Question:

oh – i forgot – id be leaving for my trip from Toronto, Canada – altho i could make the trip to New york if there would be significant cost savings to justify it. regards G

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there everyone. id like to start off by thanking everyone for the amazing info on what to do in order to finish my last trip to Pamplona for the running of the bulls. it was tons of fun. Next summer i was hoping to go to Tanzania or Kenya – whichever is closer or easier to get to Mount kilimanjaro for a good climb to the top. If anyone can point me, a slow witted twenty something year old in the right direction – it would be much appreciated. From whatever preliminary info i could gather – it makes more sense to get to Kenya’s airport and somehow get a tour to the mountain since the . Dar-es-Salaam International Airport and Zanzibar International Airport seem to be a bit further but at least i dont need to deal with the hassles of customs. Again – i apologize for being so clueless about these things – but i really dont get to travel frequently. I am looking for any recommendations for the cheapest flights available, etc. Thanks again. G

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there everyone. id like to start off by thanking everyone for the amazing info on what to do in order to finish my last trip to Pamplona for the running of the bulls. it was tons of fun. Next summer i was hoping to go to Tanzania or Kenya – whichever is closer or easier to get to Mount kilimanjaro for a good climb to the top. If anyone can point me, a slow witted twenty something year old in the right direction – it would be much appreciated. From whatever preliminary info i could gather – it makes more sense to get to Kenya’s airport and somehow get a tour to the mountain since the . Dar-es-Salaam International Airport and Zanzibar International Airport seem to be a bit further but at least i dont need to deal with the hassles of customs. Again – i apologize for being so clueless about these things – but i really dont get to travel frequently. I am looking for any recommendations for the cheapest flights available, etc.

KLM fly to Kilimanjaro airport from Amsterdam and from Toronto to Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

yeah – i was looking at klm’s rates – their somewhat expensive tho at 2000$ or so US. the cheapest from one of the discount carriers was 1300$US. anyone else that knows a charter that goes that far?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there everyone. id like to start off by thanking everyone for the amazing info on what to do in order to finish my last trip to Pamplona for the running of the bulls. it was tons of fun. Next summer i was hoping to go to Tanzania or Kenya – whichever is closer or easier to get to Mount kilimanjaro for a good climb to the top. If anyone can point me, a slow witted twenty something year old in the right direction – it would be much appreciated. From whatever preliminary info i could gather – it makes more sense to get to Kenya’s airport and somehow get a tour to the mountain since the . Dar-es-Salaam International Airport and Zanzibar International Airport seem to be a bit further but at least i dont need to deal with the hassles of customs. Again – i apologize for being so clueless about these things – but i really dont get to travel frequently. I am looking for any recommendations for the cheapest flights available, etc. KLM fly to Kilimanjaro airport from Amsterdam and from Toronto to Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

Ethiopian Air also flies to Kilimanjaro Airport, and they have pretty good service. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – yeah – i was looking at klm’s rates – their somewhat expensive tho at 2000$ or so US. the cheapest from one of the discount carriers was 1300$US. anyone else that knows a charter that goes that far? Hi there everyone. id like to start off by thanking everyone for the amazing info on what  to  do in order to finish my last trip to Pamplona for the running of the  bulls.  it was tons of fun. Next summer i was hoping to go to Tanzania or Kenya – whichever is  closer  or easier to get to Mount kilimanjaro for a good climb to the top. If anyone can point me, a slow witted twenty something year old in the  right direction – it would be much appreciated. From whatever preliminary info  i could gather – it makes more sense to get to Kenya’s airport and somehow  get a tour to the mountain since the . Dar-es-Salaam International Airport and Zanzibar International Airport  seem to be a bit further but at least i dont need to deal with the hassles of customs. Again – i apologize for being so clueless about these things – but i  really dont get to travel frequently. I am looking for any recommendations for  the cheapest flights available, etc. KLM fly to Kilimanjaro airport from Amsterdam and from Toronto to  Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

leah – thanx for the tip. i too was looking at EA – there seem to be a 6000$ price differential betweem them and KLM.

Ethiopian Air also flies to Kilimanjaro Airport, and they have pretty good service.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – yeah – i was looking at klm’s rates – their somewhat expensive tho at 2000$ or so US. the cheapest from one of the discount carriers was 1300$US. anyone else that knows a charter that goes that far? Hi there everyone. id like to start off by thanking everyone for the amazing info on what  to  do in order to finish my last trip to Pamplona for the running of the  bulls.  it was tons of fun. Next summer i was hoping to go to Tanzania or Kenya – whichever is  closer  or easier to get to Mount kilimanjaro for a good climb to the top. If anyone can point me, a slow witted twenty something year old in the  right direction – it would be much appreciated. From whatever preliminary info  i could gather – it makes more sense to get to Kenya’s airport and somehow  get a tour to the mountain since the . Dar-es-Salaam International Airport and Zanzibar International Airport  seem to be a bit further but at least i dont need to deal with the hassles of customs. Again – i apologize for being so clueless about these things – but i  really dont get to travel frequently. I am looking for any recommendations for  the cheapest flights available, etc. KLM fly to Kilimanjaro airport from Amsterdam and from Toronto to  Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

Hi there everyone. id like to start off by thanking everyone for the amazing info on what to do in order to finish my last trip to Pamplona for the running of the bulls. it was tons of fun. Next summer i was hoping to go to Tanzania or Kenya – whichever is closer or easier to get to Mount kilimanjaro for a good climb to the top. If anyone can point me, a slow witted twenty something year old in the right direction – it would be much appreciated. From whatever preliminary info i could gather – it makes more sense to get to Kenya’s airport and somehow get a tour to the mountain since the . Dar-es-Salaam International Airport and Zanzibar International Airport seem to be a bit further but at least i dont need to deal with the hassles of customs. Again – i apologize for being so clueless about these things – but i really dont get to travel frequently. I am looking for any recommendations for the cheapest flights available, etc. Thanks again. G

Response:

Question:

Because it takes twice as long, and the time is spent sitting in a seat on a bus that is much less comfortable than one on a train, and (unless one is in a special fare class) it costs only EUR10 less for the trip…?  (Even the Eurolines "under 26" fare at EUR56 is not that much lower than a Thalys "mini" fare at EUR72.) Unless cost is the only consideration, I can’t see the bus as the "best way to travel" between Paris and Amsterdam.  EUR 56 is the fare for a round trip.

Yes.  And…? From www.thalys.com:         Choice 3 :  72.2 EUR               Ticket type :  Mini             Characteristics :  A return trip ticket at the lowest price, with         no exchange or refund options.   — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

Response:

all the info on www.thalys.com. traveltime paris – amsterdam 4 hours 10 min. louise EUR 56 is the fare for a round trip. That’s Paris/Antwerp, not Amsterdam.

— Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Response:

Should I buy a ticket for this before? Will it be more the day of travel?  You shouldn’t have a problem buying the day of travel, but it might be  better to buy your ticket a day or so ahead of time for the Thalys.  There are other trains, mostly requiring a change of trains at  Brussels-midi, but the SNCF website seems to be hosed at the moment.

If you know your travel dates and times, and are looking for the cheapest fare, then it may be best to buy your ticket early. You probably won’t have a problem buying tickets at the last minute.  I use this train fairly often, and only once has it been completely full (and I suspect that one could find a space on a different train on the same day). But… the cheapest (‘Mini’) tickets are limited in number, and may not be available on or shortly before the day of travel.  I have sometimes found that no ‘mini’ tickets were available when I wished to travel, and had to pay a higher fare.  The downside is that the ‘mini’ is neither changeable nor refundable, so you must be certain of your travel plans when you buy your ticket.   And sometimes you get lucky.  I once got a special discount fare just walking up to the ticket window in Brussels and buying a ticket for that very afternoon. — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

Response:

Because it takes twice as long, and the time is spent sitting in a seat on a bus that is much less comfortable than one on a train, and (unless one is in a special fare class) it costs only EUR10 less for the trip…?  (Even the Eurolines "under 26" fare at EUR56 is not that much lower than a Thalys "mini" fare at EUR72.) Unless cost is the only consideration, I can’t see the bus as the "best way to travel" between Paris and Amsterdam.

