Europe Travel

[xix]

the Europeans have a weird way of doing business.

A decade ago when I went to see a travel agent selling the EuroRail pass ( only certain people can sell this not every agent can sell this pass) the agent would not let me see a copy of the timetable or schedule at all unless I bought my pass first. how am I suppose to know which pass I need unless I see the schedule.
I got a book from the library and it had schedules and recommendations for which pass to buy. Went to another agent and bought my pass.

Now forward 10 years ahead or now, with internet so readily available, do you think they changed at all?
the answer is NO. the worst part is they gotten worst.

I am trying to book a train ride between two cities and the website won't allow me to buy a ticket for February 15th, they will allow me to buy a ticket for this week only in January but not February.

I was in Europe in October, Spain, and I couldn't buy a rail ticket online from an Internet Cafe, in Spain, unless I showed up in person at the train station. Which wasted 3 hours of my time.
The website would not do any transaction at all.

are these guys more backwards than before or is it my imagination?
Has anyone else experience this before?


Also here is a kicker for you, Air Canada' semi total cost for the flight alone is 500.00 BUT the tax is 550.00.
No matter what I do the total price comes out $1,000.00 ++ no matter where I try to land in Europe.

I am thinking more Germany/Netherlands.

I may have to stop traveling to Europe and Flying outside Canada, and just drive to Buffalo. Which will cost $900.00

Going to Europe is only good, if you are a Student.

 

[ig-88]

Along those same lines, I have a question, having never been lucky enough to have been to Europe.

Is it true that to check into a hotel in Europe, you must present your passport? Like in the movies?

I have never used my passport to check into a hotel in North America.

 

[needinit]

Along those same lines, I have a question, having never been lucky enough to have been to Europe.

Is it true that to check into a hotel in Europe, you must present your passport? Like in the movies?

I have never used my passport to check into a hotel in North America.

Yes, Most European countries check/register passports at hotels...long time since I have been there but occurred in 2/3 or 3/4 of countries I have visited in the past...some hotels at the time also put on a bit of a show that the woman was my GF not wife!

 

[mrsCALoki]

.some hotels at the time also put on a bit of a show that the woman was my GF not wife!

I had a similar experience, I think many European hotels have different rates for couples (married) an more than one occupant (gf, etc). In our case they were especially since there was a 25 year age difference. European rail systems have a difference price/profit model than North American ones. I do not understand either of them, even though it was explained to me several times.

If you leave home, expect things to be different. If you want the same, stay home.

 

[onthebottom]

For me (and admittedly it's a small thing) but most European hotels don't have irons and ironing boards.... only the US chains (in my experience).... crazy.

OTB

 

[james t kirk]

For me (and admittedly it's a small thing) but most European hotels don't have irons and ironing boards.... only the US chains (in my experience).... crazy.

OTB

That's the truth. I was in Rome and had to send out a few items to be ironed. Cost a FORTUNE.

They never asked to see my passport however.

As far as train travel goes, I took the train from London to Paris (which is the way to go btw). It was easily done on line.

The one thing I did find amazing was that I flew from Paris to Rome one way and BELIEVE IT OR NOT, it was far far far cheaper to book a 2 way ticket than a 1 way ticket. I still cannot get my head around that.

 

[whitewaterguy]

my daughter and boyfriend are currently working in England, and booked a christmas-new years all inclusive ski/flight/hotel/meals package in France, (Crystal Tours). They are a well travelled couple and stated the entire experience with the tour company was terribly disorganized, confusion over whether lift tickets were included, resulting in a week long argument with staff knocking on their hotel room door 2-3 times late at night trying to argue with them, threatening them, intimidating them with legal action etc. My daughter has never experienced anything like it in all her travels and is now dealing with head office trying to obtain a full refund. she commented that every time they head somewhere for a few days travel they run into the same headaches with the tour and travel industry.....so beware.....make copies of all sales and package ageements etc etc etc.

 

[lamgos]

Stick to northern Europe, much more organized.

 

[checks]

Along those same lines, I have a question, having never been lucky enough to have been to Europe.

Is it true that to check into a hotel in Europe, you must present your passport? Like in the movies?

I have never used my passport to check into a hotel in North America.

This is certainly the case in all European countries I've been to. Of course, I've only been to Germany, France, Belgium, England, Netherlands... It might have something to do with the Schengen? agreement. That is the open borders agreements which means that once you are in one European country, you don't have to worry about crossing borders anymore.

 

[danmand]

For me (and admittedly it's a small thing) but most European hotels don't have irons and ironing boards.... only the US chains (in my experience).... crazy.

Oh Boy, your dresses must have looked bad after a week. LOL

 

[lamgos]

there are gems in eastern europe too

 

[xix]

Yes even in central / south america.

In Madrid while I was standing in the lobby deciding where to go, A female guest 59+, brought in with her a 35 year old guy, eastern european or russian, I didn't have enough time to see his passport.
The receptionist,male, asked for his passport and joking he said to the lady we don't want to scare the cleaning lady, in the morning when she finds him "laying there".
yes the conversation took place in spanish, she spoke prefect english and good spanish.


I have seen posted papers in youth hostels where some people got robbed by other guest while they left together to the next city, as they became friends.
Also in the states there have been some murders in the chain hotels, hence the CCC. closed circuit cameras.

Anyone doubting me either never traveled or watches the news.

yes shit does happen every where.

Along those same lines, I have a question, having never been lucky enough to have been to Europe.

Is it true that to check into a hotel in Europe, you must present your passport? Like in the movies?

I have never used my passport to check into a hotel in North America.

 

[xix]

my daughter and boyfriend are currently working in England, and booked a christmas-new years all inclusive ski/flight/hotel/meals package in France, (Crystal Tours). she commented that every time they head somewhere for a few days travel they run into the same headaches with the tour and travel industry.....so beware.....make copies of all sales and package ageements etc etc etc.

I am not surprised. I can say the same for a few south american countries. Also some trailer park, water park huts here in N.A. You have to love boating, fishing to understand this.