I have 18 days in Europe. I want to go to London, Paris, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Barcelona, Rome, Florence, and Venice. I plan to go London --> Paris --> Barcelona --> Rome --> Florence --> Venice --> Budpest --> Prague --> Berlin --> London (Fly home). How should I plan this trip?
Start by reducing the number of places to see. If you try to see everything, you see nothing.I don't quite know your criteria for selection, but based on fairly typical tastes I'd say you could do the following.1) London - For a taste of the UK and it's general amazingness and you probably land here.2) Paris - For a beautiful French city.Leave out Barcelona, it's a LONG way to go, and it's amazing, but worth a trip by itself to another time.3) Rome - Amazing city with incredible heritage and beyond amazing history.Leave out Florence, it's amazing, but Rome will give you the flavor you needed.4) Venice- But don't spend long, it's incredible but it's easy to get the idea in one day, there is no depth to it.5) Prague - Incredible city, but takes less time than the others. Miss Budapest- Great city, but you have no time and Prague satisfies the continental on river city.Maybe miss out Berlin, it's incredible but it takes longer to get to grips with, it's not the instant thrill of Venice or Rome.
How do I convince my family to let me go abroad for my Undergraduate studies?
*sigh* Parents, amirite? When I wanted to take a school trip abroad to Paris and London in high school, my parents were reluctant to let me go. I was dying to get out of the "ghetto" and see the world. I dreamed of going new places and seeing new people. I felt so limited and stifled by my environment. So I wrote a numbered list of 72 reasons for why I thought it would be a good idea for me to travel abroad (this was before buzzfeed popularized the infamous "listicle"). It must have worked because my parents agreed to find my trip. Similarly I was able to study abroad in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands my junior year in college. It was one of the best experiences of my life. My study abroad experience equipped me with skills and confidence I don't think I would have gained had I stayed in California.Your parents may feel insecure in their relationship with you. You are no longer their little baby and they are realizing that. It is a scary transition for them I'm sure. I would suggest signing up for a study abroad trip that interests you. Choose a program that will benefit you academically or professionally. You don't have to commit before you are accepted into the program. Just go through the process of making a decision for yourself. Get a job to fund your trip. Sign up for scholarships. Meanwhile, talk to your parents about the way that they are feeling. Remind them that they raised you to be a competent, independent, young person. Tell them about the advantages of studying abroad. But ultimately remember that you can't "logic" someone out of their feelings. They're going to feel however they are going feel. Ultimately you have to do what's best for you because you will be the one who has to live your life. Be tactful, be respectful, but be honest as well. Good luck!
Italy or Portugal Vacation?
I'm portuguese and I've never been in Italy so I CAN'T tell which is better for you. LISBON - It's perfect for you since it has many things to do in family and many options for who don't appreciate art or museums (even if the city is a piece of art itself). http://devourtheworld.com/2009/11/top-5-... http://www.lisbon-tourist-guide.com/why-... http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/lisbon/ni... PORTO - One of the most charming and charismatic cities you’ll encounter in Europe. It has a stunning location, with colourful houses descending a hilltop overlooking the grand Douro River where picturesque boats float by a series of imposing bridges, and some spectacular decorations inside several outstanding monuments. It also maintains charming turn-of-the-century shops, and grabs your attention with some gigantic tiled panels, not to mention one of the world’s most famous wines. http://www.gooporto.com/ ALGARVE - you may know everything about it....but not the secret: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbG4M--OlsU Enjoy your vacation wherever you go :)
How dangerous will it be to travel to London and Paris over the next month?
Continue with the trip. It's probably safer now than at any other time, to be honest (not that it's dangerous in general) because the security services are on high alert. My husband and I took a trip to New York a couple of months after 9/11 and the airport was full[*] of journalists interviewing travellers to the US about whether they felt safe travelling. It was fine. [*] OK, there were two. But that's two more journalists than have ever interviewed me in an airport before.
Summer vacation: Munich/Salzburg vs. London?
Well I am American, lived in Germany for over 9 years, and been to London a couple times. Even with all my friends from England, they dislike London. Just because everything there is so expensive, but hey if you got money go ahead. But for the same price you could see so much more in Bavaria! Plus a lot of shopping. I would avoid Switzerland, it is also a bit expensive. Lived 1+ plus in Austria, great place to be. Summer in these countries are beautiful. There are CASTLES in every European country. Plenty of them, and very nice palace in Vienna (Wien), Austria. Dachau always gave people the ibby geebies. But for the money, sites, culture, would be Germany, because there is not much of a cultural difference from England and the United States. Besides as my english friends put it, our poor english, and pronunciation. Both places have great food, I am now living in Romania, and I love the variety of cultures far from my american back ground. So if its variety you search for, don't go to England. I would say 80% of the Germans speak a understandable english. Although it would impress them if you were showing an effort to speak some german while you are there. Such as "Guten Tag" good day, "Danke" thanks, try to remember as many numbers as possible, so if you are trying to order an amount of train tickets or whatever. Just to show them you are trying. They will be more pleased to help you. My experiences in France were very different and they were very rude about it. You will not find Ranch dressing at a restaurant, diet coke is called cola light. If you smoke, there is no such thing as a "light" cigarette there, so say the color of the pack. If you need help feel free to ask more if you choose package 1.
How can I convince my teacher to let me go to a trip outside the country?
I am in 8the grade in an international school and this year the pe teacher and the principle are going to decide 2 students to go to London for soccer. This trip is free and i really love soccer. But i have been in in-school suspensions and and regular suspensions. I have been swearing too much and the principle has given me a lot of chances and i feel like she wont pick me. If i want to go i need to write a 300 words explanation why i should be chosen to go. Please help me and thank you.
Europe Trip: Narrowed down to London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Prague, Berlin over 18 days. Smart sequence for trip and where should I spend Christmas & New Years Eve?
Some general observations: Your itin looks quite packed and suggest you stay flexible and adapt: Identify types of things you want to take in and type of experiences you will skip, if needed. European buses, trains and airports work fine thru winter snow and still, the weather can play a major role in the travel experience and introduce unforeseen challenges/opportunities. Because of history, culture and seasonal events, Europeans tend to be more private and internally focused over this season, unlike Spring or Summer. People tend to get more crowded indoors at smaller shops and cafes. Make sure that you take preventive measures to take care of your health by hydrating, hand-washing, avoiding second hand smoke and taking plenty of rest (even if you have to pass on some of the cities picked). For Christmas and New Years, many nice places tend to be quite expensive and are booked well in advance. If you decide to stay for cheap, a hostel may be an option. In Florence (and many parts of Italy), you may be able to rent at a local monastery/nunnery, which are generally nice and clean - even if they may not have great insulation to keep you warm. You may need to book in advance. Depending on your situation, take steps to address your finances so that you can tap into extra funds if there is some unexpected event - airline strike to sickness. Communication (cell phone) costs can also get out of hand if you are still connected to a US carrier and have not made any special arrangements. If you have friends and relatives -even if not close - in these places, take their contact info with you and don't hesitate to reach them for any assistance Despite internet and other new tools, local knowledge still rules. Good luck and happy trails;