European Travel Tips

You can probably get a cheap flight from Paris to Naples or Rome, and with only 10 days, why waste a day on the train.
In Rome, the airport is a ways from the city, but the train is cheap and takes you right into the heart of Rome.

Language in those major cities won't be a problem in most cases. The odd time you'll have to do the sign language thing, but most in the service industry will know at least some English.


And if you're not fussy about accommodation, you can probably find small B and B once you are there. Just hit a designated Tourist help place. All I've ever needed was a place to drop the backpack, and then sleep for six hours. Don't want to be in your room in either of those cities.

I know your brother is stationed there, but I would spend as little time as possible in Naples. When I was in Italy, nearly every Italian warned me away from it.
Head toward the Amalfi Coast - Amalfi, Atrani, Positano, Ravello - beautiful scenery. It will be touristy at that time of year, but better than being in garbage-strewn Naples, and being near the sea as it starts to get hot will be worth it.

 

Don't make out with your sister. [/Euro Trip'd]

 

I've heard, from someone who frequently travels there, that the French actually prefer Americans to Canadians.

 

What does it mean when they say the toilets are situated on the landing? Sounds kinky. Anyone?

 

Yes, it means they're outside in the hallway, not in your room.

If you decide to use your card rather than cash to pay for purchases, bear in mind that you won't be able to use your debit card as a debit card, in other words by entering your PIN. You'll have to have it swiped like a credit card and sign the receipt. Just hand them the card; they'll know what to do, even if they look at you slightly funny. (Which they probably won't. You're unlikely to venture anywhere they haven't seen one before.) That's because European debit cards have a chip in them.

Your debit card will still work in an ATM, though, and that's absolutely the way to go. One sort of downside: I happened to be in Paris weekend before last, and both my traveling companion and I took out a couple hundred euros at the beginning -- and the machine gave us a good bit of it in 50s, which is a slight pain in the ass. Didn't have any problems changing them, but was also careful about where I did it. Wouldn't pay for a Diet Coke with one, that's for sure. And while your bank will charge you a fee, European ATMs won't. (With extremely rare exceptions -- cash machines in casinos, that kind of thing.)

Unless you're really keen on train travel, look into the budget airlines (Ryanair, Easyjet) to get between countries. They have major drawbacks -- luggage charges, inconveniently located airports -- but they're quicker and dirt cheap. Also look at individual ticket prices for the trains -- those passes can get pretty pricey.

I found I remembered a bit of my high-school French and used to it to middling effect. A couple of times, I got English in return, but a couple of times, the effort seemed to be appreciated. I even managed to buy my friend a postage stamp entirely in French. (All of three sentences, but still. I felt good about it.) But everyone speaks English.

 

Thanks. I called my bank today and the lady said it was fine to use my card over there and I wouldn't have any problems, but then added "but you will have to use it as a debit and use your PIN." That struck me as odd and I didn't really get a satisfactory answer as to why, but I can see it being a problem. Anyway, I'll probably be using the debit card to get a little cash and use my Amex for the most part anyway. It will charge a 2.7% fee on each international purchase but I guess that is not awful.

 

In Paris, you can go a long way toward avoiding the stereotypical French attitude by saying "Bonjour, Monsieur/Madame" upon entering a store/restaurant/taxi and "Merci, Monsieur/Madame" upon leaving. Even if you learn no other French, that will help a lot.

Please leave the ugly American uniform home. Don't wear big, white athletic sneakers, baseball hats or God forbid, a fanny pack. The last time I was in Paris, footwear was the dead giveaway for the Americans. Dress is a little more formal over there.

Lots of things shut down in Paris in August, so I think you should try to make advance hotel reservations or at least do some research before you go.

Feel free to PM me if you want any more specific Paris info.

 

Let me make something very clear here. If you are in Paris - - or most anywhere else in France - - and/or in Rome or any other part of Italy, you will be hard pressed to find a bad meal or a bad bottle of wine. Naturally when I say that, I assume that you have the good sense not to go to the "Golden Arches" or any other chain restaurant of that ilk while you are in any of these places.

I love Paris. Having said that, my two favorite European cities are Rome and Istanbul. Enjoy yourself. It will be a great effort for you to find ways not to do just that...

 

While you may not want to wear sneakers, do bring shoes you are comfortable doing a lot of walking in. The metro is very easy to navigate, but Paris is such a beautiful city, if the weather is good, walking is worth it. And make sure the memory card in your camera has room for lots of pictures.

Since you've already talked to your bank, you may want to give the Amex people a heads up that you'll be out of the country as well, so they don't try to decline any purchases you might make. My original order for French Open tickets a couple of years ago almost got cancelled because Cap One denied the charge initially and no one bothered to tell me.

 

Doesn't everybody?

 

Train travel in Europe can be a very enjoyable way to get around but Paris is long damn ways from Naples. I would agree that you should fly for at least part of that trip given that you'll only be there for a little over a week.

It's a ways from Naples but Siena is a pretty cool town to visit. One reason is that its architecture is more Gothic than Renaissance so it provides a bit of a break from the sensory overload you can experience in Rome or Florence. I can't really explain why but I really enjoyed just walking around the old town when I was there.

While you're in Paris spend part of one of your days just sitting at an outdoor cafe people watching.

And it's damn near impossible to have a bad meal anywhere in Italy.

 

Do the Chunnel train from Paris to London, then make sure to go to St. John's Wood if you wanna do Abbey Road.
In London, subway around and do some museums, making sure to at least get off and walk around Waterloo Station.
Fly Ryan Air or EasyJet to Amsterdam. Under 80 bucks for one-way.
Gotta do one or two days to see the young families and citizens in general who ride their bikes and converse around the canals in Amsterdam.
Everyone's on bikes.
One day and night might be enough for you.
The Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum are good or you can rent a bike and ride all day. The city is awesome. Lots to check out.
Rome is a great place to end it, with the Pantheon (2 BC) and all the ruins, or maybe the catacombs being must-sees, along with St. Peters Square and the Vatican.
Trevi Fountain an the Spanish Steps are cool, too, even though they draw tourists.
It's a shame you don't have more time.
Venice is killer.
Do Pompeii and Herculaneum ruins if you go to Naples.

Research things on the Net big-time before you go in order to maximize.
Your time is too short.