List of items that must be done prior to trip.
Please add to list.
1) Consolidate Hotel/Flight/Train Confirmations ****Complete****
2) Pre-Enter Addresses of hotels/attractions into GPS
3) Contact Credit/Debit Card Companies of intent to travel overseas ****Complete****
4) Arrange Travel to/from LAX ***Complete***
5) Research Travel to/from airports ***Complete****
7) Reserve trains (if necessary) ***Complete****
8) Confirm Flights are on time
9) Online Check In
10) Full City Itinerary ****Complete****
11) Documentation Check (Day before Flight)
12) Notify Hostels of time of arrival. *****Complete****
13) Attraction Backgrounds
14) Food Guide ***Complete***
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Stuff to Pack
Seeing as how we are coming close to packing for europe, we should all start to make lists of what we need to bring. I would suggest that you start making a list of everything you use in the next week or two. Every time you use an item, add it to your list so that you will not forget it. It worked well for me when I moved to college. It'll probably work well for Europe so that we do not forget everyday items.
Meeting March 1st
March 1st, 10:30am, Saturday Meeting.
We missed about 3/4 of the meeting agenda from last time. Let us use that agenda as a springboard for this meeting.
Let us prepare for this meeting under the assumption that we will only have time for one more meeting till we arrive in LA for the trip.
Ed and Poon,
To test "Walkie Talkie" interoperablity in Las Vegas Trip.
****UPDATE FEB 28 Walkie Talkie interoperability confirmed. Must take encryption off Ed's and set correct channel/sub channel****
Please add topics to agenda.
1. Specific Attractions/Days to attend (Remember that museums in certain cities closed during some weekedays)
2. Reservations/prepurchase of tickets to museums
3. Student/Youth Discount Card (See comments area)
4. Review of all pending Action items/Blog notes from previous meetings and posts.
5. Plan "practice" trip / In Person Meeting.
6. Open Topic Discussion
All,
My parents are coming in this weekend so I don't know if I can make this exact time. I will call them to confirm the exact day/time they will be coming.
***UPDATE FEB 28th Meeting Confirmed March 1st*****
-Ed
We missed about 3/4 of the meeting agenda from last time. Let us use that agenda as a springboard for this meeting.
Let us prepare for this meeting under the assumption that we will only have time for one more meeting till we arrive in LA for the trip.
Ed and Poon,
To test "Walkie Talkie" interoperablity in Las Vegas Trip.
****UPDATE FEB 28 Walkie Talkie interoperability confirmed. Must take encryption off Ed's and set correct channel/sub channel****
Please add topics to agenda.
1. Specific Attractions/Days to attend (Remember that museums in certain cities closed during some weekedays)
2. Reservations/prepurchase of tickets to museums
3. Student/Youth Discount Card (See comments area)
4. Review of all pending Action items/Blog notes from previous meetings and posts.
5. Plan "practice" trip / In Person Meeting.
6. Open Topic Discussion
All,
My parents are coming in this weekend so I don't know if I can make this exact time. I will call them to confirm the exact day/time they will be coming.
***UPDATE FEB 28th Meeting Confirmed March 1st*****
-Ed
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Dollar to Euro
Since we frequently post prices/costs in both Dollars and Euros, the current exchange rate should be mentioned.
Currently on February 14th, 2008 the exchange rate is
1 Dollar to .69 Euros
or
1 Euro to 1.46 Dollars
*** Update March 6th, 2008***
1 dollar to .66 Euros
1 Euro to 1.52 U.S. dollars
This sucks About a 4% decrease in value of dollar in just under 1 month.
*** Update March 19th, 2008***
1 dollar to .63 Euros
1 Euro = 1.5787 U.S. dollars
***Update March 26th, 2008***
1 dollar to .6496 Euros
1 Euro = 1.5393 U.S. dollars
Via Google search of Euro to Dollar
Since the US is on the verge of recession and an ongoing subprime mortgage meltdown. US interest rates are very low... so it feels like everyday the Dollar is dropping compared to the Euro. For us this means Europe gets more and more expensive.
Currently on February 14th, 2008 the exchange rate is
1 Dollar to .69 Euros
or
1 Euro to 1.46 Dollars
*** Update March 6th, 2008***
1 dollar to .66 Euros
1 Euro to 1.52 U.S. dollars
This sucks About a 4% decrease in value of dollar in just under 1 month.
