THE BORE

General => Dysfunctional Hall of Fame => Topic started by: Bebpo on February 05, 2013, 01:11:59 AM

Title: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 05, 2013, 01:11:59 AM
DCharlie, Groo, anyone else from that area,

If you're going to stay in Belfast for 3 weeks in a school dorm, and that's your base, how possible is it to basically explore a ton of Ireland & UK and see lots of cool stuff in that time period without spending a fortune?
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 05, 2013, 01:49:25 AM
I've never been to Europe.  I'd like to do most of main Ireland/UK stuff in this trip so if I did a Euro trip next year I could skip UK and focus on other countries. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 05, 2013, 03:18:34 AM
for 3 weeks? psssh, at college (Belfast!) me and some friends once went literally to every county in Ireland in a single day (drinking a beer in each, for charity). It's a TINY little place. You can get to Dublin in one shot now on the train in a couple of hours, which is all you need to get started.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 05, 2013, 03:35:18 AM
I live in Dublin, just 2 hours away by train. Come chill brah, I got views over Dublin Bay and a spare bedroom so you can stay for free :pimp

I'll show you some sights and we can go hiking or something. When are you coming over?

It will be a great base for the UK/Ireland.

Things one should see in Ireland:
-Giants Causeway
-Cliffs of Moher
-Connemara
-Dublin
-Killarney
-Ring of Kerry

UK:
-London
-Brighton
-Highlands
-Wales
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mupepe on February 05, 2013, 10:29:14 AM
Cajole probably has the most UK knowledge here
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Don Flamenco on February 05, 2013, 10:47:08 AM
Europe is tiny (think less states and they're all smaller) and easy to get around, you can cover a lot in 3 weeks. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mr. Gundam on February 05, 2013, 11:04:11 AM
Europe is tiny (think less states and they're all smaller) and easy to get around, you can cover a lot in 3 weeks.

Yep. The train system is pretty awesome.

I've spent a lot of time in the Cambridge area if you find yourself there. I've got recommendations.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 05, 2013, 11:24:38 AM
Europe isnt smaller if you count our overseas empires.

spoiler (click to show/hide)
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
[close]
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 05, 2013, 06:52:44 PM
I live in Dublin, just 2 hours away by train. Come chill brah, I got views over Dublin Bay and a spare bedroom so you can stay for free :pimp

I'll show you some sights and we can go hiking or something. When are you coming over?

It will be a great base for the UK/Ireland.

Things one should see in Ireland:
-Giants Causeway
-Cliffs of Moher
-Connemara
-Dublin
-Killarney
-Ring of Kerry

UK:
-London
-Brighton
-Highlands
-Wales

My friend's doing this: 
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/IrishStudiesGateway/

July 22nd-Aug 9th.

I'd either do that program and go to some classes, skip some class depending on the day (depends on if I need to recover in class from the night before, or it's a nice day and I want to be out exploring), or I'll just get a hotel nearby and go separate from her group (her group is a bunch of college guys/girls & her professor from her college here).

Kosmo, hanging with you and hiking and stuff would be awesome.  Hopefully you're in town during that timeframe :)
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 05, 2013, 07:10:56 PM
to be clear

you cannot get from Ireland to the UK and back on the same fucking day

you would have to travel AROUND the UK

if you stay in Ireland, you will see Ireland
Title: Re: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Shaka Khan on February 05, 2013, 07:13:52 PM
Cajole probably has the most UK knowledge here
strokes beard.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 05, 2013, 07:18:38 PM
to be clear

you cannot get from Ireland to the UK and back on the same fucking day

you would have to travel AROUND the UK

if you stay in Ireland, you will see Ireland

Yeah, I understand that after looking at the Ferry times (though can get to northern UK in a couple of hours it seems).  Would likely go to UK a couple of times and stay for a few days each time.  Maybe 1 weekend trip to Scottland, one southern trip to London.  Then do day trips out of Belfast to see much of Ireland during the week.  Mainly just want to cut down on expenses of double dipping hotels since already get a permanent room at belfast for 3 weeks with this scenario.
Title: Re: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 05, 2013, 07:21:59 PM
Cajole probably has the most UK knowledge here


strokes beard.

Stop touching Cajole's gf!
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 05, 2013, 07:34:48 PM
to be clear

you cannot get from Ireland to the UK and back on the same fucking day

you would have to travel AROUND the UK

if you stay in Ireland, you will see Ireland

Yeah, I understand that after looking at the Ferry times (though can get to northern UK in a couple of hours it seems).  Would likely go to UK a couple of times and stay for a few days each time.  Maybe 1 weekend trip to Scottland, one southern trip to London.  Then do day trips out of Belfast to see much of Ireland during the week.  Mainly just want to cut down on expenses of double dipping hotels since already get a permanent room at belfast for 3 weeks with this scenario.

also why would you go to school

you are an adult

if you want to go to the UK for 3 weeks, just fucking go

and get a hotel or use airbnb.com

adult lyfe
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 05, 2013, 07:45:11 PM
Because the dorm room package is likely cheaper than a hotel (expedia check shows hotels near Queen's college are $200-300/night; dorm comes to about $110/night)?  Plus if you just want to chill for a few hours, you have interesting cultural classes you can attend?  Also, a chance to socialize with other foreigners hanging out in the area (going to the pub as a group) versus wandering around alone or with a friend? 

I get what you're saying and normally I'd do that, but I think there's some good advantages to doing it this way vs. solo traveling.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 05, 2013, 08:32:57 PM
https://www.airbnb.com/s/belfast--ireland?checkin=07%2F27%2F2013&checkout=08%2F09%2F2013&sw_lat=54.554981796137966&sw_lng=-5.995253378906227&ne_lat=54.64567048853942&ne_lng=-5.838698203124977&search_by_map=true

Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 05, 2013, 08:51:41 PM
Yeah, sorry, I don't feel comfortable living in a room in a stranger's house alone for 3 weeks and I'd rather be at a dorm with a private bathroom/shower than a hostel.   
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 05, 2013, 09:01:31 PM
We usually stay at BnBs when we're in my hometown - there just isn't enough space for the whole family to stay at my parent's. It's pretty great, really - a lot nicer than a hotel if you get on with the hosts. After a few days, the owner of the place was minding our kid while we ate and cooking off-the-menu meals to order and such. It's a lot easier to negotiate directly with the owner than talking to some concierge who will quote you the handbook.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 05, 2013, 10:51:39 PM
I'm in the UK now - as i'm unemployed i felt it was the best way to be around a county full of people also similarly inclined!

"Professionally Unemployed" as the local's like to call it.

8)

Oh and plus billions to the B&B suggestion - there's a few sites that rate each one and , in general, they're pretty awesome if you hit a place with a great host. I would not touch a dorm with a shitty stick.

Ideally ignoring costs :

From Belfast you can get to Stranraer or Liverpool from Scotland/England - i'd personally suggest a loop :

Belfast to Liverpool - day in Liverpool/trip to Chester - day in Manchester - South to London, 2 days in London - Up to York for the day - Newcastle for a day - Edinburgh for 2 days - Loch Lomond for day - Glasgow for a day - back to Stranraer for Ferry back.

For short burst 3 day trips -
Scotland Edition : Stranraer by Ferry then Glasgow and Edinburgh + Lock Lomond.
England : basically - ferrying it will make it impossible as Liverpool basically puts you in the North. So... you'd be looking at Liverpool/Chester/Manchester/York and the Lake District - all nice and all that, but - lets face it - London is the place to go in England, everywhere else is a footnote (not true, but hey) - The other option is to take an EasyJet budget (or, if you don't value your life or sanity or sanitation - Ryan Air) airline price and go directly into London. From there spend three days. There's so much to see in London - but it gives you the option to day trip out once.

Please note - trainfares are STUPID expensive - and if you want to travel before 10am? Lol... oh so Lol. My train ticket to the nearest City to my home town was 109 quid - which isn't that bad - but if i wanted to travel before 10am it becomes.... 420 quid. TE;DP.

Anyways, if you happen to be in the UK - or if any of you UK Scrotes are around - i'll be strangling hookers shopping in London from the night of the 19th until the morning of the 21st of THIS MONTH. Though i'm tempted to extend my holiday out a bit :O Dolite mandate and all that !


<Holly> ADDITIONAL </Holly>

I plugged in Easyjet to see how it would be cost wise :

Belfast Intl to London Gatwick
Dep Mon, 18 February 2013 20:55
Arr Mon, 18 February 2013 22:15

London Gatwick to Belfast Intl
Dep Fri, 22 February 2013 08:30
Arr Fri, 22 February 2013 10:00


Subtotal flights and options for all passengers:£60.98

Pretty good prices and worth it given the train from the ferry at Liverpool would cost you around 90 quid anyways.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 12:11:46 AM
Thanks dudes.

