Hi - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Dillon152 · #1 12-29-2009, 09:16 AM

Hey everyone, I'm Dillon and on Mar 2nd I will be going on my first trip to Europe returning after Easter!! I'm excited and anxious to read about all your experiences and tips!

Thanks

**ScarlotteDorian** · #2 12-29-2009, 07:27 PM

Welcome! Where are you headed?

**mish99** · #3 12-29-2009, 11:30 PM

Welcome to the boards!!! If you have any questions - ask away.

Dillon152 · #4 12-30-2009, 03:22 AM

I'm flying into AMS, and staying for 4 days. Getting a Eurail pass, and going to Berlin, Prague, Munich, Venice, Bern, Paris, taking the boat from France to Dublin. I plan on spending at least 5 nights in Dublin/Ireland then flying back into Detroit.

At first i thoght that the 34 days that I plan on being over there would be enough, but the more I plan the more it seems that I am going to be pressed for time!

AMS, Prague, and Dublin are te Big spots that I absolutley want to spend the most time in. all the others are more/less interesting stops along the way!

**Dig** · #5 12-30-2009, 05:27 PM

Well I can vouch for amsterdam and dublin, but I have yet to check prague off my list. I think you have scheduled a good amount of time for each place. Check the prices of train rides for where you want to travel and compare them to the eurorail price. Oh and welcome

**pinknic38** · #6 12-30-2009, 06:15 PM

That sounds like an AWESOME trip... of all those places I've only been to Munich (which is AWESOME! I strongly recommend you take a bike tour of Munich... mikesbiketours.com is who I went through.... AWESOME - this company is also in Amsterdam) but it's worth the stop. I spent 3 days there and wished I would have spent more time!

I stayed at Wombat hostel in Munich which was prolly the coolest hostel I stayed at in EU.

Welcome to the boards!

Dillon152 · #7 12-31-2009, 03:08 AM

Thanks all!!! I know its going to be a bit cold out still while I am there, but hopefully there wont be as many people around. And i plan on taking Bike tours everywhere I can!!!
Thans for the suggestion on where to stay in Munich... Honestly between worrying abut getting my stuff stolen, finding a place to stay has been my biggest stressor! I'm 27 and i've read that in some places I might be too old to stay in some hostels... anyone else hear of this?

Thanks for everyones help!

Dillon

**mbo108** · #8 12-31-2009, 07:02 PM

I was 27/28 last time I stayed in hostels in Europe - it never even came up, dont worry about it.
In Prague i gotta reco Sir Toby's. Clean, safe, cheap, and has a fun bar in the basement.

**expatben** · #9 01-01-2010, 01:02 PM

Welcome! Berlin is amazing!!

**marc873** · #10 01-03-2010, 09:43 AM

Welcome to Tpunk, and I think your trip sounds fucking great... Your city list is solid and dont worry about the weather... Ive been a lot of place you are going, so feel free to ask...

Dillon152 · #11 01-27-2010, 02:07 PM

Okay all I just bought my Eurail pass and Tonight or tomorrow i m buying the plane ticket. I have a question about customs... When exactly do you have to go through? On my trip there i switch planes in London. On the way back i switch planes in NYC (JFK). I'm asking because i want to make sure i have enough layover time to make it to my next flight if i need to. I think the flight i am looking at now has a 1.5 hour layover At JFK , is that enough?

35 days to go!

**lizz** · #12 01-27-2010, 02:25 PM

I have found the line at JFK passport control and customs to move very quickly. I don't think I've ever waited more than 5 minutes at each station. My recommendation is to not check a bag. That way you do not have to wait at the baggage carousel and you can be the first one through customs. After customs its very easy to move about JFK. The problem would be if your flight is delayed and arrives late at JFK, but then the airline should move to accommodate you onto the next flight. After all, they are the ones who made the schedule. Again, I recommend NOT checking a bag. It makes everything so much faster even if you are not on a tight connection.

Dillon152 · #13 01-27-2010, 03:48 PM

Just to be clear... i will have to go through customs at JFK and not detroit? on the flip side, will i go through customs in London or Amsterdam?

**lizz** · #14 02-08-2010, 07:24 PM

Sorry I didn't respond to this sooner! I just saw it now. Based on my experience yes you will most likely go thru customs in JFK. This is because the international terminal is separate from the domestic terminals.

The only exception I can think of is if you are flying Delta from Dublin (not KLM bcse KLM goes to the intl terminal) straight into Delta's terminal (no 3). But I still think you would go thru immigration there.

As far as London-AMS goes I am not sure as I've never done an intra - European connection on the same ticket!

**MeTurk** · #15 02-10-2010, 05:05 AM

The boat from Ireland to France is supposed to be great craic (craic= fun in Irish) Our town is twined with one in Brittany and friends have gone over on that boat when they visited in the past. It's a long overnight journey where everyone does their best to drink the boat dry, might have changed since cheap flights came about.

As far as I know though that boat comes into Cork down the south not into Dublin. It's not a big deal Irelands tiny and you'll get up to Dublin in less than 3 hours.

**travelpunk** · #16 02-10-2010, 06:24 AM

I believe you only need to go through customs once on your way back and that's when you exit the airport with your luggage. You should have enough time between your flights on your layover as you'll just need to go through the passport line at JFK. I've never been to either airport, but going back to LA from Europe that was the norm.

I'm not sure about customs in London or Amsterdam, but in London
London security is pretty tight and you will only be allowed to carry-on one small bag, if I remember correctly, even though you may have been traveling with more than one carry-ons. Their carry-ons are even smaller than what was allowed on US flights, so don't expect to carry-on a backpacking backpack.

Also, I can't remember which airports have them, but when when you go through one of the walkways (to your luggage, I believe) you'll be in a single file and the drug sniffing dogs sniffed everyone so seriously, be careful on what you bring back as a souvenir

.

Thought I mentioned it since you've asked about customs a few times. Just sayin...

**MeTurk** · #17 02-10-2010, 08:41 AM

I think full body scanners are in use in all UK airports, there's supposed to be one in Amsterdam too so make sure you look your best.

I've found Amsterdam to be fairly lax security wise. Last time I went there I brought a bit home with me but got pulled for extra screening, they scanned the bag then wanted to do a search which was a quick pat down and I'm on my way again. Dublin was something else though. Walked right through not a sign of security anywhere only security I saw was the guard that did a quick glance at my passport.

**lizz** · #18 02-10-2010, 06:49 PM

haha Dublin customs is nothing. I passed thru there like 5 times before I ever even noticed a customs officer on duty. Then when I did I noticed they were chatting and having a laugh!

not looking forward to the full body scanners at London...yuck

**MeTurk** · #19 02-12-2010, 10:01 AM

You get to see what you'll look like as a ghost after your dead though, so it has it's plus sides.

**Dig** · #20 02-12-2010, 05:24 PM

Customs into Amsterdam is a breeze. Basically they check your pass port and away you go. I think I went through the body scanner leaving Amsterdam last time. I didn't know what it was at the time (thought it was an advanced metal detector. You step into a clear tube and then these arms come down and whirl around you once or twice real quick and that is it.