Just like in NYC, Chicago, LA, Seattle, Atlanta, DC etc.
2018 Europe Travel Advice
- Thread starter ISUCHIEF
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Just like in NYC, Chicago, LA, Seattle, Atlanta, DC etc.
We've traveled to Europe a few times. We use airbnb, takes a little bit but can find some really nice places. The reason we do airbnb is because the ones we choose have a washing machine. This allows us to use 4 sets of cloths, 1 dirty, 1 clean, wear 1, and a spare. This allows us to do all carry-on and no checked luggage. We have some awesome osprey bags for the carry-ons that work on all the airlines and even the value airlines in Europe. If you can do carry-on only, it is soooo much nicer, easier and cheaper.
Front pocket carry with a small wallet so you are not advertising as a pick pocket target. On day trips use a small backpack with lockable zippers. We've never had an issue.
Front pocket carry with a small wallet so you are not advertising as a pick pocket target. On day trips use a small backpack with lockable zippers. We've never had an issue.
I can only comment on the southern Germany part of your trip.
Zugspitze-Do it. We spent a day in Ehrwald Austria, which is right on the German border. Great town to hang out in and then take the lift up to Zugspitze and have a beer.
Neuschwanstein castle-Extremely overrated. You've seen the pictures so you've seen neuschwanstein castle. When people mention Disneyland they should also mention that everything about this is like disneyland. Waiting a 1/2 hour in line to take a bus up a small hill to stand with 10,000 other tourist to take the exact same picture. One of the most disappointing things I've experienced in europe. Yes, it was cool to look at for about 5 minutes but everything else that goes along with it sucks and the castle itself is disappointing inside. If I could do it over I'd go to Berg Eltz castle.
We went a week before octoberfest and loved the beer gardens. Augustiner Keller, Hirschgarten, Seehaus,
Hofbräukeller
and Augustiner Bräustuben were the great ones we visited.
Dachau and the BMW were also two good places to visit. The tower at Olympic garden has some decent views but skip the beer garden there.
I will agree with the other person that mentions spending time in small towns/villages. We spent 4 days in Munich and besides BMW and the Beer Gardens, 2-3 days would have been plenty. I could easily spend a week in places like Rome, London, and Paris but Munich is more just like a normal city that you would visit in America.
Zugspitze-Do it. We spent a day in Ehrwald Austria, which is right on the German border. Great town to hang out in and then take the lift up to Zugspitze and have a beer.
Neuschwanstein castle-Extremely overrated. You've seen the pictures so you've seen neuschwanstein castle. When people mention Disneyland they should also mention that everything about this is like disneyland. Waiting a 1/2 hour in line to take a bus up a small hill to stand with 10,000 other tourist to take the exact same picture. One of the most disappointing things I've experienced in europe. Yes, it was cool to look at for about 5 minutes but everything else that goes along with it sucks and the castle itself is disappointing inside. If I could do it over I'd go to Berg Eltz castle.
We went a week before octoberfest and loved the beer gardens. Augustiner Keller, Hirschgarten, Seehaus,
Hofbräukeller
and Augustiner Bräustuben were the great ones we visited.
Dachau and the BMW were also two good places to visit. The tower at Olympic garden has some decent views but skip the beer garden there.
I will agree with the other person that mentions spending time in small towns/villages. We spent 4 days in Munich and besides BMW and the Beer Gardens, 2-3 days would have been plenty. I could easily spend a week in places like Rome, London, and Paris but Munich is more just like a normal city that you would visit in America.
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Also,
Buy a cheap nexus, like 5X, or a google cell phone and use google fi for international phone service. Every time we travel I activate google fi (albiet a different phone number each time) and have international service in all of Europe for dirt cheap. Last time we went to Amderstdam and Rome for 10 days, always had 3G or higher service and 4G depending on the areas. Phone calls cost some money but for 2 people, we paid roughly ~$65 for service and data during the trip.
Buy a cheap nexus, like 5X, or a google cell phone and use google fi for international phone service. Every time we travel I activate google fi (albiet a different phone number each time) and have international service in all of Europe for dirt cheap. Last time we went to Amderstdam and Rome for 10 days, always had 3G or higher service and 4G depending on the areas. Phone calls cost some money but for 2 people, we paid roughly ~$65 for service and data during the trip.
