Traveling to Europe

[Cherokeekid88]

So I have always wanted to go to Germany, but money has always been the issue. I am really trying to plan out a trip maybe late next year or early 2014. Anyone have an tips on how to travel overseas on a budget? It will be my girlfriend (wife at the time we go) and I going and I have a huge fear of flying but know that its the only way Ill ever get to see Europe. I know you can stay at hostels and stuff, but like finding cheaper plane tickets and how to travel around once you are there without getting a cab or rental car?

Would really like some advice, so that I can plan on making this happen. I would even settle with going to england, but really want to see Germany.

 

[ktm racer 419]

go watch the movie "Hostel" some good tips in there.

 

[Kejtar]

Public transportation in most EU countries rocks: whether it's trams, trains, busses or subways.

If you look at Eurorail passes, it's a pay once, travel all over, but buy wisely: they have differnt packages depending on which countries you are planning to go to.

Sleeping, look into hostels. Cheap, though limited privacy

Cheap airplane tickets... just start hunting.... I suggest Lufthansa (they usually have best deals) BUT keep in mind that their prices fluctuate based on the day of the week, and whatever else they use do control that yoyo..... I would recommend against traveling through some budget plane ticket websites because if you end up with issues on your flights... good luck getting those straight

Btw, if you have AMEX, look into flight insurance (or other cards tha you have). It's about $15 or so but it helps you with any and all travel issues regarding to flights.

Hope some of this helps

 

[Cherokeekid88]

So i should be able to get away with treating EU like NYC? just being able to travel around using public transportation to get to most places?

I also didn't think about having to get a passport...do I have to get the book and the card or just the book or just the card?

lufthansa is what I was looking at. I was gonna fly out on a Saturday and fly back on a Saturday which I think it usually the cheapest day right?

 

[Kejtar]

So i should be able to get away with treating EU like NYC? just being able to travel around using public transportation to get to most places?

Very much so. Some smaller cities will have a limited schedule but their coverage should be just as good.

I also didn't think about having to get a passport...do I have to get the book and the card or just the book or just the card?

You need just the regular passport. The passport card is for traveling here to our neighbours

lufthansa is what I was looking at. I was gonna fly out on a Saturday and fly back on a Saturday which I think it usually the cheapest day right?

[/quote]
Varies... I've had great prices flying out mid week as well as on the weekends... keep watching for promotions (sign up for their emails).

Also when you choose flexible dates in their booking tool it shows you a nice table with various pricing options.

 

[Cherokeekid88]

actually not bad on prices..... $860 round trip from charlotte to Frankfurt for like wed to wed....the only thing bothering me now is the long flight......

 

[Boss Cherokee]

So I have always wanted to go to Germany, but money has always been the issue. I am really trying to plan out a trip maybe late next year or early 2014. Anyone have an tips on how to travel overseas on a budget? It will be my girlfriend (wife at the time we go) and I going and I have a huge fear of flying but know that its the only way Ill ever get to see Europe. I know you can stay at hostels and stuff, but like finding cheaper plane tickets and how to travel around once you are there without getting a cab or rental car?

Would really like some advice, so that I can plan on making this happen. I would even settle with going to england, but really want to see Germany.

I'll be brief, on my cell. Get the train pass for length of stay. Wife & I did London England, Cantbury England, then bullet to Perris France,back to England. Two years later did Madrid, then norrth coast La Coruna where my grandma's from, then Villaba where my grandpa is from to the French border along the coast. The train pass was a good deal.

 

[OverlandZJ]

actually not bad on prices..... $860 round trip from charlotte to Frankfurt for like wed to wed....the only thing bothering me now is the long flight......

Did that flight a few times when i was stationed in Weisbaden.

Commercial isnt so bad..Just dont hop a flight in the tail section of a C5a..

 

[Lurch]

You can travel the entire continent only using trains and the occasional bus. The Eurail is the the way to go.

Sign up for fare alerts on airfarewatchdog.com. Also, sign up for Travelzoo weekly VIP updates. Every once in a while they have smokin deals - i once got a R/T ticket from LAX to Barcelona for under $400.

