Trip to Europe

Macke

So a few weeks ago buddy and I were talking about our nearly annual Vegas trip and thinking although we could still get down there for a $50 flight is it really worth it with the dollar in the tank? Vegas is fun for sure but really missing all that much?

I've always wanted to go to Europe and if going to go big might as well go really big... Hopefully I would like to go for at least 3 weeks and hit up the following places, Paris, Nice (and Monaco), Amsterdam and Berlin...this is just rough very early stage but leaving in say September roundtrip flight Vancouver-paris is about a grand...not too bad when I look at prices to fly within Canada.

Has anyone here done a trip like this? Any tips? What kind of budget should I have? Would 3000-4000 Euro be enough to be comfortable there?

Toronto Pimp

Get your Eurail pass before you go. If you get the 4 country pass with France, Netherlands,Belgium and Germany it would be just over $600 CDN. That gets you everywhere on your list.

To save a few bucks you could stay in hostels in the Netherlands. I did it years ago and it was the experience of a lifetime.

Try and travel as light as possible since you will be on and of the train so often.

GTA Poker

when in rome

PocketsTwos

I did a trip a couple years ago...touring around some of the WW 1 & WW 2 battlefields, monuments and commonwealth war graves. We landed in Paris and headed for the Normandy coast and toured around France, Belgium, part of Germany and
the Netherlands. Flew out of Amsterdam. Don't know if you are into war history like I am but, the Vimy Memorial is a breath taking sight. Also, if visiting a commonwealth war grave, Tyne Cot is the largest one I think. They really give you a sense of the ultimate sacrifice these men made. The scale is unbelievable. Also, if you get a chance, go to town of Ypres. This is the area the CEF contingent of Canadians got their first taste of the war during the Second battle of Ypres. The Canadian soldiers called the town "wipers". The Canadians were the first victims of the very first gas attack to be used in warfare. They held the line. At the Menin Gates memorial in Ypres, which has over 60,000 names of commonwealth soldiers names with no known grave, inscribed on panels. These are the men that fell in Belgium. Everyday since the end of WW 1, they honour the fallen by playing the 'Last Post' at the Gates. It's a very moving experience. I think they do it at 6pm every evening, (check the time if you go). If you are travelling to bigger cities like Amsterdam, try to book your accommodations at least a couple days in advance of getting to the next city on your planned route. Particularly on the weekends. Hotels fill up fast in some places, and this will save you time running around trying to find a place to stay. If you happen to rent a car to tour around, one with a built in GPS is a must. Food can get pricey, along our route when it was lunch time we would stop in a local grocery and pick up bread, deli meat and some wine off the shelf....made for a good picnic type lunch and saved a few bucks along the way. I'm looking to go back in 2018 for the anniversary of the end of WW 1. Have a great trip!,

compuease

Trip report (live) and pics here. TY. Accommodation (hotels) and Food (restaurants) will be a huge expense so anything you can cut down there will help. Unless you are staying mostly in hostels and eating as PocketsTwos says I would budget 2-300 Euros a day, at least that's what I figured for my wife and I. And that was using B'nB's mostly.

UBetIFold

Don't have a ton to add, but I bet the way the dollar is, many Canadians are probably in similar shoes as you are and contemplating trips elsewhere instead of Vegas. I wonder if Vegas feels the pinch.

Also......$50 flights?!?!? Am I trading that right? Or is that based off of using points or the like to get discounted flights?

Milo

If the military thing is your bent, the Grosbeek War Cemetery or Holten, in the Netherlands are also must sees. The Dutch do a PHENOMENAL job of honouring and caring for our dead.

BlondeFish

Macke;398626 wrote... is it really worth it with the dollar in the tank?

Excellent idea, as there is so much more to experience in the world than Las Vegas or US.

Hopefully I would like to go for at least 3 weeks and hit up the following places, Paris, Nice (and Monaco), Amsterdam and Berlin...

Including my upcoming trip to Turkey and Georgia, I have visited many of the European countries and I would rank those places in the following order: Monaco, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and Nice.

Would 3000-4000 Euro be enough to be comfortable there?

We are all bringing > U$3,500 each for our one-week trip, so I don't think 4K Euros for >= 3 weeks will be enough, depending on your sightseeing, poker, accommodation and other options. I also use a U$ credit card to put as many of my expenses on the card.

