My Recent Comments

1. Yes bring as much money as you can!! It all adds up. the worst thing is when you try and convert the euro to another currency. Don’t worry about it just spend what you want and have no regrets. I wish I spent my money better, but because we were so pressed for time constantly, I was rushed with my purchases and ended up with something other than what i really wanted! Next time I will buy that beautiful full-sized mask in Venice, or that gorgeous unusual handbag in Florence. Bargain down to 10 Euro for 3 scarves if you can, cause otherwise you’ll pay too much like I did. (12 euro for one). Food is expensive but good, toilets cost between 30 cents and 1 euro. buy lots of water. clothes are expensive too in most places, unless you find markets. I took 800 pounds and 1200 Euro in cash with me and spent about $1500 AUD on my Visa debit card. All in all I have some beautiful European souvenirs but nothing compares to the memories that you get :)

   Natalie on How much spending money should I bring? - Europe 16 posted on Aug. 29, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

2. I got back a month ago and still have the huge callouses on the balls of my feet from the looong walking days!! I even bought a new pair of Adidas sneakers in Paris to replace the dodgy Target ones I had brought with me. There were times when thongs were okay, especially as it was really hot. I wore nice black flats for nights out because you still do quite a trek around town on those nights out. Even normal flat shoes you can feel the cobblestones slipping around under your feet. It never ceased to amazed me as to why they did not just lay down large square metres of stone back in the day.. why bother cutting tiny tiny squares of it? lol.

   Natalie on Shoes and Footwear 11 posted on Aug. 29, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

3. The Royal National is really easy to get to from Russell Square station. the elevators up to the top are a bit weird at first, but convenient. when you come out, turn left and walk up that road. then turn right at the first major intersection and up ahead you will see the Royal National. it is huge you can’t miss it! Don’t forget to check out the good pub food downstairs at the London Pub!

   Natalie on Heathrow Airport (London) 11 posted on Aug. 29, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

4. My fiance and I just got back from the 20 day European Experience. We had a fantastic time and it was a novelty each time to see if the accomodation would be worse or better than the ones before it and if it had its own bathroom it scored very highly. Cabins in Paris were tiny and the hot water did not work in ours. They were also very dark with a tiny little window. Each place we stayed at were bunk beds, so I would not recommend this tour for a couple. However, our tour manager was awesome and tried to get us what he could. The Chalet in the wine region was really cool except for the steps. I wished I had a backpack and would gladly have left behind a few extra clothes. We had a hotel right in the centre of Cannes, only for one night and it was so hot we couldn’t sleep. but pleasant enough with good showers. We loved the cute caravans in Florence with the comfy bed and own bathroom. Rome was not too bad, a hassle to constantly walk 5 mins to toilet/shower block. the ones up the top were disgusting and the ones near the pool had small holes in the walls between male and female showers! The cabins in Venice were ok, unfortunately too close to the bar to sleep properly and people got bitten badly by the bed bugs. We enjoyed the cabin at Jungfrau Switzerland, the beautiful scenery was just fantastic and we loved the Austrian Gasthof in Hopfgarten. Grandma’s House at St Goar was sensationally homelike. My Fiance and I were split up for the hostel in Munich but the bunk bed was very comfortable. Really good European pillows. Our favourite though was the beautifully renovated hotel outside of Amsterdam. We were upgraded due to the regular one being overbooked. It was fantastic. Overall we had a great trip and the accomodation was just one small part.

   Natalie on Where you stay - Concept/Budget Tours 2 posted on Aug. 29, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate