Europe a la Carte Blog

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We’ve all had those moments - standing in a foreign city, knees squeezed together as you try and work out if you have enough money to buy a coke so that you can use the toilets of the cafe across the street. Public toilets, as has been discussed here before, can be a bit of a hit and miss affair (my personal advice: do not, under any circumstances, consider using the airport’s toilets in Hurghada, Egypt) and simply finding some can be a challenge in itself.

Thankfully we can turn to some online databases to help us locate toilets.

Broken Toilet by borges,

The Bathroom Diaries
This has been online since 2000 and includes 12000 toilets from all over the world. Users can add their own toilet discoveries to it. Some entries haven’t been updated in a long time (they predate the introduction of the Euro), but it’s a great start and the Golden Plunger awards for the best bathrooms are worth checking out.

PublicToilets.org
A simple database which is user generated and covers a variety of countries across the world, but not as many toilets as the other sites. This also includes entries such as “My place, ring the doorbell marked Arnold” which, although amusing, I’d probably bypass.

Find a Toilet UK
The lack UK public toilets has been covered before, and now someone has decided to help us out of the dilema. Findatoilet has 3700 public toilets in the UK documented and is not reliant on user input for growth. Search the database by going to the mobile phone link - which of course also means you can search direct from your phone. Exactly what you need when you haven’t checked it out beforehand and find yourself hopping up and down on one leg.

Diaroogle
Now it isn’t Europe, in fact it’s only one city specific, but Diaroogle is a new database for public toilets in New York. The entries are practical and slightly more unusual than you find in the other databases including, for example, The Museum of Sex and the US Bankruptcy Court.

Take to the Skies - Copyright Andrew Hayes

Sometimes, I tend to over-analyse things. This is usually the case when I am searching for cheap airfare! I previously reported my thoughts on Dutch website cheaptickets.nl but I do have another trick up my sleeve. Kayak is a slick and easy-to-use website that allows endless amounts of manipulation to your search results to help you find endless possibilities of flight combinations. I have yet to figure out why they called it Kayak, though. Maybe because it glides easily through the airline reservation systems? Or because it is a tool that is simple, easy, and does exactly what you expect?

Good

- Multilingual service (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian)

- Easy to use controls allow you to select flights within certain timeframes or airline alliances

- Has ‘weekend’ getaway search option

- Flight Buzz section with up-to-the-minute deals

Bad

- Depending on which flight you choose, you might have to register at a new site to actually book (Kayak does not do any of the bookings, they are merely a screening tool.)

Rating out of 10: 9.5

You start but simply defining your search criteria, and then you will quickly be presented with a large amount of results. Then you can use the Filters on the left side of the screen to easily narrow down your choices by Number of Stops, Airline Alliance, Flight Times, Aircraft Type, Trip Duration, or Price Band. It may sound like a lot of choice but really it is easy! Each result has all the necessary details on-screen but by clicking the ‘details’ link, additional information is displayed. You can even click on a flight that you definitely want and it will reconfigure to show all the flights that will pair up with the one you chose. When you are done, click the airfare link and you will be taken to the corresponding website for booking.

Before you buy, be sure to check out our other air travel tips on Europe A La Carte.

This cozy, contained capital city will delight you to no end—as long as you can stay away from the tourist mobs. Prague attracts thousands of tourists round the year, and if you go in the summer, especially in August when the Czechs are mostly all on vacation, you might think that the beauty of the city is there just for the gaping tourists. But if you know the right spots, you can avoid the crazed crowds and see Prague in your own peaceful way. The guidebooks tell you to go Charles Bridge and eat some over-priced goulash, but don’t be like everyone else! See Prague in a unique, back alley way, see it like the locals see it. Hop on and off the trams (make sure you have a daily or weekly transportation pass first) and see where you end up, watch the people around you. The further you get outside the center, the more chance you will have to get a deeper insight into Czech culture and how the locals really live in this gorgeous city. If you see a shadowy little storefront marked with the word “Antikvariat” go inside. You will discover a wild array of antiques and used items, ranging from books to records to stamps to furniture to jewelry to kitchen gadgets from way back when.

One big tip—stay away from the major attractions like Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and the Clock Tower on Old Town Square. If you really want to see them, go at night or very early in the morning. Charles Bridge, and the view from it, is absolutely gorgeous at 4 a.m. in the summer, when the sun is just waking up, and no one is around except for maybe a few passionate photographers, setting up their tripods.

Petrin Hill, at the Ujezd tram stop, is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, but the hill is large enough that you won’t keep running into others and can relax in shade of the abundant cherry, pear and apple trees. Halfway up the top, stop and sit for awhile at the Petrin Café that offers you one of the best views in town. An even better space for taking in the aroma of Prague is Letna Park, the largest park in the city complete with a stunning view of the Vltava River and the city beyond it…and don’t forget the beer garden either for a real glimpse of Czechs enjoying life–in nature, with friends at the table, a beer in hand and canine companion nearby.

