Ranger Archive

I need some advice obviously and who else to seek out but my Ranger brethren.

I plan on getting married in about a year to my already current ingame wife Leandri Granted she doesnt play anymore but still. We didnt meet in the game btw.

We're about a year away from the event and while we plan on having a frugal small wedding we do plan on having a nice long 3 week honeymoon in Europe. I would like to get my gameplan laid out well in advance and have been fighting over some different thoughts on what to do for 3 weeks in Europe. We have several guildmates over there. Two sisters in England and one young man in Holland we plan on visiting.

Idea 1: We arrive in Amsterdam and spend a few days in Sneek where our friend lives. They have accomodations we can use for a few days since our actual idea for visiting came from the young man and his mother when they visited us last year. Very nice people btw. Then we activate a 15 day Eurail pass to begin a brief tour of Ireland, England, Paris, Venice and maybe some Berlin thrown in. And Scotland if time/money permits.

I like this idea but train hopping for 3 weeks to me doesnt seem like the greatest honeymoon. Also, makes me worry about accomodations. Here in the US I'm used to just jumping in the car and riding around til you figure you can find a cheap hotel and bed down for the night. I wonder about how easy it would be to find decently priced rooms. Which I would wonder if I would get reservations first... but I have no clue where we would end up... lol.

Since I dont drive and Leandri doesnt want to attempt to drive azzbackwards from what she's used to... lol. We figure on public transit for the time were there. So, were kinda stuck on where taxi's, buses and trains will take us.

Idea 2: We fly into Amsterdam and mooch off our friend there who has a seperate apartment for visitors since they seem to be an international traveling family. Only met them once(besides playing ingame) and was really amazed and appreciative at the offer of the place over there. If money was the issue we could just fly over there stay with them for 3 weeks. But, if I'm spending 12+ hours on a plane I would really like to see more than Amsterdam when I go. We could make homebase in Sneek and then just take a train here and there for a day then back or elsewhere. Dont really care for this idea.

Idea 3: Once we arrive in Amsterdam we spend a few days there and then make our way to somewhere in Ireland for a week of honeymooning in a nice cottage there. Then maybe do the same in Paris or Venice. I like this idea best since we will be set in once place for a bit and can enjoy the honeymoon and not worry about traveling so much.

I really like checking out different cultures and just talking to the people. Love trying new foods and customs. Being of distant irish descent(10th or 11th generation) I kinda wanna check out where we came from. Seems lame but hey.. lol Why not?

A few things I would like to be able to do when I go is to see a Shakespeareian play in the Globe Threatre, Spend some time in the Louvre and checking out Paris in general Half tempted to hunt out the City of the dead in Paris just for the morbid side of me. Venice would be a bonus but really isnt necessary for this trip.

So, I'm just wondering what others may have done or what people who live around there might recommend. Being as its a foreign area to me I really dont know where to begin. Should I stay in Dublin? In Shannon? See, I just am lost... lol.

Any advice or useful websites people know about I would really appreciate. The best place I have found is www.seat61.com which really details European train travel. I plan on using this as a travel reference for the time being.

Thanks,

I thought they only drove on the wrong side of the street in England. Europe is actually nearly normal for driving. This could really make your trip a LOT easier if you did like real Americans and got a car. But make sure you get some economical because petrol (as they call it in England) is significantly more expensive.

If you really wanted to plan it out, you'd have reservations at hotels in all the cities you were planning on staying in.

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SeanBlader wrote:
I thought they only drove on the wrong side of the street in England. Europe is actually nearly normal for driving......

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Hmm... I wasnt aware of that. Hmmm... Might be something to consider.

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KaiRaene wrote:

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SeanBlader wrote:
I thought they only drove on the wrong side of the street in England. Europe is actually nearly normal for driving......

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Hmm... I wasnt aware of that. Hmmm... Might be something to consider.

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Yup, it causes all sorts of confusion when folk cross the borders into Scotland or Wales...

If you're looking to travel while you're in Europe, have a look online for details of a European Rail Card. Forget the exact details atm, but you can get one that'll let you travel on any 3, 6, 9, so on, days in a given 30 day period (Doesn't have to be consecutive days, so if you find your way from the 'dam down to Figeac, and like what you see, you could spend a few days there without worryng about travel fares etc.

Oh, and you've got flexibility in that, you decide to go see Germany or Switzerland, just use your travel voucher and pay the extra for a sleeper, wake up when you arrive )

There are also a lot of good domestic flights available in Europe atm, but you've got all the joy of sitting in an airport for hours waiting for departure, being seperated from your baggage, etc etc. Travelling by train is way better.

(I'm going to Paris by Eurotunnel later this year, staying there for a day or so, then an overnight train to Spain to visit relatives with a possible stop over in, of all places Figeac. Costing less than flying and I get to actually see some countryide)

Bring Travel Cheques, they've got insurance on them in case you misplace them, and you can keep track of what you're spending. Most of Europe uses the Euro for currency now, apart from the UK and one or two other weird bits. So pick up a bunch of Euro's once you arrive.

Have a google for "Rough Guides" to the countries your interested in visiting as well. Good info, from folk who have been there, not just from some travel agent.

I would go with the train. Also don't try to make it all totally planned out or you might make it like the "European Vacation".

"Look kids, Big Ben, Parliment!"

If your friends actually will put you up for a bit, I would take that as well. It might make you better friends with them. Plus they might have the scoop on some cool stuff going on, and be able to help get you setup with other travel details if you wanted to split to another place for a few days.

Message Edited by Enoshima on 06-19-2005 10:54 AM

as far as money goes, you might want to try some American Express travelers credit cards. Same principle as a travelers' check and they'll restore the balance on your card within 24 hours. Plus, they're good at a lot of places overseas.

and always travel by train when you're in Europe. Gorgeous countryside, less waiting, and bigger seating areas. Plus you know where your luggage is at all times. plus, the trains are very posh (well, compared to the Amtrak, although most biohazard areas are posh compared to Amtrak hehe). You can get a real mean and some beverages (of the intoxicating nature). Always a good way to go to sleep if you prone to waking up when the train is shaking.

other than that, I don't have too much advice. good luck and congradulations.

Thanks, I guess I just need to find a general itenerary and stick with it.

I only read the first paragraph and I know the answer. If you want to start your marriage off right, DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS! You will thank me (preferably with cash).

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Calculus_Entropy wrote:
I only read the first paragraph and I know the answer. If you want to start your marriage off right, DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS! You will thank me (preferably with cash).

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Yup. Learn this line off by heart.. "Okay, I was wrong..." Now, practise it and practise it till you can sound sincere under any circumstances.

Oh, and "Now, why didn't I think of that?" "That looks FANTASTIC on you dear..." "Sure, lets go to your folks this weekend..."

And put some money into buying a garden shed now. You'll thank us later. "I'm just fixing the carboreter on the mower dear, I'll get that lawn cut in just a few minutes..."

Best not say more, I can hear Paks fizzing

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Almagill wrote:

Best not say more, I can hear Paks fizzing

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Lol..Paks knows (at least she should) that this is how it works .

If I remember correctly,her husbandspent last weekend (well, 24 hours of it) driving herand her mom all over the Eastern US. I am SURE it wasn't his idea and I am SURE he never made a peep about not wanting to do it, since he is still alive .

Best advice I ever go on that whole marriage thing was from Little old guy who had been married for like 60 years. When the woman gets upset, just SHUT UP.

I credit this philosphy for 14 years of marital bliss. Whenever I deviate from this philosophy...bad things occur.