Ditto. Especially since I'll likely only be sleeping for a few hours before I run back to the airport and go...wherever (I haven't decided yet). It looks clean and the private room looks ok and reasonably priced. I just don't want to burn a gazillion points (or pay 200 dollars) for a shower and 5 hours or sleep. I like the idea of the airport pick up too, since their taxi caution looked quite adamant and I'll arrive very late at night (well, morning) and travelling solo. I'll look forward to the review!

Well hostel stay is a great idea if you are a solo traveler.

This gives you the opportunity to find things to do and meet other people without having to go to the bar

Hey, I lost track of this thread, finally got around to sifting through the Mileage Run thread to find the link. Looking at the calendar, I find that I'm among the first to travel.

I leave from YYZ on Saturday, 18 November at 4:30pm to AMS via DTW. Sunday night in AMS, then a side trip by train to FRA to visit friends, then back to AMS on Wednesday, fly to Bucharest on Thursday for two nights, then one more night in AMS before I fly back to YYZ on Sunday.

11/18 4:30pm YYZ-DTW-AMS
11/23 1:00pm AMS-OTP
11/25 2:30pm OTP-AMS
11/26 8:00am AMS-DTW-YYZ

That Sunday return was a bad mistake, because everybody's flying back from Thanksgiving weekend. I tried to change it to Saturday, but NWA insists on ignoring the fare rules and refuses to change without repricing, so I may end up driving all the way from MSN to YYZ, since I can't find a reasonable fare with a Sunday return. Or even Monday morning.
The train from Chicago can only take me as far as Detroit or Buffalo, and I don't know what transportation there is from those stations to YYZ, so unless I decide to use 37,500 WP miles (PerkPass return), I'm in for a longish drive of 10-11 hours on Friday-Saturday and the next week Sunday-Monday. On the other hand, I get to see a new city in Europe. I'm excited.

I may rent a car in Bucharest so I can visit a friend's birth town, Harman (H�nigsberg) near Brasov. There's a fortified church there. Then I could go see Bran castle if I wanted. Anyone have any info on car rentals?

It looks like I will get in at 12:30 a.m. and fly to London at 6:30 a.m. the next day. Those of you who will be there before I get there....tell me if I dare sleep at the airport. I've already been to the website that documents the sleeping in the airport thing and it seems like it's been rated between hell and fair.

I should add my December trip for the calendar.

Sat 12/9 6:00pm YYZ-AMS-OSL
Thu 12/14 9:55am OSL-AMS-OTP
Sat 12/16 2:30pm OTP-AMS
Sun 12/17 1:25pm AMS-YYZ

:-: updated :-:


PaulMSN, if you end up flying vs driving, think post-holiday VDBs. Great itins. Have fun.

BoyAreMyArmsTired, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one thinking of sleeping in the airport. Misery loves company.

Clincher +1
6/1 YOW-DTW
6/1 DTW-AMS
6/2 AMS-OPT
6/6 OPT-AMS
6/9 AMS-EWR
6/9 EWR-YOW

FourWheels thanks for the calendar!

36 hours from now I will be sitting in the YVR AS Lounge waiting to fly back to SEA a couple of miles from where I started. It will be a long haul to OTP. Once there I am immediately catching a train to Brasov. Once there I will crash.

I'll be sleeping there tonight. Wednesday night I slept in the Montreal bus station and Thursday I slept on the flight to Amsterdam. I've spent all day in Amsterdam sitting in the sun and drinking espresso. So I may not be able to give you an accurate report. At this point, I'd be happy with a place to sit that isn't outside.

:-: updated :-:

Your two calendar rulers, mcrt and me, will be away for a week or so. One of us will update as soon as it's possible. Till then, post away!

montreal bus station, darn, wish i knew.., my condo is being renovated and as such is empty.

but you would have at least had a couch and heat etc..,

ohh well,

About the bus - you go down one level from the arrivals floor and go out the doors and turn right. There's a booth to purchase bus tickets. It costs 5 new Lei for a 2-trip magnetic-strip ticket for route 783 (says 2 Calatorii on the front. The city tansport company is RATB). After buying the ticket turn around and look for the bus stop in front of the terminal. It took a very long time to get downtown because I arrived at rush hour. Between Piata Victoriei and Piata Universitatii I could have walked faster that the bus travelled. If you need to take a second bus or trolley, the city fare for one trip is 1.10 new Lei.

My Visa check card was refused in the one ATM I found at the airport, so I had to exchange money for the first time in over 10 years of travelling in Europe (there's supposed to be another ATM somewhere, but I didn't see it). They socked me for over 10%, but I needed to pay for the bus ticket.

I'm staying at the Euro Hotels and Suites about a mile west of Piata Universitatii. The room's OK but smokey smelling, and you have to schlep everything up two floors to the reception. The included breakfast is downstairs at a cafe in the same building. You choose one of two breakfast plates. It was adequate except for only two pieces of bread. I probably won't stay here next time.

Thanks for the reports guys!

mcrt, based on your comment, I guess it's best for me to avoid the Butterfly Villa Hostel?

I am headed this weekend and have made reservations at the

Bucuresti-Otopeni - Pension Gabriela
Margaritarului Street 18, Vila A 104,
Otopeni
Bucharest
Romania

Close to the airport and is available for booking via HI site. Hopefully it should be good

I'll be there around the 3rd week of February