Maybe I'll look into BnBs, but honestly people scare me.  I'd rather deal with lifeless robot concierges.  I'm from America, we learn to be afraid of everything.


Sorry to hear about that DC, I thought you were like king of your workplace in Japan?  Can't believe they let you go.  That really sucks, especially since you've got a family.  So you're only going to be in the UK for this month?  Would love to see you again.  Been too long!  You're a great, great guy and it's always a pleasure to spend time with you :)


If I'm going to London it sounds like I'll probably just fly on Easyjet.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 06, 2013, 12:12:31 AM
was going to add that the UK is piss-boring but DC just proved that for me
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 12:26:35 AM
was going to add that the UK is piss-boring but DC just proved that for me

unless you like shitty weather, crap food, fighting/aggro, castles/history, The Beatles etc... yeah - the UK is largely a bit dull. I always get excited when i come back home but it wears down in 2 days - i'm already over that hump and i'm here for a few weeks more. The one huge bonus is that you can see the stars at nighttime and dream that you might get Alien abducted the feck out. Still... no one has tried to start a fight with me yet ! Another bonus is that a day lasts for a Tokyo Month. Did i say bonus? :/

Quote
Sorry to hear about that DC, I thought you were like king of your workplace in Japan?  Can't believe they let you go.  That really sucks, especially since you've got a family.  So you're only going to be in the UK for this month?  Would love to see you again.  Been too long!  You're a great, great guy and it's always a pleasure to spend time with you

Thanks for the concern and compliments but seriously - it's probably the best thing that's happened to me in the last 3 years (new son excluded). I'm in the UK as it's a golden chance to see my folks and it also means i can do some study whilst i'm here and job hunt without two small children crawling all over me :) I'm really excited - i love change and i -still- don't know what to do with myself. After 13 years in an insanely stressful job it's taken the last 2 weeks to get used to having very little to worry about. :) The basic thing now is what to do next - i have one mild opening (game industry :O ) and a few more solid ones (back to finance - front line - more pay than at previous company) but i really don't know what to do - i feel i've gotten my life back so to go back to finance feels like throwing away a chance to do something i enjoy. Plus - japanese unemployment benefit works out at 7200 yen a day for 240 days.... whilst the wife isn't too happy about me possibly sitting on my arse for 1-2 years, my ARSE is all for it! All i need to do in those two years is write the most amazing iphone game ever, learn N1 level japanese and win the UK Lottery! SIMPLES!
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 01:41:36 AM
was going to add that the UK is piss-boring but DC just proved that for me

unless you like shitty weather, crap food, fighting/aggro, castles/history, The Beatles etc... yeah - the UK is largely a bit dull. I always get excited when i come back home but it wears down in 2 days - i'm already over that hump and i'm here for a few weeks more. The one huge bonus is that you can see the stars at nighttime and dream that you might get Alien abducted the feck out. Still... no one has tried to start a fight with me yet ! Another bonus is that a day lasts for a Tokyo Month. Did i say bonus? :/

I really enjoy that stuff.  I probably explored half the castles in Japan.  We don't have much of it here in California.  We also don't even have green fields.  It's more like Fallout Mojave and cities here.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: CajoleJuice on February 06, 2013, 02:21:31 AM
Cajole probably has the most UK knowledge here


strokes beard.

Stop touching Cajole's gf!

:'(
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 02:21:47 AM
yeah, i wasnt really into history at school, but now i'm pretty interested.

Hence i suggested York and Chester. :)

Of course, London is absolutely packed with history
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 06, 2013, 02:33:37 AM
the UK is so fascinating that DC's Bore-posting rate has risen x1000 in the past 2 days
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 02:35:16 AM
it's the only thing that keeps me away from the knife drawer

Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 06, 2013, 02:45:17 AM
Yeah I was just about to post that BnB's are effin cheap here. Bebpo you said a 100 a night for a hostel? It's like 50 bucks for a BnB.
As DC said, public transport is super expensive in the UK, so book ahead like 1/2 weeks. In Ireland buses are cheap so don't worry.

Just come on over to dooblin and Ill show you a good time  :)

Also Charlie, where you at boo? Im flying to London/Brighton next sat.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 06, 2013, 02:50:34 AM
unless you like shitty weather, crap food, fighting/aggro, castles/history, The Beatles etc... yeah - the UK is largely a bit dull. I always get excited when i come back home but it wears down in 2 days - i'm already over that hump and i'm here for a few weeks more. The one huge bonus is that you can see the stars at nighttime and dream that you might get Alien abducted the feck out. Still... no one has tried to start a fight with me yet ! Another bonus is that a day lasts for a Tokyo Month. Did i say bonus? :/

Thats really only cause you're from the UK. I feel the same about Holland.

I really like the UK/Ireland, the whole mood is something like out of a movie. Even after almost 3.5 years here. I'd love to be able to move to London from Dublin.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 02:57:19 AM
I'm in Whitehaven, Cumbria at my folks.

I'm in Blackpool this weekend but not hitting London until the 19th
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 06, 2013, 02:59:36 AM
Are you shitting me? You live next to the Lake District?  :maf
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 03:01:11 AM
yeah, well - my folks do - i've not lived here since i was 18.

But yeah, the Lake District frigging rules (when the weather isn't shit)
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 06, 2013, 03:15:15 AM
Have you ever been on the Isle of Man? I've been looking at ferry tables, but im not sure what there is to do, except the TT ofc.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 03:19:26 AM
I've never been - you can see it from the port too - but , even though it's the shortest point to Isle of Man and even though we have a fully usable port, there's only ever been a ferry there for a few months back about 6 years ago.

Crazy . So you have to go Stranraer or Liverpool. :/
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Big Barry Jazz on February 06, 2013, 05:53:31 AM
If you stop by Oxford I'd be happy to give you a tour. I hope you enjoy architecture, museums, and dodging massive crowds of tourists. On second thoughts don't bother. We have far too many visitors here already.

All i need to do in those two years is write the most amazing iphone game ever, learn N1 level japanese and win the UK Lottery! SIMPLES!

Dream a little bigger, man. EuroMillions or bust.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 06, 2013, 06:01:28 AM
Man I hate losing in Euromillions when there is some mega jackpot!
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: radioheadrule83 on February 06, 2013, 06:29:03 AM
If people start rioting in Belfast again, get in doors hide under a table, practice your irish accent and never answer questions on matters of religion or the Union

Just kidding, you'll be fine.

Also, if you happen to venture over to Liverpool - I will look for you, I will find you and I will get you drunk. That's where I am. Obviously.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 06, 2013, 06:48:14 AM
You're in Pool radiohead?

I'm feeling like a UK/IRELAND Bore drinkfest :drool
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: radioheadrule83 on February 06, 2013, 06:51:29 AM
You're in Pool radiohead?

I'm feeling like a UK/IRELAND Bore drinkfest :drool

Aye short flight or ferry away :)

I've only been to Dublin once, with enough notice I'd be happy to hop over there. Last time I was over there I was going to the Oxegen festival at Punchestown
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 08:05:49 AM
There's a chance i might be venturing to Liverpool - let me figure something out.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 06, 2013, 08:50:07 AM
let me be really clear

a dorm is a stupid idea

you are not 19

don't stay in a dorm

give yourself the freedom to actually visit the UK
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 06, 2013, 11:09:28 AM
I would have to agree with our man here, but if are traveling alone you could mean nice people in dorms.

BUT you might not get any sleep.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 11:12:11 AM
Quote
Dream a little bigger, man. EuroMillions or bust.

got my ticks for tonight, going to be spunking on all the draws whilst i'm here.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 06, 2013, 11:20:31 AM
do you consider having your stuff stolen an important part of any international trip? if so please proceed to stay in a dorm
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 01:38:35 PM
Bebpo, you're making that phat lawyer cash.  You're a rainmaker.  Stay at a nice hotel or B n' B.  Money ain't a thang.   :pimp

Can't say I see the difference between the staff when it comes to staying at a bed and breakfast and a hotel- if you don't want to be bothered, let them know.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 01:40:38 PM
So I'm looking into BnBs and am I understanding it right, that it's a room in a person's home and they're still living there while you come and go?  I feel like that kind of setup would be problematic for coming home at 2-3am from the pub or even later after night adventures. 

