The TSF Travel Tips Thread
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@Crucial said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
One thing that is worth spending on is doing a hop on hop off bus tour. By far the best way to work out where everything is in relation to each other and then work out what you want to go back to. Has the advantage of being sitting down as well.
yeah, i had one of those for NY, and skipped it.
But
As i said, Mrs Mariner and i tend to get to a place, and just walk all day. We're going to have to look at it a little bit differently.
Also, usually i hate the real "tourist" sites. But i am thinking this time it might be just suck it up, because, in Rome especially, not doing them would be retarded.
I need to teach the kids about gypsies and beggers
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@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Do the Roman Forum tour, and the catacombs are meant to be good. The Vatican is worth a look and the Cistine Chapel
All of that is worth doing and again walkable. Be careful where you eat (price wise) and be wary of gypsies in summer.
@mariner4life You beat me to it.The old "throw the baby trick" is common and I have seen it more than once.
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@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
in Rome especially, not doing them would be retarded.
It really would.
The catacombs are a bit out of the way but still pretty cool and worth doing (not a walk that one). -
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Snowy we are going June/July. So Rome is going to be fucking packed.
So it's going to be seriously hot and you have, what, a 4 and 6 year old? I look forward to your travel tales.
I think it is August when all of the Romans piss off to have a holiday.
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@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
I thought we had one of these, but i can't find it.
Anyway, we've got a heap of people here who live, or have lived, all over the world. Might be good to have a thread where people going on holidays (thinly disguised "I'm going on holiday fuckers") can ask for advice or must-dos
Next year I'm doing a month in Europe. Most of it is sorted. In to Rome. Then Venice, Florence, got a villa in Tuscany for a week, then London, and Paris. Any big recommendations there are appreciated.
But my main question is around London. It's fucking expensive aye? The wife has family in Windsor. Is it viable to stay there and just travel in to the city? Is that a pain in the ass?
Don’t forget to pack your narwhal tusk
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@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
San Giminagno is a little hilltop town between Florence and Siena, it is beautiful and a World Heritage site.
Yes, well worth a visit. When I was there the town had a market on where the locals all brought their olive oil to sample with fresh pane. Very Italian.
If in Tuscany, you will have to go to Pisa. Regional trains will get you from A to B if you won't have a car.
For Rome, avoid tourist traps like Piazza Navona to eat.
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4 and 6 eh?
Here are the bribery/'this is your part' places you can pop into between the interesting stuff...
Hamley's on Regent St- entry free but you won't get out of there without having to buy something. As toy shops go it is pretty cool. Tip - go later in the day so you won't have to carry purchases.
M&M store - this one baffles me but for some reason kids love it. Right on the edge of Leicester Sq, full of tourists but free and you can get away will just buying a bit of sugar.
Lego store - opposite M&M. Go early for a look (early in London is 0930) as queues can form. Not a patch on the one in Copenhagen but still pretty good if they like Lego. Free entry.
Natural History Museum/Science Museum - also free and have interactive stuff.
Biggest tip if you are with kids is to plan your day so you get to any 'touristy' attraction early. At that time of year the queues are hell otherwise and you will have to deal with grumpy kids.
As per the Rome comments don't be surprised if it is hot/very hot. London in the summer can be still unpredictable but over the last few summers sweltering temps are common. I'm talking 38 while surrounded by concrete and in a tube line. The UK was never built to deal with heat so you don't get much relief. Public transport in particular is not geared up for cooling. I stopped using the tube in summer and would rather ride my bike. You get to work just as wet but on your own terms and in a bit of space. -
@Crucial said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Natural History Museum/Science Museum - also free and have interactive stuff.
if you have kids (or even if you dont really) these are must sees IMO...my kids were 3 & 6 when we went and they loved it, esp the NHM.
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I'm going to swim against the tide and say staying in Windsor is doable. Last time I visited London I stayed in Maidenhead and travelled in and it was no problem at all. 60 trains/day about half hour Windsor - Paddington .however the return fares will probably sting you 35-40 quid / day.
I just travelled after the rush hours. I only had a couple of days and managed to see everything, however that was probably because I lived there for 12 years and spent five of them as a driver so I know Central London very well.
One thing I would recommend if you have time is a trip down the Thames to Greenwich for lunch and get the dockland light rail back. Its not a show stopper but its a pleasant change of pace and you get a different perspective from the water - and also from the elevated rail through places like Canary Wharf.
