Flights
Don’t carry more
than 20kgs check-in luggage. It may cost you more than the fare if it’s a cheap
flight. Don’t prepay excess luggage and choose your seat if you buy cheap
flights. It’s much cheaper to chance it at the airport. Check when you buy a
cheap flight that one check-in suitcase is allowed, not just carry-on. Leave
plenty of time before your flight so you’re not rushing to get to the boarding
gate, which may be 10-15 minutes walk away from where you are.
Driving
PAY EXTRA FOR A
GPS!!!!! But don’t obey it blindly! Drive on the right hand side of the road!
Be careful when driving in car-parks. Watch out for cars and particularly
trucks overtaking without using an indicator. If you see a car using an
indicator, they must be tourists like you. Don’t sit in the fast lane even if
you’re doing 160km/hour. There’ll be some Speedy Gonzales appear up your bum
within the blink of an eye, and they’re in a HURRY! Be prepared for trucks and
lots of them- you may have to overtake 10-20 at once.
Money
Be prepared. Take
two or even three credit cards. Use your 28 degrees card as much as possible to
save on transfer fees. Take as little cash as possible. Don’t rely on your
travel cash card working every time.
Tolls
It is necessary to
purchase a vignette (a sticker to attach to your windscreen) in these European
countries. Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland,
Bulgaria and Romania. You must purchase it at a PETROL STATION which is
generally just inside the border. Hopefully, you will see the border crossing.
Now that’s it European Union, you can easily miss it. The vignette is generally
cheap 8-12 euro, which gives you 2-10 days visiting time. If you fail to
purchase one of these, and you get pulled over by the TOLL POLICE, you will be
forced to pay an enormous fine. (120 euro in Austria) Ignorance will not be
accepted as an excuse! After purchasing a vignette, you may still have to pay
tolls, but they will not be nearly as expensive as the countries’ tolls without
vignettes. Be prepared for BIG TOLLS! Almost 150 euro in one day travelling
from Italy to France via the Mont Blanc tunnel.
Accommodation
Look for places to
stay off the beaten track. You’ll be
surprised at what you discover. For more than one night, guest-houses with just
a few rooms, and airbnb accommodation are so much more comfortable than a
hotel. Read reviews before you book. Arrive at your accommodation before
nightfall. It’s much easier to find anywhere in daylight! Be prepared to change
your plans. Our best stay was one we booked at the last minute.
Eating
Book places which
provide breakfast in the room rate. Take something from the breakfast buffet to
eat during the day. Buy groceries (including wine) whenever you can. Some of
the best wines were bought from supermarkets for 2-3 euro per bottle. Eating
out is generally very expensive, so save eating out for special occasions or
when you’re in a hotel for the night. Best countries to go out to dinner are
Portugal, Turkey and Hungary. Choose a restaurant that has locals eating there.
Avoid eating in the tourist areas whenever you can.
Drinking
If you don’t like
strong coffee, drink tea! Turkish tea is actually very refreshing. Iced coffee
is hard to find, but if you do find it, it will be in a can or a paper cup.
Drink the house red wine. Many restaurants include it for free, especially in
Portugal, and it’s delicious! Avoid wine in Turkey-it’s expensive and barely
drinkable. Drink the Efes beer instead! Drink beer all over Europe whenever you’re
not drinking red wine. Drink plenty of tap water- you don’t need to buy bottled
water anywhere except Turkey.
No comments:
Post a Comment