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Do Germans and Americans Have Historical Guilt in Common? Part I

January 6, 2009 – 12:36 pm

Welcome to Yankee in a New World.com, your resource for traveling or living in Europe, while still keeping some Yankee roots! If you're new here, you may want to check out my about page. If you like what you see, and want more, subscribe to my RSS feed. Feel free to browse, check out helpful links, or contact me with questions or suggestions! Thanks for visiting!

American and Soviet troops meet east of the El...
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Last night, a german friend of mine and I were watching The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to let off some steam after a full day of studying. Needless to say, felt so guilty after for not studying at the time, but such is the mentality of a med student. As we watched the fires and fighting of U-boats and tug boats in the Atlantic, I paused the movie to ask my friend curiously of what they were taught about World War II.

She said they had to take 2 full years about every account of the War. She said that they were taught to hate themselves. That learning about it made them feel so badly about themselves, knowing what the generation before had done. She took solace in the fact that her great-grandfather never joined the Nazis, because he was a farmer, and when told to join, always put it off. He paid money to the local “recruiter” to postpone his enlisting.

She then asked me, if people still around the world hated them.

I did not know what to say. People don’t hate current day Germans, I think, just what has happened. But at the same time, I know families that to this day hate Germany. I know a family that threw out their toaster because they found out it was made by a German company. My own uncle, being Indian, refuses to buy a German anything because he feels like the government never fully made reparation or were sorry enough. Noticing my reluctance, she pressed upon me to tell her what I was thinking. It must have read on my face.

She asked, “What more can we do?” I asked what Germany has done since - I wanted to know in her own words. She said that the Germans are hard upon themselves the most. Any sign, any inkling of racism in a public figure was admonished. That the government gave up land and pays a lot of money to Israel yearly, still. That they are trying to do their best to get along with everyone.

She said that sometimes, she is jealous of Americans.

“Look how proud you all are. How proud you get to be of your country. We don’t. During the World Cup, we were actually doing well as a country. When everyone else had huge economical problems, it wasn’t as bad for us. But we couldn’t be proud of that. Look at the Swedish, with their flags everywhere. Why can’t we have our flags? During the cup, some Germans put up flags on their cars, and then felt guilty about it still. When we go abroad, we are sometimes afraid to say we are German. I hate feeling guilty all the time. “

This whole conversation seemed so sad, and harsh. Tears welled up in her eyes. And in mine. You could actually seen the pain on her face.

“Why do we still have to feel bad for what others did? Why?” she said.

And then I started thinking - these feelings are not foreign to Americans, either…

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Stranded in Budapest - How Even the Best Made Plans in Travel Go Awry - part I

January 4, 2009 – 9:41 am
Prague - Jerusalemer Synagoge
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So Troy Aikman came all the way out from the other side of the ocean, and there was no way he was going to be coming all the way to Europe, just to see out little podunk town. He’s been here before - it’s lost his charm for him. What can I say, Debrecen just isn’t Paris.

I found out though, that he’d never been to my favorite city in Eastern Europe - Prague. Or, how the locals say it - Praha. I blathered on and on about how amazing it was, and how they could just go for a few days to get away from it all. The fact that I wouldn’t mind the house to myself didn’t factor in at all. Of course not! What? Who said that?

So in any case, being the local resident humble travel maven, I decided to help him plan. I delved into the fancy internets and found that there was a student travel agency bus that would cost about 50 dollars to go from Budapest to Prague. I read it on Europe A La Carte, actually. So I looked into it, and then we booked it on New Years Eve, for them to leave on Jan 2nd.

Click through to look at Miss Sophies

Click through to look at Miss Sophie's

I then booked the most stunning hostel ever, Miss Sophie’s in Prague. It is actually very affordable, and luxurious at the same time. I was green with envy looking at those plush, white sheet covered beds, and those forest green ceramic tiled bathroom, with waterfalls for shower heads. Plus, for my roommate there was a delightful study room/kitchen in the basement, with a fire place that licked the air with warm laps. Not to mention, Troy could cook to his heart’s content. Sigh…I’d just have  to live vicariously. No, this hostel is not hostile at all! There was no question about book it, especially now it was slow season. That means extra special customer service! And  no awful couches, like Nerd Eye View had.

I gave them maps, suggested they try a massage at one of the famous local spas, told them about an amazing walk tour, a Ghost tour, and a dinner boat down the Charles River. It seemed all but certain that a fantastic trip awaited them. One that would be full of life and history, quirky stories of Prague, and a relaxing time in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

New Years Day arrived bright and shiny, harbinging new adventures to be had, and great studying time for me. But how the early morning sun deceived us, for it was this day that the plans started to unravel…

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I podcasted! VOIP services for The Indie Travel Podcast

January 3, 2009 – 10:29 am

Can you believe it y’all?!!  Me, little ‘ol me, who hates taping herself on videos, gathered herself up to tape herself talking about VOIP services for the Indie Travel Podcast. I sat down to do it, no script, no nothing. Notes in front of me, and about a million takes later, I did it.

I really should have saved the outtakes, but they are not safe to air in public. Suffice it to say that it would be transcribed somewhat like this: “Hey this is Sasha…@#$%% !!!” *@#$%% = Scheiben Kleister!* By the way, I did not mean to say “Hungrarian” - call it a flub. I was all nerves, nerves, nerves. Could you tell? I tried to pretend that I was talking to a friend of mine.

So I did it, and now you can check it out, and you can hear even about the new service I am trying, called RebTel, as well as some old favorites - Skype, FreeCall, and Jajah. I had a load of fun doing it, once I got into the zone.  I hope it helps! I’ll have more details on RebTel the day after tomorrow. Here’s the link to the Post:

indietravelpodcast.com/podcast/085-internet-telephone-travellers/

Oh, and P.S. Craig is having a sale on his Travelling Europe book for the new year! Get started on that new resolution, will you?!

P.P.S HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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Yankee Talk to An Expat: Andy Hayes Bares All, Part II - Enlightenment in Edinburgh

January 2, 2009 – 8:41 am

A few days ago, we had a chance to catch up with Andy Hayes, a fantastic travel writer and photographer based in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Our first chat was about his seamless transition from life in America to cafe culture paradise in Amsterdam.   Andy’s now in Edinburgh where he… well, read on, you’ll find out.

National Monument

National Monument

Ok, when we last spoke, we were discussing your move from Amsterdam to Edinburgh.  What were your first impressions of the Scottish capital?

Well, I was amazed, simply.  It’s like a medieval paradise perfectly preserved.  Winding cobblestone streets, magnificent Georgian architecture, and friendly locals all in a city that has big city-sized amenities but is small enough to move about quite easily.

Did you miss Amsterdam at all?

Yes, I was actually homesick for the first time in my life.  I had some amazing friends there and things were established, comfortable.  So it was a bit difficult at first.

You moved back to an English speaking country.  That surely made things easier, no?

Not really!  Things are pretty different here in the UK, and accents are pretty difficult to decipher as you mentioned in your British to American Dictionary . Scotland is even more different.  It took me awhile to switch back into an English-speaking frame of mind.  However, I really appreciate my native tongue now, especially in places like the grocery store!

So Britain is a lot different than the continent, isn’t it?

Yes, Brits are quick to be on the defensive about being part of Europe for some reason.   That channel, although a tiny body of water, makes for quite the cultural divide.  The UK has flavours of the American lifestyle – especially if you look at things like the shopping, takeaway foods, and a heavy reliance on cars – so this might appeal to expats looking for a little piece of home in their new destination.  However, most British cities like London, Manchester, or Edinburgh have strong identities and are distinctively “Scottish” or “English”.

Right – so that no one is embarrassed to ask, can you explain to us the difference between the UK and (Great) Britain?

No problem.  Great Britain is made up of three ‘nations’:  England, Scotland, and Wales.  They are all together on one island.  The United Kingdom is Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is a small territory just north of the Republic of Ireland.  So when you look at a British passport you’ll see “the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.

