How To Europe: The Complete Travelers Handbook

Here's a very extensive European travel tips site. The author has some good ideas, but gets carried away in some areas - like shaving with vinegar. So take it with a grain of salt.

How To Europe: The Complete Travelers Handbook

Electricity in Europe

Here's some info on using electrical devices. In short, most things will work only if you have a voltage converter and an outlet adapter. Ladies: your blow driers might be a problem. According to this site, they might draw too much power for the European circuits. The last thing we need is a blckout in the hotel, so if the hotel provides a blow drier, I'd use that instead.

Electricity in Europe: Travel Voltage Fundamentals.

Mister Bed City Cachan

Here's a bit more on the Paris hotel. A 2 star hotel with decent customer reviews. This one looks more European than the Ibis Earls Court in London, but should be perfect for our needs. I'd compare it to an older Days Inn, at least based on what I've been able to gather via the web.
Mister Bed City Cachan, Cachan,

Paris hotel information

This is the hotel in Paris that we'll be in. I don't know much about it yet, but I'll update as I learn more.
Mister Bed City Hotel Cachan

The World Clock

Here's a cool site. I've set up a clock that displays the times in all the cities we'll be in. It will give you a sense of when it's ok to call home.
Check it out:The World Clock

How do you beat jet lag? Take the two days before the trip as easy as you can - be packed and ready on the 18th, so you have no worries on the 20th. On the 20th, avoid caffeine and sleep as much as possible on the plane. Stay hydrated during the flight, too. When we arrive at 9:30 a.m. in Paris, force yourself to live on Paris time. Eat breakfast, stay outside (the sun will help) and don't let yourself fall asleep before 8 p.m. You'll wake up early, but jet lag will be no problem by the 22nd.

Packing for Women

This is a pretty handy site too - I'm kind of hooked on Rick Steves. In fact, I'll stop blogging from his site, since you can link to it here an click away.

Anyway, there are some good packing tips here. I linked to the women's list (there's only a handful of guys going), but the tips are pretty universal.

Rick Steves' Europe: Packing for Women

Two great tips - pack your bag only 2/3 full and roll and rubberband your clothes - minimizes wrinkling.

London's Top Sights

Here's a link to a list of the top attractions in London. It's put together by Rick Steves, a TV travel guy that really knows his stuff.
Rick Steves' Europe: London's Top Sights
We'll see most of these sights on organized EF tours. But, you might want to hop on the tube during lunch for a quick peak at the Tate Modern or the British Museum.

Down the tubes

The Tube is London's underground rail and is a great way to get around town. Click the title above to see the system map (might want to print it out to take along too). Our hotel is located near the West Brompton station (on the green (district)line).

If you think you want to use the tube, we'll do a trial run when we arrive. A single trip is 3 pounds. If you buy a pre-paid Oyster card, (minimum 10 pounds plus a 3 pound deposit) then a trip runs 1.50 pounds - 2 pounds.

Our London hotel and flight info

Here is a link to our London hotel, the Ibis Earls Court. Earls Court is a West End London neighborhood near Chelsea. It's got a growing night scene that appeals to the younger crowd. The hotel is a two minute walk from the West Brompton tube station. A 15 minute ride on the district line will have you at Piccadilly Circus (central London). Check out the info here:
Ibis Earls Court Hotel, Earls Court London

Here's some flight info, too.

Depart:
6/20/2006 3:44 p.m. Grand Rapids -> Chicago O'Hare
6/20/2006 6:03 p.m. Chicago -> Paris De Gaulle (arrive 9:20 a.m. on 6/21/2006)

Return:
6/28/2006 3:40 p.m. London Heathrowe -> Chicago O'Hare
6/28/2006 9:00 p.m. Chicago O'Hare -> Grand Rapids (arrive 10:48 p.m. on 6/28/06)

All the flights are on United. I'll get you the flight numbers at the May 17th meeting (be there!).