I lived in a dorm once when I was 19 and in Japan for 6 months and it was pretty fun.  Met a lot of cool people and had good experiences.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 06, 2013, 01:44:01 PM
If you're afraid of BNBs, many rooms on airbnb.com are standalone apartments. You meet the owner at the start of your stay, get a key, do not see them for the rest of your trip. We used it on our honeymoon and had a clean apartment 3 minutes from King's Cross in London for $140 / night.

BNBs also get you great cooked breakfasts, local advice and guidance, etc. BNBs are the UK way; avoiding BNBs in the UK is like avoiding motels in America.

Pubs close at 11 PM anyhow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_call_(bar_term)#United_Kingdom

also, spoiler, you aren't 19

TIME BEPPU~ PLEASE

EDIT:

let me just re-iterate

if you stay in a dorm in Belfast, you will see Belfast. maybe 3 days in Scotland, 3 days in London, and a ton of time, energy, and sorrow getting to both.

if you want to see "the UK," ditch the dorm and be flexible in your accomodations. move your homebase.

also, DO NOT STAY IN A DORM
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 01:47:01 PM
Hmm, that's interesting.  Does that mean there's not much of a nightlife in Ireland/UK? 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 01:48:00 PM
So I'm looking into BnBs and am I understanding it right, that it's a room in a person's home and they're still living there while you come and go?  I feel like that kind of setup would be problematic for coming home at 2-3am from the pub or even later after night adventures. 

Depends on the place- last time I was at a BnB (in Italy) the staff had their own living quarters completely separate from the rest of the people staying there.  They didn't care when anyone came back.

Quote
I lived in a dorm once when I was 19 and in Japan for 6 months and it was pretty fun.  Met a lot of cool people and had good experiences.

You're not 19 anymore.  Do you really want to be the "old guy" who is completely out of place amongst all those teenagers?  Dorms  :yuck
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 01:50:06 PM
I haven't stayed at many BnBs, but thinking about it, I don't believe I've ever stayed at one that was the equivalent of a regular house with a room just being rented out.  People usually convert their houses to suit guests.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 01:52:27 PM
Ok, maybe I'll try the BnB route.  The hard thing is going to be coordinating where I'm going ahead of time, especially since I'm traveling with my friend who may need to be at the school in Belfast for Week 1 & 3 to get school credit.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 06, 2013, 01:53:10 PM
yeah, we stayed at one BNB and two airbnb.com apartments. the bnb room we had was actually completely detached (like a guest house), but the rooms in the house were on a separate floor, each had their own bathroom, etc.

BEBPO YOU ARE NOT A FUCKING TEENAGER ANYMORE

ACT YOUR FUCKING AGE

OKAY

IT'S EMBARASSING

THANK YOU

WHY IN THE NAME OF FUCK WOULD YOU STAY IN A DORMITORY
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 01:56:11 PM
While I'm not acting like a teenager, I am going with someone who "is" and is staying in the dorm so I'm just trying to figure out what is easiest and cheapest to have a good trip.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 01:57:15 PM
Also, if I go the BnB route, I guess that opens the trip up to expanding beyond Ireland/UK into other European countries.  Hmmmmm, will need to see what I can fit in without making my schedule feel rushed and packed.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 01:59:11 PM
While I'm not acting like a teenager, I am going with someone who "is" and is staying in the dorm so I'm just trying to figure out what is easiest and cheapest to have a good trip.

You're going on a trip with a teenager who has to go to school?
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 06, 2013, 02:06:38 PM
While I'm not acting like a teenager, I am going with someone who "is" and is staying in the dorm so I'm just trying to figure out what is easiest and cheapest to have a good trip.

You're going on a trip with a teenager who has to go to school?

yes. he intends to go on this Ireland/UK trip with another guy's girlfriend, they are "just friends." she's a teenager. Bebpo is not.

Bebpo, I am REALLY SORRY to air your sexy laundry in public, but this is the WORST POSSIBLE IDEA EVER IN THE HISTORY OF IDEAS and apparently several pages of people telling you that is not getting through your skull so it's time to go Full Nuclear Option

and oh my christ

PLEASE DON'T GO ON THIS WORST POSSIBLE TRIP OF WORST POSSIBLE PROPORTIONS

I just told Joe what you were planning (not even mentioning the girl) and he said

Quote
/faceplant
that is distinguished mentally-challenged and let me tell you not even the most obvious reason why
if he wanted to do this trip
he should just stay at a B&B or hotel or whatever
it's not like he's hard up for cash last I checked

YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS

PLEASE BE BETTER THAN THIS
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 02:18:36 PM
Oh, my.

No.  No no no no no no no no no.

Don't do it.

Bebpo   :(
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mr. Gundam on February 06, 2013, 02:19:54 PM
Really bad idea, man. Go to the UK, but don't go like this.

I feel like you're really trying hard to cling on to some lost sense of youth. You're in your early 30s, there is nothing wrong with that. Embrace it.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 02:22:16 PM
 ::)

Ok, before anyone gets misled by Treesong's post, I better clear this up.  I'm going with one of my best friends, who yes, is female, yes, is 20, yes, has a boyfriend (who is another one of my best friends as well), and yes, we are just friends.  I have zero interest in her at all on anything besides a friend level.  We hang out regularly all the time, sometimes with her bf, sometimes just the two of us.  Her bf's totally cool with that and says I'm the only guy he trusts her with.  Probably because he knows the girls that I like, and she is not my type at all.  It just happened to work out that I'd been planning a Europe trip for about a year (was supposed to go last fall with duckroll, but he backed out) and she's going to be doing a UK/Ireland trip in the summer so we said "hey, why not travel together and hang out in Europe so we're both not doing solo trips".  All my other friends can't afford a Europe trip (including her bf; and I've asked like 10+ people to come on this trip along with us).  I think Treesong is one of the the only three or so friend I have out of hundreds who actually has a decent paying job.  Most my friends are unemployed, contract employees, or make min wage.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 02:25:07 PM
Oh, my.

No.  No no no no no no no no no.

Don't do it.

Bebpo   :(


Really bad idea, man. Go to the UK, but don't go like this.

I feel like you're really trying hard to cling on to some lost sense of youth. You're in your early 30s, there is nothing wrong with that. Embrace it.

Too late.  Thanks Treesong for making everyone think the situation is totally different than it is. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: demi on February 06, 2013, 02:27:15 PM
Best of luck banging that hot teen
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: tiesto on February 06, 2013, 03:07:31 PM
Just a small anecdote, not entirely relevant but you may want to heed it - my friend went to Italy on a trip with a girl who was a friend of an ex.. he claimed he wasn't at all interested in her and she wasn't his type (which I can see - he is Jewish and goes for petite brunette Jewish girls, she is an Indian from Trinidad)... they shared a room at a hotel together to split costs... don't know the exact details of what happened but safe to say, they don't talk anymore. And at this point, neither of them were in a relationship...

I mean, definitely go to the UK by all means (I fucking LOVED when I got to go to London), though you're better off going by yourself at this point!

I stayed at a BnB in the Hamptons (lame LI Hamptons not Wolverhampton or any of the UK hampton places, lol) and it was pretty cool. Spent the night out there for new years.. not sure if it's like how a UK BnB is - was run by an older lady who fed us breakfast in the morning, and there was one other couple staying there - so the 5 of us socialized over breakfast. The room and bed were kinda small, and the bathroom was really tiny but still it was very cozy and (mostly) isolated. The LI hamptons are a big resort area in the summertime (lots of celebs have their houses out here) but absolutely DEAD in the winter which made things even more cozy.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mr. Gundam on February 06, 2013, 03:15:29 PM
Dude, I just think staying in a dorm at 31 is weird. My response is before the whole teenage girl stuff started blowing up.

I also think staying at a hostel is weird, so go figure.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 06, 2013, 03:47:14 PM
Dude... go to the UK and have fun.  Spend maybe 3-4 days in Belfast with your friend, but I have to agree with everyone else... if you're going to experience shit, be mobile and move around.  Coordinate with your friend and when SHE'S got downtime, have HER come to YOU, where you are out having fun and seeing cool shit. 

How the fuck doesn't that make sense?  I'm not even talking about the "going to the UK with someone else's 20 year old gf" thing, I'm just talking logistics... your plan sucks about a metric fuckton of dicks.  You're not dating this girl, don't have any romantic interest in her... if she has to be tethered to Belfast, that's something I'd call "her problem" while I'm out exploring the UK and having fun.  By all means set aside some time to hang with her, and like I said maybe coordinate so that she can easily get to you to see sites and shit like that... but tethering yourself to one location is the opposite of smart.  DON'T BE NOT SMART.

