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CONTENT
-What
information does EuropeTracker contain?
-Is the information in EuropeTracker accurate and up-to-date?
-Where does the information in EuropeTracker come from?
-I have found some incorrect information. What should
I do?
-What is the geographic coverage of EuropeTracker?
-What are the largest cities in Europe not included
in the EuropeTracker data?
-What discount airlines are included in EuropeTracker?
-Does EuropeTracker contain (bus, ferry, flight, train)
timetables?
BUILDING A TRIP
-How
do I build a trip itinerary with EuropeTracker?
-How do I select my cost level (my "travel style)?
-I am building
a trip and I want to go from (ex. Barcelona) to (ex. Vienna), but
EuropeTracker does not show any connections between these two locations?
Why not?
-I want to fly
from (ex. London) to (ex. Budapest) but I don't see this connection.
Why not?
-I started building a trip using an
airport as my Start Location. I'm confused, and what should I do
now?
-I have built a trip using EuropeTracker
and the total estimated cost is (ex. 2452€). How much can I
trust this estimate?
-For my
connection from (ex. Munich) to (ex. Vienna), I plan to purchase
a (ex. 2nd class train ticket). EuropeTracker says this costs (ex.
51€). Can I be sure that this amount is what I will pay when
I purchase the ticket?
-What currency is EuropeTracker cost data in, and
can I change it to my currency?
-I have finished building an itinerary. Can I print
this out for myself or email it to somebody?
BOOKINGS
-Can
I book travel products from EuropeTracker?
MISCELLANEOUS
-I have
questions about traveling in Europe. Can you help me?
-I am overwhelmed by planning a trip to Europe. Do
you have any suggestions?
-When will EuropeTracker be complete?
-What is the meaning of "BETA" version?
-I have encountered a programming bug. What should
I do?
GENERAL
What is EuropeTracker?
EuropeTracker can be described in many ways – a trip-builder,
an itinerary tool, or a travel planner. Put simply, it will help
you accurately plan costs, time, and routes for the Europe trip
you want to take.
To the best of our knowledge,
EuropeTracker is the very first of its kind: a Europe trip-builder
designed solely for the benefit of independent travelers. There
are a handful of "itinerary-builders" out there, but none
are nearly as useful and powerful as EuropeTracker. Also, unlike
EuropeTracker, these other systems are almost always offered in
affiliation with a travel agency or other company selling their
own tours or similar travel products. There are "no strings
attached" with EuropeTracker.
Who
should use EuropeTracker?
All independent travelers can benefit from EuropeTracker.
Our travel experiences have
revealed two primary types of travelers. There are people who take
a passive approach and want their travels to be planned and coordinated
for them. Such travelers are comfortable with organized tour groups
and/or package holidays which require minimal decision making.
Then there are people (independent
travelers) that want to actively plan and control nearly every part
of their travel experience. EuropeTracker empowers independent travelers.
It takes the guesswork out of travel in Europe and enables anyone
with a desire to travel to plan a customized Europe trip that meets
their needs AND fits their budget.
We believe EuropeTracker is
especially useful for backpackers, people who want to plan an extended
and complex, yet budgeted, route around Europe. Because the system
is built and maintained by avid backpackers, the backpacking mentality
is an essential aspect of EuropeTracker.
Furthermore, because backpacking
itineraries almost always change during the trip, EuropeTracker
can be a valuable travel partner for backpackers who need immediate
and accurate on-the-road planning assistance.
How
can EuropeTracker help me with my travels in Europe?
There are numerous specific instances in which EuropeTracker can
help. Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions?
• I want to travel Europe but
I really don't know where to start. How do I plan such a trip?
• I've decided I want to see these places in Europe: A, B,
C, D, and E. What is a realistic cost estimate for this trip?
• I have X amount of time to travel Europe. What is a realistic
itinerary for this amount of time?
• I have X amount of money available. How much traveling can
I do with this money?
• What are the different ways (and costs) to get from location
A to location B?
• Is it possible to get a direct connection from location
A to location B?
• How much travel time is required to get from location A
to location B?
• I am not sure whether buying a railpass (or bus pass) is
worth it for my trip. How can I decide if I should buy one?
• I want to spend X days in location A. What is a realistic
cost estimate?
• I need to book a hostel/hotel/sightseeing activity in location
A. How can I do that?
• I'm flying into/out of Airport A. How do I get between the
airport and the city center?
• I saw a travel package offered for sale for X amount of
money. If I planned this trip myself, can I do the same trip for
less money?
• I'm in the middle of my trip but plans or circumstances
have changed. I only have X amount of money (or time) remaining.
