Anyone got any travel planned?

[MichaelB]

Nice photo, Audrey. Good timing, too, looks like you have a decent exchange rate.

 

[Lsbcal]

...

We'll keep an eye out at Tour Eiffel!!! I don't like to hear that the pick pocketing can be violent.
...

Saw an article just this morning in our paper that there was a strike at the Eiffel Tower on Friday (reopened now). Something about staff concerns about pickpockets and 3 staff had received direct threats. They didn't want it to become physical so this was a way of drawing attention to the problem.

 

[BellBarbara]

We decided to take all the kids on a cruise next June when the last one graduates from college. They are so excited! We will just do a Carnival out of Baltimore - will drive there from Boston to avoid all the hassle of flying to the port.

 

[BellBarbara]

My husband also wants to go on a kayak trip to the Adirondacks. We did this a few years ago and had a lot of fun. We will go for a week and the the tandem kayak and stay in those lakeside motels at the smaller lakes. We previously went the week of July 4th and had no trouble getting rooms. We drive from the Boston area.

 

[jimnjana]

Alaska cruise this coming weekend, Holland America for the first time.

 

[aja8888]

Saw an article just this morning in our paper that there was a strike at the Eiffel Tower on Friday (reopened now). Something about staff concerns about pickpockets and 3 staff had received direct threats. They didn't want it to become physical so this was a way of drawing attention to the problem.

My BIL and his wife had been frequent visitors of Paris renting a furnished apartment for three months every other year for the last 10 years, up until last year. They used it as a home base to travel all over Europe. They have declined not to go back due to the crime and harassment they have encountered (apartment robbed and ransacked, the pick pocket stuff, etc, etc). We visited France years ago when crime and harassment were not as bad, so that's off the bucket list.

I had been to France and other European countries in my working career (1970's to about the late 1990's) many times and always enjoyed the trips and the experiences.

I guess this world is getting to be less safe to travel than it was decades ago. I would guess if DW and I decide to travel abroad anymore, the first thing I would check would be the personal safety and crime statistics of the places we are looking to visit.

 

[Mulligan]

Saw an article just this morning in our paper that there was a strike at the Eiffel Tower on Friday (reopened now). Something about staff concerns about pickpockets and 3 staff had received direct threats. They didn't want it to become physical so this was a way of drawing attention to the problem.

Glad to here its back open as I have dinner reservations there Tuesday night. Oh....wait mine are at the Vegas Eiffel Tower so I am good. But you still have to be on lookout for pick pockets there too!


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[aja8888]

Glad to here its back open as I have dinner reservations there Tuesday night. Oh....wait mine are at the Vegas Eiffel Tower so I am good. But you still have to be on lookout for pick pockets there too!


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When traveling, I usually carry a "drop down" wallet laced with monopoly money and fake credit cards for the thieves and keep my credit cards and cash in my shoe.

 

[Nemo2]

.....keep my credit cards and cash in my shoe.

So...'pickshoers' are now on the lookout for people who are limping?

 

[Mulligan]

When traveling, I usually carry a "drop down" wallet laced with monopoly money and fake credit cards for the thieves and keep my credit cards and cash in my shoe.

That is a great idea Aja and very thorough. Trouble for me is I am Mr. Flip Flops in Vegas. But every pair of shorts I take are cargo shorts with double button pockets on the thighs. They are not getting my cash stash!


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[Sarah in SC]

We use money belts inside our clothes and I wear a travel vest with deep inside pockets for passport and other vital stuff. DH keeps his wallet with not much cash in it in a deep cargo pocket.
Having said that, we've been in some theoretically dangerous places and the only robbery attempts we've ever seen are from the local police and customs agents.

 

[Lsbcal]

I hope people readng my last post don't decide to stay home. As others here have mentioned, there are good ways to protect yourself from most theives. We've never lost anything yet to pickpockets or scammers.

We'll be in Italy this year and have read there are plenty of pickpockets there in some of the bigger cities. Have redesigned our money belt methods for convenience. I'll be wearing buttoned shirts so that it's easy to access a neck pouch when I need money or documents. Also have a Pacsaf messanger bag with my art stuff plus some cash in a wallet and one credit card. We also travel pretty light so only one roller suitcase to watch over. DW will be using a waist type money belt and rotating it to the small of her back when not needed -- she says that feels comfortable for her. She bought a Travelon purse with special safety features built in.

 

[kcowan]

I hope people readng my last post don't decide to stay home. As others here have mentioned, there are good ways to protect yourself from most theives. We've never lost anything yet to pickpockets or scammers..

When we got to Hotel Modigliani, a couple related that they lost 600 euros in the Paris train station, their first stop in Europe.

We have never lost anything but we go native and keep anything valuable away from creeping hands. We never carry much cash, preferring to use our Chase CC and ATMs.

 

[kcowan]

Wow, you're going from the north to the very south, Sicily.

Are you traveling within Italy by train or plane?

Will you have a car in Sicily?

On the east coast of Sicily, I don't believe there are as many antique ruins. You have have to get out to Agrigento to see the temples.

I didn't visit Etna while in Taormina.