And yes, dorms are for people who are her age.  BE AN ADULT. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 03:51:45 PM
I think Treesong is one of the the only three or so friend I have out of hundreds who actually has a decent paying job.  Most my friends are unemployed, contract employees, or make min wage.

Maybe I'll look into BnBs, but honestly people scare me

 ???

spoiler (click to show/hide)
:P
[close]

Dude, I just think staying in a dorm at 31 is weird. My response is before the whole teenage girl stuff started blowing up.

Agreed. 

Dude... go to the UK and have fun.  Spend maybe 3-4 days in Belfast with your friend, but I have to agree with everyone else... if you're going to experience shit, be mobile and move around.  Coordinate with your friend and when SHE'S got downtime, have HER come to YOU, where you are out having fun and seeing cool shit. 

How the fuck doesn't that make sense?  I'm not even talking about the "going to the UK with someone else's 20 year old gf" thing, I'm just talking logistics... your plan sucks about a metric fuckton of dicks.  You're not dating this girl, don't have any romantic interest in her... if she has to be tethered to Belfast, that's something I'd call "her problem" while I'm out exploring the UK and having fun.  By all means set aside some time to hang with her, and like I said maybe coordinate so that she can easily get to you to see sites and shit like that... but tethering yourself to one location is the opposite of smart.  DON'T BE NOT SMART.

And yes, dorms are for people who are her age.  BE AN ADULT.

Yup.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 06, 2013, 03:52:34 PM
Oh, my.

No.  No no no no no no no no no.

Don't do it.

Bebpo   :(


Really bad idea, man. Go to the UK, but don't go like this.

I feel like you're really trying hard to cling on to some lost sense of youth. You're in your early 30s, there is nothing wrong with that. Embrace it.

Too late.  Thanks Treesong for making everyone think the situation is totally different than it is.

Duuuude... I think you're missing the point.  Let's toss out the girl for a minute.

You're apparently a moderately financially successful human being, who wants to go to the UK to see cool shit... and to accomplish this you're going to hang out in dorms with shitty teenagers and people in their young twenties when you could apparently easily afford decent accommodations. 

THERE IS LITERALLY NO GOOD REASON FOR THAT.  Not even if you WERE dating/interested in this girl.  Her accommodation restrictions are HER problem.  Don't let HER problems become YOUR problems.  Ain't nobody got time for that!
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mupepe on February 06, 2013, 04:15:09 PM
I ditched my mom and sister on vacation because they had plans that didn't interest me and were bogging down what I wanted to do on my vacation.  I certainly wouldn't do put up with it for a friend on a trip to Europe.  I'm not going to compromise my experience for anyone.  Vacations are expensive and I don't get that much goddamn free time in a year.  My $.02
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 04:18:13 PM
Like always, people give me the "You are a lawyer, you must have so much money, why be stingy?" thing.  Yet they have no idea what I make.  To put it in perspective, my friend who graduated with me and has been working for 2 and a half years as a lawyer started at 45k/yr.  He now makes 50k/yr.  I started a higher, but not significantly.  These days most Network Administrators make more money than Lawyers.  Or Web Developers.  Or even a good plumber.  Unless you're a big shot lawyer at a big shot firm, you aren't making six figures off the bat as a 30 year old.  It takes a decade of work experience before you hit those numbers for most.

I live fairly close to paycheck to paycheck.  Put away about $0-500 a month in savings depending on what I spend and that's being single with no dependents.  I'm not spending all this "extra money" I have lying around when I go on vacations.  This trip is probably going to cost anywhere from $6-8k (not to mention a half month+ of earnings that I lose at my job [no paid vacation at my job!]).  I'm spending the money I've saved up and would otherwise be investing with.  I haven't been on a vacation in almost 2 years because I can't afford it and have been saving up to do a big Europe trip.

So yeah, money is a pretty big factor in trip planning.  The reason I was going to stay at the dorm was because it was A LOT cheaper than staying at decent hotels.  That's also why I was going to be tied to the Belfast area.  Now that I've found out about BnBs and done some research on them, it looks like I'll probably go that route since it's even cheaper than the dorm.     

Dude... go to the UK and have fun.  Spend maybe 3-4 days in Belfast with your friend, but I have to agree with everyone else... if you're going to experience shit, be mobile and move around.  Coordinate with your friend and when SHE'S got downtime, have HER come to YOU, where you are out having fun and seeing cool shit. 

How the fuck doesn't that make sense?  I'm not even talking about the "going to the UK with someone else's 20 year old gf" thing, I'm just talking logistics... your plan sucks about a metric fuckton of dicks.  You're not dating this girl, don't have any romantic interest in her... if she has to be tethered to Belfast, that's something I'd call "her problem" while I'm out exploring the UK and having fun.  By all means set aside some time to hang with her, and like I said maybe coordinate so that she can easily get to you to see sites and shit like that... but tethering yourself to one location is the opposite of smart.  DON'T BE NOT SMART.

And yes, dorms are for people who are her age.  BE AN ADULT.

This is probably what I'm going to end up doing now that I found out about BnBs. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mupepe on February 06, 2013, 04:21:21 PM
Sounds like even more of a reason to be less tethered to this person.  Enjoy your vacation, don't restrict it because of someone else.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mr. Gundam on February 06, 2013, 04:54:20 PM
Awesome. The big thing is you don't want to be "that older American guy who is always hanging around" to the people in the dorm or a hostel or something. When I was 17, I spent a summer on a Kibbutz in Israel with a bunch of people in their late-teens to mid-twenties and there was this 32 year old guy who just didn't fit in. I felt bad for the guy, but still...
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 05:16:37 PM
Like always, people give me the "You are a lawyer, you must have so much money, why be stingy?" thing.  Yet they have no idea what I make.  To put it in perspective, my friend who graduated with me and has been working for 2 and a half years as a lawyer started at 45k/yr.  He now makes 50k/yr.  I started a higher, but not significantly.  These days most Network Administrators make more money than Lawyers.  Or Web Developers.  Or even a good plumber.  Unless you're a big shot lawyer at a big shot firm, you aren't making six figures off the bat as a 30 year old.  It takes a decade of work experience before you hit those numbers for most.

Damn, I wish I made 45k a year.  :P

Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mr. Gundam on February 06, 2013, 08:00:22 PM
Like always, people give me the "You are a lawyer, you must have so much money, why be stingy?" thing.  Yet they have no idea what I make.  To put it in perspective, my friend who graduated with me and has been working for 2 and a half years as a lawyer started at 45k/yr.  He now makes 50k/yr.  I started a higher, but not significantly.  These days most Network Administrators make more money than Lawyers.  Or Web Developers.  Or even a good plumber.  Unless you're a big shot lawyer at a big shot firm, you aren't making six figures off the bat as a 30 year old.  It takes a decade of work experience before you hit those numbers for most.

Damn, I wish I made 45k a year.  :P

I'm getting close to $60k! But I also have to constantly go back and take more classes, which I pay for.  :'(
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 08:09:13 PM
Like always, people give me the "You are a lawyer, you must have so much money, why be stingy?" thing.  Yet they have no idea what I make.  To put it in perspective, my friend who graduated with me and has been working for 2 and a half years as a lawyer started at 45k/yr.  He now makes 50k/yr.  I started a higher, but not significantly.  These days most Network Administrators make more money than Lawyers.  Or Web Developers.  Or even a good plumber.  Unless you're a big shot lawyer at a big shot firm, you aren't making six figures off the bat as a 30 year old.  It takes a decade of work experience before you hit those numbers for most.

Damn, I wish I made 45k a year.  :P

I'm getting close to $60k! But I also have to constantly go back and take more classes, which I pay for.  :'(

My income sucks, but I can't complain since they pay for my transportation and give me full health coverage.  Plus I like working there.  My wife makes about as much as I do, so we do all right combined, but it would be nice to be making even $40k by myself.  I'll get there though.  Only started working in this field at the end of 2010.   :)
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: chronovore on February 06, 2013, 08:16:38 PM
Possibly the best thread ever.

