Italian Word of the Day

Day 17 - Time
 

now 

adesso (ah-DEHSS-oh) - ora

 

later 

più tardi (PYOO-TAR-dee) - dopo ("DOH-poh")

 

before 

prima (PREE-ma)

 

morning 

mattino (mah-TEEN-oh)

 

afternoon 

pomeriggio (poh-meh-REED-joh)

 

evening 

sera (SEH-rah)

 

night 

notte (NOHT-teh)

Telling Time 

one o'clock AM 

l'una (LOO-nah)

 

two o'clock AM 

le due (leh DOO-eh)

 

noon 

mezzogiorno (mehd-dzoh-JOHR-noh)

 

one o'clock PM 

le tredici (leh TREH-dee-chee)

 

two o'clock PM 

le quattordici (leh kwaht-TOHR-dee-chee)

 

midnight 

mezzanotte (mehd-dzah-NOHT-teh)

What To Do Before You Travel

When traveling overseas even if it is to Europe you should always check U.S. Passports & International Travel concerning your destination countries.  This website will inform you of conditions abroad that may affect your safety and security. 

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html

However do keep in mind they want you to be prepared so they will warn you of the worst that can happen.  Regardless of where you travel there will be risks.  Even when you travel within the US there are certain risks.  Use the information to minimize the risks. 

Here is the home page for Italy.  It is always good to scout out a US Embassy close to your destination before traveling in case you lose your passport or your passport is stolen.  An informed traveler is a better traveler. 

Italian Word of the Day

Day 16 - numbers 21 through 100:

21 

ventuno (vehn-TOO-noh)

 

22 

ventidue (vehn-tee-DOO-eh)

 

23 

ventitré (vehn-tee-TREH)

 

30 

trenta (TREHN-tah)

 

40 

quaranta (kwah-RAHN-tah)

 

50 

cinquanta (cheen-KWAHN-tah)

 

60 

sessanta (sehs-SAHN-tah)

 

70 

settanta (seht-TAHN-tah)

 

80 

ottanta (oht-TAHN-tah)

 

90 

novanta (noh-VAHN-tah)

 

100 

cento (CHEHN-toh)

Italian Word of the Day

Day 15 - numbers 11 through 20:

11 

undici (OON-dee-chee)

 

12 

dodici (DOH-dee-chee)

 

13 

tredici (TREH-dee-chee)

 

14 

quattordici (kwahr-TOHR-dee-chee)

 

15 

quindici (KWEEN-dee-chee)

 

16 

sedici (SEH-dee-chee)

 

17 

diciassette (dee-chee-ah-SSEH-teh)

 

18 

diciotto (dee-CHOH-toh)

 

19 

diciannove (dee-chah-NOH-veh)

 

20 

venti (VEHN-tee)

Ultimate Packing List

I use lists like this as a guideline.  Everyone is not the same and everyone's dress preference is different.  It is harder if you are traveling across different climates.  When I do this I grab a sweater or jacket that will keep me warm in the cooler climate and is semi-dressy so I can use it regardless of what I am wearing.  Keep in mind - it is better to be warm than freeze.  So even if it is overkill in the warmer climate you will be glad you only packed one jacket and it was heavy enough to keep you warm in the coldest climate. 

 

 

Here is the link if you would like to download and print.

 

 http://i.slimg.com/sc/sl/graphic/c/ch/christine_pack_list6_final.pdf



Italian Word of the Day

Day 14 - numbers 1 through 10:

1 

uno (OO-noh)

 

2 

due (DOO-eh)

 

3 

tre (treh)

 

4 

quattro (KWAH-troh)

 

5 

cinque (CHEEN-kweh)

 

6 

sei (SEH-ee)

 

7 

sette (SEH-teh)

 

8 

otto (OH-toh)

 

9 

nove (NOH-veh)

 

10 

dieci (DYEH-chee)

 

 

More Packing Tips:

I don't know if this will work well for you - but it really works well for me. 

