Anyone have any recommendations of good international travel sites (preferably that you've had personal experience with)?

I checked an old thread (/message_topic.aspx?topic=407046) and airgorilla was mentioned. Anyone have first hand experience with them?

9/20/2006 5:06:29 PM

maybe i can get some more replies here with natalie's thread...

i am spending 4-5 months in bremen, germany starting in mid-november and buying my plane ticket this week

as far as the student travel sites go, does anyone have any experience with changing their flights through them? are they actually any better (or worse) than changing flights through the airline or any other travel website?

i'm going to buy a round-trip ticket with a return in early april, but i honestly have no idea about my return -- my priority is the work i'll be doing in bremen, but i'm not exactly sure how long it'll take me to finish and i'd like to travel some afterwards so basically i have to re-evaluate once i get over there and start working

also, i'm looking into possibly flying into frankfurt and taking the train to bremen -- for anyone who's taken the train around germany, can you speak to the difference between 1st and 2nd class? is it a big deal for a 2-3hr ride? the price difference isn't that big of a deal, i was just wondering the cost/benefit...

and if anyone has any general tips or advice about germany, i'd appreciate it -- besides freezing my ass off, i'm really looking forward to the trip and hopefully will have some time to see the rest of the country

[Edited on October 3, 2006 at 12:39 PM. Reason : typo]

10/3/2006 12:38:23 PM

As for the train in Germany, I rode it a few years back. 2nd class is fine and still cozy, I wouldn't worry about it. Beats the pants off of an airplane.

10/3/2006 12:58:33 PM

Quote :

"also, i'm looking into possibly flying into frankfurt and taking the train to bremen -- for anyone who's taken the train around germany, can you speak to the difference between 1st and 2nd class? is it a big deal for a 2-3hr ride? the price difference isn't that big of a deal, i was just wondering the cost/benefit... and if anyone has any general tips or advice about germany, i'd appreciate it -- besides freezing my ass off, i'm really looking forward to the trip and hopefully will have some time to see the rest of the country "

I didn't think there was a huge difference between 1st and 2nd class on most of the trains I rode. the ICE trains are by far your overall best bet if you have a choice. Frankfurt Airport is directly connected to a big train hub, so flying there makes things a bit easier. Plus Frankfurt to bremen is one of the best train rides in Europe.....the black forest is amazing.

Most places in Germany do not take cards......almost always just cash.

10/3/2006 12:59:43 PM

^^^ I am currently getting my master's in Sweden and I booked my flight here through STA Travel. Because of a visa delay, I had to change my flight date. It only cost me $25 and was extremely easy to do. I think that the price would have jumped to $75 for any additional date changes.

You do not need to spring for 1st class on a german train. Second class is more than comfortable, particularly for a trip that short. I've been to germany a few times and I currently have two german corridormates so if you have any specific questions let me know

[Edited on October 3, 2006 at 1:02 PM. Reason : ^]

10/3/2006 1:01:51 PM

i recommend hitting up some third world before you get too old and spoiled, I had a great time visiting Nepal back during undergrad and would recommend it to anyone. Cons: Long, expensive flight, Kinda smelly, lots of garg's cons: so cheap that it offsets the flight, beatiful place, gambling is legal, good beer

10/3/2006 1:17:28 PM

bpagraba was the logistical mastermind during all our travels. ping him.

10/3/2006 1:23:25 PM

cool, 2nd class it is -- thanks, i'll fly into frankfurt then (cheaper and probably easier for leaving in the spring)

i'm so flexible with my travel dates (it really doesn't matter when i get there within a week or so) and it's a pain to try all the possible combinations on the online sites (changing my return trip by one day dropped the price $300 on one site!) -- maybe i'll just pick up the phone instead

10/3/2006 1:33:22 PM

ok, bought my ticket for $500 in and out of frankfurt -- got it through STA on northwest, but it isn't one of STA's 'blue' tickets so not sure what that might mean if i have to change my return flight, it's 6 months away so i'll deal with that later

extended the end of my trip to include a conference in vienna april 15-20, so i'll at least be hitting up austria while i'm there

very excited, still open to any germany-specific advice...

10/3/2006 4:52:28 PM