Dala-family travelling to Europe -- need your advice!!

[VINYLONE]

Whatever you do, have fun out there and take a lot of pictures. Be safe.

 

[Revolution 9]

frankfurt blows. except the red light area. well, actually...

nevermind.

be wary of driving in france. lots of speed cameras. actually germany beens pretty bad lately on the autobahn.
not sure if that matters since you are just visiting. just be careful.

of course you should be visiting my old city. walled, and full of breweries. best damn beer in the area.

its hard to recommend things in those areas. you should go to czech on your next trip. ive got some cool spots for you.

have fun. eat lots of doner kababs schnitzel, spatzle, etc.

if you are rolling by, stop by for lunch. we are 5 mins off autobahn 6.

tschuss

 

[Duck Rodgers]

be wary of driving in france. lots of speed cameras. actually germany beens pretty bad lately on the autobahn.
not sure if that matters since you are just visiting. just be careful.

Hmmmmm.....I was curious:

https://www.thelocal.fr/20130530/france-cracks-down-on-speeding-foreign-drivers

According to figures reported in the French press on Thursday, almost a quarter of all motorists flashed by France’s legion of speed cameras are from abroad.

In summer, when tourists flock to enjoy France’s beaches, mountains and rural getaways it gets even worse, with foreign drivers responsible for around 50 percent of infringements.

However, catching the rogue drivers on camera has been easy enough but getting them to pay the resultant fine has, up until now, been a different matter.

But now French authorities have taken action to make sure they get what is owed to them.

On Wednesday the French Senate voted into law a text from a European directive which will enable police to identify foreign drivers and send out speeding tickets that will greet the holiday makers when they arrive home.

And then from here:

https://www.driverabroad.com/self-drive/foreign-speeding-and-parking-fines/

Europe
Some European countries seem to have an evangelistic hatred of speeding. For instance, Norway applies fine of up to 10% of annual income and possibly jail and Iceland has fines up to $2700 . Italian Cities are also notorious for complex disc systems in City Centres which tourists are unaware of, until they return home to a ticket.

Whaaaaaaaaaa?

 

[Zulu]

Bring a Poncho!!!!

 

[DutchJazzer]

no visiting the dutchies?

 

[fishonjazz]

Bring a Poncho!!!!

They dont put out doe. (Course neither does dala)

 

[JimLes]

That's a lot to see in 5 weeks, Dala. You might be better off focusing more time on fewer areas. I mean, the awesome things to see just around southern England would take a week.

Also, can you pick up a package from my friend Shpëtim in Albania and bring it to Edmonton with you? It's just a couple of kilos of washing powder. I just need it because it's a special kind you can't get here in Canada. Also, it won't be in original detergent packaging and don't declare it if they ask at the customs.

 

[Hantlers]

I wasn't aware that Jimbo was into cocaine...

 

[Deleted member 848]

That's a lot to see in 5 weeks, Dala. You might be better off focusing more time on fewer areas. I mean, the awesome things to see just around southern England would take a week.

Also, can you pick up a package from my friend Shpëtim in Albania and bring it to Edmonton with you? It's just a couple of kilos of washing powder. I just need it because it's a special kind you can't get here in Canada. Also, it won't be in original detergent packaging and don't declare it if they ask at the customs.

Legit LOLing. I know so many dudes with that name. Also know of Albanians who use this excuse to ship drugs, but I also know those who ****ing love European laundry detergent, and ship it to Canada similarly.

You have given out too much Reputation in the last 24 hours, try again later.

 

[Deleted member 848]

A lot of people have said what you did, Jim. And you're right. But time really isn't on our side, there's so many places we want to see together as a family, and the five of us together probably won't be able to go on a trip to Europe for a very long time (brother only gets 2 week vacations for the next several years). That, and the fact that we road-trip so frequently, and we have 4 capable drivers, makes it easier to justify the "lets hit like 5 countries in one go" mentality.

 

[Deleted member 848]

Who's sitting in the trunk? We all know they don't make 5 seaters in Europe. Are you guys just totally free wheeling your vacation? I like it, but seems like it could a pain as far hotels and everything go.

I don't have much to add as I don't know Europe all that well, but I do know England. If you go to Stonhenge, just pretend you were aiming for Bath/Bristol. Bath's cooler than the other side of Jane Austen's pillow. That's the general direction you want to head though out of London unless you want to drive to Scotland. Industrial/Northern England.....is pretty grim. It would be like going to America and choosing to spend your time in Detroit.

Hahaha. Thank you. We are renting a 5dr Peugot 508. Apparently they're roomy. Hopefully they are. I'm 6'4", brother is 6'2", mom and dad are 5'8" and 5'9".