Hostels are great, if you're single. Traveling with a female companion is a different story I imagine. A lot of hostels have private room options though for a few bucks more a night.

Pickup up a Lonely Planet Europe or whatever countries you plan to visit. Best of the book guides in my opinion.

Germany, Spain, Czech Republic and the UK were a few of my favorite places.

 

[matus2]

I was born and raised in Slovakia and now live in Phoenix, AZ. I keep going back as much as I can and traveled through most of Europe - still have some of the more touristy, western countries to visit. Anyways, the hostels are great in a sense that a lot of them are really just regular hotels that have much cheaper prices if you book them through the hostel sites. You have to pay attention to what kind of room you're getting, the cheaper the more people will be in the room - mostly bunk beds with lockers. But most all hostels have the option of private rooms that are still a whole lot cheaper than regular hotel price. (that's what we usually end up doing) Eurail is great but it can get expensive and is limited to which countries you can visit. Check into RyanAir and SkyEurope - regional airlines that are super cheap and reliable. Also once you're in EU it's just as if you were in the states when moving from country to country. If you want the best bang for the buck with all the history and more, I suggest central and eastern Europe (w/in EU) - Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Croatia... The western countries are OK, but WAY overpriced and they prey on tourists so be careful with your wallets.

 

[matus2]

Ohh one more thing, most EU countries you will not have any issues talking English. At least not in restaurants, hotels, museums, etc. And do not use travelers cheques - biggest BS ever. Bring some Euro's, but use a CC like Capital One that does not charge extra on overseas purchases and has a pretty good conversion rate and if there is charge on there that is not yours they will take care of it quickly. That way you are safe from CC number theft. Do not use your debit card, especially not in the western countries - like I said they will pray on you.

 

[tbburg]

X3 on the Eurail pass. Great idea.
Also good advice on the debit card. Might consider not even taking it with you.
We're not big on papers here, so get used to the idea of keeping your passport handy.
Look into phone service. chances are your cell won't work in Europe, and your carrier won't work there even if the phone will.

Personal advice: DO NOT F**K WITH THE POLICE. Be polite and respectful to the point of subservience. European police will not take ANY crap, especially from a tourist.
Might be a good idea to get the US consulate's location and contact info for the countries you're traveling in.

 

[Tom R.]

Travel light.

 

[karstic]

actually not bad on prices..... $860 round trip from charlotte to Frankfurt for like wed to wed....the only thing bothering me now is the long flight......

Try flying direct from California.

Remi was right on public transportation.

My last trip to Germany/Austria I cut back on eating at restaurants for Lunch AND dinner. They have grocery stores there, too. Much better though are the local butchers and bakeries, nothing like the freshbaked rolls and cold cuts.

 

[karstic]

Look into phone service. chances are your cell won't work in Europe, and your carrier won't work there even if the phone will.

Actually it probably will, it just might be as expensive as hell especially for data service.

 

[CheapXJ]

well, since I'm in the middle of doing just that, here's some pointers:

Leave your debit card at home, the fees for using it are ASTRONOMICAL. Credit cards (VISA, Mastercard and AMEX) are your best bet, acceptable everywhere and the fees are much less.

If you can find a friend that is in the US military stationed in germany (Rammstein, Weisbaden, etc) that will be your BEST way to get money out of your account. if not, run yourself on a cash-only economy.

Keep your passport on you at ALL times.

I would suggest finding more people to travel along with, as group discounts are available on EVERYTHING and with more people, you are less likely to run into trouble.

Americans are loud obnoxious assholes, and you will realize this the moment you step foot out of the airport. Try VERY hard, NOT to be one.

LEARN SOME LOCAL LANGUAGE! although many Germans speak and understand English, they are much more willing to help you out if you can understand and speak a little German, it just shows some courtesy otherwise you're just "ananderes doof amerikaner" (another stupid american)

T-Mobile is unfortunately the way to go for international cellphone service. If you're not with a GSM carrier, you might as well leave your phone at home (if you have sprint, verizon or metropcs, your phone will be a paperweight). I would suggest picking up a prepaid "burner" phone when you get here.

If you fly into frankfurt, you are not far from Wiesbaden, and I have yet to run into too many people who can't communicate in english there.

