Back from 32 days in Europe

[JoAnn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoAnn]

What a wonderful trip! Sounds as though you saw a lot in that time and enjoyed it.

We are heading to Amsterdam in July and have two days there before we board a small boat for a 2 week River trip to Vienna. Any place/thing special to see and do? I know about the museums and the Anne Frank House and have read about some canal cruises. We will be staying at the Marriott, thanks to our DD's many Marriott points and are looking forward to that. And what about restaurants..nothing too expensive, but DH likes good, little out of the way places that feature local food. TIA

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

Wombat, it was a good base, but I wouldn't accept an exchange there again. The unit we had was pure 50's junk furniture; they provided nothing but a bar of soap in the bathroom--no dishwashing liquid, no sponge, no dishcloth, nothing. You have to collect your linens (a sizeable package) from the office and take them to the unit and make your bed. I didn't object to making my bed, but I did object to hauling the large pile of linens while dragging suitcases in the rain. It did seem to me that they could have put them in the unit...but what do I know. The linens aren't furnished; they must be rented, and yes, the electricity has to be paid for. The bill was around 100 euros. Had we used the swimming pool, the bill would have been higher.

On the plus side, the series of buildings itself has been declared a World Heritage Site (concrete mountains essentially), and I suppose I'm glad to have been there. The waterfront was charming. It was easy to walk to the train station and the bus stop. The public bus was 1.6 euros to Nice and another 1.6 to Monaco, which was quite a bargain and the scenery was spectacular (the fare to Canes would have been 1.6 euros also). The grocery store in the complex was reasonably priced. Our unit did have a (small) view of the water. If I were doing it again, I'd skip the exchange.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I will be going to Munich , Austria and Greece. Is Amsterdam close by any of these areas? I would like to drive there but I don't know where it even is.

Do you have any Pictures to post?

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

JoAnn, we, too stayed at the Marriott, and it's very nice. We were at the Hilton two nights (Hilton points) and the Marriott two nights (Priceline). It's a great location for walking and for catching the street car. We thoroughly enjoyed Amsterdam. A highlight for us was the windmill village (name isn't coming to me right now) just north of Amsterdam--a short train ride and then about a 15 min. walk. There are old working windmills there, and you really do feel like you've stepped back in time. They don't all work the same way, but we only toured one of them: the black cat, which manufactures paint as it was done hundreds of years ago.

The Van Gogh museum was very, very special, too.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

Frank, Amsterdam is north of France.

We've got tons and tons of pictures--what sort would you like?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

We've got tons and tons of pictures--what sort would you like?

Any thing close to Germany

[JoAnn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoAnn]

Frank, when will you be in Amsterdam and Munich? We will be in Amsterdam from July 14 (early) to mid afternoon of the 16th. Then in Munich July 31 (afternoon/evening) & leave for the US Aug. 1.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Frank, when will you be in Amsterdam and Munich? We will be in Amsterdam from July 14 (early) to mid afternoon of the 16th. Then in Munich July 31 (afternoon/evening) & leave for the US Aug. 1.

I will be landing in Munich on July 28 but going into Austria for the first week. Then on to Germany(Oberstafin (SP) for the week. The only way I would have gone to Amsterdam is if it was with in driving distance. If I could take a direct train I might do that for a day trip.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

Frank, it's longer than a day trip on the train, but airfares on the low cost carriers are less than the train fare. I think even at that, though, you wouldn't be able to see enough to make it worth while in just a day.

We didn't take pictures in Munich, so I don't have any you'd be interested in; we took tons in Prague though--not going on over to Prague?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

not going on over to Prague?

Not planing on it.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Wombat, it was a good base, but I wouldn't accept an exchange there again. they provided nothing but a bar of soap in the bathroom--no dishwashing liquid, no sponge, no dishcloth, nothing.

There is a sort of standing joke throughout Europe that the French only wash once a month. The lack of wash kit would seem to support that supposition.
Seriously thought, the lack of anything to wash crockery with is poor. Facecloths on the other hand are considered to be personal items and more often than not in Europe they are not provided.

[wombat Member Find all posts View Profile Close wombat]

Thanks for the feedback on the Marina resort. Pretty glad we didn't take up that option!

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Facecloths on the other hand are considered to be personal items and more often than not in Europe they are not provided.

Even at resorts, U.S. or other, where facecloths are provided, I never, ever use them. I always pack a few of my own. Just can't use one that's been used on someone else's nether regions. Aaacckkkk !!! I can't imagine how some folks can, but they do.
I've been a nurse waaay too long.
I also bring an extra towel for showering and my own squishy pillow. Can't abide sleeping on a pillow where some unknown person drooled.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Allen House Impressions: Wonderful location and very, very friendly/helpful office staff. The newsletter said they have begun re-furbishing, and our unit (21) would indicate it's time. The newsletter said it's been seven years, I think, since the last re-furbishment, and I'm really surprised that the carpet has taken as much abuse as it has in that time. Our unit didn't have a washing machine, which turned out to be a wonderful deal. I asked Julie if there were a laundromat close by and she said, "Oh, I'll do your laundry for you if you'll sort it into colors/whites, etc. Some of the units don't have washing machines because of the configuration, so we do the laundry." When we got back from the days sightseeing, our laundry was waiting in our room--that seemed to us like pretty exceptional service.

Handy things close by: 1) Highpoint/Kensington underground stop is about 2 1/2 blocks away 2) internet café (2 pounds for 2 hours) is essentially around the corner and across the street. (Some of the machines are quite old and freeze up at the drop of a click, but the two right by the desk, where you would have your back to the attendant are newer and work just fine all the time.) 3) there's a bus stop less than half a block to the right of the door of the internet café, as you exit--to the left if facing the café 4) there's a McDonald's across the street from the subway stop; it has internet, but the keys on all the machines are sticky and there is no mouse; it's touch screen--I got my money back and continued using the internet café right by the Allen House 5) There's a Marks & Spencer at the underground stop

I'm sure I've forgotten things I should have mentioned, but it was a good stay.

Great info....did u buy a 'tube pass' for the week?
Do you remember the name of the internet café.
Didn't know there WERE units with washing machines....good to know as we are traveling for 3 weeks.
Did you take the train from Heathrow into London?
Which one?

TIA

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Pat,
Yes, buy the Oyster Card.
The tubeplanner.com has the name of the subway line (color coded) that you need. Two lines run to Allen House, the yellow and green. I will resend the blow-by-blow of how to get to AH for you.
There is one station that does not have a lift/elevator. So you will have to pull your bags upstairs. I have always had a Londoner just step in to volunteer.
I will email you.
B