*** Update March 19th, 2008***
1 dollar to .63 Euros
1 Euro = 1.5787 U.S. dollars
***Update March 26th, 2008***
1 dollar to .6496 Euros
1 Euro = 1.5393 U.S. dollars
Via Google search of Euro to Dollar
Since the US is on the verge of recession and an ongoing subprime mortgage meltdown. US interest rates are very low... so it feels like everyday the Dollar is dropping compared to the Euro. For us this means Europe gets more and more expensive.
Wednesday February 13th, Meeting Minutes
This was a particularly frustrating meeting....
First we booked an overnight train from Paris to Milan via Rail Europe . The ticket costs 165 total for all 3 of us (This includes a 30 dollar lost train ticket insurance, 18 dollar shipping and includes the rail pass holder discount). From Milan we will take day trains arriving in Rome around 11am.
Train Information
April 2nd
From Paris to Milan
2nd Class; 3 youth
Paris Bercy to Milano Centrale, Couchette T6
Next we found we found out that trains only run from Milan to Barcelona on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Our original plan was to leave Venice to Milan on Tuesday, April 8th around 12pm and catch the overnight train that night to Barcelona (We had already booked hotels for this itinerary).
Luckily for us Ryan Air has a "Pay Only Taxes" special.
While flying directly from Venice was an option, the "Pay Only Taxes'" special only applied to a 9pm flight arriving in Girona (80km from Barcelona) at 11pm. Since we would still be an hour away from Barcelona we decided not to chance this trip so late in the night. (We know that people in Spain eat dinner and go out much later... but we still felt uncomfortable with this time table)
So instead we will fly from Milan. Our flight costs 75 Euros total for all 3 of us including the checked bag costs for three people and a fee for using a credit card to pay. Ryan air requires you to pay 4.5 Euros (4.5 Euros if checked in baggage reserved on line, 6.50 Euros if done at airport) for first three bags checked (combined weight of 15Kg or 33lbs)... unfortunately it costs 7.50 Euros for each additional kg over that 15kg.... so we have to be careful not to check in more than 15kg.
Flight Itinerary
From Milan Bergamo (BGY) to Girona(GRO)
Tuesday April 8th, 2008 Flight
Depart: 4:25pm
Arrive: 5:50
Girona airport is about 80km (50 miles) from Barcelona... theres a Barcelona bus (Website in Spanish) that we'll take to the estacion de Nord in Barcelona (costs about 12 Euros).
Since we are no longer taking an overnight train from Venice to Barcelona (via Milan) we have to book another nights hotel. The hotel we already booked for Barcelona did not have room for this night so we had to book a room at another hotel.
Hotel
Medium Abalon Hotel Barcelona
Tuesday April 8th
Travesera de Gracia 380-384,
Barcelona, 08025
Phone: 34934500460
Tuesday April 8th Price: 99 Eur
Triple room for 3 people. Each room of the hotel is equipped with air conditioning, a private bath with shower, TV with cable/satellite, internet access, a safety deposit box and more.
From our earlier agenda its clear that we only accomplished two of our topics and will need another meeting in the near future to cover the other topics.
-Poon
First we booked an overnight train from Paris to Milan via Rail Europe . The ticket costs 165 total for all 3 of us (This includes a 30 dollar lost train ticket insurance, 18 dollar shipping and includes the rail pass holder discount). From Milan we will take day trains arriving in Rome around 11am.
Train Information
April 2nd
From Paris to Milan
2nd Class; 3 youth
Paris Bercy to Milano Centrale, Couchette T6
Next we found we found out that trains only run from Milan to Barcelona on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Our original plan was to leave Venice to Milan on Tuesday, April 8th around 12pm and catch the overnight train that night to Barcelona (We had already booked hotels for this itinerary).
Luckily for us Ryan Air has a "Pay Only Taxes" special.
While flying directly from Venice was an option, the "Pay Only Taxes'" special only applied to a 9pm flight arriving in Girona (80km from Barcelona) at 11pm. Since we would still be an hour away from Barcelona we decided not to chance this trip so late in the night. (We know that people in Spain eat dinner and go out much later... but we still felt uncomfortable with this time table)
So instead we will fly from Milan. Our flight costs 75 Euros total for all 3 of us including the checked bag costs for three people and a fee for using a credit card to pay. Ryan air requires you to pay 4.5 Euros (4.5 Euros if checked in baggage reserved on line, 6.50 Euros if done at airport) for first three bags checked (combined weight of 15Kg or 33lbs)... unfortunately it costs 7.50 Euros for each additional kg over that 15kg.... so we have to be careful not to check in more than 15kg.
