European Tours Thread 4

[little_princess]

That's what I don't get. It's supposed to be tax free, duty free but in that country lang? Why would I be taxed if I go back home? In other countries it's not like that naman.

[vhanya]

They're not supposed to do that but they can para I hassle ka nila if you don't pay (and really who wants to stay long in the airport?) Usually now malapit na Xmas, madami na naman hihingi ng balato. If they see any Balikbayan box or designer paper bag, patay na.

[little_princess]

Is there any writing that they can't do that? I hate the hassle and having to re-pack the stuff kasi and it limits my duty free shopping  The price difference in the high street vs duty free in Europe is pretty substantial

I just got home from Europe and medyo strict strict-an young customs guy when I arrived. Before they would even say Merry Christmas and that means we should give them balato.

[mama squeak!]

^Actually they are allowed to tax you and it's the law. There is a limit kasi on the amount of goods you can bring in even if you bought them tax-free. It's the same lang everywhere else (that's why there are customs declaration forms you have to fill out). For the US I know it's $200 while in EU it's EUR430 (though they are not too strict about this, kung ma-timing lang then they will tax you.)

Dito lang kasi sa atin mga strikto-abusado mga customs kaya hindi mo alam ano ba talaga dapat na allowable goods pwede. So ako every time I come home from Europe with designer goods, I really conceal it. Then sabay confident demeanor through customs na parang wala akong bitbit.

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ korek. Kaya kami ni hubby, nakatago sa ilalim ng maleta ang paper bags. The bags sa hand-carry, nakabalot pa minsan sa laundry para just in case pabuksan e labada lang makita nila immediately.

One time I travelled with in-laws. Pagdating namin, medyo madami bags kasi 4 kami. Then ni-random check kami sa customs. Buti na lang ang pinabuksan yung biggest luggage, na mostly clothes for laundry ni MIL tsaka some food items lang. Kinabahan talaga kami baka magpabukas pa another bag...

In Milan airport naman, dapat the handcarried items that you'll claim tax refund on should be unused. If it's used, they sometimes don't allow it for tax refund.

[little_princess]

^^ Is there a written law about it? It's so shady kasi on what they can tax and up to what amount. A former officemate of mine bought a LV bag from HK before and since it was her first time, she was prancing around the airport with the paper bag and bag. She got taxed and lumabas na the bag was more expensive than GB.

^ That's why I'm scared of. All my travels never pa naman ako na random check but there are times I'd bring home more than 5 bags and nakakatakot!

In London, they never check even Hermes.

[letters_to_cleo]

What I do to hide my buys from DF,  I always bring a Lesportsac weekender bag sa carryon ko. I like it kasi  it´s big  and even if it´s  very light and foldable sobrang tibay nya. So whatever I buy sa DF, linalagay ko sa weekender bag. May dala rin ako big scarf para blanket ko sa plane, tapos ang panglagay ko sa ibabaw ng mga DF buys. 

[112214bride]

Meron bang nag punta ng Italy/France ng month of December-January? Nakita ko kasi 4deg ~ -2deg ang temperature.. May idea ba kayo mga sis kung gaano kalamig yun? Kakayanin ba kaya namin mag libot sa labas nun?

[Chili1113]

^sis yung 4 deg to -2deg na yan are mostly in upper part of France. It doesnt get that cold in Italy and if it does sa night yun. OK naman and kaya mag ikot ikot as long as you have winter clothes. BUT remember that the days are very short it winter and many museums and attractions close very early or close altogether, so limited ang sightseeing. That's fine if you wanna save on airfare and hotel rates just wakeup early and plan your day's schedule well. But if youre the type na gusto mo "buhay" yung place when you visit, do not go to during winter months. Medyo dead yung atmosphere.

[mama squeak!]

^^I would go only if it's before Christmas just to see the Christmas Markets. But after the holidays to January, nope! Aside from being cold and wet, there's not much things to see and do. Daylight will be shorter, most museums will have shorter hours or even closed. Kaya nga laging naka-sale ang hotels and airfare during this period (low season) kasi walang masyadong bumibyahe. Unless you're after the winter sale of luxury goods in Paris, they have it in January (super sulit!)

I would suggest go in early March to April (early spring) or mid-September to October (fall). You will have longer daylight hours, less crowd and relatively cheaper air fares and hotels.

[112214bride]

Sis Chili1113,
We've already booked our flight to celebrate the holiday there. Dec 21~Jan6, Italy then France. nung nag check kasi ako ng Venice weather sa accuweather for December 24, High: 4°C Low:-2°C naka lagay. we're also aware that 4:30pm palang madilim na kaya limited ang sightseeing time. Kaya I want to make the most out of day time sana. Ang problema ko lang kung kakayanin ko yung lamig. di kami sanay sa lamig. ngayon palang kami makaka experience ng ganun ka lamig and no idea on what to wear. Ilan patong kaya ng damit yun?