I cannot wait for the follow up thread where Bebpo recounts how things mostly worked out as Treesong predicted, only that he doesn't remember any of it, and had to piece together the evidence from police surveillance camera footage.

the UK is so fascinating that DC's Bore-posting rate has risen x1000 in the past 2 days
:lol

Meanwhile, in king-god Japan, you and I are remaining constant in our high posting rate.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: MyNameIsMethodis on February 06, 2013, 08:29:46 PM
wish i was still in the uk go see a footie match plz
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 06, 2013, 08:30:04 PM
Best of luck banging that hot teen

:lol

And yes, Treesong is like fucking Cassandra here NO NO NO NO GTFO OF TROY BITCHES
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on February 06, 2013, 09:59:18 PM
Gonna go fuck some slags in the ass Bebpo? :hyper
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 10:05:56 PM
Quote
Maybe I'll look into BnBs, but honestly people scare me

Still somewhat confused here - dorms in the UK are going to put you in rooms full of people you don't know - BnB much less so. So if people scare you? dorms in the UK will fucking eat you alive.

Remember - we have some of the most violent specimens on the planet in that 16-19 bracket.

Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 06, 2013, 10:08:42 PM
Are chavs still a thing?

I probably have the shittiest income of anyone that's posted in the thread (I get paid hourly and work about 23 hours a week) but I supplement it with savings.  Hopefully just another year of shitty life and then I'm graduated and whatnot.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 10:33:02 PM
Are chavs still a thing?

I probably have the shittiest income of anyone that's posted in the thread (I get paid hourly and work about 23 hours a week) but I supplement it with savings.  Hopefully just another year of shitty life and then I'm graduated and whatnot.

my income is currently $0 ;)

And yeah - chavs have sort of went away in the "well no one talks about them anymore" but they're more a state of mind than a "thing" so you can still see them wandering the streets
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 06, 2013, 10:38:25 PM
Quote
Maybe I'll look into BnBs, but honestly people scare me

Still somewhat confused here - dorms in the UK are going to put you in rooms full of people you don't know - BnB much less so. So if people scare you? dorms in the UK will fucking eat you alive.

Remember - we have some of the most violent specimens on the planet in that 16-19 bracket.

I guess I'm just under the impression that dorms = you don't have to interact with strangers.  You have a room and if you bump into someone in the hall maybe you say hi, but otherwise it's private.  Whereas the BnB thing sounds like walking into a stranger's house, saying hello and then proceeding to be part of their family.  The latter just makes me anxious because I've never done it before while I've done the former in the past.

But I'm not going to do the dorm, so it's a bit of a moot point now.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 06, 2013, 10:46:45 PM
Are chavs still a thing?

I probably have the shittiest income of anyone that's posted in the thread (I get paid hourly and work about 23 hours a week) but I supplement it with savings.  Hopefully just another year of shitty life and then I'm graduated and whatnot.

my income is currently $0 ;)

And yeah - chavs have sort of went away in the "well no one talks about them anymore" but they're more a state of mind than a "thing" so you can still see them wandering the streets

I'm willing to bet your sweet, sweet Japanese unemployment is more than my current payrate and rapidly dwindling reserves :P

Like I said though, should be a moot point in about a year to a year and a half for me.  I'll be back to making "ok" money.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 06, 2013, 11:04:54 PM
I was actually surprised that Japanese dole is pretty sweet - but applied for a couple of jobs. One of which if I can land then my huge stiffy will be the new biggest land mark in Tokyo. Skytree owned

Bebpo - a lot of dorm in the UK are based on either shared rooms with complete strangers in small numbers or huge army barrack style bunks. Japanese dorms != UK dorms
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Barry Egan on February 06, 2013, 11:21:27 PM
I guess they don't require you to look for work on Japanese unemployment?  In the US You have to keep a written log of all the employers you contacted every week and if you fail to produce that document your claim is terminated.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 11:46:14 PM
I guess they don't require you to look for work on Japanese unemployment?  In the US You have to keep a written log of all the employers you contacted every week and if you fail to produce that document your claim is terminated.

When I was on Japanese unemployment, I had to go to the unemployment office once a month to check in-- would tell them that I applied for this or for that and had to spend some time in front of a PC looking at job postings, but it generally was a 10 minute affair.  In and out.

I was on it for 4-5 months and got around 160,000-170,000 yen per month IIRC.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: bork on February 06, 2013, 11:50:57 PM
Quote
Maybe I'll look into BnBs, but honestly people scare me

Still somewhat confused here - dorms in the UK are going to put you in rooms full of people you don't know - BnB much less so. So if people scare you? dorms in the UK will fucking eat you alive.

Remember - we have some of the most violent specimens on the planet in that 16-19 bracket.

I guess I'm just under the impression that dorms = you don't have to interact with strangers.  You have a room and if you bump into someone in the hall maybe you say hi, but otherwise it's private.  Whereas the BnB thing sounds like walking into a stranger's house, saying hello and then proceeding to be part of their family.  The latter just makes me anxious because I've never done it before while I've done the former in the past.

But I'm not going to do the dorm, so it's a bit of a moot point now.

Do you really think that's what a bed and breakfast is?  It's like an inn, dude.  The people running it are not looking to have complete strangers (that's you!) be part of their family.   :lol  You get your own room and you come and go as you please.  Maybe they might have some sort of curfew for security reasons, but that should be it.  The only time you might have to actually be sociable is for breakfast.  Depending on the place they might just have one big table or small tables in a small space for all the people staying there to eat together at.  That's it.  Otherwise they are going to serve you food and go eat in their own space.  If you have such a fear of people, how the hell are you able to travel alone?
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 07, 2013, 12:28:14 AM
Quote
Maybe I'll look into BnBs, but honestly people scare me

Still somewhat confused here - dorms in the UK are going to put you in rooms full of people you don't know - BnB much less so. So if people scare you? dorms in the UK will fucking eat you alive.

Remember - we have some of the most violent specimens on the planet in that 16-19 bracket.

I guess I'm just under the impression that dorms = you don't have to interact with strangers.  You have a room and if you bump into someone in the hall maybe you say hi, but otherwise it's private.  Whereas the BnB thing sounds like walking into a stranger's house, saying hello and then proceeding to be part of their family.  The latter just makes me anxious because I've never done it before while I've done the former in the past.

But I'm not going to do the dorm, so it's a bit of a moot point now.

Do you really think that's what a bed and breakfast is?  It's like an inn, dude.  The people running it are not looking to have complete strangers (that's you!) be part of their family.   :lol  You get your own room and you come and go as you please.  Maybe they might have some sort of curfew for security reasons, but that should be it.  The only time you might have to actually be sociable is for breakfast.  Depending on the place they might just have one big table or small tables in a small space for all the people staying there to eat together at.  That's it.  Otherwise they are going to serve you food and go eat in their own space.  If you have such a fear of people, how the hell are you able to travel alone?

AS per the above - a BnB is more akin to what you've seen in millions of RPGs lol - just treat it like that Bebpo.


(offtopic)
re: unemployment - yeah, you have to go to Hello Work! and prove you are job hunting. Plus it's not unlimited - i get 240 days of it but my plan is to not touch it and go straight into a new job. Figure was 7200 yen a day so it comes out around 216,000 a month, plus the day count - i'd get that for 8 months IF i need it.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 07, 2013, 02:53:53 AM
A BnB is the most normal place you can stay at, I didn't even know it could be a "thing" to find it scary. It's not like you're gonna hang out together.

Hmm, that's interesting.  Does that mean there's not much of a nightlife in Ireland/UK?

I hope you are joking  :lol

Does no information trickle on European culture trickle through to the US?
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 07, 2013, 03:16:50 AM
A BnB is the most normal place you can stay at, I didn't even know it could be a "thing" to find it scary. It's not like you're gonna hang out together.

Hmm, that's interesting.  Does that mean there's not much of a nightlife in Ireland/UK?

I hope you are joking  :lol

Does no information trickle on European culture trickle through to the US?

None.

But if all the bars close at 11:30...what do you all do in the midnight->5am time period? 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 07, 2013, 03:26:02 AM
there is this thing called sex
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: pilonv1 on February 07, 2013, 04:39:18 AM
It's too cold to do anything else

Just read the rest of the thread, BnB's are pretty good places to stay. As long as you dont stay somewhere with some nutters who want you to be involved and schedule activities. I wouldn't even go near a dorm or a hostel here, let alone one in the UK.

Also I feel a lot better about my salary now. But then Sydney is insanely expensive. Anyway go and have fun bebpo! Just relax and enjoy it.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 07, 2013, 04:52:06 AM
there are clubs btw, although i hear they have been hit pretty hard by the ongoing depression. As has business everywhere in Ireland.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 07, 2013, 04:54:10 AM
Bars close at 1130? Huh.

huh.

what.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: pilonv1 on February 07, 2013, 05:03:52 AM
I used to live in an area of Sydney where I would go for a walk right near my building at 2pm on a Sunday and there were still people filing out of bars from the previous night.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 07, 2013, 06:29:42 AM
Maybe some pub out in the sticks closes at 1130 because its a village with 10 people. But in a city? Maaaaaaad.

