Europe Backpacking Trip!

[Jeremy Quant]

Hello All Travel experts, pros, novices, and amateurs!  I just got on this social networking site in hopes to meet some new people and get some questions answered!  I am traveling to Europe this summer in June-July and I am going to be backpacking it.  I'm so excited for it and want to make sure i have the best experience possible.  My plans include 6 countries in 6 weeks: Spain, France, Netherlands, Germany, Croatia, and Italy.  A website i will be taking advantage of is couchsurfing so that i can cut down on expenses including hotels and have the opportunity to sleep at homes with people who have lived there for awhile/understand the culture, etc.  Im taking the Eurail for transportation and possible bringing my roadbike (Am hoping to do some biking out there!)  There are many other things im sure i need to be aware of while traveling that i may have mentioned but I'm hoping for advise with any and all aspects of travel to these countries!  Anything would be Amply appreciated!  Thank you and If your around the area at that time i would love to meet up and share experiences.  Thanks again.

 

Jeremy Quant.

[Ed Wetschler]

I'll be honest with you, Jeremy: I'm jealous.

I used to do a lot of backpacking around Europe (why did I ever discard my old, beloved orange backpack?), and it was the most exciting travel I've done. Strong statement from a veteran travel writer, but a true one.

Couchsurfing sounds like a great idea. Ditto, the bike. But in your shoes, I'd only try to cover three countries in six weeks. Granted, these countries are all smaller than the U.S., but they're more dense with vibrant cities, countrysides, and scenes. There are few places within these countries that count as what Americans call "flyover" country; Europe tends to be very dense, rich in sights and experiences. So I'd do the northern route (France, Netherlands, Germany) alone, and your six weeks will be fulfilling. Or a Mediterranean route -- Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Istanbul. Spain? I'm nuts about Spain, which is really four different countries: Andalusia (Seville, Granada, the Costa del Sol) in the south, Castille-Leon in the middle (Madrid, Toledo), Catalonia in the northeast (Barcelona, the Pyrenees), and Basque country in the northwest (San Sebastian, etc.). So I'd save that for a whole trip, perhaps with a long dip into Portugal.  

[Jeremy Quant]

Hey Ed!!    Thank you for your input!    Thats EXTREMELY helpful. Im really excited about this trip! I wasn't sure if 6 countries in 6 weeks was too hectic.  I will figure where exactly i will go.  How do you like to budget your trips??  If you don't mind me asking how much did you save with you for your backpacking trip.  I have about 5,000 for everthing.  Im not sure how far that would realistically take me.  Im trying to save more though.  Im taking your advise on only visiting 3-4 countries and  I plan on staying at people's homes and hostels.  Do you know of any other good housing websites?  Another thing i would like to ask you is about food.  I mean it would be easier to pack food possibly once a week given that I would be staying at someone's place that long but whats been your experience with food and backpacking.  I am quite the eater and love food so i feel that might be my biggest money waister.  Haha.  What do you think?

[Ed Wetschler]

Something weird just happened: My reply to you ended up under someone else's name. Weird things often happen -- Twitter is "overcapacity" almost every day, and my Facebook account has been hacked (twice) -- but this glitch was a first. Anyway, back to you, Jeremy:

 

I'm glad you're going to stick around a few places and soak in the atmosphere. That doesn't (and shouldn't) mean you have to plan in advance exactly where you'll be -- and when. Flexibility is part of the fun: Enjoying Amsterdam so much after five days that you hate to leave? Then don't. 

 

I sure can't blame you for being unsure about which hostel-booking web site is better -- hostelseurope, hosteleurope, hostelsineurope, hostelworld, etc. And that's just the hostels. Of course, there'll also be times when you get off a train somewhere and just wing it, asking other backpackers what they recommend. For me, that was always part of the fun. (Of course, you want to inspect the bed before you've even put your luggage on the floor. Peel back the sheets etc. and make sure there's no blood -- i.e. no bedbugs -- on the mattress.)

