I was just lamenting over in IMHO that I have never left the USA. I get one of my fourth-year rotation months off as vacation time, and I really want to go to Europe. If it’s going to happen, I need to start thinking about it now.
I’m not sure where I’d like to go–I always thought I would like Italy and Spain. I’ll probably try to see as much as I can in three weeks.
I thought I would ask the well-traveled Dopers:
–When should I go? I can go just about any month that I want; I was thinking October.
–What is this going to cost me? I’ll be there for about three weeks, doing the traditional backpacker thing. I will probably be doing it solo, unless I can talk someone into going with me.
Unfortunately I don’t think I can offer much in the way of travel advice. All of my overseas travel was courtesy of Uncle Sam, and I don’t quite know how to do that sort of thing without study (apart from daytrips to Canada or Mexico).
I had a lot of fun in Germany, and I suspect almost any European destination would be fun-filled as well, barring unforseen circumstances. Just keep a few things in mind:[list=1][li]Remember that not everyone speaks English as a second language – talking louder doesn’t help.[/li][li]In some parts of Germany, dentures are only worn when eating (perhaps to save wear and tear?) This results in two distinct dialects (actually, one distinct and one indistinct).[/li][li]No matter where you are going, make sure you know the phrases for “Where is the toilet?”, “More beer, please”, and the phrases for “Turn left (or right, as appropriate) here”. You can get by just knowing how to tell the cabbie to turn one direction, but your cab fare will probably be a bit higher.[/list=1][/li]
~~Baloo
Baloo is wrong. The louder you shout at the nonenglish speaking frogs/krauts/guineas, the more they understand.
I thought this was covered in the NYPD and LAPD school of international relations.
Anyways, my only advice is simple:
Take half the clothing and twice the money.
Never back more than you can carry.
And a quote ( I always have a quote)
New landscape is seen not by seeing new destinations, but in having new vision. ( or something like that.)
It is not the destination, but the journey that makes life interesting.
PS - October is a good time price wise for tickets and hotels overseas. The weather will be cooler and not crowded.
If you plan to visit Spain and/or Italy a phrase book would come in very handy. Baloo’s statement that “not everyone…” is clearly an understatement. The shouting works though.
Bring a pocket calculator as well, 'cause the exchange rate for Pesetas and Lira makes the Peso look like a real sturdy currency. (We’re talking something like 2,000 Lira for an ice cream. A small one.)
October is a good time to avoid the crowds, but you have to keep in mind that the weather can be real shitty (although the Mediterranean will mostly be OK), and because it is out of season, some sights/rides/museums/whatever may be closed. Announcements on availability/opening hours will almost always be in local language only. Bring a phrase book.
Money-wise you’ll probably be OK. The US$ costs a bundle in Europe now, so Europe’ll be relatively cheap for you. Pay by credit card as often as possible, and get foreign money before you leave, at your own bank. The tourist-friendly “Change” booths are tourist traps. They charge outrageous exchange rates, plus a hefty commission. (If you have to get money while in Europe, check out official banks as well.)
By backpacking you probably mean youth hostels and such. I’m not really up to speed on that sort of thing, but you might want to check out Lonely Planet or a site like that. Might give you an idea about pricing and availability.
Two tips for Italy. 1. Do NOT pull your earlobe when talking to an Italian male. For some bizarre reason this means you have serious doubts concerning his masculinity. 2. Do NOT, not EVER, hit on women in Sicily. Oh. 3. Avoid public crappers on camping grounds. You don’t want to know.
Erm, Shirley, “The weather will be cooler and not crowded”. The weather won’t be crowded? Did I miss something the last time I was in Barcelona?
And Doc, if you’re thinking of getting laid, I wasn’t kidding about Sicily.
I have to agree with Shirley–October is going to be a great time to go–less tourists, better deals.
And, do take half the clothes you think you need (along with toiletries)-- half the fun of the trip is going to laundromats and local stores. I know it sounds weird, but I’ve had some very interesting experiences in foreign laundromats.
Italy is a great destination for a three-week trip: it takes three weeks to really get a good gander at the place. Stop in the major cities for a day or two, to get a look at the big spots like museums, etc, but spend some time out in the countryside–its absolutely gorgeous there.
If you’re going to Italy and Spain, July and August are the months to avoid. Many of the locals are on holiday, so lots of things are shut, and Italy is so hot that even the Pope leaves Rome in August and heads up north.
Coastal resorts in Spain are full of drunken Brits in July and August as well.
May I add: Please forget this “see as much as I can in three weeks” idea? Pretty please? What will happen is that you’ll overplan, stress yourself out, and either throw your itinerary out the window (not such a bad idea) or end up looking at everything but seeing nothing (very bad idea). Concentrate on what you really want to see, and don’t schedule every hour or even every day. Something will turn up to fill those gaps in your schedule, I promise.
How much travelling do you want to do? Just one or two places to get to know them well, or everyday a new destination? Get a good travel guide- Fodor’s, Shoestring, Berkley’s, etc. and take a day to read through it. Some of the guide books even have suggested iteneraries for varying lengths of time. If you’re totally lost, you can do a tour (Contiki), some people like them, I don’t. They take you to a new place everyday though, so you can see a lot in a short time.
You also need to decide if you are in it for the tourist sights or just to be there. Difference: Going to Rome and seeing all the sights and museums, or going to Greece and island-hop from village to village, never seeing a big tourist trap, but meeting people, eating local food, etc.
I suggest reading the guides and writing down what you want out of the trip. But if you are looking for some ideas to help you in the right direction, here are a few:
Eurail passes: they sell 1, 2, 3+ week passes that let you travel on the trains through Europe to X amount of places. Generally a good balance between a tour and just winging it.
October the weather is tricky- I live in Prague and it has both snowed and been sunny during October. The coastal areas will be nicer though.
You can do Turkey, Greece, Italy and Spain in 3 weeks, but it would be a bit rushed. Pick two and spend some time getting to know them if ya want.
Just want to party? IBIZA! Island off of Spain- Dance all night, tan all day. Or Amsterdam…can’t say enough good things about A’dam…
If weather is no concern, come up to my area- Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia. Chock full of history and sights, plus your money will go further. Avoid destinations further east if this is your first time travelling.
You can do the ultra cheap backpack tour for $10 a day…But I suggest planning on more than that (at least $20). You’re going to Europe!!! Of all things to spend money on, do it here! Have fun, drink lots, take tons of pictures! Skimp on McDonalds when you return, bum a movie night off of friends when you return, etc. IMHO worrying about money on vacation takes away from the experience. I blow tons of cash when I travel, then stay home for a month when I return. This area (Prague) you can have a BLAST for $20 a day as a backpacker, but in western Europe…watch out, you’ll be eating hotdogs all the time to save cash. Germany for a backpacker is expensive, almost what you would pay back home. Turkey and Greece are the cheaper mediterranean choices (have you thought of Egypt?).
It takes careful planning to make a Eurail pass pay for itself, and in Spain it’s virtually impossible. If you’re planning on making several major journeys between nations, fine, get one. But within Spain, the bus is usually faster and cheaper.
Barcelona and Granada are fabulous (of course) but don’t overlook the north … it rains a lot, but it’s still gorgeous. Santiago de Compostela is totally amazing, and La Coruna and Ribadeo are great places to kick back for a few days (lots of tourists, but at least they’re Spanish). Madrid, honestly, can be skipped unless you’re into art museums; the Prado and the Reina Sofia are well worth a visit, but otherwise, the place is crowded, noisy, and not especially picturesque.
Depending on where you are, expect to pay anywhere from 1,200 to 2,000 ptas ($8-15) for a night’s lodging. A lot of proprietors of smaller pensions are willing to bargain, especially in the off season. Youth hostels are cheaper, but often less comfortable and inconveniently located; make sure transportation costs are not going to eat up whatever you save. 1,000 ptas will get you a 3-course meal with wine most places; you can put together a decent picnic lunch for 500 or less.
Do NOT try to save money by buying the cheapest backpack; you will regret it. And make sure you have comfortable shoes. The half-the-clothes advice is good, but if you’re going in October, don’t forget to take clothing for a variety of climates (preferably items that can be layered).
I must most vehemently disagree with Fretful about skipping Madrid (and I believe I have spent more time there than she has, so there Fretful :p). What she calls “crowded and noisy” I call fast-paced, vibrant and alive. There’s excellent inexpensive accommodation and public transport; a million things to do during the day, and without question the greatest nightlife I’ve ever encountered.
Spiritus Mundi, come over here and let me kiss you! (smooch)
I was wondering if anyone was going to mention Switzerland. The most beautiful country in the world. If you have time, go on a walking tour in the Alps. You won’t regret it.
A nice day trip - go to visit the city of Lucerne, and take the gondola up to the top of Mount Pilatus. It’s beautiful.
Or take a boat ride around the Vierwaldstaettersee. The prettiest lake in Switzerland in my view.
Or else go visit Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux on the Lac Leman. You can take a boat ride or the train between Montreux and Geneva and visit the other cities on the way (though the most interesting ones are Geneva and Montreux.)
There is a fascinating watch museum in the Jura “mountains” near La-Chaux-de-Fonds in the state of Neuchatel.
Many more interesting places to visit, but I don’t want to go on forever.
[sub]It did depend on one indeed;
Behold him, – Arnold Winkelried!
There sounds not to the trump of fame
The echo of a nobler name.
