How to do Europe, the desi way

Where in Paris was the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Don shot? When should you buy a day pass in Berlin? Find all the answers to your Europe travelling queries on a site started by two Indian journalists

Summer's well and truly here, and for those of you planning a vacation to Europe, Chetna Prakash, freelance journalist and co-founder of Indian Compass has some advice. Prakash launched the travel website with friend Sakshi Ojha, also the site's digital media director, to give you an answer to everything, from where to find paneer makhani to figuring out public transport in Europe.

Chetna Prakash on a holiday to Greece

Why did you feel the need to launch Indian Compass?
Last November, when my husband and I took a weekend trip to Paris from London, I realised I had a fabulous time. This wasn't the case years ago when I took my first trip across Europe. It was because I had learnt how travel operates in Europe; I had learnt to cope with food issues (my husband is vegetarian). So, organising the holiday was easy. However, information catering specifically to Indians travelling to Europe isn't available on the Internet.

Why Europe?
Sakshi and I have lived in Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany and the UK over the last four years, and have visited most countries in Europe. We have a reasonably good understanding of the people, culture and lifestyle. We think we are now in a position to tell fellow Indians what to do and what not to, to have a good time in Europe.

Besides, the number of Indians visiting Europe has risen. The report by the European Travel Commission on the Indian Outbound Travel Market states: India is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world. International tourism departures from India have grown from 3.7 million in 1997 to 9.8 million in 2007. Of this, nearly 40 per cent was visiting Europe. But Europe is so fragmented -- so many big and small countries, each with its own transport links, languages, food, culture, lifestyle, climate and quirks -- it can be a confusing place to find your way around.

What are the issues Indians face when travelling to Europe?
Visas: how to apply, where to apply, how much in advance to apply, and which countries in Europe are covered by Schengen and which are not. Once they land a visa what all does it entitle them to, is another query. This is not going to be explained to you in a Lonely Planet guide -- because foreign guide books are written for foreigners.

Vegetarian food: Europe is a seriously carnivorous continent. In countries like the Czech Republic, they are unlikely to understand what you mean when you say you are vegetarian. Travel: Often, it is difficult to decide which is your best option with regards to budget, time, and interests.

Cultural references: We understand Europe through our colonial history, Bollywood and authors we have grown up reading. But most travel writing is not done keeping these references in mind. These books will refer to Renaissance, Modernism, French New Wave cinema etc. Indians, on the other hand, might be more excited in finding the street in Paris where the film Don (1978) begins than the caf ufffd where French film Amelie was shot.

Tell us five short tips to keep in mind when travelling to Europe?
a) Plan and book in advance: Ideally, you should start planning your trip at least three months in advance.
b) Just because Europe looked pleasant in Yash Chopra's films doesn't mean it is like that all year round. June and July are very hot, so don't waste luggage space on sweaters. And if you are visiting the Mediterranean Sea, it will be very hot till the middle of November.
c) Many European cities are bicycle-friendly. Don't shy away from getting on one yourself. It is safe and economical and will add a whole new dimension to your travel experience.
d) If you are vegetarian, bring down your expectations and develop an appetite for cheese sandwiches. Better still, run a Google search on vegetarian restaurants in whichever city you plan to visit.
e) Expect to face some language issues. Other than England, you will run into problems in most other countries if you can only speak English. Keep certain stock phrases ready in the language of the country you are visiting: "Where is the train station?", "I am lost", "Where is the nearest ATM?", etc.u00a0
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What does Indian Compass have that a guidebook doesn't?
If you try to research everything about Europe by using one guidebook, it is overwhelming. Indian Compass arranges information into common experiences across Europe (like transport links within European countries, difficulty in getting visas, European budget airlines) and those which are specific (like pick pockets in Barcelona, pub food in London, a walking tour in Cinque Terra).

And we present it in easy, digestable 500-word articles. If a reader finds some information missing in a guidebook, he can write to the publisher. But he will have to wait for the next edition before the information will be added. On our website, it will be on view in the next few days. You can ask us specific questions tailored to your needs. We can instantly guide you to other websites providing the service/information you are looking foru00a0-- airline, train booking, accommodation, deals and touru00a0-- in real time.

Contiki Tours is offering a free tour to two readers of Indian Compass between the age of 18 and 35, and a discount of 15 per cent on any of their tours anywhere in the world. Log on to https://indiancompass.comu00a0

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