I have never been to Europe. Is this realistic?

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-- I have never been to Europe. Is this realistic?

Posted by jonmitz on Feb-04-2009 04:33:

I have never been to Europe. Is this realistic?

Here is what I'm thinking:

Fly in to Amsterdam~~ March 4th or 5th

March 7th � Trance Energy
March 13th � Gareth Emery @ Passion's 14th in Coalville,UK (near Nottingham where my friend goes to school)
March 14th � Steve Lawler in Manchester, UK

Fly back sometime the next week or weekend

I'm still looking for more/other things to do. I've heard traveling around Europe is extremely easy (trains, and other public transportation).

Does anyone thing this is unrealistic for my first time out of the country (alone, too)?

I think I'll be okay, but if anyone else has ever done something similar I'd love to hear from you (especially things I may not be thinking of)

Posted by DJ RANN on Feb-04-2009 04:52:

Being from Europe (england) I can tell you yes, apart from the Coalville/Manchester excursion.

Passion (coalville) is wicked, but that's a full on night (6am) - even though Manchester is not far away from Nottingham, and even if you're hardcore, that's a really heavy double header, especially only a few days after the madness that is trance energy.

My advice would be to just pick one of the UK nights to go to or go to Steve Lawler with the view of not having a heavy one (try to treat it like a bar night - but this might be VERY difficult with Mr. Dark Drums playing.)

Amsterdam is crazy - and at night totally transforms. TE will be full on too - lots of fun to be had.

Europe is easy to navigate, between trains, ferrys and planes everything is just a couple of hours away.

Use trains in the UK, but check the price of flights when traveling between countries rather than trains - sometimes the cheap airlines work out considerably cheaper but make sure the arriving airport is close to your final destination (a lot of cheap airlines say they fly to the desired city but even though the airport they use is called the same as the city it can easily be hours away). Just do your homework.

Oh yeah, the UK is very expensive compared to USA.
Fell free to ask if you need any more specific info

Posted by jonmitz on Feb-04-2009 05:18:

Thank you! Is there a ferry that travels between the two countries by chance? I'd really like to avoid air travel since it tends to be more expensive, and flying is boring. I have heard that there are a few ferries, but I don't know if any of them travel conveniently between the netherlands and the UK

Thank you

Posted by Brian Scott on Feb-04-2009 06:29:

Posted by Joyeeita on Feb-04-2009 07:30:

If you have the time you should travel around europe. That was something I regret I didn't do, I went to study abroad for a month but I had to many luggages and I had already booked my return. I didn't get to visit everywhere I wanted to, you figure it is so expensive to fly over there, might as well stay as long as possible. Also my biggest advice is PACK LIGHT!

Posted by jonmitz on Feb-04-2009 08:35:

quote:
Originally posted by Joyeeita
If you have the time you should travel around europe. That was something I regret I didn't do, I went to study abroad for a month but I had to many luggages and I had already booked my return. I didn't get to visit everywhere I wanted to, you figure it is so expensive to fly over there, might as well stay as long as possible. Also my biggest advice is PACK LIGHT!

Unfortunately I don't really have much time to see all of Europe. I just double checked, and I have to be back by the 22th (which means i'll probably come back the 20th). That gives me just about 2 weeks or so. I plan on visiting Germany, Belgium, and some of the UK (as well as the Netherlands!). I'm not really interested in seeing France (by myself, maybe if my girlfriend was going), and I think the other countries might be a little to far and take too much time in traveling.

I will probably only take 2 bags (backpack and duffle. I don't have a laptop) I'm pretty sure thats light enough?

Thanks for the help guys, I think all I need to do now is plan a specific route. If there are any cities anyone thinks I should definitely hit let me know

Posted by mar46017 on Feb-04-2009 09:46:

Check out www.vueling.com

I flew from Barcelona to Amsterdam roundrtrip for cheap. The EU is like the United States, once your in, they don't check your passport in neighboring countries. Same currency as well.

I guess it isn't Ibiza party season or Mykonos party season, so that sucks.

Barcelona, Spain is like the LA of Europe. Cool city. Greece's mainland was pretty dirty, but I liked the islands.

I suggest a trip to Italy. (Rome, Florence and Venice)...all a superfast train ride a away.

I kinda regret not going to Paris, France and Germany...but you can't do it all.

Posted by Airshow on Feb-04-2009 16:50:

I finally made it out to Europe a few years back and Glad I did (A-Dam, The Deuchland, Paris)

Very easy to travel around and everyone was extremely friendly.

I rolled into town solo and met all kinds of people, especially in amsterdam

Posted by Cool1g on Feb-04-2009 18:31:

quote:
Originally posted by JoNMiTz
Thank you! Is there a ferry that travels between the two countries by chance? I'd really like to avoid air travel since it tends to be more expensive, and flying is boring. I have heard that there are a few ferries, but I don't know if any of them travel conveniently between the netherlands and the UK

Thank you

a loooong time ago i took the ferry from the UK to Amsterdam....i seem to remember leaving london in the early afternoon and arriving in Amsterdam the next morning. nice easy trip...though as people have said they do have pretty cheap airtravel there so i doubt the cost would be much different to fly and then you have more time to sightsee. but the train/ferry to England is something different and you get to see stuff you wouldn't see if you just flew. really personal preference as to what you choose.

Posted by technofriik on Feb-04-2009 19:52:

I recommend leaving on March 4 because you won't arrive in AMS til the next day due to the time difference and you want some time to get over the jet lag before a major event like TE. I've been to TE twice and it destroys you (mostly in a good way) but you'll recover before the UK gigs. Just don't cram too much stuff to your schedule or you won't get to actually enjoy things. There's a lot to see in Holland and I'm sure same goes for UK too (I've only been to London). I do recommend Paris in general because it's a beautiful city with a lot of history but your time is limited so....

Posted by DJ RANN on Feb-04-2009 21:34:

quote:
Originally posted by mar46017
The EU is like the United States, once your in, they don't check your passport in neighboring countries. Same currency as well.

That's not actually true, especially on a non EU passport. It's a lot easier than entering the states, that's for sure but you still have to go through passport control in each country, which is not too much hassle.

quote:
Originally posted by mar46017
Barcelona, Spain is like the LA of Europe. Cool city. Greece's mainland was pretty dirty, but I liked the islands.

It's a great city but last time I was in Barcelona, it was soooo moody. People just totally unfriendly and not happy to have tourists there. I think the economic woes have hit them badly and it's making the iberians miserable.

quote:
Originally posted by mar46017
I suggest a trip to Italy. (Rome, Florence and Venice)...all a superfast train ride a away.

Wicked idea, Italia is beautiful and cheaper than the UK and France for food at stuff. Rome and Venice are still hidiously expensive for hotels though.

Be aware, and this is rude to the northerners, but there is not much to do in Nottingham as a tourist or backpacker, especially if the weather is shit. Manchester's got a lot going but they are both fucking miserable places in bad weather.

The ferry is a good one because you get to something, rather than the inside of a plane, but it does take a whole day (or overnight). It is cheap though (as low as 29 pounds including the train to get you to the ferry). Check the flyingdutchman.co.uk website.

You could also do the Eurostar, which takes only 5 hours, but that will cost a little bit more. Just weigh up how much flights cost against other travel methods then factor in the journey time.

As for other cities, got to do London. at least for a day.

Berlin is amazing if you can fir it in, especially if you're a lover of music and art. Probably the most happening city in Europe. Loads of cheap places to stay and good food, with loads to do and see.

Paris is beautiful especially at that time of year, but it's better to have your misses with you when you do that and even the crapest hotels are ridiculously expensive.

Posted by mar46017 on Feb-05-2009 02:32:

quote:
Originally posted by DJ RANN
That's not actually true, especially on a non EU passport. It's a lot easier than entering the states, that's for sure but you still have to go through passport control in each country, which is not too much hassle.

Are you sure? From what I remember EU to EU flights were in a different section in the airport. They didn't mess with you unless they felt like selecting you for some reason.

I flew into Greece (initially got my passport stamped), the ferry to Italy (no check), flew to Ibiza (no check), flew to Barcelona (no check), and no check from Barcelona to Amsterdam and back. (this was 2 summers ago)

Posted by Cool1g on Feb-05-2009 02:59:

quote:
Originally posted by mar46017
Are you sure? From what I remember EU to EU flights were in a different section in the airport. They didn't mess with you unless they felt like selecting you for some reason.

I flew into Greece (initially got my passport stamped), the ferry to Italy (no check), flew to Ibiza (no check), flew to Barcelona (no check), and no check from Barcelona to Amsterdam and back. (this was 2 summers ago)

i'm pretty sure +1 on what Mikey said