 

Budgeting: $5,000 for everything? I don't know what your air costs, so I'll say $1,000, just to keep things in round numbers.  That leaves you $4,000 for transportation, lodgings, food, museum admissions, and beers with your fellow wanderers. $4,000 for 42 days; that's just short of $100 a day. I think it's do-able, but of course, you don't want to be caught short, because then what?

 

Suggestion:  Post two more questions on Ask A Travel Pro, something like this:  "Two more questions about backpacking in Europe. What are the best websites for booking cheap lodgings? And can I get away with $100 a day?

 

Finally, you've mentioned food. Good point. If you're staying in an apartment where they let you use the refrigerator, you're ten steps ahead of the game. I've almost never had that situation; maybe I just was unlucky? Anyway, some foods will last without refrigeration, and thus give you some of those advantages. I'm talking bread, hard cheese, and fruit. Hey, those are all great things in Europe, anyway. Oh yeah, and Nutella. If you're a tea drinker or if you want to carry a low-tech plastic, one-cup cone and filters for coffee, you might also want to buy a water-heating coil for breakfast. Because ultimately you're right: Food (and coffee, etc.) can cost you a lot of money. The problem, of course, is that it's at pubs and cafes and tapas bars that you'll meet people. So I guess you've got to pick your spots.

 

Keep us posted on your plans. 

 

 

[Jeremy Quant]

Oops,  Sorry i forgot to mention.  I already have booked my flight and eurail ticket.   With both of those aside i have around 5,000 dollars.  I will do that though!  I will throw more questions up on the Ask a pro.  Thank you for all the help so far!!  I really appreciate it.  I will keep you updated as things roll by.  :)

[Allan Lynch]

I agree with Ed, six countries in six weeks is manic.

 

I know you want to see and experience a lot. The mistake is thinking that covering a lot of geography lets you see a lot. It doesn't. You'll spend your days travelling instead of living and experiencing the place, the people and the culture. With a really ambitious itinerary you find that people come back with regrets; regret that they didn't see or do this or have enough time for that. Europe looks small on the map compared to North American distances, but every inch has so much to experience. There is a certain understanding that comes from sitting still in a cafe and people watching, or having time to listen to music or hanging out with buskers or lingering over a drink.

 

Take some time to think about what you really are passionate to see and do. Why do you want to see and do them now or this year? Passion is always the best place to start when planning a trip. It makes it easier to build your itinerary. Slow down, travel less and experience more.

[Jeremy Quant]

Thanks a Lot!  I dwindled down my stay to 3 areas.  I do have a question.  If our passport only arranged the countries that we were visiting is it still possible to visit saaay Czech Republic?  I have a friend who just said that i could stay with him in London but i didn't write that in my passport.  What do you think?

[Northeast News]

I'm not sure what you mean by writing things in your passport. I've never written anything in mine. Did you mean writing in the Eurailpass?

[Mark Pawlak]

Jeremy,

 

We've got guides to each European country and its adventerous activities, just take a look.

Biking in Europe is fantastic. Take a look at the Pyrenees for the real hard stuff, and you must visit the Italian region of Emilia Romagna when you make it to Italy.

 

http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com/blog

http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com

[Jeremy Quant]

Awesome!!  I'm There!  Thank you soo much.  If you have any other links or events that are taking place this summer for just riders feel free to throw me a link.  :)

[David Paul Appell]

What countries are you thinking of now, Jeremy?  Czech Republic does not require any special visas for Americans, so you should be fine (and I HIGHLY recommend Prague - I lived there for a while and it's an incredible experience).  And for the record, I don't see a big deal with 6 countries in 6 weeks. There are different styles of traveling, and the way I see it, your idea of sampling each country for a week is perfectly valid and time--tested by young people through the generations.  Then you can always go back and spend more time in a given country if you find it interesting enough.  Yes, 6 in 6 weeks would be more "hectic", but for some people that's exciting and invigorating -- it all depends on your own personality.  Keep in mind that once you start working, it may be a long time if ever before you'll ever have 6 weeks for a single trip, so if you want to take advantage of that to see as many different places as possible, you should do so.  Both modes of travel have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

What months are you planning to do this? I'll keep my eyes open for events and such you should try to catch in each country.