As others have mentioned, you should look into non-hotel options if you want to save money. My two roommates and I referred each other to airbnb.ca, got the referral cash discounts, & paying only C$26/night each for a 3 bedroom apartment. The host will be our airport transport and sightseeing guide in a Mercedes Benz. He said to look for him at the airport with the sign "Bingo Buddy" tho. :-[

trigs

i suggest trying to find the cheapest european city to fly into that's close to your chosen area and then train it to where you want to go. also, there are a lot of small home style restaurants that are great home cooked food and not as expensive as a regular restaurant. might have to search around for them, but they're there.

JimmyHo

But don't you go to Vegas on the expectation of winning more than the cost of the trip so the strong dollar is +ev?

Macke

Thanks for advice guys, wow 200-300 euro a day? Crazy didn't expect that...yeah I was looking at airbnb seems good option would probably be going with a buddy so that cuts costs down a bit.

I don't think there would be much gambling, maybe one day or two but not heavy... I guess Monaco would be the place? But I hear there no poker at Monte Carlo and they have a cover
?? Lol

BlondeFish

No, most members understand by now that flying to Lost Wages, paying 1.4x C$ for U$ expenses, just to buy into 30%-taxed donkaments is highly -EV, but some players just wanna have fun and don't care that much about maximizing EV or profit.

JimmyHo;398641 wroteBut don't you go to Vegas on the expectation of winning more than the cost of the trip so the strong dollar is +ev?

GTA Poker

BlondeFish;398693 wroteNo, most members understand by now that flying to Lost Wages, paying 1.4x C$ for U$ expenses, just to buy into 30%-taxed donkaments is highly -EV, but some players just wanna have fun and don't care that much about maximizing EV or profit.

But if players wanted to have fun and profit they would just play the super soft cash games and enjoy the town whenever they feel like;) 1.4x $50 is only $70 after-all.

compuease

BlondeFish;398693 wroteNo, most members understand by now that flying to Lost Wages, paying 1.4x C$ for U$ expenses, just to buy into 30%-taxed donkaments is highly -EV, but some players just wanna have fun and don't care that much about maximizing EV or profit.

First of all Vegas is wayyyy cheaper than pretty well anywhere in Europe even with the US dollar rise. It has also risen against the Euro as well you know. And as for the 30% withholding, it only applies to Tournament winnings over 5K net so it doesn't apply to anyone playing cash or "donkaments" as you call them, a huge % of the time we aren't playing anything big enough to apply.

GTA Poker;398694 wroteBut if players wanted to have fun and profit they would just play the super soft cash games and enjoy the town whenever they feel like;) 1.4x $50 is only $70 after-all.

+1

Vegas is fun for sure but enjoying Europe is a once in a lifetime experience, everyone should do it at least once, irregardless of poker.

-ANTE RIVER-

BlondeFish;398637 wrote The host will be our airport transport and sightseeing guide in a Mercedes Benz. He said to look for him at the airport with the sign "Bingo Buddy" tho. :-[

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2157[/ATTACH]

pkrfce9

compuease;398695 wroteirregardless

And this is where you lost your cred

Macke

Just curious where in Europe out of the possible places I mentioned would be the best for poker? Casino names if possible.

Also has anyone been to Octoberfest? Part of reason why I'd want to go that time too.

Anyone be willing to help with a budget? I thought 4k Euro would be enough for spending and rooms hmmm

trigs

tips to save money in europe:

1) sleep in your rental car (or just don't sleep every night)
2) steal food (lots of street vendors, should be easy)
3) make friends with locals and sleep at their place for a night (must be charismatic)
4) pretend to be a tour guide and make tourists pay you to see the sites (i.e. mark up price and use extra to pay for yourself)

Macke

trigs;398706 wrotetips to save money in europe:

1) sleep in your rental car (or just don't sleep every night)
2) steal food (lots of street vendors, should be easy)
3) make friends with locals and sleep at their place for a night (must be charismatic)
4) pretend to be a tour guide and make tourists pay you to see the sites (i.e. mark up price and use extra to pay for yourself)

Those are good tips...but I wouldn't be getting a rental car

compuease

pkrfce9;398699 wroteAnd this is where you lost your cred

I had that?:confused: