This will be just a page of links, more or less (maybe with minimal commentary)… Some of these we’ve turned up on our own, others have come courtesy of various online fora (e.g., the Rick Steves Europe Facebook group, the uktravel subreddit, etc.).
[Note: the silver bar of links is repeated above/below each main section for easier navigation.]
- All countries
- Rick Steves travel videos
- Rick Steves Europe (Facebook)
- EuropeTravel (reddit)
- AskEurope (reddit)
- TripAdvisor: Europe
- The Senior Nomads (retiring via Airbnb)
- Quora: Visiting and Travel in Europe topic
- The Great Courses (some free, some not):
- England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
- uktravel (reddit)
- American Expats in the UK (Facebook)
- Moving to the UK (blog series — very thorough, even if just visiting)
- Air travel search/booking
- General info
- Rick Steves on “Budget Flying Within Europe“
- Transitions Abroad: Guide to Cheap Flights Within Europe
- Lengthy TripAdvisor discussion on Flying with Europe
- Sites
- Dohop (intra-Continent)
- Skyscanner
- Omio
- CheapoAir
- Google Flights
- Hopper (requires app; site is just general info about and download links for the app)
- Kayak
- MoMondo
- Scott’s Cheap Flights (email subscription/notifications)
- Secret Flying
- TripAdvisor (meta-site — checks Priceline, Expedia, etc.)
- General info
- Rail travel search/booking
- General info
- Where to move [in the UK] for rail connections (Guardian)
- Largest commuter rail networks [in the UK] outside London (Wikipedia)
- Traveling Britain by Rail (Visit Britain)
- Checking European Train Schedules Online (Rick Steves)
- Top 8 Cities in Europe to See by Rail (traveller.com.au)
- Five great Interrail itineraries across Europe (Guardian)
- Planning Your Trip by Rail in Europe (TripSavvy)
- Traveling by Train Europe (TripAdvisor discussion, including “avoid Rail Europe and Eurail and their ilk” comment)
- Sites
- Thalys – general travel around western portion of continent (book no more than 4 months in advance)
- EuroStar – London to Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam (book no more than 6 months in advance)
- Railteam – specifically for high-speed rail travel
- Trainline
- Omio
- DB (to/from/within Germany)
- Rail Europe
- InterRail
- Eurail Planner
- Britain specifically:
- National Rail
- Transport for Wales (Trafnidiaeth Cymru)
- General info
- Car rental
- General info
- Sites
- River cruises
- General info
- River Cruises in Germany: the Best Towns to See
- Best Danube River Cruises to Bucharest
- 6 of the best luxury river cruise lines
- Travel + Leisure: Best River Cruises for Exploring Europe This Summer (2018)
- Afar: Best European River Cruises
- Conde Nast Traveler: How to Choose the Right European River Cruise for You
- USA Today: European river cruises: Your guide to the major companies and routes
- 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing for a European River Cruise
- Sites
- Tauck
- Gate1
- AdventureLife (tours)
- CruiseCompete (meta-site)
- Avalon
- Viking
- Vantage
- TourRadar (meta-site)
- General info
- General info
- Ultimate Guide to Find a Flat in London
- 50 best places to live near London
- Filters we’re using (not all available at every site):
- Square footage (if size in meters, multiply by a little over 10 to get approximate sq ft)
- Furnished only
- Neighborhoods/Proximity to transit
- Rentals
- Short-term only
- Many sites: “shared accommodations” seems to be default; maybe select separate/entire unit instead?
- Amenities on our all-but-must list (at least for more than overnight stays):
- Private bath
- WiFi
- Stove
- Microwave
- A/C may be optional depending on locale/date, ditto heat
- Washing machine if staying a week or longer
- Sites
- Airbnb
- VRBO (affiliated with HomeAway, below)
- OnTheMarket (properties to rent)
- Rightmove
- Plum Guide (high-end)
- Homelike
- Nestpick
- One Fine Stay (high-end)
- Spotahome
- Zoopla
- PrimeLocation (JES likes)
- HomeAway
- Tour guide resources:
- ToursByLocals
- GetYourGuide (including iOS/Android apps)
- WithLocals
- Global Greeters: network of volunteers — free, but slightly limited (around 200 cities worldwide, e.g. Iasi but not Bucharest in Romania)
- Viator (TripAdvisor subsidiary)
- TripAdvisor lists many, but organized geographically (pick a city first): start with Things to Do and drill down from there
- Airbnb Experiences
- Rick Steves guides mention specific recommended guides — crosscheck vs. ratings on TripAdvisor to confirm
- Specialties:
- Cook’n with Class: cooking classes – tour markets and restaurants before actual course begins (just Paris and Provence)
- Note: if a preferred guide is unavailable, they’ll often be happy to suggest another.
- Exchange rates (as of 2019-09-21):
- 1 GBP = 1.25 USD / 1 USD = .8 GBP
- 1 EU = 1.10 USD / 1 USD = .91 EU
- Other?
List of Currency
- USD1.00 $
- ATM usage
- Video: Avoid these machines
- Consulate/Embassy info (most will be specific to country or even city in which we’re located at the moment)
- State Dept/Bureau of Consular Affairs
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