Driving in the winter?

[olaf06]

I'll have an opportunity to revisit the Netherlands during December - January.

Two positives for having a car:
1. Saving on the taxi transport after hours [e.g., when visiting the Showboat].
2. Visiting places other than in Amsterdam [specifically, I am considering driving to Kasteel Waterloo and even further to the DUS area for PT Dorsten and PT Mattman].

Negatives:
I live in California, not sure how difficult it is to drive in EU in the winter [It's about 120 miles to Waterloo, another 40 to DUS].

Any advice??

THANKS

[mandrake]

If you have never driven in snow before then you are in for a treat, but it is not an impossible task.
We are used to snow and the roads will be cleaned quickly and efficient.
Just take it a little slower.

Maybe sure you get a car with snowtires from a reputable car renter National, avis , eurocar or Hertz or whatever.
Also if you can only drive a car with automatic shift make sure you get one of these.

[olaf06]

Thanks M!

What about the late hours? ... These places close after midnight [and the whole point of having a car is that you can stay till closing] - do they clean also during the night? Also, am I 'guaranteed' to have snow?

[I have persanally no problem driving stick shift]

THX!

If you have never driven in snow before then you are in for a treat, but it is not an impossible task.
We are used to snow and the roads will be cleaned quickly and efficient.
Just take it a little slower.

Maybe sure you get a car with snowtires from a reputable car renter National, avis , eurocar or Hertz or whatever.
Also if you can only drive a car with automatic shift make sure you get one of these.

[mandrake]

They clean 24/7 and I can't guarantee snow however December and January are the winter months.

About the stick shift, some of my American friends have never driven a stick shift car, so it was just a friendly warning.

[olaf06]

Thanks for the info.
Anyone else agrees/contradicts?

[fusnuts]

I'm from the midwest and have driven alot in Europe. It seems to be about the same as here........except......
1. The people tend to drive like they are fucking NUTS!
2. The road signs generally suck. Netherlands signs are better than other countries.
3. An excellent road map is a must - any good filling station will have a big book-type. (ie.If a sign says dusseldorf is a right turn it doesn't mean dusseldorf is actually to the right it just means that's A means of getting there could be twice farther than if you took the next road but yes it will eventually lead you there.
4. Diesel is cheaper than gas but still more expensive than here.
5. It's always a rip-off to park(Last time I parked overnight in Amsterdam it was expensive as hell.)
But......your still doing the right thing. Just go a little slower and be safe. Remember western Europe is just as civilized as here...of course they have good road cleaning. Now driving in Eastern Europe is sort of like playing Russian roulet(no pun intended).
I recommend getting a diesel stick shift car....I like what they call the "5 person people mover". I also suggest you try www.novacarhire.com this place kicks ass!! insurance is included and they are always the cheapest. They play middleman but you always get your car at a top-notch company...ie alamo,hertz,sixt,etc..
Just relax and enjoy....you'll see alot more and more conveniently from a car than you will a train. Where do you plan to go?......just curious.

[fusnuts]

I've read the posts abot pt dortsen but what is pt mattman?

[olaf06]

Hi FNTS,

Very good feedback - Thanks!

1. I used to drive in LA ... [and also in the midwest, so I know the difference]. Using more caution is always a good advice. The whole point really is to be able to get to those far-out places freely.
2. I've mapped all places on Google Maps, Have a 1:250000 map [actually, it's of Holland, but it covers that area in Germany too], and I plan on getting a GPS.
3.see #2 above.
4. Diesel - I'll check with novacarhire. Insurance is a good question that I have not explored yet. The prices on Travelocity are w/o insurance, and I was wondering what to do about it. I really don't plan on doing much driving. Sightseeing in December/January is not fun. I'll be driving from Amsterdam to the DUS area [less than 200 miles], then in the DUS area [up to 65 miles]. I have not decided yet, but if the hotel next to PT Dorsten is decent and cheap, it might be a reasonable idea to drive to Mettmann/Beverly and return at night to Dorsten. Point here, I don't intend on doing that much driving, so [I hope!] gas/diesel is not that much of an issue. Re PeapleMover, I'll be one person, so the smallest [cheapest] is best.
5. Parking - I have absolutely NO intention of getting to big cities by car. Hard to get in/out, hard to navigate, pricy to park. Public transportation is the best. Yet, again, where I'm going, is not citycenters, but off the city places.

