New traveller in mainland Europe!

[puca]

So I finally have a job which covers bills and allows me to save, OMG I actually get HOLIDAY!!!

I wanna travel around Europe for shortish stays (around a week), in places I can get to by rail or bus.

I'm most interested in eco-friendly holidays and interesting or progressive places. I have a fondness for coffee, architecture, history and of course, music.

Would rather go somewhere with character, rather than fifteen Starbucks per square mile and like to avoid rowdy drunk people.

Any ideas on where is good for a new traveller?:smile:

ETA: Off to Berlin maybe later in the year or next year anyway with my lovely mate.

[fiamma]

Well, Italy has you covered for coffee, history and architecture, and you can get there by train...
Lots of character too...
Unfortunately it loses a point on the "progressive" front...

[*live*&*let*live]

Amsterdam and Paris were awesome for culture, coffee and architecture. Tons of stuff to see in Amsterdam and easy to get round too. Paris is more difficult but great transport system, lots of walking.
I personally would avoid Europe at the minute as the Euro exchange is horrendous to the pound! I equated it (when we last went to Europe which was Dublin last year) a £ for a Euro so I wouldn't feel I was ripped off. It was about 80p to a Euro then but now it's worse Everything was sooo expensive we spent over £1000 on a week there. *not including hotel/flights*

Wherever you go I hope you have an awesome time.

[puca]

Good point about Euro exchange...

I plan on couchsurfing, or slumming it.

[gogs67]

Amsterdam and Paris were awesome for culture, coffee and architecture. Tons of stuff to see in Amsterdam and easy to get round too. Paris is more difficult but great transport system, lots of walking.
I personally would avoid Europe at the minute as the Euro exchange is horrendous to the pound! I equated it (when we last went to Europe which was Dublin last year) a £ for a Euro so I wouldn't feel I was ripped off. It was about 80p to a Euro then but now it's worse Everything was sooo expensive we spent over £1000 on a week there. *not including hotel/flights*

Wherever you go I hope you have an awesome time.

It was a pound a Euro when i was in Hamburg in Feb but it's climbed a little to 1.16 i think.
Still not great but if your spending a few hundred quid it amounts to an extra night staying somewhere!:smile:

[fiamma]

I plan on couchsurfing, or slumming it.

What do you mean by "slumming it" exactly? *curious*

[pavotrouge]

My vote for German cities still goes to Cologne and Hamburg.
From Cologne, it's also easy to get anywhere in the Netherlands, Belgium and Northern France.

Then there's the Czech Republic which is beautiful and doesn't have the Euro, so if you stay out of the touristy corners it should be fairly cheap.

You can get Euroline coaches to the west part of the continent that are affordable and don't take forever.

[puca]

My vote for German cities still goes to Cologne and Hamburg.
From Cologne, it's also easy to get anywhere in the Netherlands, Belgium and Northern France.

Then there's the Czech Republic which is beautiful and doesn't have the Euro, so if you stay out of the touristy corners it should be fairly cheap.

You can get Euroline coaches to the west part of the continent that are affordable and don't take forever.

I thought Cologne was in France

[pavotrouge]

not quite as bad as a certain bank clerk who spells "Cologne" as "Colon"

[puca]

not quite as bad as a certain bank clerk who spells "Cologne" as "Colon"

[Mr Flibble]

Holland is very cheap to get to, cheap to travel around on on the train, everyone speaks english and vegan food is as easy to get hold of as in the UK.

[pavotrouge]

where have you been traveling? I grew near the Dutch border and eating vegan outside people's houses seems nearly impossible in the east part of the Netherlands (so say all the vegans who live there). Amsterdam is amazing for vegans, though.

[puca]

Is there much to do in Amsterdam?

I was considering it... Isn't it really seedy though?

[*live*&*let*live]

^ PAVOT - You grew near the Dutch border, awwwhh bless and there are how many scientists saying that veggies don't feel things. Ahhh! I think you are a modern miracle my dear, not only do you feel, but you can walk and talk and use a computer wow!

(just a joke, not taking the piss, I know you left out the word 'up'....or did you....?!)

[*live*&*let*live]

Is there much to do in Amsterdam?

I was considering it... Isn't it really seedy though?

TONS to do in Amsterdam, not seedy unless you go to those parts that all towns have! The Anne Frank museum is a must, soo sad. It has commercialised somewhat over the last few years but I still think it is well worth a trip. We also went to the Jewish Museum, Van Gogh museum amongst many other things. It depends on what you are into.

[pavotrouge]

LOL of course I meant grew up after all I'm a red poppy!

Amsterdam also has a huge AR scene, one of my exes was pretty involved. It might be worth a weekend trip, how about going together when we both got the flat situation settled?

[puca]

Yay, vegan travel buddies ^_^

[pavotrouge]

we could even take a train from there to my boring hometown... meh. (or to Cologne!).
Ok, guess I have to work a little before I can plan time off...

[puca]

Go in to colon Cologne!

My friend's daughter has a vegan buffet place in Belgium!

Anybody in belgium, I could give the website

[Mr Flibble]

Is there much to do in Amsterdam?

I was considering it... Isn't it really seedy though?

No more so than any other city. It's got loads of nice looking things. Plus you can get to Rotterdam or Utretch and back in a day on the train if staying there.

[pavotrouge]

Go in to colon Cologne!

My friend's daughter has a vegan buffet place in Belgium!

Anybody in belgium, I could give the website

I know a guy in London whose sister has a vegan buffet in Belgium Is yours in Ghent by any chance?

[puca]

I know a guy in London whose sister has a vegan buffet in Belgium Is yours in Ghent by any chance?

It's called Komkommertijd...

Have asked my friend... Her son is currently studying in Edinburgh and does modern languages.

[puca]

I am planning on going January-March time

[jonny_mears]

Ey up, I'm living in Utrecht, in the Netherlands. If you're going to A'dam it's only half an hour on the train here, and we have a vegan cafe! I haven't eaten in A'dam that much but there are some cool not-for-profit veggie or vegan food nights in squats or other random places. I went to one, which is on 3 times a week, and had 3 courses of vegan food for €5! I think when you get off the train or hang around the centre of A'dam it can seem a bit seedy but otherwise it's a beautiful city, and there's more going on than in Utrecht

Ah I have fond memories of Ghent. I was couchsurfing there with a couple of vegans and went to Konkommertijd and some fast food place with loadsa vegan grub

[puca]

Hey Jonny, do you have any contacts in A'dam who are involved with couchsurfing, or wouldn't mind showing a newbie traveller around?

I booked a little time off in December... I wanna travel alone for this time, maybe with friends later. But would also love to meet new people whilst there!

Not 100% solid on that month, as I may be spending my birthday with a mate, but may try A'dam if not.

Haha and fancy coffee?

[jonny_mears]

Hey, I don't know any couchsurfers there but I know a couple of nice vegans There's a chance I may move there soon as well. Either way if I'm in the Netherlands I'd be happy to go for a coffee or show you around I'm probably going to Copenhagen in mid-December for the climate change talks and demos, but if you send me a message nearer the time I'll know for sure.