EUR 56 is the fare for a round trip. Regards

Response:

You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way

That takes care of the petrol, but how much is the fare? Kara –

Response:

Why not by bus : http://www.eurolines.nl/index-uk.html Marc

In the other way : http://www.eurolines.fr/anglais/som_gen1.htm didier meurgues – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far  trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right? Thank you

Response:

You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way

Really? Mappy says it’s 494 Km

Response:

Originally posted by Miguel Cruz: You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way From Paris to Amsterdam? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu/http://travel.u.nu New mini photo-feature: Life in DC: http://travel.u.nu/dc/http://travel.u.nu/dc/ Yeah it’s not far

Forget it. It is a four hour drive. (and you need to drive fast) No way a taxi driver will take you to Paris from Amsterdam for USD 50. Sjoerd

Response:

Unless you are a ‘bus spotter’ — Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Response:

Originally posted by Miguel Cruz: You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way From Paris to Amsterdam? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu/http://travel.u.nu New mini photo-feature: Life in DC: http://travel.u.nu/dc/http://travel.u.nu/dc/

Yeah it’s not far — Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Response:

You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way

Perhaps EUR 500 from Amsterdam to Paris, but USD 50 gets you to about Leiden from Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way

From Paris to Amsterdam? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu New mini photo-feature: Life in DC: http://travel.u.nu/dc/

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right?  Why not by bus :  http://www.eurolines.nl/index-uk.html

Because it takes twice as long, and the time is spent sitting in a seat on a bus that is much less comfortable than one on a train, and (unless one is in a special fare class) it costs only EUR10 less for the trip…?  (Even the Eurolines "under 26" fare at EUR56 is not that much lower than a Thalys "mini" fare at EUR72.) Unless cost is the only consideration, I can’t see the bus as the "best way to travel" between Paris and Amsterdam. — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

Response:

Why not by bus : http://www.eurolines.nl/index-uk.html Marc – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right? Thank you

Response:

You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way — Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Response:

But… the cheapest (‘Mini’) tickets are limited in number, and may not be available on or shortly before the day of travel.  I have sometimes found that no ‘mini’ tickets were available when I wished to travel, and had to pay a higher fare.  The downside is that the ‘mini’ is neither changeable nor refundable, so you must be certain of your travel plans when you buy your ticket.  is that the only different on the mini?

I think so; I don’t think that there are any specific advance purchase requirements other than a limited number of seats and "first come; first served". If you visit www.thalys.com, then select ‘english’ and ‘tickets types’, you will see a list of different fare types; click on the type for the rules for each. — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

Response:

is that the only different on the mini? thanks for all the help.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Should I buy a ticket for this before? Will it be more the day of travel?  You shouldn’t have a problem buying the day of travel, but it might be  better to buy your ticket a day or so ahead of time for the Thalys.  There are other trains, mostly requiring a change of trains at  Brussels-midi, but the SNCF website seems to be hosed at the moment. If you know your travel dates and times, and are looking for the cheapest fare, then it may be best to buy your ticket early. You probably won’t have a problem buying tickets at the last minute.  I use this train fairly often, and only once has it been completely full (and I suspect that one could find a space on a different train on the same day). But… the cheapest (‘Mini’) tickets are limited in number, and may not be available on or shortly before the day of travel.  I have sometimes found that no ‘mini’ tickets were available when I wished to travel, and had to pay a higher fare.  The downside is that the ‘mini’ is neither changeable nor refundable, so you must be certain of your travel plans when you buy your ticket. And sometimes you get lucky.  I once got a special discount fare just walking up to the ticket window in Brussels and buying a ticket for that very afternoon. — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right?

Don’t know about cheap but IMO the best way is the thalys. It takes you from Paris Nord to Amsterdam Central in about 4 hours. No getting from and to airport hassle. And you can walk and stretch, even in comfort 2 there’s more space than in the average economy seat. If you book in advance you can get a one way ticket for 70 euro, possible less even. — Met vriendelijke groeten/Best regards Jeroen Wijnands http://www.xs4all.nl/~wijnands http://spam.pagina.nl — "When you are in it up to your ears, keep your mouth shut."

Response:

Should I buy a ticket for this before? Will it be more the day of travel?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – thanks for all the help Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com I should have mentioned: those are the one-way fares.     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – thanks for all the help Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com I should have mentioned: those are the one-way fares. Should I buy a ticket for this before? Will it be more the day of travel?

You shouldn’t have a problem buying the day of travel, but it might be better to buy your ticket a day or so ahead of time for the Thalys. There are other trains, mostly requiring a change of trains at Brussels-midi, but the SNCF website seems to be hosed at the moment. The SNCF website should permit you to buy and hold a ticket several weeks before travel, and you pick up your tickets at Pris-nord. If you want general rail schedules use http://bahn.hafas.de, which will take you, if you click on "English", to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?newrequest=yes&protocol…, which is fine as a URL once it’s bookmarked.     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

    *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right? Thank you

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right?

It’s a bit over 300 miles and about a 4 hour trip by Thalys.  Roundtrip 2nd class leisure fare should be about $125 total.

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right?

Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

thanks for all the help

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right? Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

thanks for all the help Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com

I should have mentioned: those are the one-way fares.     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right? Thank you

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right?

It’s a bit over 300 miles and about a 4 hour trip by Thalys.  Roundtrip 2nd class leisure fare should be about $125 total.

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right?

Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

thanks for all the help

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right? Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

thanks for all the help Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com

I should have mentioned: those are the one-way fares.     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

Should I buy a ticket for this before? Will it be more the day of travel?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – thanks for all the help Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com I should have mentioned: those are the one-way fares.     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – thanks for all the help Do NOT believe point-to-point fares as given on pass-selling websites. They are inflated and do not consider the many discount fares that are widely available. Use http://www.sncf.com to determine the fare from Paris to Amsterdam. The classy way to go would be by high-speed Thalys and even that’s only EUR 83 for second class; if you are 26 or under in age the fare drops to EUR 31. See http://www.thalys.com I should have mentioned: those are the one-way fares. Should I buy a ticket for this before? Will it be more the day of travel?

You shouldn’t have a problem buying the day of travel, but it might be better to buy your ticket a day or so ahead of time for the Thalys. There are other trains, mostly requiring a change of trains at Brussels-midi, but the SNCF website seems to be hosed at the moment. The SNCF website should permit you to buy and hold a ticket several weeks before travel, and you pick up your tickets at Pris-nord. If you want general rail schedules use http://bahn.hafas.de, which will take you, if you click on "English", to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?newrequest=yes&protocol…, which is fine as a URL once it’s bookmarked.     *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

    *      Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow       *     ******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******

Response:

Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right?

Don’t know about cheap but IMO the best way is the thalys. It takes you from Paris Nord to Amsterdam Central in about 4 hours. No getting from and to airport hassle. And you can walk and stretch, even in comfort 2 there’s more space than in the average economy seat. If you book in advance you can get a one way ticket for 70 euro, possible less even. — Met vriendelijke groeten/Best regards Jeroen Wijnands http://www.xs4all.nl/~wijnands http://spam.pagina.nl — "When you are in it up to your ears, keep your mouth shut."

Response:

Should I buy a ticket for this before? Will it be more the day of travel?  You shouldn’t have a problem buying the day of travel, but it might be  better to buy your ticket a day or so ahead of time for the Thalys.  There are other trains, mostly requiring a change of trains at  Brussels-midi, but the SNCF website seems to be hosed at the moment.

If you know your travel dates and times, and are looking for the cheapest fare, then it may be best to buy your ticket early. You probably won’t have a problem buying tickets at the last minute.  I use this train fairly often, and only once has it been completely full (and I suspect that one could find a space on a different train on the same day). But… the cheapest (‘Mini’) tickets are limited in number, and may not be available on or shortly before the day of travel.  I have sometimes found that no ‘mini’ tickets were available when I wished to travel, and had to pay a higher fare.  The downside is that the ‘mini’ is neither changeable nor refundable, so you must be certain of your travel plans when you buy your ticket.   And sometimes you get lucky.  I once got a special discount fare just walking up to the ticket window in Brussels and buying a ticket for that very afternoon. — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

Response:

is that the only different on the mini? thanks for all the help.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Should I buy a ticket for this before? Will it be more the day of travel?  You shouldn’t have a problem buying the day of travel, but it might be  better to buy your ticket a day or so ahead of time for the Thalys.  There are other trains, mostly requiring a change of trains at  Brussels-midi, but the SNCF website seems to be hosed at the moment. If you know your travel dates and times, and are looking for the cheapest fare, then it may be best to buy your ticket early. You probably won’t have a problem buying tickets at the last minute.  I use this train fairly often, and only once has it been completely full (and I suspect that one could find a space on a different train on the same day). But… the cheapest (‘Mini’) tickets are limited in number, and may not be available on or shortly before the day of travel.  I have sometimes found that no ‘mini’ tickets were available when I wished to travel, and had to pay a higher fare.  The downside is that the ‘mini’ is neither changeable nor refundable, so you must be certain of your travel plans when you buy your ticket. And sometimes you get lucky.  I once got a special discount fare just walking up to the ticket window in Brussels and buying a ticket for that very afternoon. — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

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But… the cheapest (‘Mini’) tickets are limited in number, and may not be available on or shortly before the day of travel.  I have sometimes found that no ‘mini’ tickets were available when I wished to travel, and had to pay a higher fare.  The downside is that the ‘mini’ is neither changeable nor refundable, so you must be certain of your travel plans when you buy your ticket.  is that the only different on the mini?