Most airlines allow a small personal item like a purse at no charge.  When traveling I usually take one carry on suitcase and stay at the 20 pound limit.  However when you are traveling for a couple weeks that isn't always easy.  So something I found that works well is to carry a large tote bag as my purse.  Since a large tote bag can be similar to a purse the airlines consider it your personal item.   Remember to buy one that looks like a large purse.  If you buy one that looks like a travel bag they might consider it your carry-on. 

In the large tote I can place my actual purse and items that make my carry-on too heavy like my flat iron, curling iron, or an extra pair of shoes, etc.  They never weigh your purse so I can over-pack the tote and then transfer it to my carry-on once I am on the flight. 

I also really like the tote because I will keep it down by my feet on the plane and have easy access to medications, my kindle, ear buds, earplugs, reading glasses, snacks, etc.  Some people use small back packs.  I can fit a lot in the tote.  I make sure the handles will be comfortable on my shoulder and stay put on my shoulder when walking through an airport.  Remember - you can always place the tote on your carry on once off the plane so you don't have to carry it on your shoulder.

Here is an example:  However if you can find one with inside pockets - they are the best.  When you have to get that extra 5 pounds out of your luggage - it is a life saver. 

Packing Tips for an Overseas Trip

If you are traveling to multiple countries the most important tip I can give you is pack light.  Try to take items you can wear more than one time.  Especially in Venice you will see that once you get off the water bus you have to carry your luggage up and down steps and over bridges to get to the apartments.  Also - the apartment isn't always on the first floor.  The last thing you want is a heavy suitcase to carry.  The apartments will have a washer so you can always wash your clothes during the trip.  I usually only use a carry on (22 inches) and I try to stay around 20 pounds.  If you check a bag then make sure the bag is under 40 pounds. 

When traveling on Budget airlines you really need to follow the rules.  They won't let you pay for overweight luggage.  Ryan offers fees at 20 kilos (about 44 pounds) and 15 kilos (about 33 pounds).  They limit the carry on to 10 kilos (about 22 pounds). 

Here are some other tips for packing:

In your carry on:
Also pack a copy of your documents.  They suggest 2 copies of your passport in the event your passport is lost or stolen.  Also if you plan to rent a car you must have your United States driver's license.  Some countries require a international license which you can usually obtain for around $20 from AAA or the National Auto Club.  Always check online to see what is required for your destination country. Check to make sure you are covered when it comes to insurance.  Some credit cards still offer coverage so call the credit card company that you will use for the car rental and ask. 
 http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/safety/driving.html 
NOTE:  I leave a copy of my passport with someone at home just in case I lose my passport and copies.  I also make all copies of any reservations - I take one with me and leave with the same person I left the passport copies.  That way they know where I am in the case of an emergency.  This include airline, hotel, and car reservations. 

Medications - be sure to pack all prescription medications in your carry on in the event your checked baggage is lost.  I also take a few non-prescription like ibuprofen or tums with me in case I need them while traveling.  NOTE:  When traveling always carry diarrhea medicine.  Your body is not use to the diet and you will be glad you had it just in case.

Financial:  I always make copies of the credit/debit cards I take so that if they are lost I have the information I need to call and cancel them.  I take a copy with me and leave a copy with the same person with whom I left my passport and itinerary.  NOTE:  I have said this in previous posts - make sure you have access to more than one bank account if you are going to be using an ATM to acquire your funds.  Also - there are some European countries that only accept credit cards that are chip and pin.  So if you plan to make a large purchase be sure to have the cash available if they will not take your credit card. 

MISC:  Now for the odds and ends you might need.  If you plan to use a hair dryer, curling iron, flat iron, ect from home it must be duel voltage.  Our standard voltage in the US is 120V whereas in Europe it is 220V.  I am not a big fan of step down converters.  I have melted several over the past years.  Now I just make sure anything I take is dual voltage.  See what you need for Italy and Ireland at the bottom.

