Trip to Europe, advice

[E30godz]

Im planning a trip to europe with a certain female this coming summer for 2-3 weeks. We plan on flying out of Raleigh, NC to London, and after spending a couple days there, ferrying accross the channel to France and traveling wherever.. We plan on getting a railpass for easy traveling but i want to know if yall have any advice. It would be great to meet some of the european BMW community while im there. Im also thinking about a bike rental (motorcycle) or maybe even a car rental for a day or two. What do i have to do to drive over there (automobile or motorcycle) and what kinda prices should i expect. The plans are still very much open for change...we are thinking about leaving when school gets out (we'll both be finishing up our freshman year in school, me at NCSU her and UNC).

comments, suggestions?

[Matt86es]

I would consider stopping by Ireland...it's cool as hell and beautiful. If you decide to go there I can give you more specifics. As far as the rest of Europe, I haven't had the pleasure yet. I'm waiting until I graduate from college in Dec. so I can go for 2-3 months.

[kansas-ix]

Rent a car and drive to scotland and have a dram of scotch on the isle of mull 3 day trip total from london but it is fun to drive 110mph on the m1, you'll visit at least 5 damn fine distilleries, and it is beautiful country up there, also skip Amsterdam and go to Uterecht, same thing less Morroccan bum crack heads, more college people= more fun, and just 45min. from AMS, also go to Lugano Swiz. palm trees and snow capped mountains, nice lake, a place to romance a lady thats for sure. Lastly Copenhagen is sweet.

[Dirtsquirt]

As long as you are putting all the effort into it, take a lap or two around the 'ring. No auto enthusiest traveling to western europe should go without doing it 8)

-Dan

[e30Matt]

Awesome. Tourin' Europe with the a.z.n.

[E30godz]

yup.

yea one of the main reasons i askedd about the car was because of the ring..i may bring some stickers back ; )

how do you go about be able to drive over there??

[kansas-ix]

You go to a rental car company and rent one and 15min. later you are on the road. At least in England that is how it works, they photocopy your drivers license, and wham your on the road and they love the make sure to stay on the right? jokes, seriously they thought it was funny, "no worries mate"

[E30godz]

i didnt know if my lisence was valid overseas....if i had to get an international lisence or something

[kansas-ix]

yeah I was worried about that too, but they didn't seem to care at all. Just get insurance and drive it like you stole it.

[RedBaron86325]

You can get a "rail 'n drive" pass. It includes a rail pass and days of a rental car at your various stops.

http://www.raileurope.com/us/index.htm

[latinobimmer]

Dont ferry across, take the hovercraft from Dover instead...its cool as hell, I did it a few years ago. Either that, or go on the Chunnel train.

[CleanAzzE30z]

Euro is rocking the dollar right now, so be ready for some prices. Walk the Monaco GP like I did. They have the red-whites all around what is the track and they are real streets. At least go through the tunnel and see the hairpin. Id also go to Donnington, England and see the Fangio (Argentine) and Senna memorial and all the F1 cars that they have from Williams and Mc Laren. I liked Liverpool, Its a different world dude. FIsh and chips rock in Liverpool. I also visited Autovogue in Stafford. If you go to Amsterdam, of course go to red light, its just quite an environment, they have a museum and they have very cool Vermeer paintings, including the famous "woman with a pearl earring". You have people offering you good euro "e" every 2 steps of the way there. If you go to Germany, be sure to try all the little town brewed beers, they will be the best you try in a long time. trya nd go to Neuschwanstein castle. ITS INSANELY BEAUTIFUL!! OBVIOUSLY visit Hockenheim and the 'Ring. The museum at the BMW headquarters is VERY disappointing if youre looking for DTM E30 ///M3s and all that. Its old. The newest car there is an E32 750i displying its technology. If you go to Shnitzers headquarters and they let you see all their cars its much more impressive. I didnt know to go there. All the auto-bahn-strada's whichever country you are in are like billiard tables. I went to Rome, FLorence, Genova, and MIlan in Italy. All great places to see for sites, but FLorence is really cool. You can see the museum of 'La famiglia Medici" and its awesome. Go and stand in line early cuz its a VERY long line. I thinkyou have to get the tickets the day before. Be sure to ask for the beer in France and Italy cold. Cuz most the the time they serve it warm. Paris is one of the best cities Ive ever seen. Its just a beautiful city. See Napoleans tomb, obviously go to La Torre Eiffel (at night cuz theres less line, also HUGE). I went toe Barcelona and there is a park dedicated to the artist Gaudi and its trippy, you get to see his house too and it looks like something from an acid trip. There are many apartment buildings in the city desgned by him and they are beautiful looking. There is a famous church also that was designed by him in the city. I hope I have helped, I went in 2001 and it was before all the europeans had the recent surge in dislike (more than normal) perpetuated by our new re-elected president (just my opinion) but they are very laid back and cool. Of course I spoke Spanish and made like I was from Argentina and not american for security purposes, lol. Good luck. I have much more information but Im going on my ump-teenth beer.

[Jand3rson]

i may bring some stickers back ; )

I hope not to give to people.

Putting a Nurburgring sticker on a car without having driven that car on it is like wearing a Medal of Honor when you never served in the military.

[mikeedler]

your welcome to stop by my house, I live about 2 hours north of munich, if you make it this far south. there is so much to see in europe, that i wouldnt even know where to begin.

[gstuning]

You should fly out to Iceland and stop over for a day or two,

and then head on to the rest of Europe

You and your lady friend are welcome to stay at my house

I´ll take you to the Blue Lagoon and we´ll go to a local BMW Meet