Still Traveling

By Diva

February 8, 2005 11:06 AM | Link to this

Yes, the dollar is getting its butt kicked by the euro.I just got back from Athens, Greece. I took some euros over and knew the dollar was weak. But when I had a lunch that was 9 euro and it came to US $12.12, I knew just how weak. Not to mention the 4.25 euro for a Diet Doke, or the Happy Meal for 5.05 euro. But I still enjoyed Greece and I will go back.

By Karen

February 8, 2005 1:37 PM | Link to this

Beaches, Beaches, For Every Budget

Waves, water, beachy breezes — can you wait for spring break? With ice storms on the east coast, snow in the south, and that freezing jet stream up north, it’s time to get out of here! What are some favorites spots for Spring Break this year? The beaches of the Caribbean, the Yucatan peninsula, the Mexican Riviera, and the western coast of Mexico beckon and cater to students looking for a real getaway with fun, meeting people, and relaxation in mind.

Or perhaps tuition, books, and/or daily liv(survival)ing have drained your cash flow for the present? Stay closer to home and still enjoy an American shoreline.

With some planning, you can leave the books behind, if only for a week. Check it out.

Expensive:

The leeward islands of the Caribbean offer fantastic beaches and bars but also offer high prices for drinks, food, and hotels. Still you are guaranteed a great time on the islands. You get great airfares from the east coast to the Caribbean. For instance, Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands is just a ferry ride away from the crowds on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Drink the popular Pain Killer (recipe available at www.anotherbeachanotherbar.com) at Pusser’s Landing or a delicious Bushwhacker at Cane Garden Bay. Cane Garden Bay rests on the northern shore of Tortola with beautiful, smooth white sand, glistening clear blue waves, and palm trees rustling gently. You’ll never want to leave, but you might check out Elizabeth Beach or Sea Cow Bay. Or grab the ferry over to Peter Island and spend the day in similar circumstances. Check out travel in the British Virgin Islands at www.bviinfo.com. The upside is that the BVI are warm most of the year so tanning works out great!

Moderately Expensive:

Mexico is still a pretty good bargain compared to travel in the eastern Caribbean. Flights to Cozumel leave frequently from Houston and take less than two hours. And it’s warm in Cozumel in spring so you know you’ll get the tan-time, water-time you are pining fro after wearing sweaters and jeans to class since Christmas. With such short and convenient flights, a long weekend in Cozumel can be just as fun-packed as a week in the Caribbean. You can get some great photos of Cozumel and information about beaches and bars at www.anotherbeachanotherbar.com.

Another option? Mazatlan on Mexico’s west coast comes wildly alive at Spring Break. Organized three-day parties are just one of the many ways to celebrate in style at Senor Frog’s or one of the other hot establishments on these breezy shores. Flights from Phoenix, Houston, or Southern California are also short and inexpensive especially when booked three weeks in advance. Check out www.expedia.com or www.orbitz.com for some fantastic offers going on right now.

Inexpensive

Nearly every coastal state in America proffers at least one or two fun places to make your own Spring Break history! With the right group of friends, it doesn’t matter where you go so much as how well you plan your break. Even though the water north of latitude 25° may still be a bit chilly in spring, check out getting bonfire permits for a beach party. Organize friends to bring drinks, food, and blankets and just make it happen.

Some favorite places? Ft. Lauderdale still rocks but don’t rule out Virginia Beach; Hilton Head; Panama City, Florida; Gulfport, Mississippi; South Padre and Galveston, Texas. California, of course, gives great beach yet can be expensive.

Whatever your budget you should start planning now for a memorable vacation. You deserve a break (spring break and otherwise).

So stop pining and start planning now.

By Lisa Stauffer

February 8, 2005 5:04 PM | Link to this

Hello Amanda and Paula I’ve traveled in Europe with a strong dollar and a weak dollar, alone and with family, on expense account and on a shoestring. Every trip is different, but there’s one similarity — I put in lots of time planning beforehand. It always pays off, both in money not spent, and in time well spent.

For instance, when my daughter and I went to Paris on a 9-day trip last summer, we spent about $1,500 for the two of us. Granted, we flew on frequent flyer tickets, and we only had to pay for a hotel half the time, as we stayed with friends the first half. But I still think we did quite well for a Paris visit. Here’s how I plan for Europe (or any other trip, for that matter).