Clubs and pubs are as full as ever, depression or no depression. Walk into a pub any day of the week and it will be packed in many places. Monday, Tuesday, jesus birthday.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Fifstar on February 07, 2013, 06:40:50 AM
Go to Berlin if you're concerned about closing times. If you want you can party 24 hours from thursday to monday.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 07, 2013, 06:57:33 AM
I've found that you can party 24 hours anywhere.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Fifstar on February 07, 2013, 07:02:08 AM
Of course you can, but it's probably more accessible and easier even as a outsider to do this style of heavy partying in Berlin than anywhere else.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 07, 2013, 07:09:03 AM
I dunno man, these are germans. Bebpu doesn't speak german.

I've heard great things about Berlin nightlife thats true.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Fifstar on February 07, 2013, 07:22:10 AM
Don't think that would be a problem in Berlin, Berlin is full of party tourists that fly in each weekend from all over europe. Actually I've sometimes had the feeling I hear more people speaking english in clubs there than german. And I'd say most germans below 40 speak at least half decent english, not quite as good as in the netherlands but still okay.

Also very surprised you've never been there, you owe it to yourself to spend a weekend there before you sail into the harbour of marriage...
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 07, 2013, 07:25:21 AM
I've walked around Berlin once for a few hours, but never stayed or partied.

Maybe something for my bachelor weekend stuff thingy.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: chronovore on February 07, 2013, 08:30:07 PM
I actually understand Bebpo's concerns about BnB vs. hostel: In a hostel, there would be heaps of people, it's easy to disappear into the crowd, not feel compelled at any time to have to interact. In contrast, if there are only the owners of the place and you as the tenant, you'd have to be the focus of their attention.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 07, 2013, 09:30:24 PM
BnB's are usually a whole multi-story house with at least 3 rooms available for guests. The owners are not going to get up in your grill unless you approach them first because they are not morons
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: tiesto on February 07, 2013, 11:23:12 PM
A BnB is the most normal place you can stay at, I didn't even know it could be a "thing" to find it scary. It's not like you're gonna hang out together.

Hmm, that's interesting.  Does that mean there's not much of a nightlife in Ireland/UK?

I hope you are joking  :lol

Does no information trickle on European culture trickle through to the US?

None.

But if all the bars close at 11:30...what do you all do in the midnight->5am time period?

Fabric and Ministry of Sound in London...

..at least that's what I would do.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: tiesto on February 07, 2013, 11:25:52 PM
Of course you can, but it's probably more accessible and easier even as a outsider to do this style of heavy partying in Berlin than anywhere else.

Naturally, I'd kill to go to Berghain, but I hear the door policy is really arbitrary.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 07, 2013, 11:28:15 PM
yeah - i think this is a case of "what happens in other countries" and "what happens in the UK"

I'll try one last time (for Tree)

My Parents recently decided to book into a hostel because - well - they were up in Scotland and it was dirt cheap and they were like "fuck it - how bad could it be?" The Hostel chain has a name - i'll get it from my mother later - but it at least sounded inviting.... and it's exactly the horror shit show i'd expect . Parents in a room with no toilet on fucking bunkbeds with -nothing- in the room other than a small washlet.

Mothers exact words : "WISH WE'D STAYED AT A BnB" <-------- this this this this this this this this.

At this point i mentioned Bebpo was thinking about coming to the UK and was going to dorm/hostel it

"Well, if he's under 21 then i guess it's probably doable - but you aren't saving much cash by doing that over a BnB" <------------------------------------- THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS



In other news - huzzah - new hilarity. Turns out a whole host of products sold in the UK as "containing/this is Beef" are actually horse. I swear to god this country is one meta-comedy. I've started openly laughing at half this stuff now. It's AMAZING.

My parents upgraded thier shitty dial up modem a year ago - to a 16Mbps line.... and now they get 0.41Mbps ! Looool. BT : "well, it's 16Mbps -best effort- so....."

I am going to call them and have a Malcolm Tucker style sweary shout. I'm excited!
Quote
Fabric and Ministry of Sound in London...

oh - great to know that Fabric is still going - easily the best night out in London by a massive massive distance (or... um.... was in 1997-2000). Ministry i found to be a complete posers nightmare: any place that has a dress code that says "no ordinary jeans, no ordinary trainers" is run by wankers. That said, once inside i usually had a lot of fun, but again - didn't care for the clients in there.

Where as Fabric was just one big fecking love in and the people in there were universally awesome with no attitude. There was a regular guy in there in his 50s who would be going crazy on the dance floor, no attitude to him from anyone - everyone was just there to have a good time. Ministry? not so much
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 08, 2013, 01:10:09 AM
Next: Bebpo informs us that the other members of his party will be a giant talking cat, a bluff aged warrior and a tomboy
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 08, 2013, 01:14:19 AM
He should just spend a week with his party in Belfast grinding his conversation/social attributes up a few levels then he'd be ready to move into a BnB.

I think the lowest level you have to be to get into a BnB is about a 6 on Charisma.

(love you Bebps, be a mang! DO THE RIGHT THING!)
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 08, 2013, 01:18:38 AM
yeah, bone the teen chick and post nude pics
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: chronovore on February 08, 2013, 01:41:36 AM
/thread
/HOF
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Human Snorenado on February 08, 2013, 01:56:17 AM
Bebpo's threads do get a little tiresome though when they all follow a similar formula:

  • Bepbo creates thread asking for advice where he presents a child-like view of an adult subject
  • Forum gently gives him advice, trying to steer him in the right direction
  • Bepbo argues that his way is actually the best and your advice is bad
  • Forum less gently gives him advice
  • Bepbo still resists
  • Forum types in caps to try to get through to the naive Bepbo
  • Bebpo gets upset
  • Forum needing entertainment drags it on as long as possible
  • Bepbo does what he wants to anyway

You left out "Bebpo makes a drunk thread where he cries about not being able to pick up girls and how he's all alone in this tough world" but honestly I'm not sure where that slots in
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 08, 2013, 01:58:20 AM
five gets you ten he is secretly hung up on this chick and would follow to the ends of the earth if he thought he could be alone with her

i mean, i lived in Belfast, come on

nobody WANTS to go to Belfast
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Robo on February 08, 2013, 02:28:56 AM
Wow, I make way more money than Bepbo.  I'm gonna go out and get some pussy right away!
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 08, 2013, 04:46:55 AM
Ill get Bebpo drunk if he comes to Dublin, then drop him at the local strip club or easy chicks bar (Dicey's) just wait for the thread then :drool

five gets you ten he is secretly hung up on this chick and would follow to the ends of the earth if he thought he could be alone with her

i mean, i lived in Belfast, come on

nobody WANTS to go to Belfast

I'd love to go to Belfast and go on one of those getto tours they do there.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 08, 2013, 04:48:40 AM
Bebpo's threads do get a little tiresome though when they all follow a similar formula:

  • Bepbo creates thread asking for advice where he presents a child-like view of an adult subject
  • Forum gently gives him advice, trying to steer him in the right direction
  • Bepbo argues that his way is actually the best and your advice is bad
  • Forum less gently gives him advice
  • Bepbo still resists
  • Forum types in caps to try to get through to the naive Bepbo
  • Bebpo gets upset
  • Forum needing entertainment drags it on as long as possible
  • Bepbo does what he wants to anyway

 :ohhh :shaq
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 08, 2013, 04:55:49 AM
Ill get Bebpo drunk if he comes to Dublin, then drop him at the local strip club or easy chicks bar (Dicey's) just wait for the thread then :drool

five gets you ten he is secretly hung up on this chick and would follow to the ends of the earth if he thought he could be alone with her

i mean, i lived in Belfast, come on

nobody WANTS to go to Belfast

I'd love to go to Belfast and go on one of those getto tours they do there.