(James Montgomery, The Patriot’s Password)[/sub]
When I say “As much as I can,” I mean “As much as I can at a pace I’m comfortable with.” I like traveling with just as much of an itinerary as practicality necessitates, and mostly winging it.
I will probably pick three countries and plan to spend about a week in each. At the same time, I could see myself stumbling upon a place I really like, and staying there for the bulk of the trip. Either way, I’d be happy–I travel with the attitude that I’ll be back someday.
I was thinking in the two grand range for the trip, with airfare and ground transportation. Will that do it?
May I be the first to suggest the Benelux area? A finite tour with variety. Travel is damn easy, quite a variety of types of places within just hours of each other (heading from A-dam over to Bruges for the weekend, for example), the people in the netherlands are a hoot, and the beer in Belgium is tops.
I think October would be a splendid time to head to Europe-- December will be expensive again for airfare and accomodations, but Oct. should be cheap cheap cheap and the locals will be at home.
Madrid is a real party town, but the Prado is brilliant, too. If you do set up base in the area, make sure to visit Toldeo (Toledo, Spain, that is).
That will be just fine. Say $600 for airfare (low season price) from the East coast, a bit more for the west. That leaves around $60 a day for a 3 week trip- Plenty for a backpacker! You can afford to eat good food that way! $10 a day is ramen noodles for every meal terrritory, $60 is a good safe bet on being able to do and go what/where you want.
Again, go buy a guide book. I recommend Lonely Planet, Berkley’s, and Europe on a Shoestring. They’ll have more stuff for backpackers than Fodor’s.
I think you should still decide on what you really want to see- nature or museums. Hiking in the Alps or island hopping the Mediterranean vs. the Parthenon, Vatican City, Eiffel Tower, etc. Yeah, you can cross over between the two- but that basic question can help set the tone of your travels. “1st week museums: Rome, etc. 2nd week nature: Alps or Crete. 3rd week mix: A few days in Marbella, Spain, on the beach then a trip up to Madrid. (OR overnight train to A’dam and visit the culural side during the day, and party with the animals at night )”
I just came back two weeks ago from this type of trip! I highly recommend Barcelona. It is an amazing city. We spent 3 days there and saw most of the higlights but I would have happily spent another few days there too. It’s a very neat city, and the beaches are pretty nice too.
Nice was really dirty. I have never seen so much dog crap in my life (the area is very cheap though, our hostel was $7.50 a night!). If you want to see that area go to Monaco instead. It’s beautiful, cleaner and the people were friendlier.
I loved Paris. But it’s definately more expensive than either of the other places. We stayed at the hostel near the marie st clichy metro stop (I think it was the leo lagrange) and it was great. Very clean, good service, laundry facilities, internet facilities, all the staff spoke english, etc. And only about $17 a night including breakfast and linens (that was per person for a triple). If you go to paris get a museum pass, it’s cheaper and you get to bypass the lines. You can buy them at any metro station or museum.
Germany is also a fun place. Especially if you like castles and stuff. Also good if you like to drink. The times I’ve been there have been to visit relatives so I can’t comment on the hostels/hotels.
The international youth hosteling foundation has a very good website at http://www.iyhf.org. You can actually book some of the hostels in advance which is very nice to do for your arrival day so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to sleep while you’re jetlagged and cranky.
If you are going to multiple countries get a eurorail pass. This is especially good if you are under 26 (it’s cheaper). Ours was $233 for a 5 day pass (any 5 days within a 2 month period) and the two night trips we took (barcelona to nice and nice to paris) would have cost more than that if paid seperately. Plus we used it for day trips as well. Night trains maximize your number of useful days and also mean you don’t have to pay for a hostel for that night. Get a couchette for an extra $8-15 dollars and you’ll be able to sleep on the train.
My trip was pretty cheap (except airfare which was $900 because we went peak season). The eurorail pass was $233. I charged about $180 of stuff (some accomodations, some souvenirs, some train extras) and spent $400 cash. We had a couple nice meals out and the rest of the time we were content with buying sandwiches from vendors or eating at sidewalk cafes. My biggest expense was probably water because it was really really hot in both barcelona and nice. I’d say you can definately do the trip for $2000 if you can get a ticket for $600 or so.
I found all of the people we dealt with to be really friendly (although one of my traveling companions said everyone was rude). The key is to at least greet them in their own language. Even if all you can say is hello and thank you you will get a much better reaction. And smile alot!
Forgot to say that we went for 12 days (to give you a better idea on the dollar amounts I mentioned above)
Also, don’t be put off by the term “youth hostel” if you are older. The vast majority have no age limits and many even have family rooms now that are targeted for couples with kids.
I wouldn’t stay in a youth hostel if you’re going to Barcelona or Madrid, though - or at least not the IYHF hostels. Unless things have changed in the past few years, they have curfews, and these are cities that you’re very likely to be out all night in. The pubs don’t even start to get crowded until midnight on weekends.