backpacking in Europe next year. Where can we get some resources for the trip and deals on transit? We are also looking for experience with getting around (like should we use train/plane/rental? Thanks so much, and if you have any **Make sure you dont miss** spots, please let us know.
2007-12-20 04:49:50 · 4 answers · asked by Robby R 2 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Other - Europe
Make a short list of places that are Europe for you, like if Europe is Paris for you, you will not be pleased without Paris, but if Paris is not on your personal must do list you can easily do without it.
If you have a personal link to a certain country or town, make sure you put it on the list.
(Have all friends make a list like that before you get together.)
Eastern Europe is cheaper, England, Scandinavia and Switzerland are more expensive and London is about the most expensive place to visit.
When you get together take a cheap map (print one of internet,) and put a pin or marker in each town you want to go.
Now you will have to weed, as most likely you will have many places on your list.Try to bring it down to one for every two days of travel, less if you include London and Paris.
If all you destinations are close together, think about renting a car, if they are together in clusters, with long distances between the clusters, combine car hire or train travel with cheap flights.
If they are spread all over, look into the cost of a rail pass, compared to point to point tickets and car hire (remember, running a car is expensive in Europe.)
Use internet for all info you need, google can find information on about everything, and this site also has a lot of information.
For flights, enter your two airports into google and add cheap flights.
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/passes/eurail_index.htm (Eurail pass, also has a travel planner)
Rail travel in France:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage?_DLG=SvHomePage&_CMD=cmdHomepageUK&WB=HP&rfrr=4685ac17fd2e7656e4918c53b246a3f7
Germany, also good for many other countries:
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/international/englisch/international_guests.shtml
Bus travel:
http://eurolines.com/
Flights within Europe:
http://www.skyscanner.net/eur/?redirecturl=1
http://www.whichbudget.com/
Guidebooks and general information:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
Some questions here that have useful information, just from today:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApY2ZXe6LaQFSr_lCaOH9Kxe7RR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071220120624AANxCfC
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkMklidJKGf9iVBlQO2V3fJe7RR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071220110851AAYCT3R
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtknWlJ0PpLnf8HDGwkEu.he7RR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071220052501AA3tyT9
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsAVgQr6wGObfzolKBDE1gJe7RR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071220021744AAXKhwv
2007-12-20 08:55:08 · answer #1 · answered by Willeke 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Traveling within Europe is cheap now thanks to no-frill low-cost airlines. Check out the below:
www.ryanair.com -
www.easyjet.com
www.flyairone.it - Italian
http://w2.volawindjet.it - Italian
www.iberia.es - Spanish
www.aegeanair.com - Greek
www.airberlin.com - Germany
www.skyeurope.com - Eastern Europe
For long distance, these flights are cheaper than trains. But if you prefer the the latter option, you can get a Eurail pass.
http://www.eurail.com/
If you like to socialize with the locals of every country, check out www.couchsurfing.com and www.hospitalityclub.org
The best guide for city life is the Time Out books and magazines while the most comprehensive travel guidebooks are those from Lonely Planet.
There are too many "make sure you don't miss" spots in Europe that it's hard to shortlist them ... but here are some you really must not miss:
1. Greece - Mykonos for nightlife and Santorini the most amazing place in earth
2. London - Camden for its small bands and counter culture
3. Paris - for its culture, shows, arts and fine restaurant
4. Nice and the Cote d'Azur- beautiful people, beautiful sea, the good life.
4. Barcelona - Parc Guell, nightlife at Las Ramblas
5. Andalucia - flamenco, bullfight, wind-surfing
6. Rome - MUST
7. Florence - MUST
8. Venice - most beautiful man-made landscape
9. Prague - a rare city which will transport you to the medieval times
10. Berlin and Munich - culture, clubbing and fine beer
Have a great trip!
2007-12-20 07:25:30 · answer #2 · answered by Misviv 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The trains are often a good way to go in Europe. If you're going long distances, you can save a night at a hostel or hotel by taking the night trains - it also maximizes your time for seeing the sights. However, there are a ton of budget airlines in Europe now. You might want to consider these as potentially cheaper, faster alternatives. This is a good site for locating budget flights anywhere in Europe: http://www.whichbudget.com/
Another source for cheap flights is: http://www.skyscanner.net/eur/?redirectu...
The Eurobus is another option.
Places not to miss: Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Munich, Salzburg, Cinque Terre ... it's pretty hard to go wrong whereever you choose to go.
2007-12-20 05:19:50 · answer #3 · answered by conley39 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I suggest going to the library and checking out as many travel guide books as possible. Copy and highlight items you want to see, places you want to visit and possible restaurants and hostels. We had a good experience with train travel and walking around. Our favorite spot was all of northern Italy where the people were friendly and the food and wine wonderful. Don't go to the usual tourist trap places to eat but follow people who are local to the little spots that serve the best food. We followed the gondiliers in Venice to a little cafe that had the best bean soup plus bread in wine for very little money.
2007-12-20 05:03:47 · answer #4 · answered by Iowa Woman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