OzBarganing My European Road Trip!

The Wololo Wombat on 13/03/2017 - 11:30
Last edited 13/03/2017 - 12:51

Hi,

In December last year, I found a crazy flight deal flying into Rome, flying out of Budapest for $870 return, over the (QLD) easter school holidays (via secretflying.com) with Air China.

I'm a 26yo high school teacher, so this was perfect. It's going to be a whirlwind trip! Arriving on the 2nd of April, leaving on the 14th with myself, missus and two mates (poor missus!)

We've looked into getting a rail pass, but, between the four of us, parking, fuel and car hire is almost certainly cheaper!

Here's our itinerary, and 'general route' (google map link) (six cities in total)
https://goo.gl/1bLvF4

We're only spending two nights in each location, though we are snowboarding for 3 nights in Obertauern. We've already booked accommodation, but I'd love any tips from the Ozbargain community on any of the following:

1: Places of interest along our route (maybe road stops, cool towns, anything!)

2: Places of interest on our stops (cities)

3: Best website/way to hire a car (spacious enough for four people + luggage)

4: Tips for parking

5: Any public scoldings for the speed/style of the trip (i.e "how DARE you only spend two nights in the ETERNAL CITY!")

PS. We found a way to get 12GB of mobile data which works across ALL the countries we are visiting for ~$36AUD. How? Get a 3 Mobile UK sim, (free delivery in the UK) sim and add £20 credit. They have a 'feel at home' program where you can get 12GB data (and UK calls) for use across almost all of Europe. I conveniently have a friend who lives in the UK, returning next week. He's bringing me back the sim, but you can get a 'shipping fwding' service to do the same for you. http://www.three.co.uk/store/SIM

PPS. Do I need an international license?

Travel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 13/03/2017 - 11:40
    +1

    nice trip.

  • toniyellow on 13/03/2017 - 12:40

    Instead of a rail pass, just look into point to point tickets. Rail passes are often more expensive but very flexible which is their attraction, individual sale fares is where the bargains are. Since you are going to a lot of larger cities, I think it would be a lot more relaxing just to take the train in to the centre of town.

    I drove a car around Greece, and whilst it was nice, the ability to stop wherever we wanted to get a view, and we covered a lot of places not accessible, by train, it was also quite stressful. The drivers a truly mental, lots of serious speeding around blind corners in rural areas, tiny narrow laneways in the city that you need to go down blocked with cars parked haphazardly, meaning you have to re-navigate a lot. The cost of tolls was a lot more than expected, info on the internet was way out of date (this may be more relevant to Greece and their government troubles). Public holidays had a significant impact on traffic, I was caught in a few 3 hour traffic jams, so be careful if you are going around a holiday weekend. Some hotels had said they had reserved parking, it was full and we had to park quite far out of town or in pay garages to get the car somewhere fairly safe where it wouldn't get dinged up, a real concern from the state of every other car parked around, and I didn't want the hassle of dealing with a damaged rental car. I enjoyed it, but I spent a lot of time thinking about the car. If I had the option of a train, I would take it.

    We found our rental through economycarrentals.com. Were matched with a tiny rental agency, had a good experience.

    • The Wololo Wombat on 13/03/2017 - 12:53
      +1

      Don't understand why this was negg'd! I think it's sound advice :) Thanks, I will reconsider the need for a car. Do you have any idea how expensive tolls are?

      • toniyellow on 13/03/2017 - 13:24

        In Greece there were lots of small ones around 2 EUR, but a few significant ones around 20EUR, new bridges mostly. I do remember trying to map it out beforehand, but there were more than we expected, and the bridges had risen significantly. One only took coins for a reason I can't remember and we had to stop in the middle of the bridge and literally search to car for every coin. That was in a very quiet area though so we didn't block traffic and is one of those things that ends up being a funny story later.

  • Gunther on 13/03/2017 - 12:40
    +1

    One-way rental fees returning to ANOTHER country will be huge, so be aware of that.

    • The Wololo Wombat on 18/03/2017 - 15:04

      Wow. You are right. €900 I was quoted! YIKES!

  • npc on 13/03/2017 - 12:45
    +1

    1: Verona near Venice, have a stop/lunch/walk in Salzburg, don't eat in the city center of Prague (expensive and low quality, restaurants in more remote zones are much-much better),

    2: go to Vienna instead of Bratislava and possibly buy a cheap standing ticket to the opera.

    3: when you hire a car (especially from small/cheap places) make sure you have a sticker for the motorways attached. Applicable for Austria and Czech Republic if I remember it right..