[112214bride]

^thanks for the tips sis Chili1113! Will try to go to H&M and uniqlo. Anong boots kaya ang comfortable and pwedeng pang long walks? Ang problema ko sa winter wear, nag mumukhang mataba eh! doesnt look good sa pic. lol.

sana nga mas mainit kesa sa accuweather! Our arrival is in Milan, then depart from Paris. We're planning to go to Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome. Wala pa kaming itinerary! Ngayon palang ako gagawa, and don't know where to start! undecided pa whether to go to Paris via Plane or Train. Ang mahal na kasi. sa easyjet 220euros one way. But if we go by train, we'll have to go back to Milan again, the TGV is 150euros sa first class.

[Chili1113]

^ sis ako always abroad ako nakaka chamba ng ok boots for walking. Dito very limited, hindi good quality minsan, and mostly high heels!! Im sure may mahahanap ka doon =) Sis may nakabook ka na ba for Pisa? I dont suggest mag overnight ka doon kasi hindi maganda doon except for leaning tower.  Pwede siyang day trip from Florence =) But if naka book ka na ok lang din naman. As for Milan, I wouldnt spend too much time there as it fades in comparison to Venice, Florence, and Rome!

[vhanya]

Since your arrival is Milan, i would suggest a day trip to Lake Como. It's really nice there I love Bellagio. It's a tiny town within Lake Como.

[112214bride]

sis Chili1113,
wala pa kaming nabook na accommodation. Trying to figure out where to go on which date pa. Ang meron palang kami as of now is flight to Milan, and back from Paris. Mahirap bang mag Pisa na may dalang baggage? Like, checkout sa hotel (florence or elsewhere) then derecho Pisa to save time? Or better leave it nalang sa hotel then balikan nalang ulet yung gamit sa hotel after Pisa?

sis vhanya,
maganda ba kahit winter? mga ilan hrs kaya should I alot for that?

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ leave luggage sa hotel upon checkout or sa train station in Florence (either locker or left luggage facility, I forgot which is available in Santa Maria Novella station). Hassle pa to drag luggage in Pisa. And if you're going to another major city after Pisa, via Florence din most likely so just leave your luggage there.

Re dressing for cold weather: I also have a bunch of Uniqlo heattech shirts and a few M&S thermal shirts for use in layering for cold weather. I usually wear that underneath, then a regular shirt or sweater over it. Then a thick jacket + scarf + gloves + hat na me earflap (or kung ano man tawag dun, hehe). I also bring leggings I can wear underneath jeans (yung manipis lang) and under dresses/skirts (the thicker kind).

[vhanya]

sis vhanya,
maganda ba kahit winter? mga ilan hrs kaya should I alot for that?

I would not go there during winter. It would be too cold spring to autumn is great to explore Lake Como. I would allot 1 whole day.

[Chili1113]

^^Sis its not that it is difficult to go to Pisa  with luggage. Better lang to take the train to Pisa and just go for the Day. Hindi maganda ang city of Pisa . It isnt a pretty place except for the leaning tower walang makikita doon and puro grafitti pa. In fact I would much rather go to Siena from Florence instead of Pisa. San Gimignano is also another unforgettable place in the Tuscan region but not as accessible, but can be reached via bus from Siena.

 Pero if you really want to see the leaning tower ok na for the day. Kahit nga 1 hour doon ok na hehe medyo overrated ang Pisa. Pisa is only 1 hour by train from Florence (with a train that departs every hour) so you can easily spend half a day lang there.

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ sis, sa akin ba yang reply mo? Yup, we only spent few hours lang din in Pisa. Picture lang sa area around the leaning tower then we went back na to Florence. Kaya for me, hassle magbitbit pa ng luggage kung sandali lang dun, kasi dami din naglalakad and bringing luggage may cause delay pa. Pagkabalik ng Florence from Pisa, we just had quick lunch then we decided to get on the bus to Siena. So if magchi-checkout na sila ng hotel, I'd personally suggest either leaving their luggage sa hotel conciere or sa left-luggage facility sa train station. Para mas hassle-free sa pag-iikot.

From Florence, we dropped by Bologna on our way to Venice. They have a left-luggage facility sa train station so we dropped off our luggage there before going around Bologna. Dahil, yes, naha-hassle-an kami to drag luggage while going around. Late afternoon, we got our luggage back before getting on our train to Venice.

[112214bride]

sis bagaholic_chewy
so parang 3 patong lang? heattech, sweater, then thick jacket?
I'll search for luggage facility nalang within the area. thanks!

sis vhanya
sayang. next time nalang siguro. hehe. thanks!

sis Chili1113
Thanks! maraming times ba sasakay ng bus? or walking distance lang halos lahat from train stn? meron ba silang parang train and bus all in one ticket? or mas tipid kung paisa isa lang ang bili?