Otherwise the touristy stuff
Both Rome and Paris are easily walked although Roman is quite hilly. Both great places just to get a map (open an app) and meander.
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@Snowy said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Snowy we are going June/July. So Rome is going to be fucking packed.
So it's going to be seriously hot and you have, what, a 4 and 6 year old? I look forward to your travel tales.
I think it is August when all of the Romans piss off to have a holiday.
11 and basically 9 by then, so not that bad!
And i live in the Tropics, i reckon I'll handle the heat
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@Virgil said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
This thread should be called ‘look at me I’m a piston wristed gibbon spending a month in Europe everyone look at me’
Keep in touch mate sounds like an awesome trip!
little from column A, little from column B
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@taniwharugby said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Crucial said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Natural History Museum/Science Museum - also free and have interactive stuff.
if you have kids (or even if you dont really) these are must sees IMO...my kids were 3 & 6 when we went and they loved it, esp the NHM.
I went to them four years ago and loved it, but then I'm still a big kid.
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@Crucial said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
4 and 6 eh?
Here are the bribery/'this is your part' places you can pop into between the interesting stuff...
Hamley's on Regent St- entry free but you won't get out of there without having to buy something. As toy shops go it is pretty cool. Tip - go later in the day so you won't have to carry purchases.
M&M store - this one baffles me but for some reason kids love it. Right on the edge of Leicester Sq, full of tourists but free and you can get away will just buying a bit of sugar.
Lego store - opposite M&M. Go early for a look (early in London is 0930) as queues can form. Not a patch on the one in Copenhagen but still pretty good if they like Lego. Free entry.
Natural History Museum/Science Museum - also free and have interactive stuff.
Biggest tip if you are with kids is to plan your day so you get to any 'touristy' attraction early. At that time of year the queues are hell otherwise and you will have to deal with grumpy kids.
As per the Rome comments don't be surprised if it is hot/very hot. London in the summer can be still unpredictable but over the last few summers sweltering temps are common. I'm talking 38 while surrounded by concrete and in a tube line. The UK was never built to deal with heat so you don't get much relief. Public transport in particular is not geared up for cooling. I stopped using the tube in summer and would rather ride my bike. You get to work just as wet but on your own terms and in a bit of space.The Harry Potter theme thing is supposed to be brilliant too.
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We did London with the kids last year, they loved it - stayed in a pretty reasonable apartment in Sth Ken, was such a convenient spot. We always found the tube pretty easy, but as warned about, if the temp hits 30 they turn to shit (the rails actually start buckling...)
All the London tips above are good, the 3 parks are also fun for a wander, morning job (me and the 2 oldest ran them a couple of times in the morning, really nice), paddle on those stupid aqua bike things.
We took a train out to see Warwick Castle one day, that was a good change of scene - found a great country pub for a looooong lunch afterwards that had lots of grass for the kids to run around while we are and drank in the garden.
London in a summer is so great for beer gardens - light till 11pm, great atmosphere. I miss that.
I'd echo all the thoughts re Rome - it is the 1 country in the world where none of the touristy stuff disappoints. Vatican, Forum, all amazing - don't miss the Collosseum, you can just stand there on the concrete seats and just feel the atmosphere of the place, its fcking amazing.
Hopefully Venice is above water when you get there! Interesting city, not sure what you'd do there after a day or 2 though. Dave in Florence is obviously good, as are the leather markets if that's your thing.
I was lucky enough to be in Siena for the Paleo (completely by chance), holy shit that is insane.
My only tip for eating in Italy is if the menu is more than 2 pages, go somewhere else. There are a few horrible chain places that try to do everything, pizza, pasta, burgers, american stuff - and it's all done horribly. Italian food should be simple!
Re Harry Potter, I have also heard good things, but booking months in advance is apparently a must
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@mariner4life With kids that age it should be owesome. Get them into the history before you go. Rome is seriously cool.
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@Snowy said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Knowing how old your kids are makes me feel like adding to the ageing thread. How did they get so old? Or how did I?
you're telling me.
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@voodoo said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
We took a train out to see Warwick Castle one day, that was a good change of scene - found a great country pub for a looooong lunch afterwards that had lots of grass for the kids to run around while we are and drank in the garden.
I love castles, Warwick Caste was one of my faves, Leeds Castle in Kent was also awesome, especially with a moat it looked more like a 'Castle'