My partner and i have been thinking about doing this for sometime and we really need help from anybody who has had experience in doing this sort of thing. we want to start in france and work our awy around europe were not afraid of work and will be taking our VW 1970's beelte with us PLEASE HELP WE DON'T NO WHERE TO START AND HOW TO PLAN THIS EVENT .
Cheers Jo
2006-10-03 06:44:35 · 8 answers · asked by Jo M 1 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Other - Europe
Backpacking and traveling by car are two different things. I assume you mean you wish to travel around Europe as cheap as possible, but in a car. Actual back packers travel with a backpack using trains as buses.
Traveling by car is not the cheapest way to go. Having traveled Europe by train, by car and bus (I've lead four tour groups), I can say that the car does give you flexibility. (Hey! what the hell is that on top of that mountain? Let's go see.) It also has it's own hassles, number being where to park, especially in big cities.
You need to get good travel guides. You'll find hundreds of times more info for such a general question in a good guide than you will on a web forum (which is best for specific questions). You may want to start researching at a library.
Many travel guides have some info on budget travel. Lonely Planet is a good example. Travel guides specifically design for those on a budget are produced by Let' Go.
http://www.letsgo.com/destinations/europe/
You may wish to start off by getting Let's Go Europe or for more detailed info, get the Western Europe and Eastern Europe guides. If there are any countries you wish to see in detail, it may be a good idea to get guides to those, but first get started with your research with just Let's Go Europe or both Let's Go Western Europe and Let's Go Eastern Europe.
Good travel guides save you time, money and hassles.
There are three enjoyable parts to traveling: the planning, the actual trip and the memories that last a life time. Get started with the first.
Good luck!
2006-10-03 06:54:10 · answer #1 · answered by larpmanx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some respects, it's no different from any other holiday: you have to identify where you want to go, what you want to do, how long you want go for, and how to get there.
You've decided you want to travel around Europe by car. If you are Brits, this is not a problem as you can pretty much visit any country in Europe without a visa and work within the EU without a visa. You'll find work as you go along - there's always work in the hospitaility industry and on farms - speak to other backpackers along the way. If going to Europe, get an EHIC from your post office as it covers health care in the EU (replaces the old E111). However, do get your own travel insurance as the EHIC only entitles you to emergency care (visit Worldwide Insurance http://www.worldwideinsure.com/). It may also be worth reading the Lonely Planet for Europe http://www.lonelyplanet.com/. The book can be bought in any bookshop. Although you have a car, don't carry more than you need. It will get cumbersome. You can stay in campsites but they tend to be on the edge of town. Alternatively, stay in hostels to keep costs down. You'll come across many independant hostels both via other backpackers and the travel books you read. However, to get you started, visit the youth hostel association http://www.yha.org.uk and http://www.hihostels.com/.
If you're going outside Europe, you may need a bit more planning in that it will be easier to arrange visa before you leave home if you intend work legally.
2006-10-03 14:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by Penfold 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you go into WHSMITHS they have a really good book called backpaking across the world. It's excellent. It tells you where to go and when, what languages are spoken and currency used. It costs £13.99 i think. When most people go back packing they tend to pick fruit etc so it tells you all the different places that are in season in the different months so you can plan your tour before you go or plan as you go. I hope you have an excellent time.
2006-10-03 13:57:14 · answer #3 · answered by Jo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thought of taking the train?? you can get cheap rail passes from http://www.interrailnet.com, they cover pretty much every country in Europe and will even work out a route for you.
My girlfriend and I did a month on the trains 3 years ago and had a great time.
You can also get sleeper trains so travelleing at night is comfy and no problem at all.
2006-10-03 14:54:46 · answer #4 · answered by AndyThompson76 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Preparation is important certain countries you may want to visit you have to seek permission to go through before you venture,suggest you pop down to your local library & dig out all the info before setting off.Good Luck.
2006-10-03 14:29:05 · answer #5 · answered by edison 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi i traveled the world last year and kept in touch with family etc at home through a website. it has many peoples routes what they are doing and working maybe can get in touch with people via that. www.getjealous.com
2006-10-03 15:11:42 · answer #6 · answered by Peter m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its like booking a holiday without a return ticket, although i'd get the know how on where your visiting first!
2006-10-03 13:47:26 · answer #7 · answered by superstar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First you buy a backpack,,
2006-10-03 14:58:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