First trip to Europe
Hello folks.
I've been tossing around the idea of going to Europe this summer and am finally at a stage where I would like to book the flight. There is to be a large gathering of a bunch of people I've known on the internet forever (and have met a few before) in Amsterdam on the 12th-15th of August. The group accommodations for that are already set - we rented out a pretty sweet looking farmhouse not too far away. My plan was to stay two additional nights in Amsterdam proper with one or two others. Then the plan is to take a short flight from Amsterdam to Landvetter in Sweden on the afternoon of the 17th. I have friends in the Gothenberg area that I'll be staying with from 17th until I leave back for New York on the 23rd.
My proposed flight itinerary looks something like this - 18:00 New York (John F. Kennedy International) - Fri 12 Aug 11 07:30 Amsterdam (Schiphol), 15:40 Amsterdam (Schiphol) - 17:05 Gothenburg (Landvetter)
14:15 Gothenburg (Landvetter) - 19:50 New York (John F. Kennedy International)
First question - There is a plane leaving JFK a bit later, around 9 or 10 PM that arrives sometime around noon. That might be more convenient since we aren't checking in to the farm place until 5pm, but I've been told by people that booking the last flight of the day can screw you over if it gets cancelled. I confess I don't know much about international flying since I've never done it before. Thoughts?
Secondly, can anyone recommended a good hostel to spend the two nights in Amsterdam in? Right now the intention is for myself and another person (a guy) so a co-ed one is probably preferable. We're both non-smokers and don't intend to be partying until 3 in the morning. I'm not super finicky but I'd like something smoke/drug-free, relatively secure, and not too gross.
Thirdly, can anyone recommend anything nearish the Gothenberg area to do? I'll be staying with natives of the region but they've confessed they don't really know what's good to do- besides a recommendation to check out Liseberg. I like natural sights and cultural/historical things a lot. I don't really intend to go shopping, partake in a lot of 'nightlife', and I can't do anything that would be overly strenuous on my joints. Walks and some cycling are fine. Oh,and I should probably add that I can't eat seafood but I've been assured by my hosts that it shouldn't be an issue.
And finally...I do not have a GSM phone (I'm on Verizon and have a Motorola Droid). Should I bother buying a cheap prepaid phone there, or is there some other option? I'm kind of nervous at the prospect of having no phone.
Thanks for any help/words of advice. I'm excited and nervous as hell!
I've been tossing around the idea of going to Europe this summer and am finally at a stage where I would like to book the flight. There is to be a large gathering of a bunch of people I've known on the internet forever (and have met a few before) in Amsterdam on the 12th-15th of August. The group accommodations for that are already set - we rented out a pretty sweet looking farmhouse not too far away. My plan was to stay two additional nights in Amsterdam proper with one or two others. Then the plan is to take a short flight from Amsterdam to Landvetter in Sweden on the afternoon of the 17th. I have friends in the Gothenberg area that I'll be staying with from 17th until I leave back for New York on the 23rd.
My proposed flight itinerary looks something like this - 18:00 New York (John F. Kennedy International) - Fri 12 Aug 11 07:30 Amsterdam (Schiphol), 15:40 Amsterdam (Schiphol) - 17:05 Gothenburg (Landvetter)
14:15 Gothenburg (Landvetter) - 19:50 New York (John F. Kennedy International)
First question - There is a plane leaving JFK a bit later, around 9 or 10 PM that arrives sometime around noon. That might be more convenient since we aren't checking in to the farm place until 5pm, but I've been told by people that booking the last flight of the day can screw you over if it gets cancelled. I confess I don't know much about international flying since I've never done it before. Thoughts?
Secondly, can anyone recommended a good hostel to spend the two nights in Amsterdam in? Right now the intention is for myself and another person (a guy) so a co-ed one is probably preferable. We're both non-smokers and don't intend to be partying until 3 in the morning. I'm not super finicky but I'd like something smoke/drug-free, relatively secure, and not too gross.
Thirdly, can anyone recommend anything nearish the Gothenberg area to do? I'll be staying with natives of the region but they've confessed they don't really know what's good to do- besides a recommendation to check out Liseberg. I like natural sights and cultural/historical things a lot. I don't really intend to go shopping, partake in a lot of 'nightlife', and I can't do anything that would be overly strenuous on my joints. Walks and some cycling are fine. Oh,and I should probably add that I can't eat seafood but I've been assured by my hosts that it shouldn't be an issue.
And finally...I do not have a GSM phone (I'm on Verizon and have a Motorola Droid). Should I bother buying a cheap prepaid phone there, or is there some other option? I'm kind of nervous at the prospect of having no phone.
Thanks for any help/words of advice. I'm excited and nervous as hell!