I also like to pack the following in my carryon:  Ear buds to access the audio on the plane so I don't have to use theirs.  Ear plugs to drowned out noise.  Gum if you think you will need it for the flight to pop your ears.  Warm socks - it can get cold on the plane especially on an 8 hour flight and it helps to keep your feet warm.  I am actually a fan of the airplane pillows and you can pick up one cheap at TJ-Max or on amazon.  Sometimes I will use it as a pillow at the hotel if I don't like the smell of their pillows.  On overseas flights they usually offer a good selection of movies to keep you occupied but I still bring something to pass the time like my kindle or games.  I also pack some snacks in case I get hungry in between served meals.  AND LAST BUT VERY IMPORTANT - you will want to get some sleep on your flight so you are not completely dead when you arrive in a foreign country.  I always take a sleep aid of some type.  I like Tylenol PM,  ZZZZ-quill, and Xanax.  You will be glad you had a few hours of sleep when you reach your destination. 

Tomorrow we will talk about what to put in your checked luggage.


Adapter:
In our case this is what you will need for Italy and Ireland.  Italy is on the bottom and Ireland on the top.  Also here is a link if you have more questions.

https://www.voltagevalet.com/Country_C-F.html

Budget Airlines, Hotels, Etc

As I am planning an upcoming trip to Europe I am finding more budget airlines than ever.  When we first started traveling to Europe 15 years ago they were just starting airlines such as Ryan and Easy Jet.  Now it seems like everyone wants a piece of the pie.  I just found another great one called Vueling Air.  They are a Spanish based low cost airline that offer quite a few route options.

http://www.vueling.com/es
  

 When booking these types of airlines the majority of the time you will have to go directly to their web site.  They are not usually part of Kayak, Expedia, Travelocity, or Orbitz. 

I like to use http://www.kayak.com/ for international flights.  I see the best prices and then go directly to the airline's website to book.  I think I wrote in an earlier post - the airlines are nicer to you when you buy your ticket direct from them.  In the long run the prices are usually similar and it is worth even a couple extra dollars in the event of a delay or cancelation. 

I also use http://www.kayak.com/ for car rental and then go to the car rental site to book.  However if I cannot get the same price through the car rental web site then I complete the booking through Kayak.

I like to use http://www.booking.com/ for hotels and B&Bs.  I get the best prices.  My backup is http://www.booking.com/.  However I don't book anything without checking out the ratings and reviews on http://www.tripadvisor.com/.

Also worth noting:  https://www.airbnb.com/  - however not always the best prices.

I always use http://www.veniceapartment.com/ for Venice - they have always been wonderful.

Each person will have a different experience going to the same place.  My husband's favorite quote:  If you look for the bad you will find the bad and if you look for the good then you will find the good.  The moral of the quote is that it is what you make of it.  If you want your trip to be fabulous you have the power to make it that way!

Now for an Italian Blessing

Italian Word of the Day

Day 13 - more phrases:

Where are the restrooms? (public place) 

Dove sono i gabinetti? (doh-VEH SOH-noh ee gah-bee-NEHT-tee)

 

Where is the bathroom? (someone's home) 

Dov'è il bagno? (doh-VEH eel BAHN-yoh)

 

Police! 

Polizia! (poh-lee-TSEE-yah!)

 

Stop! Thief! 

Fermo! Al ladro! (FEHR-moh! ahl LAH-droh!)

 

I need your help. 

Ho bisogno del tuo aiuto. (oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dehl too-oh ah-YOO-toh)

 

It's an emergency. 

È un'emergenza. (eh oo-neh-mehr-JEN-tsah)

 

I'm lost. 

Mi sono perso/a. (mee soh-noh PEHR-soh/sah)

 

I lost my bag. 

Ho perso la mia borsa. (oh PEHR-soh lah MEE-ah BOHR-sah)

 

I lost my wallet. 

Ho perso il mio portafoglio. (oh PEHR-soh eel MEE-oh pohr-tah-FOH-lyoh)

 

I'm sick. 

Sono malato/a. (SOH-noh mah-LAH-toh/tah)

 

I've been injured. 

Mi sono ferito/a. (mee SOH-noh feh-REE-toh/tah)

 

I need a doctor. 

Ho bisogno di un medico. (oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oon meh-DEE-coh)

 

Can I use your phone? 

Posso usare il suo telefono? (POH-soh oo-ZAH-reh eel SOO-oh teh-LEH-foh-noh?)

Congratulations Shane and Lauren

I just want to say congrats to our nephew Shane tomorrow as he takes Lauren's hand in marriage.  We cannot wait to be a part of it.  May your marriage be blessed with many years of happiness.

This calls for an Irish Wedding Blessing

Love Uncle Stacy and Aunt Dina

More travel info within Europe Cont.

I would like to talk about traveling from Venice or Rome to Paris in this post.

If you want to see some of the country side and you are not opposed to train travel - this is a good option.  You can book an overnight sleeper car and wake up at your destination.  Granted it is a 15 hour and 26 min trip but you would save on a hotel and you would be sleeping part of the trip.  This type of travel is not for everyone.  We did it traveling from Shanghai China to Xian China and loved it.  AGAIN THIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

 

The train from Rome to Paris is longer but it is a chance to see some of Europe:

 

 

I saw this on Trip Advisor:

 

Re: Venice to Paris by train

Mar 04, 2013, 6:14 AM

 

You have two main options:

1) The most time-effective is the Thello sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia station (in central Venice, on the banks of the Grand Canal) at 19:57 every night arriving Paris Gare de Lyon in central Paris at 09:30 next morning.

It feels really quick as you're asleep for most of it (I find the sleepers smooth and quiet, and beds comfortable) and of course it's direct.

Book at www.thello.com, fares from an amazing €35 in 6-berth couchettes, €55 in 4-berth couchettes or from €145 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

This video shows you what to expect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfjiaO2lyOw

It's run by the Italians, so don't expect luxury, just reasonable comfort. I find people who pay a cheap price, bring a bottle of wine and have fun, well, they enjoy it, fussier people who expect the Orient Express are disappointed.

2) You can also travel by daytime train.

This means booking one of the three daily Milan-Paris trains at www.tgv-europe.com (select 'Afghanistan' if you're from the USA to avoid being diverted to Rail Europe).

Fares for this start at just €29, although €45 to €55 is more usual. You print your own ticket.

The scenery on this route isn't bad, see the video I took last year, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B09t_WJz_mM

Then book any hourly train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale to connect with this, from just €9 at www.trenitalia.com allowing at least an hour to change trains and stations in Milan, as the TGV leaves from Porta Garibaldi station. It;s a €6 5-min taxi ride or 25 min walk between stations.

You can often switch trains in Turin instead, to save changing stations in Milan, see if there's a suitable Venice-Turin Porta Susa direct train, then book the TGV Turin-Paris instead.

I'd be tempted to do an overnight in Turin, a lovely and hugely under-rated Italian city, even if you're not a fan of Michael Caine in 'The Italian Job' as I am!





More travel info within Europe

I just wanted to take this post to tell you - what might appear as the most economical itinerary always isn't.  Make sure you explore all options if you plan to travel within Europe as part of this trip.  It might cost a couple hundred more to fly into Dublin and out of another city - but you could easily spend that couple hundred trying to get back to Dublin from your final destination and lose travel time in the process.  This comes into play especially if you are leaving Dublin on an morning flight (before noon).  You would have to be back in Dublin the night before to make your flight.   I highly recommend that everyone use the 2 hour rule when flying overseas.  Even if you are flying Ryan Air between two European countries or within the same country.  I have seen some of the budget airlines turn people away that show up late or even within an hour of the flight.  It is better to be early and make the flight.  I always use a 4 -5 hour rule in between flights when booking independent flights.  It is better to make your next flight than be stranded.  As we all know - the airlines are great at being late.

If you are traveling within Italy then a train might be a good option.  If you want to go from Venice to Rome you can take a train that departs at 12:21am and arrives in Rome at 6:35am.  You can always sleep on the train and buy yourself more time.  However if you are not good at sleeping in that type of situation then don't do it.  You will end up super tired and not enjoy your next day.  The great thing about this idea is the train is very convenient in Venice and Rome.  So you do not have to pay for transportation to and from the airports.  You can take the water taxi to the train station in Venice and it will drop you off I the heart of Rome.  
 

Always keep in mind - if I take a certain type of transportation will I have to add additional fees to get to my final destination.  Take flying into Rome for instance - the budget airlines use Ciampino Airport.  A taxi can be quite expensive.  However this article gives some good options. 

Need to get from Ciampino airport to Rome? Yeah, you could take a taxi. But unless some serious stress and/or getting ripped off immediately on landing in Italy is your thing, you probably won't want to.
Luckily, there are lots of other ways to get from Ciampino to Rome. They're easy, fast, and much cheaper than taking a taxi or transfer. All of these options get you into the Termini train station; from there, you can jump on Rome's metro (either the A or B lines), take a bus, or grab a cab (from Termini, it shouldn't be more than €15 at the most to get to another part of the city center).
(Not sure if you're flying into Ciampino? If you're coming directly from far-afield, like the U.S., you're probably flying into Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci instead, and here's info for how to get from Fiumicino to Rome. But if you're flying from somewhere else within Europe, especially on a budget airline like Ryanair, you might just be landing at Ciampino).
Options for getting from Ciampino to Rome include...
Train
The good news: There is a train station at Ciampino. The not-as-good news: It's not right at the airport. To get there, you have to take one of the COTRAL/SCHIAFFINI buses from the airport. They depart every 30 minutes and cost €1; the drive to the train station takes 5 minutes. From there, the train to Rome’s Termini train station takes 15 minutes and costs just €1.50.
If you time it right, this can be the fastest way to get to Rome's center, as well as the cheapest. But if you have a lot of luggage, or just want to have as few transport legs as possible, I'd go with the next option—a direct bus—instead.
Bus
Several buses run directly from the Ciampino airport into Rome. These include buses run by ATRAL (atral-lazio.com), COTRAL (cotralspa.it), SIT (sitbusshuttle.com), and Terravision (terravision.eu). Prices are usually about €5 each way, and the ride takes about a half an hour, depending on traffic. 
Figuring these buses out couldn't really be much easier: When you exit the baggage claim at Ciampino, you'll see the kiosks advertising them right in front of you. Just walk up and ask when the next one is leaving (I recommend asking at both, so you can buy your ticket for the one leaving first!). You can buy your ticket right there—no need to reserve in advance—and they'll direct you to where exactly the bus is.
Cab
I'm including this because, yes, it is an option. And, technically, there is a flat rate set by the city to go from the Ciampino airport to the center of Rome. This price is €30, including all luggage and any extra charges. It's illegal for drivers to charge you more than this.
But, of course, they do. Or try to. Which is why, at least until the taxi drivers at Ciampino clean up their act, I don't recommend that anyone risks taking a cab from there. 

Tomorrow we will do the same with Paris.  And I will pick a couple more destinations after that.

 

Italian Word of the Day

Day 12 - the phrases continue:

How is the weather?

Che tempo fa? (keh TEHM-poh fah)

 

While 

Mentre (MEHN-treh)

 

So 

Così (koh-ZEE)

 

Why/Because 

Perché (pehr-KEH)

Pardon?  

Come? (KOH-meh?)

 

Help! 

Aiuto! (ah-YOO-toh!)

 

Good morning. 

Buon giorno. (bwohn JOHR-noh)

 

Good afternoon. 

Buon pomeriggio. (bwohn poh-meh-REE-joh)

 

Good evening. 

Buona sera. (bwoh-nah-SEH-rah)

 

Good night. 

Buona notte. (bwoh-nah-NOHT-teh)

 

I don't understand. 

Non capisco. (nohn kah-PEES-koh)

Italian Word of the Day

Day 11 - phrases continued:
 
What does it mean? 

Che cosa significa? (keh KOH-zah see-NYEE-fee-kah?)
or Che cosa vuol dire? (keh KOH-zah vwohl DEE-reh?)

 

I forgot. 

Mi sono dimenticato. (Mee SOH-noh dee-MEHN-tee-kah-toh)

 

Now I remember. 

Ora ricordo. (OH-rah ree-KOHR-doh)

 

I don’t know.

Non lo so. (nohn loh soh)

 

After 

Dopo (DOH-poh)

 

Before 

Prima (PREE-mah)

 

Wait! 