I liked the Baroque duomos in Siracusa, Noto and Ragusa. They are all beautifully restored, the ones in Siracusa and Noto looked immaculate when I saw them in 2010.

A car would make getting down to Siracusa, Noto and Ragusa easier, though my understanding is that there are good bus services, but not so much the train, as in the rest of Italy.

But they would be long drives from Taormina.

Another thing I didn't get to do is to see the Aeolians. There might be tour operators which run packages of coach to get you out to the NE coast and then ferries or hydrofoils from Taormina. I know they offer them from Palermo, which is much further away than Taormina.

Yes we use the train around most of Italy (and the Milan-Rome train is excellent).

From Positano south we are really open at this point. We know there is a train/bus combination to get to the island. Then a short bus trip down to Taormina. We have 5 days there and then are open.

We have to get to Rome to return after a month. So all the names you supplied could be potential destinations. There are 4 of us so car rental is a possibility. Or renting a driver.

 

[folivier]

We spent 6 weeks from Paris to Rome, Milano, Interlaken (Switzerland), a week along the Midi Canal, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco and never once lost any money despite taking public trains, buses, ferries, walking etc. But we didn't dress like tourists. Until we opened our mouths we blended in.

 

[Nemo2]

But we didn't dress like tourists. Until we opened our mouths we blended in.

Since a large percentage of people almost everywhere now wear ball caps, T-shirts, and jeans, that might not be so difficult.

 

[explanade]

Or you think you didn't look like tourists but the locals know.

 

[brett]

Planning to go to Greece in late August and spend Sept in the islands.

Somewhat concerned about the financial issue and how it may impact businesses (ferry and air out) and ATM withdrawals etc.

We may wait until mid June to book air...by then two payments will have been made to the IMF or they will be in default. Not too concerned about demonstrations...we have been there during past periods of trouble. Very little to zero of it spills over to the islands.

 

[Lsbcal]

We had signed up for a Rick Steves tour of Greece for September. But in January we switched it to Italy. Reason was that it might play out OK for tourists but we didn't want to go through what promised to be a back and forth news event. It's suppose to be a fun vacation, not a foreign affairs ping-pong match.

Anyway, hopefully tourists will not be affected. Might even clear out the weak willed ones (like us). Southern Italy will be enough of an adventure for our tastes.

 

[rodi]

We are headed to Italy again, this time focusing on the south, in September. Arrive in Milan then make our way to Rome to meet with friends. Then Positano (5 days),Capri (2 days), Pompeii, Taormino (5 days) returning home from Rome one month later.

Looking for recommendations for Sicily. Hoping the avoid the refugees in Catania!

Yes we use the train around most of Italy (and the Milan-Rome train is excellent).

From Positano south we are really open at this point. We know there is a train/bus combination to get to the island. Then a short bus trip down to Taormina. We have 5 days there and then are open.

We have to get to Rome to return after a month. So all the names you supplied could be potential destinations. There are 4 of us so car rental is a possibility. Or renting a driver.

Taormina is a beautiful city... but not car friendly. We stayed at the south end of the main pedestrian street - and enjoyed the nightly paseggiata. The closest train station to Taormina is at Giardini Naxos - just down the hill. It's a short taxi ride up the hill. There are buses also. We took a public bus up the hill to Castelmola, then took the foot paths back down to Taormina. There's also a fununcular down the hill to the beaches below.

As far as the ruins - the Greek Theater is right in town and truly stunning. If you want more of the same, take the train down to Siracusa - they have another theater - and quite a few ruins right there in the Ortigia part of the city.

For options from Pompeii to Taormina we've taken the train (the train is loaded onto a ferry to cross the straits of Messina) and we've taken the ferry to Catania. From the Ferry station it's almost walkable (depending on your luggage) to the Catania train station - then you can take a train up to Giardini Naxos.

We'll be in Sicily next month to start off our trip. We're flying into Catania, taking the Alibus from the airport to the train station, then taking the train north (we're staying north of Acireale, south of Taormina in my husband's ancestral village of Riposto.) We'll take the train north to Milan at the end of that stay.

We plan to do a day in Taormina while we're there this time. Our first trip to Sicily we stayed in Taormina.

Not sure if you're a hotel type, or a rental apartment type... We stayed at Residence Schuler (the brother of the guy who runs the high end Schuler Hotel). Highly recommend this accommodation.
Vacation rental - Taormina - Apartments - Residence Schuler - Holiday Accommodation - Villa - Terrace on the sea

 

[Original Wally]

Another trip!

First, THANK GOD we are retired. If I still had to go to w*rk everyday, I think I would seriously consider suicide. Shudder.

ANYWAY, the NEXT trip is in the fall, an NCL cruise out of Venice to Greece. We will take our two German grandchildren with us. Should be a blast!

While visiting daughter in Germany, I ABSOLTELY am renting a car and driving up to Bastogne, Belgium. @ 61 I have wanted to go for YEARS.

Couple of years ago we took an American grandson and stopped in Amsterdam (stayed away from THAT part of the city... lol), and did visit the US cemetery in Luxembourg.

Still to come.... Normandy.

