Europe Trip

[xiaostar]

Dnls_mum:

Well known travel specialists like Insight and trafalger have country roads tours as well and those are truly all inclusive.

personally, I'm not very impressed with trafalgar's itineraries. Much of it is still focused on the well known tourist cities/towns. Insight itineraries are more off the beaten track but I feel they are quite rushed.

I tend to like to spend my holidays getting an in depth feel of a small number of places instead of rushing from one town to another and spending a good portion of the trip on the coach. I don't see anything wrong with taking public transport, that's what the locals use after all and it makes it a rather authentic experience. In fact one of my best experiences while touring Europe is taking the public trains in Switzerland seeing life and places as it really is for the Swiss. Taking a river cruise with a dozen other tourists isn't really my kind of thing.

I don't deny that the 3 agencies featured in the mypaper article are pricier but from their itineraries, I can see they really know their stuff (how many tour agencies would know to recommend appenzell http://www.fotopedia.com/magazine/stories/qOYCBjRBDaI/Appenzell_Innerrhoden_the_Smallest_Canton_of_Switzerland_by_Jean-Yves_Roure in switzerland or spandau kreuzberg friedrichshain in berlin?) and the premium is justified. Tbh, even I can't afford them, and yes, DIY is always the best choice for Europe. But im sure there are singaporeans for whom the price is not an issue and they just don't want to spend the effort to plan their own trips.

[Dnls_mum]

xiaostar:

Dnls_mum:

Well known travel specialists like Insight and trafalger have country roads tours as well and those are truly all inclusive.

personally, I'm not very impressed with trafalgar's itineraries. Much of it is still focused on the well known tourist cities/towns. Insight itineraries are more off the beaten track but I feel they are quite rushed.

I tend to like to spend my holidays getting an in depth feel of a small number of places instead of rushing from one town to another and spending a good portion of the trip on the coach. I don't see anything wrong with taking public transport, that's what the locals use after all and it makes it a rather authentic experience. In fact one of my best experiences while touring Europe is taking the public trains in Switzerland seeing life and places as it really is for the Swiss. Taking a river cruise with a dozen other tourists isn't really my kind of thing.

I don't deny that the 3 agencies featured in the mypaper article are pricier but from their itineraries, I can see they really know their stuff (how many tour agencies would know to recommend appenzell in switzerland or spandaur kreuzberg friedrichshain in berlin?) and the premium is justified. Tbh, even I can't afford them, and yes, DIY is always the best choice for Europe. But im sure there are singaporeans for whom the price is not an issue and they just don't want to spend the effort to plan their own trips.

Taking public tpt during a vacation can be time consuming. I'd rather pay for private more efficient tpt, but that is because I want to maximize my leave and go as many holidays as I can. Even my 31 days of leave now, is barely enough :(. I am too \"tan sin\" :rotflmao:

My personal preference now is still 5 star river cruises. Similar price as these 3 tour companies, but 5 star service, food and wine. To us, Europe is really about the local food and wine and we love the quaint towns. Nothing beats waking up in a new town everyday and not having to pack and unpack. Road trips are just not relaxing enough for us with all the driving from place to place no matter what or how exclusive they are, the same distance needs to be covered.

But then, cruising is not for everyone. Easier for most people to imagine a road trip then a river cruise. When i went on Royal Caribbean's Alaskan cruise 16 yrs ago, most people cannot imagine, much less appreciate what i was telling them. Now RC even operates from Singapore! River cruises are really virtually unheard of in Singapore now. To each it's own!

What cannot be disputed is that there is more to Europe then the major cities and whirlwind 2 weeks 8 countries kind of tours are passé.

[Jennifer]

Our tour agency trip to Europe is confirmed.


The temperature is likely to be 8 deg C to -5 deg C.

Suggested clothing is thermal wear, hat, mufflers, gloves, thick warm jacket with windbreaker, thick socks

How many of pieces top n bottom should we bring? Preferred bottom should be pants, not dresses or skirts? Top should be only long sleeves?

MTIA

[Dnls_mum]

Jennifer:

Our tour agency trip to Europe is confirmed.


The temperature is likely to be 8 deg C to -5 deg C.

Suggested clothing is thermal wear, hat, mufflers, gloves, thick warm jacket with windbreaker, thick socks

How many of pieces top n bottom should we bring? Preferred bottom should be pants, not dresses or skirts? Top should be only long sleeves?

MTIA

You'll definitely need a waterproof winter jacket. 8deg is probably mid day while -5deg middle of the night. If windy can really feel very cold even at 8deg.

Bring layers. In such weather, I'll have a thermal, 2 long sleeve tops and the padded winter jacket (with hood) For bottom, wear jeans over the thermal. For boys, the 2 LS could be a normal LS shirt plus a sweater/rugby jersey type sweat shirt. I don't get very thick clothes, but normal shirts and jersey tops that even can wear in singapore. Even sweater is not super thick type. Europe tend to overheat their indoors during winter and when you get indoors, it is really hot! I prefer layers of clothes so that I can take each layer out when it gets too warm. :). This combination worked for my kids in Europe even when it snowed.

If you can get those double layer winter jacket where you can split up the warmer inner layer and the outer waterproof layer, then even better. A waterproof jacket is impt because it will prob snow. Those fancy wool jacket that are not waterproof is no good for snow or wet days.

Oh, and make sure everyone has good walking shoes with good grib. Don't get the cloth or canvas type shoes. Leather ones are better because it does get wet. Many steps of churches in Europe are marble and in winter, they can ice up and it is really slippery like walking on ice, so very extra careful. And I make sure all wear woollen socks

Oh and remember to get gloves for everyone too. And if possible, woolen scarves to go round the neck will be good too.

I kiasu. Better bring more clothes and wear layers. Can take out when too hot, rather then bring not enough and suffer from cold. With diff layers can wear diff combi depending on the weather that day.

[Jennifer]

Dnls_mum:

I kiasu. Better bring more clothes and wear layers. Can take out when too hot, rather then bring not enough and suffer from cold. With diff layers can wear diff combi depending on the weather that day.

Thanks a great great deal for the recommendations.

I guess I will need to go buy a few pairs of pants liao.

For thermal wear, how many pieces should we get? We only got 1 set (top n bottom) for my boy ytd.

[NY1969]

Hi Jennifer, btw, where do u buy your winter wear from?

[Jennifer]

NY1969:

Hi Jennifer, btw, where do u buy your winter wear from?

We were at OG People's Park ytd - there was a 20% discount off the items we bought for our boy and a promotion $1 for a BHPC duffle bag for spending > $100.

Thermal top and bottom cost $46.90 each less $9.40 = $37.50
Sweater $49.90 less $10 = $39.90

[NY1969]

Ok thanks…heard from colleague winter time quality not so good.

[Jennifer]

NY1969:

Ok thanks....heard from colleague winter time quality not so good.

Brand of the thermal wear we bou is Thermo Fleece (made in Australia), 100% Merino Fine Wool. The outside is wool, the inside is cotton.

Brand of the sweater is Freezezone.

[Dnls_mum]

Jennifer:

Dnls_mum:

I kiasu. Better bring more clothes and wear layers. Can take out when too hot, rather then bring not enough and suffer from cold. With diff layers can wear diff combi depending on the weather that day.

Thanks a great great deal for the recommendations.

I guess I will need to go buy a few pairs of pants liao.

For thermal wear, how many pieces should we get? We only got 1 set (top n bottom) for my boy ytd.

How many days will u be there? I think one set can wear 3 days lor. Cold, so won't sweat. It also depends if you will hv opp to wash them. They are very thin so quite easy to dry if you roll them in dry towel after washing and wringing.