I was happy to visit with my friend, Hermann Weidenger, at his hotel in Ruette, Austria. After a long day of driving and touring the king’s castles, it was good to see a welcoming smile and familiar face.
Hotel Ernberg-Zum Dorfwirt, is located less than twenty minutes from the castle area in Reutte, Austria. All the rooms are decorated in the traditional Tyrolian style with lots of wood paneling and comfy beds covered with warm duvets. There is not a bad room in the hotel, so visit here with confidence.
Hermann’s hotel restaurant is very popular, so you would do well to get a reservation as soon as you arrive in town. Luckily, we obtained a reservation at 6 p.m. on a Saturday night, during the height of the Christmas season. The meal was wonderful! The only negative was the smoke due to Austria not banning smoking inside.
It seemed that beef was the speciality of the evening, so both Charlotte and I ordered it. I had a filet and Charlotte had a T-bone. Both came with vegetables, french fries and plenty of special homemade pepper sauce. The entire dining experience was great, but jet-lag began to catch up with us half-way through dinner. We skipped desert and were sound asleep in bed before eight o’clock!
Charlotte and I are flying today to Zurich, Switzerland hoping to experience Christmas cheer in the foothills of the Alps. According to the forecast, it is going to be cold with snow. We can’t wait! For us Floridians, any chance to get into the chilly weather and snow is an adventure. Our itinerary is somewhat flexible, especially since I do not have a group to lead around, but here is a rough outline:
First, we will drive to Schwangau, Germany and visit King Ludwig II’s boyhood home (castle) know as Hohenschwangau. We will stay overnight with my hotelier friend Hermann Weidinger in Reutte, Austria. Then we will travel through Germany’s Black Forest and set up in Freiburg, Germany for four nights. I call this region the “Smokey Mountains” of Germany. There are a lot of Christmas markets to experience and maybe we’ll do some hiking too. Finally we will return to Zurich, explore the old town, and be home by Christmas.
I’ve been dining at Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, Florida, since 1984. On that first visit, it was Roger, a friend and gracious host, who walked my “good buddies” and me through the experience of fine dining. The service, food, wine and desert were amazing. I’ve gone to Bern’s at least once a year since that first visit.
Dining at Bern’s is a experience, one which you must make the main event of the evening. I plan for at least four hours to savor the food and ambiance. Mike was our waiter way back in 1984, and to this day I still request that he be my waiter. He won’t steer you wrong. Mike is very knowledgeable on their wine selections, as well as abreast in making menu suggestions. I’ve tried many cuts of their dry-aged steaks and have come to settle on their chateaubriand most often. Order it medium-rare and it will melt in your mouth! The steak comes with all of the fixings: soup, salad, a potato, fresh veggies and their amazing sauteed carrots all at one fixed price (about $40 per person). The price can rise steeply depending on your taste for beverages other than water, tea, soda and coffee.
Don’t forget to tour the kitchen and wine cellar after your dinner. Then, waddle your way up to the desert room and indulge on a huge selection of sweets, coffee, desert wines and digestifs.
Over the years I have taken many people to Bern’s to dine with me. The table has turned since 1984, for I am now the “wise old man” showing my friends the ins and outs of fine dining at Bern’s. Thanks Roger and Mike for making dining an experience!
This morning, I heard a NPR story featuring three restaurants in Paris. Paris is loaded with restaurants but these places seem to be a good find. All three featured restaurants are owned by the same chef and are located just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. Next time you are in Paris, check them out and let me know what you think. Here’s the NPR link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114250336
Obtaining your passport is one of the most important things to consider before going out of the country. You’ll not get beyond the check-in counter at the airport without a valid passport. Travelers must have a passport if visiting a country outside the United States of America. New rules require a passport even when traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. Obtaining a passport, or even renewing an old one, can take some time. The average delivery time is 4 to 6 weeks. It is a good idea to always hold a valid passport, however most Americans do not consider it a necessity. Be sure to apply for a passport as soon as you know you will be traveling outside the United States.
How to get a passport
Before you try to get a passport you’ll need a few items for the application process.
Proof of citizenship: You’ll need an original birth certificate or a certified copy of the birth certificate (a photocopy won’t work).
Two passport photos: These are special sized photos required by the passport agency. You can have taken at many places like Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and CVS.
A valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license or official I.D. card is needed.
There are many places you can go to get a passport. Some include:
You must apply for a passport in person. A parent cannot apply for their child unless the child is present. Cash, major credit cards, debit cards, and personal checks are accepted (payments must be for the full amount).
Renewing your passport
Adult passports are good for 10 years. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the dates of your travel. This is important. You can renew your passport at the same locations listed above or in certain cases it can be done by mail. For complete details on how to renew your passport in person or by mail visit: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html .
You have your passport, so now what?
Once you have received your passport there are a few things you should consider.
Make copies of the first couple of pages of your passport. Give one copy to someone at home and bring another copy with you on tour. I usually put it in the outside pocket of my suitcase.
When traveling, keep your passport with you at all times. The safest and best way to do this is to keep it in your moneybelt. I put mine is a small plastic sandwich bag to keep it dry. Keeping your passport safe is very important. If it is lost while out of the country you’ll be stuck for several days trying to get a replacement. Replacing lost passports requires a trip to the U.S. Embassy which will take precious time away from your tour experience.
There are lots of places to spend money in Europe… fantastic sights, bistros, and shopping. Soon you might begin to wonder how you are going to pay for drinks at a pub, souvenirs, entrance fee, subway tickets, or anything else. The next few paragraphs contain my suggestions to help you spend money in Europe with ease. I’ll discuss debit cards, ATM machines, credit cards, exchanging money, traveler’s checks and more.
Debit Cards
This is the best way to get cold hard cash while traveling in Europe! There are ATM machines everywhere and you treat them just like those here in the United States. Simply insert your card, type in your PIN code, and choose the cash amount. The machine makes some noise and then spits out cash in the currency of that country. Cool right? A few years ago I traveled to Europe with my family. My Dad could not get over the fact that all he had to do was put in his debit card (the one he got from his bank in the States) and out came different currency. I’m pretty sure he’s still fascinated about it to this day.
Even though this is the best way to get cash while traveling in Europe there is one drawback to using your debit card at ATM machines… the banks that own the ATM machines are out to make a little profit and usually charge a small fee for using the ATM machine. It’s just like if you use Bank of America here in the US and got money from an ATM machine at a Wachovia Bank. To minimize the fees I suggest making a few large withdraws instead of a lot of little ones. Many ATM machines in Europe don’t give you a receipt. This only happened to me one time in Germany, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. However if it is important that you keep a record of your transactions and you don’t get a receipt the best thing to do is write down some information. Consider recording the bank name, the street name and location of the ATM machine, the amount of cash you received, and maybe the time of your transaction. By doing so you can check your bank statement online or later when you return home.
Points to consider when choosing a debit card:
Make sure it has a hologram logo (Visa is best). People have had trouble with cards that don’t have the hologram. A lot of the time the cards that don’t have the hologram are only ATM cards and not a debit cards. You need a debit card! If you’re not sure what type of card you have contact your bank.
Often students under the age of eighteen are issued ATM cards by their bank. These most often draw money from their savings account. Here in the US these ATM card work without a hitch. But in Europe they never work! Don’t bring such a card to Europe…it will just take up space in your money belt and get you no cash!
Make photocopies of your debit card as well as your credit card, passport, etc. Stick one copy in the bottom of your suitcase or moneybelt and leave another copy at home.
Tryout your debit card at several ATM machines to make sure it works before leaving the country.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are a good thing to have when you are traveling in Europe. They are easy to carry and most businesses accept them. Credit cards also provide peace of mind. If for some reason you don’t have cash your credit card will serve as a back up.
Before you “charge it” there are a few things you should know.
First of all Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted cards in Europe. This is mostly because they have partnered with European companies. If you take another kind of credit card (such as an American Express or Discover) it is a good idea to have a Visa or MasterCard just in case.
Second, you should call your credit card company and notify them that you will be traveling out of your “normal spending region.” Tell them how long you will be gone and in what countries you plan to visit. If your credit card shows up in their “system” as being used to make purchases out of your normal spending region the credit card company will call your home telephone. If the credit card company can’t get in touch with you they will most likely block future charges to the card until they personally speak with you. They will not take a family member’s word for it that you are somewhere in the Swiss Alps. Last summer I forgot to call my credit card company and tell them I was going to be in Paris. When they called my home to make sure it was me that had just purchased a pair of shoes (that I could not live without, of course) I was not there, I was in Paris! However they blocked future purchases on that card even though my Mom told them I was indeed in Paris. Luckily, I got an email from my Mom telling me what happened and I called the company to straighten everything out.
If you have never purchased anything with your credit card while traveling abroad it is a good idea to find out how your credit card company assesses fees and converts exchange rates. Most credit card companies have caught on to the fact that more people are using credit cards while traveling and are beginning to charge a fee or commission. You could call them or look for the information on you credit card company’s website.
It’s a good idea to make photocopies of your credit cards to leave with someone at home and to keep with you in Europe. If something happens, like your credit card gets stolen, then you’ll have all of the information on the photocopy of the card.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, make sure your credit card is activated and working before you leave the country. Don’t just get it in the mail and stick it in your money belt. Avoid the hassle of trying to deal with that on your tip when you should be having loads of fun.
Changing money in Europe
Taking American Dollars or traveler’s checks and exchanging them for local currency is a thing of the past. Don’t do it! It is time consuming and expensive! But, if you really want to do it this way be sure you go to a bank, not a currency exchange place in the airport or on the street. Rates are usually posted on the outside window or at the teller’s window. There is one rate if you are buying their money (the higher of the two posted rates) and one rate listed if you are selling them your money (the lower of the two rates). As a rule of thumb, the “actual “official” exchange rate is considered to be half-way between the two figures. If you choose this method you will get the worst exchange rate and be charged a commission to boot! Don’t do it, but if you must…go to a bank. Banks usually charge flat fees or fees ranging anywhere from 2% to 10%.
