Way late responding to this thread, but maybe my thoughts will still be of some help... (sorry to bump old thread)
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Originally Posted by Hondaracer
So me and the GF going to be going to Europe next may for 3 weeks, we will be doing France, Italy, and Switzerland in that time
any tips, recommendations, places to eat you guys would recommend?
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If I understand your post correctly, are you saying you're not going to spend much time in Paris at all? IMO, that is a mistake, because Paris is one of (if not the) world's greatest cities. It has so much to offer that you could easily spend a month there and still feel like you've only scratched the surface.
At the very least, you should try to hit up the major sights (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe / Champs Elysee, Pont Neuf / Notre Dame, The Louvre, Montmartre, and Versaille). A hop-on, hop-off bus tour is a great way to get a feel for the city and see some of the must-see stuff.
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Originally Posted by strike66
I'm a noob when it comes to travel in non-english speaking countries. How do you get around especially with ordering food from non-touristy places? Always wondered that, you could point, but I would have no idea what I'm picking.
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In Northern Europe (Netherlands, Denmark, Scandanavia, western Germany, Switzerland, and Austria) the vast majority are nearly fluent in English. Language will almost never be a problem in these wealthy Northern countries.
In France and Italy, anyone who works in the tourism industry will speak English. Staff at hotels, tourist attractions, museums, etc almost always speak excellent English. Younger people and university educated folks in big cities also tend to speak at least some English, but many older people (especially outside big cities or touristy areas) often speak minimal English.
My general advice is to learn 3-5 words of the local language (ie. "hello", "please", "thanks", "excuse me") and use them whenever you can. Beyond that, you should be fine, but if you need a translation then ask people around you for help or go to a large hotel and talk to the concierge.
Big, brand-name hotels are your best friend when traveling... they have nice bathrooms, English speaking staff, local maps & brochures, and beach towels.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondaracer
Kind of a general question but is there like a general size bag all airlines will accept as a carry on? I plan to pack pretty light only a backpack
Posted via RS Mobile
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Yes. I assume you're flying Air Canada? They are generally decent for carry-on luggage, but there's both a weight and size limit. Check their website for details. You can usually get by with a carry-on bag that's slightly larger than their 'maximum allowed' size, but don't push it too much.
This isn't as much of an issue on trans-Atlantic flights, but the airplane's overhead bins tend to fill up quickly. If you're like me and you wait until the very last possible minute to board the airplane, then you run the risk of all overhead bins being full, and the airline staff will force you to check your bag at the gate. This is free, and there's no chance of your bag being lost since it will go straight down the stairs and into your plane's cargo hold.... but it means you need to take out all your airplane essentials (ie book, water, food, etc) and won't have access to the bag until you land. Also, it means you'll have to pick up the bag from the luggage carousel (no big deal, but adds an extra 20-30 mins at the airport when you arrive).
Anyway, hope that helps, have a great trip.
