Central Europe (Budapest, Vienna, and Prague). There is so very much to see in this beautiful area of Europe, and we are so excited! We got a package deal on an independent vacation through Gate1 Travel and saved a bundle; I just hope it is not too good to be true. There were even better prices elsewhere like TripMaster but they seems like a scam from the reviews that I read. Does anybody here have experience with Gate1 Travel?
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With Gate1 Travel, no.
But, Vienna, Prague and Budapest are all wonderful and amazingly atmospheric and historically interesting cities. You should have a great time while visiting them.
I'm sure we will have a great time! I'm going to buy some travel books that cover these cities and make a lis tot the places that we want to see. I watched Rick Steves videos and think I will get his books. The package deal includes the flights, trains, and hotels, but everything else is up to us (free time, yay!).
Those are all amazing places. I've only ever been to Vienna in the height of a particularly cold winter, when it was minus 15 celsius at midday and minus 30 at night. Obviously didn't spend much time outside, but the inside of all the old Imperial buildings were spectacular. Prague is much smaller than the other two, much easier to get around, and Budapest is a proper city. The spas and hot springs are the really special attraction there, but there is so much else to do. I really loved it. Been there four times now
Do you know where you're staying yet?
Awesome places to visit. I used Gate 1 once. Never again. They changed or flights so often that at one point my daughter and I were on different flights! I spent an enormous amount of time on the phone with them both before and after the trip trying to untangle things to avoid paying for things we didn't get - but we're supposed to!
Well I hope it is OK this time. I tried to research them and found more good reviews than bad unlike some other sites.
We are supposedly staying at Hotel Hungaria City Center in Budapest, Senator Hotel in Vienna, and Hotel Atlantic in Prague. Hotel Hungaria gets good reviews on the hotel sites, the other 2 get very good reviews (we shall see).Those are all amazing places. I've only ever been to Vienna in the height of a particularly cold winter, when it was minus 15 celsius at midday and minus 30 at night. Obviously didn't spend much time outside, but the inside of all the old Imperial buildings were spectacular. Prague is much smaller than the other two, much easier to get around, and Budapest is a proper city. The spas and hot springs are the really special attraction there, but there is so much else to do. I really loved it. Been there four times now
Do you know where you're staying yet?
Weather sites indicate 50 to 75F when we will be there (late August to early September). The first time I was in Munich was February in the early 90's and it was COLD! I was there on business but had very few meetings planned so most of my time was free time, but nowhere to go since none of the touristy things were running yet. I spent a lot of time on subways and trams exploring the city.
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Probably heading to Amsterdam for work in September again. Does that count?
For something different, I have been looking at an Amtrak trip sometime this summer. Chicago to DC is over 18 hours, so I would probably do something way short of that for starters. I was thinking a day out, one or two nights, and the trip back. Just haven't decided where or when. Would leave out of Indy or Chicago.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
I would take the train anywhere anywhen. My husband and I are planning a delayed 20th anniversary train trip wherever Amtrak goes. They have a nice deal where you can get off the train wherever you'd like in up to three cities and then catch the train again whenever. That will be summer of 18.
Take a few extra days after "work" ends - make it a long week-end, Amsterdam is a gorgeous, easily explored city, and September is a lovely time of year to visit - and take Mrs AFB with you.
North by Northwest and find that field where Cary Grant got chased.
Seriously it's been a long time since I've been on Amtrack and I wonder if you'll be impressed by the train ride itself. I'm not sure which way gives you the best scenery. I'm thinking somewhere out west would be better, but you might have to fly a leg to get there. But wait, how about Amtrak's Empire Builder? Chicago to Seattle, you'll see some nice scenery. Investigate and find out where it stops. There might be some great places along the way to check out. Of note, I just noticed that No.10 in that link is the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia which the family, I, and my Aunt have ridden. Very pretty, but this is a local ride, not cross country. My Mom's family is from West Virginia.
I do not. We did a two week River cruise several years ago (Amsterdam to Budapest), but it was on Viking. It's not a cheap ride, ($9500 for 2) but was all inclusive, included daily tours in little, out of the way towns on the river, and highly recommended. Budapest was the single most interesting large city on this trip. We took a bus to Prague and although it has some nice historical buildings, it's not as pretty as Budapest.
I realize there may be some budgeting or commitment issues at this point, but river cruises if you can find one that fits are superior because you unpack once, and you ride in your room, not a bus.
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Well suggest it, and why not?
Amsterdam is less than an hour from London by air, - so the flight will not be torture, the city is beautiful, and easily navigated on foot, or with public transport, it has all the advantages of the modern era - a wonderfully clean first world city, with plenty to do, a terrific atmosphere, great history, a fantastic range of restaurants that cater for every possible palate, - it is an amazing place for a nice week end break.
Well as she hardly gets out of the house I know she won't be leaving the country! (Not to mention the lack of passport and the fact she'd have to amuse herself all day whilst I'm working!).
I have been on at her to agree to a holiday. Maybe next year she says. I think it was about 8 years ago our last one.
Look.
1. Tell her to get a passport - it is extremely silly not to have one. That is no excuse, just a silly reason not to want to do anything.
2. Is she an adult? Amsterdam is one of the most interesting places on the planet - and, moreover, is safe, accessible and exceptionally well planned. There is something to do for everyone - art, history, culture, food, sports, and other stuff which probably wouldn't interest us,- it is not possible to be bored in Amsterdam.
3. However, if entertaining herself or occupying her mind and body during the day by herself is too much of a challenge, might I suggest, not that she accompany you on the actual trip but that she fly out to join you in Amsterdam for a long week-end when the work part of your trip has ended. Meet her at the airport. Schipol is the easiest - by far - international airport to navigate that I have visited in my life (and I have seen and experienced quite a few airports).
4. When I was last deployed abroad, the teenage kids of a good friend &colleague flew to Istanbul to meet him, they met in the airport - I always over-nighted there on my way home - and they stayed there together for a few nights, two teenage girls and their dad; they had a great time. Then, they all flew back to our isles together a few days later. (I happened to meet up with them in Istanbul airport en route home).
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Straight through, Empire Builder is a 46 hour trip. I think we'll start with something shorter.
Thanks for the idea. We might have to start with one of the shorter, scenic, local trains. Might be worth the trip to get to one of these.
We used to take the South Shore into Chicago all the time. It was a bit longer than driving, but not paying for gas and parking made up for the cost of the tickets. Not an exciting trip, unless you count getting to walk down the same hallway Batman drove his bike down!
The best railroad day trips for seeing scenery seem to those local scenic railroads. Some were mentioned in that link. I imagine there are others. If that Empire Builder stops in Montana with an option to spend the night and then turn around and go home? I imagine you'ld see some decent sights in that direction.Straight through, Empire Builder is a 46 hour trip. I think we'll start with something shorter.
Thanks for the idea. We might have to start with one of the shorter, scenic, local trains. Might be worth the trip to get to one of these.
We used to take the South Shore into Chicago all the time. It was a bit longer than driving, but not paying for gas and parking made up for the cost of the tickets. Not an exciting trip, unless you count getting to walk down the same hallway Batman drove his bike down!
Galveston Historic Home Tour- last weekend and next weekend, but we saw enough already. Some nice late 19th and early 20th Century Home’s like the Smith Hartley House 1874.
Galveston, getaway home of Jean Lafitte (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Lafitte), it has seen better days, knocked down several pegs after the 1900 storm. It used to be major port, still remains a significant port although my understanding is that after the storm much shipping switched to the port of Houston, Texas City on the other side of Galveston Bay, attached to the mainland. Galveston sits on a barrier island.
At the turn of the 20th Century it was the home and get away home for many wealthy people from Texas and other places. Many mansions here, some larger and more grand than the Italianate Home pictured above. Of note many of these homes that survived the storm were raised 10’ or more, and the land raised around them, along with a sea wall being built. Galveston as with much of the Gulf Coast continues to suffers Hurricane damage ( as long as there are hurricanes)
At the turn of the 20th Century it was the home and get away home for many wealthy people from Texas and other places. Many mansions here, some larger and more grand than the Italianate Home pictured above. Of note many of these homes that survived the storm were raised 10’ or more, and the land raised around them, along with a sea wall being built. Galveston as with much of the Gulf Coast continues to suffers Hurricane damage ( as long as there are hurricanes
)Have to say, for me, of all the amazing cities in Europe to spend time in, Budapest ranks just below Cologne at #6,413. So many cities in the previous iron curtain countries have blossomed yet Budapest, well, there's really nothing attractive about it. Of course, if you're a died-in-the-wool Reaganite, I'm guessin' you won't want to miss the statute in Liberty Square.
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For those of you who are well traveled, if not frowned upon as bragging, this might be fun. I consider myself fairly well traveled, but when I look on a world map, not so much.
https://traveltip.org/countries_visited.php
If you create a map, and don’t want to create an account, you can save the image before leaving the page.
[doublepost=1525702298][/doublepost]
If you create a map, and don’t want to create an account, you can save the image before leaving the page.
[doublepost=1525702298][/doublepost]
This is all a combination of personal opinion versus exposure. We found Budapest to be a very interesting city, more so than Vienna, of Cologne, but that too is based on our limited exposure. What formerly iron curtain cities would you hold up as blossoming?
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Really need to get to South America at some point....might have been to Mozambique as well, but if I did it was only for a short while before crossing back into South Africa so don't really count that. Will be going to Havana later this year, so Cuba will be red too come October.
As for next vacation location, I'm off to Portugal tomorrow morning
Since I live where people spend thousands to hang out for a few days, choosing a vacation spot is tougher. We're planning a cruise this summer and maybe the next trip will be to the mountains.