Hey, guys. This spring break, I'm going to Europe. Originally, I was going to go to France, then England (http://www.cha-tours.com/Tours/tours_S500/tour_S508.asp?Tour=S508&RequestList=NOSHOW) through CHA Tours. However, due to only having 5 total students and 1 teacher going (including me), we didn't have enough to fill a bus, and didn't want to pay 1600 each for our own bus. Now we're going to Italy for a day shorter, (http://www.cha-tours.com/Tours/tours_S300/tour_S306.asp?Tour=S306&RequestList=NOSHOW). What would you recommend I take on this trip? I know that I'm taking a still camera, and a video camera is a maybe. I don't want specific models, I'll figure that out as the time comes, except for unique products. I want general ideas of what to bring. I assume that theft is quite high, so I probably will not have much valuable, like a computer. Thanks. Also, I'd like your opinions of the places I'm going. What it's like, what to do on the time off, what is cool and what is not, what the opinion of American tourists are, and theft levels/general quality. Any help is appreciated. The one thing I have to make clear is that where I'm going is NOT negotiable. I'm going with a group, and this is pretty much the only one that fits our schedule. Thanks!
Theft isn't higher than in America unless you flash your stuff around so attempt to not look like American tourists and you'll be fine. Apart from that just have fun attempting the other languages, try the food and don't complain about the size of everything.
Everything with a Kensington style lock attachment will have a cable on it, looped around my body. Everything without, will have some sort of carbon-steel cable attachment put on it. Especially valuable things (laptops, cameras, etc) will probably have some sort of ghettoized lock put on it (hot glued on, superglued, whatever). Oh, I know. No flag T-shirts, etc. I'm a "Canadian" who is in America for a few months while my parents are on their long vacation/second honeymoon. Gadgets will not be like, "OOH, GET IN THE PICTURE SO I CAN TAKE A SHINY PICTURE WITH MY SHINY CAMERA! OOOOH, SHINY!!!!LOL! " Seriously. Has anyone been to Italy as a tourist, lived as a temporary person, or lived there most/all of their life? That would be the best help I could get.
Do you really want a couch tour? They are a so boring. You spend most of your time driving around being bored get off see a place for a short time then get on a coach again. Why not just pick a good place in Italy to go, fly there, enjoy all it has to offer then return. As opposed to trying to cram lots in so you won't really remember / enjoy it.
lo, you are truly paranoid, now if you went to russia, i would understand, but italy? thats quite civilized and safe, havent heard of anyone who has been mugged there(and i have lots of friends who have gone there) besides, itali has lots of tourists and the local ppl arent poor too... your shiny camera wouldnt get anyone exited.
I actually know of a guy who managed to leave a fat wad of cash at a cafe in Italy and the waiter actually ran down the street to return it to him. I would say that it is OK to look touristy, you're going as a group and you'll all have cameras anyway. Pack light and keep anything you need on you. Backpack, cargo pants, shirts with pockets large enough to keep that map or phrase-book. Edit : You may already know, but as a travel tip, always keep copies of your Passport or other travel documents in separate locations. I put a copy into each of my bags and carried a reduced size copy in my wallet. Probably not necessary at all but it is always "in case".
Naples is seriously dodgy, but if you have an ounce of culture in you you'll head to Rome, Vatican City, Florence and possibly Venice if you can afford it. Stuff will be expensive, that's just how it is. I'd recommend Germany too, great country. Basic German isnt that hard to pick up and most people will probably just turn around and speak english anyway, although don't expect it. The worst thing you can do in Europe is try to speak english to someone without attempting their native language, especially if you have an American accent. If you come to the UK, espeically London, people will probably come across rude to you: in that they wont give you the time of day. Everyone is always in a hurry to get somewhere. But it's no more dangerous than any American city and Im sure you're street wise. Watch the traffic! For starters itll come from the other direction and a Taxi will run you over (think NYC). But don't stress about it As long as you're street wise you dont need locks and ****. I'd totally recommend the lost planet travel guides. They helped LOADS when I went to China: especially the tips on cultural differences and what to expect.
Oi! London aint that bad, considering he's comming from NY/NJ I doubt that he would find Europe Rude.
LOL true If you're not a Londoner, it IS that bad. People are always in a rush and if you're not in a rush as well it seems hectic.