What can I do?
COST
How much does
EuropeTracker cost?
You can get either a free or paid EuropeTracker account, depending
on the amount and type of use you need from the system.
The amount of use depends on the number
of saved itineraries ("Saved Trips") you need or want:
1. Free Account
Every individual user is entitled to one FREE
account allowing 3 Saved Trips to be created and
stored.
2. Free Account with Tell-a-Friend
If someone you know might be interested in using EuropeTracker,
then by sending a referral during the registration process, you
are entitled to one FREE account allowing
a maximum of 5 Saved Trips. The referral must be
sent to a valid email address and not to yourself! Please be honest
about obtaining this referral bonus.
3. Paid Account with EuropeTracker planning assistance
If you need maximum flexibility and use of EuropeTracker to plan
your personal travels, then you can purchase a PAID annual subscription
(20€/year) that entitles you to a maximum of 20
Saved Trips. This will allow you to play with a number
of different itinerary combinations at the same time so you can
figure out the best travel plan for you.
All paid account holders are also
entitled to complimentary trip-planning assistance via email
from the EuropeTracker team. We've got loads of Europe
travel experience under our belts and we can help you plan a trip
to the best places in Europe while helping you maximize your time
and your budget. We can promise you that our expertise will be well
worth your account membership fee. Plus, you'll receive access to
our exclusive members-only newsletter with up-to-date, useful information
on the latest techniques and ideas (discount travel cards, airline
specials, etc) to save money during your travels in Europe.
BETA Launch
Special: Sign up for
a paid account for only 15€ for a 1-year subscription
until the BETA period ends in Spring 2006.
In each case above, you are always
able to delete one or more of your Saved Trips. For example, if
your account allows 5 Saved Trips and you have reached this limit,
you can create an additional itinerary by deleting one or more of
your Saved Trips.
The type of use is also important.
The three account levels just listed are available for individuals
planning their personal travel, i.e. non-commercial use. If you
are an individual or represent a company (such as a travel agency)
that wants to use EuropeTracker on behalf of your clients, then
you must register for a Commercial account:
4. Paid Commercial Use
For commercial use, you can purchase a PAID annual subscription
(200€/year) that entitles you to a maximum of 50 Saved
Trips. Use the power, organization, and convenenience of
EuropeTracker to help your clients or employees accurately plan
their Europe travel.
BETA Launch
Special: Sign up for
a Commercial Use paid account for only 125€
for a 1-year subscription until the BETA period
ends in Spring 2006.
To repeat, the maximum number of saved
trips refers to what you can have saved at one time. A user with
a free account of 3 Saved Trips might build and save a total of,
say, 30 itineraries over the course of a year. But only 3 could
be saved at any one time.
Can
I upgrade my account to a paid account?
We do not currently offer this option now but we plan to add it
in the near future. If you have a free account and you want the
paid account, you can sign up for the paid account by using a different
email address. If you want to use the same email address, tell us
you want a paid account and we can delete your free account.
CONTENT
What information
does EuropeTracker contain?
EuropeTracker contains cost information for 215+ of the most popular
locations in Europe. This cost info is expressed as a daily expense
estimate (in Euros) for six different budget levels. As EuropeTracker
grows with time, there will be 500+ locations included in the system,
allowing virtually ANY trip in Europe to be planned using EuropeTracker.
A unique and powerful component
of EuropeTracker is the extensive list of transportation connections
between two given locations in Europe. These connections includes
these modes of travel:
• Trains
• Ferries
• Discount Airlines
• Buses (limited in BETA version)
Information for each connection
includes:
• From location
• To location
• Mode (Bus, Ferry, Flight, or Train)
• Description
• Cost (€)
• Duration
• Frequency (#/day)
• Overnight?
• Booking or More Info Link
• Notes (with additional information you should know)
Now numbering 12,500+ individual
connections, this database will naturally grow larger as more locations
are added to EuropeTracker.
Included in this list of connections
is transportation information for 85+ major airports in Europe.
Now your trip planning can rightfully include the often overlooked
transport between a distant airport and a city center.
Is
the information in EuropeTracker accurate and up-to-date?
The EuropeTracker.com team endeavors to keep all information as
current as possible. You can expect the transportation connections
data to change every 3-12 months as the companies make periodic
or seasonal price/schedule adjustments.
While we strive to provide the most
accurate information, the sheer volume of data and the difficulty
in collecting specific kinds of data (typically bus and train fares/schedules
in some less economically developed European countries), there will
no doubt be some errors and inaccuracies. Sometimes we have to estimate
a transportation cost. In case of a discrepency, we would much appreciate
you helping to build EuropeTracker by submitting what we call a
"field report". See the next FAQ for more information.
