"gavinski91" (gavinski91)
08/06/2013 at 22:33 • Filed to: None
2
28|
"gavinski91" (gavinski91)
08/06/2013 at 22:33 • Filed to: None | 2
| 28 |
So in September I'm going on a 5-week journey through Europe with a buddy of mine. We've planned out a general route, but are still looking for suggestions of things to do. Already on the list is Oktoberfest and renting a race-prepped car at the 'Ring. Other than that we are open to any suggestions.
Here is our proposed route:
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
TylerJ
> gavinski91
08/06/2013 at 22:36 |
|
One of my friends went over to Europe for a few weeks. He says the Italian ice cream, gelato, is the most amazing thing ever. He brings it up all the time.
Also, all the super old cathedrals and such are supposed to be really neat too.
Also, tips for planning such a trip? A group of friends and I want to make a trip out of it sometime.
Mosqvich
> gavinski91
08/06/2013 at 22:40 |
|
Spain: Segovia and Toledo. In Madrid see El Palacio Real. The beach at Santander isn't bad.
DasWauto
> gavinski91
08/06/2013 at 22:41 |
|
Loving the staged tabs. If you haven't already got it in there, the Belgian Grand Prix happens during your trip. I don't know if you're planning to hit it already or if you're gonna be anywhere near there at the time but it's definitely worthwhile if you can make it.
scoob
> gavinski91
08/06/2013 at 22:43 |
|
The NSA finds your Google Searches quite entertaining.
/NotHelping
That's a hell of a trip! I'd just copy a trip Top Gear made through continental Europe one day. How long are you planning to stay in each city?
Milky
> gavinski91
08/06/2013 at 22:43 |
|
Route napoléon?
|
gavinski91
> scoob
08/06/2013 at 23:05 |
|
1-5 days, depending on how much there is to do in each city and how bored we get.
|
gavinski91
> TylerJ
08/06/2013 at 23:07 |
|
We just looked at a map and named all the cities we wanted to hit, and then set them as destinations in Google Maps. You can rearrage your destinations to plan a good route.
We're planning on just printing out pages for each city we go to, with plenty of options of things to do. If you're going for a long time, don't plan out every step of your trip, as you'll probably get bored of some stuff eventually. Just make a really general plan, and give yourself plenty of room to change it up if you want.
ttyymmnn
> gavinski91
08/06/2013 at 23:21 |
|
Go to Normandy and visit the D-Day invasion beaches. Visit Pointe du Hoc and see where the Rangers used ropes to scale the cliffs into the teeth of German machine gun fire. See the American cemetery, as well as the German cemetery. It's an incredibly moving experience.
|
gavinski91
> ttyymmnn
08/06/2013 at 23:26 |
|
Colleville-sur-Mer is definitely on the list of things to hit!
Aaron Brown
> gavinski91
08/06/2013 at 23:43 |
|
How do you plan on getting around? Car? Train..? etc
If car, remember petrol is considerably more expensive over there than over here in 'Murica. Also, countries like France have incredibly expensive tolls.
Another tip, some cities may not need so many days to explore fully. When I was in Europe in June, I ended up spending much less time in some cities than I planned, just because they were incredibly boring.
Not sure if money is an object for you, but if so, make sure to keep in mind gas prices, hotel prices, and tolls. These were my main expenses on my trip.
J. Walter Weatherman
> ttyymmnn
08/06/2013 at 23:43 |
|
Yes, this! I would also recommend checking out some of the WWI sites as well. I was just in Belgium and we spent a day in Ypres, which was right in the thick of the trench warfare. There is a fantastic WWI museum there, and the entire area is COVERED with graveyards. It is very moving.
The British graveyards are STUNNINGLY maintained, and they are absolutely everywhere - you can just drive around the countryside, and you will run across dozens of them, just scattered about.
BATC42
> gavinski91
08/07/2013 at 07:45 |
|
I live in France, near Marseilles, in Aix-en-Provence exactly, so I can give you a few advices.
1) If you go to Nice, which I gues you will do, and if you're in a car you have to go up to Col de Turini, and stop in Monaco if you have the chance.
2) As it was said, the motorway is quite expensive, as long as you have a credit card with you it will be ok, otherwise you'll need cash. For example to go from Nice to Aix-en-Provence which is a a hour an a half drive it will cost you almost 15 €. And it's not the most expensive.
