Hi! My father is coming over to the UK to visit me, and we are going to visit Paris, London, Rome and Venice. I was wondering if anyone knew of any hostels or fairly cheap accommodation that had more private rooms, for just me and Dad, as I don’t know if he would be too thrilled with sharing with a bunch of young-in’s. Also, I will be showing him around London myself, but would it be better to go around Paris ourselves on public transport or join a tour?
On Italy – does anyone know if there are any good tours that last for one week, that visit Rome and Venice (a must see for us!) but may also go to other places(Pisa, Florence, for example)? I’ve been trying to find something, but unfortunately the times are all messed up and I am thinking of maybe just getting from place to place by train, then doing a city tour once there. Any advice?
However, before my father gets here I am going on a month’s tour of Eastern Europe [and hopefully Greenland!], but I am having trouble finding a tour that goes to the places *I* want to visit. I am very nervous about visiting Eastern Europe, because of the language barrier (hence the tour for guidance), but does anyone have any cheap tours that would spend about a month trekking around places like Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark (perhaps even Russia?)? I’ve looked at Contiki and a few others, but I am still wondering if I’m missing something.
Any help would be great.
1. Looking around Paris using the metro is much cheaper and easier than a tour. Most places have signs/information in English. Invest in a good guidebook before you go. There is a hop on/hop off bus which you can get a day pass for. This is a tourist bus, and also quite good for getting places. Paris is quite a walkable city too.
Italy – why not hire a car. The highways in Italy are really good, driving is easy, and quick. I think again, going on your own is the best option. Trains are pretty good too. Pisa is a half day visit, Venice can be done in a day, Florence and Rome can be year long visits! he he.
Also – try looking for Northern European tours, Eastern Europe is NOT where you have mentioned :D Contiki is pretty fun – but be aware they are party tours more than culture tours (if you take the camping option, anyway).
Thanks for the info! I’m passing the info on Italy and Paris onto my dad. Just have to see what he thinks!
Yea, I know that Contiki is more for younger people that like to get crazy. It’s kind of why I would rather go on another tour, if I could. But looks like none are doing the kind of tour I would like, at least for the same price. :(
If you’re looking to visit mostly Northern Europe/Scandinavian countries, you really don’t have to worry about a language barrier – EVERYONE speaks excellent English, and I’m not at all exaggerating! Teenagers are fluent, or close to it.
You’ll be fine!
Paris hotel-cum-hostel: Hotel Caulaincourt Square – caulaincourt.com
London: Since you’ll be with your father, I’d go with the more sedate (and clean ;)) option presented by the YHA (Hostelling International) hostels rather than any of the more rough and ready independents. See if you’re able to get a private room at St Pancras, for example:
yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/london/hostels/london-st-pancras/index.aspx
I’d like to second the suggestion that you’re not finding anything because Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark are NOT Eastern Europe. Scandinavia is what you need to be looking for…
What you’re looking at is Northern Europe/Scandinavia. I backpacked around there for a month and had NO issues with a language barrier. It’s really no exaggeration that almost everyone there speaks english (Except maybe Russia, but I’ve never been there so I don’t know).
Just a gquestion, but why are you so interested in tours? If you buy a proper guidebook you’ll find out jsut as much information and be able to do everything on your own time. Plus, it might be cheaper. I’ve travelled around Europe both with tours and without them, and I think going without is far preferable!
In Paris, absolutely use Public transportation. London and Paris have the easiest, nicest, most convenient forms of public transportation I’ve ever used. It’s wonderful.
I lived in Londn, so I’ve no idea wher to recommend you stay (other than you might want to make sure it’s in either zone 1 or 2, because that’s where most of the atttractions are and it’s WAAAAY cheaper to just travel within those two zones than to add on any of the other 5 or so). .
Paris–St. Christopher’s Inn. I’ve stayed there twice, it’s wonderful. And they do have private rooms.
Venice–I stayed at Ca’ Danieli, it’s a very nice (but cheap-ish) hotel just outside Venice, easily accessible by bus. I HIGHLY recommend it. the room they give you is a lot like an apartment with a kitchen, dining room, and whatnot. The owner is very very sweet, but be forwarned that she doesn’t speak English. It’s hard to not like her anyway though. :)
Also, just so you know, trains in Italy are incredibly good. They are easy to use and get around with. I don’t speak Italian and I had to travel around on them by myself a lot, and I had such an easy/good time. It was great.
Also, if you really do want to hit up Eastern Europe in your trip, I recommend that once you get to Finland, take a ferry to Estonia and spend a few days in Tallinn. It’s hands down one of the coolest cities I have ever been so. GO AWESOME.
Plus, it’s right next to Russia, so it’s easy enough to get there I assume (you do realize you’ll need a visa for Russia, right?).
The main reason for going on a tour is the convenience. I get bused everywhere and I don’t have to worry about carting my stuff across country. The main reason is my computer though – it’s easier to look after if I’m on a tour (I know that sounds stupid), but if they’re looking after everything else, then I can just focus my energy on keeping that safe.
Thanks for your help on the hotels though! I’ll keep them in mind when I start planning!
not sure exactly what your budget is, but when I was in London with my mum we stayed at the Luna Simone hotel (lunasimonehotel.com/). It’s not too pricey and has a nice atmosphere. It’s in Victoria and quite a good location (5-10 min walk to the tube) with restaurants and pubs around as well.
Explore do really good tours in loads of places. What’s great about them is you can travel on your own, with a friend/dad/partner/whatever and still get to be part of a mixed age/gender group. The tour leaders (they are SO much more than just “guides”) from this company are, in my experience, awesome..