First, plan. I check out travel guides from the library, and make notes in a cheap-o spiral notebook. Once I’ve settled on a destination, I make notes on everything — hotels, restaurants, transportation, day trips, etc.

Second, prioritize. Say you want to see Spain. Do you want to see Barcelona or Madrid? How much time do you want to spend on trains, if you decide to see more than one location? How many people will travel together? Sometimes a rental car makes sense, but with gas prices four times the American rate, think carefully before you go this route. If you decide to see, say, Madrid, how important is it to make day trips to Toledo or Segovia? Not only is money limited, so is time. Except for the Berlin Wall, every sight I’ve seen in Europe is still there. I don’t have to see everything on this one trip.

Decide what activities are important to you. Do you want to dine at fabulous restaurants? Do you need a great hotel or just a clean one? Are there special events like a bullfight or an opera? Prioritize what you want to see and do, and plan to spend your money on the top of your list. For instance, we’re willing to stay in a hotel with a communal bath down the hall, if it means we can be in the middle of town.

Third, plan some more. Now that you know where you’re going and what you want to do, go to a bookstore and spend some time with current travel guides. I always buy one current one to take along, and (shhhh, don’t tell Barnes & Noble) pull out the spiral notebook to make notes out of other travel books. Often cities offer discounted tickets for museums and popular sights. Guidebooks can tell you the specifics. I always take along restaurant listings out of “Let’s Go” or another student guide, for finding a quick nosh or inexpensive snack. Buy a small dictionary, too, for translating menus.

Depending on the city, either book a hotel ahead of time, or make your first stop the tourism bureau to find a hotel. We always avoid American chains, as they seem to be expensive. Get hotel advice from guidebooks, off the internet, and from friends. (In my experience, hotels in capitals like Paris or London are best booked ahead during tourist season. In smaller cities, or off-season, the tourism bureau can give you great deals.)

Fourth, prepare for picnics. When you’re packing, include a daypack or cloth tote bag. Once you’re at your destination, buy an inexpensive set of cutlery (Back in the days when you could carry a pocket knife on an airplane, I always brought one along.) Find a grocery store and stock up with bottled water, soda, or juice, and some snacks like crackers and fruit. Each day when you set out sightseeing, take one or more along, so you’re not dependent on $5 Cokes from a cafe. I’ve avoided a lot of $20 hamburgers by having some crackers or an apple to stave off hunger till we find a less expensive place.

We picnic for meals a lot when we’re in Europe. Exploring the grocery stores is half the fun, especially if you find a store that has the equivalent of a deli, with ready-to-eat foods. The local farmers markets are wonderful, too. (You can get this information from a guidebook, or ask at your hotel.)

For a restaurant meal, someone once told me to walk a couple of blocks off the beaten path. If a restaurant can stay in business when it’s in an inconvenient location, then you can bet the food will be terrific. In general, too, if you’re not in England and the menu is in English, then don’t eat there.

Finally, walk or take public transportation, not taxis. Wear comfortable shoes and practical clothes. Who cares if you look like a tourist? You ARE a tourist. Pack lightly so you can carry all your luggage by yourself up and down stairs and five blocks to your hotel. If you’re packing more than the airline will allow you to carry on, then you’re packing too much.

Learn to read a bus and train schedule (24-hour time). Get a local map so you can find the closest metro station. Buses and subways are cheap, as European governments subsidize their cost. And, as I mentioned, rental cars can be astronomically expensive. If you do decide to get a car, though, book it from here, as the price often doubles if you book it once you are in Europe.

It’s important to remember to enjoy the journey. You can’t possibly see everything in one trip, and you miss the ambiance if you try. One of my best memories from the Paris trip last summer was a sunset picnic on the steps of Sacre Coeur. All of Paris lay before us in a golden glow and our picnic dinner barely dented my wallet.

By Paula

February 8, 2005 5:20 PM | Link to this

Gosh, Lisa — this is great stuff. I hope all our bloggers read this one all the way through. Really, super tips for traveling smart in Europe. Rick Steves would be proud of you!!

