Backpacking across Europe

[heymikey]

Who here at PEX have backpacked across Europe? I'm planning to go backpacking across Europe right after I graduate from university (before I start my full-time job) which is about a year from now.
Does anybody here have any tips on where to go, what to bring, etc.? My intended budget for the entire trip will be about US$4,000 - US$5,000 for approximately 1 month (including airfare). Is that a lot or too little? Since I'm a Canadian passport holder, I don't need to pay an extra cost for visas, which is a good thing to cut the cost down.
By the way, to cut the cost down, I'm planning on staying at a local hostel for each city/town I visit in, instead of wasting my money on a hotel. So, what are your opinions on staying at a local hostel? Did you stay in one during your trip to Europe?
How much is the Eurail pass and which countries can you go to using that pass?
Plus, I don't drink beer or wine so I don't think I'll be visiting local pubs or bars. Since Europeans love to drink beer whether you are in Ireland or Germany, will I be losing much on the experience if I don't visit a pub?

Anyways, I'm just excited to go backpacking across Europe. If you can answer one of my questions above, please post down below. Also, please post your experiences -- where you went, how was it, etc.

[ewanko2]

heymikey-$4000-5000 is a lot for 1 month (are you talking US or Canadian dollars??),still thats a lot of money, you can extend your trip for 3 months with that kind of dough.

Eurail has different kinds of passes, you can do all17 countried or you can pick an Eurail Saverpass that is only valid on 5 countries. There are many options.

Hostels are a good way to travel, buy a good guidebook like LonelyPlanet, or Let's Go or Rick Steves Europe guide. Not all hostels are alike, you might want to do some research on hostels because some of them can get really nasty (dirty). There is a backpacking website, I'll post if I remember the site which gives suggestions to travellers. Also go early to secure a bed, good hostels sell out fast.

I don't drink either but I went on the literary pub crawl tour in Dublin. You don't have to have beer, I ordered gingerale and soda or even tea on those tours. Also when I went to London, I didn't have a problem when it came to drinking. Also some pubs now serve food so you are not missing out on the pub experience.

I'll post my backpacking story, next time.

[istarbaks]

if you want to go to munich in time for the oktoberfest, book your hotel many months in advance (a year may be better). as part of my itinerary last year, i went to munich for the festival. i searched for a cheap accommodation 6 months before my stay but i wasn't able to find one. i stayed in a hotel suite for almost $100/night...
:(

which countries you'd want to visit? i visited 6 countries last year with eurail pass. sulit siya... :)

[heymikey]

Thanks guys for the reply.
which countries you'd want to visit?
As much as possible, I want to visit most (if not all) of the countries in Western Europe. If I have the time, I'll probably visit the Scandinavian countries as well. I'm thinking of starting my trip in Portugal, then Spain, France, the BeNeLux countries, probably the UK, Germany, Switzerland, definitely Italy, probably Austria. Greece seems quite far and I'll probably have to pass through the Balkan states to get there. Since I'm planning only a one-month trip, I probably will not have time to visit them all.

Anyways, are there lots of Filipinos or Asians in general who travel to Europe during the summer? How is the crime there? I've heard some stories about gypsies pickpocketing foreigners and performing scams. Is this a rare occurence, or is it quite prevalent there?

[istarbaks]

i could only have less than 3 weeks to visit europe last year so what i looked at a map, listed down the cities i wanted to go. then i bought a railway map of europe and i connected all the cities and confirmed the connection thru this eurailway site (http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?newrequest=yes&protocol=http:&) to make sure that i maximized my time.

i used Lonely Planet's europe on a shoestring a lot.

i'll answer some more of your questions later.....

[ewanko2]

If your only going for 1 month don't make your trip too hectic. If you want to concentrate in Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece), a month is enough time. Trying to cover the whole of Europe is not a good idea in 1 month.

Remember that as you go up the more expensive it gets. Scandinavia is very expensive. Hostels are more expensive than in the south.

Also what time of year will you be travelling. I suggest not during the summer months (June- early September) because not only is it humid, it's also very crowded and the chances of you getting into a good hostel is slim, just imagine how many other backpackers have the same travel guide that you have. Spring or fall is better and cheaper. Hotel rates are down, fewer tourists, you can actually get a seat on the train. Europe also shuts down in August because that is there holiday.

Are you travelling alone or with a companion? I have travelled by myself and you get to meet interesting people. Since I'm a woman I would stick with other tourists I met on the train or at the station. Japanese tourists are usually the best because you can help each other out, some don't speak English but speak French or whatever so you help each other communicate. Not to mention they are prepared and know where they want to go and how to get there.

