Have you ever back packed through Europe?

Question

How was it? Tell me about it?

Answer 1

I often travel through Europe, use a backpack and hostels often, (although I do go to hotels more these days,) meeting people from all over.

Hostel rooms get from one to more than 20 beds, but most have four or six beds, and often you can chose and pay more for less beds.
Hostels do all have a common area, where people will meet, often to cook their own meals so they do not spend as much on eating.
This is also a good place to meet people, to plan to go out together or to hear about other peoples experiences.
If you stay in hotels you meet less people, as people do not mix as easily. Not much a problem if you travel with someone, but surely hard on you when you travel alone.

Your backpack gets heavy soon, so pack light.
And try to stay a couple of days in each town or country. I try to stay in a town two or three nights and the next day in a village for just one. That way you get time to get to know a place and by taking your time you will remember more than when you try to see as many places as possible.

The people who experience an anti American sentiment are often very outspoken and rather right wing in their political opinions, Europe is more left wing on average but most people do not take the individual traveler as the same as the Bush administration, (which is not much liked on the whole.)

Answer 2

I'm totally in agreement with what Willeke just wrote, including the attitude towards Americans. To add to this:
One way you can prepare and plan for the trip is through a site like the lonely planet one:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe
Read up a little on the countries, check traveler comments, decide on where you want to go and then get yourself more detailed travel guides for more detailed info on each country.

If you are traveling during a high season you may have to book hostel in advance for some places. Hostels can get booked full and you may end up spending a whole day just trying to find a place that has a bed left. This can be done through Internet. Only downside is that it takes away some of your freedom of planning.

Other tips: bring a padlock for lockers and bring sandals for in house use (good when going to the bathroom). Otherwise: keep an open mind, enjoy yourself, talk to other travelers (not just Americans - variety is more fun) and try to find out about things not in the travel guides. As to safety: travelling always has it's risks but you'll find Europe to be a much safer area than most around the world. But as you always should, keep your wits, use common sense and stick to basic safety rules like "stay out of dark alleys", "don't wave money around", "most people are great but keep in mind there are bad apples". Some places may have special warnings (pickpockets in Rome, tourist traps, etc) and you'll find info on that in your guidebooks. Hostels can tell you more too as will other travelers.

Have a good trip. I'm sure you will enjoy it. And if you have questions on the way: find an internet terminal and ask away. :)

Answer 3

I have been to Europe, but have never backpacked through there. You will enjoy your trip more if you just pick a few cities to visit and if you travel light. You can still stay in youth hostels to save money (though sleeping in "barracks" like conditions with 10 other ppl you don't know is creepy IMHO). Some hostels have 2 to a room and if you are travelling with someone, the 2 of you can share a room. Riding trains gets old really fast-- too crowded, too much motion sickness and the food is just packaged food except more expensive than in supermarkets. Again, I'd suggest that you just take your time exploring a few cities instead of trying to see a whole lot of places in a short period of time.

Answer 4

They simply want a reason (make that an excuse) to not have to immediately start their higher education and/or get away from their parents or whatever and be irresponsible children while they are still somewhat young. So the backpacking through Europe, although it originally started in the mid-twentieth century as a means of discovering yourself as you faced real world challenges, is now just used as an acceptable cover to be jackasses. BTW it is 'rite' and not 'right'.

Answer 5

My generation did it but it is no longer safe and most Europeans don't like American's anyway.