Innsbrook was hands down my favorite place to visit in Europe. Second would have to be Lucerne in Switzerland.
L
LincolnWay187
Guest
Not really, you get mugged there not pickpocketed. Theres.a.differnce..hence my advice
Innsbruk is pretty amazing, definitely a favorite of mine as well. Did you make it to Hallstatt? By far one of the most picturesque places I've ever been.
I actually enjoyed Austria way more than Germany....and I really liked Germany!
Pretty much everything was on the Baltic Sea, though. Got to Tallinn, Estonia, too.
Great info. I have a Pixel XL so I thought I would sign up for Fi and month before we go to France/Netherlands in Sept. For my wife's Iphone I think we're going to go with a sim card from a local Orange store and see how that works. The last time we were in Europe we had Tmobile and it worked perfect and was free. Since then we've made the swtich to Verizon and I'm not paying $10/day per phone.
If you activate a google fi sim in a compatible phone like your pixel, you can then put that sim in any phone. If you have an unlocked 7 or higher, should work decent, might be missing a few bands but would work depending on your model. If you didnt already know, FI runs off of T-Mobile’s international network.
Munich area: I would suggest going to Linderhof Castle - it’s smaller but it is finished but you better rent a car. BMW Welt is just a showroom althought it is a cool showroom. If you want to tour the BMW factory, call them in advance - the tour is sold out approx 3 months in advance.
Dachau is not for everyone but I personally suggest to visit so we can learn from history. The background of the rise of the Nazi is eerily similar to what we are seeing now. Dachau was a work camp not a death camp (like Auschwitz, Birkenau, Etc) so it was different.
Daytrip from Seville could include Cordova to see the Mezquite - I think it’s only 1 hr train ride one way. Granada and Alhambra will be good but check the options as about 2 years ago the rail tracks were being repaired and the only way to do it is by riding Alsa bus.
Disclaimer re: Seville: I actually didn’t make the trip eventually - we bought plane and train tickets and then the afternoon before we flew from Barcelona to Granada, we were informed that my Father In Law passed away so we had to go home.
Dachau is not for everyone but I personally suggest to visit so we can learn from history. The background of the rise of the Nazi is eerily similar to what we are seeing now. Dachau was a work camp not a death camp (like Auschwitz, Birkenau, Etc) so it was different.
Daytrip from Seville could include Cordova to see the Mezquite - I think it’s only 1 hr train ride one way. Granada and Alhambra will be good but check the options as about 2 years ago the rail tracks were being repaired and the only way to do it is by riding Alsa bus.
Disclaimer re: Seville: I actually didn’t make the trip eventually - we bought plane and train tickets and then the afternoon before we flew from Barcelona to Granada, we were informed that my Father In Law passed away so we had to go home.
Damn, you took both of my suggestions for that area. But I could not agree more. Especially on Dachau. Neuschwanstein is amazing, but it's just a castle. Dachau is really powerful and they do an excellent job with the museum there
The only place in Europe that I've ever felt any real need to worry about pickpockets (vs just generally being aware of my surroundings like I would anywhere) is in the main tourist hotspots in Paris. Everywhere else has been no different than any US city of comparable size.
I'd never thought of that. Beats having to buy a local SIM once you get there.
I wouldn't say anyone would have to buy a cheap phone though. If their phone is unlocked then they could just use their normal phone and toss a new SIM in to it.
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LincolnWay187
Guest
It's not about feeling safe or not, the pickpockets in Spain specifically can lift a wallet right out of a tourists pocket like it was air. These are busy/nice areas. They are skilled. Again I know several people who this happened to, a little bump is all it takes. And I'm guessing if you are a tourist you you'll be going to tourist locations lol
Thats the bad thing with google FI, in order to activate the sim, it has to be inserted and activated using a google fi enabled phone. Can't just throw the sim into any unlocked phone and go. Its the activating the sim card that causes the issue. I have a 5x that I use to use and only use it for that now days. Or if you know someone with a nexus or pixel device, they can use their phone to activate it too.
I have traveled to Munich before and you are spot on with these recommendations! Dachau was an unbelievable experience. It is such a hauntingly beautiful area and the history of makes in all the more interesting!
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