Now for the apparent schedule: [any comments are welcome!]
---------------------------------------------------------------
I have the 3rd week of December and the 2nd week of January to spend in Europe.
I land in AMS Monday morning, rent a car, then drive to the DUS area as follows:
Monday - PT Dorsten [100EU]
Tuesday - PT Dorsten [88EU special price Tues] or Swinger Club Beverly [70EU] or PT Mettman [100EU, least preferred choice, based Wan King's reports]
Wed - Beverly [100EU] or Kasteel Waterloo [Dutch swinger club, near DUS; 85EU]
Thur - PT Dorsten [100EU] or up to the Showboat [swinger club] near Amsterdam [GangBang night; 55EU]
Friday - Showboat [55EU]
Saturday - Showboat [55EU]
Sunday - Showboat [55EU]
Monday - return car in AMS, fly away.

I then return to AMS the 2nd week of January, on Monday, so I can sort of repeat the scedule, except for Friday [Showboat has SM 'party' which I tried last May and did not like - no sex]. I'll have the option of variating on the above schedule. I have previously been to the Showboat [and to another swinger club in Amsterdam, Club Paradise] - see my earlier report. Compared to the PTs and Beverly, the Showboat is a real true bargain [but the women are not 10-9-8, yet the majority of them are real swingers].

As I mentioned again, I do have a concern about the intensity - I want to have a lot of sex, but I'm afraid that with sex 6 days in a row [and doing this twice!] - my dick may fall off. What do you think?

FYI - here are the places' web sites: [all addresses are Google Maps verified]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++
PT Dorsten: beckenkamp 22 barkenberg, germany www.partytreff-dorsten.de
PT Mettman:Industriestr. 14, 40822 Mettmann, germany http://www.partytreff-mettmann.de
Swinger Club Beverly: Eschbachstrasse 149, D-42659 Solingen, germany http://www.beverlypage.de/indexsg.asp
Swinger club Kasteel Waterloo: Waterloseweg 12 5954 NX BEESEL THE NETHERLANDS +31-77-474-3030 http://www.kasteelwaterloo.nl/EN/pags/navi.html
Swinger Club Showboat: LageDijk 328, 1544 BN Zaandijk,NETHERLANDS +31(0)75-622-2348 www.showboat.nl

I'm from the midwest and have driven alot in Europe. It seems to be about the same as here........except......
1. The people tend to drive like they are fucking NUTS!
2. The road signs generally suck. Netherlands signs are better than other countries.
3. An excellent road map is a must - any good filling station will have a big book-type. (ie.If a sign says dusseldorf is a right turn it doesn't mean dusseldorf is actually to the right it just means that's A means of getting there could be twice farther than if you took the next road but yes it will eventually lead you there.
4. Diesel is cheaper than gas but still more expensive than here.
5. It's always a rip-off to park(Last time I parked overnight in Amsterdam it was expensive as hell.)
But......your still doing the right thing. Just go a little slower and be safe. Remember western Europe is just as civilized as here...of course they have good road cleaning. Now driving in Eastern Europe is sort of like playing Russian roulet(no pun intended).
I recommend getting a diesel stick shift car....I like what they call the "5 person people mover". I also suggest you try www.novacarhire.com this place kicks ass!! insurance is included and they are always the cheapest. They play middleman but you always get your car at a top-notch company...ie alamo,hertz,sixt,etc..
Just relax and enjoy....you'll see alot more and more conveniently from a car than you will a train. Where do you plan to go?......just curious.

[Everhard]

Monday - PT Dorsten [100EU]
Tuesday - PT Dorsten [88EU special price Tues] or Swinger Club Beverly [70EU] or PT Mettman [100EU, least preferred choice, based Wan King's reports]
Wed - Beverly [100EU] or Kasteel Waterloo [Dutch swinger club, near DUS; 85EU]
Thur - PT Dorsten [100EU] or up to the Showboat [swinger club] near Amsterdam [GangBang night; 55EU]
Friday - Showboat [55EU]
Saturday - Showboat [55EU]
Sunday - Showboat [55EU]

As I mentioned again, I do have a concern about the intensity - I want to have a lot of sex, but I'm afraid that with sex 6 days in a row [and doing this twice!] - my dick may fall off. What do you think?