Flight Itinerary
From Milan Bergamo (BGY) to Girona(GRO)
Tuesday April 8th, 2008 Flight
Depart: 4:25pm
Arrive: 5:50
Girona airport is about 80km (50 miles) from Barcelona... theres a Barcelona bus (Website in Spanish) that we'll take to the estacion de Nord in Barcelona (costs about 12 Euros).
Since we are no longer taking an overnight train from Venice to Barcelona (via Milan) we have to book another nights hotel. The hotel we already booked for Barcelona did not have room for this night so we had to book a room at another hotel.
Hotel
Medium Abalon Hotel Barcelona
Tuesday April 8th
Travesera de Gracia 380-384,
Barcelona, 08025
Phone: 34934500460
Tuesday April 8th Price: 99 Eur
Triple room for 3 people. Each room of the hotel is equipped with air conditioning, a private bath with shower, TV with cable/satellite, internet access, a safety deposit box and more.
From our earlier agenda its clear that we only accomplished two of our topics and will need another meeting in the near future to cover the other topics.
-Poon
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Space Saver Bags♦
Linen's N Things Space Saver Bags
I just bought these space saver bags. You put your clothes in them, roll them up, and the air gets pushed out. So far, I've tested some tshirts and a sweatshirt. Works pretty good for the sweatshirt but not so much for the tshirts. It works well for anything that has lots of air. If you buy from lnt.com use coupon code 26620000008 for another 20% off. I picked mine up in store because they are back-ordered for delivery.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Meeting
Meeting
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
7:00pm
1. Whether to modify schedule in light of ryan air's "pay only taxes" special
2. Plan/make reservations on trains/airplanes.
3. Specific Attractions
4. Reservations/prepurchase of tickets to museums
5. Student/Youth Discount Card
6. Review of all pending Action items from previous meetings.
7. Plan "practice" trip.
8. Open Topic Discussion
-Poon
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
7:00pm
1. Whether to modify schedule in light of ryan air's "pay only taxes" special
2. Plan/make reservations on trains/airplanes.
3. Specific Attractions
4. Reservations/prepurchase of tickets to museums
5. Student/Youth Discount Card
6. Review of all pending Action items from previous meetings.
7. Plan "practice" trip.
8. Open Topic Discussion
-Poon
Monday, February 4, 2008
Flight Changes
I checked the online status itinerary and it seems to differ from our original ones we purchased.
Rui,
Please check your latest flight online itinerary to make sure they didn't just move us and not you! (Use the confirmation code you received from US Airways) and compare it to ours (pull up ours and yours and compare)
**Update Feb 5th they moved Rui's seating away from Ed and I. Rui changed it to match us... He will continue to monitor the online reservation for changes.***
**Update Feb 14th we received an email from US Airways they changed flight reservation again...I moved my seat for the flight from Madrid to Philadelphia back to its place next to Ed. Rui will change his to match ours***
http://www.usairways.com/awa/manageReservation/findReservation.aspx?redir=Email&c=eml_sys_travelConf_00000000_manageRes
Use Confirmation Code: in email I sent to you for Ed and myself.
Departure Date: March 28th
No major impact I can see but flight numbers have changed and flight times by an hour or so!
Particularly the return interconnecting flight is now an hour earlier and different flight number, luckily we have a large enough gap in between flights.
So this is a reminder for us to continually check our online itinerary !
-Poon
Rui,
Please check your latest flight online itinerary to make sure they didn't just move us and not you! (Use the confirmation code you received from US Airways) and compare it to ours (pull up ours and yours and compare)
**Update Feb 5th they moved Rui's seating away from Ed and I. Rui changed it to match us... He will continue to monitor the online reservation for changes.***
**Update Feb 14th we received an email from US Airways they changed flight reservation again...I moved my seat for the flight from Madrid to Philadelphia back to its place next to Ed. Rui will change his to match ours***
http://www.usairways.com/awa/manageReservation/findReservation.aspx?redir=Email&c=eml_sys_travelConf_00000000_manageRes
Use Confirmation Code: in email I sent to you for Ed and myself.
