Backpacking Thru Europe

[azriel]

Me and my Buddy will be crossing the pond mid July. I never been in Europe, any tips you Euro people or guys that have done this before?

Were staying there for about 3 weeks, the entry point will most likely be London.
Planning to stay 2/3 days in big cities and 1 or less in smaller ones.

What a good intinerary?

=)

[9Qui]

Depends. What would you like to do? How would you like to travel?

[macaluca]

Me and my Buddy will be crossing the pond mid July. I never been in Europe, any tips you Euro people or guys that have done this before?

Were staying there for about 3 weeks, the entry point will most likely be London.
Planning to stay 2/3 days in big cities and 1 or less in smaller ones.

What a good intinerary?

=)

Does this mean you are planning 3/4 days in the UK? and then move to mainland Europe?
As 9Qui asked, let us know what you like doing (historical sights? clubs and nightlife? activities? sport? wildlife? shopping? beaches? or just bumming around?) and anything you particularly want to see and I'm sure we can come up with some suggestions

[azriel]

Does this mean you are planning 3/4 days in the UK? and then move to mainland Europe?
As 9Qui asked, let us know what you like doing (historical sights? clubs and nightlife? activities? sport? wildlife? shopping? beaches? or just bumming around?) and anything you particularly want to see and I'm sure we can come up with some suggestions

I think bumming around pretty much sums it up. I was thinking kinda like a circular trip ( our flight will most likely leave from London too ). We on a budget ( although its paid vacation, well only 2 weeks paid by company were still tight on budget). Money wise i was thinking around $3000 -$4000 dollars flight and train passes included.

I think the 15 NON consecutive train passes looks like a good deal.

Heres the MUST visit cities. London ( Point of entry), Madrid ( or course ), Farcelona, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Prague.

THanks for the help!

[Salop]

If you've only got three weeks and you're entering through London, you'll have to concentrate on a very small section of Europe. One option would be to go from London, down the channel tunnel from Paris, spend a couple of days in Paris, get the train to Barcelona, then Madrid, then maybe on to Lisbon and then back, stopping off at a few little places on the way. I'd definitely recommend this as a route, although you'd be missing out on the rest of the UK, which would be criminal :D .

Another option would be to go north from London, check out Shropshire (OK, I'm biased, but it is incredibly beautifull), a bit of Wales, Ireland, Scotland, (although Cornwall is also lovely but a bit out of the way) and then head back down to Hull (Yorkshire, NE England) and get the ferry across to Rotterdam (Holland) and go to Germany or Belgium from there.

Alternately, you can go to Italy from Paris and check out the Alps, bits of Switzerland or Austria.

Ultimately, Europe's a huge, incredibly diverse place. Once, you're on the mainland, there are a great many highspeed train routes available to get you around the western part of the continent at least. I'm sure that wherever you go, you'll have an incredible experience. The only piece of advise I would give you is this: take your time. If you only have 3 weeks, you're not going to see more than a fraction of the place. Don't spend your time rushing around ticking places off your list like a lot of people do. Decide on a few places you think you'll really enjoy and take a few days to really experience them and have a great time. Trust me, spending half your holiday rushing to get trains and sleeping on buses will not be as good as if you just take the time to take in the places you see.

[azriel]

If you've only got three weeks and you're entering through London, you'll have to concentrate on a very small section of Europe. One option would be to go from London, down the channel tunnel from Paris, spend a couple of days in Paris, get the train to Barcelona, then Madrid, then maybe on to Lisbon and then back, stopping off at a few little places on the way. I'd definitely recommend this as a route, although you'd be missing out on the rest of the UK, which would be criminal :D .

Another option would be to go north from London, check out Shropshire (OK, I'm biased, but it is incredibly beautifull), a bit of Wales, Ireland, Scotland, (although Cornwall is also lovely but a bit out of the way) and then head back down to Hull (Yorkshire, NE England) and get the ferry across to Rotterdam (Holland) and go to Germany or Belgium from there.

Alternately, you can go to Italy from Paris and check out the Alps, bits of Switzerland or Austria.

Ultimately, Europe's a huge, incredibly diverse place. Once, you're on the mainland, there are a great many highspeed train routes available to get you around the western part of the continent at least. I'm sure that wherever you go, you'll have an incredible experience. The only piece of advise I would give you is this: take your time. If you only have 3 weeks, you're not going to see more than a fraction of the place. Don't spend your time rushing around ticking places off your list like a lot of people do. Decide on a few places you think you'll really enjoy and take a few days to really experience them and have a great time. Trust me, spending half your holiday rushing to get trains and sleeping on buses will not be as good as if you just take the time to take in the places you see.

I was looking the map, i wonder if its better to change the point of entry to somewhere less "central", like Madrid then depart from London. mmmm!

[judge10]

Don't bother seeing anywhere else in Italy other than Rome. Not even Florence or Venice. If you think I'm wrong, go, then apologize to me.

[azriel]

Does this mean you are planning 3/4 days in the UK? and then move to mainland Europe?
As 9Qui asked, let us know what you like doing (historical sights? clubs and nightlife? activities? sport? wildlife? shopping? beaches? or just bumming around?) and anything you particularly want to see and I'm sure we can come up with some suggestions

Like i pointed out, i just found flights to Madrid, then leave from London.

That i guess opens my choices a little more, dont ya think =)

[azriel]

Don't bother seeing anywhere else in Italy other than Rome. Not even Florence or Venice. If you think I'm wrong, go, then apologize to me.

Not thinking about it.

Venice sounds great and all but

1) im going with buddy, no girl, so no romantic bs $$$$ rides.
2) I cant swim! and i almost drowned once ( Acapulco, Mexico ), so I dont feel comfortable around water lol.

[Madrid_1902]

I'm going on a eurotrip as well. I wouldn't call it a backpacking trip because staying in hostels and campsites is a no-no for me. I am quite the hygiene freak so therefore my part time job funds have supplied me with money to stay in hotels in 14 cities. Kinda defeats the purpose but what the heck. :D

I would reccomend going to Amsterdam. It was like a different world when I went there. You can't actually get bored in that place. I suppose Ireland is a must for all those who don't reside in it. Ireland is certainly a priority before seeing Northern Ireland although we do have a crazy amount of tourists.

I've always wanted to see Valencia and so that is a must see stop for me. It was a toss up between there and Sevilla and we decided to go there in the end.

I disagree with Judge10 about Italy. If you stop in Milan you can get a train to Lake Como, defintley worth a visit. However, Rome does blow the rest of Italy out of the water with it's spectaculor awe.

[macaluca]

Don't bother seeing anywhere else in Italy other than Rome. Not even Florence or Venice. If you think I'm wrong, go, then apologize to me.

I've never been to Rome, but I share your opinion of Florence...it would be a lovely place but for the 26 tourists per square metre of city. To be honest, I don't really rate Paris either but I guess it is a 'must see' sort of city.

A couple of suggestions...if you fancy a break from London while in the uk give Cornwall a try...good beach culture and nightlife...beautiful place.

Prague and Berlin may make your itinery difficult, have you thought about trying to get cheap flights on a budget airline from London to visit these two...try Easyjet or Ryanair...they can be amazingly cheap if you are not fussy about dates/times etc. (just had a quick look and easyjet can do a return flight to prague in mid july for less than £40...you might even find cheaper)

I'll give it a bit more thought over the next day or 2. ;)

[azriel]

I've never been to Rome, but I share your opinion of Florence...it would be a lovely place but for the 26 tourists per square metre of city. To be honest, I don't really rate Paris either but I guess it is a 'must see' sort of city.

A couple of suggestions...if you fancy a break from London while in the uk give Cornwall a try...good beach culture and nightlife...beautiful place.

Prague and Berlin may make your itinery difficult, have you thought about trying to get cheap flights on a budget airline from London to visit these two...try Easyjet or Ryanair...they can be amazingly cheap if you are not fussy about dates/times etc. (just had a quick look and easyjet can do a return flight to prague in mid july for less than £40...you might even find cheaper)

I'll give it a bit more thought over the next day or 2. ;)

What do you think of this intinerary.

Point of Entry : Madrid

Madrid --> Barcelona ---> France, go down to Rome, back up to Budapest / Prague, Berlin, Holland, maybe belgium, cross the channel to the UK. leave from London.

[macaluca]

What do you think of this intinerary.

Point of Entry : Madrid

Madrid --> Barcelona ---> France, go down to Rome, back up to Budapest / Prague, Berlin, Holland, maybe belgium, cross the channel to the UK. leave from London.

You'll be knackered trying to do all that in 3 weeks;)
As a suggestion, your biggest cost will be your transatlantic flights....play about with the entry/departure points and find the cheapest combination... then work your itinery out from there. Your European travel costs won't vary if you use the train card right ?

As Lionel said, Amsterdam is a great city as well and worth a visit.

[Naughty by Nature]

Stay out of Paris, that place is a dump. City of Love, my ass!

[4x4s]

Don't bother seeing anywhere else in Italy other than Rome. Not even Florence or Venice. If you think I'm wrong, go, then apologize to me.

Venice is worth going to.

However, the place makes you tired because of the incredible amount of people that flood the streets, it's possibly the most expensive place you'll ever go to (7 € for a lil' bottle of water, you insane?), and there are the occasional shady characters around the place looking for dumb tourists.

But other than that, the place itself is worth going to.Just not at a time where all the tourists go there.If you do go there at that time, it will seem more like work than fun.

[Achillean]

How fantastic , its one of the things i want to do right after i graduate from college...although money issue is a bit of a problem, but i was thinking of doing this trip with my girlfriend so good luck on the trip and post some pictures here!

[RealMadGunner]

Watching the movie, Euro Trip, would be a good start i suppose .. :D ..

[9Qui]

Macaluca is right - as always :rolleyes:
Your schedule seems a bit busy and the best way to get around Europe cheaply and effectively is by plane.
www.easyjet.com
www.ryanair.com
www.skyeurope.com
www.wizzair.com
These are companies you could take a look at. By using them I think you can reach most of the destinations in Europe. I think you can visit 5 cities in 3 weeks, maybe 6 and 7 is a stretch. I think you should limit yourself to get the best out of it.

[azriel]

Watching the movie, Euro Trip, would be a good start i suppose .. :D ..


"Heres a fun fact............ YOU MADE OUT WITH YOUR SISTER MAN!"

I loved that part.

[azriel]

Macaluca is right - as always :rolleyes:
Your schedule seems a bit busy and the best way to get around Europe cheaply and effectively is by plane.
www.easyjet.com
www.ryanair.com
www.skyeurope.com
www.wizzair.com
These are companies you could take a look at. By using them I think you can reach most of the destinations in Europe. I think you can visit 5 cities in 3 weeks, maybe 6 and 7 is a stretch. I think you should limit yourself to get the best out of it.


So flying is better than buying the train pass?

because im looking at $661 for 15 days.