At 07:31 PM 6/21/2004 -0700, you wrote:
>I'm heading to Europe for my honeymoon this August, and I was
>wondering if I could get some advice from residents and fellow
>travellers.
>
>1) Is it better to get Euros or native currency?  We'll be in Paris
>for a few days, then down to Malaga, Spain and Estoril, Portugal.

This question has been answered- but check with your bank to see
if they add a surcharge to the interbank rate on ATM withdrawals.
Generally this is the cheapest way of getting local currency,
and very convenient, but some banks have started adding 1-2.5%
onto the interbank rate on top of a service fee per withdrawal.


>2) What is the typical dress code for young people (24-25 yrs old)
>during the summer?  For going to restaurants or clubs, will they be
>mostly formal?  I'm a jeans and t-shirt guy mostly.

I think you'll mostly be okay with Gap type clothes, in tasteful
(muted) colors. Bring a jacket if you want to go to some place
fancier.

>3) Has anyone been successful with booking hotels online?
>www.hotelclub.com looked good but I'm a bit nervous about booking
>something this important over the net, especially with the language
>barrier.  My French is ok, but my Spanish and Portuguese are very
>poor.

I book hotels online all the time, however not from that site. Hoteliers
generally have enough English that you don't have a problem, and I've
picked up enough survival language to deal with tiny B&B type places
that don't- "ein dopplezimmer, bitte"! "wo ist das fruhstuckzimmer?"

>4) Would it be more economical to get flights on local carriers for
>getting around Europe, or taking the train?  And any recommendations
>on booking tickets over the net?

I suggest taking the train and public transit just about everywhere.
It's comfortable, relatively inexpensive and very efficient. You can
buy tickets there, usually (always?) with a credit card as well as with=
 cash.

>5) Are web cafes with the ability to upload pictures taken on our
>digital camera available and cheap?  I'm worried that our 256mb card
>won't last the two weeks.  I'll probably buy another 512mb card closer
>to when we leave, but I'd still like to have the option of dumping
>them onto my FTP server just in case.

Probably, but it depends on where you are. Why not burn them to a
CD if you are going to an internet cafe? You could always buy another
card in Europe if you need one, but it might be a bit more expensive
than at home.

P.S. on my honeymoon (15 years ago) we went to Europe.. one of the
highlights for me in Paris was the "=E9gout de Paris" tour- a look into
the sewer system. I also enjoyed the catacombs, which features the
bones of approximately 6,000,000 Frenchmen. The sign at the underground
portal to the remains reads: "Arrete! C'est ici L'Empire de la Morte"

Have a good trip, relish the diversity of our wonderful world &=20
congratulations.

Best regards,

Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the=
 reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

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