In any event, while we try to provide
the most accurate information possible, it is always up to YOU,
the individual traveler to verify and confirm the exact details
for your journey. EuropeTracker is not liable for any data inaccuracies
and all information is issued without warranty.
Where
does the information in EuropeTracker come from?
All information in EuropeTracker is carefully researched by the
EuropeTracker.com team. Because our research involves hundreds of
different sources, human involvement is the only reliable and available
method to locate and collect this information.
I
have found some incorrect information. What should I do?
You can help us build and perfect EuropeTracker by submitting a
simple field report by email. Imagine how powerful EuropeTracker
could be if 5000 users actively verified and/or corrected data based
on their direct travel experiences in Europe.
We would especially appreciate user
field reports in these areas:
• Supplemental charges for certain high-quality trains for
travelers that have a railpass (Eurail, Inter Rail, EuroDomino,
country passes, etc.) and who must pay these supplements
• Supplemental charges for night-train couchettes for travelers
that have a railpass and who must pay these supplements
• Whether some high-quality trains, night trains, or ferries
require a reservation
• Train and bus fares and other info for some routes in countries
of Eastern Europe
• Train fares involving a railpass-covered country and a non-covered
country (ex. a traveler with a railpass covering Italy and who takes
a train from Munich to Venice must pay for the Germany and Austria
part of the trip – how much?)
Even if our data is exact, feel free
to send a field report telling us that our information is spot on.
Some days we might need the confidence boost!
What
is the geographic coverage of EuropeTracker?
EuropeTracker includes nearly every major city and tourist destination
in Europe to a certain extent into Eastern Europe. Currently, the
most easternly cities are Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga,
Vilnius, Warsaw, Krakow, Bratislava, Budapest, Zagreb, Sarajevo,
and Athens. In the near future, we plan to cover all of Europe,
east to Moscow, Kiev, Sofia, Bucharest, Belgrade, and of course
Istanbul!
What are
the largest cities in Europe not included in the EuropeTracker data?
Within our current geographic coverage, our most notable missing
cities are Marseille, Verona, Strasbourg, and Salamanca. These locations
will be added into EuropeTracker soon. With 300 locations already
in EuropeTracker, the vast majority of Europe itineraries can be
planned with existing data.
What
discount airlines are included in EuropeTracker?
Using over 100 Europe international airports, we currently list
flight connections for Ryanair, easyJet, Germanwings, Hapag-Lloyd
Express, Wizz Air, flyBe, SkyEurope, Transavia, Virgin Express,
Vueling, and Smart Wings, provided that both the arrival and departure
locations are included in the EuropeTracker location data. As we
add more locations to the system, then related flights from these
airlines will also be added.
We also plan to add another 5-10 discount
airlines (Air Berlin, Air Baltic, Helvetic, etc.) in the near future.
Does
EuropeTracker contain (bus, ferry, flight, train) timetables?
No, we feel that timetables are valuable but contain far too much
detailed information to be included in EuropeTracker. While timetables
are not included, we do express a general frequency (#/per day)
for every transportation connection. We also provide a direct link
to the website of the company providing the transportation so you
can check the schedules yourself. In cases where there is one or
fewer (ex. 3 per week) connections per day, we try to communicate
to you the time of this departure so you can make general plans
for this connection. For example, if the only train per day leaves
at 06:30, that is going to significantly affect your location planning
compared to one leaving at 17:00. Similary, if you want to leave
a town by ferry on Friday, but the ferry only departs Monday and
Thursday, that is surely important information to know.
BUILDING
A TRIP
How do I build
a trip itinerary with EuropeTracker?
Using EuropeTracker is very easy. In general, here's what you do:
1. Name your trip (for future reference)
2. Estimate the fixed costs (airfare to get to/from Europe, rail
or bus passes, passport/visas, travel gear, insurance, etc.) you
need to get started on your trip (everything you will need to reach
your starting location on Day 1 of your trip ready to travel)
3. Select your general expense level (explained below) for the trip
4. Select a start date and start location (i.e. location A)
5. Build your daily itinerary:
a. Select the number of days you want to spend in location A
b. Select where you want to go next (location B)
(only locations that have a Bus, Ferry, Flight, and/or Train connection
from location A will be shown, and once you select one of those
locations you will see a list of all the transportation connections
that are possible from location A to location B)
c. Select the specific connection you want to take and confirm
(now you haved moved to location B)
d. Select the number of days you want to spend in location B
e. and so on, continuing the Location/Connection process until you
reach your final location
6. Click Finish to go to a summary page
During the Location/Connection process,
EuropeTracker will show you certain internet links to help you with
your trip planning:
Location-related links:
• More Info (i.e. city guides)
• Hostels (planning and booking assistance)
• Budget Hotels (planning and booking assistance)
• Activities/Sightseeing (planning and booking assistance)
Connection-related links:
• More Info (planning and booking assistance)
If this sounds complicated, it is
not. Once you use EuropeTracker for 5 minutes, you will probably
have no problems.