Travelers Checks
Once upon a time, before ATM machines, traveler’s checks were probably the safest and best way to get local currency in Europe. However today they are a hassle and most people carry them only in case of an emergency. You can get them at your local bank, AAA, and a few other places. Traveler’s checks have bad exchange rates along with high fees. Like I mentioned before the ATM machine and debit card combinations are the best!
Often we are asked, “should I get some euros or local currency before I go on the tour?” It is not a necessity and I usually don’t because the dollar is weaker than the Euro, your bank at home will charge a fee and commission to order the foreign currency and the exchange rate is never good. Wait until you get to Europe, then get your cash from an ATM machine and go celebrate!
Prepaid debit cards are available everywhere! Go to any Walmart, Walgreens, Target or even the neighborhood gas station and you will see displays for these seemingly savvy debit cards. They all promise basically the same thing: the convenience of a debit card without age restrictions and a credit check. Simply preload the card with cash and use it anywhere a credit or debit card is accepted.
All of this sounds smart, but there are some drawbacks that could cost you a whole lot of money. All of these cards come loaded with fine-print contracts imposing charges and fees for each use. There are often fees associated with each ATM withdrawal, each credit transaction, each reload of funds, and even each balance inquiry. Furthermore, the issuing bank will charge a markup percentage for each transaction made in a foreign country. So with all this negative cash flow, what makes the card appealing for the European traveler?
A prepaid debit card may be the logical choice for a student under the age of 18 years traveling to Europe. Most financial institutions will not issue a true debit card to persons under 18 years of age. They will usually issue a ATM card instead. These ATM cards do not carry the VISA or MASTERCARD logo and always draw funds from a savings account, not a checking account. However, ATM machines in Europe only accept debit cards which draw funds from a checking account and have a four-digit PIN number associated with it.
#1 CHOICE
The best bet for getting cash from an ATM machine in Europe is a debit card issued from your local bank that draws funds from your checking account. This transaction entitles you to the best bank-to-bank exchange rates and normally has no ATM withdrawal fees issued from your bank. If you have a debit card that you use regularly in the United States, take it to Europe with you and use it to make purchases and to get cash from an ATM machine. Leave your credit cards, traveler’s checks and US dollars at home.
#2 CHOICE
If the first alternative is not possible, then this plan may be your best bet. PAYPAL offers student accounts with adult monitoring services, as well as adult accounts. PAYPAL is a very reputable and established financial institution. Simply visit http://paypal.com and open an account. Request a free debit card, load money into your paypal account from a bank account, and begin spending. This PAYPAL debit card offers many of the benefits of a local, bank-issued debit card. It has a Mastercard logo, uses a four digit PIN, and is recognized at ATM locations worldwide. Additionally, the fees are minor compared to prepaid debit cards, perhaps $1 per ATM transaction, 1% fee for foreign ATM transactions, and a foreign currency mark-up of about 2.5% the current exchange rate.
#3 CHOICE
The third alternative would be to invest in a prepaid debit card such as Visa Buxx, which can be found at http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/visa_buxx.html . This card comes with all the benefits and drawbacks I mentioned above. If you must travel with cash or traveler’s checks instead of an ATM Debit card, then you can look into getting a prepaid debit card.
The bottom line is to make sure you are well prepared to travel financially. Heading off on a trip with a credit card, cash and traveler’s checks are a sure way to lose money! Save yourself time, effort, and plenty of headaches by getting an ATM debit card before your next trip. You’ll enjoy a better exchange rate, fewer fees, and the security of knowing how much money you are spending on your trip.
On a recent trip to Ireland my group and I did some shopping at the Saturday morning market in Galway. My friend Chuck and I roamed the market selecting fresh fish and vegetables for our dinner. Here’s the “McGuffin Cooking Show.”
Historically, people have always butchered my last name. It’s pretty simple, and phonetic too… McGuffin. Yet all my life it has been pronounced incorrectly. Here are just a few of the variations: McGriffin, McGruffin, McGaffin, McGuhhh, McGovern, and so on.
I was in Ireland recently and had the opportunity to say or write my name on a daily basis. Only one aurally-imparied lady got it wrong. I guess that just goes to show you that the Irish and I have some common roots.
Recently I’ve been traveling around Ireland. Today is July 31. At my home in Florida I see the temperature is projected to be 93 degrees F. Here in Dublin it is a push to get close to 65 degrees F! This has been true almost everyday during the last two weeks. My group and I have logged almost 1200 miles traveling around the island in a counter-clockwise direction from Dublin. The weather has been mostly wonderful. Yes, there were several day of rain, but we took the philosophy of “if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes and it will change.”
So, if you want an escape from the hot summer heat… Ireland is the spot!
Prepaid debit cards are available everywhere! Go to any Walmart, Walgreens, Target or even the neighborhood gas station and you will see displays for these seemingly savvy debit cards. They all promise basically the same thing: the convenience of a debit card without age restrictions and a credit check. Simply preload the card with cash and use it anywhere a credit or debit card is accepted.
