Devon TRF Group Forum

TTR · Powermonger!!

Travelling in Europe - hints and tips

Andy KLX · Clubman B

I've got a post office credit card , no charges , just prevailing exchange rate.

Also , on a different note , try not to start your overseas driving at night .

you'll be a bit tired , and the lack of other cars make going down the wrong lane / wrong way round roundabouts easier to do.

When there's other cars about , you follow em .On your own , bit tired , roundabout comes up and instinct takes over.

Perhaps its just me tho cry

rich xr · Clubman B

Do those foreigners have roundabouts now? Give way to the right at cross roads even if you think its just straight on.

Brockstar71 · Clubman B

Andy KLX wrote:

you'll be a bit tired , and the lack of other cars make going down the wrong lane / wrong way round roundabouts easier to do.

Thats exactly what I done, on a bike trip around Europe. Riding tired, late at night/early morning. Shocked the hell out of a local driver and nearly dropped the bike. Not to mention the ear bashing from the girlfiend on the back!! Stopped and rested for a while after that.

devondan · Champion

I haven't been for a few years but the 24hr fuel stations with pay at pump didn't work with UK credit cards, had to be cash.

Petrol stations are not so abundant as here so fill up when you can, and if you are on a bike stay off the motorway, the D roads are way more fun.

If you do on the Payage, pay at the manned toll booth, the automated one will charge you the car rate.

Oh and go to the Alps, its compulsory on a bike! But make a choice, ride the roads or look at the scenery, do both and you'll need an extra toilet stop

Finally if you make it to the indian sub continent never ever f*rt unless your trousers are around your ankles and your bottom is on the toilet seat - my Doc gave me that advice!!

Dan

Brockstar71 · Clubman B

devondan wrote:

Finally if you make it to the indian sub continent never ever f*rt unless your trousers are around your ankles.............

biggrin biggrin biggrin

Harty · Devon's Best

If you do end up in India then you've taken a wrong turning for Spain

snasher · Clubman B

Pretty much the only way of getting petrol at the weekend in France is unmanned pumps. They ONLY accept plastic. To avoid getting stranded e-mail your bank and credit card company before you go and tell them you're off on your travels, on a bike and when your expect to be back. Also, tell them you will be buying small amounts of fuel (i.e. not car size amounts) frequently so they can expect to see lots of 20 - 30 euro purchases.

If you don't as soon as you try to use the card it will be blocked until you phone your bank.

One other thing which can be a bit scary if you get off the ferry, get home and check your credit card bill. The maximum spend at the pump is 99euros. On a Sunday they will actually charge that amount to your card (although the till slip will say the true amount) until the banks open on a Monday and the work out exchange rates etc. 3 fill ups on the way home can look like 297 euros but it automatically gets put right in a couple of days.

Use a credit card rather than a bank card for petrol, hotels etc as all purchases are covered by insurance so you can get your money back if something goes wrong. Bank cards don't have this cover.

Two more tips:- You can normally stash a small roll of euros in a plastic bag somewhere on the bike for emergencies if your wallet gets lifted. In the air box or in a bit of metal tube where there is a rubber bung. For europe even better is a pre-paid credit/debit card (which has a pin number) with 100 euros or so on it, duck taped under the seat. You wouldn't even know it was there if you lifted the seat off and looked at it.

Happy travels

snasher

-- Edited by snasher on Sunday 6th of February 2011 11:17:38 AM

TTR · Powermonger!!

Using a mobile in France and Spain?

devondan · Champion

RE: Travelling in Europe - hints and tips

Ming · Devon's Best

TTR wrote:

I currently just use a PAYG SIM in an old Nokia. What is the advice regarding making and receiving calls on a mobile whilst in France and Spain - both within those countries and with UK - please?

Can be very expensive. I used a 5euro pre paid card to ring the UK from a landline callbox as it's much cheaper. You can get them from most newsagents.