Plan to travel to France & Italy

Hi travel buddies,

I plan to travel to France & Italy this summer 🙂

Have you been there? Do you have any tips for budget traveling? Thanks.

Sorry I have nothing useful to offer well except that I look up every place I'm going to stay on tripadvisor.com to see reviews ratings and pictures that guests took also lonelyplanet.com has pretty good travel advice. I didn't check out Europe but I found lots of useful stuff there for my trip to Africa coming up. I hope someone who went to France/Italy answers your post since I will be going to France too 🙂

OK. Thank you for the links...🙂

I've been to both France and Italy several times, in fact I just came back today from Milan, Italy.

Where are you heading exactly in those countries?

Posted by BoomShakalakaBoom
I've been to both France and Italy several times, in fact I just came back today from Milan, Italy.

Where are you heading exactly in those countries?

Great, I will contact you next week...🙂...since I have been busy to prepare my finals 😢

Posted by BoomShakalakaBoom
I've been to both France and Italy several times, in fact I just came back today from Milan, Italy.

Where are you heading exactly in those countries?

Sorry.....I still don't know how to use "quote" correctly.....😢

@ Boom

I love *James Bond*......so I am "...007" 😉

Are you living in Europe— which country?

I had check the price from travel agent online.....it is about US $ 5,000 per person to travel to Italy & France for 2 weeks.

Is that expensive? Is there any good deal available if you know—

Hellooooo 😄 😄 yeah I live in The Netherlands. Whats included in those US $ 5,000? only the flights, right?

Netherlands...very nice 🙂

it is about 10~ 12 days...including hotels & most flights (not all)...I think...forgot the details that I have to check again...

I am leaving in two hours to LA in California, I will contact you (for further details) when I come back next week.

Have a great weekend 🙂

Paris.

Rome, Florence and Venice.

If you are travelling to this cities maybe I can help a bit.

Thanks! 🙂

I am going to a short trip.......leaving in a half hour.........I will contact you all when I come back next week 🙂

Hi, I just came back 🙂

About my trip this summer, I plan to go to Lourdes, France --- for the healing water. And then, go around France & Italy as much as I can based on my budget --- must be less than $ 5000 per person.

My questions:

1, Is that "safe" to travel there as a single girl with my mom?
2, What is the "must see" in the two countries?
3, I do NOT know French & Italian...so is that a "problem" to travel there—
4, How to get a good deal on hotels...should I book online myself OR better find through some agent?
5, What must I "be careful" to travel there?

Thank U 🙂

Posted by luckystar007
Hi, I just came back 🙂

About my trip this summer, I plan to go to Lourdes, France --- for the healing water. And then, go around France & Italy as much as I can based on my budget --- must be less than $ 5000 per person.

My questions:

1, Is that "safe" to travel there as a single girl with my mom?
2, What is the "must see" in the two countries?
3, I do NOT know French & Italian...so is that a "problem" to travel there—
4, How to get a good deal on hotels...should I book online myself OR better find through some agent?
5, What must I "be careful" to travel there?

Thank U 🙂

HEy again 🙂

How long do you want to travel? This is important to know, if you want an accurate estimation on whether your budget is enough.

One thing I've learned throughout my many many travels in Europe is that you can save a lot of money on flying tickets just by being smart in choosing the point you're going to fly to first (which is the same point you're going to use to travel back home) very often there is quite a difference in the prices even though the destinations are quite close from one another. So first thing to do, choose the cheapest possible starting point from the US destination/return point. Either that or see if its actually cheaper to buy separate one-way tickets instead of round trips, which is often the case.

Posted by luckystar007
Hi, I just came back 🙂

About my trip this summer, I plan to go to Lourdes, France --- for the healing water. And then, go around France & Italy as much as I can based on my budget --- must be less than $ 5000 per person.

My questions:

1, Is that "safe" to travel there as a single girl with my mom?
2, What is the "must see" in the two countries?
3, I do NOT know French & Italian...so is that a "problem" to travel there—
4, How to get a good deal on hotels...should I book online myself OR better find through some agent?
5, What must I "be careful" to travel there?

Thank U 🙂

1. Yes, it is quite safe to travel in Western Europe even if you decided you travel alone. Though as usual you do have to watch for your belonings especially at the most central and touristic places (Termini station in Rome is a good example)

2. If you tell me in a nutshell which places you really are going to visit, I could help you with this, theres too much to mention (buying Lonely Planet guides for both France and Italy is HUGELY recommended)

3. It could be a problem mostly in France where lots of people dont know a word of English, though your best bet is always the young people, they are getting better at it. In Italy it is slightly better with the young ones, though you have to understand these two countries are very proud of their own culture and heritage so you shouldnt expect much English to begin with. In Rome and the biggest capitals things are considerably better as far as English. So make sure you know at least basic phrases of both languages before you leave.

4.It really depends, some deals made by agents or online deals are pretty good! however I tend to plan the whole itinerary myself. VERY IMPORTANT AGAIN: by knowing and planning exactly which places you want to visit beforehand, you can save A LOT of money, trust me..I cant stress this enough, so take sometime to do this before the trip.

5. See answer 1

2.

Other than that, I wanted to add that once you're in Europe its pretty easy to fly pretty much anywhere on low-cost airlines, cheap cheap cheap prices. Good for your budget!

Thank you, Boom 🙂

I plan to travel there 2 weeks...up to 4 weeks...that depends how much it cost—

Other than flights, hotels are expensive there...I heard.

