Official DMF non-moto travel thread

[DesmoLu]

Since I've seen a few posts asking for travel advice around I figured I'd start an official thread as we are a well-traveled group with a ton of great tips. Figured I'd start a non-moto one here for the times that we are tragically forced to travel without a bike (why are damn bike rentals so expensive  )

I'll start! Gonna be taking a Med cruise this fall to a number of popular cities that I've never been to before. Looking for tips on cool things to do aside from the major touristy stuff, getting around the cities and any hints on scooter rentals - yes, I said scooter. I'm going with my mom and she's paranoid about getting on the back of the bike with me but I've talked her into doing scooter.

Here's the itinerary - any input would be great!
Venice: 2 days
Dubrovnik: 1 day
Kotor, Montenegro: 1 day
Sicily: 1 day
Amalfi coast: 2 days - here scooter rental or good handling car would be great
Athens: 1 day - anyone been to the new museum yet?
Delos/Mykonos: 2 days
Rhodes: 1 day
Istanbul: 3 days
...also debating a trip to Cappadocia but not sure if it's worth losing the time in Istanbul

Looking forward to your travel stories!!

[El Matador]

First and foremost: Bring boyfriend. Truly, if you do not do this, you will have a terrible time

[Porsche Monkey]

First and foremost: Bring boyfriend. Truly, if you do not do this, you will have a terrible time

And the platypus. 

[MendoDave]

Go check out the catacombs in Sicily. It's creepy, while at the same time very interesting.

[KnightofNi]

First and foremost: Bring boyfriend. Truly, if you do not do this, you will have a terrible time

why bring him when she could hook up with some hot foreign guy?

[erkishhorde]

why bring him when she could hook up with some hot foreign guy?

With her mom around...?

[DesmoLu]

And the platypus. 

oh i would NEVER travel without the Platypus!!

With her mom around...?

and if you ever met my mom you'd quickly see that she's the one likely to hook up with the hot foreign guy.

[KnightofNi]

oh i would NEVER travel without the Platypus!!

and if you ever met my mom you'd quickly see that she's the one likely to hook up with the hot foreign guy.

does she need a cabana boy? 

[Gator]

and if you ever met my mom you'd quickly see that she's the one likely to hook up with the hot foreign guy.

When did you say you were arriving in Venice? 

[DanTheMan]

Been looking for places to stay in Munich, but having a tough time finding a reasonable priced hotel <$100. Anyone have a good website they use for finding hotels with prices? Looking to go sept 28-oct 2nd. for Oktoberfest which apparently i should have booked 6 months ago.

Or anyone have an extra couch in Munich?

<edit> just found a good site www.booking.com

[DomDucati]

Since I've seen a few posts asking for travel advice around I figured I'd start an official thread as we are a well-traveled group with a ton of great tips. Figured I'd start a non-moto one here for the times that we are tragically forced to travel without a bike (why are damn bike rentals so expensive  )

I'll start! Gonna be taking a Med cruise this fall to a number of popular cities that I've never been to before. Looking for tips on cool things to do aside from the major touristy stuff, getting around the cities and any hints on scooter rentals - yes, I said scooter. I'm going with my mom and she's paranoid about getting on the back of the bike with me but I've talked her into doing scooter.

Here's the itinerary - any input would be great!
Venice: 2 days
Dubrovnik: 1 day
Kotor, Montenegro: 1 day
Sicily: 1 day
Amalfi coast: 2 days - here scooter rental or good handling car would be great
Athens: 1 day - anyone been to the new museum yet?
Delos/Mykonos: 2 days
Rhodes: 1 day
Istanbul: 3 days
...also debating a trip to Cappadocia but not sure if it's worth losing the time in Istanbul

Looking forward to your travel stories!!

Straying away from the local board for a sec...
In Athens you have to go see the Acropolis.  When you get the package of tickets, it will give you passes to a bunch of things.  That should keep you busy for a full day.  Go to the market area and there's plenty of cool shops and restaurants to keep you busy.  You must get a gyro and if you can find a place, get you some loukomades.

For Istanbul, you Hagia Sofia is a must.  That is next to the Blue Mosque, which you also must see.  The spice market is awesome but insane.  It's easy to get lost.  The palace was ok but not something I would say you have to see.  The view is nice at least. 

Go check out my pics on facebook to see my trip to these two last year.  Holler at me with any more questions.  We need to meet up sometime soon!!

[KnightofNi]

Been looking for places to stay in Munich, but having a tough time finding a reasonable priced hotel <$100. Anyone have a good website they use for finding hotels with prices? Looking to go sept 28-oct 2nd. for Oktoberfest which apparently i should have booked 6 months ago.

Or anyone have an extra couch in Munich?

<edit> just found a good site www.booking.com

good luck on that.
the cheapest hotel i could find that didn't require a drive into the city jsut to be able to take the u-bahn was around $150
i usually use expedia or hotels.com for hotels.


btw, have fun!
the oxenbraterie is great. get some of the ox, it's tasty.
there was also a smaller tent that specializes in duck. that one was really tasty too.


if you have some time to go see the country go to rothenburg. it's about a 2.5 hr drive NW of munich, but it's well worth it.
it's a town that still has the medeval wall and buildings. plus, you can rent a car and drive on the autobahn. just make sure you don't hang out in the left lane.

[redxblack]

I've had really good luck w/ kayak.

[sno_duc]

Been looking for places to stay in Munich, but having a tough time finding a reasonable priced hotel <$100. Anyone have a good website they use for finding hotels with prices? Looking to go sept 28-oct 2nd. for Oktoberfest which apparently i should have booked 6 months ago.

Or anyone have an extra couch in Munich?

<edit> just found a good site www.booking.com

This close to Oktoberfest you may have to look in some of the small towns on the S bahn and ride into the Hofbahnhaus every day.

When we were in München in May we stayed 4 stops up the U 3 line in Schwabbing. Hotel Biederstein 18 Keferstraße, 5 min walk to the Münchner Freiheit U bahn station, 2 blocks to the Englisher Garten, lots of resturants - coffee shops - Bistros in the area.

[DesmoLu]

Ask away if you need anything...It's my backyard.
I can look-up for some scooter rentals if you like. I suppose there must be some.

Very interesting route. But it sounds exhausting to move so much in so little time. How will you be traveling?

Cheers.

Awesomeness! I'll shoot you a pm soon fir suggestions then.

It seems like a lot of quick traveling but itsa cruise so it won't be streneous - we just found a cruise with the max port stops!