3) Gas prices are not the same as in the states. In any case try to not refuel on the motorway, you're better off leaving the autoroute to find a fuel station and you will spare around 10 cents per litter, so on a full tank you will spare around 5€. Gas is also cheaper if you don't refuel at a normal petrol station. Diesel, or unleaded will be cheaper in a supermarket petrol station like a Carrefour petrol station (or Intermarché, ...) than in a normal petrol station like Total, BP, Esso, ... But keep in mind that gas prices range from around 6.5 $/gallon (for diesel) to almost 10 for unleaded.
If you're looking for the cheapest gas prices in France, you have this website . It is unfortunately in French but it's easy to understand. Gazole is Diesel, SP95 and 98 are unleaded.
I don't know how it works in other Europeans countries but in France diesel will always be cheaper than Unleaded since the tax is less important.
4) Be careful on the motorway (or the autoroute as we call it), or on any roads really, because in France we have many fixed roadside speed traps. If you can use a app on your phone, do it. If you have Android look up for ABEauto on the play store (though it's in French, it's completely free) or if you're ready to spend some money look up for Coyote which require a subscription but may be more global and work in all of Europe, and you can try it for free for 30 days.
5) If you don't want to do the same mistake as Travis , buy a vignette to go on the motorway in Austria, Switzerland (and probably some other countries).
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Anyway, have fun on your trip (and I hate you, this trip is my dream!!) and if you have any question, feel free to asks them, I'll do my best to help you.
BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
> TylerJ
08/07/2013 at 07:53 |
|
I'll second Gelato. I don't know what they do to it, but nothing else compares.
|
BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
> gavinski91
08/07/2013 at 07:55 |
|
If you're heading down to Rome, the Colosseum is utterly stunning, as is the whole of Sienna and Florence.
alexotics
> gavinski91
08/07/2013 at 08:48 |
|
I've been to most of the cities you listed with the exception of Zurich and Prague, and I can tell you that Barcelona (partying/relaxing), Bordeaux(culture/wine), and Berlin (massive/hip/history) were my favourites. Try and spend extra time there. If possible, try and incorporate Budapest, Hungary in your travels. It's a beautiful stylish city with friendly people and incredible food. Cheap as well.
Check the F1 calendar too. You wouldn't want to just miss a race if you were so close.
Some unmissable things in your cities of choice:
- Heineken Museum in Amsterdam
- The Lakes just north of Milan
- Going from Rome to Marseille, you must stop by Portofino on the Italian Riviera first, then Monaco, then a little beach about 15 minutes further on the Cote d'Azure called Villefranche-sur-Mere and then see one of Cannes or Nice. But beware, the beaches in Nice are super rocky, so just visit the Vieux Ville. Perhaps staying in Marseille isn't a great idea as it's quite industrial with a busy port. Opt for Montpellier or the aforementioned cities instead.
- Barcelona. Ask the locals for a shotbar called El Gato Negro. I've been to Barcelona 4 times and never miss out on starting an epic night in that little bar. If you spot some friendly ladies, buy them the "Monica Lewinski" shot. Don't forget to visit the Olympics site and village in Barcelona, as well as the Gaudi gardens. Both provide epic views of the beautiful city. Then at night, just head down the Ramblas to the beach where Opium, Catwalk, and Choco are the best clubs.
- In Bordeaux, head west to the vineyards. You'll find all the most expensive wine houses there. Chateau Lafite Rotschild was a favourite. A bottle of red from 1990 or 2005 could easily cost a few thousand dollars. But since the soil and bedrock is pretty much perfect for grape growing in that region, you really can't go wrong buying a cheap bottle from a local winemaker.
Have a great trip!
Dunnik
> gavinski91
08/07/2013 at 09:04 |
|
My favorite European cities to visit:
1. Venice
2. Paris
3. Amsterdam
4. London
5. Munich (I see that's already on your list)
You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> gavinski91
08/07/2013 at 11:03 |
|
When in France try the raclette, crepe and pain au chocolate. Bonus points if you try escargot. Also when buying items like bread or cheese get them from the local farmers market on the weekends or the bakery / cheese shop, not from a market.
