Another late poster signing in! Guess why??? Yes, we were off again - in France for the holidays. Another fantastic trip made even better by the great hints and ideas received here. Thanks for the info about Ventimiglia, the Riviera Corniches, the ice-skating in front of the Hotel de Ville in Paris... <BR>We're in our late 40's, live in Virgina close to DC, and take advantage as much as possible of Dulles airports' easy access to Europe. <BR>I am a piano teacher and performer (alot of our trips have been music-related), and also manage the hospitality center for an international Christian ministry, Prison Fellowship. My husband is director of business development for a small corporation. <BR> I think my wanderlust started when we moved to Quito, Ecuador when I was 13. Loved living out of the country! Such a great growing-up experience. <BR>Our major travels together as a married couple began with a 2 week trip to <BR>Spain in '88. Since then we've been to south and central america, and several times to Europe. Although we didn't expect this, France has become our favorite! Last summer we explored the Dordogne area, and most recently we were in the Provence/Riviera region. Also have enjoyed Normandy and the Loire. <BR>Our favorite way of celebrating is to travel - Valentine's weekend in Belgium was unforgettable, and our 25th in France last summer as well. Our Christmas gift to each other was this trip to France. My husband thought it was great that he didn't have to go shopping! <BR>I once took a quiz entitled "Are you addicted to travel?". The result was a resounding YES! <BR>I wish you all many happy travels and discoveries in 1999!

Sorry for the late response... I am a daily "lurker" and sometimes poster, especially for questions about Central and Eastern Europe. This site is THE BEST of the 50 or so travel web sites I have bookmarked! <BR> <BR>I am 35, divorced, and work for a management consulting firm (Booz Allen & Hamilton) in McLean, Virginia (HI to all the others who live near Washington DC!). I love my job, because I get to help organizations design and implement change initiatives. You've heard the saying "Change is good"? Well, I actually believe it! <BR> <BR>Anyway, that's also why I LOVE Central and Eastern Europe!! These countries are constantly changing as they move toward democracy and market-driven economies. The contrast with Western European countries or the U.S. is amazing! <BR> <BR>I have been to Europe 6 times in 11 years so far (Germany and Austria several times; also Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, the U.K., Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland (my favorite so far), and probably others I can't think of now!). My next trip will probably be to Russia and the Baltic countries, since I couldn't squeeze them into my last trip to Poland. Other future destinations I'd like to travel to include Turkey, Israel and Egypt, Australia and New Zealand, Thailand, China - the list is endless!! But I know my fellow Fodorites will understand my obsession! <BR> <BR>My lifetime goal is to go to every country in Europe and, lucky for me, that will keep me traveling for a LONG, LONG time! <BR> <BR>Excellent thread, Denise!

Denise <BR> <BR>I have only just found this posting. I check this site daily but must have missed it when it was originally posted. <BR> <BR>I have had the great fortune during my life to have travelled extensively, from age 2yr up (my parents were great travellers). I am now 53yr. In my previous occupation, my wife and I operated a reasonably successfull importing business into Australia (Adelaide, in the State of South Australia), so my yearly travel consisted of combined business/leisure jaunts to SE-Asia (2/3 pa), Europe (yearly) and throughout Australia (up to 6 pa covering the major cities). Whilst it was always great to get home, the itchy feet syndrome of a seasoned traveller was always present. <BR> <BR>In 1992 I retired thinking that I could now travel where-ever that I wished. BUT, as I found out, that is not always possible as I found that I needed to work, so that I could enjoy my leisure time. So for the last 4 years I have been gainfully employed in the computer industry allowing others to have the joys and worries of running a business. But it does have it's up-side. I can organise my holidays when it suits me and for as long as I require (part of my employment package). <BR> <BR>I am currently involved in planning our next trip, although what started as a leisurely wander through Southern Europe for 6 weeks, is now rapidly becoming a trek of emormous proportions. But still, it's fun planning it. <BR> <BR>This was a great posting. I can only hope that there are numerous replies to it.

