Italy Trip Archive - 30th July 2004

For anyone wondering about costs and timing, we're going to see when people want to leave and spread the cars out that way, so it's flexible. I'd be prepared to leave about 3pm on Friday, we'll return Sunday evening. The hostel is € 13, petrol will be split (reckon on €15 return), and otherwise it depends on what you want to do.

The hostel is right in the town centre, 2 minutes from the lake side. It has recently been renovated and has comfy bunkbeds and good showers. Dorms are mainly for 4 people, single sex. For any couples, I think they have some double and twin rooms too.

Breakfast is included and the guy always gives me the keys so we can come back in after midnight, as long as we don't cause complaints

As for activites, there is tons to do. There are some fab walks, climbs and walks with metal ladders up rock faces (Klettersteig). You can also take the bus / someone may drive to Verona for the day, fab fab fab - beautiful city and great shopping.

Windsurfing rocks there, and there's a school 100m from the hostel. In the South of the lake there are other lovely port towns to visit, and a huge outdoor spa which is great in the evening.

Or you can just crash on the beach or chill in one of the cafés on the Piazza, eating ice cream and watching the world go by. There are even some really nice shops! And in the evening I know a lovely restaurant where they offer hundreds of different spirits and wonderful fresh food, there are also bars and a couple of dancy places, one right by the hostel.

Hi. This sounds like a lot of fun. Please count me in!

Thanks.

Sounds like a lovely idea... but I'm on call. Guess it will just be extra rugby practise for me...

P

It does indeed sound like a great idea, but I'm going to Garda with Foxy a couple of days after you get back, so I'll probably give this one a miss!

Does sound like fun but I can't commit myself until next week so if that's too late then so be it.

@Jooly How big is the hostel? The web site isn't too precise on that.

I'll be playing tourguide that weekend, so I'll have to give it a miss. Great plan though!

As Jimbo says we are going there a few days later unfortunately so wont be able to make it (unfortunate that we will miss the TT excursion not that fact we are going there a few days later!). Great idea though it'll be a wicked laugh - perhaps we can do it again sometime in August?

@ all who say they are coming, please also post when you would want to leave, so we can plan the cars. Please also post if you have a car and are willing to drive, in case we are more than 12 people.

@ Jeeves The hostel is fairly big, the guy told me yesterday that 12 is no problem and 20 would also be OK if we give him good notice.

I will probably book according to the numbers we have this friday, and add on a couple to be sure (although this depends on car numbers too, we'll have to see).

But the only way to guarantee your bed with me is to post this week. (jeeves, I'll pencil you in)

@JoolyBooly: I probably have to work a fairly full day on Fri, July 30 so I probably couldn't leave before 18:00 . However, it's possible I can escape work early (maybe 14 or 15 ), but it's too early for me to tell right now (won't know 'til next week). I don't have a car but live right near tartan, so maybe I can grab a ride from him?

I'm thinking about it...I'll let you know ASAP.

I'll be in but not with my own car.
the exhaust is broken and not fit to have a long drive.
I dont mind driving and if someone rents a car, I'll be in.
I am in, assuming i dont have to work.
You should ask EB for a list to sign in...
The later on Friday the better... 5pm earliest
I wanna be in the car with Tartan, although i prolly will not be able to laugh anymore as I ahve given away all my laugh supply already on the drive...
I will ask Julie as well.

Looks like I may be able to swing a Mini Bus.. see how numbers look.

Sounds good. I could only really leave around 18.00 Friday too, I can take my car if its needed.

How long is the drive to Lake Garda?

circa 4 hrs.

Hi
I'm in England then but have a great time.
Katrina

Would love to join but I can't make it ...will be by the Baltic Sea moving furniture to my parents house

...btw anybody needs a free lift either to Berlin or to the Baltic Sea on Thursday night (29th)?! (I'm afraid it's only one way, cause I will go back by plane...)

I'm back in Blighty that weekend as well... damn, as would otherwise be up for it. Will wait for the pics!

Great... I am definately up for this.. count me in.

I dont have a car. I would love to drive but I guess I am legally not allowed... (no International Driving license )... So I will have to sit back and admire the beauty...

Friday 5:00 pm is fine... can work in advance to make it early...

What time does anyone reckon we will be back in Munich on the sunday?

Julie and me would be in 100%
Both have a driving licence but no car
If somebody organises/rents a car we definitely would drive. I dont have time to do it myself, sorry...
Ume, if you're in the car we drive hopefully you are not to scared, so you can enjoy the beauty
How long do you drive there? which route are you taking?
just signed in... are we the only ones?

@BLCars will be no problem.. we have 4 so far so no need to hire one... and Ihave access to a minibus that seats circa 10.

We just need to get the commits to avoid having to share beds

@wee man: I guess my vehicle will get back around 10pm.. but flexible.

pls pm myself of JB asap if you are a definite so we can book.

scrub my last comment... I see someone has been super efficient and set up a reservation page.

i got Editor Bob to help me.. so sign on the form and we'll be all set..