Olaf,
I'd say that this is the most bravest of schedules I've ever seen!!!

Your dick will fall of for sure If by any chance it doesn't, you must be superhuman, assuming you're not a voyeur of course. I sure look forward to read your report when you're out of the hospital.

[mandrake]

Go for it. Die a happy man.

[olaf06]

Everhard -
* now I'm scared! I don't plan on being a spectator ...
mandrake -
* Last time [see my Showboat report for May 06] I've been to a club 2 days in a row [it was great on both days, shagged 4 times each day], then after one week, another 2 days [very diappointing, 2 bad shags, then nothing in the next day]. So, I figured that now that I've been initiated to EU sex options, I'll take all I can.

Maybe I'll have to lay low for a day or two.
I'll also be cheking with my MD about getting some Viagra [hope it's not too hard (sorry for the pun) - I figure the Dr is not going to make me 'prove' I have ED].

Any other opinions??

[fusnuts]

I sure wish I had time to go on an extended fuck-fest! Olaf, I think I would eliminate a day of showboat and go to Frankfurt (OASIS or Paradise) for a good High quality day. Maybe after you do pt dorsten. I think if you keep increasing the quality of women it might help you keep the pace. It will be a little more money but after that much fucking you deserve a treat. So what the hell is another 100 extra euros? you deserve it!
I think oase (sp?) is in the direction of pt dorsten outside of frankfurt so you'll be there in 1 1/2 hours or so. Remember the scale in Europe isn't that big. But I want to reiterate that a VERY good map is a must. IMO a gps isn't necessary at all. I've never been unable to find the correct course after asking some people. Just target younger people they'll mostly all speak english.
Insurance there is as much or more a ripoff there than here, but works the same. Just check with nova and I'm sure you'll see the light.
And hey man don't forget to pm me some juicy photos. Monger on dude!

[olaf06]

Thanks fusnuts!

* Re FKK - I'm a cheapo. and a week of mongering [x2] will deplete my wallet deeply. I have very limited experience in the field anyhow, and not only do I not mind the public action, I really liked it at the Showboat. Dorsten seems to be the most bang for the buck, and the girls' quality [at least as much has been reported here] is quite good [hey, I'm 41, so doing a 25 yo Polish girls can't be that bad, especially as it's unlimited sessions]. Also, the Showboat is 55EU which is substantially lower than the German options.

* GPS - I think you are right. I've Google-Mapped all locations [see below] and verified that they seem correct. So I can print out the maps from Google to aid in pinpointing the locations [beyond the 1:250K map I have of Holland that covers Dorsten/Mettman]. One thing to take into consideration is that I'll be driving myself back at night in December/January [dark, icy conditions]. So maybe GPS is more necessary.

* Pictures - I don't think I'll be taking any. I don't think they'll allow me to do so, plus I hope I'll be engaged in a different activity than taking pictures :-))

* Insurance - so, do you suggest taking the basic insurance [I think it's included in the quotes you get from Sixt]?

[fusnuts]

To my knowledge none of the big companies include insurance automatically. At nova they include full coverage with something like a $500 deductable. They offer additional insurans to cover the $500 for a little extra. I usually take this company not because of the insurance but because they seem to always beat everyones price.(no i dont work there)(just helping a fellow monger).
Also I'm sure you'll be using a credit card so check the terms of your card, usually you automatically have full coverage through visa/mastercard. Call the 1800 # on the back of your card and ask them the details. I think most people don't realise they have this and waste their money. Maybe this is how nova's insurance actually works? I'm not sure who would be the first in line nova or visa??????? Anyhow I've always declined extra insurancce due to my card.(I called them a long time ago and it seemed to be legit.)

[olaf06]

Absolutely great advice!
Nova indeed is the cheapest, and I tried calling them but their business hours are normal [Ireland time ...]. But really, the CC coverage makes superb sense!

THANKS!