SuperWoman 0 #1 May 3, 2005 My sister and I are leaving on the 14th to go see my dad in Afghanistan. But before that, he has us flying to Amsterdam, getting there the 15th and not leaving there until th 24th to continue onto Dubai and then to Afghanistan. My question is, which cities/countries do you suggest visiting between the 15th-24th? We were thinking about taking the train to Italy and/or France, would that be too long of a trip on so few days? Thanks to all for your advice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeordieSkydiver 0 #2 May 3, 2005 Northern Italy, Switzerland, Austria are all beautiful, and easily visited by train in that time scale. Plan well though.Lee _______________________________ In a world full of people, only some want to fly, is that not crazy? http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adrock 0 #3 May 3, 2005 Hi Jill! Hope all's well! There's really nowhere that I've visited in Europe that I wouldn't go back and visit again. And the other good thing is that most of the cities you can find things to do for one day or 10. It depends how much you want to just see the things in the city that you've heard about or seen on TV, and how much you want to just wander and find your own interesting places. The train system is awesome and seems to work very well, I'd suggest gettting a student rail pass (I think they sell them in two week blocks) that will give you unlimited train travel for that time. The night train is good because you can sleep while you're traveling. Have fun, especially in Dubai...I've always wanted to go there! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites piisfish 140 #4 May 3, 2005 visit Amsterdam, for sure, Paris too. If you come to Geneva, might be able to help with lodging and moving around...scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kansasskydiver 0 #5 May 3, 2005 South of Spain, the beaches there are freaking amazing!!! And of course Amsterdamn is fun too, just watch Eurotrip and you'll be fine<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites icarusfx99 0 #6 May 3, 2005 I would go to Austria and the area's in the alps. Friendly people, awesome food and scenery. The weather has started to get really nice lately. If you need more info, I am orignially from Austria so I would be happy to help Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Casie 0 #7 May 3, 2005 I vote for Italy only cause I've been there and had a BLAST. I went to Rome, Florence, Orvieto, Milan, Muran, Venice and Lake Como. Ultimately send me a pm with what you want to do and any questions.~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SuperWoman 0 #8 May 4, 2005 What about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites vdschoor 0 #9 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Personally.. when I'm flying to Holland next week I bring a couple hundred in euros and the rest is credit card work, you get a pretty decent exchange rate usually on your credit card. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites mnealtx 0 #10 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Definitely take some money to exchange. Most places take either Visa or MC... *HOWEVER* - check to see if your credit card charges a fee for currency conversion - they can add up quick!Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NWFlyer 2 #11 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Check with your bank to make sure your ATM card is on the international exchange systems. If it is, just use your ATM card to get cash and use your credit card as much as possible. You'll get the best exchange rate with an ATM card and the only fees will be the transaction fees from your bank (which are still lower than the fees exchange bureaus will charge). I've traveled to Italy, NZ, and Thailand in the past few years and never brought much cash with me (a couple hundred dollars just in case the atms don't work but I've never had to use it)."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites pyke 0 #12 May 4, 2005 Plan on keeping about $100 Euros in your hand for "little things", but yeah - use CCs...exchange rate is better, and I haven't had any problems with finding someplace to take them. Visa and MC are global...as is AMEX. Kahurangi e Mahearangi, Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flyboy62000 0 #13 May 4, 2005 Check out Germany, there is a lot of stuff to do all over. Although I'm a little partial because I live here. Blue Skies, Adam I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . . — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kansasskydiver 0 #14 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Actually be VERY careful now using your credit card. They've changed a lot of the rules and are charging a surcharge, some of up to 5% when using your card abroad and not giving a good rate either. ATM cards will work the same because they are backed by Visa, MC etc etc etc. I'd carry cash and travelers checks, then exhange when you get there, but not all at once. Keep the U$ money until you need it, that way you're not losing it when you convert back to U$. Hang onto some Euros though, they'll make ya some money down the line<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Frenchy68 0 #15 May 4, 2005 ATM is the best way to get a good exchange rate without having to carry $ on you. Amex is a bad idea in France (not sure about other parts of Europe), as vendors usually don't take it because they are the ones charged %. "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites vdschoor 0 #16 May 4, 2005 QuoteATM is the best way to get a good exchange rate without having to carry $ on you. Amex is a bad idea in France (not sure about other parts of Europe), as vendors usually don't take it because they are the ones charged %. AMEX is not popular in Europe at all.. your best bets are Mastercard and Visa.. I know in Holland they like Mastercard the best.. Dont know why Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shropshire 0 #17 May 4, 2005 If nowhere else, I would visit Paris. It's a fantastic, beautiful, self centered city, full of culture (if that's your bag), great food and/but rude people. I love it. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites freeflir29 0 #18 May 5, 2005 QuoteAmex is a bad idea in France They probably just hate it because it has "American" in the name. On exchange rates..........ATM's seem to be one of the better deals. I used them in England and ended up with a better rate than exchange booth. I had to use the exchange booth in Frankfurt a few weeks ago and it cost me $537 and change to get $500 in USD. Have fun...........I would say get out and see Dubai but it's EXPENSIVE there. I'm starting to plan my trip to Spain right now. Oooohhhh............it's gonna be good! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Faber 0 #19 May 5, 2005 if you never saw Holland/amsterdam i deafently surgesst that you do so as your there... if you did see that i would go south just to find the warm climate Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites daniel_owen_uk 0 #20 May 5, 2005 The coffee in amsterdam is great __________________ BOOM Headshot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Faber 0 #21 May 5, 2005 yes its nice to drink it at a coffeshop at the street Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Frenchy68 0 #22 May 5, 2005 Missing Christiana, Faber? "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Faber 0 #23 May 5, 2005 no dude its a 2 hours drive from here,besides i dont do them thing,i keep it safe and BASE only tryed it once in Amsterdam,i dont like the feeling of beeing out of control,drunk or similar.. Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Frenchy68 0 #24 May 5, 2005 Quotebesides i dont do them thing I don't either. Besides, last time I went to Christiana (last summer), it had been cleaned up by the police (I guess prior to the little prince's wedding). "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SuperWoman 0 #25 May 5, 2005 If we get to Amsterdam without any plans, would that be a bad decision to just hop a train as to not having a particular place to sleep? 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piisfish 140 #4 May 3, 2005 visit Amsterdam, for sure, Paris too. If you come to Geneva, might be able to help with lodging and moving around...scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #5 May 3, 2005 South of Spain, the beaches there are freaking amazing!!! And of course Amsterdamn is fun too, just watch Eurotrip and you'll be fine<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
icarusfx99 0 #6 May 3, 2005 I would go to Austria and the area's in the alps. Friendly people, awesome food and scenery. The weather has started to get really nice lately. If you need more info, I am orignially from Austria so I would be happy to help Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casie 0 #7 May 3, 2005 I vote for Italy only cause I've been there and had a BLAST. I went to Rome, Florence, Orvieto, Milan, Muran, Venice and Lake Como. Ultimately send me a pm with what you want to do and any questions.~Porn Kitty WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperWoman 0 #8 May 4, 2005 What about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #9 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Personally.. when I'm flying to Holland next week I bring a couple hundred in euros and the rest is credit card work, you get a pretty decent exchange rate usually on your credit card. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #10 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Definitely take some money to exchange. Most places take either Visa or MC... *HOWEVER* - check to see if your credit card charges a fee for currency conversion - they can add up quick!Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #11 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Check with your bank to make sure your ATM card is on the international exchange systems. If it is, just use your ATM card to get cash and use your credit card as much as possible. You'll get the best exchange rate with an ATM card and the only fees will be the transaction fees from your bank (which are still lower than the fees exchange bureaus will charge). I've traveled to Italy, NZ, and Thailand in the past few years and never brought much cash with me (a couple hundred dollars just in case the atms don't work but I've never had to use it)."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #12 May 4, 2005 Plan on keeping about $100 Euros in your hand for "little things", but yeah - use CCs...exchange rate is better, and I haven't had any problems with finding someplace to take them. Visa and MC are global...as is AMEX. Kahurangi e Mahearangi, Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyboy62000 0 #13 May 4, 2005 Check out Germany, there is a lot of stuff to do all over. Although I'm a little partial because I live here. Blue Skies, Adam I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . . — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #14 May 4, 2005 QuoteWhat about $? Should we take dollars to exchange or try and mostly use credit cards? Actually be VERY careful now using your credit card. They've changed a lot of the rules and are charging a surcharge, some of up to 5% when using your card abroad and not giving a good rate either. ATM cards will work the same because they are backed by Visa, MC etc etc etc. I'd carry cash and travelers checks, then exhange when you get there, but not all at once. Keep the U$ money until you need it, that way you're not losing it when you convert back to U$. Hang onto some Euros though, they'll make ya some money down the line<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #15 May 4, 2005 ATM is the best way to get a good exchange rate without having to carry $ on you. Amex is a bad idea in France (not sure about other parts of Europe), as vendors usually don't take it because they are the ones charged %. "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #16 May 4, 2005 QuoteATM is the best way to get a good exchange rate without having to carry $ on you. Amex is a bad idea in France (not sure about other parts of Europe), as vendors usually don't take it because they are the ones charged %. AMEX is not popular in Europe at all.. your best bets are Mastercard and Visa.. I know in Holland they like Mastercard the best.. Dont know why Iwan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #17 May 4, 2005 If nowhere else, I would visit Paris. It's a fantastic, beautiful, self centered city, full of culture (if that's your bag), great food and/but rude people. I love it. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #18 May 5, 2005 QuoteAmex is a bad idea in France They probably just hate it because it has "American" in the name. On exchange rates..........ATM's seem to be one of the better deals. I used them in England and ended up with a better rate than exchange booth. I had to use the exchange booth in Frankfurt a few weeks ago and it cost me $537 and change to get $500 in USD. Have fun...........I would say get out and see Dubai but it's EXPENSIVE there. I'm starting to plan my trip to Spain right now. Oooohhhh............it's gonna be good! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #19 May 5, 2005 if you never saw Holland/amsterdam i deafently surgesst that you do so as your there... if you did see that i would go south just to find the warm climate Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daniel_owen_uk 0 #20 May 5, 2005 The coffee in amsterdam is great __________________ BOOM Headshot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #21 May 5, 2005 yes its nice to drink it at a coffeshop at the street Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #22 May 5, 2005 Missing Christiana, Faber? "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #23 May 5, 2005 no dude its a 2 hours drive from here,besides i dont do them thing,i keep it safe and BASE only tryed it once in Amsterdam,i dont like the feeling of beeing out of control,drunk or similar.. Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #24 May 5, 2005 Quotebesides i dont do them thing I don't either. Besides, last time I went to Christiana (last summer), it had been cleaned up by the police (I guess prior to the little prince's wedding). "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperWoman 0 #25 May 5, 2005 If we get to Amsterdam without any plans, would that be a bad decision to just hop a train as to not having a particular place to sleep? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
