding a good guide and driver for ChiangMai and Bali

the list goes on...

Pack light
Rent apartments when possible
Use ATM machines
See the Borghese Galleries

Many others, but I guess these are my favorites.

www.kayak.com.

Worth hundreds every year.

Pack light. Pack light. Pack light.

I have to also put in my two cents worth and remind everyone that this IS a forum and I believe forums are for people to share information. Obviously much of the information is based on each one's personal experience and opinion...am I right? Sometimes there isn't a right or wrong answer but I'm guessing most of us are intelligent enough to understand that we need to sift through the advice and take away what helps up the most. In my opinion...there is no bad question to be asked on this travel forum. If you don't want to answer it...then don't. Too many Fodor Forumites take themselves way too seriously and some hold others way too accountable for their opinions. Chill.

Lots of great general rules of thumb, but also tops on specific mechanics. When I was having trouble navigating a website to reserve train tickets several people guided me with prompt responses and saved the day!

Perfectly said, caroltis, my sentiments exactly - I am new to the board and almost didn't come back after the initial responses I got, they mostly had a very negative feel-however, I am glad I stuck with it and kept coming back because I find this site to be an invaluable resource, and like you said, take from it what I need. I hope to give back when I post a trip report after our 3 week European adventure is over at the end of June, in the hopes it might help someone with their quest. Thanks again to all who allow us to learn from you.
Leslie