As modern tourists we tend to travel fast. We fly in, grab a hotel room (or hostel bed), see all the tourist sights, try a local meal or two and zip back home again. We stay within cities, we are surrounded by other tourists and we do it all in a hurry before our days or cash run out. We don’t soak in ambience, we dive bomb into it and think that the few drops clinging to our hair are equivalent to the pruney-skin permeation of a long and leisurely exposure.

Personally I’m an exponent of slow travel, a term I thought was particularly nifty until I googled it when writing this article and discovered that I didn’t coin the phrase. My version of slow travel is camping. Travelling leisurely through the back country, off the highways and into smaller towns. Getting to meet the locals in an environment (the communal lifestyle of a campsite) which encourages interactions (unlike the private sterility of a hotel room).

Camping lets you soak in the atmosphere

Of course camping isn’t always feasible. If you go with your own car, caravan or mobile home you are limited by how far you can drive in the allotted holiday travel time. Driving three days across Europe only to have four days there and a three day return journey is not anyone’s idea of fun. Some ways around that are to look at carrying your car on the train – something which saves time, stress and petrol. You can also carry the minimum camping gear with you on a flight and locally hire a car or just rely on public transport to get you around. Or you can rent the entire get up once you arrive.

But the prices do start paying out, especially if you are travelling for a longer period. The average European campsite costs 15€-20€ per night, including electricity, with each person costing around 2€ extra. Showers may or may not be an additional cost (usually 0.50 – 1€). This is similar to a bed in a dorm room of an inner city hostel for one person, but in a group becomes extremely cheap and is far more appropriate for travelling with a family. Finding campsites is easy – decent maps of the country will have many marked and usually your home automobile club will have lists of international campsites, ones which they have even checked out and rated.

You aren’t necessarily limited to remote campsites on the outskirts of town either. If you are travelling in a self-contained motor home there are many sites which allow for short stops, overnight stays and replenishing water/emptying waste. The E6 on the coast of northern Norway is dotted with them, in Germany they are called Stellplätze, in France Aires De Service, and many are free of charge.

The varying sizes of mobile homes

I’m not really encouraging the use of the large mobile homes. These white ships are gas-guzzlers, can be dangerous on narrow roads (especially when driven by people unused to the size) and cannot be driven into European city centres because of their size. Smaller vans, such as VW camping buses, can be and tenting means you have a car available for local trips without having to pack up your campsite every time.

Of course camping doesn’t work for everyone, nor does it work for every situation. It requires a certain amount of preparation and investment in gear, the availability of a little more time and a roughing-it mentality. While northern France’s freezing autumn rains may send even myself into the shelter of a local chateau, as a budget summer travel option it is a relaxed, slow travel affair.

Amsterdamse Bos - Copyright Andrew Hayes

“Bos” means forest in Dutch, but Amsterdamse Bos is much more than that. Rarely visited by the casual tourist, this wooden oasis is an easy 30 minute cycle ride out of town but feels like it is worlds away. It is one of the largest city parks in Europe, with its 137km (85mi) of footpaths, 51km (35mi) of cycle paths and 50 bridges. A day out is not complete with a visit to the GeitenBoerderij, a goat farm where children can pet the animals and adults can enjoy an array of beverages (Dutch beers, wine, soft drinks) and purchase various goat’s milk products (ice cream, yogurt, cheese). There is also the Grote Vijver (translated as the ‘big pond’) which offers calming views as well as kayak/row boat rental during the summer. At all entrances to the park as well as throughout paths are well signposted so you should have no troubles getting around.

Before setting off, check with your bicycle rental company to get directions (do not worry it’s not too difficult). I also suggest a picnic lunch if you do not want to eat at the goat farm.

Amsterdamse Bos Reflections - Copyright Andrew Hayes

Ok, well, almost free.

I have just returned from a near week of sun-drenched Nordic summer bliss, and I must say I was thoroughly impressed. Helsinki is not blessed with an abundance of graceful architecture; however, beneath the surface is a cosmopolitan city full of joie de vivre that really inspired me. My view might be a bit different should I be plunged into the darkness of a cold Finnish winter, but from what I gather the Finns make do regardless of the weather.

Helsinki, alongside the rest of Scandinavia and the Nordics, has a terrible reputation of being an expensive experience, a status well earned. High airfares, food and drink tax, and prices in the shops will leave your credit cards feeling a bit overstretched. But there is no reason to worry – in Helsinki, some of the best things on offer are free (well, almost):

- Suomenlinna: only €4 gets you a return ticket on the ferry from the market square in Helsinki to this set of islands. Skip the museums and spend the day playing around on the old fortifications, walking through tunnels, and laying around on the rocks on the shoreline. Locals fill ferry after ferry, arms full with all the picnic gear. The amazing bit is that there is plenty of room for everyone.

