European tours

[krishakulit]

nako sis nakaka enganyo naman un french riviera comment mo..hirap decide kung ano it pipiliin..ako din excited..but nako sana naman matuloy...
if ever ba na mg cosmos tour ako,gano ba ka bilis nila ma arrange un tour for me?dapat ba months from departure?aabot pa ba ako kung gusto ko umalis ng first week ng april? sa march25 pa kc lalabas visa ko...

[chinita8]

nako sis nakaka enganyo naman un french riviera comment mo..hirap decide kung ano it pipiliin..ako din excited..but nako sana naman matuloy...
if ever ba na mg cosmos tour ako,gano ba ka bilis nila ma arrange un tour for me?dapat ba months from departure?aabot pa ba ako kung gusto ko umalis ng first week ng april? sa march25 pa kc lalabas visa ko...

Sis, i am not so sure how early you should book your tours nowadays. Me kasi, i did my bookings maybe 3 months prior to the tour date and then I included our reservation/itinerary as a back-up requirement in obtaining our visa at the British Embassy. Our Globus booking was made by Baron Travel, I think at that time we took it, they were the accredited agency of Globus & Cosmos here in the Philippines. If you know where to book na, please call them ASAP and inquire ... mahirap masaraduhan ng bookings, sayang your visa. 
 

[krishakulit]

hay sinabi mo pa sis..^stressed nga ako na baka masayang ang visa ko..baron travel pa din ang accredited agency until now..
me nag sabi na pag kumuha ako ng cosmos or coniki,(cheap tours compare sa trafalgar and insights)mas mahal daw lalabas sa huli because of the optional tours..totoo ba mga sis?what do you think?more or less mgkano ang budget nyo o nagastos nyo sa optionals?(pls include kung ilang days ang tour nyo?) kc if ever alanganin di ko samahan un mga optionals eh bka naman ma miss ko un mga magandang places na di kasama sa tours and also experience the culture kahit paano... tnx in advance sa mga insights ha...

[krishakulit]

naka usap ko un agent namin,bka nga mg cosmos na kami..sabi ko if possible me 1 extra day for paris..yey!
question lang mga sis,idiot proof ba un mga trains or bus nila around europe? pra maka gala din kami if ever na di kami sumama sa ibang optional tours.. is it like lrt? mtr ng hongkong?  or mas complicated pa?me mga maps ba provide sa paligid? tnx

[chinita8]

^sis, i have only tried the underground in london ... it's quite easy ... we used it to go from our hotel to the westminster abbey and to the buckingham palace ... well, i guess because english is being spoken there, so medyo madali ... not quite sure with other countries though 

[mama squeak!]

Krisha, you just have to know where you're going. At first confusing because they have lots of lines compared to HKG MTR but once you get the hang of it, easy-easy na.

You can get train maps on the net and download them.

For the Metro and RER in Paris, check this site:  http://ratp.fr/
For Germany:  http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml
For London:  http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx

 

[krishakulit]

wow mga sis tnx^ try ko nga yan site na yan..hehe
by the way may suggestions pa ba kyo puntahan sa amsterdam? kc since dun namin i meet cosmos tour (dahil [textspeak!] kmi uk visa) mas maaga kmi dadating dun..so we have time on our hands dun,gusto ko lang i maximize..sna wag kami mawala..iba din language yata dun eh..  nakausap ko un agent namin kanina,may tentative IT sya binigay,[textspeak!] nya nsa city daw mismo un hotel na ibubuk nya sa amin..pra maka gala kami...hay sna...hehe

any comments on un mga optionals ng cosmos? magkano kayo inabot?sinalihan nyo ba lahat ng inoffer sa inyo? mgkano tip ang binigay nyo sa tour guide and driver? tnx..

[mama squeak!]

^sis, PM mo si sis Maribeth. Alam ko taga Amsterdam sya. She might be able to help you out.

 

[krishakulit]

ok sis^ i pmed her..sna may time sya to answer..hehe

[maribeth]

^sis saw your pm..just too busy with the birthday of my daughter, so answer kita sa monday..pramiz...ang dami mo kasing info na gusto eh..so it'll take time..lol

[krishakulit]

hehe sis,tnx ha^..oks lang,just take ur time...hehe..tagal pa naman un..excited lang..

[maribeth]

^sis, na-receive mo na pm ko? keep me posted, okay?

[tickle]

^hi sis maribeth and krishakulit....

i had a chat with sis maribeth kanina informing me about your concerns sa amsterdam.  am here now and if you have questions, pm or you can reply here sa forum na rin to share info to other GTers na gusto magvisit ng Amsterdam.

Places you can visit here:  Dam palace, anne frank house, westerkerk, rijksmuseum, van gogh museum, red light district and more... 

maganda architecture ng Amsterdam, best for picture taking along the canals..sa mga windmill and parks.  if you dont have enough time to go out of Amsterdam to see more of Netherlands, there are about 3 windmills within zone 7500 (centrum).  marami kasing tourist na gusto ng picture taking sa windmill. 

where will you stay ba? i live near rijksmuseum.

[krishakulit]

wow mga sis^tnx sa mga help nyo ah..hehe by the way visas out..yeyyy aproved...but mukang we'll be taking trafalgar's tour instead..long story..hehe most the same it naman din..

sis maribeth got your pm din..tnx ha..
sis tickle well be staying yta sa ibis schiphol..but still waiting for confirmation pa..if ever malayo ba sa mga tourist sites un?
hay na stress ako..hehe kc syempre kahit approved na visa,dami pa things to do,flights to confirm..tapos next week na byahe...

sa mga sis na may philippine issued credit card, do you have an idea kung ok ang conversion rates pag sa europe ko ginamit? sabi daw convertion rate around plus 1$ ang dagdag pag bayad ko na ng peso?true ba yon?