    4: pay for parking:) or better use the public transport in the larger cities.

  • The Wololo Wombat on 13/03/2017 - 12:57

    Great advice! Thanks so much :) I've not heard about motorway stickers? Can you give me more info?

  • porkandbeans on 13/03/2017 - 14:09

    You shouldn't really have much trouble finding stuff to do in Italy. Between Rome and Florence there is a town called Orvieto right next to the A1 that looks pretty impressive from the road at least. Might be worth a short stop. Some museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, but that's the day you arrive so you might not be up to dealing with the crowds. Try to avoid the guys selling selfie sticks all throughout Italy and also the guys asking if you want a photo taken. And try not to make yourself a target for pickpockets. If you go to the Vatican museums, prepare to queue for ages. And make sure you exit the Sistine chapel via the door in the back right corner then go through the Papal tombs and you'll pop up inside St. Peter's. Haha suckers that had to go all the way around!

    Ignore this as I realised you're not staying in Florence, but if anyone else is going you can maybe use it! The central market (inside the pavilion) in Florence is quite nice and there's lots of places to eat upstairs. Grab a lampredotto while you're there if you can find it. Make sure you watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo. It's a bit of a hike but the view is gorgeous up there. Can get crowded though. There's also a really nice and mostly empty rose garden halfway up the steps that you can have a tactical nap in. Would recommend.

    Venice is venice. Spend some time wandering around then even more time trying to figure out where you are. The further east you wander the cheaper and less touristy it gets.

    Lot's of stuff to do in Prague, but you should definitely devote all your time to finding the cheapest beer! Kutna Hora might be a worthy detour on the way from Prague to Budapest. I never went but people loved it. It's the home of the bone church. Brno could also be worth a stop for a less touristy experience. Bratislava isn't a particularly memorable place so it's up to you whether you want to stop there. If you want to change money in Prague the best place to do it is here. Rumour has it it's run by the Russian mafia and that's why it's so cheap.

    In Budapest go and see the changing of the guard at the Buda castle. Happens every hour I think and it's fun to watch them do all their twirly gun tricks. The Fisherman's Bastian is up there too and is pretty cool. You get the best view of the city from the Citadel, it's cool to go up there at dusk. Best place to change money is "Correct Change". Avoid "Exclusive Change" like the plague.

    Oh and I think a law was passed in the EU recently that says any data plan bought in the EU can be used throughout the EU with no roaming fees. Actually nevermind, it doesn't come into effect until June. Go with the UK SIM.

    • The Wololo Wombat on 18/03/2017 - 15:05

      This is fantastic advice! Thanks so much :)

  • undercut on 13/03/2017 - 14:49

    Cool trip :) Train connections are really good in Europe, so maybe rethink the car hire, especially if you're renting one way (expensive!).

    Parking is a bitch in Italy, and you need to watch out for the Zona Trafico Limitato (if you accidentally stray into these areas, you'll be fined around €100). Take the train between the Italian cities - compare both www.trenitalia.it and www.italotreno.it for fares. You should buy the tickets ASAP since you're travelling in a busy season. The train rides are short, and relatively cheap (around €19.90 Rome-Florence on Italotreno and a 1.5hr journey). And much more relaxing and time-efficient than trying to find parking when you arrive.

    Also agree with Vienna instead of Bratislava. Much more to do and see, and more beautiful. Munich is not far off the track (1.5hr train ride from Salzburg), and is a beautiful city with excellent beer gardens and beer halls. Check out the dudes surfing on the River Eisbach. The train from Munich to Prague takes around 4.5 hours and fares go for as cheap as €15. Check out http://www.seat61.com/ for the best advice on getting cheap tickets. Be aware that if you don't reserve a seat, it may be standing room only if the train is really busy.

    Pack light. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is great, and can be taken as carry on luggage so you can avoid baggage fees. If you stay in Airbnbs, they will usually have a washing machine (but just be aware that dryers are quite rare in Italy, so you'll need to air dry your clothes). Get some quick dry pants vs. jeans. Staying in apartments will also allow you to self-cater - supermarkets in Europe are pretty damn cheap (esp. Aldi, Lidl, Hofer). And a 500mL can of beer will only set you back about a euro.

    • undercut on 13/03/2017 - 15:01

      Oops, sorry, just realised you're not staying in Florence!

      I would change the itinerary a bit. 2 nights is too short for my liking!
      Add Florence, skip Ljubljana, skip Prague (marvellous city, but I feel like you're cramming too much in!)