How
do I select my cost level (my "travel style)?
Because travel styles are unique to every individual, the exact
same Europe travel itinerary may require two vastly different amounts
of money for different people. One person may want to travel the
route with a certain budget level in mind, while another person
may want more comfort and convenience from their travels. EuropeTracker
therefore builds six different cost levels into the system in order
to cover just about every traveler from the most frugal backpacker
to the most luxury-minded tourist.
At the heart of these cost levels
is the concept of expenses (in Euros) per day.
1. First, you need to determine which
type of traveler you are from two broad categories. Our travel experiences
have revealed that a traveler's choice of luggage provides an excellent
correlation to their general daily expenses. A person carrying a
backpack no doubt has a different kind of travel experience compared
to a person using a suitcase (or three).
Thus, the first question you must
ask yourself is whether you are a Backpacker or a Tourist (for lack
of a better term). Your choice puts your itinerary into a certain
average daily cost range within EuropeTracker:
• Backpackers: generally 35-75€
per day
• Tourists: generally 75-200€ per day
2. The second and final step is to
determine a more exact cost level within your category: High, Medium,
or Low.
Your selection in step 2 is primarily
affected by your personal comfort, convenience, and activity levels
that you need or want during your trip. These tolerances will affect
the various decisions you must make every day on your trip and,
therefore, determine how much money you will spend each day. For
example:
1. Comfort: Should I stay in that
budget hotel or the hostel (for a Backpacker)? Should I stay in
a 5-star hotel or a 3-star hotel (for a Tourist)? Should I get lunch
from the grocery store or from this nice-looking restaurant?
2. Convenience: Should I walk 20 minutes to get there or should
I take a taxi (or the subway)?
3. Activity: Should I pay to go into that museum? Should I go to
the bars/clubs tonight and have a few drinks?
The sum total of the decisions you
usually make in situations like these results in a more specific
daily cost level:
• Backpacker Low (avg. 35-45€
per day)
• Backpacker Medium (avg. 50-60€ per day)
• Backpacker High (avg. 65-75€ per day)
• Tourist Low (avg. 75-100€ per day)
• Tourist Medium (avg. 125-150€ per day)
• Tourist High (avg. 175-200€ per day)
Now that you have determined your
specific travel style, EuropeTracker uses that to set an estimated
daily expense cost for each location based on the general cost level
of a location. Thus, a Backpacker Medium traveler would likely spend
about 60€ per day in London, about 55€ per day in Berlin,
and about 45€ per day in Prague.
I am building
a trip and I want to go from (ex. Barcelona) to (ex. Vienna), but
EuropeTracker does not show any connections between these two locations?
Why not?
It is important to note that EuropeTracker only uses direct
connections between locations. If, in real life, you can't take
a single connection between two places, then it won't be shown in
EuropeTracker. Thus you need to use an intermediate city such as
(ex. Zurich or Paris) to bridge this gap. This method mirrors the
route you would actually take on such a journey, i.e. having to
catch another connection in an intermediate city. Planning your
journey one transportation segment at a time is an important part
of the itinerary-building process.
I want to fly from (ex. London) to (ex.
Budapest) but I don't see this connection. Why not?
To take a flight, you must get to an airport! Because, EuropeTracker
incorporates connections links between cities and nearby airports,
you need to add a connection from a city to the airport you need.
In this case, you can go from (ex. London) to (ex. London Stansted)
and from there you will see flight connections. In a similar method
for the arrival city, you will fly into the airport and then need
to add a connection to the city center. Again, this method mirrors
your real life journey and helps you to plan your cost and time
requirements between airports and city centers.
I started
building a trip using an airport as my Start Location. I'm confused,
and what should I do now?
EuropeTracker contains both airport
and city locations, and therefore the connections between them.
So if you start your trip at, for example, London (Heathrow Airport),
your next step will be to take a connection to London (the city
center). If you choose to spend 3 days at London (Heathrow Airport)
instead of London, you are not using EuropeTracker correctly. Do
you really want to spend 3 days at an airport hotel rather than
in the city? Of course you don't, so take a connection to the city.