WEIRD THAT YOU SHOULD MENTION THAT

My mate just started doing tours of the various Troubles-related spots a couple of weeks back. We shared a house at Queen's back in the day. He has always been deep into NI's political history and really knows his shit. If you want, I can get some contact details for you.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 08, 2013, 06:49:44 AM
Dude I'd love that actually for whenever I make my way up there this year, I'd be very interested in that stuff. Recently there's been trouble brewing again with all the flag riots.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 08, 2013, 11:22:32 AM
UK history was actually far more exciting than the wife and I thought it would be - it's amazing what a difference actually seeing all the places these people lived, died, murdered, and screwed makes. one of the highlights of our trip was the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour (http://www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk/)
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 08, 2013, 11:48:13 AM
Today i walked round my home town taking in sights from 1700-1800's and yeah... :bow dat history :bow2
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mr. Gundam on February 08, 2013, 11:50:18 AM
UK history was actually far more exciting than the wife and I thought it would be - it's amazing what a difference actually seeing all the places these people lived, died, murdered, and screwed makes. one of the highlights of our trip was the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour (http://www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk/)

I remembering visiting place where the Magna Carta was written. That was pretty impressive.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 08, 2013, 11:51:27 AM
Today i walked round my home town taking in sights from 1700-1800's and yeah... :bow dat history :bow2

did you see the famous Toilet Paper Tree
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 08, 2013, 11:52:17 AM
UK history was actually far more exciting than the wife and I thought it would be - it's amazing what a difference actually seeing all the places these people lived, died, murdered, and screwed makes. one of the highlights of our trip was the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour (http://www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk/)

I remembering visiting place where the Magna Carta was written. That was pretty impressive.

i remember visiting Gettysburg Address place too, very impressive

OH YOU WANT THE NAME? FUCK YOU
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mr. Gundam on February 08, 2013, 11:53:46 AM
UK history was actually far more exciting than the wife and I thought it would be - it's amazing what a difference actually seeing all the places these people lived, died, murdered, and screwed makes. one of the highlights of our trip was the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour (http://www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk/)

I remembering visiting place where the Magna Carta was written. That was pretty impressive.

i remember visiting Gettysburg Address place too, very impressive

OH YOU WANT THE NAME? FUCK YOU

Someone needs their coffee this morning/evening/whateverjapantimeitis.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cormacaroni on February 08, 2013, 12:03:11 PM
It's 2am and I've been drinking with ch1nchilla. Now tell me where the Magna Carta was signed or I will rend your soul
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 08, 2013, 12:13:01 PM
Quote
did you see the famous Toilet Paper Tree

Oh god - there's a whole bunch of them now. Very impressive!
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Don Flamenco on February 08, 2013, 05:14:33 PM
Ill get Bebpo drunk if he comes to Dublin, then drop him at the local strip club or easy chicks bar (Dicey's) just wait for the thread then :drool


he's gonna bring some floozy back to your place, get her high, then kiss her on the cheek. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Verdigris Murder on February 08, 2013, 05:56:17 PM
Beppo, don't believe the cruel lies about crossing from Ireland to England. England is a more important country than Ireland also.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 10, 2013, 04:06:43 PM
I posted this on gaf as well since they have a lot of Europeans.  But here's my initial travel plan right now, in case any of you have advice:  This plan was based off all the recommendations from this thread so far.

Hey all, looking for advice on this trip plan in the summer time period. As an American, I know very little about modern Europe, so want to have good planning before I go. Planning on staying at BnBs from Airbnb.com for the length of the trip.

-Whether to spend more days/fewer days in any of these places
-Whether to sub out one country for another
-Advice on which city or cities in a country to stay at while seeing that country
-Advice on things to see and do in the limited time in each city

Note: The goal for the pacing I'm going for on this trip is moderate speed. Don't want to be rushing around from place to place. Want to be able to relax and take in the atmosphere. But not planning on just laying all day either. Want to do 1 or 2 things a day for sure.

Week 1:
Day 1 - fly into Zurich, Switzerland - lose a day flying
Day 2 - Switzerland
Day 3 - Switzerland
Day 4 - Germany
Day 5 - Germany
Day 6 - Germany
Day 7 - Germany
Day 8 - Belgium
Day 9 - Belgium
Day 10 - Belgium
Day 11 - Belgium
Day 12 - France
Day 13 - France
Day 14 - France
Day 15 - UK
Day 16 - UK
Day 17 - UK
Day 18 - UK
Day 19 - Ireland
Day 20 - Ireland
Day 21 - Ireland
Day 22 - Fly out of Dublin

Country totals:
Switzerland - 2 days (technically 3, but one is just flying)
Germany - 4 days
Belgium - 4 days
France - 3 days
UK - 4 days
Ireland - 3 days

Goals of the trip:

1. See the scenic countries. Green grass, rivers, castles, great architecture; all the stuff we don't have here in Southern California where it's all brown dirt and desert and boring buildings.

2. Visit museums, historic sites.

3. EAT DELICIOUS FOOD

4. DRINK GOOD BEER

5. Enjoy the nightlife, social life a bit. Not planning on partying super hard, but probably will go to bars/clubs and would love to go see a lot of live music/shows while in the countries.


Also, I should note that I'll be traveling alone in Switzerland/Germany, then meeting up with a friend and traveling for Belgium/France/London/Ireland. Ease of getting around solo and safely is decently important as I only speak English & Japanese.

I'm going to have my friend fly into Belgium and meet me there and then I'll head back to Belfast with her and hang out in Ireland for a few days and then fly home.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Fifstar on February 10, 2013, 05:10:35 PM
4 days seems like a lot only for Belgium. Belgium is small and I don't think there is that much too see. Any reason you don't go to the Netherlands? If you're in that part of europe, I'd definetely go to Amsterdam. Beautiful city and it's small enough that you can see a decent chunk of it in one or two days. 3 days is also very little for France, although that's probably unavoidable when you do so many countires in such a short time. Italy is also beautiful, in general you're kinda missing on europe's south. 10 days for germany/switzerland/belgium seems like overkill, those countries are not that exciting.

In germany, you should definetely go to Berlin, maybe the most exciting city in europe and very cheap. Plan two days on a weekend for that. There are lots of small castles scattered around the country, not sure what to recommend here. Maybe Castle Neuschwanstein? I've never been there and I believe it's very touristy. If you're interested in the Cologne Cathedral, apparently Germany's most visited landmark, I could show you around the city. Cologne is close to Belgium and has lots of nice museums, although architecture wise it's pretty ugly and the nightlife while nice enough doesn't compare to Berlin. You should also rent a car and go 180 mph on one of our highways, at least that seems to leave the biggest impression on visting hollywood actors ;)

Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 10, 2013, 06:12:49 PM
Thanks for the info, might do Amsterdam over Belgium.  Was going to Belgium for the fries, waffles, beer and overall good eatings.  I've heard the food is all amazing there and the people are very friendly.  But could skip it.  I was on the fence with Amsterdam because all I ever hear about it are my friends going there and partying and having crazy Vegas-style stories of eating bananas out of vaginas and pissing on public walls outdoors with strangers.  Not really feeling that kind of experience on this trip.  But if Belgium has a nice pleasant scenic side to it, maybe it's worth a look.


I'm kind deliberately short-changing Paris because I have this feeling its not my kind of city.  I'm looking for green hill countryside and Paris seems like New York City, or Tokyo.  Big, bustling city with everyone in a hurry and your usual city bars, cafes, museums, just with nicer architecture. 


Italy was my #1 place I wanted to go to originally (really want to visit Venice, Rome, the Tuscany area), but everything I read about Italy in late July/early August sounds horrible.  Millions of tourists, super humid, long lines everywhere, everything is expensive.  I dunno, I think I'd rather come back solely for Italy and southern Europe in another trip at a different time of the year.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: cool breeze on February 10, 2013, 08:35:54 PM
Co-sign on more time for France, less for Germany.  At least those are the places I've visited often for family, and while Germany is a relaxing place and I like it a lot, your time is better spent elsewhere.  On the other end, France has a lot to see and do.  But it's about what you want for your vacation.  It might help if you have a flexible schedule.

And last time I went to Italy (few years ago, Venice, specifically) was in August and the weather wasn't a problem.  There were crowds but it is what it is.  It's one of the places I want to go back to since I didn't enjoy it too much.  Same with the UK, granted, it was mostly London then.  I really enjoyed other places in Italy I've been to.

If you're going to stay in or near Paris, versailles is a short train ride and can kill a good few hours if not half a day depending on how interested you are.  There are the usual popular places you hear about like all the museums, sacre coeur, notre-dame, etc..  Around those areas people will try to scam you in really obvious ways.  Um, German public transportation is way more awesome than what the French use. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Mr. Gundam on February 10, 2013, 08:37:49 PM
The Netherlands is awesome, and so is Amsterdam. However, I have very good friends who live there, so I do totally different things than your typical visitor. We go up and chill in Friesland after a few days of museums, neighborhoods and foodie adventures in Amsterdam.