I think so; I don’t think that there are any specific advance purchase requirements other than a limited number of seats and "first come; first served". If you visit www.thalys.com, then select ‘english’ and ‘tickets types’, you will see a list of different fare types; click on the type for the rules for each. — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

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Why not by bus : http://www.eurolines.nl/index-uk.html Marc – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right? Thank you

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You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way — Posted via http://britishexpats.com

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Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right?  Why not by bus :  http://www.eurolines.nl/index-uk.html

Because it takes twice as long, and the time is spent sitting in a seat on a bus that is much less comfortable than one on a train, and (unless one is in a special fare class) it costs only EUR10 less for the trip…?  (Even the Eurolines "under 26" fare at EUR56 is not that much lower than a Thalys "mini" fare at EUR72.) Unless cost is the only consideration, I can’t see the bus as the "best way to travel" between Paris and Amsterdam. — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

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You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way

From Paris to Amsterdam? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu New mini photo-feature: Life in DC: http://travel.u.nu/dc/

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Unless you are a ‘bus spotter’ — Posted via http://britishexpats.com

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Originally posted by Miguel Cruz: You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way From Paris to Amsterdam? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu/http://travel.u.nu New mini photo-feature: Life in DC: http://travel.u.nu/dc/http://travel.u.nu/dc/

Yeah it’s not far — Posted via http://britishexpats.com

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You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way

Perhaps EUR 500 from Amsterdam to Paris, but USD 50 gets you to about Leiden from Amsterdam. Sjoerd

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Originally posted by Miguel Cruz: You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way From Paris to Amsterdam? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu/http://travel.u.nu New mini photo-feature: Life in DC: http://travel.u.nu/dc/http://travel.u.nu/dc/ Yeah it’s not far

Forget it. It is a four hour drive. (and you need to drive fast) No way a taxi driver will take you to Paris from Amsterdam for USD 50. Sjoerd

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You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way

Really? Mappy says it’s 494 Km

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You should be able to negotiate a taxi cab fare for USD 50 each way

That takes care of the petrol, but how much is the fare? Kara –

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Why not by bus : http://www.eurolines.nl/index-uk.html Marc

In the other way : http://www.eurolines.fr/anglais/som_gen1.htm didier meurgues – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Paris to Amsterdam best way to travel I will be going from Paris to Amsterdam and wanted to know the best and cheapest way to travel. I was looking at the Euro rail pass, but I don’t need the 5 day pass I just need a round tip. When looking at the point to point euro rail pass it seems kind of costly like $200. Is this a far  trip? On a map it looks to be about 200 miles. Is this about right? Thank you

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Because it takes twice as long, and the time is spent sitting in a seat on a bus that is much less comfortable than one on a train, and (unless one is in a special fare class) it costs only EUR10 less for the trip…?  (Even the Eurolines "under 26" fare at EUR56 is not that much lower than a Thalys "mini" fare at EUR72.) Unless cost is the only consideration, I can’t see the bus as the "best way to travel" between Paris and Amsterdam.

EUR 56 is the fare for a round trip. Regards

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Because it takes twice as long, and the time is spent sitting in a seat on a bus that is much less comfortable than one on a train, and (unless one is in a special fare class) it costs only EUR10 less for the trip…?  (Even the Eurolines "under 26" fare at EUR56 is not that much lower than a Thalys "mini" fare at EUR72.) Unless cost is the only consideration, I can’t see the bus as the "best way to travel" between Paris and Amsterdam.  EUR 56 is the fare for a round trip.

Yes.  And…? From www.thalys.com:         Choice 3 :  72.2 EUR               Ticket type :  Mini             Characteristics :  A return trip ticket at the lowest price, with         no exchange or refund options.   — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

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all the info on www.thalys.com. traveltime paris – amsterdam 4 hours 10 min. louise EUR 56 is the fare for a round trip. That’s Paris/Antwerp, not Amsterdam.

— Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

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Question:

On the day we embark on the Holland America Amsterdam for our cruise to Alaska, my wife and I will travel from the SEA-TAC airport to the Holland America port in Seattle. On the day we disembark, we must travel from the port to the airport. Does anyone know that approximate taxi fare between airport and the port? Thanks. John

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Good Afternoon John: As I remember from 2 years ago it was about $24.00 plus tip each way. Cal Ford Lido Deck Cruises

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On the day we embark on the Holland America Amsterdam for our cruise to Alaska, my wife and I will travel from the SEA-TAC airport to the Holland America port in Seattle. On the day we disembark, we must travel from the port to the airport. Does anyone know that approximate taxi fare between airport and the port? Thanks. John

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Between $26 and $30 depending on the traffic & tip.  Jill – Seattle

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The taxis are a flat rate of $25 (plus tip) between the airport & downtown (where the terminal is).  We were just there last week cruising on the Amsterdam. Sue – DivaofDVC   aka WDW1972 DVC ‘97   OKW, Beach Club, Vero Beach, & Hilton Head

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On the day we embark on the Holland America Amsterdam for our cruise to Alaska, my wife and I will travel from the SEA-TAC airport to the Holland America port in Seattle. On the day we disembark, we must travel from the port to the airport. Does anyone know that approximate taxi fare between airport and the port? Thanks. John

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Good Afternoon John: As I remember from 2 years ago it was about $24.00 plus tip each way. Cal Ford Lido Deck Cruises

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On the day we embark on the Holland America Amsterdam for our cruise to Alaska, my wife and I will travel from the SEA-TAC airport to the Holland America port in Seattle. On the day we disembark, we must travel from the port to the airport. Does anyone know that approximate taxi fare between airport and the port? Thanks. John

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Between $26 and $30 depending on the traffic & tip.  Jill – Seattle

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The taxis are a flat rate of $25 (plus tip) between the airport & downtown (where the terminal is).  We were just there last week cruising on the Amsterdam. Sue – DivaofDVC   aka WDW1972 DVC ‘97   OKW, Beach Club, Vero Beach, & Hilton Head

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Question:

Where were you a few years ago when three deer got onto the White House grounds? They were discovered the next morning.  Security?? Seriously? How did they get over the fence? That’s pretty scary.

They had a deal with the rabbits, who created a tunnel for them. PB

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Do they speak other languages besides their own in France?

Yes. And if they do, how hard do they try to hide the fact?

They don’t try to hide it at all. Actually, in the US you’ll probably be hard pressed finding a restaurant where they don’t speak Spanish.

Too bad that the areas of the world most likely to speak Spanish are also relatively unlikely to provide large numbers of tourists, thanks to their frail economies.

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We were out for a late evening walk and came upon a deer standing in the middle of Mass Ave at 24th, almost exactly one mile from the White House. Cars were just zipping by without even slowing down, so we chased him back down into Rock Creek Park. It really surprises me how close to the center of the city they’ll come. I’ve seen them just off the C&O towpath right past Georgetown too. Where were you a few years ago when three deer got onto the White House grounds? They were discovered the next morning.  Security??

Did they blow them up just to be safe?

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We were out for a late evening walk and came upon a deer standing in the middle of Mass Ave at 24th, almost exactly one mile from the White House. Cars were just zipping by without even slowing down, so we chased him back down into Rock Creek Park. It really surprises me how close to the center of the city they’ll come. I’ve seen them just off the C&O towpath right past Georgetown too.

Where were you a few years ago when three deer got onto the White House grounds? They were discovered the next morning.  Security??

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Where were you a few years ago when three deer got onto the White House grounds? They were discovered the next morning.  Security??

Seriously? How did they get over the fence? That’s pretty scary. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

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I’m not sure what you are trying to prove.  France has been at or near the top of the list of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for years.  The U.S. is much more inconvenient to visit (it’s a long trip for anyone not in North America, and getting into the country is problematic, and nobody speaks any language other than English, amongst other reasons).

Do they speak other languages besides their own in France?  And if they do, how hard do they try to hide the fact? (Actually, in the US you’ll probably be hard pressed finding a restaurant where they don’t speak Spanish.)

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I’m not sure what you are trying to prove.  France has been at or near the top of the list of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for years.  The U.S. is much more inconvenient to visit (it’s a long trip for anyone not in North America, and getting into the country is problematic, and nobody speaks any language other than English, amongst other reasons). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just read in newspaper, France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.  The second most popular tourist destination is USA. The French government reports that about 75 million people visited France last year.  Although this figure is probably accurate, it is of course misleading. I think it is impossible to compare the popularity of various locations purely by number of visitors. Can you imagine 75 million people visiting Monaco? I think we are talking apples and oranges when we compare the number of foreign visitors to France with those to the USA. If you compared "Visitors to France from Outside the Schengen Region" with "Visitors to the USA not Coming from Canada or Mexico" you’d have a better-balanced comparison of foreign tourists. How many of France’s 75 million visitors came from within 300 km of its borders and who had no border formalities? Visitors to France from the UK have border formalities, but so do Canadians and Mexicans entering the USA. It’s still apples and oranges. He writes, looking at the five deer grazing in the back yard, 15 miles from the White House, at 5 pm.

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He writes, looking at the five deer grazing in the back yard, 15 miles from the White House, at 5 pm.