      2 nights Rome
      1 night Florence
      2 nights Venice
      3 nights Obertauern
      2 nights Vienna
      2 nights Budapest

      • undercut on 13/03/2017 - 15:03

        Yes you will need an international licence if you decide to drive. Rental company checked ours in Italy.

        Looks like it may be necessary to rent a car to get from Venice to Obertauern. Train connections look pretty long.

        • mskeggs on 13/03/2017 - 15:21

          I have rented a car in Italy with no international licence. Best to ask the rental company you plan to use.

  • try2bhelpful on 13/03/2017 - 15:20
    +2

    You are going for way too short a time. If we go to Europe it is a 4 week minimum. You are going to spend more time travelling than you are seeing the cities. European highlights for me are Paris, Rome, Como, Florence, Vienna and Interlaken Switzerland. Prague was interesting but we had too much go wrong, so it was a tad spoiled for us. We have travelled by car and by train in Europe. If you are mainly staying in major cities then go by train and use public transport - walk. If you want to see further afield, e.g. Loire Valley, Tuscany, etc then get a car so you can be flexible.

    • mskeggs on 13/03/2017 - 15:29
      +1

      I share the timing view, but accept school teachers have to take what they can get!

      I can only talk about the Italian portion of the trip, but I would definitely include Florence.
      If driving, a stop off in Sienna and/or other Tuscan town is a must. They are unspeakably lovely, and the food etc. is excellent.
      If you end up on the train (which I think is more pleasant) you get to arrive centrally, often with a car you need to park on the periphery. But you also need to lug your gear around. Swings and roundabouts.

      Driving in Italy is eye opening, but I found it pretty fun, providing you are happy to be forthright in claiming right of way and prepared to shake your head in surprise at some of the things other drivers are doing. And remember, they park like we crash, so pay the extra insurance.

      • try2bhelpful on 13/03/2017 - 15:43

        +1 on Sienna - just gorgeous. The Italian supermarkets we went into were 1/2 deli, the markets are even better. We always made sure we had tomatoes, basil, buffalo mozzarella and proscuitto so we could always have an impromptu meal. Do not go to restaurants near a tourist attraction - stray a bit further out and the cost is usually much lower.

        My other half did the driving and he thinks that Italy is better than France - everyone in Italy drives nuts so they are more forgiving if you screw up. If you do intend to drive don't go south of Rome - the narrow paths are crazy and full of buses. We had a tour that took us to Sorrento and Pompei - both were really interesting, came with a tour guide and the bus driver had the stress. (Although watching the tour guide cross herself every now and again added a certain frisson to the trip).

  • keepa on 16/03/2017 - 09:51

    Some toll roads in Europe can be expensive so double check this on your google road trip. I know some in Switzerland can cost 20-30 euro for a one way trip on a toll road.

    Just something to look out for.

    If you don't have any specific travel cards for purchases, get yourself a 28 degrees MasterCard (for purchases) and Citibank debit card (for ATM cash out).

    AUD to Euro conversion is pretty strong this week, I would consider getting some cash converted so you have something when you land. I use Travel Money Oz (http://www.travelmoneyoz.com/stores) for currency conversion because there's one a few minutes away from my work. They will always beat any rate and don't charge any fees, so I just find the best rate using Auspost, travelex or banks before I go.

  • The Wololo Wombat on 18/03/2017 - 15:16

    UPDATE:

    Thanks everyone for all your advice. I wanted to update you on our plans and say thanks for all your help. It was invaluable.

    Because we had booked accommodation, the itinerary wasn't changed. However, we were not able to hire a car for the whole journey. One of my good friends is travelling at the moment, so he has agreed to travel with us in a hire car from Venice, drive with us into Slovenia, then into the snow in Austria, then drop the three of us off in Salzburg, then drive the car back to Venice (so we don't pay the exorbitant one-way fees)

    That means that the Rome-Venice, Salzburg-Prague and Prague-Budapest sections trip will be done via train (which is probably way easier!) A big blessing to have my friend for that part of the trip, because the route is very poorly connected via public transport (as was pointed out). Seat61 was a big help.

    I biggest issue, however, was finding a suitable hire car. We needed a large hire car (for four people) with luggage, with the ability to travel into Slovenia and Austria and (most importantly) with Winter Tyres…. winter tyres are compulsory in Austria until the 15th of June (we arrive on the 8th), very few companies offer them! We ended up getting a Renault Megane from Europcar for $564AUD (6th April-13th April). This is about twice as expensive as options without winter tyres!

