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Hi Teamliquid!
I will shortly be leaving my lovely home country of Canada to experience Europe for the first time. I'll be there from late February to mid-March. I plan on visiting France, Spain, Italy, Greece & Cyprus, mainly coastal Mediterranean cities. I'm sure many of you have traveled/lived there and I would love to hear great spots to visit and things to do that I won't find in a mainstream guidebook.
The other big question I have right now is what to do about phone/data. I currently have an unlocked blackberry, can I get a prepaid europe-wide phone and data plan when I get there? From what I've read on line that seems pretty difficult. If not what's the best option to go with on this?
My schedule is pretty flexible on this trip although there are certain things that I'm really interested in doing: absorbing some local cultures (ie, spend more time in places than is required to do the touristy things), seeing old world historical sites, improving my french, partying with friends I make along the way, and skiing in the alps for a day or two!
If you are traveling/live somewhere along my route and these things interest you/would be kind enough to show me around let me know and maybe we can meet up! I'm 24 and have a moderate budget for the trip (generally keeping it low-cost but can afford the odd luxury).
Thanks for all your help!
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I wish I would go on a road trip around europe  . Have a nice trip, man, you`ve chosen pretty nice places to visit.
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Leave the bb at home and get a pre-paid shitty phone. Waste of money to bring the bb and you're just asking to get robbed/lose it.
I assume you're doing hostels?
I'm pretty sure it's still fairly chilly out there, even in the warmer areas... i'd do a little research. I just know summer is insane hot there.
If you wanna see historical, beautiful stuff, you must stop at rome along the way. Greece, I was in Hios and it is gorgeous... it's basically a Greek resident costal resort village. I probably wouldn't have gone there if it weren't for my greek friend, as not a lot of people speak english there, when compared to more touristy areas. Also, have any and all seafood you can in Greece, esp the octopus.
Italian seafood is sick too. I went to some little mob village outside of Palermo in siciliy and had the freshest stuff everrrrrr.
but yeah, post more specific questions and i can help you possibly. I went last year for almost a month, hitting, Spain (Madrid and Pamplona for the Run of the Bulls), England (london), Amsterdam, Rome, Palermo and Hios, Greece.
I think my biggest take away from the trip is that the rail pass aint nearly as cost effective as you'd think. You can fly almost anywhere for comparable price, and much faster, on some random Euro airline. Also, FUCK SLEEPER TRAINS
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Hawk, thanks for the info. The cities I plan on visiting right now include Paris, Marseille, Cannes/Nice/Monaco, Barcelona, Granada/Malaga, Rome, Naples, Venice, Athens, and as many islands as I can reasonably see. This could all change of course when I get there...
The seafood sounds delicious, can't wait!
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I'll try to find you some posts I did on Rome a while back. that's really the most I can help you with, as I only apssed through paris and athens =[
Barca is supposed to be gorgeous. Spanish food is great too. I could eat paella and bocadillas alllllll day.
The only other general tip I can think of now would just be to learn basic phrases for each language when you visit. Simple, 'hi my name is' 'please' etc. You don't actually have to know shit, but by showing the effort most people who 'dont speak english' suddenly are blessed with the power of talking once you meet them half way!
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I have visited Barcelona and there was so much to see! You should visit there, if you plan visiting Spain... really nice place 
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Damn no Eastern Europe? Visit Belgrade if your looking to party like an animal Id suggest going to sensation white there (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sensation-White-in-Serbia-Belgrade-21-MAY-2011/180423815302324)
My friend back home bought me a ticket but Im still debating going back home that early...
Dubrovnik in Croatia is also a crazy party city right on the coast of the Adriatic sea... but its really a july/august type of place
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Damn no Eastern Europe? Visit Belgrade if your looking to party like an animal Id suggest going to sensation white there (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sensation-White-in-Serbia-Belgrade-21-MAY-2011/180423815302324)
My friend back home bought me a ticket but Im still debating going back home that early in the summer break...
Dubrovnik in Croatia is also a crazy party city right on the coast of the Adriatic sea... but its really a july/august type of place
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On February 08 2011 02:49 dapierow wrote:
double post
no, triple 
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Dapierow, I'd love to visit eastern Europe although I don't think February-March is the time to do it. I've heard amazing things about Prague, Budapest and Croatian beaches so maybe next trip
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If you're only going to be there for a few weeks, I'd perhaps try and cut out some stuff from your plans. You're not going to have an immersive cultural experience in 5 countries, visiting more than obvious tourist locations, in only 2-3 weeks(Late Feb to mid March)
However I hope you have a great holiday :D
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Paris + catacombs + discos is great
So is the south of France
Barca is good, but overpriced
Prague is nuts
Zurich is pretty overpriced and not that fun
Rome is a lot of fun if you can make some local friends there
Florence is great if you're into hooking up with art students
Hostels are better than hotels--you'll make more friends in hostels and they're cheaper. However if you've got a crew set up already then no need, up to you
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come to germany! berlin especially! unless youre a nerd and not into going out and clubbing and bars and shit and tons fo girls. otherwise feel free to come by and ill take you for a tour :-)
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Profail: I've got about a month but you raise a good point. Thanks for the wishes!
L0st romantic: Thanks for the advice, the catacombs sound really cool and I love french house music. What's a good way to meet locals in Rome? I speak very little Italian. Will obviously be hosteling most of the way.
krok: Berlin is a bit off my route but I've heard that flights are pretty cheap in Europe so I'll definitely think about it!
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EPT