I really need to know how to find nice clean place (hotel) to stay without paying too much...

I will have more questions to ask later.

Posted by BoomShakalakaBoom
Other than that, I wanted to add that once you're in Europe its pretty easy to fly pretty much anywhere on low-cost airlines, cheap cheap cheap prices. Good for your budget!

You mean flight is cheaper than train in Europe—

I guess the language barrier would be a big problem for me...because I am not good at learning any language 😢

May I find a guide who can speak English? How much does it cost?

Lucky, what about getting one of those pocket electronic translating devices? I think iPhone even has an app that you can speak into the phone in one language and it translates
to another for you.

Posted by luckystar007
Thank you, Boom 🙂

I plan to travel there 2 weeks...up to 4 weeks...that depends how much it cost—

Other than flights, hotels are expensive there...I heard.

I really need to know how to find nice clean place (hotel) to stay without paying too much...

I will have more questions to ask later.

Yes, hotels can be pretty expensive, thats why I'd seriously recommend you hostels, they are quite cheap and they can be even cheaper if you share room with other people, most are very clean and have a great atmosphere (Im not sure you really wish sharing with other people if youre going with your mom hehe but anyway)

I always book my hostels through this website: hostelworld.com, its nice cause you can see the cheapest ones right away. Great website. Often they offer breakfast too with the price, which is nice.

I'd also recommend a hostel where you have the possibility to do some cooking, or at least the basic stuff so you dont have to buy meals outside the whole time, even though finding cheap and good meals in France and Italy shouldnt be much of a problem, still you can save a lot by cooking yourself as much as you can.

Posted by luckystar007

Posted by BoomShakalakaBoom
Other than that, I wanted to add that once you're in Europe its pretty easy to fly pretty much anywhere on low-cost airlines, cheap cheap cheap prices. Good for your budget!

You mean flight is cheaper than train in Europe—

I guess the language barrier would be a big problem for me...because I am not good at learning any language 😢

May I find a guide who can speak English? How much does it cost?

click to expand

In many cases for long-ish distances, low-cost flying can be cheaper than train, you can use this website to see the prices: http://www.flylowcostairlines.org/low-cost-airlines/

The language thing is not as bad as it seems, if you go well prepared with your travel guides (I recommend buying the "LOnely Planet" guides for Italy and France, they are awesome!) you shouldnt need much help from the locals to get around if you really study the guides, they have everything you need.

Plus get some good street maps from the towns you visit 🙂 they are quite handy and you will never get lost.

Posted by virgodreamz
Lucky, what about getting one of those pocket electronic translating devices? I think iPhone even has an app that you can speak into the phone in one language and it translates
to another for you.

Thank you 🙂

@Boom

OK. I am going to buy the book that you told me...and search those links as well... these are very useful!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you soooooooooo much 🙂

I may have questions still... I will contact you later 🙂

Sure, I'll try to help you as much as I can 🙂

You are very nice!🙂 I guess you are Sag...since you love traveling as much as Sag 😉

Do I must get "youth hostel card" before I book a hostel?

Is "Bed & Breakfast" better than "hostel"?

Is there "free WiFi" in "hostel"?

Haha well I think Im "almost" a Sag, Im a Virgo with a lot of Sag planets in my chart (including Jupiter in Sagittarius) so no wonder Im obsessed with travelling too 😉

1)You dont necessarily need a hostel card for your bookings, I think some hostels do charge a few extra euros for some sort of membership or extra taxes but thats it.

2) Not necessarily, because sometimes B&B can be more expensive compared to a hostel where you can also get free breakfast, but sometimes there isnt even a difference between the two.

3) In most that I have seen, yes. Though you can see the list with all the facilities of each hostel on that hostelworld website I gave you, whether they give you breakfast for free, whether there is free WIFI, kitchens you can use, etc, its all there.

Thank you, Virgo-Sag 🙂

What does it exactly mean about "Jupiter in Sagittarius"— Is it the best—

I have it...and I have total 5~6 Sags in my chart...so I am a pure Sag 😉

Yeah, since Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, having Jupiter in Sag in one's chart is a very very lucky placement, well I can say that is true for me at least 😛 it gives protection and luck in all areas.

How old are you?

Wow, glad to know that I am very LUCKY 🙂.....same as you 😉

Please check your message... 🙂

Finally......ready to go......😄

I can't sleep.......before travel.......so excited...... 😛

Just came back from Europe. I went to Germany, Italy & France. Compare...German food is my favorite 😛

Tips---for those who plans to travel to Europe for the first time...

1) You' d better learn a little bit local language if you have time...since most locals don't speak English...even there was nobody speak English in some train station where I had to make reservation.

2). Euro Rail Pass doesn't guarantee you can get a seat when you need one...make reservation as early as you can.

3). Be careful with online reservation of hotels...they can take your money if you are not able to show up on the first day......l lost a few hundred euros for that...😭

4). You'd better learn how to read a map...since some locals may point a wrong way for you...not sure if they did that on purpose—

5). Bring more than one credit card......very important!

The rest is just to relax & enjoy the best view along your trip 😄

Never been to France or Italy. I would love to do a month in France for my birthday month.
And spend the last week in Italy. ***Sigh***

I have been to Germany and the food is soooo good.
I found that many locals do speak English in Germany. Some better than others.
I was in a bar trying to take a picture when a local jumped up and said in perfect english, "Do you want me to take it for you?" I was floored. They were so friendly.

Which part of Germany did you visit?

I'm glad you had a good time Lucky.