Dear Denise, <BR>I must confess that when I read the posting I immediately thought to myself "there comes Mr Wes Fowler again with his witty questions & remarks!". Well I was wrong... <BR>I'm a Fodors Fan - keep checking it every now and then. <BR>I'm from Brazil, city of Recife, state of Pernambuco (Northeast). I'm a rep (English Language Teaching Regional Representative). I work for Oxford University Press in the Northeast of Brazil (9 states altogether). I'm a dreamer too...I keep daydreaming about my first-time visit to Europe in July 99...can hardly work properly now, I can't wait anymore, I've been patient all my life! Thanks for a wonderful question. If any one of you guys need any info from my end or if I can be of any help, just let me know. Glaucia <BR>

WOW!! This has been so much fun reading all the responses. I am 44 years old and the only remaining native of San Jose, CA. that stil llives there! I am an account exec with an international insurance broker. My job is exceedingly demanding but pays well so I stay put as it allows me to visit Europe once a year. My first trip was purely by accident about 8 years ago as I assumed I would have to wait until retirement before I could afford to travel abroad. Thanks to the Gulf War, the flights to England were under $400 round trip. Two months after hearing that news, my sister and I landed in London for 10 glorious days of sightseeing. My life has never been the same. My budget, lifestyle and priorities are geared to making sure I can afford my annual trip to Europe. The best trip ever was 2 weeks in Italy all by myself when I turned 40. France, Germany, Scotland, Amsterdam, Greece, Austria & Turkey were each just as marvelous. This fall I will be heading to Prague at long last. Oh yes, Denise, I met the most wonderful couple from Australia when I was in Italy and we exchange Christmas cards every year. We had a wonderful day in Siena together. <BR>

Greetings Denise, from Plano, Texas. Between us my wife and I have been to every country in Europe, save Finland. Some of my visits were courtesy of the US Navy. We have traveled to Europe by air, cruise ship and freighter and in Europe by air, rail and car. On our last four trips however we have discovered the joy of bicycling, not with a tour group, just solo. So far we have cycled in Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. We are an hour from DFW Airport and so it is convenient for non-stop flights to Paris, Frankfurt and Milan. I disassemble the bikes here, pack them, reassemble them at the destination airport and off we go! We have met many folks in Europe, a couple of geezers (I'm 61, my wife 52) on bikes is an easy way to start a conversation. On our last trip we met a couple from northern Germany, in Cesky Krumlov and we plan to visit them this Spring. We are truly "travel junkies". In two weeks we leave for a week in the Alsace (our Christmas gift to each other) and this Spring we will cycle the Rhine and Moselle Valleys. We plan to get to your part of the world in a couple of years, I was in Japan about 30 years ago on a business trip and would love to go back and include Australia and New Zealand. G'day.

Denise, <BR>What have you done? I've been to the Fodors site before, but today was my first time at the Forum. I'm in Miami, Florida (been here all my life - that's 32 years), it's just about 1 a.m. and I'm hooked. I've enjoyed reading about all of you and hope to contribute in the future. I will be in Paris and Italy in March. It's been 11 years since I visited Europe!!! This will be our first trip without the kids. <BR> <BR>I'll seek advice & pointers only after doing my research. Tony (Edinburgh) doesn't have to worry about me! <BR> <BR>Sleepless in Miami!!!!

Hi Denise, Wonderful question.I too have been hooked to the Fodor's Forum for about the same time as you. Have been to Eurpe 4 times in the last 18 months and the suggestiond from this forum have been invaluable. Especially this time when we stayed at the much recommended 'La Fenice' in Positano. It was just superb.Certainly the highlight of our trip. <BR>Well, my husband and I are from India, though we work and reside in HongKong. I am a project finance analyst and I specialise in infrastructure. Going through Fodor's and thinking about our next vacation, at 3.30 in the afternoon makes life in office bearable!Happy new year. <BR>

Hey guys! <BR> <BR>Here is yet one more response to this most popular of questions on this forum. I first found out about the forum earlier this year and I have not written quite that much, but I plan to do so more often from now on and share my relatively little travel experience with whoever welcomes it. The Europe forum is the best, and Europe is just great. I just moved to Osteen, Florida, a tiny town near Daytona Beach, two days ago. I am using a friend's computer until mine gets set up. I came from Miami and I am a 31 yr old Greek woman. I love to travel but this year I will probably just be able to go on small trips on the Eastern seaboard because my husband and I just bought a home up here and have certain bills. I was very tempted when I read in Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine about the $449 six-night trip to London and $599 trip to Ireland (everything included) but I have always had excellent self-control and will not avail myself of these trips. I hope that I will acquire as much travel experience as some of you have someday and I wish we could all take the trips of our dreams! Good luck to all and keep traveling!

To Ann from Boston: I just flew on an Air France 747 to Paris that had more leg and seat room than the 747's did years ago. Tell your reluctant hubby! To Linda in San Jose, the AE for international insurance brokerage - I work for Willis Corroon in Orange County. Who are you with?