[mama squeak!]

^I use my Citibank issued credit cards only for big items. I don't feel comfortable carrying huge sums of cash eh. Talo ka lang talaga sa conversion, medyo mataas. But what's good with Citibank there are no other charges levied. I can't say with other banks though.

Also don't forget to inform your issuing bank that you will be using your card outside of the country kasi baka ma-decline yung charges once you're using it na.

 

[krishakulit]

hay ngayon lang ako ng uumpisa ma excite..kc finally mukang ok na un tour,and confirmed na din un mga airlines..finally ,mukang matutuloy na talaga!!!
^ siguro nga will reserve my citibank card for big items lang or emergency lang talaga...(does an lv bag can be counted as such?hehe)

trafalgar's european cavalcade un tour na sasamahan namin... next week na alis ko..me mga ibang last minute tips ba kayo mga sis?

i feel so unprepared for this trip kc..too little time to get ready kc eh..imagine 1week from pagka approved ng visa...

natatakot din ako..pano kung di ko magustuhan dun?hehe all my life ito ang dream ko..finally...but pano kung di mag exceed sa expectations ko? sna naman super ganda talaga..damaged din kc bulsa ko  bec of this trip no..

ano ba mga weather kya dun mga sis?any packing tips?hehe
any sugestions on how i can beat jet lag? and ang dami namin connecting  flights at antay time sa airport..any tips on how to pass the time and stuff... hehe this is my first major grown up trip..(dati kc always with an adult..as a kid..)

hehe sis maribeth..ang swerte mo taga europe ka hehe
kahit di pa ako nakakarating dyan,alam ko hehe

hehe sis tickle sori at ang kulet ng mga tanong hehe tnx talaga!!

sa lahat nga mga sis...tnx sa continious support and imputs ha.. sna may ma ishare din akong mga kwento pag dating ko..though i doubt na kaya ko mag kwento in details like sis fabulosity's travel log..hehe

[mama squeak!]

^I used my card to buy an LV bag, sayang din reward points 'no. 
Don't forget to fill out your VAT free form before you leave the store. You get 12% rebate if you want it credited back to your cc while 10% only if you want to get it in cash upon your departure from the last EU airport.

Try to travel light since you'll be in a tour your time is constrained. You'll be getting on and off buses pa. Try to multi-use your items/clothes: wrinkle-free dark slacks, a pair of jeans (or two depends how long your trip is), 4 to 5 tops (jersey or cotton materials are the best, no need to plantsa!), a light cardigan/sweater, light windbreaker or trench coat, comfy shoes (2 pairs in case you get caught in the rain meron kang pampalit). No need for thermals, it's already getting warm there. But kung lamigin ka get those light thermals lang. They usually come in sando type or short sleeves. Check mo rin with GTs based there how the weather is there. Don't forget to bring first aid meds for headache/fever, diarrhea. Also bandaids and your vitamin supplements. You don't want to get sick while you're on tour!

Bring a journal to record your trip. Para wala ka ring malimutan when you make your trip report for us!    Camera! With a big memory stick of course! 

Enjoy your trip! 

[chinita8]

^^sis, you just keep a positive outlook on your trip. remember, it's you who can make or break your travel experience. you will surely love europe sis! it's so different from the phils and even the US.

Absorb all that you can --- the culture, the cuisine, the sights, the language, the people!!! remember, travel is the best teacher!!!

sis mama squeak said it all ... just don't forget to bring that FUN ATTITUDE in you, okay!

make us kwento when you get back ... 

PS: when i was in amsterdam, i got to go to edam and volendam besides amsterdam itself. i loved the canalways of amsterdam, the wooden clogs of edam and the windmills at volendam. you will get surprised when you see the flesh sights at the red light district in amsterdam, but you will enjoy it for sure! go to the rijskmuseum too! i am not into museums that much, but that particular one i love! bon voyage!

[maribeth]

sis krishakulit, the weather here in holland has been really unpredictable. 1 week na kaming rain, wind, sunshine. The weather just can't make up her mind. But the weather forecast for next week is more promising. More sunshine and maximum temp. will be 14 degrees. So cross your fingers that this will be it.

Ha..ha..anong swerte ko. Remember, europe is different when you are just visiting it that living and working in it. But it's always easy to travel kasi nga magkakalapit lang ang mga countries.

[krishakulit]

hehe hay..mas lalo na akong na excite sa mga msgs nyo.tnx hehe

^^ ako din sis di masyado yata pang museum,but na appreciate ko naman sila pag ok sila..will try to go sa rijksmuseum..wont be able to go sa ibang place outside amsterdam kahit gusto ko..kc around 1 day lang free time namin..(arrive namin sa amsterdam from barcelona,around hapon na then the next day while waiting for the trafalgar tour to arrive from london so hapon na din sila dadating diba?) (will be missing the first day of the tour nga eh..un london to amsterdam kc we have to meet them sa amsterdam palang due to no uk visa)
by the way sa mga sumama na sa international tour group like cosmos,contiki insights globus.trafalgar etc.....magkano nagastos nyo sa optionals? did you join lahat ng offer na offer nila?