It’s probably also worth noting about how the laws and government work.  Each ‘nation’ has been devolved certain powers, like taxes or healthcare, but it’s different depending on each.  Certain things, like national defence and immigration, are controlled UK-wide.  But beyond that, Scotland has the most devolved powers than the others, and there is an ongoing discussion about more devolution or completely pulling out of the UK.

Any tips for folk who are thinking about moving to Scotland?

Be sure to check out the visa rules and programme; Scotland is governed by the UK-wide visa rules and the programme seems to change every year.  It can be an expensive process that takes a long time so start early.  You’ll probably want to live in either Glasgow (the largest city) or Edinburgh (the capital) at least to start out.

Ok – so, please…. your travel writer secrets for Edinburgh?

Ha – well, regardless of the weather, get outside and go for a walk on the Water of Leith http://www.waterofleith.org.uk/.  It is the perfect balance between city and nature.

I’m reviewing restaurants in Edinburgh for a couple of companies, so it’s difficult to recommend food.  How about Zucca http://www.zuccarestaurant.co.uk/, Cafe El Greco (232 Morrison Street), or Tempting Tattie (18 Jeffrey St).

Take the ghost tour of the Greyfriars Kirkyard by Mercat Tours http://www.mercattours.com/.  It’s one of the most haunted places in Edinburgh and the guides offer a lot of good historical information about the city.

Playfair Library

Playfair Library

Thanks for those tips!  Now, is it true that you’ve found your muse in Edinburgh?  Tell us more about that.

It is true, and it seems a cliché to say such a thing in a place that was UNESCO’s first City of Literature http://www.cityofliterature.com/ and the home to such great authors like J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter).  But it is true – the place is such an inspiring setting and I’ve been blessed by finding a few really amazing people (and if you’re reading, you know who you are) who have helped push me along on my journey.  My writing business has taken off and I’ve got several different photography projects and other fun things in the pipeline for 2009.  So things are looking really good for me.  My new website http://andyhayes.com has a blog section, and I’m looking forward to sharing these projects and my latest travel adventures with my readers.

That sounds great.  So no plans for moving anytime soon?

No, certainly not.  I’ve got to renew my visa later this year but assuming that goes well I’ll be here for the duration.  Europe has given me inspiration – it breathed life into me and gave me an appreciation for the world that I don’t know if I’d found anywhere else.

What an inspiring story, Andy – thanks for sharing it with us.  Yankee readers, be sure to check out Andy’s stunning new website, http://andyhayes.com.  Entitled ‘Sharing Experiences’, it is filled with exactly what it says on the tin:   ‘words & pictures to inspire & enthuse’.

Images Copyright Andrew Hayes

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Yankee Talks to an Expat: Andy Hayes Bares All, Part I - Arriving in Amsterdam

December 31, 2008 – 10:57 am

Over the festive season, Yankee had a chance to catch up with Andy Hayes, a prolific travel writer and photographer who is now based in Edinburgh (yes, the one in Scotland) but has taken a long and circuitous route to this Scottish hamlet. In this post, we’ll talk with Andy about his first impressions of Europe and his stay in his first European home, Amsterdam.

City Parks in Amsterdam

City Parks in Amsterdam

Right – so let’s get this right. You’re an American, yes?

That’s right. I was born in Indiana and before I left for Europe I was living in Chicago.

But you don’t have much of an accent. Is it true you get mistaken for other nationalities?

Oh my, yes – since I’ve lived overseas for several years my accent has slipped away quite a bit. If you ask a non-native speaker they tend to say I’m from London (and if you know me you’ll know that’s complete rubbish). People have also suspected I am German and Finnish, among other things. I suppose a lot of that has to do with having lived in a non-English speaking country – you’d be amazed what sorts of stuff you start saying after awhile, and you start making the same mistakes in English that the locals make. At least that’s what happened to me as I was really making an effort to integrate.

Ok, so how did you end up in Europe in the first place?