Belgium is worth your time, too. Antwerp and Brussels are beautiful.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 10, 2013, 08:42:47 PM
Co-sign on more time for France, less for Germany.  At least those are the places I've visited often for family, and while Germany is a relaxing place and I like it a lot, your time is better spent elsewhere.  On the other end, France has a lot to see and do.  But it's about what you want for your vacation.  It might help if you have a flexible schedule.

And last time I went to Italy (few years ago, Venice, specifically) was in August and the weather wasn't a problem.  There were crowds but it is what it is.  It's one of the places I want to go back to since I didn't enjoy it too much.  Same with the UK, granted, it was mostly London then.  I really enjoyed other places in Italy I've been to.

If you're going to stay in or near Paris, versailles is a short train ride and can kill a good few hours if not half a day depending on how interested you are.  There are the usual popular places you hear about like all the museums, sacre coeur, notre-dame, etc..  Around those areas people will try to scam you in really obvious ways.  Um, German public transportation is way more awesome than what the French use.

How many days would be good to spend in France, and should I stay in Paris for all of them and day trip out to places or move around the country in sleeping locations?
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: cool breeze on February 10, 2013, 10:12:56 PM
I think that depends on how interested you're in seeing all the museums.  Can't imagine there won't be long lines if you're going in the summer.

And it's feasible to stay in Paris and travel from there, I guess.  Might end up being a chunk of the day to and from, depending on where you're looking to go.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 11, 2013, 12:33:43 AM
Firstly - just to get it out of the way - Paris : the people there suck. However - the rest of the French people are awesome

Belgium - 4 days and you'll be Colin Farrell in "In Brugge" within 2-3 hours. I would take the advice above and do 2 days tops and literally just hit Brugge - eat a bunch of the amazing chocolate and hit the beer tours and then get yourself to Amsterdam

Yes, it's a party city , yes it's got a drugs culture - but the museums are amazing, you can go to Anne Frank's house which is an incredible experience, the architecture is interesting, the canals are awesome, the people are fun and if you get bored of all that then -then- you can have some white beer with a lemon in it, hit up a Dutch Indonesia rice plate shop, go have a toot in a cafe, then take the girl to the sex museum/sex show , even just walk around at night (not sure the red light district is still there - but regardless it's worth seeing).

My ex had family there so I used to spend a lot of time in Amsterdam - loved it so much that prior to moving to Tokyo it was Amsterdam that was our destination of choice.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 11, 2013, 02:38:27 AM
So let's say museums aren't really that important to me the more I think about it.  I like seeing historic sites like palaces, monuments, castles, famous houses.  But going to a museum and seeing great works of art and fossils and stuff just feels like what I can do here at the Getty or at NYC/Chicago museums and is a waste of a European trip time that could be spent on other things.  I really enjoy museums, but I'd rather not be couped up in a crowded museum with tourists when I can be taking a walk in the foreign countryside or sipping tea at a cafe with a beautiful view.

Is it still worth spending 4-5 days in France?  Honestly, I'm not that big on French food, I hear nothing but negative things about the people in Paris, and I've never heard of all that many exciting things to do in Paris besides museums and eating.  Plus it sounds like it'll be really hot and crowded in the summer.  That's why I was sorta thinking just 3 days to see Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, eat some French food and move on.


But yeah, I think I'm cutting Belgium down to 2 days max and spending at least 2 days in Amsterdam due to all the recommendations.

Agenda seems something like:
Germany = historic old school villages + crazy nightlife partying
Amsterdam = scenic + party maybe
Belgium = good eats, some scenic sites
France = ???
London = Big Ben, otherwise ???
Edinburgh = Castles and cliffs and cool stuff
Belfast = ???
Dublin = Kosma's lovely self

Since I'm going to be meeting my friend in Amsterdam at the end of Week 1, I pretty much have a whole week to spend solo first and right now it's looking like 4-5 days in Germany exploring Berlin and one of the smaller older villages, then move to Amsterdam and meet up and do the rest of the trip over 2 1/2 weeks.  I was going to initially do Switzerland + Germany in those 4-5 days before meeting up, but everyone on gaf seems to say Switzerland is a skip and Germany is worth spending a full week in.  The other option is to do something radically different like fly into Portugal or Spain and do those for 4-5 days instead. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 11, 2013, 02:59:36 AM
ADD ANNE FRANK'S HOUSE TO AMSTERDAM OR I'LL MURDER YOU IN THE DIGITAL REALM.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 11, 2013, 04:33:54 AM
Agenda seems something like:
Germany = historic old school villages + crazy nightlife partying
Amsterdam = scenic + party maybe
Belgium = good eats, some scenic sites
France = ???
London = Big Ben, otherwise ???
Edinburgh = Castles and cliffs and cool stuff
Belfast = ???
Dublin = Kosma's lovely self

Tbh no country in Europe is a skip, don't listen to Gafers.

Belfast = Giants Causeway, tour of troubles areas (maybe go to LondonDerry?)
Amsterdam = + Van Gogh museum, + Zaanse Schans, walk around the city
France = Paris
Edinburgh = Arturs Seat (great views of the city from the top of the volcano)
London = Tate museum, trip to Brighton, Camden Market on the weekend
Belgium = I would got to a WW2 US cementary if you can, Brugge too
Dublin = Going for a hike in Wicklow Mountains, Howth or Bray. Eat some fresh local produce after said hike (Irelands got some of the best beef and fish). Get Drunk.

ADD ANNE FRANK'S HOUSE TO AMSTERDAM OR I'LL MURDER YOU IN THE DIGITAL REALM.

Im so sick of Anne Frank stuff  :yuck

If you want to see some real holocaust/ww2 stuff just fly to Krakow and go to Auschwitz, you can do Krakow, Auschwitz, Prague. Flights should be cheap.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: DCharlieJP on February 11, 2013, 04:53:43 AM
your sick of it because you've seen it X times, Bebpo hasn't and it's daft to not go and see it whilst you are there
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 11, 2013, 05:01:31 AM
I dunno I've never been to the museum, but you are bored to death with Anne Frank when you live in the Netherlands.

Maybe you are right though.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Bebpo on February 11, 2013, 08:50:30 PM
The Rail Europe site is really interesting.  Didn't realize how close everything is and how the trains run everywhere.  Pretty awesome, seems like Japan.  (http://www.raileurope.com/)


Been researching German rail lines.  Thinking about doing Zurich -> (2 hours) Freiburg -> (90 mins) -> Heideburg -> (2 hours) Cologne -> (2:30 hours) Amsterdam in the first 6 days.  Then Amsterdam (2 days) -> (2 hours) Brussels (1 day) -> (1:20 hour) Paris, chill in Paris exploring and doing day trips for 5 days, then -> (2 hours) London -> (4 1/2 hour) Edinburgh -> (fly) Belfast -> (2 hour) Dublin over the next 7-8 days.


Any reason to go to Glasgow over Edinburgh?  And what about southwest Ireland?


I think I'll get the German Rail Pass (w/extension) to cover Freiburg -> Brussels and not get the French one for the day trips from Paris (Versailles, Fontainebleau, etc...)


I could skip Switzerland, but if I want to do Freiburg and head north I dunno where in the south of Germany I could fly into instead.  Maybe Munich?  But I think Zurich is actually closer. 
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Fifstar on February 12, 2013, 05:44:08 AM
Zürich and Freiburg are much better connected than munich and Freiburg, so definetely go with Zürich over munich. Your plan looks Good to me. If you have the Time, you could make a Trip to the Swiss Alps to add another landscape to the Mix. Also, i'd Advice to Take a Slow Train (RE = RegionalExpress) from Heidelberg to Cologne, as the Slow Route is beautiful. You Travel along the curves of the River and can See plenty of vineyards and castles along the surrounding slopes. Will be One Hour longer but it's worth it.

In france i'd make a Trip to the atlantic Coast. Maybe go See the Dune du pyla, europe's biggest Sand Dune and Spent another Day at a Surfing Spot. The Waves there probably aren't that impressive for somebody from California but the Atmosphere is Great.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Cerveza mas fina on February 13, 2013, 12:28:03 PM
There is absolutely no reason to go to Glasgow. Its an old industrial city.

Edinburgh is a lovely medieval wonder.

Southwest Ireland is nice, but out of the way. Some nice nature. Best of Ireland IMHO is Claire, Galway, Mayo. Which are you can access from Dooblin.
Title: Re: We got some people with UK knowledge here, right?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on February 13, 2013, 02:37:22 PM
Glasgow is horrific industrial shit with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

Edinburgh, on the other hand, is my favorite city in the world.

The choice is yours!