We were out for a late evening walk and came upon a deer standing in the middle of Mass Ave at 24th, almost exactly one mile from the White House. Cars were just zipping by without even slowing down, so we chased him back down into Rock Creek Park. It really surprises me how close to the center of the city they’ll come. I’ve seen them just off the C&O towpath right past Georgetown too. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

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oh yeah , a pavement cafe drink in Paris is likely to bankrupt a drinker.

No.  A drink on the Champs is more expensive than most, but still won’t break the bank of anyone with a bank to break. add on the tip

Tips are included in the price. and overcharging which parisians love to do to tourists

I’ve never been overcharged in Paris by anyone.

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Just read in newspaper, France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.  The second most popular tourist destination is USA. The French government reports that about 75 million people visited France last year.  Although this figure is probably accurate, it is of course misleading. I think it is impossible to compare the popularity of various locations purely by number of visitors. Can you imagine 75 million people visiting Monaco?

I’m sure for the people of Monaco it would be more in the nature of a nightmare! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Happy travel.

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Just read in newspaper, France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.  The second most popular tourist destination is USA. The French government reports that about 75 million people visited France last year.  Although this figure is probably accurate, it is of course misleading. I think it is impossible to compare the popularity of various locations purely by number of visitors. Can you imagine 75 million people visiting Monaco?

I think we are talking apples and oranges when we compare the number of foreign visitors to France with those to the USA. If you compared "Visitors to France from Outside the Schengen Region" with "Visitors to the USA not Coming from Canada or Mexico" you’d have a better-balanced comparison of foreign tourists. How many of France’s 75 million visitors came from within 300 km of its borders and who had no border formalities? Visitors to France from the UK have border formalities, but so do Canadians and Mexicans entering the USA. It’s still apples and oranges. He writes, looking at the five deer grazing in the back yard, 15 miles from the White House, at 5 pm.

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I think he means that Eurodisney prices are horrendous, not Paris prices.

Disneyland prices are no more horrendous than those of Paris.

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they struggle to get people in there in winter months …

The hotels are full on every school holiday. … prices are horrendous so i am told

In other words, you haven’t been there. You get what you pay for at Disneyland.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yes.  Of the 75 million visiting France each year, Disneyland alone receives about 25 million. Wrong figure. 12.1 M people visited Disneyland Paris is 2001, 40% of which were from France. Which leaves only 7,26 M foreign visitors. (Source http://www.eurodisney.com/uk/about/key_figures_3.htm) they struggle to get people in there in winter months , prices are horrendous so i am told You confess it yourself: "You’ve been told." Prices are not horrendous at all. As a matter of fact, IMHO , Paris is the cheapest occidental capital where you can still find very agreeable places to stay around 35 to 45 Euros!If you are not convinced check my hotel recommendations on my web site. oh yeah , a pavement cafe drink in Paris is likely to bankrupt a drinker. add on the tip and overcharging which parisians love to do to tourists and you had better have a mortgage handy but i agree that you can find some cheap fleapit hotels at the prices you quote fleas and bedbugs are free.

"You’ve been told" and you’ve bee told wrongly. A drink in Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Venice or Stockholm are moreless the same price. Maybe 3 to 5 % difference. Nobody will get bankrupt. And the hotels I recommend are clean, comfortable, convivial, friendly and certainly not some fleapit places with bedbugs.Otherwise they would never appear in my web site. No other civilized country in the Western world can give you that. And I have already hundreds of witnesses since the 7 years I maintain my site. Jack Visit my personal website where you’ll find my travel tips, hotel suggestions, and restaurant reviews for Paris, most regions of France, Belgium, Amsterdam and Venice. http://www.jack-travel.com/

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Wrong figure. 12.1 M people visited Disneyland Paris is 2001, 40% of which were from France.

The figure I heard was for 2000, and it came from another source besides Disneyland (I don’t remember where). Still, that’s 33,000 people a day.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yes.  Of the 75 million visiting France each year, Disneyland alone receives about 25 million. Wrong figure. 12.1 M people visited Disneyland Paris is 2001, 40% of which were from France. Which leaves only 7,26 M foreign visitors. (Source http://www.eurodisney.com/uk/about/key_figures_3.htm) they struggle to get people in there in winter months , prices are horrendous so i am told You confess it yourself: "You’ve been told." Prices are not horrendous at all. As a matter of fact, IMHO , Paris is the cheapest occidental capital where you can still find very agreeable places to stay around 35 to 45 Euros!If you are not convinced check my hotel recommendations on my web site.

I think he means that Eurodisney prices are horrendous, not Paris prices.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank you for pointing out some confusion in my post. What I wanted to say is that even if 75 million people a year would like to visit a small place like Monaco,  there would be no room to accommodate them.  The word ‘room’ denotes both  "space" and "hotel rooms". And if a large number of visitors do start arriving to a small place, due to ‘law of supply and demand’ the price will go up so high that most of the 75 million simply would not be able to afford the visit. In other words, the larger is the destination, the higher the chance it will have more visitors, and qualify as more popular. It is most probable that USA, Canada and Mexico get more visitors than France, so the most popular tourist destination in the world is North America, not France.

This is incorrect. The USA received only 50.6 million tourists, so that’s definitely less than France. Remember that we talk about "international arrivals" here. There may be more internal tourism in the USA (there are about 5 times more people living there than in France), but that’s not what’s being compared. Erik Evrard

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Yes.  Of the 75 million visiting France each year, Disneyland alone receives about 25 million.

Wrong figure. 12.1 M people visited Disneyland Paris is 2001, 40% of which were from France. Which leaves only 7,26 M foreign visitors. (Source http://www.eurodisney.com/uk/about/key_figures_3.htm) Another 25 million visit Paris (making Paris and Disneyland direct competitors, I guess).

No really, since people usually visit both. They’re rather complementary, and benefit from each other. JL.

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Yes.  Of the 75 million visiting France each year, Disneyland alone receives about 25 million. Wrong figure. 12.1 M people visited Disneyland Paris is 2001, 40% of which were from France. Which leaves only 7,26 M foreign visitors. (Source http://www.eurodisney.com/uk/about/key_figures_3.htm) they struggle to get people in there in winter months , prices are horrendous so i am told

You confess it yourself: "You’ve been told." Prices are not horrendous at all. As a matter of fact, IMHO , Paris is the cheapest occidental capital where you can still find very agreeable places to stay around 35 to 45 Euros!If you are not convinced check my hotel recommendations on my web site. The general hotel and restaurants page is at http://www.jack-travel.com/Paris/ParisHtml/paris_eat_drink_sleep.htm The budget hotels are on http://www.jack-travel.com/Paris/ParisHtml/Paris_Low_Budget_Hotels.htm Jack Visit my personal website where you’ll find my travel tips, hotel suggestions, and restaurant reviews for Paris, most regions of France, Belgium, Amsterdam and Venice. http://www.jack-travel.com/

Response:

Just read in newspaper, France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.  The second most popular tourist destination is USA. The French government reports that about 75 million people visited France last year.  Although this figure is probably accurate, it is of course misleading. I think it is impossible to compare the popularity of various locations purely by number of visitors. Can you imagine 75 million people visiting Monaco? Happy travel.

Response:

Just read in newspaper, France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.  The second most popular tourist destination is USA. The French government reports that about 75 million people visited France last year.  Although this figure is probably accurate, it is of course misleading. I think it is impossible to compare the popularity of various locations purely by number of visitors. Can you imagine 75 million people visiting Monaco?

If not number of visitors, then what do you suggest? How can a figure be both "probably accurate" and "misleading"? Are you, perhaps, confusing popular and crowded? PB

Response:

I think it is impossible to compare the popularity of various locations purely by number of visitors. Can you imagine 75 million people visiting Monaco?

Yes.  Of the 75 million visiting France each year, Disneyland alone receives about 25 million.  Disneyland isn’t any larger than Monaco. Another 25 million visit Paris (making Paris and Disneyland direct competitors, I guess).  The remaining 25 million visit somewhere else in France.

Response:

Thank you for pointing out some confusion in my post. What I wanted to say is that even if 75 million people a year would like to visit a small place like Monaco,  there would be no room to accommodate them.  The word ‘room’ denotes both  "space" and "hotel rooms". And if a large number of visitors do start arriving to a small place, due to ‘law of supply and demand’ the price will go up so high that most of the 75 million simply would not be able to afford the visit. In other words, the larger is the destination, the higher the chance it will have more visitors, and qualify as more popular. It is most probable that USA, Canada and Mexico get more visitors than France, so the most popular tourist destination in the world is North America, not France. But then, Europe may  have even more visitors. And then, what about America, including both North and South Americas, etc. etc. Happy travel.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just read in newspaper, France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.  The second most popular tourist destination is USA. The French government reports that about 75 million people visited France last year.  Although this figure is probably accurate, it is of course misleading. I think it is impossible to compare the popularity of various locations purely by number of visitors. Can you imagine 75 million people visiting Monaco? If not number of visitors, then what do you suggest? How can a figure be both "probably accurate" and "misleading"? Are you, perhaps, confusing popular and crowded? PB

Response:

Just read in newspaper, France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.  The second most popular tourist destination is USA. The French government reports that about 75 million people visited France last year.  Although this figure is probably accurate, it is of course misleading. I think it is impossible to compare the popularity of various locations purely by number of visitors. Can you imagine 75 million people visiting Monaco? If not number of visitors, then what do you suggest?