 

[8]

Dala, are you gonna be in London during Wimbledon?

 

[Deleted member 848]

Dala, are you gonna be in London during Wimbledon?

Did not think about this AT ALL. SHould I check this out?

 

[8]

Did not think about this AT ALL. SHould I check this out?

Maybe not if you have to actually have to ask that question.

I'd definitely check it out if you are there during the first week. You can get a ticket and walk around and watch the action on the outer courts.

 

[Deleted member 848]

Maybe not if you have to actually have to ask that question.

It's just that tickets I'm guessing are insane pricy, I'm with a family of 5, and none of us watch tennis. I know the event, and I've watched it on TV, but I mean I'd check it out if I was travelling alone-- a bit different being with 4 others.

I'd definitely check it out if you are there during the first week. You can get a ticket and walk around and watch the action on the outer courts.

Hmmm. Yeah I'll look into this. Merci 4 da heads up.

 

[8]

It's just that tickets I'm guessing are insane pricy, I'm with a family of 5, and none of us watch tennis. I know the event, and I've watched it on TV, but I mean I'd check it out if I was travelling alone-- a bit different being with 4 others.

Are you guys going to be together for everything? This would never work with my family. Are you going to actually drive around the city and stuff? I'd just get some passes for the Underground (and it's equivalent in the other cities) and travel around like that. That's the best way.

Sorry if this has already been asked, but I haven't read any of the thread and my eyes are tired. Goodnight!

 

[Hekate]

Hahaha. Thank you. We are renting a 5dr Peugot 508. Apparently they're roomy. Hopefully they are. I'm 6'4", brother is 6'2", mom and dad are 5'8" and 5'9".

Did Fabtrey confirm this?

 

[Nate505]

I was in Europe for a month in January. A lot of great sites, but the most impressive thing I've ever seen in my life was the Sagrada Familia (a massive, still work in progress church) in Barcelona. It is an absolute must see.

I was only able to see the typical places in Paris. The Notre Dame Cathedral was impressive, though crowded. Hearing them randomly play Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (aka the Phantom of the Opera song) while in the church was quite awesome/surreal/spooky.

 

[Nate505]

frankfurt blows. except the red light area. well, actually...

nevermind.

be wary of driving in france. lots of speed cameras. actually germany beens pretty bad lately on the autobahn.
not sure if that matters since you are just visiting. just be careful.

of course you should be visiting my old city. walled, and full of breweries. best damn beer in the area.

its hard to recommend things in those areas. you should go to czech on your next trip. ive got some cool spots for you.

have fun. eat lots of doner kababs schnitzel, spatzle, etc.

if you are rolling by, stop by for lunch. we are 5 mins off autobahn 6.

tschuss

I was contemplating hitting you up in Germany, but we didn't quite make it that far East. Plus I was reliant on everyone else in my family for transportation. We were near Heilbronn for a few days, near the Army base I was born at and where my parents lived in the 70s.

Speaking of that area, Rothenburg (the old part) was amazing. They actually have old city walls dating from the late 1300s that are still up and you can walk around.

 

[Former Member]

We will be there for 5 weeks, and we wil most likely be touching these cities for at least a couple days:

- Frankfurt (where we are landing, and renting our vehicle)
- Brussels
- driving through France, via the Channel, to London
- back from London, to Paris
- Paris drive to Barcelona
- after Barca, we were considering staying in Arles, France, but we are not yet sure. If any of y'all have checked it out, pls mention your experiences!!
- Maybe a night or two in Monaco
- We will be stopping in either Genoa, Lucca, Florence, or Siena afterwards. Florence is obviously the common choice, but I've heard great things about the other three places as well.
- Rome
- then ferrying from Bari to Albania, visiting family in Kosovo, then just driving straight back to Germany for our return flight back to Canada.

We won't be spending any considerable time in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Denmark, or Croatia. Maybe another trip.


But yeah. I kinda have a few questions for y'all: Of the cities that I mentioned, is there any "must-sees"? Also, should my family (21, 23, two parents, and a 13 year old) even bother with some of the places that I've mentioned?

Lastly, we have a rental car: so, if there is a nearby location that we simply need to check out, please let me know! For example, my family will be driving up to London, but we have no idea which other places to check out while in England. If that makes sense.


We leave on the 23rd FWIW #lastminuteplanningftw

Ha... you are coming to Europe just as I am leaving for the summer.

Florence is nice, but I would rate any of the other places ahead of it. Also, you should consider Assisi.

When visiting Rome, make sure you go to The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.It's my favorite of the four major basilicas, and it is still modeled after the original Constantine structure.

Enjoy your trip, it sounds fun.