Hi, Denise <BR> <BR>It is a fine a warming idea !! <BR>knowing a liitle bit more about the <BR>members will make the forum more <BR>family like. <BR> <BR>I am from Israel , 40+ , married + 3 <BR>fine childrens. <BR>I am a data communication engineer <BR>and working in a big company. <BR> <BR>My favorite hobby is travel , and <BR>I'm doing it mostly trough timeshare. <BR>Some years ago, I was lucky to buy <BR>cheaply 5 timeshare units , and that <BR>alows me and my family to travel with <BR>comfort and with low cost arround the world. <BR>The basic idea of timeshare is to buy <BR>a red unit ( the most wanted time) <BR>in a lowest price and with a lowest maintanace , in that case you can save, <BR>and travel with stile and with low cost <BR>Usally we combine 2-3 weeks and travels <BR>2 times a year. <BR>In case that we can't use our timeshares or our exchanges we just rent it to friends or family. <BR>Any fodors members that want <BR>answers about timeshars feel free to email me. <BR> <BR>I have another idea : <BR>Lets have a meeting !! <BR>I am sure at least 5% of the members will come . <BR>Lets vote for a leader to arrange it. <BR>Happy New Year to all fodors members ! <BR> <BR>bye <BR>L. Zeev - from Israel

<BR>Maggie - I won't worry about you at all my friend. My point was what possesses people to arrange a holiday and then ask what there is to do by way of leisure there on this forum ? Do people sit down with an atlas and think' ooh Rothenburg ob der Tauber, that sounds nice - lets go there, dear' then two weeks before travelling think 'I'd better find out what there is to do when we get there'. Surely you visit a place for a reason, not for the sake of leaving town for two weeks ? Am i coming at this from the wrong angle ? Is it because I am Scottish ? <BR> <BR>

hi..I am fairly new to this site...only checked it out recently to get information on paris and hotels (under the name ashley) but since then i have been checking in everyday and find myself making a long list of places I want to visit. I am a native Floridian born and raised in Tampa, on the beautiful Gulf Coast. I left FLA for college and since then I have lived in Charleston, South Carolina and now in NYC. I currently work in finance and am also getting my MBA. I am traveling to London and Berlin for a week this March (a school trip) and staying over in Paris for the following week. Can't wait!! When I finish with school in June I hope to take a long trip either to Africa or Turkey. My father just went to Turkey recently and said it was amazing. Thanks to everyone for this fascinating resource although it is making me less productive on the job as I keep sneaking into the site!! Quick response to Tony: that's what's fun about traveling...pick a place on the map that's very far away and exotic to you and learn as much as you can about it. Sometimes you don't have time to do a ton of research until the trip is coming up. Similar to what I did when when I moved to NYC...decided to go and two weeks later was in a cab from the airport on my into the city with a duffel bag and no job. great experience!

I love this forum, and this is a great posting. I am probably one of the younger contributors, being just 23, so I am still at the early stage of travelling. I am in the US Navy, however, so I see a lot more of the world the many of my contemporaries. Before I joined the Navy when I was 20, I managed to travel from my home in Indiana to Canada, Mexico, and many of the states east of the Mississippi. I got to at least drive through some of the western states while stationed in San Diego, California and am now in Virginia. I got to travel to Europe for the first time in September to visit my fiance midway through his 6 month mediterranian deployment. I saw Rome and Mahon, Spain. WOW. Right now, I am preparing for what I hope is a wonderful opportunity. The ship that I am being sent to is stationed exclusively in the Med for the entire year of my billet, and travels from port to port. It goes most often to Rota, Spain, but it sounds like it goes to lots of other neat places. So, for the year I will be there, it seems that I will be paid to travel in Europe. Wish me luck, <BR>Missy

This one is for Tony in Scotland. I too wondered about folk who would pick destinations before deciding whether there was anything to do or see there. I think the answer is frequent flyer miles - these are people who have earned gazillions of miles on constant business travel and need to use them up, have a chosen a destination because they saw a movie once, or knew somebody that went there once, or whatever, or that's what was available from their airline for the time they wanted to go. I'm guessing you don't earn too many of these miles travelling for the Midlothian highway department. I know I don't in my job, and thats why it matters to us that we go to places we want to go to.

