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Is there anything I should know before going to Europa Park for the first time?

I quite like the fact that an "anything I should know before I go" topic about EP is turning into War & Peace.
What do you mean, out of interest?

On a different note; with regard to a strategy, something I've gained from this thread so far is that my plan should be to not plan!
 
Do you guys think it would be worth me consistently checking the hotel website every now and then to see if availability crops up for that last week of April 2022, or do you think that it has already been booked up?

Set up a website checker on an app, it'll let you know when the page updates.
 
I wouldn’t worry too much about being on the site the minute hotel rooms are released for next year. This isn’t a MAP holders event and the rooms won’t sell out in 3 minutes. They are released to Hotel Friends a week in advance (a loyalty club for those who have previously stayed) and will then go on general sale. Expect that to happen in the next month or so, but no date is yet confirmed.

If you book before Christmas I highly suspect there will be decent availability for your dates. As a side note, weekends normally sell out quicker for obvious reasons.
 
Set up a website checker on an app, it'll let you know when the page updates.
I should probably know how to do that given I’m a Computing student, but; how do I do that?
 
I should probably know how to do that given I’m a Computing student, but; how do I do that?

There's loads of free apps that can monitor any given page, like a ticket booking page, and notify you of any updates made to it. I use one titled 'Web Alert (Website Monitor)' on play store and it works really well.
 
I would suggest trying Alpen Express with and without VR, you get a choice of VR films including a Paddington Bear one. (VR on both Alpen Express and Eurosat costs €2).
Eurosat’s costs 6€. Across the coasters and YULLBE they operate on a euro per minute of VR time.
Alpenexpress I feel you can take it or leave it. Its decent and well done for a standard installation.

However Valerian (Eurosat’s VR) I’d highly recommend as a well refined experience with the longer ride time, free roaming aspect and storytelling.
 
Going to Europa soon. does anyone have any hotel restaurants recommendations? Planning on eating in them in the evening after the park closes.

How do the buffets currently work?

Currently looking at antica roma, Medici and cesare and maybe the kronen but open to all of them if anyone has anything to say about any.

Cheers
 
I can really recommend Harborside at Bell Rock and Castillo in Alcazar. Both are very good, though I can't speak for any of the others. For pizza, the pizzeria in Hotel Colosseo is a very good shout.
 
I can really recommend Harborside at Bell Rock and Castillo in Alcazar. Both are very good, though I can't speak for any of the others. For pizza, the pizzeria in Hotel Colosseo is a very good shout.

I can second these as probably the best places to eat. I found Tre Kronen expensive for what it is, as too the Italian a la carte restaurants. For best value food, I’d head to Silver Lake Saloon.

As of a couple weeks ago the buffets were operating pretty normally with some slight restrictions, eg plastic gloves were being supplied, although didn’t seem mandatory.

If the parks open late enough, the Rock Cafe isn’t too bad a shout for lesser priced food as well.
 
I think most people on here who've been to EP will agree that Silver Lake is something of a must-do. The food's good, they have beer towers (which admittedly aren't for me, as I don't like beer, but the Lynchburg Lemonades are superb), and the general atmosphere there is excellent.
 
Going to Europa soon. does anyone have any hotel restaurants recommendations? Planning on eating in them in the evening after the park closes.

How do the buffets currently work?

Currently looking at antica roma, Medici and cesare and maybe the kronen but open to all of them if anyone has anything to say about any.

Cheers
Did the Bell Rock buffet last week and it’s all back to normal. Same with he breakfast in the hotels.
 
Sorry to bump, but out of interest; with the hotel rooms going online on Tuesday, how quickly do they tend to go? I only ask because my parents are understandably reluctant to commit to anything, what with the UK's new travel policy due to the Omicron variant, so were going to hold off on booking for a month or so to wait and see how things go. Will we still be able to get a hotel room for any time of year by the New Year?
 
Weekends book up quicker than mid-week. If you’re planning to stay over a weekend, I’d try to book asap. Weekdays will generally have decent availability for a little while yet. Sometimes a stay between two hotels can help if you otherwise find a lack of availability over the weekend.

It’s worth noting that most reservations have a cancellation policy of 3 days prior at the moment, so that may ease concerns around covid.
 
Weekends book up quicker than mid-week. If you’re planning to stay over a weekend, I’d try to book asap. Weekdays will generally have decent availability for a little while yet. Sometimes a stay between two hotels can help if you otherwise find a lack of availability over the weekend.

It’s worth noting that most reservations have a cancellation policy of 3 days prior at the moment, so that may ease concerns around covid.
Our plan was Monday-Friday in the last week of April, but we're now unsure on that one; it may well end up being more like June now, what with how things are with the Omicron variant and the current UK travel policy.

My parents are keen to hold off on booking for at least a little bit to see how things pan out with COVID.
 
Our plan was Monday-Friday in the last week of April, but we're now unsure on that one; it may well end up being more like June now, what with how things are with the Omicron variant and the current UK travel policy.

My parents are keen to hold off on booking for at least a little bit to see how things pan out with COVID.
Check the cancellation policy on the booking you were going to make to see if you'll be able to free of charge. If you can't then hold off, but I maintain it's better to have it booked in, cancellable and not be able to go, than be able to go in the end but not have anything booked (unless you'd prefer to go in June, in which case crack on). There's still the best part of 5 months for things to change. :)
 
There are a couple of rate options as far as I can see (based on a booking I made for Christmas 2022 last week), you can either pay the higher rate which is fully cancelable and payment isn’t required until you arrive.

Or the cheaper offer which is 20% off where payment is required on booking, however you can still cancel free of charge up to three days before arrival and they will refund you.

So you could still book and then cancel closer to the time if required.
 
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