Europe Trip December 1st Meeting

Europe Trip Meeting December 1st Minutes

Next meeting in January
Please see comments area for skype chat transcripts and transcript from conversation with Gerald.


**Selection of EuroPass and first night in Frankfurt are critical for Rui's Visa (since his Visa was initially rejected( for lack of documentation))**** Resolved in Meeting

1) Any necessary Documentation (status of pending documentation)
None except those noted already (Hotel Reservations and Eurorail pass)

2) Cities/Countries/attractions to Visit, Alternate cities as well (in case of problems)

*****FINAL LIST
Frankfurt
Amsterdam
Paris
Rome
Florence
Venice
Barcelona
Madrid

Action: Ed, Rui, Poon to research specific attractions ***Complete****

3) EuroPass (which one?) (What is the earliest they can be purchased?)

Youth 2nd Class, 5 Countries Select, 8 days
Total Cost $471. (Rui already purchase)

Action: Poon and Ed to purchase rail passes ****Complete****

Gerald Suggested make sure which train station it departs from since paris has for 3 for example.

4) Intra europe flights (if any?)

None

5) Hotels (specifically at least one night in Frankfurt/Germany) (plan as many as possible?)
Rui booked City-Hotel-West in Frankfurt Germany, Cost: 105 for one night for one room with three beds.

March 29th

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/CityHotelWest-Frankfurt-17077



Action: Ed, Rui and Poon to research rest of nights hostels. ****Complete****

6) Transportation to/from LAX
Per Ed at worst we can take shuttle from his work. Most likely sister can take us.

Action: Ed to find out for sure whether sister will drive ****Complete****

7) Necessary travel gear (ie laptop, usb bridge)
-Rui will bring laptop
-Poon to bring two usb to mini cable
-hostel sheets
-compression bags
-money belt- rui already has one
-toiletry kit
-Toilet paper
-Photocopy of documents
-Earplugs (Poon and Ed)
-Soap
-Towels
-Flash light
- Pillow/ Pillow Case
More at
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlist.htm


Action: Ed, Rui and Poon to continue to think about what to bring and buy. ****Complete****

8) Necessary medicine
First aid kit
-Aspirin
-Pepto bismul
-Immodium AD
-Pepcid AC
-Dramamine
-Jet Lag pills
-Allergy Medicine(Poon)
-Chewing Gum
-Cold Medicine
-Inhaler (ED)
-bandaids

Recommend Flu Shots (Flu season in Europe)
Action: Rui and Ed to get flu shots (Too Late Now- Update March 26)

9) Maps for each city we go.

Rui has maps of Paris, Rome, Athens, and Napoli, but we’re only going to paris and rome.

Decent map included with rail pass purchase

Ed and Poon have gps maps.
To discuss at next meeting....

10) Communication Methods
Action: Ed and Poon will bring walkie talkies after Christmas. ****Complete****

Ed has the RAZR Unlocked and can borrow prepaid simcard/buy.
Action: Poon to get pda phone unlocked. ****Complete****

11) Voltage Converters
Poon has one plug adapter

Action: Ed please check to see if voltage converters necessary for his stuff. ****Complete****


12) Clothes
(It will be cold in Germany and other part of Europe) - Rui
40 degree weather in Germany
50 degree in Italy
Pack in compression bags
To discuss in next meeting…


13) Credit Cards/ATM cards/how to get money/buy things in europe
Poon suggested Capital One since they eat Visa/Mastercard fee and don’t charge any fees for purchasing worldwide.

Washington mutual new account has no fee for withdrawing worldwide, but the bank you withdraw from may.
Ed’s bank has parnership with Europe local branches so he may withdraw from there later.

Action: Ed and Rui to get appropriate credit cards ****Complete****
(Remember to call Credit Card/Bank to notify of travel)-Poon

14) Transportation between cities and within (plan as much as possible)

Specific routes wait till we receive rail pass maps.
Action: Poon, Ed, and Rui to Research ****Complete****
Discuss next meeting….

15) Student Travel Cards, Hostel Memberships
(necessary?)
Discuss next meeting...

16) Learning Foreign Language

(Update March 28th.... we were all too lazy to learn a language)
Action: Each person to learn language for their assigned country
Rui-German
Poon- Italian
Ed-French



-Poon