European Tours II

[little_princess]

oh wow! we had the impression that malta is a bit rustic and full of history and culture. modern na din pala sila sobra hahaha

we're going end of november so hopefully, the weather would be nice

[foxymom]

i envy all those going to paris! i enjoyed our stay very much and i would love to go back

@mamasqueak: is there a thread for london? hubby enjoyed our xmas/new year vacation and we target to spend new year's eve in london this time we will go to london, london, spain so excited!!

[mama squeak!]

^sis, none yet. Want to start one?    I haven't been to the UK in ages as in ages! So I'm really not updated with the latest must-sees there. All I can remember when we lived there way back in the 80s are the ff must-sees in central London that we went to during the weekends:

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
Tower of London (eerie place) / Tower Bridge
Mme Tussaud's Wax Museum (the original one)
British Museum (I so love this place! We keep coming back here)
Buckingham Palace (changing of the guards: red coats in summer/grey coats in winter)
St. Paul's Cathedral
Westminster's Abbey
Harrod's (for the shopping, actually si Mommy yung nagsho-shop)
Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden
Greenwich Park (where the GMT line is and where my school was located!)
Hyde Park

 

[foxymom]

^thanks mamasqueak! maybe i should start a london thread

thanks for the tips i think those spots are more than enough. one thing i learned from our recent europe trip is -- you cannot do everything and see everything! lol

[m_lim]

girls, if we depart April 28 from Manila, then we will have our cruise from Rome May 11-May21,

anong route ang recommended niyo from Manila?

Manila-Madrid- ??- ??- ??-Rome for cruise
Manila-Paris- ??- ??- ??- Rome for cruise
Manila-Zurich- ??- ??- ??- Rome for cruise

[mama squeak!]

^Where do you want to go? All the cities you posted are reachable from Manila flying with most carriers though you will have to go through a transit hub.

[m_lim]

^Hi mama squeak! sent you a PM.. thanks!

[mama squeak!]

^sis, replied to your PM.

By the way, I made a mock booking for your route: MNL/CDG on the 29th Apr instead of 28th Apr and back FCO/MNL on the 22nd May and it came out cheaper pa.

I just noticed nagbago ng schedule ang KLM from MNL. By last week March they'll be leaving in the evening and will be arriving AMS early morning.

[t_r_i_c_i_a]

has anyone of you tried www.expatexplore.com tours? parang ang mura compared sa trafalgar, insights, and cosmos.. my only fear is baka hindi legit or something.

[m_lim]

pangit ba sa Florence?

naka set na kasi ako sa itinerary na:

Paris-Venice-Florence-Rome

pero ayaw ng husband ko! mas maganda ba Belgium?

[mama squeak!]

^sis, depende din naman kasi sa interest ninyo yan. Florence is the seat of the Renaissance period. The city itself is one big living museum of Renaissance art. If you're into that then definitely you will enjoy Florence.

I have been to Brussels in Belgium a looong time ago way back in highschool when we were still living in London. Maganda din naman yung place. Well everything naman in Europe for me is maganda!   

So really nasa sa inyo na yan where you want to go. 

[melodymedley]

@sis m_lim. I guess you'll fly from Paris to Venice? Venice-Florence-Rome is coined as the "holy trinity" of Italy so I guess yun yung IT nyo (same as mine).

Florence is filled with art stuff. I found the church in Florence (called the Duomo) very majestic. Andun din yung statue of David (c/o Michaelangelo) in Accademia museum which I found very beautiful - considering na hindi naman ako art fanatic. I stared at it for quite some time. If you are into paintings and sculptures, you will definitely enjoy Florence.

If di nyo naman feel ang Florence, you can also use it as a base location to go to other towns. I did day trips in Cinque Terre, Sienna and San Gimignano.

I just found Florence quite crowded when I was there the last week of Sept 2011.

Didn't go to Belguim though. Can't compare.

[m_lim]

^thanks sis! Yes, Paris to Venice nga ang route namin. Sa akin ok Lang naman Kahit saan Kasi first time ko. Hubby ko Ang maarte! How about sa Milan, ano makikita don?

[lavieenrose]

^Milan - The Duomo, the original Last Supper fresco by Leonardo da Vinci. In my opinion, not much. Milan is skippable, if you don't intend to shop.

I've been to about 7 cities in Italy and Florence is my favorite, mostly because I love Renaissance art & history. I'm sure it isn't for everyone, though.

[mama squeak!]

Nag-advise na ang KLM, starting March 26 their flights will be via Taipei na. Their new schedule will be leaving Manila at 1940H with an hour ground stop in TPE then arriving AMS at 0610H the next day.

I think this is a more favorable schedule specially for travellers with onward destination from AMS. Hindi na gabi ang dating sa final destination.

 

[foxymom]

^yes, my family's flight was moved nga. i told my mom this was a better option since they can just sleep in the plane and wake up in amsterdam yung nga lang 2 na ang layover

[kittypowerranger]

anyone whose living in Paris? just send me a message as well as some good itenerary for a week stay there! thanks

[mama squeak!]

^sis, there are already a lot of tips posted on this thread and the first European Tours thread.

http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,196695.0.html

You just have to backread.

For Paris specific tips, you can also check this thread:

http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,216556.0.html

If you have more Qs after backreading then post them here or on the thread above.

 

[roquejo]

Yup, that's pretty cheap for CX round trip fares. Plus CX will be coming out with much lower fares this coming February during the weekend Travel Expo. Yun lang very limited seats and you have to book and buy during the expo. Now if you can wait that long you can get fares for $800-900 all-in 

Hi Mama Squeak, I've been searching all over the net for possible CX deals in the 19th PTAA expo and just found this.. you see I'm in a dilema, CX has raised its fares but it won't take effect on the online booking until they upgrade their website come Feb 11 at 3pm. You see I'm looking at $945 (tax excuded) booking class v (asia miles earning) I can get now online to Vancouver. But if I get it at CX office at LKG tower which now uses athenew updated fare table or if I book online after the Feb 11 site upgrade, the new price will be around $1025 (excluding tax) for miles earning booking class v to YVR.

So I have to decide, whether to buy it online, or take a risk and wait in hope of getting lower priced miles earning v class ticket at the expo.

My question is. Is it confirmed this year that CX will offer promo miles earning long haul tickets in the expo to North American destinations and europe? I was told by a CX staff over the phone that last year, they offered miles earning Vancouver tickets at V class valid until Dec 2011 travel for around $700 (tax excluded).. but still not sure it the same deal will be offered. What she confirmed is there will be a promo for HK but still not sure for US and Europe destinations..

In case you have inisde info on Cathay.. is it advisable for me to buy online now or wait till the expo? (when the new fares already took effect, and take my chances at the expo discount)

thanks

[twinklebell]

My husband and I are planning on going to Europe this year.  Baka may suggestions kayo.  Ang tinitignan kasi namin na itinerary is either London, Ireland, Scotland or Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo.  Hope you can share your insights and experiences.  Thanks.