mlj@lanl-a.UUCP (10/12/84)
Next summer a couple friends and I plan on touring Europe by bike. We are thinking about Great Britain (and catching a bit of the Wimbledon tournament) as well as France, Germany, Austria (and the Lippizan stallions), Switzerland, Spain (?), and any other country we may venture to. We plan on hostelling and camping out most of the time, and spending the other nights with friends and acquaintances. We will take our bikes with us and may stay around three months. Have any of you experienced touring Europe by bike or even hiking? Is it necessary to belong to some sort of European Hostel Organization to take advantage of the cheap rates? (Somebody mentioned this to me a few months ago about acquiring a membership card for cheap overnight rates.) Are there places in particular that are a "must" to see, and other places to avoid? **Can we drink the water?** If anybody out there has any helpful hints, tips or anything else to share with me, I would appreciate it very much! Thank you! Marie-Louise Jalbert Los Alamos Nat'l Lab lanl-a!mlj or mlj@lanl
dnh@hpbblb.UUCP (dnh) (10/16/84)
I have not toured Europe on a bicycle, but I have done so extensively by train (and stayed in youth hostels)... To get "member" rates at IYH hostels, you need to be a member of any affiliate organization. The U.S. one is AYH, the American Youth Hostel Association. They can sell you a membership card, as well as a catalog listing all IYH hostels in Europe. I have been to every country you listed except Spain, as well as Italy. I have always drunk tap water, and never had a problem. I think this idea of "Don't drink the water" is American folklore...:-) As far as "must see" items...you know, for all of Europe, that's a pretty big question! I recommend you get a copy of "Let's Go: Europe" and read up on the countries you're considering. Only you can decide if a particular place of interest sounds interesting to YOU! If you have any detailed questions about Germany, send me mail: I've been living here for 3 years and have done a bit of sightseeing. mit freundlichen Gruessen, David Holinstat Hewlett-Packard GmbH ...ucbvax!hpda!hpfcla!hpbbn!dnh