Questions about Backpacking through Europe?

Question

My boyfirend and I are just starting to plan this....
About how much allowance should we plan....
I know my plane ticket will be pricey but i plan on using euro rail and hostles i am getting a isic student discount card from my office here in new orleans...
IF YOU DONT KNOW DO NOT GUESS
Im asking people who have done this i do not need a far out answer I plan on anywhere from 21-30 days..... 700ish for my euro rail and what else a nice backpack! I have searched the internet through and through ANYONE KNOW ANY GOOD BOOKS!!!! Please Help! THANK YOU x <3

Answer 1

I agree, Lonely Planet series, buy the book best cut for the countries you want to go.

For traveling hostels in West Europe (England, Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Swiss, Greece) count on $ 100 a day per person when eating out and spending a little on sightseeing, $ 50 if you spend the absolute minimum, staying in villages and buying all your food and drinks in a supermarket.

For Eastern Europe you should be able to get more for your money, but as I have not traveled there myself I can only guess.
$ 50 should be enough for lunch, dinner and sightseeing, less for self-catering.

The average tourist spends 200 Euro a day in the Netherlands (that is about $250) but they stay in hotels, eat out every meal, buy souvenirs, maybe also diamonds, and spend a lot on drinking and so in the evening.

$ = USA dollar, all amounts per person per day.

If you are tight for money, try to get a person at home ready to send money to your bank account in need, make sure you can get a last emergency ammount if you run out. (I met people who litterly had no money left to eat the last day, not a good idea.)

Also, it is best to use a debit card and draw your money from your own bank account. There are ATM's in every town, even most villages have several.
Bring a creditcard for emergencies, not for the ATM as often creditcard companies charge a lot for that.

If you can use internet for banking you can leave most money in your savings account and just have enough for a few days in your normal account. Otherwise make sure you have your expected budget in your normal account and have a trusted person at home monitor your bank-slips and send money from your savings (or a loan?) at need.

Answer 2

You have already given good advice, but let me point you to http://www.travellerspoint.com www.virtualtourist.com and other travelling sites. There isn't a basic question you might have there that has not already been answered on one of these sites.

BTW, travelling with your BF you might want to investigate the option of travelling with a tent and renting a car (leasing from Peugeot). Cheaper and more flexible than Eurail and hostels, especially as you might want to have some privacy with the BF at night. (Not possible in a hostel dorm.)

I consider 50 USD to be pretty low (depending upon the exchange rate) when staying in hostels without a kitchen, generally 50 EUR per day and person (currently around 70 USD) is a more realistic budget especially in London or Paris.

Finally keep in mind that Eurail is not always the best or cheapest option. If you have a clear idea what you want to see about 2-3 months before you fly, it is usally possible to find cheaper deals than Eurail by using point-to-point tickets . Just ask at any travelling site for advice.

Answer 3

you're able to try this certainly one of two techniques, you could the two purchase a 2 month Youthrail bypass and then your transportation and your slumbering preparations are dealt with for 2 months... yet that 2nd month is costly. or you're able to purchase in basic terms a ONE MONTH bypass and not swap on it till you have already been in Europe for a week or 2. The time does not initiate till you swap on it, so which you will merely shop it on your pocket till you're arranged to lose it. in case you prefer to be gentle and have some room to do issues on the spur of the 2nd, you're able to have approximately $1000 consistent with individual consistent with month... so for 2 months which would be $2000 each and each. before you do the rest, flow to any bookshop in any mall and %. up "EUROPE with the aid of EURAIL" and the "THOMAS cook dinner EURAIL TIMETABLE"... you will learn how to stay with the aid of those 2 books. you additionally can %. up FODOR'S EUROPE, yet once you in basic terms prefer to hold 2 books, then get the 1st 2. the 1st one is a competent ordinary instruction manual e book and the 2nd is a timetable for all the Eurail trains... cases, stations, etc and you're able to't backpack without it. specifically, you would be slumbering on trains at nighttime and sightseeing for the period of the day. in case you prefer to spend better than sooner or later exploring, then you certainly arrive interior the morning... sightsee for the period of the day... get on the practice to a pair in one day trip spot (that's why you're able to have the Timetable e book) then you certainly sightsee all day... come again on the practice that nighttime and flow back to the 1st city. back whilst i became into your age, I had some outfits in a small back %. and my guitar and made some first rate money enjoying on highway corners or in subway stations, so in case you or your chum can play guitar, which you need to to think of approximately that. have relaxing

Answer 4

Try the Lonely Planet Guide series of books. They are a mine of good information.

Answer 5

check www.fodors.com