Overall Trip Thoughts

Berlin--

• In hindsight, Berlin was probably not the greatest choice I could have made, as it really feels more like a flat city than a true historical spot. I thought that with it being the 20th anniversary of the fall of The Wall that there might be a special spirit in the city, but it was not there. Berlin, and Munich for that matter, are not really cities you can dislike, but they are rather boring in that they lack the excitement of Rome, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hamburg or Koeln. Berlin felt like a large bedroom community, nothing wrong with it per se, but just not as vibrant as I had been led to believe.
• The Crowne Plaza City Center hotel was actually overpriced for what it offered, and the absurd practice of nickel and diming to death was irritating: They charged me, as a hotel guest, 8 euros to use the 8x10" sauna in the basement, while you could alternatively go to a local neighborhood sauna and pay a little over 20 euros for an all day pass in a full spa facility. I've had good luck with other Crowne Plaza hotels (the Rome St. Peters is a gem!), but the Berlin City Center was a disappointment, especially as I spent six nights there.

Paris--

• As I mentioned before, my one and only previous trip to Paris was disappointing, so I was very surprised that I enjoyed this trip so much. My biggest complaint would be the cold, which of course should be expected when traveling to Europe in winter. The Parisians, while still rude, did not really bother me. The beauty, the history, and the novelty of the city, however, stuck me much more than the last time. I feel I would like to return again, to spend a longer time when the weather is warmer.
• The Paris hotel, Hotel du Square d'Anvers, was indeed spartan, but it was clean enough, and the location superb. I might stay there again, though it would be tempting to look for a hotel which is a bit nicer, assuming price is not an overriding concern. It was two stars, but price and location were superb.

Monte Carlo--

• The highlight of the trip. As much as I enjoyed it (and the relative warmth), I am not sure that I would spend much more than three nights there at a stint, at least not without expanding the exploration to include Nice or Western Italy. The overwhelming oppulence is mind-boggling, yet after a bit feels almost like a prolonged stay at Disneyland: Incredible for a short while, but not enough diveristy for a long vacation. Still, nothing compares with living out the Bond fantasy....
• I can't say enough for the Monte Carlo Novotel hotel. It was moderately priced (about $200 per night if you pre-purchase and agree to the no cancellation/no refund risk), yet it was also very clean, bright, modern and well-located. The only complaint is that the techno music in the bar is a bit much if you listen to it for too long (as in taking all your meals there), but that notwithstanding it was a great environment. You don't get the oppulence you would at, say, the Le Meridien, but at one-third the price, and at a better location, I highly recommend the Novotel---and the sauna was free!!

London--

• I won't bother saying anything about London because I could go on non-stop about this town! That has been many vacations in and of itself for me, and it will be one again relatively soon. Let me simply say it truly is a homecoming for me. To paraphrase the saying, a man who is tired of London is tired of life.

In short:--

• While I don't regret the experience, if I had known awhile back what I know now, I would have skipped Berlin and extended the stays in Paris and Monaco, or I would have substituted Rome for Berlin. Still, it was an incredible trip. Also, if my situation were to permit, I would like to return to Europe in Spring or Fall rather than in winter; should my professional career continue to restrict my vacations to the Christmas season, then perhaps I should consider a Nile cruise or a return to Australia for the next one. All in all, though, weather complaints are relatively minor in the course of memories.

BTW, for hotels in the Heathrow area, I should point out the National Express "Hotel Hoppa" bus which runs from the terminals to all the nearby hotels. If you stay in Central London, transit from LHR to Zone 1 is easy via the tube, the Heathrow Express, or numerous other options, but you don't have these choices if you are staying in the immediate Heathrow area. I paid 20 pounds for a taxi (one way) only to find out later that afternoon that the Hotel Hoppa provides service for 4 pounds. It is a bargain to keep in mind for any LHR area hotel, and it is not well-publicized on any of the hotel websites.

Special mention to the Doubletree Airport in Seattle for a $39 upgrade to a suite on my first night! Granted, it was an opportunistic chance, and it was not guaranteed save for availability at check-in, yet for the cost of three drinks it was an amazing way to start the trip.

Also, while I did not try it on this trip, I heard of and will check out easyHotel for future vacations. This is along the line of easyJet, easyEverything (Internet cafe) and all the related serial entrepreneur attempts: Clean, cheap, no-frills. The handful of hotels they have look incredibly well-priced for their locations, so I am making a note to myself to try them at my earliest chance.

Internet access throughout Europe was very expensive, and spotty in two of the hotels (Crowne Plaza and Hotel du Square d'Anvers) even when paying over $20 per day. What is most annoying is that in many hotels in the US---including the cheapo places I care not to admit having patronized, wireless access is free. while Europe seems to have done a much better job settling on phone cell standards than have we in the US, broadband access, at least for tourists, is a letdown.