First Time Flying for Euro Trip, Need Tips on Flights, Travel, Locations Options

• 

  GG57 on 14/02/2018 - 15:02

  +2

  Wow, so much content / so many questions. May I suggest you break this down into separate forums, for example:
  - Flight related
  - London
  - Paris
  - Belgium
  etc.
  You will probably get more focussed responses that way.

  Whatever you do, have fun.

  • 

    Pandaboss on 14/02/2018 - 15:12

    Sorry for that, I didn't want to create too many topics, but you are right, I'll get more responses. I'll re-edit now.

    Thank you

• 

  retiredfeline on 14/02/2018 - 15:06

  +2

  TL; use multiple posts. But my first reaction is you're trying to do too much in 3- weeks.

  • 

    Pandaboss on 14/02/2018 - 15:14

    We thought that as well, Just seeing if there is other options out there that people have done, most probably the contiki tours are the ones capable to do it in this time frame.

  • 

    starburstyellow on 14/02/2018 - 17:04

    Agreed. Your itinerary is a pain to read, let alone understand. I recently did a 3 week Europe tour in November, and that was Germany only. Wife and I normal like to stay in a country and soak in the culture etc. Can always go to another country next time. With your 3 weeks, I would do 3-4 countries Max!!!

    • 

      Pandaboss on 21/02/2018 - 23:50

      We will do the same. 1 week in london. 1 week in Paris and then rest of the time in Belgium and surrounds. Transport via train is fast enough to get to other countries, so might utilise this.

• 

  PissLUR on 14/02/2018 - 15:14

  +1

  Are Oyster Cards the transport method for London?

  don't need to buy Oyster card,
  use an australian debit/credit card with no overseas transaction fee for your London travel.

  • 

    Pandaboss on 14/02/2018 - 15:15

    Didn't know that at all, I have a Coles Rewards Mastercard that should work. Thanks!

• 

  [Deactivated] on 14/02/2018 - 15:17

  -1

  Looks
  Like you’re sorted

• 

  marketingpolice on 14/02/2018 - 15:38

  If you do decide to go to Amsterdam (near Belgium) esp on a weekend make sure you have somewhere to stay pre-booked. Everyone flocks there on weekends!

  • 

    Pandaboss on 21/02/2018 - 23:50

    Thanks for the heads up!

• 

  try2bhelpful on 14/02/2018 - 16:36

  I'm a museum and architecture nut and London and Paris are choc full of options.
  Many of the London museums are free but they "suggest" you make a 5 pound donation.
  We stayed at this place in London. The rooms are quite small, the bathroom is a glass box in the corner but it was clean, modern and they had free wine and cheese each night and they weren't stingy with it. Also the location was really good for train lines to attractions.
  http://www.thezhotels.com/piccadilly?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIofeto…

  In Paris we get the Carte D'Musee that provides you with access to a number of museums and sights. It allows you to bypass the ticket queues but you will still hit the metal detectors. See San Chapelle - small but very beautiful. I always go "up" so I suggest going to the top of Notre Dam and the Eiffel Tower, on dusk is best to watch the light come out over Paris, also the top of Sacre Coeur and the Arc D'Triomphe. Be prepared to do a lot of stairs. Walk from the Louvre down to the Arc D'Triomphe it is mainly gardens, you go past the Opera house on the way, through the Champs Elysees and to the Arc D'Triomphe. You can also take the train to the Pantheon then walk back to Notre Dam via the Moyen Age museum. Also go to Versailles, that is a day trip so you can also walk in the gardens. The fountains are only on at certain times of the year so check. if you have the stomach for it you can go down the catacombs and see where the bones were stored when they reclaimed the land used for the old cemetaries. Fascinating but some people freak out given it is underground and there are a lot of bones. Some are arranged into patterns.

  If you want to save money either eat at lunchtime or go to the Boulangeres and Supermarkets and create your own picnic. Sandwiches, patisserie, wine, cheese that is all fantastic and at a fraction what it costs for a restaurant. I would look into Air BnB as an option for Paris. We stayed at a great place that was walking distance to the Louvre, had great boulangers, patisseries and supermarkets near it and reasonably close to a metro station as well. This also provided us with kitchen facilies to store our produce and cook.The only downside was the 5 storey climb without a lift.

  If you want a sojourn into Switzerland be warned it is very expensive and the food is fairly ordinary. For our last trip we spent roughly 12 days just doing Switzerland travelling the major train routes. It was wonderful and the highlights were Zermatt, Interlaken and Luzern. That said, the rest of the places were stayed at were pretty good too. We did Interlaken -> Montreau -> Zermatt -> St Moritz - > Lugano -> Luzern -> Interlaken. Staying a couple of days in most places.

  if you intend to travel multiple countries by rail I would look into a Eurail pass, we went first class because it is less crowded, the carriages are nicer and they have the bigger windows - but second class is OK. For the Zermatt leg we had two first class carriages to ourselves whilst everyone else was crowded in second class. We were told you needed to book international sectors and scenic ones, so we had to book all our sectors (which attracts an additional fee). Something to investigate anyway.

  Haven't been to Belgium so can't help there.

  Enjoy the trip you will have a great time.

  • 

    Pandaboss on 21/02/2018 - 23:54

    We love just seeing the world out there and your insight on things will be of great help. Thanks for giving the time to provide input for us.

    I will look into the Carte D'Musee passes and also the rail passes. Although won't be able to afford first class haha.

• 

  dasher86 on 14/02/2018 - 22:02

  I would suggest flying into Paris or even Amsterdam, it is usually cheaper than London (but definitely take a look at the different options).

  No point in driving a car in London. Buses and trains are leaps and bounds ahead of Australia.

  A week in the UK should give you plenty of time to take a train out of London.
  Bath is a decent day trip and so is Cambridge and Oxfordshire.

  Definitely try out Brick Lane one night out in London and also check out Camden.
  Camden is also a place I suggest to stay along with Queensway/Bayswater for pricing and convenience.

  If you're feeling a little more adventurous head to the East side - historically a shadier area but many places have become slightly more gentrified and cheaper accom

  • 

    Pandaboss on 21/02/2018 - 23:59

    I am still keeping an eye out flight deals and not much is happening at the moment, hoping a good sale comes around for tickets.

    Walking and public transport will be out go to. Maybe even uber.

    Keeping those places in mind when we do our research of the London.

    Thank you!

• 

  Pandaboss on 14/06/2018 - 22:02

  Just an update for anyone who is interested. I will just list our revised itinerary for us 2.
  After discussion we are only visiting London, Paris and now Nice. No Contiki tours or Hop on hop Off bus tours, cheaper to plan our own.

  Flights to Heathrow have been Booked through Emirates Costing $3700, did not use FF points.
  Eurostar Train booked London to Paris return $280
  SNCF/Thalys Train from Paris to Avignon-Marseille $180
  FlexiBus from Marseille to Nice $30
  Air France Flight to Paris from Nice $225

  Will Be getting the Oyster Cards when we arrive in London Heathrow Airport, staying for 1 week so will load 25 on each card
  Purchased 20gb International Sims $70 for use in UK and France.
  Looking into the free walking tours offered in London.
  Will use share bikes to get around and local transport, not hiring a car.

  accomodation still in the process. AirBnb, and couchsurfing are interesting platforms I have heard.