GRcade Travel Topic

Me and some mates are thinking of going to Amsterdam sometime in March and I'm guessing a few people here have been before. Can anyone offer any decent advice on how to save money whilst there as I've heard even basic stuff like food can set you back a fair bit if you're not careful? Any other suggestions on things to see/do are also welcome; we're going for the standard bants but I'd also like to see as much of the city as I can too.

Anyone here travelled around Europe?

I'm looking at travelling through a few countries, taking in the major cities and/or sights.

I'm looked at InterRail, but not sure how good that is. Is driving a good idea? Any other methods I might have not thought of?

Anyone bought one of the Lonely Planet guides before? Are they any good

Lotus wrote:I'm looked at InterRail, but not sure how good that is. Is driving a good idea? Any other methods I might have not thought of?[/color]

Cycle. You can get all the stuff you'd need for well under a grand. Then you can travel anywhere you like for free, see what's between where the train stops (which is what I want to see anyway), and if you pack a tent, free accommodation whenever/wherever you want. Also bike travel makes locals much more at ease with you, as opposed to some rich dopey looking fellow who just got off a train from god knows where.

John Galt wrote:Me and some mates are thinking of going to Amsterdam sometime in March and I'm guessing a few people here have been before. Can anyone offer any decent advice on how to save money whilst there as I've heard even basic stuff like food can set you back a fair bit if you're not careful? Any other suggestions on things to see/do are also welcome; we're going for the standard bants but I'd also like to see as much of the city as I can too.

The sex museum!

Seriously. It's pretty wicked.

As for other stuff, the city's pretty much divided into two; the town square is the dividing line, with the side immediately next to and just over the canal the Bants side (all pretty similar in price weed wise to tell you the truth, if you're not buying prerolled joints you'll be sorted moneywise as it's relatively cheap). However the beer is kind of on the pricey side (about 5-6 euros). Apart from that it wasn't any worse than any European cities that gets a lot of tourists, you'll lose most of your money on fripperies. The open topped bus is actually surprisingly good, as is the aforementioned sex museum (on one of the streets near the square - if you're in a hostel it'll most likely be the same street) and there's some lovely architecture on the non-seedy side. Sorry I'm not more use, I've only been for a weekend and was stoned for a good portion of that.

Went to Cambridge today to pick up some stuff. I am now kitted the strawberry float out for Norway, just put it all on together and I look like an Arctic explorer, I think I over did it a bit

Still at least I'll be warm

Herbi wrote:Anyone bought one of the Lonely Planet guides before? Are they any good

In my experience they're awesome. Have used them in several countries.

I really want to visit Israel after I graduate next year. My brother's girlfriend just spent a couple of months travelling in the Middle East and said it was beautiful. Plus, one of the closest friends I met in Japan moved back there last summer, and I'd love to catch up with her.

kiera229 wrote:

Herbi wrote:Anyone bought one of the Lonely Planet guides before? Are they any good

In my experience they're awesome. Have used them in several countries.

I really want to visit Israel after I graduate next year. My brother's girlfriend just spent a couple of months travelling in the Middle East and said it was beautiful. Plus, one of the closest friends I met in Japan moved back there last summer, and I'd love to catch up with her.

My Dad lives in Israel now, I'm not sure if I want to go there or not to be honest.

Wiggles wrote:

Exxy wrote:

Wiggles wrote:On another note, as of this Thursday i'm getting my gooseberry fool together to emigrate to Canada for a year. Should have my visa in a few weeks and then i'll be heading over in September. Has anyone done anything like that before?

Would love to do something like that, but aren't they strict about immigration there? (I feel like I've made this post before...). Would be stumped as to what to do once I get there as well.

You made the exact same post like 2 days ago.

As long as you're under 35 without a criminal record you're able to go, they're pretty much the only criteria. Only way that they're strict is that they release a limited amount of visas, and they're given out on a first come first served basis. There is quite a lot of them though (for Ireland at least).