Sounds interesting, and I have a car with room for 4 (5 if someone doesn't mind the middle in the back), but isn't there an age limit at hostels. I am not 'youth' anymore.

no, last time I stayed there, there was a 60 year old woman in my dorm... In Germany there's a limit, but Italy is cool about it... and the guy at Riva is so laid back, he sometimes falls over

Micah wants to come as well, will update it on the sign in page.

Can't upodate it... can somebody else do it for me? EB? Moderators?
So it is me and two guests...
And i can take Kzas car hihi

Unfortunatley I got the cheap insurance that says only I am allowed to drive it. Does have a nice big boot (trunk for you americans) though, (with a nice big amp and a couple of 30cm speakers inside it)

nah, it's alright Kza, wouldn't trust myself anyway.
Only 7 signed in and only a week to go, what about the others, come on guys, get yourself committed to a great fun week end!!! So sign in!!!

It will make organizing a bit easier for joolybooly and sk04!
Thanks you two guys for organzing this!

don't worry, there seem to be about 15 people up for it (like Petal, who doesn't have PC access to sign up)... so I'll book for 15 and that's a minbus plus one car...

I just tried to register, but it claims I don't know my password. Hmm.

Anyways, it would be me +1, but 5pm might be tough to do. Anyone with a car leaving at 6?

sounds cool, a good way to meet u guys. just gotta go twist my bosses arm!
chewy

Same here, I couldn't sign up...count me in though!

I am in too, with car!
Tartan

The good news about my car is the fantastic music and the aircon, I will leave circa 6 hopefully earlier from town. 3 more needed to fill.
Tartan

Are people sorting themselves into cars already?

OK, here's a note from EditorBOB:

And for those of you whose password still doesn't work, that happened to me... try changing your password and removing any special characters like exclamation marks, it worked for me then. EB is planning to fix that bug later...

Oh and @ KZA no, just Tartan is probably driving as he has free petrol and 2 ladies have already begged to drive with him (I guess BubblyLady won't be needing your car after all!). The plan is to wait and see, then probably take the minibus.

My car is now full. I will pack my best CD's.
T

That's a shame, as you were the only one who listed a 6pm leaving time and that's about the earliest we can swing it.

I'm in.

I just managed to sign up. I have a nice looking German drivers license, but I haven't got a nice looking German car. I actually have no car, but if worse comes to worse I could rent one cheaply using company discounts.

Who has a space free in their car??

gaaah! read the thread! ;o)

we'll plan transport next week, but have a minibus planned so no worries...

can chip in Gloria Gaynor and Elvis but will prolly be killed by Julie before we even get out of town

any car spaces left, i can leave anytime?
chewy

This sounds like it'll be a really fun weekend...I'll be in Berlin, but I hope it happens again sometime...

people have started sorting into cars...
where can I fit in?

@JB & Kza
what time the minibus leaves...?

@chewy
if time is not a constraint then minibus is a good option... Also, give your confirmation so that it is easy for JB & Kza to take care of you

OK I'm in
It doesn't sound like it will be necessary to bring a car but I can drive if nec.

My boss has told me to get rid of some of those overtime hours so leaving early on Friday (i.e. just after lunch) would be a perfect opportunity to do that.

Dont know when i can finish finish work on Friday but will aim for leaving Munich at 5pm.
Just to remind you. Summerhildays will strat Thursday. So prepare for long traffic jams or find alternative ways...
We call Lake Garda the most southern German lake

I am soo looking foward to this!

@ume
Kza is not actually organizing anything, not the holiday or the minibus or anything, in fact hes allergic to responsibility, he is just tagging along, but hopefully those who are in charge can answer your questions.

Kza cant even take care of himself let alone anyone else

OK, everyone please stop playing musical cars , I am going to get EditorBOB to change the list.
As I asked before, please enter the earliest time you could leave as a comment in your booking! Then WE (i.e. me and SK04) will sort out the cars.
(so put you time in the list, not here!)

The hostel can confirm a big dorm with 12 beds for the boys, but for the girls we may have a problem fitting 8 in. No worries, I have a tent and several others have been offered, the hostel is checking and will confirm this morning.

WHAT THIS MEANS?
1) up to 12 guys can book, no worries
2) any girls booking from now will be informed by me if they can come or not, I will have to confirm it with the hostel first

The priority list for girls is as follows:
Bubblylady +1 (Julie)
JoolyBooly + 1 (Petal)
Showem + 1 (in case this mystery guest is a girl! Please confirm!)
Vae78
Chewy
(these have all been listed with the hostel and will be confirmed this morning, any more will have to be cleared)

Mommy, I have asked the hostel to look into a single room or some kind of room for you and Daniel, and will PM you if there's a possibility.

Jooly

PS: I noticed certain people felt the need to post on TT saying they don't like my organizing skills for other events. If anyone doesn't like the way I and SK04 are organising this trip, PM us or just don't come.

BubblyLady is exactly right. Traffic will be a big problem on Friday afternoon. I'm thinking the Autobahn to Salzburg will be backed up, so maybe we should take an alternate route through Garmisch and hook onto the Autobahn to Italy (i.e. Brenner) near Innsbruck.

Just a thought early (for me) on Monday morning...