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Hello there! I'm a young francophile who loves to wander around tiny towns as well as giant cities. I try to be a visitor instead of a tourist. On trips to unknown places, I let towns unravel themselves before my eyes. Oftentimes, they have more to say than what's in my guide book. Specialties: Searching French train schedules. Taking the wrong train, leaving me five hours away from my intended destination. Convincing train conductors to let me board trains even though I don't have reservations. Loving Aix-en-Provence. Saving money in Paris. Appreciating London's contributions to Western culture in 20 hours. If you have any questions about France or trains, feel free to post a thread or send a message to politicslovr on the SU Forums.

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Best of the Web: Travel Edition

July 31st, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

If you’re considering a trip abroad, the Student Universe site is a great place to start.  Don’t be afraid to explore every corner of this site.  You can never have “enough” information!

In preparing for my own European adventures, I’ve collected some additional sites that may be of use to you:

Flights (for those who may not qualify for student discounts)
Inside Trip - compares flights not just on price but on reliability, comfort, speed, and other factors.
Sidestep: - good flight search engine.
TSA Prohibited Items List - stay out of trouble.
How to Survive Long Flights - advice from a guy who flies regularly between Australia and Los Angeles. His packing tips saved my last trip.

Helpful Forums
Student Universe Europe Forum - HQ for traveling young people.
Rick Steves’ Travelers Helpline - friendly folks are good problem-solvers.
TripAdvisor Europe Forums - good place for finding reviews, local recommendations
GuideforEurope Message Boards - will review and critique your itinerary at all stages

Rail
Train Travel Information - read this to orient yourself with European trains.
How Railpasses Work - Railpass 101 from the site’s namesake.
Die Bahn - European train timetables
Eurail Map PDF - enlarge to 125% to see detail.
Eurostar - train between London and Brussels/Calais/Paris
My Step-by-Step Guide to Having Your Way with the SNCF - for people taking trains in France.

Packing
Packing List for Women - good place to start.
Packing Light - too much is just as bad as not enough.

A little investigation goes a long way.  Remember: well-researched trips = fun times.

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