Well, it sort of was all by accident – in fact if you were watching closely you might have thought I just ended up on the wrong plane. I was not happy with things in Chicago and was taking French lessons on the side and planning on moving up to Montreal and give that a go. However, my ‘day job’ at the time came through with an interesting assignment in Amsterdam and so I jumped. It was supposed to be only for a couple months but ended up being a long-term gig.

What were your first impressions of Amsterdam?

It was a bit like the proverbial kid in a candy store; I kept waiting for someone to pinch me and I’d wake up. The beautiful canal houses standing guard alongside those beautiful waterways; pubs full of Belgian brews and frothy Dutch lagers; food and cuisine from around the world. Topped off with the most museums per capita of any European capital, it was love at first sight.

Any advice for folk thinking about a move to the Dutch capital?

Yes. Learn the language. I’ll be a bit controversial here – but the Dutch are not the best when it comes to dealing with foreigners living in their country. There is always this friction when it comes to speaking English versus Dutch. So just learn the language and force people to speak it with you. To do that you’ll want to mix with both English-speaking and Dutch-speaking groups. Also you’ll want to buy a bike – go to one of the markets and pick one up; MacBike also sells used ones. You don’t want to buy something shiny and new, it will get stolen. Get something that will get you from A to B, buy good locks and use them! If you want to get a flavour for the expat scene before you decide, check out Expatica http://www.expatica.com which includes online chat forms, dating profiles, English-speaking groups, and local news. Amsterdam Weekly http://www.amsterdamweekly.nl/ is the local English paper.

Jordaan Neighbourhood
Jordaan Neighbourhood

So, as a travel writer, you’ve got to have some great tips for fun in Amsterdam. Can you share your top favourites?

Ok, well my favourite place to eat is De Bakkerswinkel http://www.debakkerswinkel.nl (translation: baker’s shop). Their location is smack in the middle of the salubrious red light district and it’s a charming venue with the best scones outside of England!

Go shopping at the Hema http://producten.hema.nl – it’s the Dutch version of Target and it is fabulous.

For drinks, try the beer sampler at the Arendsnest http://www.arendsnest.nl/ (translation: eagle’s nest). The location is a typical canal house in the Jordaan neighbourhood and all of the beers served are produced in the Netherlands.

If you manage to get a day of warmth and sunshine, make the most of it by heading to a city beach. The Amsterdam Plage is my favourite; it’s a quirky Caribbean-styled beach complete with bean bag chairs, live music, a cocktail bar, and all sorts of cheesy decor. It is hard to find but head west from Centraal Station along the Ij river and you’ll run into it.

And of course – rent a bike! It is the most economical, efficient, and fun way to get around the city.

It sounds like you really embraced the Dutch culture. Did you miss anything about America?

Not really. The whole consumption culture was a major turn-off for me. Instead of spending my weekends shopping and talking about what we were going to buy next, I was with my friends having a long boozy brunch, followed by art galleries in the afternoon and live jazz in the evening. Europe is so much more culturally aware than America – in fact the Europeans seem to enjoy music that came from America more than the Americans do!

You are now living in Edinburgh. Why the move?

Well, another business opportunity presented itself so I took the plunge. It was a bit sad as I had really come to love Amsterdam’s quirky lifestyle and laissez-faire approach to life, but at the same time I did feel like it was time to move on.

Stay tuned for Part II where we hear how things are going up in Scotland and maybe if we’re nice we’ll get some more great travel tips. Meanwhile, be sure to check out Andy’s stunning new website, http://andyhayes.com. Entitled ‘Sharing Experiences’, it is does exactly what it says on the tin: ‘words & pictures to inspire & enthuse’.

Images Copyright Andrew Hayes

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Troy Aikman’s Be All & End All Guide to Paris

December 30, 2008 – 9:40 am
Troy Aikman NFL Football
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The following is the first of a series of tours through Western Europe with Troy Aikman (Not the one pictured in the photo to the right). Here was his grand entrance hijacking my blog. Well, I gotta get to the grid iron, so I’ll let him take over.

Troy Aikman’s Be All & End All Guide to Paris

In my initial entry I teased about upcoming tales of my sojourn through many of Western Europe’s hot spots.  I wasn’t sure which city would be best to start with, so I’m just going to do it chronologically.

The first stop: Paris.

My plan was quite simple: no plan whatsoever.

I never thought about buying a guidebook, checking out Wikipedia, or searching for a site similar to this before visiting a brand new place.  I just thought it would be fun to walk along the narrow cobble-stoned streets and get lost in the tranquility of this quaint old town.  When this got boring, I figured we could stroll over to the Eiffel Tower (which shouldn’t be too hard to find) and see what all the fuss was about.

For the first day this is pretty much all we did, and it was exhilarating.  The architecture, especially The Opera and L’arc de Triomphe, was exquisite.  The statues were interesting, the baguettes were freshly made and delicious, the area around Moulin Rouge was an adventure in eroticism,  and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees offered numerous fashionable shopping options for any woman you may have been forced to drag along.

During this aimless wandering we were able to get a feel for the city.  We took mental notes of what would be fun to do for the next few days of our journey, and how to get in the most sights in our available time.  If you only have a few days in Paris you may not want to follow the same schedule, but if you have 4 or more days and a little bit of patience, then I highly suggest it.

Now, on to some more “touristy” things to do in Paris.  If you like art, visit Le Louvre, it’s a no-brainer, it’s probably the first thing on your to-do-list.  For others it is still a great place to visit, you may feel like you are walking through the annals of history.  Only one warning: unlike most museums in Europe’s big cities, the captions/explanations of the works are not in English, only French.

Sacre-Coeur is another must-see.  The view from the top of the church is incredible, but that is only half the fun.  Climbing the narrow, winding staircase being the other half.

Luxembourg Garden is a great place to chill out and take it easy for a while right in the middle of the city.  Just pick a bench somewhere and gaze at the lovely gardens, the palatial architecture, and of course do a little people watching.

Tour Montparnasse

Tour Montparnasse, courtesy of Wikipedia

If you have gone anywhere with a high elevation in Paris, such as Sacre-Couer, The Eiffel Tower, or the Paris Eye, you would have noticed a lone, ugly, black skyscraper on the southern side of the Siene.  This is the Tour Montparnasse and it looks completely out of place in this city. I don’t know why they decided to erect this monstrosity, but it is over 200m tall so there are probably some nice views from the top.  I say “probably” because I didn’t actually bother to find out, I wanted to stay as far away from this building as possible because it felt so “un-Paris” to me.

Finally, do not forget to visit Notre Dame.  The best word to describe this church is, creepy and the best time to experience it is at night, when it is at its creepiest .  Make sure to take several pictures of its gothic facade and the stained glass windows on the inside.  Another great photo-op is taking a picture on the nearby bridge with the Seine in the foreground and the great cathedral in the background.

The great thing about visiting Paris is that you don’t really need to grab a map to find interesting things to do and see, as it is usually right in front of your eyes, and either too beautiful (the Opera), too omnipresent (Eiffel Tour), or too big (Le Louvre) to miss.

If this post makes you want to skip the tour of Paris and do it Troy Aikman style, please take the time to comment, make suggestions, and subscribe to my feed, so you can have more whenever you want! :wink:

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Weekly Round Up: Christmases all over !

December 29, 2008 – 10:28 am

Hola Amigos! Como estan? Hope everything is going well for you all.  I hope you all had a great holiday, if you had one - whether you are making latkes and cookies or not. My roommate is Catholic, so I got to do Christmas vicariously. I had 2 christmasi - both with the Germans - plenty of Gluhwein to go around.

There will be a lot of guest posts this week, as I go into the home stretch time before exams. Thank you to all of you who have offered guest posts - More will be expected soon. *More is accepted, too! - hint, hint, nudge, nugde*

For those of you who missed it, check out these posts and give their authors some comment love, will you?:

Guest Posts:

This week:

  • The Continuation of Troy Aikman taking over my blog - I had to let him do it, because America’s Team got pummeled last night. (for those of you who are Cowboy Fans, you would know, and cry with me. ) Troy has all the insight on travels in Western Europe from a North American Perspective, and I am eagerly waiting his first post… aren’t you. First up = Paris!!
  • How to Watch American Sports on TV
  • Expat Product Review - Rebtel, another VOIP service *Quickly becoming my favorite!*
  • Best part ever - a 2 part interview with Andy Hayes, a writer and another American expat I met through the Europe A La Carte Blog. He’s expated in both Amsterdam & Scotland, so we are going to talk about both!  This is the next Installment of Yankee Talks to an Expat

What’s on People’s Travel Minds this week? Christmas!! (Lacking on the Hanukkah posts, anyone know of any?)

Talk to you all soon!

If you feel like sharing your holiday post, please take the time to comment, share your own hostel tips, and subscribe to my feed, so you can have more whenever you want! :wink: I would love to hear what you all did for the holidays!

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Someone’s Taken Over My Blog! Foreshadowing Visits to Western Europe…

December 28, 2008 – 12:13 pm
Troy Aikman NFL Football
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I let someone hijack my blog last night, just to see how it goes…. Here’s an intro guest post from Troy Aikman (Not the one pictured on the box.)

I am currently staying with the author’s roommate for 3 weeks while on vacation.  When I tell co-workers, or friends or whatever, that I am vacationing in Europe, they get excited.  Then, I quickly correct myself.  Any preconceived ideas you have about Europe do not apply to where I am going.

Thoughts about touring ancient lands full of interesting, historical landmarks, or discovering new ways of thinking about life, partying until 5 in the morning, etc - Well, they all come to die here in Debrecen, Hungary.

Hungary, of course, was communist 20 years ago or so and is not the first place you would think about visiting if you were planning on travelling in Europe.  Additionally, if you decided, for some reason or another, that you were going to visit this Eastern European Mecca - the only place you would think about seeing would be its capital city, Budapest. Well, unfortunately, I only get to see Budapest from about 20 km or so from downtown after I land in its airport. Then, it’s a 2 hour train ride to the sprawling metropolis of Debrecen, where I currently have enough free time to write for this website.

Of course, this “Dumbpressin’” (an awesome nickname I made for the city)  story is kind of a rouse, because last year I was in the exact same situation and my girlfriend and I managed to visit Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Rome among others places while launching from this lonely city.  If the S-train [Editor's note: the author aforementioned] allows me to, I will write about my excursions to these sick, wicked, and nasty places.  Run it wild.

It’s time for brunch y’all, but I’d thought I’d let this percolate…

What do you think guys? Should I let him? I am inclined to say yes. Is your curiousity as piqued as mine?

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Hostelling in Europe - Travel Advice from Craig Martin

December 27, 2008 – 10:20 am

This guest post was written by Craig Martin, co-host of the Indie Travel Podcast and Travel Talks, and the author of  Travelling Europe. You know I am a big fan of him and Linda, and he was kind enough to send some quality travel advice your way. Craig is one of the most European Travelled people I know, so who better? (other than me, of course) As a follow up to my 9 Hot Ways to Find a Non-Hostile Hostel, Craig shares his tips for a safe and successful - as well as fun - hostel experience.

Students on both sides of the Atlantic are looking for ways to save money on their European holidays. [that's "vacations" for American readers] While sleeping on the train is an option, it’s not one that appeals after a few nights of interrupted sleep.

Hostels provide relatively cheap, safe and sanitary accommodation while giving the lonely traveller an instant group of like-minded friends and a gold mine of independent travel advice and recommendations. While Europe is never going to be cheap here’s some suggestions for finding great, low-cost accommodation.

Know what you want

Arriving late and need something close to the station? Trying to chase hangovers through as many cities as possible? Looking for a homely place to relax for a few days? For a hostel to meet your expectations, you’ve first got to know what your expectations actually are. Have a think about how rowdy you’d like your hostel to be before booking in.

Read the reviews

Most hostel booking sites have visitor-driven feedback: travellers assign ratings and write their own reviews. It’s well worth reading these to help you decide if it’s your type of hostel. I’m not much of a party type, but I do like amenities such as a cafe lounge or bar. Looking at the “fun” rating lets me know if I’ll be sleeping through the night or being forced to keep drinking just to keep my sanity.

It should be noted that hostel booking engines do have a commercial interest in you booking a hostel. They might edit or censor extreme (or libelous!) “reviews”. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something to remember.

I know it can seem like work, but please take five minutes to review your hostel stay and help out the rest of the travel community.

Book through someone you trust

During low season it is often fine to show up at the door of any hostel and book yourself in for the night. However Internet bookings are quickly becoming the standard, and sometimes force walk-in travellers back out the door again.

It pays to book ahead if you like to be organised, are on a tight schedule, are going somewhere with few options, or are travelling during peak times. I often use Hostelbookers and, in the past, have also booked with Hostelworld and through the new hostel comparison site TFT Hostels. Hostelbookers has no extra booking fees so is often the cheapest option. Hostelworld has a membership system which removes the booking fee for a yearly subscription price.

[Editor's note - To hear more in depth review of these hostel booking sites, check out this audio of Craig reviewing them on the Indie Travel Podcast.]

iguazu hostel inn 07
Image by anna_t via Flickr

European hostels

In general European hostels are well managed, well maintained and have great amenities. There are, however, some things to note:

  • Sleeping bags are (often) not required. To prevent the spread of bugs many hostels now provide bed linen as part of the cost or for a small supplementary price. Lighten your luggage by looking out for “free linen supplied”.
  • Kitchen access is not standard. Unlike hostels in many other parts of the world, access to a kitchen is often not part of the hostel. Many have their own “restaurant” or agreements for discounts with local businesses.
  • Free beer is good; a clean hostel is better. I’ve been to many hostels which offer free meals or drinks to entice you to stay. This is great…but don’t make a single drink the only factor in your decision.
  • Make use of security arrangements like lockers and safes. I’ve never had anything stolen, but met some incautious people who have.
  • Beware of “illegal” hostels. In some countries, especially in Eastern Europe, foreign travellers must register their place of accommodation with the local police. Hotels or hostels are meant to do this for you but I once spent an afternoon talking with immigration police thanks to my hostel manager not bothering with this…or paying taxes…or registering as a place of accommodation. Apparently she’d been doing it for about 10 years so no-one really minded. It was just a waste of an afternoon.

Get out there

Travelling in Europe is a fantastic way to spend a few weeks or, with the right visas, a few years. Hostels are a great place to stay…and not just to help the budget stay healthy.

If you feel like dropping the train sleeping and booking a hostel, please take the time to comment, share your own hostel tips, and subscribe to my feed, so you can have more whenever you want! :wink:

Oh, and P.S. if you like Craig’s tips, be sure to check out his book, Travelling Europe. There is a link explaining more about it in the right sidebar, or by clicking here.

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Move to Europe. Now there’s a resolution!

December 26, 2008 – 11:47 am

Is it Boxing day? No, it’s resolution making day. Time to make all my New Year resolutions. Missions, I like to call them missions. Sounds more exciting! Time to box away the old and make room for the NEW in my life.

This year, my missions are:

  • Pass all exams with a 4 or 5. (Anatomy better be a 5).
  • Pick up where I left off with the Make Your Move to Europe Series
  • Pay all my rent on tutoring alone.
  • Enjoy Life and appreciate all my friends, real and virtual - that includes all of you!!
  • Stay thankful for all I have now
  • Put myself first sometimes
  • Get back in touch - and stay that way - with old friends.

Suggestions to add to this?

If you haven’t done it already - here’s a resolution for you: Move to Europe.

What??!!! Want to know why? Check out this guest post I did at CollazoProjects.com, about why you should make moving to Europe your New Year’s resolution. (Ok, I admit, it’s a bit selfish - I want to be able to see you all) Here’s a link to my Guest Post:

Move to Europe! Now there’s a resolution!

P.S. What are your New Year’s Missions? If you aren’t moving to Europe or if you are hear already, at least come visit me, will ya?

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