If you're into trains (I am), check the offers from .

Basically, they offer packages/passes for train travel in most European countries. Their flagship is a pass that allows you to travel through all countries for 21 days. Prices are high, but not extreme (compared to buying seperate tickets or renting a car).

Remember, once you're in the EU area you can travel freely between all countries without passport controls (there will be occasional border controls and the UK still has passport shit, but that's it really).

That's nice... I'm sure they don't count for local, in-city transportation, but whatever. I remember a day-pass in Frankfurt was like 5 marks, which at the time was $3. So pretty freakin' cheap. I don't imagine prices have gone too crazy since.

*edit* how the hell does Eurail get to Ireland?!

oh, about Frankfurt, that's where I graduated high school (an Army school). So I want to see my city again. I spent a lot of time running around that place. It's also a very pretty place and celebrated its 2000 year anniversary while I was there.

I figured it'd be something like that. Would be cool to show Shiny around your old digs anyway eh?

And yeah, local transport (buses, trams, metro and probably inner city trains) aren't included in the pass I think. Don't know prices in Germany, but in Belgium you pay 5€ for a one-day pass that gives you access to public transport all over Flanders and 15€ for a 5-day one. So prices are still normal.

re: Ireland...I imagine it's connected to a ferry service of some sorts. Found it, here you go

http://www.eurail.com/eurail-shipping-lines

Apparently eurail passes aren't valid in the UK, for some reason.

Ah, ok, thanks for the clarification. When we go, it'll probably be in the winter (due to prices). I'd love to go... I've been US-bound for 10 years now.

You should be pretty fucked by the dollar-euro thing too, really.

I just checked, a Big Mac is about 4 bucks in the States, so that's 2.7€. Golly...I should go to the States. It costs like almost 3 times that here.

Well in fairness, I found round trip airfare, hotel, and rental car for 7 days to Ireland for about $350.00 a person. I even offered to pay for it. And he said no..... If you all only knew how hard it is to get me to even consider the flight (I am seriously not happy about flying) then you would know he should have jumped at the chance although I understand why.

Instead now we are going to spend more and vacation in the US some more. Skiing and snowboarding. And maybe snowmobiling, etc. Yay! Since I live in the South and we never get real snow, I get a little excited by seeing it. It happens so rarely when I travel.

Plus we get a cute condo with full kitchen while we are there so I imagine hitting the outdiir hot tub, with a glass of wine, with snow all around. Hells yeahs.

So excited. I would really like to see some of you and some of the awe inspiring places you all post pictures of. I would seriously love to take like a month and chill in Europe. /sigh too bad Satis does not get that kind of vacation time to use in one scoop.

A full month would be expensive. I'm not interested in staying in a hostel, so hotel rooms would probably be a serious killer. I could probably handle 2 weeks, though... especially if we stayed in eastern europe most of the time. Or turkey or something. Are they part of the EU yet?

Anyway, it'll happen, and probably sooner than later.