Ciao Denise! I suppose I am the first Italian. From Florence. Yes, the wonderful art town crowded all the year round (of tourists, sorry) and vespas (lot of pollution, for sure). I'm not crazy for Europe in this period of my life, but the first time I discovered this site (a year ago, more or less) I decided that it was interesting to see what foreign travellers think about Italy. Guess..., I became addict... <BR>Anyway, I'm 36, work as researcher at the University and love travelling, as everybody else. The most beautiful trip to date? Yemen. The most dreamed of trip? Burma. In my past? A lot of Spain, Portugal, Greece and, of couse, Italy. <BR>Happy 1999! <BR>

To Dayle from Willis: I work at Aon Insurance Brokers. Prior to that I worked at Jardine and A&A so now I am back working with my ex-co workers since A&A bought Jardine & we bought A&A. It's so incestuous in the insurance business!! I flew Air France a year and a half ago and the cigarette smoke was bad. Do they still have a smoking section? <BR>

Hi Maggi, - few posters up - What have I done? Created a monster. I am quite jittery opening the forum each night in case it jumps out at me. <BR>I fully expected, when I posted this question, to only get 5 or 6 answers or to even have people tell me to mind my own business. Glad they didn't!! It is good fun and so very very interesting - just like another family. What a lovely lot of contacts for different parts of the world we now have. Maybe Fodors will close it down - it taking up too much memory or something. Denise <BR>

To Linda, my Air France flight was one of those new Code Sharing things. A Delta flight "operated" by AF. So, no smoke. My first trip to Europe was on Alitalia and I nearly died! The worst offenders were the crew! Never again no matter what the price.

Denise, this is a fabulous topic - and it's such a delight to read an entire thread with no sniping or criticism! I am married (the kids are grown and OUT and we love being grandparents)and live in Southern New Hampshire. This year, I will celebrate my first 49th birthday (I plan to be 49 indefinitely). Twenty years ago, I went to a bookstore for A book so I could get started planning A trip to Europe. Instead, I came home with "Recommended Country Inns of New England" and spent the next 15 years exploring all of New England (note that just prior to this, when my folks came to visit from Baltimore, I had no idea where to take them). Even though I have lived within an hour of Boston all these years, I have every tour guide ever published on Boston (and Paris and Switzerland and Ireland and ...) and we "weekend" there like tourists. I was astonished when my collection of tour guides exceeded my cookbooks. Last year we took the Trolley Tour and this year we're planning to go on the Duck Tour. I figure if you're going to spend the time and money, you may as well know the best places to visit and dine. There was a time when I was completely oblivious to the spectacular New England fall foliage. I am an obsessive planner. In my lap on the way, I have at least a three inch folder of reference papers and I have an Eagle Creek tour guide shoulder bag (awesome). After several months planning a trip to NYC, we were an hour down the road when I discovered that my husband had left my precious "folder" on the ironing board. Once there, however, my husband was absolutely astonished at how well I knew my way around and how to get everywhere we were going. Having planned for so long, I had memorized most of it (in spite of advancing age and a failing memory). My husband, you see, left to his own devices, would leave the house and "follow the highway signs" and drive around for hours until he stumbled across the hotel. Asking for directions would never occur to him. Anyway, finally, in 1994, my husband was sent to Switzerland on business for ten days and took me along (yup, we were at the passport office two days before). When we arrived at the airport, the wife of the couple we were travelling with looked down at our (way too many) assorted bags and said, "first trip - huh?" I am eternally grateful to live here and now. Just a hundred years ago, a trip to Europe (or anywhere) was so much more difficult. I am constantly amazed that we can jump in a car or on a plane and be elsewhere so quickly and comfortably. Travel is the best experience possible. Having seen places where people are just not so fortunate, I am overwhelmed every time I walk into my local Shop & Save with what is available. After diligently searching for a source for Fleur de Sel (French sea salt) I was astonished to stumble upon it at the Shop & Save. Imagine! Even more amazing, when the folks from the home office in Switzerland come here, they head straight to the stores to load up on Fruit of the Loom and Hanes underwear, thrilled that it is "so nice" and "so inexpensive", like nothing available where they live. I would like to add my best wishes for everyone in the New Year. And, to Neal Sanders: I am an inveterate night owl and once in a while I doze off on the couch after dinner and then I'm raring to go until all hours. And, by the way, you'll be astonished at the changes in Boston (especially the South End). The Combat Zone is all but gone! But, the traffic and the big dig will keep you laughing (or crying). If you haven't seen them, Ragtime, Cabaret, and Chicago are all must sees and playing in Boston soon. If you enjoy theatre, Show of the Month Club (a misnomer) (they have a website) is terrific. And, be sure to check out the schedule at Harborlights Pavillion - a magical experience in the summertime.