Travelling To Europe

[RottingCorpse]

So, the Team RC SCotland trip is officially on the books for August of 2006. In all likelihood, it'll be an Ireland/Scotland/England trip as my wife and I spend two weeks desperately trying to give monkey the slip before he attemps to give one or both of us a different kind of slip.

We're starting some prep now since neither of us have ver palnned a trip to Europe, and I'd love to have some info shared about good bargiains and travelling to Europe on the cheap. Some specifics I'm looking for at this early stage:

--Cheap airfare
--Hostels vs. Hotels vs. B&Bs. (Prices and good palces to stay)
--Camping?
--money, cash vs. credit (exchange rate differences on both)

-- and of course . . . sights to see, things to do, and wets to warm!

[Tyson]

Jesus! Is everyone going to Europe? I'm going in '08 or so, when I graduate. Whee!

[monkey!]

I spend two weeks desperately trying to give monkey the slip before he attemps to give one or both of us a different kind of slip.

-- and of course . . . sights to see, things to do, and wets to warm!

 

You'll learn to love it.

[nacho]

--Cheap airfare
--Hostels vs. Hotels vs. B&Bs. (Prices and good palces to stay)
--Camping?
--money, cash vs. credit (exchange rate differences on both)

-- and of course . . . sights to see, things to do, and wets to warm!

I use Travelocity.  Shop around the online shit, starting in the winter.  Don't do it now.  Start in October, take your time, spend a month doing it.  Compare, come back, compare, come back...rinse, repeat.  Don't settle for anything over 450 RT per person.

 Also, don't go in August.  Go in September.  Or May-June.  July-August is the high holy time.  You'll be crowded in with tourists, you'll be hot, you'll pay 50% more for everything, you'll have trouble finding rooms.  

Do it in June, you can go with me and get free lodging for most of the trip.

B&B's, all the way.  The dollar is dead, anyway.  Forget saving money while you're on the ground.  No use.  B&B's on average -- 40-50 pounds, including a huge breakfast that'll last you the day and free local guides telling you what to do.  In Irish-land, 40-50 Euros.

Credit and ATM's!  Just like America.  Cash for the B&B's.  In Irish-land, always have plenty of cash.  In the UK, credit cards.  

Get the Lonely Planet now, go through it, make a list, put the list to where you have time to go.

[RottingCorpse]

Part of the reason for doing it in August is to coincide with the Edinburgh Film Festival on the off chance we get into it. If not, we still have a European holiday to get into. (And we'll probably stop by teh fest for a day anyway.)

$450 round trip?!? That seems too good to be true. What airline? Ali's Goat Cargo and Suicide Bomb Airlines?

The dollar is dead, but what's the website that gives you exchange rates? Also, explain in a little detail about how much the euro has effected things. Are Pounds are still used right? (and francs and deutchmarks for that matter.)

Also, we're only looking at two weeks to make the trip, so what kind of realistic itenerary should we think. I'd hate to try to shove in three countries when I could instead get a real taste of Scottish culture.

And, what do you know about camping? The wife and I both dig camping, and the idea of spending the night roughing it in the highlands seems kickin' rad.

[nacho]

$450 round trip?!? That seems too good to be true. What airline? Ali's Goat Cargo and Suicide Bomb Airlines?

I always fly British Airlines.  Ask for the Club Class upgrade, if they have room.  I would consider $450 high for every airline.  This summer's cost was $380 RT.  They're all cheap, if you know where and how to look.

The dollar is dead, but what's the website that gives you exchange rates? Also, explain in a little detail about how much the euro has effected things. Are Pounds are still used right? (and francs and deutchmarks for that matter.)

www.xe.com

Euro is doing okay, usually.  About even.  Pounds are used in the UK, Euro everywhere else...unless you're hitting the East.

Also, we're only looking at two weeks to make the trip, so what kind of realistic itenerary should we think. I'd hate to try to shove in three countries when I could instead get a real taste of Scottish culture.

And, what do you know about camping? The wife and I both dig camping, and the idea of spending the night roughing it in the highlands seems kickin' rad.

The plan is up to you.  Lonely Planet.  They'll suggest what to do based on how much time you have.  Two weeks, and if you're hitting the fest, I'd say just do Scotland.  Lots to do.  May want to rent a car, though.

Camping is fine.  You know blackflies in Canada, right?  They're friendly compared to midges.  I'm also thrilled by the old "Now it's 30 degrees!" joke that Scotland plays.  And, while August is fairly safe, always be prepared for rain rain rain.

[Tyson]

Scotland is the place to go, man. I'm from the McIntosh clan. The clan motto?

"Touch not the cat, but the glove."

I shit you not.

[nacho]

Also, for the fest in Edinburgh, and well in advance, stay at the University.  Dorm room/shared bath/pay for breakfast, but cheap and convenient.

You could schedule three of four days in Edinburgh and a  couple days in Glasgow and be okay.  Train out to Oban from Glasgow for a couple of days.  Maybe bus and then ferry to one of the islands, rental car for a comfortable tour. That right there will swallow your two weeks, and will cut down on rentals/insane driving.

Loch Ness could be on the list.  Allow a day or two, depending.  If going north, then cross out Glasgow.  Edinburgh to Inverness.  Stay Inverness, bus to Loch Ness, tour, stay again Inverness.  Bus to Ullapool, ferry to Isle of Lewis.  One day.  Lewis driving tour, two or three days.  Back to Edinburgh.  That’ll fill you up.

Or – Edinburgh to Hadrian’s Wall.  Hike and camp the wall (ideal and comfortable).  The wall is 70 miles across, 20 miles of which are striking.  I’d suggest Chester’s Roman fort area to Brampton, hiking and camping the whole way.  Lots of hostels and pubs there, too.  Hit Brampton, get a real room, shower.  You’re done.  So if the camping bug is really in your fucking mind, do the Wall.

[Tyson]

So if the camping bug is really in your fucking mind, do the Wall.

And the wife. Don't forget that.

[nacho]

Actually, you'll probably fly to London.  I don't know.  Check prices to Belfast, as well.  Then you could visit Monkey.  By then, the ferry to Campelltown should be running again.  Belfast, two nights.  Ferry to Scotland, toot along via Glasgow, maybe a Wall thing, then hit Edinburgh.

If London, a couple nights there ($$$) and then grab the new wobbly train to Newcastle.  That train ride is cool.  It moves on the wheels, so you don't feel anything.  Like a spaceship!

Hit Newcastle, do the brewery thing, take the little bitty goober train to Brampton.  Start on the Brampton hiking trail (the TIC will give you directions) through woods and pasture to the start of the truly dramatic parts of the Wall.  Walk and camp in either direction, then just drop back down to any town and hit the train back to Newcastle and then north to the fest.

Also remember-- going east is worse for jetlag.  Try to fly a day flight, landing at night, and you'll thank me in the morning.

And, with two weeks, and a solidly planned stop in Scotland, don't worry about the Euro.  You'll be trapped  if you want to take your time, camp and enjoy stuff.  Dont't try to take in 50 countries in two days, your vacation will suck.  You could spend two fucking weeks just on Hadrian's Wall.  The country is full of so much... But note that the pound is almost two for one, now.  Budget accordingly.  A thousand dollar vacation will be a 500 vacation.  Your daily outgo, on the Pound, will be about 50 bucks per person.  Maybe more.  

Which is why I stress the importance of the plane ticket.  Everyone's like you.  Poo-poo-poo, $450 is on Death Airlines.  I should pay a million dollars for United, AKA Death Airlines.  Wrong.  They're all competing, they'll cheap as dirt.  Just be patient and observant.