 

[ElizabethT]

Safety in Europe

Having just returned from Paris, staying two blocks from the Eiffel Tower during our 10 day visit, we followed the recent shutdown story with some interest. The threats mentioned in the articles appear to have been directed at Eiffel Tower employees attempting to thwart the pickpocketers, not at tourists.

Because of where we stayed, we passed by or through the Eiffel Tower about a dozen times during our stay, I can only say that while it had a different energy than the rest of Paris seemed to (more frenetic, more touristy, more of the 'survey' people attempting to distract people as part of a pickpocketing scam), we never, ever once felt unsafe.

Just as one would experience anywhere that they are not a local (and this applies to visitors in our own country), some common sense needs to be applied. Otherwise? Most crime stats I see point to Europe still being considerably safer than the USA.

 

[Bamaman]

I was once victim of pickpockets in Paris. One perp tripped at the bottom of a crowded escalator in the subway, and a bunch of us started falling in a pile. Their associates swooped in to pick us up--and sticking hands in pockets at the same time. They were very good at what they did--only going after cash.

Now, I never travel with billfolds, and all money and credit cards are hidden. My wife follows me closely in busy places. And at 6'3" and 235 lbs., I'm a complete jerk to anyone that gets in "my space." You have to be proactive in your safety when visiting places pickpockets are known to frequent.

What really gets me is that security cameras are all over the place, and the gendarme know who the pickpockets are. I guess they're accepted members of society over there. Nobody ever seems to do anything about the problem.

 

[kcowan]

Taormina is a beautiful city... but not car friendly. We stayed at the south end of the main pedestrian street - and enjoyed the nightly paseggiata. The closest train station to Taormina is at Giardini Naxos - just down the hill. It's a short taxi ride up the hill. There are buses also. We took a public bus up the hill to Castelmola, then took the foot paths back down to Taormina. There's also a fununcular down the hill to the beaches below.

As far as the ruins - the Greek Theater is right in town and truly stunning. If you want more of the same, take the train down to Siracusa - they have another theater - and quite a few ruins right there in the Ortigia part of the city.

For options from Pompeii to Taormina we've taken the train (the train is loaded onto a ferry to cross the straits of Messina) and we've taken the ferry to Catania. From the Ferry station it's almost walkable (depending on your luggage) to the Catania train station - then you can take a train up to Giardini Naxos.

We'll be in Sicily next month to start off our trip. We're flying into Catania, taking the Alibus from the airport to the train station, then taking the train north (we're staying north of Acireale, south of Taormina in my husband's ancestral village of Riposto.) We'll take the train north to Milan at the end of that stay.

We plan to do a day in Taormina while we're there this time. Our first trip to Sicily we stayed in Taormina.

Not sure if you're a hotel type, or a rental apartment type... We stayed at Residence Schuler (the brother of the guy who runs the high end Schuler Hotel). Highly recommend this accommodation.
Vacation rental - Taormina - Apartments - Residence Schuler - Holiday Accommodation - Villa - Terrace on the sea

Thanks Rodi. That fills in some key gaps in our knowledge. It confirms my resolve to use the train whenever possible. We will probably take the train from Pompeii to Taormina. (I had already confirmed that the train station is handy to Pompeii on cruisecritic.com)

We have already booked the Schuler Hotel (too bad as there are four of us.) We are also going to a restaurant that the brother of a PV chef runs a couple of blocks from the hotel (La Giara?) where he goes every summer to help out.

Anyway, any other tips that anyone thinks of would be welcome.

 

[JoeWras]

Planning to go to Greece in late August and spend Sept in the islands.

Somewhat concerned about the financial issue and how it may impact businesses (ferry and air out) and ATM withdrawals etc.

We may wait until mid June to book air...by then two payments will have been made to the IMF or they will be in default. Not too concerned about demonstrations...we have been there during past periods of trouble. Very little to zero of it spills over to the islands.

You'll love it. Just got back. People were so friendly. No trouble with crime, even in Athens. And even though I tried to not look like a tourist, "they knew" as someone above said. Nobody taking scam-surveys either, like I've read about Paris. No fake cops. All in all, a very enjoyable trip. And despite the recent economic news, the tourist sites were plenty crowded with people from all over the world.

As for demonstrations, we saw one live in Athens that was on BBC news. BBC made it up to be some big deal. The only thing we saw as a little peaceful gathering and short walk. The kids were annoyed by it since it interrupted their skateboarding time and were relieved when the crowd disbursed and they could get back to fun.

As for cash stash, I used something strapped to my leg. Problem there is in the summer when you want to wear shorts. I'm sad to say with the economic turmoil there, you may have to bring more cash than normal. For instance, if the govt. creates an "ATM holiday" or something. It could happen. But no merchant there is going to turn down Euros for any time in the forseeable future -- but you'll have to have the Euros.

EDIT: I should add upon rereading, I made it sound like Greece is crime free. Of course it isn't. You have to be aware anywhere in the world. At the acropolis, word spread of a lady who's purse was stolen, just yanked off her shoulder. It happens. Aside from that grab-and-run, we heard of no other bad instances, and we spoke with many of fellow tourists in our time there. Experiences were overwhelmingly positive.