RailPass is awesome, just make sure you get one that covers the routes you want to take.

Whatever amount of money you have in mind to save and take along, DOUBLE IT, RIGHT NOW!

of course, the best way to do it is to get a multinational corporation to pay your arse to be there, but that's not an option for everyone.

everything you want to bring with you that you may want to plug into the wall MUST support 230v/50hz power. general rule of thumb, if it contains a directly powered A/C motor and doesn't have a rechargable battery, leave it in the states and buy one when you get here, most Laptop/PC power supplies are autoswitching, so you just need to get a "SCHUKO" power cord for it. screw the adapters, they're a pain in the arse..

ANYTHING that is chargable via USB is easy, just buy a universal charger wallwart when you get here, they're about 10 euro ($13), phones, digital cameras, bluetooth accessories are mostly usable this way.

hostels are cheap, but germans are strange, and I don't know if I'd stay in german hostels. the actual hotels have a surprising level of service. I'm currently staying at Hotel Toskana in Wiesbaden, and every morning I can eat all the eggs and bacon I want for free, all the shots from the bar are double pours and MUCH cheaper than bars/restaurants around the area.

but the biggest suggestion I can give you is BRING MONEY! money will solve more problems for you than anything else you can bring.

 

[CheapXJ]

oh, and go to amsterdam get drunk eat mushrooms/space cakes and smoke some weed! EVERYONE needs to do this!

 

[KingIce]

Hahaha...nice...mostly everything CheapXJ said is right, so keep his advice in mind!

In Germany and Austria, i'm sure that over 60% of the people speak and understand english good enough to help you out if needed. Knowing some local language like "guten Tag" (good afternoon) or "Entschuldigen Sie bitte" (Excuse me please) is funny and of course helps to get in to contact, but not necessary at all. You will be told enough funny German, Italian and French words and sentences while you're over here. What's not bad to know if you travel with public transport (which is indeed really good in europe) are maybe some terms like "departure and arrival" (Abfahrt und Ankunft), Train Station ("Bahnhof") and stuff like that, so you know whats written on all the signs and where you are heading.

If you need help by any strangers, i think the best bet is always to ask someone at the age between 20 and 40 years. In most cases they have the best orientation around, some experience of life and most speak english more or less good. Don't be afraid to ask small groups of people. Generally they will help you as good as they can, and there's less chance to end up with some totally idiot, when asking a single person. (<- Understand what i mean?)

In Italy and France, and some Eastern Europe countrys, you must be prepared that suddenly NO ONE speaks or understands english anymore. (But someone always does, if you search long enough..). Even we, as germans, often have problems to communicate with italian people, 'cause they don't speak english :laugh2:. Europe is a Union of States, that do not understand each other. Isn't that great!?

So...i can only speak for Germany here, but i think that goes for the other EU countries as well: In general we like american tourists a lot. They are interested in culture and country, they are polite and forthright, and we can teach them german stuff that sounds funny, when they try to say it.

Maybe not important to mention, but as Europe is generally known to be one of the safest places on earth, regarding crime rate, weapon laws and everything, i'll do it anyways: There ARE arreas, mainly in the bigger cities, which are dangerous! Not only in France, Italy and maybe Czech Rep., but also in Germany! Of course you are a 100 times safer, walking naked through Munich City at 3 o clock at night, than driving in your car through Anacostia at noon, but never ignore it, if you have a bad feeling on certain people or locations.

If Munich is on your list, feel free to ask what you want to know or if you need help with anything!

 

[kidarkitect]

Late to the party but for inter-country travel check out ryan air and airbus(?). way cheaper than trains but limited on what you can take. used it all over last year and it was great.

I recommend at least on train ride though. They're fun.

 

[Kejtar]

Late to the party but for inter-country travel check out ryan air and airbus(?). way cheaper than trains but limited on what you can take. used it all over last year and it was great.

I recommend at least on train ride though. They're fun.

Carefull on the chear airfare.... if they cancel flight, they don't have to provide you with an alternative and you're out $..... also luggage fees are through the roof... at times while traveling, by the time you add their luggage fees you can be nearing costs of regular airfare....