LMAO , you're going to look like a walking bank vault! Just put everything you need (phone, camera, laptop) in a rucksack that doesn't say VAIO all over it and make sure you're laptop isn't peeking out of the corner. Other than that you'll be fine, nothing will go missing. If your leaving expensive stuff in the hotel either hide it in some clothes or put it in the room safe if there is one. Better to be safe than sorry with that sort of thing.
yeah i hate people walking slowly when i need to go somewhere, thats why most of the time i use back streets as a short cut to bypass the Forign tourists and even the tourists who live outside of London!
I would have thought America would have been worse in terms of rushing about. The only place things get really bad is on the underground - everyone knows it's overcrowded, underfunded and too old, but apart from that there's not much wrong with London. I think the only thing not to really flash about is an iPod, especially on the underground - and guard all your belongings on the underground, lots of pickpockets there. If you're into alternative stuff, go Camden, it's like the gothic/emo mecca of the south of England, and if you're into your gadgets, go to Tottenham Court Road - plenty of computers, and expensive AV gear. London Eye is a must, as is a boat on the thames if you have the time, simply because it's fun being in between two halves of London As a sidenote I've been around London with digicams and videocameras, usually that's not what people are after.. iPod's and mobile phones (and laptops), as always, are the money earners. If you put the laptop in some sort of zip up second skin thingy, and shove it in your backpack, you'll be fine. However, if you go around with a laptop bag it'll be obvious you have one lol
I went on a trip round europe for 2 weeks the month before i went to uni. We just packed our bags, filled up my ipod and got on a train. We had one of those train tickets that let you go anywhere for free for 2 weeks. Was great fun. One of the cheapest ways to travel is to go somewhere, mess arround there all day, then at night, pick a night train going anywhere and just get on it. Sleep on the train and get of wherever it took you. We ended up in luxembourg at one point.. ****ing booring place to be honest. Full of old people. We also did paris, loads of beach places.. oh and went to chamonix and walked up a big hill.. Went to switzerland as well. That was cool. More fun than a bus tour i would imagine..
In Italy watch out for the traffic, they drive like they are on a circuit. But strangely enough they are never on time . Even the mopeds seems go at mach 2. And don't forget, credit cards aren't as common as in the US. In the larger city it would probally won't be a problem.
I don't think London is a bad place to visit at all, I went there with my family last summer, and it was reeaally different than Helsinki/all the crappy little towns here. BTW We stayed on the same street as the late agent Litvinenko
No, it's not a bad place at all, just busy and compact. It takes a little adjusting and your wits imo that's all. It's no different from the rest of the major cities in the EU though.
I'm going with some classmates over break, so yes, unfortunately, much as I'd love to do what you suggested. Originally the school sponsored it, but like the jack@sses they are, they cancelled it, so we made our own. It's more that some of the parents don't trust their kids than anything else, my parents thought that going by myself would be cool. How do you know my family, and why do you copy us? My dad has done that since the dawn of time, so I will too. I'm bringing a black bag which can double as a shoulder bag or backpack, pretty nice. My father speaks German fairly well (first and third language) and I can muddle through it, so he and I were thinking of going some day, probably next summer for a fencing camp. So the general consensus (for which I thank you all greatly) is that taking stuff in Italy is OK, as long as I don't act or look American, or flash it about? Last time my parents went, they witnessed several mugging where a man on a moped would drive by with a knife and slash purse or bag straps and grab them. Probably paranoia, though.
Just be normal and try and speak the native language and people will generally be far more accepting. It doesnt matter if you're american or not in the least, as long as you're nice If you look for the cracks you will see them, basically. As long as you're street wise to some degree you'll be perfectly fine: listen to your instincts like you would if you went somewhere new in the states. My mates and I walked through various chinese cities in the very late evening before with no problem. We ventured though only a few back streets (because we were too cheap to get a taxi) that seemed more populated and came out ok.
Just be normal and try and speak the native language and people will generally be far more accepting. It doesnt matter if you're american or not in the least, as long as you're nice If you look for the cracks you will see them, basically. As long as you're street wise to some degree you'll be perfectly fine: listen to your instincts like you would if you went somewhere new in the states. My mates and I walked through various chinese cities in the very late evening before with no problem. We ventured though only a few back streets (because we were too cheap to get a taxi) that seemed more populated and came out ok. We can't speak Mandarin and we stood out far more than you will in the EU