While in the Alps take a ride up the lifts at a ski resort. If possible I would try to detour to Chamonix and ride up the Aguille du Midi, it is an amazing ride and the view on a clear day would be incredible. Also take a walk through a local supermarket like Carrafour or Migros in France. It is fascinating to me for some reason.
|
gavinski91
> alexotics
08/07/2013 at 12:27 |
|
Awesome, thanks for the tips! We're planning on spending extra time in Berlin, and then taking a "vacation from our vacation" for about a week in Barcelona.
|
alexotics
> gavinski91
08/07/2013 at 13:59 |
|
Perfect!
|
gavinski91
> DasWauto
08/07/2013 at 16:16 |
|
You got my hopes up! And then I checked, and the Belgian GP is in 2 weeks. We don't get there until September 19, when all the F1 races are in Asia. No WEC races going on either :(
|
DasWauto
> gavinski91
08/07/2013 at 16:39 |
|
Shit. Y u no leave earlier?
|
gavinski91
> BATC42
08/08/2013 at 10:40 |
|
That's a ton of useful info, thanks! I will probably be back to ask you some other questions later!
Bluecold
> gavinski91
08/08/2013 at 11:19 |
|
Stasi museum in Berlin is very impressive.
If you're in Rome and you've found yourself a bit bored by another building, visit the museo aeronautica militare Vigna di Valle. Lots of historically significant airplanes in good condition and not busy at all.
If you're in Amsterdam, try to get hold of a bike. You don't want to use your car in the city centre, taxis are horribly expensive, everything is within cycling distance, public transport sucks, you'll be held to a higher standard than the average american tourist and it is socially acceptable to be drunk on a bike. You could rent an "OV fiets" but that would cost you 21 euros plus 3 euros per 24 hour ( http://translate.google.nl/translate?sl=a… ). So that's not very economical although still a viable option since parking a whole day in the centre of amsterdam is more expensive. Buying a working bike from the local stolen bike supplier is the least expensive (15-20 euros) and illegal. You could ask a student where to buy one and they could probably give you a phone number. Approaching dutch people in english is no big deal. In a lot of european countries (especially france), you'll be scoffed at for the insolence, but only the dutch are arrogant enough to assume that because you don't know dutch, you really need the wisdom they will impart you.
In any case, don't ever join one of those touristy 'bicycle amsterdam tours'. You'll never outlive the shame.
|
You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> gavinski91
08/08/2013 at 11:30 |
|
You must stop in Salzburg at Red Bull Hangar 7 . As an added bonus it is right on the way from Vienna to Munich. They've got the Red Bull F1 cars, Felix Baumgartner display, planes, motorcycles and all sorts of cool stuff on display.
|
gavinski91
> Bluecold
08/08/2013 at 11:44 |
|
Thanks for the tips! My buddy has a cousin in Amsterdam we'll be staying with, so we might be able to borrow bikes from him too.
|
Bluecold
> gavinski91
08/08/2013 at 11:57 |
|
That's always an option, most Dutch people (especially students) have multiple bikes. Also, the Pilsner Urquell museum in Prague is a great visit as you'll get to sample the unfiltered, unpasteurized version of Urquell which is just mindblowing. A lot of European capitals have brewery tours (Heineken is close to Amsterdam, and a lot of Belgian and German towns too) but I would limit brewery visits to 2 at the most. It's all mostly the same process and they'll tell you the same stuff.
timateo81
> gavinski91
08/08/2013 at 12:09 |
|
Barcelona is amazing. see Sagrada Familia, Camp Nou, Palau de la Música Catalana. skip Las Ramblas.
duurtlang
> gavinski91
08/13/2013 at 14:37 |
|
I missed your post because I was preparing a roadtrip myself; I left a few hours after you posted this. I went through the Alps taking lots of mountain passes.
My suggestion between your points G and H (Zürich and Milan) is this . It's only an hour orf two longer than your original route, and you'll thank yourself for doing this. You'll also replace the Gotthard tunnel (huge traffic jam!) with the Gottard pass. Accidentally they include 3 of the passes mentioned by Travis . You don't have to visit the villages I selected, they're only there to trick Google Maps to take the right route. You'll drive right past the location where I posted this about (+video). If you liked the passes I suggested you could add another one , one that's very low in traffic because there's a highway right next to it. It was my favorite of the trip. It will add another 1.5-2 hours. Make sure you take the back road that goes past the Laghetto Moesola lake, not the highway. I almost made that mistake myself.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!