Cash spent?

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Just read in newspaper, France is the most popular tourist destination in the world.  The second most popular tourist destination is USA.

France usually tops the list of the most popular tourist destination. The World Tourism Organization has some interesting statistics: http://www.world-tourism.org/ — Francais / English / Esperanto Esperanto FAQ: http://www.esperanto.net/veb/faq.html Rec.travel.europe FAQ: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/europe/faq

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A promenade along the ramparts of Saint-Malo can be done in one hour. You can see the small island Le Grand Bl

Question:

Jack, I hope Annie and your daughter don’t leave you alone, when you are telling Josha bedtime stories Nina San Francisco

Good remark . But unfortunately, these are not bed time stories but daily facts during the period "La Terreur" of the French Revolution, when they got completely mad, in the years 1792-1793. Jack Jack Visit my personal website where you’ll find my travel tips, hotel suggestions, and restaurant reviews for Paris, most regions of France, Belgium, Amsterdam and Venice. http://www.jack-travel.com/

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– Jack/Travel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The corner of the rue Pave is marked by the hotel de LAMOIGNON (no.24) built in 1584 for Diane de France, duchess of Angulated. The chairman of Parliament Lamoignon lived here from 1658 to 1677. It is now the Historical Library of the City of Paris. That’s what was already written in my page "Musee Cognaq Jay and walk" of the Marais (4th arr) on my web site. But what I learned from Arthur Gillette, is that Alphonse Daudet lived in the house. But if you continue just to your left in rue Pav

Question:

My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more.

You are right: when I leave the hotel room I take only a Minox 35mm camera with me, which fits in my vest pocket, and I always have my Psion with me to store my thoughts about country and people. —    Manfred J. Kaufmann    http://members.vienna.at/manfred.kaufmann/

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This is one of those everyone is different–I find profligacy in photography liberating. Just take lots of pictures of everything. But I’ve also taken some courses in photography, and I enjoy it–I take lots of pictures around my house too. I use an SLR, because I get much better results than I can with a point and shoot. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more. My best travel memories are not about the visual, but about the social experience and the actual process of moving about from one new place to another. Less baggage leaves more mental and spiritual space it seems to me. glen black Travelers carry all sizes of cameras and it depends on your devotion to getting photos.  I enjoy travel primarily for the experience and then take a quick moment to get the photo. Incidentally, I have both the full size single lens reflex and the point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.  I use both but the smaller camera is certainly a favorite when I have to carry a lot of luggage. Dick — Glen’s Multifarious Page http://sites.netscape.net/willgeewillgee/homepage

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It really depends on what you like to do.   I found a good single lens reflex gives you suburb for the times when you go out and want to take some special photographs for example I have an excellent photo of a Santorini sunset with a statue of Aphordite silouetted in the reflexion of the water in the crater of volcano, another at night of an Amsterdam bridge with the lights canal reflecting in the water. Both of these had to be set up, they could have just "happened" but unlikely, sometimes it is good to set times aside just to photograph the surroundings but some thought has to be put into it.  If you don’t want to do this kind of photography I wouldn’t bother carrying around a lot of heavy, probably expensive photography equipment.     For going out at night (night clubs, bars, etc) and normal everyday carry around use, the smaller the better. Even when you forget your camera the disposable ones you can get at most corner stores give good photos and are really convient (also good for "incidents"), Although I wouldn’t use that method as a primary means of a small camera. Kevin Finch Ps. aor photography tip "the rules of thirds", divide the scene up into nine segments 3 X 3 try to put your subject somewhere where the intersection of these lines will cross.  Try it, it will work in most cases. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is one of those everyone is different–I find profligacy in photography liberating. Just take lots of pictures of everything. But I’ve also taken some courses in photography, and I enjoy it–I take lots of pictures around my house too. I use an SLR, because I get much better results than I can with a point and shoot. My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more. My best travel memories are not about the visual, but about the social experience and the actual process of moving about from one new place to another. Less baggage leaves more mental and spiritual space it seems to me. glen black Travelers carry all sizes of cameras and it depends on your devotion to getting photos.  I enjoy travel primarily for the experience and then take a quick moment to get the photo. Incidentally, I have both the full size single lens reflex and the point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.  I use both but the smaller camera is certainly a favorite when I have to carry a lot of luggage. Dick — Glen’s Multifarious Page http://sites.netscape.net/willgeewillgee/homepage

Response:

Does anyone shoot slides anymore?  Finding slide film on the road can really be tough, for my next 4 week trip to Europe I’m taking one 36 exposure roll per day with me along with 2 sets of batteries.

In Germany, slide film practically dangles from streetlights.  It’s cheap, and usually includes free processing done in one overnight–but you have to pay a couple bucks if you want it mounted instead of just strip film, and then it might take longer.  Check out dedicated photo shops, department stores, or even drug stores.  I have to add, that in Germany you can get great 13cm-by-18cm blow-ups (poster size) for about 50 or 60 U.S. cents–I take all my U.S. slides over to Hamburg once a year just to get the enlargements–but the prints take a week to ten days in most markets.  In my experience, slide film in France is more expensive, not anywhere as universal as in Germany, and with far fewer brands available (e.g., maybe just Ektachrome in France at a middling price–as opposed to Agfa, Ektachrome, Kodachrome, Fuji, Konica, and Scotch in serious German photo shops, at great prices).  In Italy slide film is available, though it’s hard to get a good deal, and in Spain and Holland you can sometimes find good value in larger cities or in department stores.  If you are buying in warmer regions, be sure to check the expiration date, and figure in how long the film might have been sitting on warm shelves or in direct sunlight.

Response:

After carrying a P&S with upto 100 zoom I finally broke down and bought a new SLR with a 28 to 300 lense ans the only lense.  I have found that there are just to many things I’d like to get pictures of that a P&S won’t do the job.  It’s bigger and heavier but worth it to me.  I also carry a Kodak digital in a vest pocket that has served very well since I also travel with a laptop and will actually email pics back home instead of post cards. Does anyone shoot slides anymore?  Finding slide film on the road can really be tough, for my next 4 week trip to Europe I’m taking one 36 exposure roll per day with me along with 2 sets of batteries. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more. My best travel memories are not about the visual, but about the social experience and the actual process of moving about from one new place to another. Less baggage leaves more mental and spiritual space it seems to me. glen black Travelers carry all sizes of cameras and it depends on your devotion to getting photos.  I enjoy travel primarily for the experience and then take a quick moment to get the photo.   Incidentally, I have both the full size single lens reflex and the point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.  I use both but the smaller camera is certainly a favorite when I have to carry a lot of luggage. Dick

Rick Garner To email replace no_spam.net with isomedia.com

Response:

Does anyone shoot slides anymore?

I hardly shoot anything else.  My preferred film is Fuji Provia 100F transparency film, and Fuji Provia 400F for low-light situations. E-6 (slide) processing is easy to come by in Europe.  A lab near me processes slides in one hour and does an excellent job. Note that my main interest in slides is that they are very easy to sort and scan.  I only scan film; I don’t print. Finding slide film on the road can really be tough, for my next 4 week trip to Europe I’m taking one 36 exposure roll per day with me along with 2 sets of batteries.

Slide film is a cinch to find in Paris, and presumably in other large European cities as well.  Europeans apparently still shoot a lot of slide film.

Response:

Does anyone shoot slides anymore?  Finding slide film on the road can really be tough, for my next 4 week trip to Europe I’m taking one 36 exposure roll per day with me along with 2 sets of batteries.

Slides are pretty well still the staple diet of most professional image agencies. I shoot slides exclusively and usually buy a big batch of duty free film before I leave. If I run out I can always buy more film overseas, more often than not at a premium price … Paul H — Paul Hellander – Travel Writer & Photographer Adelaide, South Australia http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mercury_group

Response:

My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more. My best travel memories are not about the visual, but about the social experience and the actual process of moving about from one new place to another. Less baggage leaves more mental and spiritual space it seems to me. glen black Travelers carry all sizes of cameras and it depends on your devotion to getting photos.  I enjoy travel primarily for the experience and then take a quick moment to get the photo.   Incidentally, I have both the full size single lens reflex and the point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.  I use both but the smaller camera is certainly a favorite when I have to carry a lot of luggage. Dick — Glen’s Multifarious Page http://sites.netscape.net/willgeewillgee/homepage

Response:

My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more. My best travel memories are not about the visual, but about the social experience and the actual process of moving about from one new place to another. Less baggage leaves more mental and spiritual space it seems to me. glen black Travelers carry all sizes of cameras and it depends on your devotion to getting photos.  I enjoy travel primarily for the experience and then take a quick moment to get the photo.   Incidentally, I have both the full size single lens reflex and the point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.  I use both but the smaller camera is certainly a favorite when I have to carry a lot of luggage. Dick — Glen’s Multifarious Page http://sites.netscape.net/willgeewillgee/homepage

Response:

My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more.