    I HATE WINTER TYRES!!!!!! Literally spent 6hrs trying to look for a good deal and $564 was the best I could find….

    If anyone has any further suggestions or update, plz let me know :)

    Thanks again!

  • ilikeradiohead on 22/03/2017 - 14:37

    I'm not sure if you have it on your list, but you drive right past Bled in Slovenia, you should stop there for a few hours on your way to Ljubljana , it's really nice. Also as others said Vienna good, I'd go there over Bratislava, however if your accom is booked you can still do a day trip there, the return train was 14EUR in 2010, but I imagine not much more if it's changed since then.

    Also, while in Austria, even if you don't go to Vienna, get some Almdudler, it's like a herb drink, it's really good and the #1 product I miss from there haha.

  • jjjaar on 23/03/2017 - 08:03

    I'd prioritise Slovenia over Austria. Google Lake Bled and postojna caves. Then go there. You won't be disappointed.

    If you go that route you can hit north eastern Italy well including Padua, Venice and Trieste.

  • bargainlurker on 29/03/2017 - 16:20

    If you intend to take the train into or out of Prague I would be aware that Hlvani nadrazi is probably the dodgiest place in Prague. I lived in Prague for 7 months in 2015 and found it to be extremely safe with the exception of the main train station (which tends to be the case in all major European cities). It wasn't 'dangerous' per se but I once did witness 4 drug deals (the white powder kind) in plain sight when I was there around ~7am in the morning once.

    If you do end up driving I would recommend detouring slightly and popping into Cesky Krumlov, it's a quaint/beautiful medieval town (UNESCO heritage listed) and far surpasses Brno (which I thought just smelt really bad!)

    In the Czech Republic and other Central European countries I personally always found using buses to transit between cities easier. They're cheap, you only have to arrive 15 minutes before departing, you get to stop and get off for 15 minutes once or twice each trip. If you take StudentAgency they always had a selection of about 15 movies you could watch while you're on the bus too. I also always felt like my luggage was more secure in storage rather than just in the aisle/near the doors. I think my love for buses is mostly just personal preference though. Definitely take the trains in Italy.

    In terms of touristy things to do in Prague I would recommend using it as a walking city rather than visiting museums etc. If you've got the energy you can go from Prague castle (it's very cheap to enter St Vitus Cathedral) down through the lesser town, pop around to the John Lennon Wall then cross Charles Bridge and head north through the winding streets to Old Town Square. Once there go up the Clock Tower and see the absolutely wonderful view and people watch the people waiting for the Astronomical Clock to strike the hour (personally - very overrated). Then you can weave back around down the High Street into New Town and into Wenceslas Square and admire the beauty of the national museum. You can then keep exploring the New Town area or head West again and see the Dancing House, cross the Vltava again and up to Petrin Hill to watch the sunset over Prague. Alternatively, you can got to Letna Park (where there is an awesome beer hall) and watch it from there. Also personal favourite is Riegrovy Sady park in Vinohrady but that may be a little bit out of the way for the amount of time you have.

    Other extras are Kafka's grave, the Jewish quarter, Zizkov (has the most pubs for a single suburb in the world), Vysehrad.

    Also finally, always eat one street back from the main attractions. The food is usually better and A LOT cheaper. Download the AAA cab app if you intend to use cabs in Prague. The taxi drivers are notorious for blatantly ripping tourists off. If you do hail a cab ALWAYS ask for a price estimate before you get in. It's about 400-500 crowns for a cab to the airport so if they're quoting you anything more than 150-300 around town then they're ripping you off. Make sure if you take the trams/metro/buses (which are all absolutely excellent) that you validate your ticket in one of the yellow boxes. Would recommend just buying a 48/72 hour pass or something similar as the ticket machines often take coins only which is a real pain in the ass.

    Keep in mind that smoking inside is still legal in Prague (until mid this year) so if any of you have asthma etc choose places that have either split sections or are absolutely no smoking.

    Good Czech beers are - Staroparman, Kozel (there's a great dark variant too - Cerny is the Czech word) and Pilsner.

    Sorry didn't realise how long this post became. Finally, don't let the Czech people get you down. They can come across as rude, but they are very friendly but due to their history of repeated occupations (Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Hungarian Empire, Nazi Germany, the Soviets) they're quite closed off which can make them seem unwelcoming.

    TL;DR - MAKE SURE YOU GO TO PRAGUE!!

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