As for the gypsy's it's more in Italy, but you just keep all valuables in a money belt you hide under your clothing not a fanny pack. If you are being harassed, just walk away, don't stop. I had good people come to my rescue in Florence, this old man shooed the gypsies away from me. Same thing happened in Rome. So far if you always keep your guard up, watch your stuff and use caution, you won't experience any crimes or scams.

More travel ideas later....

[noserider]

actually gypsies are all over europe though i've only encountered them in italy, spain and france. they usually go after old folks and unaware tourists... they work in groups so its not advisable to confront them when u're harassed... like what ewanko2 said get a moneybelt.. it's worth it. i've met a lot of people who got victimized by pickpockets.. they've lost all the important stuffs like passports, credit cards, drivers license, all their money etc.. real bummer i must say.

my friend lost her wallet while in a train in madrid... we didn't notice it coming.... for real. good thing she only have a few bucks and no important cards in it.. she speaks fluent spanish so we reported it to the police but that didn't helped..

always keep ur guard up and be aware of your surroundings.. and try not to check out the hotties too much cause u might get your pocket picked hehe

goodluck with your trip.

[PoWdEr13]

heymikey
hey there...cool that you want to travel. that is what i wanted to do after i garduate....go around the world or go backpacking around europe. but my brother who stayed in eruope for a year said that it wont be safe if i was alone. Im a girl and it is scary if i stay in a hostel! so im kindda sad that i wont be able to go backpacking! SARAP NON!

my plan is to travel around the world..go to italy,africa,turkey,rome,egypt--but my dad said it wont be safe for the tourist now, singapore,new zeland, the netherlands, portugal, canada...the bahamas,...a lot noh. but i hope i can visit at least some of them.

after that im going to australia to study again! heheh


WELL GOODLUCK!!!!

[sum1]

pupunta ako sa europe para mag-aral this sept! gusto ko ring magbackpack trip around europe sa christmas... any suggestions?

naghahanap rin ako ng kasama lol

[smentos7]

Europe on a Shoestring published by Lonely Planet really helped us a lot when we backpacked across Europe 2 summers ago. We visited 10 countries for 2 months via the Eurail.

In my opinion, these are must-haves for backpackers in Europe:

1. Buy those mountaineering type of bags with lots of pockets because they're lightweight and designed for carrying lots of stuff while walking.

2. Buy the book published by Youth Hostels Association (not sure if this is the correct name but it sounds something like that) that lists accredited hostels across Europe. They also include contact numbers and sometimes even the option of booking a reservation online so that you don't have to worry about your sleeping accommodations. I think that you have to be a member of the association so look for your local association and join the club so that you can get discounts when you book hostels.

3. If you live in the Philippines, get an ISIC card (International Student Identification Card) from STA Travel in Malate. I'm not sure but I think they're the only ones who issue out these ID's. This verifies that your still a student and entitles you to numerous discounts in museum fees, airfares, Eurostar etc. when you get to Europe. Get one before you graduate so that you get the student ID and not the youth ID. I think students get more discounts.

4. Get a Eurail pass so that you can travel around Europe without the hassle of buying train tickets for each and every country you visit. They'll give you a timetable and a map that will help you plan your itinerary properly. However, if you plan on going to UK ad visiting other places in England aside from London, I think that you have to get a Britrail pass since the Eurail is not recognized in the UK.


5. I must stress again that Europe on a Shoestring from Lonely Planet really helped us a lot. They give you useful information like what kind of socket is used (three-pronged, two-pronged, flat or rounded ) so that you can bring the necessary adapters needed if for example you plan on bringing your phone or PDA and you have to charge it.

6. Bring a set of padlocks. One for your smaller backpack (the one you carry around when you explore a country) and another padlock for your locker in the hostel.

7. Bring lots of Ziplock bags to protect your phone and other electronics from becoming wet. You can also put wet clothes inside it to avoid other clothes from becoming wet too.

8. I found film rolls to be a bit expensive in Europe. I suggest you buy lots of film before you leave so that you can save more money.

9. Get a phrasebook of the countries you plan to visit. My cousin brushed up on her Spanish while I brought my French notebook from my Foreign Language Elective.


So far, that's all I remember. I hope you push through with your plan because I really had a grand time when we visited Europe using the train. We chose the train as our main mode of transportation rather than the fixed tours (ex. Contiki) because they tend to be geared towards people who want a more sedate way of traveling. No room for adventure. We had no guardians for two months and we learned how to become more independent, resourceful and responsible while still having crazy experiences. If you have more questions, I'll try to answer them as best as I can. Good luck!

