The Schöens Wochenende (Happy Weekend) train ticket is an amazing deal if you have more time than money. For only €28 up to five people can travel all weekend on local trains (that's €28 total for up to 5 people!). If you wanted to, you can travel all the way from Berlin to Switzerland on nothing but local trains (but it takes about 10 train transfers and 10 hours to do it). Buy a pass at any German train station.
Les Arcs is part of Paradiski which is one of the largest and best ski resorts in the world. Ski lifts are open winter and summer. We live in Nancroix, which is part of Les Arcs and right on the edge of the Vanoise national park and we love it. There is lots to do for outdoor people -- ski, snowboard, mountain bike (downhill and cross country), white water rafting, via ferrata, walking, paragliding.
You can have a lot of fun if you'll go to Gannat while there's that festival! See world culture festival on www.gannat.com.
Rimini used to be called the Teutonic (German) BBQ, because thousands of German holiday-makers lay on the beaches and turned over like steaks. It is still the same, just more international now. You've got to pay for most beaches and the beach strip is filled with restaurants, shops, and hotels. If one likes to party and have not much space on the beach during the seasons, you might like it. The centre of Rimini is attractive.
I visited Wertheim recently, what a remarkable improvement since I was there earlier in 1962-63. You have made it a virtual wonderland of scenery!
Savona is my favourite place in the world. I wish I could stay there forever. If only I could find a job I would.
I have never been to Bionaz, but I hear that it is wonderful. It is where my people come from. There are very few of us in the U.S. Some day I will go there.
Bergen is very pretty, surrounded by hills and with a beautiful harbour. I suggest you bring a raincoat though, cause it rains 275 days a year (Lonely Planet statistic). It is pricey, so be prepared. If coming from Oslo take the 'Norway in a Nutshell' option and get off the train at Myrdal, train down to Flåm, ferry to Gudvangen, and catch the bus back to Voss and get back on the Olso-Bergen railway. You can buy a pass which includes all transport (visit www.norwayinanutshell.com). We found a cheap pub which did dinner and a Pepsi for 50kr (cheap by Norwegian standards), it's called the Scotsman and the food is ok for the price. Tip: Shops are closed on Sundays, including supermarkets, and the place is pretty dead.
I loved my time spent in Järpen, Sweden. It is a most beautiful space -- I look forward to visiting again with my friend Frida.
Arezzo is the city where the famous film "La vita è bella" by Roberto Benigni was filmed. Around the city there are around ten to twelve panels telling which scenes have been filmed there. For those who like that film and for those who do not know it but are looking for a marvelous, quiet, Tuscan city -- Arezzo is the place!
Wuppertal is well known for its suspended train (Schwebebahn). The big industrial city has turned into a cultural place (historical and art museums, University).
Leysin is the best place in the world -- a wonderful little place to be.
I wasn't thrilled by Stockholm, but any trip to Sweden requires a stay in the capital, and it is pretty. You need maybe two days to look around. Wander around the islands, they are pretty. Skansen is ok, it's an outdoor museum of old Scandinavian buildings and real live animals. Spend half a day here. Walk the shopping street, it's very nice, no cars. Shopping wasn't as expensive as everyone claims. You can easily spend a few hours on this street. Movies are in English with Swedish subtitles, so that's a bonus. Warning: if arriving on a night train from Copenhagen, you'll get in at 6am, and nothing opens until 10!
I spent one year in Tilff and I can tell you that it's a great town. The people are very kind and the place is very clean and beautiful. It's worth going there.
Vejbystrand is a lovely place just next to the sea lots of nice old houses.
I stayed in Fribourg, Switzerland in August 1990. It was a quiet, peaceful, and lovely place then.
You will learn that streets are not marked as obviously in Europe as they are in the states—look up on the corners of the buildings for placards. Train is the likely way you will arrive in Nice if you are a backpacker—just listen up for strikes because the trains and then the trains and the buses went on strike the week I was there which had some people stranded when they were over due to get out of France—but I thought the protesting in the streets was cool—there was singing and music parade-style in the mornings and I sure wanted them to win!
And when you are there remember to give give yourself time for daytrips to Cannes and Monaco—it’s just an air conditioned bus ride away (as long as they are not on strike that is!).
If you're in Verona in the summer don't miss the "Arena di Verona" summertime outdoor operas. Even if you're not into opera, it's an experience.
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