You are right: when I leave the hotel room I take only a Minox 35mm camera with me, which fits in my vest pocket, and I always have my Psion with me to store my thoughts about country and people. —    Manfred J. Kaufmann    http://members.vienna.at/manfred.kaufmann/

Response:

This is one of those everyone is different–I find profligacy in photography liberating. Just take lots of pictures of everything. But I’ve also taken some courses in photography, and I enjoy it–I take lots of pictures around my house too. I use an SLR, because I get much better results than I can with a point and shoot. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more. My best travel memories are not about the visual, but about the social experience and the actual process of moving about from one new place to another. Less baggage leaves more mental and spiritual space it seems to me. glen black Travelers carry all sizes of cameras and it depends on your devotion to getting photos.  I enjoy travel primarily for the experience and then take a quick moment to get the photo. Incidentally, I have both the full size single lens reflex and the point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.  I use both but the smaller camera is certainly a favorite when I have to carry a lot of luggage. Dick — Glen’s Multifarious Page http://sites.netscape.net/willgeewillgee/homepage

Response:

It really depends on what you like to do.   I found a good single lens reflex gives you suburb for the times when you go out and want to take some special photographs for example I have an excellent photo of a Santorini sunset with a statue of Aphordite silouetted in the reflexion of the water in the crater of volcano, another at night of an Amsterdam bridge with the lights canal reflecting in the water. Both of these had to be set up, they could have just "happened" but unlikely, sometimes it is good to set times aside just to photograph the surroundings but some thought has to be put into it.  If you don’t want to do this kind of photography I wouldn’t bother carrying around a lot of heavy, probably expensive photography equipment.     For going out at night (night clubs, bars, etc) and normal everyday carry around use, the smaller the better. Even when you forget your camera the disposable ones you can get at most corner stores give good photos and are really convient (also good for "incidents"), Although I wouldn’t use that method as a primary means of a small camera. Kevin Finch Ps. aor photography tip "the rules of thirds", divide the scene up into nine segments 3 X 3 try to put your subject somewhere where the intersection of these lines will cross.  Try it, it will work in most cases. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is one of those everyone is different–I find profligacy in photography liberating. Just take lots of pictures of everything. But I’ve also taken some courses in photography, and I enjoy it–I take lots of pictures around my house too. I use an SLR, because I get much better results than I can with a point and shoot. My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more. My best travel memories are not about the visual, but about the social experience and the actual process of moving about from one new place to another. Less baggage leaves more mental and spiritual space it seems to me. glen black Travelers carry all sizes of cameras and it depends on your devotion to getting photos.  I enjoy travel primarily for the experience and then take a quick moment to get the photo. Incidentally, I have both the full size single lens reflex and the point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.  I use both but the smaller camera is certainly a favorite when I have to carry a lot of luggage. Dick — Glen’s Multifarious Page http://sites.netscape.net/willgeewillgee/homepage

Response:

After carrying a P&S with upto 100 zoom I finally broke down and bought a new SLR with a 28 to 300 lense ans the only lense.  I have found that there are just to many things I’d like to get pictures of that a P&S won’t do the job.  It’s bigger and heavier but worth it to me.  I also carry a Kodak digital in a vest pocket that has served very well since I also travel with a laptop and will actually email pics back home instead of post cards. Does anyone shoot slides anymore?  Finding slide film on the road can really be tough, for my next 4 week trip to Europe I’m taking one 36 exposure roll per day with me along with 2 sets of batteries. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My most liberating travel decision was to take no camera or a 35 about the size of a cigarette pack. And a small notebook. The notebook gets more use as the trips go on. One learns to really see if one commits to writing about it. Then when you do take a photo it is worth more. My best travel memories are not about the visual, but about the social experience and the actual process of moving about from one new place to another. Less baggage leaves more mental and spiritual space it seems to me. glen black Travelers carry all sizes of cameras and it depends on your devotion to getting photos.  I enjoy travel primarily for the experience and then take a quick moment to get the photo.   Incidentally, I have both the full size single lens reflex and the point-and-shoot 35mm cameras.  I use both but the smaller camera is certainly a favorite when I have to carry a lot of luggage. Dick

Rick Garner To email replace no_spam.net with isomedia.com

Response:

Does anyone shoot slides anymore?  Finding slide film on the road can really be tough, for my next 4 week trip to Europe I’m taking one 36 exposure roll per day with me along with 2 sets of batteries.

Slides are pretty well still the staple diet of most professional image agencies. I shoot slides exclusively and usually buy a big batch of duty free film before I leave. If I run out I can always buy more film overseas, more often than not at a premium price … Paul H — Paul Hellander – Travel Writer & Photographer Adelaide, South Australia http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mercury_group

Response:

Does anyone shoot slides anymore?

I hardly shoot anything else.  My preferred film is Fuji Provia 100F transparency film, and Fuji Provia 400F for low-light situations. E-6 (slide) processing is easy to come by in Europe.  A lab near me processes slides in one hour and does an excellent job. Note that my main interest in slides is that they are very easy to sort and scan.  I only scan film; I don’t print. Finding slide film on the road can really be tough, for my next 4 week trip to Europe I’m taking one 36 exposure roll per day with me along with 2 sets of batteries.

Slide film is a cinch to find in Paris, and presumably in other large European cities as well.  Europeans apparently still shoot a lot of slide film.

Response:

Does anyone shoot slides anymore?  Finding slide film on the road can really be tough, for my next 4 week trip to Europe I’m taking one 36 exposure roll per day with me along with 2 sets of batteries.

In Germany, slide film practically dangles from streetlights.  It’s cheap, and usually includes free processing done in one overnight–but you have to pay a couple bucks if you want it mounted instead of just strip film, and then it might take longer.  Check out dedicated photo shops, department stores, or even drug stores.  I have to add, that in Germany you can get great 13cm-by-18cm blow-ups (poster size) for about 50 or 60 U.S. cents–I take all my U.S. slides over to Hamburg once a year just to get the enlargements–but the prints take a week to ten days in most markets.  In my experience, slide film in France is more expensive, not anywhere as universal as in Germany, and with far fewer brands available (e.g., maybe just Ektachrome in France at a middling price–as opposed to Agfa, Ektachrome, Kodachrome, Fuji, Konica, and Scotch in serious German photo shops, at great prices).  In Italy slide film is available, though it’s hard to get a good deal, and in Spain and Holland you can sometimes find good value in larger cities or in department stores.  If you are buying in warmer regions, be sure to check the expiration date, and figure in how long the film might have been sitting on warm shelves or in direct sunlight.

Response:

Question:

One of the most visited sites in France, the Mont-Saint Michel is a must, but out of season, if you can. July and especially August, is more a Golgotha burden than a visit. A textbook definition of a tourist trap, it is most impressive when seen from afar, with its famous silhouette rising above the hazy sands and salt marshes like a heavily fortified breast. Today’s exploitation unfortunately adds, souvenir boutiques and all sorts of tourist traps to this picture. That’s the way it is. This islet lies at the southern most point off the Normandy coastline, just before Brittany to the west. This is the base of a Bay of Mont Saint-Michel that opens into La Manche [channel waterway between England and Northern France]. The islet consists of a nearly 80 meters high rock with a circumference of about 8 km. It is connected to the mainland by a very narrow and long causeway. The Mont is half surrounded by water, except twice a day it is besieged by swift moving tides that leave only the causeway route for access. Defenders of this fortress abbey have the advantage of its Saint Aubert’s spring. Nearby is a smaller islet, called ‘Tombelaine Island’, which is very bare and was used to discipline individuals. Let’s assume, we ignore all the tourist traps and let’s start the introduction, visit and more anecdotes. Let’s begin with the legend. The archangel St. Michel decided one day (708) to appear in a dream of the bishop of Avranches, Saint Aubert, and ordered him to erect on his behalf a sanctuary on Mont Tombe. Suspicious, the bishop chose to ignore the celestial order, all the more so because Mont Tombe’s rock rose far from any roman way at the time, deep inside the vast forest of Scissy inhabited by wolves and wild beasts. The archangel apparead again to the bishop who was terrified but only prayed and fasted without accomplishing the command. Wrathful, Saint Michel intervened again. He brandished a blazing finger on top of the unbelieving bishop’s head and hit him. The archangel left a deep mark, as big as the hole, in the bishop’s skull. Le "doigt de feu" (fire finger). Aubert go the message now, which got the message through. Maybe St. Michel was a bit brutal, but if you can visit the result in Avranches, at the treasure of the church St. Gervais. There they will show you the time-tanned skull of St. Aubert residing in a reliquary. Aubert started to build a small oratory on the top of the rock, thus laying the foundations of what has since become the top tourist attraction in France (2 million visitors a year), except Paris. A monastery was started in 1017, with stones hauled at low tide from the mainland in Brittany and soon became one of the most important destinations for pilgrims in the world. It attracted a throng of the faithful – and was in competition with Santiago de Compostela in Spain as a place of pilgrimage. It took six centuries to build this superhuman construction compressed onto the tip of a rock thrust out of the waters of the bay. By the time of William the Conqueror, the abbey benefited from many noble protectors. The abbot Robert de Thorigny administered the abbey at its peak of fortune. The shrine has seen is number of miracles and fostered many legends. Site of early medieval religious feasts and ceremonies. Blanche of Castile, regent of France, ordered the gothic cloister in 1211 added to the earlier Carolingian abbey. A town developed at the base. Both the abbey and the town had fortified defences. Mont Saint-Michel was besieged and taken as part of Philippe Auguste’s conquest of Normandy from the Plantangenets in 1214. The site continued to have an increased role in medieval European pilgrimages. Sometimes it was the destination, and at others it was only a stop for those travelling to sites further south. Lower class pilgrims were quartered in the town, but nobles were received by the abbot in the grand abbey. A stronghold during the Hundred Years War, during and after the French Revolution it became a prison, which closed only in 1863, following a lengthy campaign initiated by Victor Hugo. Eleven years later, the monastic grouping was designated as a historical monument. Next post about the dangers of the bay. More about other parts of Normandy on my web site. Bibliography Le Mont-Saint-Michel pierre

