Travelling to Europe - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

ravishon · 08-30-2006, 09:05 AM

Hi guys, I am new to the forum so hi. Im a second year uni student in London.

im travelling to western europe for 3 weeks starting this weekend and we are starting in amsterdam. we have an inter-rail pass and so travelling should be easier..i was wondering our plan is to go dam->berlin->munich(maybe stop off at baden baden on the way)->vienna->geneva->nice->paris and then come home.

would it be worth it stopping at brusells before berlin? is there a lot to see?

also, coming back from paris, we havent booked a flight (to London), is Eurostar cheaper and more worthwhile, because we will be coming to central London anyway, and the flight would land at London Luton.

Thanks

**omisan** · 08-30-2006, 11:03 AM

Everyone I've talked to says to give Brussels a pass or make it a short stop on a train ride elsewhere. That's probably what I'm gonna do this winter, with a little quicky jaunt on the way back to London from Amsterdam.

On the other hand, I hear wonderful things about Brugges. I'm sure someone here who's actuall been can give you the straight dope.

farfaraway · 08-30-2006, 01:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(omisan @ Aug 30 2006, 02:03 PM) [snapback]137452[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Everyone I've talked to says to give Brussels a pass or make it a short stop on a train ride elsewhere. That's probably what I'm gonna do this winter, with a little quicky jaunt on the way back to London from Amsterdam.

On the other hand, I hear wonderful things about Brugges. I'm sure someone here who's actuall been can give you the straight dope.
[/b]

Brugge is gorgeous, and the museums are impressive but manageable in size! eat fries and mayonnaise! drink beer! Begians are hot!

**lauren313** · 08-30-2006, 11:25 AM

Hey, I just looked up how much an Easyjet flight is from Paris to Luton. I kind of guessed with the dates, but this is what I found:

Fri 22nd Sept - ranging from £20 to £80, depending on time of day
Sat 23rd Sept - approx £20, whichever time
Sun 24th Sept - around £35 - £40.

On the other hand, the cheapest Eurostar for the Saturday is about £27, and about £50 for the Friday or Sunday.

Obviously with the flight, you'd have to pay train or bus fare to get into London, which I guess would be at least a tenner.

I'd go with the Eurostar, seems a whole lot easier.

ravishon · 08-30-2006, 11:41 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lauren313 @ Aug 30 2006, 07:25 PM) [snapback]137460[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Hey, I just looked up how much an Easyjet flight is from Paris to Luton. I kind of guessed with the dates, but this is what I found:

Fri 22nd Sept - ranging from £20 to £80, depending on time of day
Sat 23rd Sept - approx £20, whichever time
Sun 24th Sept - around £35 - £40.

On the other hand, the cheapest Eurostar for the Saturday is about £27, and about £50 for the Friday or Sunday.

Obviously with the flight, you'd have to pay train or bus fare to get into London, which I guess would be at least a tenner.

I'd go with the Eurostar, seems a whole lot easier.
[/b]

we'd prob be coming back on the monday, but thanks a lot. i think eurostar would be the best option.

**mbo108** · 08-30-2006, 01:05 PM

Can't speak to Brussels but I loved Brugge...it was almost 8 years ago that i was there, but it was good times. Friendly people, great scenery, good beer (I remember drinking as much cherry-flavored Kriek as my stomach could hold), going for a bike ride out into the suburbs for Belgian waffles, taking a picture of the world's smallest stained glass window, and climbing all the steps of the town's tower.

I would highly recommend stopping there.

**marc873** · 08-30-2006, 04:11 PM

I SOOOOOO agree with going to Brugges. I was there last month, and we had the best time. It is one of the prettiest places I have been traveling so far and am extremely thankful for spending time there. It is small enough to see in a full day if that is all you have, but 2 days would be best. The square in Brugge is breathtaking, and I am sad to say, but the canals are far prettier than in A-Dam or Venice. Plus you have the benefit of drinking tons of fresh draft Belgian Beeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!! There are also plents of beer stores that sell cold beer for 1-2 Euros to go! Hanging on a canal drinking a STRONG beer in a 16th century midevil town is the ticket. If you need any more info, please let me know. Happy traveling

rousseau5550 · 08-30-2006, 08:58 PM

I'm sure Brussels has it's amusements. I plan on visiting Brussels for a few days, hoping to learn from that french speaking city. Hopefully they'll understand my Québecois accent

**expatben** · 08-30-2006, 10:51 PM

Brussels is nice but very expensive so yeah make it a short trip. Brugges is really nice and the food rocks. Never been a big fan of A-Dam.

**tumblezweedz** · 08-31-2006, 12:01 AM

Just got back from a week more or less in Belgium, and I'd definitely say it's worth a visit, though Brussels is not perhaps the best the country has to offer. It does have some great museums and the people were very friendly (should have no problem with your quebecois - they understood my out-of-practice polyglot accent no problem), but it's not the most attractive city in Europe. Brugges is truly lovely, and if you have a couple of days, you could spend half a day at the coast, which is kind of different. Oostend is about 20 minutes away, with lots of rail connections, so an easy trip. It's not the most beautiful stretch of coastline in the world, but very much a part of the Belgian psyche and there are some truly odd things to be experienced there. Keeping in mind that I'm a coastal gal who's been landlocked for far too long recently, so I was really happy to see any ocean on that trip.

If you're interested in history, the area around Ypres is full of war memorials and museums (this is the home of Flanders Fields, after all), and the east of the country is quite beautiful, too. The Ardennes region is hilly and wooded, with lots of hiking and old castles and what not. Also, the Bokrijk Open Air Museum near Hasselt is full of old buildings gathered from different parts of the country, with people in period costume doing traditional crafts and such. Overall, I found Belgium rather expensive but quite enjoyable and very friendly people.

konigderheb · 08-31-2006, 02:29 AM

brussels is nice if you have lotsa extra money to throw around. otherwise it blows.
can't say for Brugges

dobeonguard · 08-31-2006, 07:05 PM

I love Belgium. It was my favorite place. Just something about it. I spent a night in Leuven, Belgium and drank in a club until 9am the next day. And everyone left and headed to class. Its a big University town. Hot women everywhere!

I never did the tourist thing, I just hung out. I miss Europe so much.... I am heading back in November and traveling around for 3 weeks by rail and visiting my friends. I will be spending all next summer there again doing my internship in Vienna.

Oh and don't forget Belgium is split right down the middle between French in the south and Dutch in the north. All of a sudden signs change, and its like they don't travel into eachothers territory. The Belgians speak very, very slow French. Unlike French and Canadian French. Just speak as if they are retarded and they will understand.

McHopsky · 09-04-2006, 11:17 PM

For the love of god, go to Brugge and stay in Snuffel Hostel and if not there, Art Hostel. Best time of my life.