Aspetta! (ahs-PEHT-tah)

 

I have a question.  

Ho una domanda. (oh OO-nah doh-MAHN-dah)

 

Can you tell me...  

Lei può dirmi... (lay pwoh DEER-mee)

 

How to get to...  

Come arrivare a... (KOH-meh ahr-REE-vah-reh ah)

 

Where/When do we meet? 

Dove/Quando ci incontriamo? (DOH-veh/ KWAHN-doh chee een-KOHN-tryah-moh?)

Happy 4th of July

Once again I will disappear for a few days to celebrate July 4th.  I have a wonderful friend I have known for 45 years celebrating her 50th birthday!!  You know who you are!!  Happy Birthday - I am so blessed to be able to call you my friend.  I am also super excited you will be there to celebrate with us in Ireland!!

Italian Word of the Day

Day 10 - the phrases continue:

Sure. 

Certamente (cher-TAH-men-teh)

or Certo (CHEHR-toh)

 

Really? 

Davvero? (dahv-VEH-roh?)

 

I don't speak Italian. 

Non parlo italiano. (non PAHR-loh ee-tah-LYAH-noh)

 

Do you speak English? (formal)

Parla inglese? (PAHR-lah een-GLEH-zeh?)

 

Speak more slowly, please. 

Parli più lentamente/piano, per favore. (PAHR-lee pyoo lehn-tah-MEHN-teh/PYAH-noh, pehr fah-VOH-reh)

 

I understand Italian a little. 

Capisco l’italiano solo un po'. (kah-PEES-koh lee-tah-LYAH-noh SOH-loh oon POH)

 

I speak just a few words of Italian.  

Conosco solo alcune parole in italiano. (koh-NOHS-koh SOH-loh ahl-KOO-neh pah-ROH-leh een ee-tah-LYAH-noh)

 

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

Qualcuno parla inglese? (kwahl-KOO-noh PAHR-lah een-GLEH-zeh?)

Italian Word of the Day

Day 9 - more useful phrases:

Please. 

Per favore. (PEHR fah-VOH-reh)

 

Thank you very much. 

Grazie Mille. (GRAHT-tsyeh MEE-lay)

 

You're welcome. 

Prego. (PREH-goh)

 

No problem. 

Non c'è problema (non cheh proh-BLEH-mah)

 

Yes 

Sì. (SEE)

 

No 

No. (noh)

 

Excuse me (formal)

Mi scusi. (mee SKOO-zee)

 

What's that? 

Che cos'è? (KAY kohz-AY)

 

I'm sorry. 

Mi dispiace. (mee dee-SPYA-cheh)

 

See you.  

Ci vediamo. (chee veh-DYAH-moh)

Traveling Europe Continued

If you plan to travel throughout Europe keep in mind not all countries are on the Euro.  Also keep in mind that they do not speak English as their native language.  You will find people who speak English in the major cities but how many vary depending on the city.  Venice, Rome, Paris, etc deal with many English speaking tourists.   

 

When we travel we do not take a lot of US cash.  The currency exchange counters/offices tend to charge higher fees than if you use an ATM.  Keep in mind even though you are using an ATM there will be fees involved through your bank.  Best to call your bank ahead of time and find out what they charge.  We have never had a problem with using any of our Debit cards in the ATMs in Europe.   However remember to check with your bank concerning your daily cash withdrawal limit.  Most banks allow you to raise your limit to $400 or $500 within a 24 hour period.  The default limit is usually $200.  We always make sure we have access to cash at two separate banks just in case there is an issue with one bank.  Also, banks tend to do daily maintenance where you might not be able to withdraw cash.  I noticed with TCU when we were traveling the time was around 3am Eastern Time.  Keep this in mind when withdrawing money since there is usually 5 to 8 hour difference.  Using this method also allows you to only withdraw what you feel you might use.  That way you do not have to pay again to exchange the money back.  This can be very costly if you are traveling throughout several countries that are not on the Euro. 

 

IMPORTANT TIPS ON USING YOUR CREDIT CARDS IN EUROPE:  
Note the section below about chip and pin cards also known as EMV.  When I was in Paris I was not able to make a purchase at a store with my credit card because my credit card did not have a chip.  In France they require chip and pin so if you are not setup for chip and pin with your credit card you will have to pay cash.

• Some businesses say "no" or set minimums. Street vendors, hole-in-the-wall cafés and restaurants, and tiny old-fashioned shops don't always accept Visa, MasterCard, or the local equivalent. Also, some businesses won't accept cards for smaller purchases (e.g., under 20 euros). To avoid getting caught short, carry at least some local currency.
• International brands and networks work best. Just about every business that does accept credit cards will take your Visa, MasterCard, or EuroCard, and businesses that cater to well-heeled tourists and business travelers usually honor American Express. (Diners Club may also be accepted; Discover is a U.S.-only brand, although that could change with Discover's acquisition of Diners Club Europe.)
• Microchips can prevent--or cause--headaches. "Smart cards," also known as "chip and PIN cards," are increasingly commonplace in Europe. Such cards incorporate microchips that can be programmed with user information and security data. Normally, you'll need to enter a four-digit Personal Identification Number, or PIN, when you make a purchase. (See photo at top of page.) This makes it tougher for thieves to use stolen cards or card numbers.
  
  Most European merchants can swipe older, cheaper magnetic-stripe cards, such as Visa and MasterCards from the U.S., but such cards may not work everywhere. In France, for example,  magnetic-stripe cards aren't recognized by newer railroad ticket machines and self-service gasoline pumps--which is why you'll see long lines of frustrated travelers at the RER ticket machines in Charles de Gaulle Airport. And we've read reports of American travelers being unable to use their cards at some businesses in other parts of Europe where PINs were required.
• Watch for hidden fees. Increasingly, banks and credit-card companies are charging hidden "foreign transaction fees" of 2 to 5 percent on purchases outside the cardholder's home country. Often, such fees are charged even on transactions in the cardholder's own currency. See our Credit-Card Surcharges article for more information (including how to avoid such fees).
• Avoid cash advances. Instead of getting cash with your credit card (and paying fees plus interest for the convenience), use your bank ATM card--but watch out for the exorbitant ATM conversion fees that many banks are charging these days.
• Call your credit-card company before you travel. In the U.S., especially, xenophobic banks and credit-card companies may reject overseas transactions unless they've been notified of your trip ahead of time. (As long as you're calling, ask about "foreign transaction fees" so you'll know if it's time to take your credit-card business elsewhere.)
• Carry a backup card, and bring photocopies of cards with you. If you own more than one credit card, carry a backup card just in case your primary card doesn't work. If you can carry the backup card in a different place from your main card, such as a hidden "neck safe," so much the better.
  
  Also, it's wise to make photocopies of your cards (including the customer-service phone numbers on the back) so you can report any theft or loss of your card immediately. Keep the paper copies separate from your cards, and if you're traveling with a companion, let the other person have a copy of your card information.

Finally, and most important:

• Guard your cards! Don't carry credit cards in a backpack, a carry-on bag, or a suitcase, and don't keep your wallet in a hip pocket or a belt pouch. Pickpockets and purse snatchers know that tourists are often careless, so they'll be watching you.

CELL PHONES 

 

Most cell phone plans require an international plan to allow usage of your phone overseas.  On top of the international plan they usually charge around $1.99 a minute to call home.  Data plans are charged on a roaming basis and are usually $10.00 a megabyte.  I always turn my data cellular off when I get on the plane.  That way I cannot accidentally use data.  CHECK WITH YOUR CELL PHONE CARRIER PRIOR TO INSURE YOUR PHONE WILL WORK OVERSEAS IF YOU PLAN TO USE IT.

 

Countries not on the Euro:

 

Bulgaria

Language = Bulgarian

Currency = Bulgarian lev / as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys 1.76 lev

 

Croatia

Language = Croatian

Currency = Croatian kuna /  as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys 6.86 kuna

 

Czech Republic

Language = Czech

Currency = Czech koruna / as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys 24.56 koruna

 

Republic of Denmark

Language = Danish

Currency = Danish krone / as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys 6.73 krone

 

Hungary

Language = Hungarian

Currency = Hungarian Forint / as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys 283.29 forint

 

Poland

Language = Polish

Currency = Polish zloty / as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys 3.78 zloty

 

Romania

Language = Romanian

Currency = Romanian new leu / as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys 4.04 new leu

 

Sweden

Language = Swedish

Currency = Swedish krona / as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys 8.44 krona

 

United Kingdom (England - Wales - Scotland - Northern Ireland)

Language = English

Currency = British Pound / as of 7/2/2015 one US dollar buys .64 pence

 

Traveling Europe

Some of the group has expressed interest in staying in Europe longer and seeing more places.  I wanted to give everyone some helpful tips and links if you are planning to do this.

There are two inexpensive airlines in Europe.  They are Easy Jet and Ryan Air.  Check out their websites.  Just keep in mind they do charge for everything such as carry-ons and checked luggage and they do have strict weight restrictions.  When we were flying Easy Jet they would not allow a bag overweight.  You did not even have the option to pay more.  They are similar to Allegiant where you have to pay for a designated seat - priority boarding - etc.

http://www.easyjet.com/en/
http://www.ryanair.com/

Checkout http://wikitravel.org/en/Discount_airlines_in_Europe


Keep in mind when using these airlines they usually do not fly to the large airport.  Again you can compare them to allegiant where if you were flying to Orlando you would fly into Orlando Sanford instead of Orlando International.  Dublin is one of the few cities where Ryan flies out of the Dublin International airport.  We made the mistake one year of showing up at the wrong airport in Glasgow Scotland.  Still it is an inexpensive way to travel within Europe.  They do fly to London but again - not London Heathrow.  They fly to Stansted, Luton, Gatwick, and Southend.  They offer busses between the airports.  The ride is about 45 minutes and the cost about 40 pounds if I remember correctly. 

Another option is the Euro rail.  We have never used this option so I cannot offer much information or any useful tips.  However if someone has please let me know so I can share the information with others.

This is their official site:

http://www.raileurope.com
Also checkout - http://www.interrail.eu/trains-Europe

There is a train station at San Marco in Venice so it would be an easy way to go on to another stop after Venice.

I did a sample fair from Venice to Paris and it was $173 per person.  That is usually why we fly because flying is cheaper. 

There is also the option of car rental.  We rented a car one year in Italy and drove through Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Bratislava.  Ireland and England drive on the opposite side of the road but the other countries drive on the same side.  The highway system in Europe is wonderful.  However I warn you - you do not want to drive in Paris or Rome unless you are very experienced in big cities.  You have transportation systems in large cities where you really do not need a car.  Also warning - you do have to have special permits to drive on some highways.  We ended up getting pulled over and a ticket in Hungary.

We like to rent apartments when we go places like Rome or Paris.  A couple great sites are www.airbnb.com and www.homeaway.com - I also use www.booking.com a lot.  They are great at last minute bookings.  They offer both hotel and B&B options.  We booked our B&B last minute in Rio with them.  Always remember - when booking hotels or B&Bs check trip advisor for reviews.  You will be glad you did.  www.tripadvisor.com

My suggestion is as we get close to start visiting easyjet or ryanair - not to soon - usually a month or two before travel.  Pick a couple cities and price your options. 

I will post more tomorrow on this subject - maybe give you a few options. 

Until then - Ciao

Italian Word of the Day

Hello everyone - I am back. 

So has anyone been watching the Bachelorette?  They were shooting in Dublin.  How cool is that??  Just think - in less than a year we will be in Dublin!!

Day 8 - lets learn a couple useful phrases:

How are you? (formal)

Come sta? (koh-meh STAH?)

 

Fine, thank you. 

Bene, grazie. (BEH-neh, GRAHT-tsyeh)

 

What is your name? (formal)

Come si chiama? (KOH-meh see kee-AH-mah?)

 

My name is ______ . 

Mi chiamo ______ . (mee kee-AH-moh _____)

 

Nice to meet you. 

Piacere di conoscerla. (pyah-CHEH-reh dee koh-NOH-shehr-lah)

 

Practice these until they roll off your tongue.