Question:

On my last trip had problems with being short-changed at Metro station etc.  Will watch that more carefully.  Am not sure how to determine when service is included in restaurants, also what to leave in addition.  In Italy which is where I’m going I had trouble getting sales slips from market on last trip.  Is this still illegal?  How to get one?  I did find in some places if I paid cash price was cheaper.  I assume this has something to do with their tax system.  Also what’s appropriate to tip maid in a modest hotel?  Part of problem is my unfamiliarity with the money, L2000=$1 is overwhelming.  Thanks.

Response:

On my last trip had problems with being short-changed at Metro station etc.  Will watch that more carefully.  Am not sure how to determine when service is included in restaurants, also what to leave in addition.

Check the travel guidebooks.  Ask the concierge at your hotel. In Italy which is where I’m going I had trouble getting sales slips from market on last trip.  Is this still illegal?  How to get one?

From an open-air market?  Why do you need sales slips?  If you need one to claim a VAT refund or something like that and they won’t give you one, it may be that they just don’t normally give them out and are not prepared to do so.  Write one up yourself and see if you can get the vendor to sign it. I did find in some places if I paid cash price was cheaper.  I assume this has something to do with their tax system.  Also what’s appropriate to tip maid in a modest hotel?  Part of problem is my unfamiliarity with the money, L2000=$1 is overwhelming.  Thanks.

Think in dollar terms and you’ll be fine.  If you want to tip $1 and $1 = L2000, just tip L2000. Petya often finds it helpful to check local prices and to think in terms of local value (rather than simply currency).  For instance, she feels that carrying a bag up one flight of stairs or hailing a cab is worth a cup of coffee, so she tips the price of a cup of coffee.  She thinks that cleaning the mess in her room and keeping her supplied with fresh towels is worth a nice dinner, so she tips the price of a nice dinner.  And so on and so forth.  

Response:

On my last trip had problems with being short-changed at Metro station etc.  Will watch that more carefully.  Am not sure how to determine when service is included in restaurants, also what to leave in addition.

Taxes and service are ALWAYS included in bills, don’t you doubt a second about that and don’t let anyone fool you. If service or taxes are not included it MUST BE CLEARLY indicated on the menu. That’s the law in Belgium and Holland also. Jack Visit my personal website where you’ll find my travel tips, hotel suggestions, and restaurant reviews for Paris, most regions of France, Belgium, Amsterdam and Venice. http://www.jack-travel.com/

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On my last trip had problems with being short-changed at Metro station etc.  Will watch that more carefully.  Am not sure how to determine when service is included in restaurants, also what to leave in addition. Taxes and service are ALWAYS included in bills, don’t you doubt a second about that and don’t let anyone fool you. If service or taxes are not included it MUST BE CLEARLY indicated on the menu. That’s the law in Belgium and Holland also. Jack

Forgot to add that the amount you might eventually leave on the table is entirely up to you. If you were satisfied about the service, if it was smiling and friendly, leave another 3 to 5 %. Count for a cafe bill of 50 FF to leave 1 or 2 FF. A dinner meal of 500 FF leaves a volunteer extra tip of 20 to 30 FF. If, like it has been the case last Saturday in a caf

Question:

Bring comfortable shoes–for the most part, Rome is a walking city.  There are two subway lines, but depending on your hotel location and the attractions you desire to visit, there is a fair probability that the subway will frequently be of little use.  A city bus might be of more use to reach areas out of walking range.  Or you could "do as the Romans do" and rent a moped…we did, and while it was very thrilling (okay, scary!) for the first 30 min., once we got used to the driving habits of the locals, we had a blast and were able to see far more of the "real" Rome than we would otherwise have seen. Have a blast!  I love Rome… Diana Ball Houston, TX

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? Thank you in advance, Arthur Hornig

Response:

Watch your pocketbook & wallet.  Especially on the buses!

Response:

A weekly pass for the bus and metro system in Rome (Zone A) is valid from the time it is stamped in the date machine until midnight on the 7th day thereafter (i.e. Friday to midnight the following _Thursday_). It currently costs L.24,000 and is definitely worth purchasing: as well as almost certainly saving you money, it saves the hassle of stamping tickets every time you take a bus.

This ticket is called CIS (Carta Integrata Settimanale). I bought mine from one of the machines on the platforms of the bus station directly outside Termini railway station. You need to put your name and the expiry date on the ticket before first using it. The ticket is valid on trams, buses, the underground, the Roma-Ostia railway, the surviving bit of the Ferrovie Laziali narrow gauge system, and the urban sections ONLY of FS lines and the private line which goes to Viterbo. I would wholeheartedly endorse the suggestion to use the ticket to visit Ostia Antica. It is a fascinating site. If you are interested in the history of public transport in Rome, I would recommend a book I have recently bought and am currently reading – Formagari and Muscolino: "Tram e filobus a Roma, storia dalle origini", published by Calosci-Cortona at ITL 65000. Alan Harrison

Response:

Margaret, I certainly agree with you…the pass is well worth the price.  Although Rome is very walkable, the pass gave us the opportunity to easily get to different parts of the city quicker than walking.  We would use public transportation in the early morning to get to our destination, to return to the hotel to relax in early afternoon and then to venture out again for the afternoon and evening.  We certainly did our share of walking but the public transportation was a big help in our opinion. Phil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? A weekly pass for the bus and metro system in Rome (Zone A) is valid from the time it is stamped in the date machine until midnight on the 7th day thereafter (i.e. Friday to midnight the following _Thursday_). It currently costs L.24,000 and is definitely worth purchasing: as well as almost certainly saving you money, it saves the hassle of stamping tickets every time you take a bus. The pass is valid for the trip by train out of town to Ostia Antica, not to be missed in my opinion. If you are interested in archeological sites, Veii is also within Zone A: take the FM3 train to La Giustiniana, then the 032 bus to Isola Farnese. Note that the weekly pass does not cover the trip to/from Fiumicino airport. Margaret Coffin InfoRoma – The Rome Experts http://www.inforoma.it

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? I was in Rome for a week. Depending on what you want to do, its probably more cost effective to just pay as you go when traveling by bus or train in Rome because you will be able to walk to so many places. I have been to several European and American cities and Rome is by far the most walkable city I have ever been to. When you board a bus or train though, be sure to validate your ticket onboard. This is covered in lots of travel guidebooks too. You might want to get a book called "Let’s Go: Italy" which is chock full of useful information about Rome and other Italian locations.

I agree in principle that you can walk to most places in Rome if your hotel is centrally located. Thus, a weekly pass may be a waste of money, because some days you won’t need public transport at all. However, if you do need to take a bus somewhere, it’s not a bad idea to buy a day pass for that day. It costs little more than two bus tickets, which you would probably need for the round trip anyway, and you can then use it the rest of the day for those trips where you might have walked otherwise, but appreciate a ride, such as returning to your hotel after dinner. The tickets are good for any bus or metro within a certain time limit (maybe two hours?) so they can be used for round trips if you’re not spending much time at your destination. However, this is rarely useful for tourists. If I remember correctly, the day pass is also valid on commuter trains, so you can use it for side trips such as the trip to Ostia Antica. Barbara

Response:

A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend?

A weekly pass for the bus and metro system in Rome (Zone A) is valid from the time it is stamped in the date machine until midnight on the 7th day thereafter (i.e. Friday to midnight the following _Thursday_). It currently costs L.24,000 and is definitely worth purchasing: as well as almost certainly saving you money, it saves the hassle of stamping tickets every time you take a bus. The pass is valid for the trip by train out of town to Ostia Antica, not to be missed in my opinion. If you are interested in archeological sites, Veii is also within Zone A: take the FM3 train to La Giustiniana, then the 032 bus to Isola Farnese. Note that the weekly pass does not cover the trip to/from Fiumicino airport. Margaret Coffin InfoRoma – The Rome Experts http://www.inforoma.it

Response:

Me is correct. Rome is very walkable. Probably only second

to Amsterdam. We Did you forget Venice? — Ken Blake Please reply to the newsgroup

Response:

A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend?