By Mary Anne

February 10, 2005 9:51 AM | Link to this

My husband travels to Europe frequently (he actually drives “the bus”) and his number one tip is to NOT exchange dollars for Euros at the airport or hotels, or anywhere there is an exchange place with a person sitting behind a window. You will be charged a 15 percent up charge to exchange your money that way. He always uses an ATM and before he used a particular credit card he checked with our credit card company to see if they charge a fee for international or different money transaction,you want a credit card that does not. As for eating — in Germany they do not eat in typical tourist areas and like the above traveler off the beaten path. He always goes to the local grocery stores and picks up fruit, cokes, etc to snack on. In Paris they go to the Latin Quarter to eat — very inexpensive and he said in Paris in particular, the later you eat the more you pay as the price goes up as the night goes along. Parisians eat later than others.

When I took my daughter to Germany last summer to visit my sister, we experienced awesome Turkish, Vietnamese, and Italian food at smaller bistros and restaurants in the smaller towns. We kept water and Diet Cokes with us full time but my American sister had never been to a Starbucks before and I bought her a $6 latte in Dusseldorf which she loved. By the way, in Europe Starbucks are full of Americans so opt for local coffee and ice cream places for more fun!

By Jemille Williams

February 12, 2005 1:47 PM | Link to this

Know Before You Go: Points to Ponder to Optimize your Euros

I would like to add my suggestions to Lisa’s wonderfully laid-out game plan for an economical, effective, enjoyable — even exultant — European trip. I, too, am a furtive notebook-filler in bookstores, but also buy my one favorite guide book for each trip as a thank-you to B&N or Borders for having such a wonderful selection available for my browsing enjoyment and edification. That said, once you find guides that you like, you can also go to eBay and Amazon and search for older editions, just updating the prices and hours that you find in the current versions.

A great first stop before you go is the library. Do a search for, say, “France,” and you’ll get a wide variety of media on everything from the country itself to literature and film set in the country. I was a reserving fool for months before my last trip. You can check out armloads from your own library and have items shipped over from other branches that will be awaiting your open arms in just a matter of days. Enter “French” and get all the language and musical offerings. I checked out cassettes and CD’s and parlez-vous’ed my way through traffic for weeks. There is nothing like imitating the native speakers to help you hone your tongue (and nasal cavity). Also, the constant repetition really drills it into your brain, so it can spring forth just when you need it — and possibly, least expect it. (Note to self: Start sooner next time.)

There are lots of VHS tapes and DVDs — in both tourism and entertainment genres. You can’t beat Rick Steves for the travelogue, but you can improve your French and expand your cultural horizons by watching Truffaut (J’aime bien “L’Histoire d’Adele H.”?) and Malle. NetFlix is also a great source of French cinema. Another super way to ramp up your French is to watch American movies in French. Cheat, if you must, with English subtitles, but you’ll come out ahead if you shift your head into French gear. Start with very familiar films to get yourself into the groove. Besides, it’s hilarious to see lame-brains like Adam Sandler speak French. Every movie is Theatre of the Absurd with the incongruous dubbing. Even hunky Robert Redford in the tear-jerker “The Horse Whisperer” is Comedie Francaise when he sounds like Pepe Le Pew.

Anyone who visits another country smugly assured that “everyone” speaks English will find themselves not having as good a time as they had envisioned — and paid for. You can waste lots of time (ergo, dollars/euros) floundering around when you get lost or into a pickle and can’t understand the people who could help you. Double your pleasure and double your fun with at least a rudimentary working comprehension of the language of your target country. And by all means, tote a little phrasebook — just make sure its imprint isn’t Monty Python & Co.

You will also ingratiate yourself with the locals and help combat the impression that is becoming more and more rampant in the ROW (Rest of World) — that Americans are ignorant, self-centered boors. I got a private 45-minute tour of Pompeii after closing time with only one quarter of Italian 101 under my belt, and got similar gracious treatment at a little museum in France. (By a genial old gent sporting an ascot, mind you! Talk about your local color — I remember him better than anything in the museum.)

You have likely heard that Parisians sneer at lame attempts at French, but I found people charitable and appreciative of my linguistic attempts, especially once you get out of Paris. In fact, I speak French like Tarzan — with a Spanish accent. My Rs are especially egregious — once I was telling a man I had visited the Cathedral of Chartres and he teasingly replied — in English — “a Cathedral of Cats?” Even so, I received several compliments on my command of the language, which were a testament to my will-try attitude, rather than mastery. So don’t think you have to be Jacqueline Kennedy-perfect to even try.

By fredette

February 13, 2005 11:38 AM | Link to this

Because we are going for our 20th anniversary, we will travel to Great Britain this summer, regardless of the strength of the dollar. We think we’ll spend a few days in London; do a few “commuter” trips, and then head up to Scotland. This is our first trip out of the country.

We plan to picnic lunches…other than that, I’m always looking for money saving tips!

I’m also interested in tips for Scotland; if we don’t rent a car, will it be difficult to get to the “Great Outdoors?” We’re interested in day hikes…

By Paula

February 14, 2005 12:07 PM | Link to this

Fredette, I like your attitude! My husband and I are celebrating our 20th this year (in October), and we haven’t decided where to go yet. But nothing will stop us from going — well not the Euro or any other currency (foreign or domestic!), that is.

I have been to Scotland several times and have always been headquartered in Ayrshire where we have friends. I have made the trip to Glasgow and over to Edinburgh on the train, and, as is typical in European countries, the trains will get you pretty much where you need to go. (And if you want to get to the islands — Arran, Mull, Skye, etc. — hop a ferry. It’s easy.)

However, we found we have most freedom when we have rented a car. That way we could move around at our own pace and see a lot more. But bottom line: if you don’t want to rent a car, you CAN get around. You might also look into day tour bus excursions, which are offered in all the bigger cities.

Have fun. (And I might add, Scotland is a terribly romantic place.) Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Shirley Purcell

February 15, 2005 10:38 PM | Link to this

Not only is the U.S. dollar not worth so much in England, France and Ireland, but when we were in Paris last spring, my husband was pick-pocketed while getting off the subway at the Eiffel Tower. Fortunately, he had his passport and credit card in a cloth wallet under his shirt, but they got his wallet with about $200 Euros and S.S. card and insurance card. Be careful of [the persons] who ride the rail just for this purpose and their counterparts, the accordianist. Police do not take telephone reports and you have to go downtown to report. We reported it to our hotel but did not bother with the police report.

By Jemille Williams

February 17, 2005 2:41 PM | Link to this

Oh, Shirley! I feel your pain. I have a friend who got hit in Paris - via an unzipped purse. Who wants to spend half a day going downtown to make a police report!

My Parisian friend made me wear my backpack in front on the subway. I felt like the biggest dork, but she was adamant that tourists were targets. Gee, what about me branded me a tourist?

I don’t even bring my wallet overseas. I just take out my Amex (only accepted in the cities) and my Visa (accepted everywhere else - called Carte Bleu en France), my driver’s license and cash.

I got one of those really sexy pouches to wear around my neck in the airport. It has slots for ticket, passport, and driver’s license in a window so you don’t have to keep fumbling for it the two or three times you are asked to present it. I just leave it in my room after I arrive.

I did the old-lady thing with the little pouch stashed in my decolletage. I often wear dresses, so money belts aren’t as practical for me. And in addition to making your butt look bigger, fanny packs are pickable, too. If anyone tried to pick my bra, I’d deck him!

Better luck next time!

By Jemille Williams

February 17, 2005 2:48 PM | Link to this

Response to Fredette:
Know Before You Go: Baby, You Can Drive Their Car

I concur with Paula, a car is the best way to get off the beaten track, but do have some caveats for you. My then-husband and I drove for two weeks through England and Wales. I offer the following pros and cons:

PRO Go where you wanna go, do what you wanna do.

You don’t waste any time loitering in train stations or malingering at each stop.

You can save your strength for hiking and sight-seeing, if like me, you get exhausted from shlepping - and I hold the Silver Medal in Packing Light!

I loved tossing a change of clothes every night into an overnight bag and stashing our dirty laundry in the big honking suitcases we leave in the boot.

You can avail yourselves of incredibly inexpensive lodgings in the hinterlands.

You can recreate and really unwind when you’re far from the madding crowd – difficult to do if you’re staying close to mass transit lines.

You can avail yourself of pleasant surprises along the route (which can counter-balance the unpleasant ones I list below.)

If you plan to motor more than 17 days, they have a bizarre program of your buying and then selling the car back to them. They say it’s a bargain, so if that boot fits …

I have used AutoEurope, Europcar, and Kemwel and can recommend them all.

By Jemille Williams

February 17, 2005 3:03 PM | Link to this

Know Before You Go: Driven to Distraction

This is the dark side of the previous posting (3X longer than the happy talk).