[istarbaks]

for safe travel, avoid wearing jewelries... they will serve their purpose-- attract attention. i think a wrist watch is enough.

[ewanko2]

It is advisable to get train reservations when you get there, example, you arrive in florence and want to go to Rome the next day, when you arrive in florence go to the reservations desk and get a reserved seat to Rome ( for a few dollars), this is good for summer season because the trains get crowded so you are guaranteed a seat.

Also hostels may book you to a sister hostel in the next city. Ask them if they affiliated with one.

Use the train lockers, have a day bag to put your stuff when you are in town and store your luggage in the locker.

[lyra]

Hi, I'm just wondering if anybody can help me out. Is it ok to go to Europe in November, or is it too cold for most Filipinos? My friend told me about this 17-day Europe tour, which covers France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy. It's very cheap around 1700 USD, but I'm not so sure about the weather.

Hope that somebody can help me. Thanks!

[ewanko2]

It's a litle cold but better than travelling in the summer. Bring a good jacket that will keep you warm, and turtleneck sweaters.

It will cooler in Austria, Netherlands and Belgium, it might even rain, so be prepared. I actually like travelling during the fall or spring rather than summer.

Enjoy!!

[istarbaks]

Originally posted by lyra
Hi, I'm just wondering if anybody can help me out. Is it ok to go to Europe in November, or is it too cold for most Filipinos? My friend told me about this 17-day Europe tour, which covers France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy. It's very cheap around 1700 USD, but I'm not so sure about the weather.

Hope that somebody can help me. Thanks!

i think travelling in november is fine... but you just have to carry with you bulky clothes...

[achtung_baby]

Originally posted by lyra
Hi, I'm just wondering if anybody can help me out. Is it ok to go to Europe in November, or is it too cold for most Filipinos? My friend told me about this 17-day Europe tour, which covers France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy. It's very cheap around 1700 USD, but I'm not so sure about the weather.

Hope that somebody can help me. Thanks!


hello! i visited all the countries you want to go to. november is the start of the winter season. i'd say it really gets very cold that time of the year, although it doesn't snow until december (but then the weather is abnormal these days). you'll have to pack some winter jackets and gloves just in case.

[nice_only_child]

heymikey

going around europe is the most learning experience anyone could have but it could also be the most horrifying if you don't have any direction.

i saw several suggestions here on how to make your trip a memorable one, but what things interest you the most so that you could be given specific things to do and places to visit? there are just so many things to do in europe that it's difficult to point out a specific thing to start with.

list down what your interests are and what you expect from this trip, and you'll surely get more specific replies from our jet-setting friends here...

:cool:

[istarbaks]

Originally posted by heymikey
Anyways, are there lots of Filipinos or Asians in general who travel to Europe during the summer?

Konti lang... Nung pumunta ako dalawang pinoy lang yung na-meet ko. Yung isa, mahigit isang buwan na siyang umiikot sa europe bago kami nag-meet. We travelled together from Venice to Vienna. Tapos yung isa naman, biglaan yung backpacking niya. May seminar dapat siyang pupuntahan kaya lang dahil sa 9/11, na-cancel. Eh dahil sa nasa kanya na yung plane tickets niya at yung allowance niya, nag-tour na lang siya imbes na umuwi agad. Medyo nagkaiba yung itinerary namin kaya hindi na siya sumama sa pinuntahan ko... Pero masaya makipag-exchange ng info sa kapwa pinoy.

Although I also met some pinoy tourists, they're kinda difrent.

[lyra]

achtung_baby, istarbaks and ewanko2 -- thank you for your replies.

i heard that the temperature could go down to 4 degrees C. i'm having second thoughts going with my friend bec i might not enjoy it. the coldest i ever experienced was US west coast, which is only around 10 degree C, i think. at super gininaw na ko sa lagay na yun ha.

[heymikey]

Originally posted by lyra
i heard that the temperature could go down to 4 degrees C. i'm having second thoughts going with my friend bec i might not enjoy it. the coldest i ever experienced was US west coast, which is only around 10 degree C, i think. at super gininaw na ko sa lagay na yun ha.
4 degrees C isn't that bad. From where I live, it can get to -30 degrees C (yes, with the minus sign!) during the winter. Just wear the right clothing and you'll be fine.

