From: arthur@sgi.com (Arthur Evans)
Subject: Re: Questions about travel to Europe
Reply-To: arthur@chiba (Arthur Evans)
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 93 01:08:20 GMT

In article <1ictt4INNbip@roundup.crhc.uiuc.edu> mary@uicsl.csl.uiuc.edu (Mary E. Allison) writes:
>
>     Okay - my fiance and I are currently planning on going to Europe
>in May for two weeks (YEAH -- I KNOW it's not enough time, but he's
>got a new job and really doesn't have too much vacation time built up
>yet.)  
	[ ... ]
>The places we're thinking of going are
>
>Ireland (South Coast)
>England (London and the Yorkshire Dales)
>The Netherlands 

I hope you're planning to go to *one* of these choices,
not all three in two weeks!  Any one of these destinations is worth
at least two weeks ... I can tell you from experience that 
Ireland is lovely in May.  I didn't spend much time on the south
coast--I started in Cork and rode up to the Dingle peninsula,
through County Clare, and spent time in Galway, the Burren, and
on the Aran Islands.  I know you didn't ask for *more* destinations, 
but I really enjoyed my visit, and would highly recommend spending a
some time in the west, if you can.

>     Two personal items I'd like to take with me are my Swiss Army
>Knife (hey, I know MacGyver never had problems carrying his with him,
>but he worked for a government agency) and -- this might be more of a
>problem -- my darts (you don't expect me to go all the way over there
>and not take my DARTS with me).  Would this possibly be a problem?
>Anyone ever travel overseas with darts?

You shouldn't have any trouble with either--especially not if they're 
in checked luggage.  Theoretically, you're not supposed to carry
a lock-blade knife onto an airplane.  I've only been called on this
once, when I called a guard's attention to the fact that the metal detector
hadn't noticed my knife (a tiny, lightweight Gerber lockblade
I use in lieu of a heavier utility knife).  Admittedly, this was
foolish--but I was a little suprised, since it usually sets
off metal detectors.  Anyway, when the guard realized it was a lockblade
he said I couldn't carry it onboard, so they put it in a large
cardboard envelope with my name on it, and checked the envelope through.

Anyway, the point is: as far as I know, non-locking knives (like
swiss army knives) are not considered dangerous.  And to hijack 
a plane with a flight of darts, you'd have to be Ninja Master of 
One Thousand Deaths, in which case you'd probably be just as dangerous
armed with airline cutlery.  But if you're worried about it, check
the darts and the knife.  They are unlikely to bug you about anything
short of a two-handed headsman's axe in your checked baggage (and 
only then because it exceeds your size limitation).

>     Okay - next question - the travel agent is trying to talk us into 
>going on a prepackaged tour.  On the one hand it might be easier, on
>the other hand she may be pushing that because she gets more
>commission (what me cynical?)

Yeah, it might be easier--of course, staying home would be even easier,
and dirt cheap.  I've never been on a package tour, but the 
following pieces of advice have entered my brain by osmosis:

Package tours can--under some circumstances--save you money.
But only if they're going exactly where you want to go.  If 
the tour takes you to a bunch of places you didn't want to be,
it isn't a bargain at any price.  So, if you can find a tour
that coincides with your plans, and the price is right, you
should probably consider it.  If the tour offers optional 
(and extra-cost) activities, only take the option if you really
want it.  The tour operator is probably recieving a cut of 
the option cost, so don't be guided entirely by your guide's
enthusiasm ;-).

My personal bias is towards doing a little bit of research beforehand,
to find out what you might want to see, and then just winging it.
Forget reservations and itineraries.  I know people who schedule
their vacations down to the hour--you know, morning at the British
Museum, lunch at the Museum Tavern, afternoon at Tower of London,
evening train to Dover--before leaving home.  It boggles my tiny
mind.  What if you love the British Museum and want to spend another
day?  What if you're already sick of museums by this point and 
decide to spend the next week wandering around Snowdonia instead?
It's not that you shouldn't develop an itinerary before you go--
this will give you a realistic idea of how much ground you can cover.
But by all means, remember that you wrote it and haven't the slightest
obligation to follow it.

Anyway, that's somewhat more of my advice than you asked for.
As usual, this advice is fully warrantied (full price refunded 
if not absolutely satisfied).

yours, 
	arthur

(In case it's not clear, that's the price of the advice,
not the price of your trip.)
Newsgroups: rec.travel