CON

We had fully intended to share the driving (he’�s nothing if not a staunch champion of equal opportunity), but when confronted with a 15-pound PER DAY charge for a second driver, he elected to drive, so he could yell at me when the mappage and signage did not coincide. (Hint: frequently — sometimes as often as every quarter-hour.)

We thought we were way ahead of the game when we set out from London with our atlas, but it only served to exacerbate the problem when the town we were heading for was not on the next page, or even the next. I found myself frantically scanning and flipping pages when names of villages so obscure they didn’t even appear on the map were listed as the be-all and the end-all as per the signage (just because they were the next village over).

Also, literally hundreds, nay, thousands of roads did not appear at all on our map — and it was from the Automobile Association — not some off-brand! So I would opt for a good old frustratingly-hard-to-fold map in addition to the enhanced detail of an atlas — and highlight your route ahead of time — especially if your husband is a shouter.

Although the words North, South, East, and West appear in the English dictionary, they do not appear on 99 percent of the signage we encountered. It was frequently of no assistance whatsoever for us to find a sign that would inform us that Twee-on-Wye was 3 km ahead when we were looking for the city of Bradford, or at the very least — North.

The roundabouts would appear to be most orderly and geometric as you approach one and see the posted schematic, but once we entered many — fully expecting to see a signpost for York and a road heading there at the 2 o’clock position on the circle — we would find no such name and no road at all at that position. We played Ring Around the Rosie so many times we needed Dramamine! It often occurred that where instead of York at 2 o’clock, the sign would say Flipping-Madmouthshire at about 3:30 on the clock!

Immediately after the two-week tour of the UK, Ex flew back to the States and I drove by myself for nine days through France. Even with signs in a foreign language and without having a navigator I had an easier time of it in France. What is up with England?!

Manual transmissions are far and away the norm overseas, so you will pay even more dearly for an automatic. And it gets worse — you are sitting on the wrong side of the car, shifting with the wrong hand, and driving on the wrong side of the street! Not a happy combination for an individual with anger-management issues like Ex. (I trust your husband is not so inclined, if you’re celebrating your 20th. Mazel tov!)

Also, do not fail to ascertain BEFORE you leave the rental agency as to exactly how one engages reverse. Our Vauxhall had an R clearly shown on our gearshift knob, so we never dreamed we would need to ask. Mr. Cool/Calm/Collected nearly thrust the gearshift through the floor of the car and also nearly snapped it off trying to engage it. (We drew quite a little crowd in one picturesque village — the windows are open because there’s no A/C.) Someone finally pointed out a nearly invisible ring around the bottom of the knob. One simply gently pulls UP with the index and middle finger before throwing the stick back and to the right.

You�ll pay more for a car with A/C and for silly things like electric windows and power steering and brakes. Assume nothing. You may come away from the experience fully understanding why Europeans think we are so lazy, as virtually nothing is electric on their cars, and they will charge you handsomely to upgrade from their standards to ours.

Be sure to give the brakes a little trial before you enter traffic, or you may underestimate the requisite force required to bring yourself to a stop to the point that you get to find out how efficient (or not) the local constabulary and vehicle assurance agents are.

Don’t be fooled by signs that look like very reasonable prices for petrol (gas). Those are liters, baby, and even a Morris Minor Mini guzzles lots of them.

Also, tolls can be quite high. The best thing I’ve found is http://www.viamichelin.com. They give great directions and compute the tolls. There’s also a notation for fuel, but not if it’s less than a tank. I don�t recall if they have tolls in the UK, but Michelin will. (The good news is that they are so high, some booths in France take credit cards.)

So take this all with a grain of salt. Even though it�s the most expensive way to travel in Europe � especially when traveling solo as I do — for me it�s the only way to go! Happy motoring!

By Lisa Stauffer

February 18, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this

Shirley, you were lucky only to lose some Euros. If a pickpocket steals your credit card, it’s best to take the time to file a police report.

Two little girls stole my wallet in Milan once, and whoever their adult cohort was put $3000 on it within the hour. Luckily I had my credit card number memorized (actually, that’s kind of embarrassing — it shows how much I used that card!).

As soon as we realized these girls had gotten my wallet, I phoned my sister back in the states to call and cancel my card (I asked her to pretend to be me, thinking the company wouldn’t cancel it on someone else’s say-so). Then we went downtown and filed a police report.

The credit card company requested a copy of the police report when those big charges showed up. I think it expedited the whole process to have taken the time to get that police report.