When we were in Rome last June, we rode on the busses of Linee-J, a new private bus line set up to accommodate the extra traffic of the Jubillee. Their routes included the principal destinations of interest to tourists, and the busses were not crowded at all. Their multi-day tickets were less expensive than those of the regular public transport, but could only be used on Linee-J busses. The 7-day passes were valid 7 days from the day of first use. I don’t know how much longer this line will continue in operation. Their website is still active at http://www.linee-j.com.

Response:

A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? Thank you in advance, Arthur Hornig

Response:

A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? Thank you in advance, Arthur Hornig

For bus service you can visit: http://www.atac.roma.it/ Vincio

Response:

A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend?

I was in Rome for a week. Depending on what you want to do, its probably more cost effective to just pay as you go when traveling by bus or train in Rome because you will be able to walk to so many places. I have been to several European and American cities and Rome is by far the most walkable city I have ever been to. When you board a bus or train though, be sure to validate your ticket onboard. This is covered in lots of travel guidebooks too. You might want to get a book called "Let’s Go: Italy" which is chock full of useful information about Rome and other Italian locations.

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Me is correct. Rome is very walkable. Probably only second to Amsterdam. We walked everywhere. We did hire a cab though for a night time tour of the city and that turned out to be GREAT. Fantastic driver and inexpensive (not counting his well earned tip). Doug Burke – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? I was in Rome for a week. Depending on what you want to do, its probably more cost effective to just pay as you go when traveling by bus or train in Rome because you will be able to walk to so many places. I have been to several European and American cities and Rome is by far the most walkable city I have ever been to. When you board a bus or train though, be sure to validate your ticket onboard. This is covered in lots of travel guidebooks too. You might want to get a book called "Let’s Go: Italy" which is chock full of useful information about Rome and other Italian locations.

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A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? Thank you in advance, Arthur Hornig

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A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? Thank you in advance, Arthur Hornig

For bus service you can visit: http://www.atac.roma.it/ Vincio

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A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend?

I was in Rome for a week. Depending on what you want to do, its probably more cost effective to just pay as you go when traveling by bus or train in Rome because you will be able to walk to so many places. I have been to several European and American cities and Rome is by far the most walkable city I have ever been to. When you board a bus or train though, be sure to validate your ticket onboard. This is covered in lots of travel guidebooks too. You might want to get a book called "Let’s Go: Italy" which is chock full of useful information about Rome and other Italian locations.

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Me is correct. Rome is very walkable. Probably only second to Amsterdam. We walked everywhere. We did hire a cab though for a night time tour of the city and that turned out to be GREAT. Fantastic driver and inexpensive (not counting his well earned tip). Doug Burke – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? I was in Rome for a week. Depending on what you want to do, its probably more cost effective to just pay as you go when traveling by bus or train in Rome because you will be able to walk to so many places. I have been to several European and American cities and Rome is by far the most walkable city I have ever been to. When you board a bus or train though, be sure to validate your ticket onboard. This is covered in lots of travel guidebooks too. You might want to get a book called "Let’s Go: Italy" which is chock full of useful information about Rome and other Italian locations.

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Bring comfortable shoes–for the most part, Rome is a walking city.  There are two subway lines, but depending on your hotel location and the attractions you desire to visit, there is a fair probability that the subway will frequently be of little use.  A city bus might be of more use to reach areas out of walking range.  Or you could "do as the Romans do" and rent a moped…we did, and while it was very thrilling (okay, scary!) for the first 30 min., once we got used to the driving habits of the locals, we had a blast and were able to see far more of the "real" Rome than we would otherwise have seen. Have a blast!  I love Rome… Diana Ball Houston, TX

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? Thank you in advance, Arthur Hornig

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A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend?

When we were in Rome last June, we rode on the busses of Linee-J, a new private bus line set up to accommodate the extra traffic of the Jubillee. Their routes included the principal destinations of interest to tourists, and the busses were not crowded at all. Their multi-day tickets were less expensive than those of the regular public transport, but could only be used on Linee-J busses. The 7-day passes were valid 7 days from the day of first use. I don’t know how much longer this line will continue in operation. Their website is still active at http://www.linee-j.com.

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Me is correct. Rome is very walkable. Probably only second

to Amsterdam. We Did you forget Venice? — Ken Blake Please reply to the newsgroup

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A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend?

A weekly pass for the bus and metro system in Rome (Zone A) is valid from the time it is stamped in the date machine until midnight on the 7th day thereafter (i.e. Friday to midnight the following _Thursday_). It currently costs L.24,000 and is definitely worth purchasing: as well as almost certainly saving you money, it saves the hassle of stamping tickets every time you take a bus. The pass is valid for the trip by train out of town to Ostia Antica, not to be missed in my opinion. If you are interested in archeological sites, Veii is also within Zone A: take the FM3 train to La Giustiniana, then the 032 bus to Isola Farnese. Note that the weekly pass does not cover the trip to/from Fiumicino airport. Margaret Coffin InfoRoma – The Rome Experts http://www.inforoma.it

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? I was in Rome for a week. Depending on what you want to do, its probably more cost effective to just pay as you go when traveling by bus or train in Rome because you will be able to walk to so many places. I have been to several European and American cities and Rome is by far the most walkable city I have ever been to. When you board a bus or train though, be sure to validate your ticket onboard. This is covered in lots of travel guidebooks too. You might want to get a book called "Let’s Go: Italy" which is chock full of useful information about Rome and other Italian locations.

I agree in principle that you can walk to most places in Rome if your hotel is centrally located. Thus, a weekly pass may be a waste of money, because some days you won’t need public transport at all. However, if you do need to take a bus somewhere, it’s not a bad idea to buy a day pass for that day. It costs little more than two bus tickets, which you would probably need for the round trip anyway, and you can then use it the rest of the day for those trips where you might have walked otherwise, but appreciate a ride, such as returning to your hotel after dinner. The tickets are good for any bus or metro within a certain time limit (maybe two hours?) so they can be used for round trips if you’re not spending much time at your destination. However, this is rarely useful for tourists. If I remember correctly, the day pass is also valid on commuter trains, so you can use it for side trips such as the trip to Ostia Antica. Barbara

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Margaret, I certainly agree with you…the pass is well worth the price.  Although Rome is very walkable, the pass gave us the opportunity to easily get to different parts of the city quicker than walking.  We would use public transportation in the early morning to get to our destination, to return to the hotel to relax in early afternoon and then to venture out again for the afternoon and evening.  We certainly did our share of walking but the public transportation was a big help in our opinion. Phil – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend and I shall be in Rome for a week, leaving next week.  We expect to use public transportation whenever possible.  I understand that there are day passes, 3-day passes and week passes.  My question is, is a weekly pass good for a week  from the day of purchase, or for a calendar week?  I.e. if I purchase a pass on Friday, is it good to the following Friday, or only to the weekend? A weekly pass for the bus and metro system in Rome (Zone A) is valid from the time it is stamped in the date machine until midnight on the 7th day thereafter (i.e. Friday to midnight the following _Thursday_). It currently costs L.24,000 and is definitely worth purchasing: as well as almost certainly saving you money, it saves the hassle of stamping tickets every time you take a bus. The pass is valid for the trip by train out of town to Ostia Antica, not to be missed in my opinion. If you are interested in archeological sites, Veii is also within Zone A: take the FM3 train to La Giustiniana, then the 032 bus to Isola Farnese. Note that the weekly pass does not cover the trip to/from Fiumicino airport. Margaret Coffin InfoRoma – The Rome Experts http://www.inforoma.it

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A weekly pass for the bus and metro system in Rome (Zone A) is valid from the time it is stamped in the date machine until midnight on the 7th day thereafter (i.e. Friday to midnight the following _Thursday_). It currently costs L.24,000 and is definitely worth purchasing: as well as almost certainly saving you money, it saves the hassle of stamping tickets every time you take a bus.

This ticket is called CIS (Carta Integrata Settimanale). I bought mine from one of the machines on the platforms of the bus station directly outside Termini railway station. You need to put your name and the expiry date on the ticket before first using it. The ticket is valid on trams, buses, the underground, the Roma-Ostia railway, the surviving bit of the Ferrovie Laziali narrow gauge system, and the urban sections ONLY of FS lines and the private line which goes to Viterbo. I would wholeheartedly endorse the suggestion to use the ticket to visit Ostia Antica. It is a fascinating site. If you are interested in the history of public transport in Rome, I would recommend a book I have recently bought and am currently reading – Formagari and Muscolino: "Tram e filobus a Roma, storia dalle origini", published by Calosci-Cortona at ITL 65000. Alan Harrison

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Watch your pocketbook & wallet.  Especially on the buses!

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