- Keskuspuisto (Central Park): it is said that you can walk all the way from Helsinki to the top of Finland without leaving a park or forest. If that sounds like your bag, I would suggest starting here. Although I was disappointed by the city’s architecture, walking around the two large lakes here just north of the central station offer stunning views both day and night as well as highlighting some of the most popular attractions (the Olympic Stadium, the Opera, and Finlandia Hall).

- Eduskuntatalo (Parliament Building): the city offers free tours on the weekends. Check the visitors’ centre website for schedule and details

- Museums: the following museums offer free admission: Finnish Architecture Museum, National Museum of Finland (on Tuesday evenings), Bank of Finland Museum

- Churches: none of the main churches charge admission: Lutheran Cathedral, Temppeliaukio (the Church in the Rock), Vanhakirkko (the Old Church), or Upenski Cathedral

- Saunas: with the exception of cut-rate hostels and the like, almost all hotels in Finland offer a sauna as part of the room rate. Those that do not will often offer free or discounted passes to nearby facilities. As we all know, the sauna is at the core of the Finnish experience, so take advantage.

Do not be scared of high prices – check out Helsinki’s tourism bureau homepage to choose a season, then book. For finding good fares to Helsinki, check out Blue 1 (part of the SAS Group).

“Sunset” in Helsinki - Copyright by Andrew Hayes

I know that I’d love to have some insider knowledge when planning a trip to give me some advice and tips so I can make the most of my visit.  That’s exactly why I’ve set up a Contact a Local group on the Euravelers travel social network.

If you join the group, other Euravelers will know that they can contact you for information about their home town and/or other cities and regions that they know well. Members may also be willing to meet up with visitors to their area. If you are planning a trip you can announce your intended destinations to group members.

So why not join the Euravelers so you can revel in your travels discovering the real Europe.

Generally speaking, there is more than enough to keep a tourist busy in a major city. Sometimes though, it’s nice to get out of the big smoke and see the smaller towns and sites in another country.

This can be tough when you’ve just flown straight in, don’t have a car (nor want to shell out for the rental and petrol prices) and the trains seem to be just that bit too pricey. Which is why it’s great that the German train system (Deutsche Bahn) have the Happy Weekend Ticket (Schönes-Wochenende Ticket).

Berlin Hauptbahnhof by Matthias M

For 35€ up to five people can travel anywhere on the regional train network. The ticket is valid from midnight to 3am the following day, but only available for Saturday or Sunday hence the happiness of the weekend. It also covers the S-bahns within those cities that have them. You don’t have to reserve seats and you can use it as many times as you want anywhere in the country for the entire day.

There are a few important points though:

-This ticket can only be used on the regional trains, ones designated by an RB, IRE or RE. These are generally the red ones. Don’t get on an ICE (Inter City Express)! Those are prettier and faster, but the conductor is not going to let you get away with a happy weekend if you do that.

-If you want to be a bit more adventurous you can get to Poland on this ticket via a few routes: Grambow – (Grambow Grenze(Border)) – Szczecin Gl; Tantow – (Tantow Grenze) – Szczecin Gl; Forst Grenze – Zasieki; Frankfurt (Oder) Grenze - Slubice; Görlitz – (Zgorzelec Grenze) – Zgorzelec

-These are the slow trains. They stop a lot at very small towns, go in somewhat circuitous routes and can take a long time to get somewhere. Make sure your destination is achievable.

German Train by dayvidday

You can buy the ticket directly from the website, but the web-shop itself is, unfortunately, in German and there is a 3.50€ charge for postage. Otherwise it can be purchased at train stations, either from the travel center (DB ReiseZentrum), or from the DB ticket machines. You can also buy them on the trains, directly from the conductor, but you will be charged an extra 10% and you cannot purchase it on S-bahn trains.

The Happy Weekend is a great way to get out of the large cities and into the smaller towns. It is even a very inexpensive way of getting between major cities, but it can take twice as long as the fast trains. But for 7€ per person if travelling in a group, I don’t think you’ll find a cheaper way.

Would you like to help create the Europe a la Carte Euravelers Network? I’m in the early stages of developing a travel social network for Europe a la Carte. I’ve christened the network “Europe a la Carte Euravelers” - for travelers who revel in discovering the real Europe without breaking the bank. It was strange for me to spell travelers with only one “l” (the American way) but it fits in better with the revel in travel theme.

This is social networking?

Before you groan exclaiming “Oh no, who needs another travel social network site?”, I’d like to say that this will very much a niche network for travellers who want to experience authentic Europe on a modest budget. If no-one shows any interest in the network, it just won’t develop.

I don’t have any set ideas about how the network should be structured. I really want it to be useful and fun, so I’ve only set up the bare bones and would love input from you.

illustration by skampy