Originally posted by nice_only_child
what things interest you the most so that you could be given specific things to do and places to visit?
Well, I pretty much have an idea on which places to visit. I would really like to visit places that have weird festivals and celebrations. For example, experiencing the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain would be great or the one where the Spanish people throw tomatoes at each other seems quite fun. I also want to visit places with rich history, such as the palace in Versailles, the Parthenon in Greece, or an ancient Roman aqueduct in Italy. I also want to visit museums that house those popular paintings such as Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa or popular sculptures such as Michelangelo's David. As a kid growing up, I was (and currently am) interested in architecture, so visiting landmarks with great architectural design - such as palaces, cathedrals, etc. - would be great. Plus, visiting those popular landmarks that you see on TV such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc De Triomphe, Leaning Tower of Pisa, the canals in Venice, etc. would be awesome. And, of course, as a guy currently in his very early 20's, the Red Light District in Amsterdam is a must for me :D

[Triglyceride]

heymikey, I have nothing to contribut however, I'd like to thank you for creating this thread because like yourself, I plan to go on a backpacking trip to Europe when I graduate.


As of now, Rick Steve is my hero, I've read his Europe through the back door book and I find it very informative. In his book he mentioned something about buying the LATEST edition a travel book because it's more updated that way. He also suggested to fly open-jaw. Meaning fly into a city and fly out from a different city. He said that it's more convenient that way. Also, you'll save more money because if you're flying in and out in just one city then you have to come back to where you started and that would mean spending more money. Hope that makes sense. But that's what I plan to do...someday somehow.

have fun on your trips.


ewanko: :up: I'm a woman and I plan to travel by myself as well. How late were you able to stay out? I know hostels also has curfews. Have you tried sleeping in the train to get to one city to another? If yes, then how safe is it?

thanks.

[nice_only_child]

It is great that you want to experience the different festivals of Europe. The problem is, these festivals are held on different dates and places so either you stay in the continent for a long period of time and have a good amount of cash with you, or try and schedule your itinerary so you could maximize your trip.

Just as an example, you mentioned about visiting the town of Bunol in Spain for the Tomatino festival. This is usually held latter part of august. Another festival you mentioned is the festival of San Fermin in Pamplona held in July for the running of the bulls. These are equally great festivals to visit but what will you do between those two festivals?

For a trip planner, an ideal routing will be one that doesn’t backtrack. There was one post here that suggested having an open-jaw ticket. This is actually a good advice that you could seriously consider. This means that from your origin city, you could fly into a certain city in Europe, say for example, Amsterdam, then take the train around Europe, until you end up in Madrid, then from here you could fly back to your origin city. (Just used those cities to illustrate a point.)

A good routing will start from Spain then you could work your way up to France, from here make a side trip to Italy, then move back up to Switzerland (where you could take a side trip to Austria), then to Germany where you could have the option to fly back home or move on to Belgium then to the Netherlands. One month is enough with this itinerary. You could spend 6-7 days each in France and Italy then distribute the rest in the other countries.

One good thing about most European cities is that their train stations are located in the city center so it is so convenient for travelers. One suggestion I could give you is to have a luggage that you could leave at the left-luggage counters in most train stations and just have a bag where you could put the things that you would need during your stay in that city so it’s easier for you to move around. It’s also safer in the sense that you don’t have too many stuff with you at all times. It is an added cost that I don’t mind paying if it means convenience and safety for me.

As with all other places in the world, you should always be careful of your belongings. There are gypsies especially in Italy but you just have to outsmart them. Remember that anybody could take advantage of you if you’re going to look clueless as to what’s happening around you. Just be alert at all times.

(To be continued…)

:cool:

[nice_only_child]

There are a million and one things to see in Europe. My personal favorites are Lucerne in Switzerland, Munich in Germany, Florence in Italy and Lourdes in France. (I'm not too fond of Rome)

I like Lucerne because it’s just so European. I’m sure there are others more cosmopolitan and European than Lucerne but I just love this place. Munich is also super charming. I think Munich is the best German city for me. It could get a bit expensive here especially during the peak season, but this city is worth it!

If you want to get cultural overload, Florence and Paris are neck and neck. Paris will be a sentimental favorite (maybe because of the cool weather) but Florence takes the prize. There’s just too many art and architectural wonders in Florence that you wouldn’t know where to start. You could visit the Uffizi gallery where the works of da Vinci, Botticelli, Rubens, Rembrandt and other important artists are on display. One of my favorites, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus is here, and it literally took my breath away when I saw it. Outside the Uffizi is the Ponte Vecchio. I just love this area of Florence. It’s filled with nice little shops and you could just browse around. Another place worth visiting is the Duomo, or the Cathedral. You could just sit outside the Cathedral and marvel at its façade, while eating real Italian gelato. You could maybe try eating at the chic McDonald’s near the train station – it has a café and pasta bar! You’ll never run out of things to do in Florence, but you can’t spend your whole vacation here as there are other places waiting to be explored.