Departure Date: March 28th
No major impact I can see but flight numbers have changed and flight times by an hour or so!
Particularly the return interconnecting flight is now an hour earlier and different flight number, luckily we have a large enough gap in between flights.
So this is a reminder for us to continually check our online itinerary !
-Poon
Hotels/Hostels for the Rest of Europe
Hotel Reservations for rest of Europe
( In addition to our Lodging in Italy )
****This resulted from January 28th Emergency Meeting. (Decisions made without Ed) ****
April 2nd (Paris to Rome) and April 8th (Venice to Barcelona) Nights are spent on the Train.
Amsterdam, Netherlands (Hostel)
March 30th
St. Christopher's at The Winston
Warmoesstraat 129
Amsterdam
p. +31 (0)20 623 1380
f. +31 (0)20 639 2308
e. winston@st-christophers.co.uk
3 Bed, Private Room (Private Bathroom) 93 Euro per night
Paris, France (Hostel)
March 31st and April 1st 08
Hotel De La Comete
196 boulevard de la
villette
Paris
p. +33 6 24 88 88 78
or +33 6 50 99 95 91
e. doxa248@yahoo.com
3 Bed, Private Room (Private Bathroom) 75 Euro Per night
Supposedly the people who run this hotel speak very little English.
Barcelona, Spain (Hotel/Pension)
April 9th and 10th
Miami Pensión (Hotel/Pension)
Passatge Sant Bernat 2-4
Barcelona 08001
Phone: 34933017393
Standard Triple Room 84 Euros per night
April 11th
Madrid, Spain (Hostel)
Hostal Luis XV
Montera 47 - 8º
Madrid
p. +34 91 5221350
f. +34 91 5221021
reservas@hrluisxv.net
3 Bed, Private Room (Private Bathroom) 84 Euro per night
-Poon
( In addition to our Lodging in Italy )
****This resulted from January 28th Emergency Meeting. (Decisions made without Ed) ****
April 2nd (Paris to Rome) and April 8th (Venice to Barcelona) Nights are spent on the Train.
Amsterdam, Netherlands (Hostel)
March 30th
St. Christopher's at The Winston
Warmoesstraat 129
Amsterdam
p. +31 (0)20 623 1380
f. +31 (0)20 639 2308
e. winston@st-christophers.co.uk
3 Bed, Private Room (Private Bathroom) 93 Euro per night
Paris, France (Hostel)
March 31st and April 1st 08
Hotel De La Comete
196 boulevard de la
villette
Paris
p. +33 6 24 88 88 78
or +33 6 50 99 95 91
e. doxa248@yahoo.com
3 Bed, Private Room (Private Bathroom) 75 Euro Per night
Supposedly the people who run this hotel speak very little English.
Barcelona, Spain (Hotel/Pension)
April 9th and 10th
Miami Pensión (Hotel/Pension)
Passatge Sant Bernat 2-4
Barcelona 08001
Phone: 34933017393
Standard Triple Room 84 Euros per night
April 11th
Madrid, Spain (Hostel)
Hostal Luis XV
Montera 47 - 8º
Madrid
p. +34 91 5221350
f. +34 91 5221021
reservas@hrluisxv.net
3 Bed, Private Room (Private Bathroom) 84 Euro per night
-Poon
Asking if Someone Speaks English
Considering none of us bothered to learn our assigned foreign language, (See December 1st meeting minutes and I never distributed Rosetta Stone as planned). It is probably too late to start learning for it to be of use on the trip.
So... I've been reading from my guidebooks that people in Europe prefer to be asked if they speak English in there native tongue before speaking to them in English.
I guess its considered rude to just walk up to them and start automatically speaking English.
So below is the phrase "Do you speak English?" translated in our itinerary relevant languages:
German: Sprechen Sie Englisch?
So... I've been reading from my guidebooks that people in Europe prefer to be asked if they speak English in there native tongue before speaking to them in English.
I guess its considered rude to just walk up to them and start automatically speaking English.
So below is the phrase "Do you speak English?" translated in our itinerary relevant languages:
German: Sprechen Sie Englisch?
Dutch: Spreekt u Engels?
French: Parlez-vous anglais?
Italian: Parla inglese?
Spanish: ¿Habla usted inglés?
(Source: http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/english.htm)
-Poon
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