Back from 32 days in Europe

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

We're back from our 32 days in Europe: Amsterdam, Prague, Brussels, Munich, Nice, Paris, Dingle Town, Ireland, and London. We were at the Allen House in London and Marina Baie des Anges in Nice and would be happy to answer questions about either. We used Hilton points for Paris and part of Amsterdam and Priceline for part of Amsterdam, Brussels and Munich. We rented from a private owner (on VRBO.com) for Prague and stayed in a b & b in Dingle Town.

Anyway, great trip. If we can answer any questions, we'd be glad to.

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

Welcome back! Sounds like a wonderful, wonderful trip. I would love to do that someday! What did you see? What did you love?

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

We saw too much to even begin to list, but in London, we had two great experiences that were new to us: The British Library (who knew they had a display to rival the British Museum? Everything from Korans written in gold to Di Vinci's notebooks to a piece of a Dead Sea Scroll to two copies of the Magna Carta to lyrics handwritten by the Beatles and scores penned by Mozart and Bach--absolutely fantastic!) and The Soames Museum (amazing, strange, and it even has Egyptian stuff the Br. Museum would give a lot to get).

Cities we loved: Amsterdam and Prague--and Dingle Town, Ireland, though it doesn't really qualify as a city.

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

Pstreet,
Welcome back ! Isn't Ireland just the best ! The scenery, the history, the people, the spirit ! Erin go bragh.

As an owner at Allen House, I'd like to hear your impressions if you wouldn't mind sharing them.

Thanks !

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

We're back from our 32 days in Europe: Amsterdam, Prague, Brussels, Munich, Nice, Paris, Dingle Town, Ireland, and London. We were at the Allen House in London and Marina Baie des Anges in Nice and would be happy to answer questions about either. We used Hilton points for Paris and part of Amsterdam and Priceline for part of Amsterdam, Brussels and Munich. We rented from a private owner (on VRBO.com) for Prague and stayed in a b & b in Dingle Town.

Anyway, great trip. If we can answer any questions, we'd be glad to.

Seems you had a great trip....I'd say Dingle was quite different . Glad you enjoyed ,,G

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

Seems you had a great trip....I'd say Dingle was quite different . Glad you enjoyed ,,G

Oh, I forgot to mention Garry as being one of the grand things about Eire.

Hey I.C.- Garry, 'tis true - a good start is half the job !

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

Welcome back!!

It sounds like you had a wonderful trip, and covered a lot of ground.

I will be going to Brussels, in a few weeks, if there's anything special, you think I should do, or any great restaurants, that you'd like to recommend, that would be great.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Pat, sounds like a wonderful , wonderful trip. If you would like to list the highlights on Travel Tales, I know everybody would like to hear it. shaggy

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

Pat, I will be at Allen House in a few weeks thanks to beags...and then on to Ireland.
When you collect your thoughts...tell us MORE!

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

Pat, which b&b did you stay at in Ireland, and do you recommend it? We go in June and may want a night on the road- thanks!

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

Laurie, in Dingle we stayed at Cill Bhreac House (CILL BHREAC HOUSE B&B ACCOMMODATION - DINGLE, CO. KERRY, IRELAND) and we enjoyed it. Our room looked out on the bay; however, I don't think that room is normally rented for only one night. Angela's breakfasts are wonderful. In the summer, there will be lots and lots of people in town and the roads will be even more challenging. If you are driving yourself, staying with Angelia is great; she's about a mile outside of town. If you are using public transportation, I think it would be better to be staying in town. Don't forget to get ice cream at Murphy's Ice Cream (north end of main street), and there is a woolen mill outlet on the south end of the main street, by the water, that is a bit less expensive than the same goods in the regular shops.

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

ArtsieAng, I really don't have much to contribute about Brussels. It was essentially a "fill in" for us because of some other considerations, and we weren't particularly impressed. There was nothing wrong with Brussels, but compared with Amsterdam, it seemed lacking. We enjoyed looking at all the construction around the new European Union site, and enjoyed talking to a Texan who owns the pub on one side of the square in front of the European Union and Fat Boys on the other side of the square (he barbeques in the evening). He saw the potential when the Union was getting started with construction and bought his spots when they were crack houses. Well, they aren't now, and the money is going to just keep pouring in for him. We took a day trip to Bruge and, again, weren't impressed--very touristy and didn't compare with The Windmill Village north of Amsterdam. We did the things our guide book recommended and certainly weren't unhappy there, but it didn't measure up to our other stops. I think we would have liked it better had we not seen Amsterdam. Sorry I can't contribute much. (We stayed at the Marriott Renaissance--obtained through Priceline for $100.00 a night--and it was nice.)

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

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 cafe (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 cafe, as you exit--to the left if facing the cafe 4) there's a McDonalds 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 cafe 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.

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

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 cafe (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 cafe, as you exit--to the left if facing the cafe 4) there's a McDonalds 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 cafe 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.

Thank you Pstreet. As an owner there, I know that some units are dated, but hopefully, the refurbishment will go more quickly. Still, you can't beat the location and staff.
Oh, next time you're there, (GrayFal take note - we'll talk later) this is a great place. Walk out of the AH, turn right, cross Allen St. (don't cross High Street)
At the top of Allen St. & Hight St. Kensington, turn left, turn left again on Abingdon Road. Walk down about half way, on the left side of the street is this great place, good food and well priced for London. Kensington Arms review - Bars & Pubs - Time Out London
Beags

[wombat Member Find all posts View Profile Close wombat]

Welcome back! Phew, don't think I can manage a 1-month holiday, and going to so many places in one trip!

Could you tell us a bit about your experience at the Marina Baie des Anges? It was a resort we were offered a couple of times, but turned down when we were told they charged for quite a number of things, including linen, cleaning and electricity. Was it a good base to explore the French Riviera?

Thanks!