There are several places that you could explore while in France. It is a long way from Paris, but if you decide to start in Spain, do spend a day or two in Lourdes. If you’re not familiar with this town, this is where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette. Personally, this is the most serene place I have ever visited. Just sitting at a café and watching all the people, healthy or not, pass by, you would be grateful for just being alive! My favorite time of the day here would be at dusk, during the candlelight procession. You’ll just get goose bumps all over! You have to be there to know what I mean.

Paris has a different allure compared to Florence. It truly has a characteristic unmatched by any city in the world. I just noticed though, unlike other European cities, Paris has the most number of pay toilets. A visit to Paris wouldn’t be complete without going through the halls of the Musée du Louvre (where the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo are found). Just to see the Mona Lisa (I heard she now has her own room, not sure about this though) is an awesome experience. The usual destinations such as the Tour d’Eiffel and the Arc de Triomphe should not be missed. The structural designs of the Place de Versailles, the Basilique de Sacre Couer and the Notre Dame de Paris will make you drool with envy. I felt bad that we have so many things to offer foreign tourists here in Manila but because the government doesn’t prioritize the upkeep of these treasures, we should be prepared that it won’t last as long as the ones in Europe (but this is for a different thread).

Well, I’ve ranted about what I think are nice places to visit in Europe. Most of them are the usual tourist traps, but for a first time visitor such as you, they are a good way of getting introduced to Europe’s fascinating attractions. There are more European cities worth visiting but it is better for you to discover them yourself. That is the wonder of going backpacking in Europe. You have your own time and you go by your own pace. If you feel like staying an extra day or two in one place because you feel that you haven’t explored it fully, then no one will stop you from doing so. The only constraint that you will have will be financial. Europe is not a cheap place to visit. Prices in the Netherlands and Switzerland aren’t cheap. You might want to learn how to budget your cash. It’s good that most of Europe now have the Euro so there's no need for you to worry about local currency. You could either bring Euro from wherever you’re coming from, or try and look for good exchange rates when you’re there. USD5,000.00 is a lot of money but you’ll be surprised at how fast your resources could get depleted. It would be smart to carry traveler’s checks instead of a whole bundle of cash. If you’re like me, I also like to eat good food and depending on whether you’re a gourmet or a gourmand, a big chunk of your money will also go to food. It’s also nice to live like a European for a day or two, meaning buy a loaf of good bread, get some cheese, a bottle of local wine, or perhaps a bunch of grapes… yummy!! That should solve your food dilemma for a day.

Well, whatever it is you decide on, good luck! And a friendly word of advice, if traveling with a companion, make sure you travel with somebody who would share the same interests as you would, otherwise, you will just be miserable. Bon voyage!

:cool:

[ewanko2]

Triglyceride- I think Europe is really safe. I've been travelling for over 12 years and have not experienced any crime (knock on wood). Hostels do have curfews, so check for times but most small hotels will give you a front door key to let yourself in at night or morning.

I've travelled by myself and felt completely safe, safer than if I was roaming the streets of L.A. at midnight. But as always keep your guard up. On one occassion in Paris I was walking down the Champs Elysees and a guy started following me, then trying to talk to me but I just kept on walking, I ducked into a cafe for safety and saw the guy harrassing other women, the thing is don't stop, keep on going. But that only happened once and I've been to Paris many times after and experienced no harassment.

As for trains, they are safe, lock your luggage or use your luggage as a pillow. Coachettes (sleeping cars) are co-ed and passengers come and go. Sleeping in the train to get from one city to the next is the best way to go, saves you time. Get a coachette if all possible so you have a better sleep than sitting on the chair. The conductor will collect your ticket and passport on border crossings during the night and also for safety. Buy a moneybelt (one u wear under your clothing) and keep cell phones out of site.

Let me know if you have other questions.

[BNierop]

November is not so cold here in Benelux and the neighboring countries. Fall is about to start and End December will be here winter. With the changes of temperature all over, temperature is reasonably fine. Summer month temp. went up to 31 deg.C here in holland and until now it's hot.

I suggest, don't buy your ticket in advance by Eurail. Masyadong mahal. That's what my sister did, but when she was here, she found out that it's cheaper here.

However, summer months (July-August) is the best time to come here. It's true that it's the holiday month here, but most europeans go to far eastern countries (kaya nga mahirap kumuha ng booking to Phils. during those months) and besides, hotels are cheaper...They always have a promo, package ba..two nights stay with free breakfast and one dinner (3-course) for only USD 100/-. you can see them all in the internet...but you really have to spend time looking.

[starfish07]

Hey mikey!

ang sarap namn ng tour mo!!


Dream ko yan eh!


may asawa ka na ba hehehe! JOKE :glee: