European train travel question

Monaco? Will you visit the casino?

Quote: Wizard

The plans for this trip are a week in Amsterdam, half the time for a conference, and three nights in Brussels. I may day trip it out of either place if get bored. Considering making a day trip to Luxembourg from Brussels, since you posted the time for that earlier.

They say the Cologne Cathedral is the most often visited tourist site in Germany. Partly because it is beautiful and partly because it is so easily accessible being right next to the central train station.

Amsterdam to Cologne: 2 hr 40 min
Cologne to Brussels: 1hr 47 minutes shortest to average 2hr 24 minutes.
Brussels to Amsterdam : 2 hr 4 min


Brussels to Luxembourg: 3 hr 14 min

Quote: Wizard

Also did a side trip to Malta for a few days with some friends in the business.

You are seriously lacking in time spend on the Mediterranean sea.

We booked a giant 4 bedroom apartment with fireplace and sauna in Costa del Sol, Spain for less than $200 for the week of Christmas and New Years, as it was a last minute cancellation. Airfare was high for a sudden trip, but it was worth it. The Sea is cold, but the food and wine are still wonderful.


Southern Spain is seriously overbuilt and very nice places are available for a song in the winter. You can fly to London and cheap flights to Malaga. It's easier than flying via Madrid. Amsterdam to Malaga is 3:05-3:15 flying time on easyjet for as little as 100 Euros round trip.

Quote: Wizard

I'm technically a stockholder in the Laiki bank. I should ask to sell my shares -- they would surely get a good laugh.

Be glad its not a Swiss bank: in that country stockholders can be held criminally liable as well as civily liable for any malfeasance. Of course if it were a Swiss bank you would have received your funds.

Coffeeshop (ie pot purveyor) is now a term that is discouraged.

I would echo the sentiments about spending less time on trains and more on an intense, localized exploration. Better to couch surf Belgium than to trek to something that is on a zillion picture post cards and in a zilion free brochures.

Spain? Some entire towns are said to be 'police no go' zones.
Portugal? Madeleine McCann. Entire resort area filled with tourists. Signage and food is Portugese, everything else is tourists. Even the burglars and pick pockets have to commute from the surrounding areas because they can't afford the rents in the resort area. The local fishermen are mainly there for 'theater' purposes than being a vibrant functioning industry.

As I've said: Fleastiff never knows what he is talking about so I'll vote in the poll "I don't know enough about it".
By the way, its Vive not Viva.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks. I've also come to that conclusion after doing more research. Here is a link for Eurail.

I actually feel that a Eurail pass is a mistake. These routes are relatively short with only one over 3 hours, and they have headway of up to 18 times per day. You may find it easier to take a bus a short distance (like ~35 miles Amsterdam to Rotterdam) or even rent a car for a day. A fourteen hour daytrip from Brussels to Luxembourg will be 50/50 travel and sightseeing, so you may simply decide you don't want to be bothered.

Quote: Pacomartin

I actually feel that a Eurail pass is a mistake.

I feel that going to EU period is a mistake
in this political climate. Too much terror
activity and it's only getting worse.

Quote: Evenbob

I feel that going to EU period is a mistake
in this political climate. Too much terror
activity and it's only getting worse.

Don't listen to EB
The odds are incredibly slim regarding terror.
So slim, I wouldn't even think about it
Your real danger is tourist crime but that comes with any tourist destination. Just keep your wits about you and you will be fine.
I would consider a bike rental to really get the local flavor
Get out and live.
Have a good trip Wiz. Hopefully you'll post some pictures.

Thanks for the latest round of comments.

I've decided against getting a Eurrail pass as I don't think I'll get that much use out of it. Perhaps as little as one round trip between Amsterdam and Brussels.

I will definitely do a lot of biking. I wouldn't be surprised if this trip gives me the bug to go back and really bike all over the place. The Netherlands and Belgium sound extremely bike friendly.

The famous casino in Monaco I did go to already. It is rather disappointing inside. Just some big baccarat games going in roped-off rooms. Tourists are made to feel like an annoyance. There are three other casinos in Monte Carlo that are much more welcoming and affordable, but they are also like casinos anywhere.

Question -- My guide book says that advance reservations are required for a train that crosses a national border. Is this true? I thought the European Union was supposed to do away with such border controls. Especially between Netherlands and Belgium -- two small countries with a lot in common.

Quote: terapined

Don't listen to EB
The odds are incredibly slim regarding terror.
.

With your incredibly wrong record of
predicting things, this would make
me even more nervous.

Quote: terapined

The odds are incredibly slim regarding terror.

I would agree with this. I'd like to see figures on how many people are killed by terrorism vs. tobacco in Europe and the US.

Quote: Wizard

Question -- My guide book says that advance reservations are required for a train that crosses a national border. Is this true? I thought the European Union was supposed to do away with such border controls. Especially between Netherlands and Belgium -- two small countries with a lot in common.

I have taken train from Austria to Germany and another from Germany to Austria without any advance reservations and with virtual no acknowledgement by anyone on the train when we crossed the border.

I suspect that the information in your guidebook is old. In my experience, they often don't review guidebooks and just reprint them with new dates.



The citizens of the countries covered by the Schengen Agreement would like to be able to travel to the USA, but some countries like Poland are not a member of the State Department's VWP.

Citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, unless citizens of one of these countries are also a national of Iraq, Iran, Syria, or Sudan.

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Germany France Italy
Andorra Hungary
Portugal Spain
Austria San Marino
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Czech Republic
Lithuania Estonia
Malta Greece
Switzerland Liechtenstein Monaco

United Kingdom Ireland

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