EuropeTracker helps you connect airports with city centers, and
these locations are not the same even though they may be in the
same city.
I
have built a trip using EuropeTracker and the total estimated cost
is (ex. 2452€). How much can I trust this estimate?
Of course, it is impossible to predict with 100% certainty how much
a specific itinerary will cost. But if you follow the itinerary
AND stick to your selected expense level, we are confident that
the EuropeTracker estimate will be within +/- 5-10%. If you find
inaccurate data, you can always help improve EuropeTracker by submitting
a field
report (login required).
For
my connection from (ex. Munich) to (ex. Vienna), I plan to purchase
a (ex. 2nd class train ticket). EuropeTracker says this costs (ex.
51€). Can I be sure that this amount is what I will pay when
I purchase the ticket?
Almost. While we strive for our data on tranportation costs to be
as exact as possible, you should expect the actual price of a ticket
to vary slightly. Most prices will in fact be exact but some may
vary by 5-10% higher or lower. If you get a different price at a
ticket window and tell the clerk "But EuropeTracker says this...?"
you might get a funny look! Also, if you do find a price that differs
from our data, please submit a field
report (login required) to us so the data will be exact for
the next user. Please also be aware that our price data usually
comes from the actual suppliers (bus, ferry, flight, train operating
companies), therefore a ticket purchased from a 3rd-party source
(such as some travel websites and travel agencies, and EVEN some
national railways websites) instead of an on-site ticket window
will probably result in a higher price than our data due to markups.
You can usually save money by buying your tickets directly from
the operating companies. For your benefit, EuropeTracker usually
provides direct links for each transportation connection you build
during your trip.
What
currency is EuropeTracker cost data in, and can I change it to my
currency?
All EuropeTracker is expressed in (surprise) Euros. When you finish
building a trip, you can quickly convert your total estimated trip
cost in Euros to any of 20+ other world currencies.
I have finished
building an itinerary. Can I print this out for myself or email
it to somebody?
Yes, you can both print and email your Saved Trips (completed itineraries).
Of course, these Saved Trips will be stored in your personal account
until you delete them.
BOOKINGS
Can I book
travel products from EuropeTracker?
EuropeTracker is not a travel agency or travel supplier. We help
you plan the time, expense, and geographic route of the trip you
want to take. Thus, if you create an itinerary that produces a total
estimated cost of, say, 1853€, we are in no position to sell
you that trip for that price (or any price). As an independent traveler,
you are responsible for your individual bookings.
During the trip-building process,
EuropeTracker does provide convenient direct booking links for hostels,
budget and tourist hotels, sightseeing activities, and bus/ferry/flight/train
bookings. If you click these links, you will be taken to EuropeTracker
recommended sites to book your travel products.
In the case of transportation bookings,
we state again that you will probably pay more for an advance, online
booking that a ticket purchased on-site at a ticket window (on which
EuropeTracker data is based). We recommend to buy tickets as you
go unless this is not possible or sensible.
For your convenience, we also maintain
location-based (accommodations and sightseeing) links on the lower
portion of the EuropeTracker home page.
MISCELLANEOUS
I
am overwhelmed by planning a trip to Europe. Do you have any suggestions?
Very simple! Play around with EuropeTracker a bit and see what kind
of itineraries you create. In no time at all, you will start to
identify the trip that is right for you. If you need expert assistance,
you should consider signing up for a paid account that includes
in-depth planning assistance for your trip from our well-traveled
EuropeTracker team.
I
have questions about traveling in Europe. Can you help me?
The EuropeTracker team is always willing to help independent travelers
who might have some questions. Feel free to contact us with your
questions, but please understand that we need to focus most of our
time and attention on our members that have paid for an account
level that includes our expert, in-depth trip planning assistance.
When will
EuropeTracker be complete?
EuropeTracker will never be complete. It will always require periodic
updates to the data, especially with regard to transportation price
changes. Furthermore, we plan to continually add more and more (smaller)
cities so that, hopefully, most locations from Portugal to Russia
that might be of interest to a traveler are included in EuropeTracker.
What
is the meaning of "BETA" version?
During the initial launch of EuropeTracker, a BETA version will
be used. This means some system bugs will occur and be identified
through user activity. We will also be making minor appearance or
performance improvements to the site. Please be patient during this
period as we seek to launch EuropeTracker. If you encounter something
that does not seem to look right or work correctly, please let us
know so we can fix it.
I
have encountered a programming bug. What should I do?
While we hope that all programming errors have been corrected before
launch, we expect to uncover a few during the BETA period. Please
tell us about it by using our contact
form.
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