Luckily i'll have friends over there so i'll have a couch to sleep on until I get myself set up with some sort of job. I think i'm going to try save up money over there for six months or so and then travel the country for a while. Would love to live in Vancouver and Toronto over the course of the year.

Have you ever been over before? Toronto is a great city, it's like a New York-lite, but cleaner and cheaper.

StayDead wrote:My Dad lives in Israel now, I'm not sure if I want to go there or not to be honest.

Why not? I mean, I don't think I'd want to live there, but I'd definitely like to see the country.

kiera229 wrote:

StayDead wrote:My Dad lives in Israel now, I'm not sure if I want to go there or not to be honest.

Why not? I mean, I don't think I'd want to live there, but I'd definitely like to see the country.

I'm not sure really, just the country has never really interested me.

StayDead wrote:

kiera229 wrote:

StayDead wrote:My Dad lives in Israel now, I'm not sure if I want to go there or not to be honest.

Why not? I mean, I don't think I'd want to live there, but I'd definitely like to see the country.

I'm not sure really, just the country has never really interested me.

Plus, y'know, all the guns and suicide bombers

Where did this topic appear from?

Brerlappins little hat wrote:

Exxy wrote:Anyone been travelling alone? Thinking of doing it next year at some point, so when I'm bordering on 19. Going alone and being young seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Ive travelled all over the place on my own. I prefer the actual travelling aspect solo as i find other people slow me down and irritate me when im trying to get on a plane or whatever, but generally id prefer to have a contact in whatever city im going to. Being in a non-english speaking country alone isnt exactly fun tho. Ukraine solo was mental, its one thing in a country like france or germany where they at least use latin alphabet but trying to get around when everything looks like strawberry floating alien dialogue is a bit scary

I've just (3 weeks) come back from my first solo trip and it was out-fucking-standing. I booked myself 3 weeks off, basically threw a dart at an atlas an ended up in Costa Ria, completely on my toddy lonesome with no idea where I was going or what I was going to do. Oh, and I don't speak Spanish. I had the best time I think I've ever had on holiday and spent a grand total of 2 days actually by myself; within 2 hours of arriving I'd met and befriended a group of people and we headed out to a remote part of the country I'd never have gone to otherwise. After leaving them it was even less time, probably about 30 mins, before I met a couple more travellers at a bus station and formed another travelling party. Seriously, I cannot recommend solo travelling enough.

Herbi wrote:Anyone bought one of the Lonely Planet guides before? Are they any good

Lonely Planet isn't nicknamed "The Bible" for nothing. They are, hands down, the most exhaustive and thorough guides on the market and I would have been completely lost without my copy on almost every trip I've ever taken. Worth their weight in gold.

Tafdolphin wrote:Lonely Planet isn't nicknamed "The Bible" for nothing

You mean they're full of gooseberry fool too?

HIYO!

Preezy wrote:

Tafdolphin wrote:Lonely Planet isn't nicknamed "The Bible" for nothing

You mean they're full of gooseberry fool too?

HIYO!

Seriously though, they're great.

My friend is getting married and we're organising a Stag trip.

The two most likely destinations at the moment are Dublin and Talinn( Estonia). Any tips/recommendations for either destination?

Mockmaster wrote:My friend is getting married and we're organising a Stag trip.

The two most likely destinations at the moment are Dublin and Talinn( Estonia). Any tips/recommendations for either destination?

Dublin is notoriously pricey, and a trip to Talinn is most likely to end with you all being kidnapped and placed into a "Hostel" style murder factory.

I'm a cheap bastard so I'd go with Talinn.

Yep, I've heard horror stories of chaps spending £800+ on a weekend in Dublin just because it's so ridiculously expensive. Go to Estonia.

Dublin's not too bad. If you don't want to spend completely extortionate amounts while out just avoid Temple Bar. Visit it by all means but just don't drink there.

Hmm, I see. I figured the cheaper flight costs to Dublin might offset the more expensive drinks etc but maybe I'm underestimating just how pricey it is.

I suppose Talinn is the more adventurous destination. Anyone been there?