Eurail Tips!

Tip # 1: Eurail passes really do allow you to just hop on a train.  Normally Lyndon and I are real planners and like to have confirmed and reconfirmed reservations when it comes to travel.  The only time you need to even consider advance reservations is when you are planning a travel segment on a high speed train in first class, otherwise, just hop on a train and be ready to have your pass stamped (validated) at some point during the trip. Incidentally, if you don't have your pass when the man comes around you will be fined heavily, you can't purchase a pass at that time!

Tip# 2: When you get on the train and you're traveling a fairly distant segment try to zip through the cars and see if any of the cars have private compartments in them.  It's first come, first serve.  The compartments have sliding glass doors on them and can comfortably seat six or more people but generally the trains are never terribly busy so if you snag one, it's yours!!

Tip# 3: This is a BIG one.  When the little card says the train is arriving at 13:45 and leaving at 13:47 you can set your watch to it!!! The European train system timetable is precise, exacting and rarely ever even a minute late.  American transportation systems could learn from this.

Tip# 4: Most of the trains have a cafe car with good seating and, for the longer distances, the restaurant/cafe on the train actually had a very decent selection of food, beer & wine.  Not at all like American airplane food and the dining car is very accommodating, but just remember, there are no "designated" smoking areas in Europe and this includes on the trains.

Tip# 5:  Eurail pass and U-Bahn trains.  In some European cities (Munich for example), if you have a Eurail pass you can ride the U-Bahn for free.  The U-Bahn is generally the inner city trains and the S-Bahn is the trains that go out to the suburbs.  Further information can be found on the Eurail site.

Driving in Europe Tips:

Tip # 1: Driving through Europe is fun and exciting and beautiful.  If you are able to rent a car and drive from one city to another and can allow for a stop here or there, do it!

Tip# 2:  The autobahn's really do allow you to drive faster than in the US but the sky is not the limit!  I usually drove around 105 mph (180 kph) on long stretches but I like to drive a little over the limit anyway ;)  The road system there is very comparable to ours in terms of safety, etc.

Tip# 3:  When you rent your car be sure to ask if there are any "toll" roads along your route.  Usually you can purchase a "pass" of sorts for a period of several days that you affix to the windshield of your car and you can zip right through the tolls without having to stop and dig for foreign money.

Tip# 4:  The big trucks in European roads really do stay in the right hand lane!  It's almost funny to see them in long lines and if one of them gets in the left lane it's usually to quickly pass another slower truck and get back over in the right lane.  That was very interesting to us.

Tip# 5:  The left lane really is for the faster driver.  It doesn't matter if you are going the limit or even more than the limit, if someone approaches you and you're in the far left lane, GET OVER and let them pass.  It is totally expected and you can always pick out the non-Europeans (Americans) who refuse to budge!

Hotels in Europe

Tip# 1:  Hotels in Europe (average hotels) are much different than what we expect in the US.  It is not uncommon to find a very small, cramped hotel room with a very tiny bathroom.  Everything you hear about packing light is true, there just isn't much space to hang things, store suite cases, etc.

Tip# 2:  Bed and Breakfasts are very much recommended by Lyndon and me.  Most of the time you will get valuable and personal information by staying at one of these and our experience has been extremely positive by staying at one. The best local information comes from the proprietor!

Electrical tips

Tip#1:  Don't panic about the electricity problem in Europe unless you plan on taking several electrical gadgets with you.  Basically we did great by purchasing a $20 dual voltage hair dryer here in the US and purchased the funny little $4 "adapter" to plug the hair dryer into and then into their outlet.  Their electrical system (in most European countries) uses 220v so just flip the little switch from 110v to 220v and you should be just fine.

General tips

Tip# 1:  Europeans love their dogs.  You will likely see dogs anywhere that you go, restaurants, hotel lobbies, subways, etc.  In Munich there was even a specific subway fare quoted for dogs & childern!