Have you ever backpacked through Europe?

Question

If so, how much did it cost including airfare to and from? What would you suggest if doing so?

Answer 1

I live in Europe so I did not pay airfare when traveling in Europe. But I have traveled in Europe often.

Staying in hostels, sightseeing, eating out most of the time but being moderate in drinking, I spend about € 100 a day, traveling alone, including local trains.
If you self-cater, and are careful in where you buy, spend little on sightseeing, none on alcohol, stay in the cheapest hostels and do not have to pay for trains you can be cheaper, I think you might be able to get by with €50 per day.
Traveling in Eastern Europe is mostly cheaper, in western Europe more expensive.

A railpass can be a good idea, but you have to travel by train a lot to make a profit. If you want to travel a relative small area or not often, look into the price of separate tickets.
If you want to do some long distances, and can book early, you can be much cheaper off flying. (But add to the price for traveling to and from the airport.)

If you have a real tight budget, bus travel is cheap, if not the most comfortable.

Do not take travelercheques as someone sugested.
They are expensive as you have to pay to get them, get a poor exchange rate through them, and often have to pay to get your own money again. Not many places do accept them anymore and often you will have to go to the main office of a bank, somewhere in the other part of town.
The best option now is a bank card, check with your bank that you can use it abroad, and how much each use will cost you. You can use it in ATMs which you will find all over Europe, they seem to be at every corner in many towns.
Take some $ with you (or whatever your own money is) for emergencies.
And if you have one, take your credit card. You can pay with it in many hostels, bigger restaurants and if an emergency you can get cash with it.
Keep it in a different place from your bank card, that way you will not be without money if you loose your purse or if it is stolen.
It is a good habit to keep your passport and valuables in a moneybelt under your clothes.

Added:
While many places take credit cards, in Europe there are still many that do not.
So make sure you have a good way to get Euros from an ATM.
Visa and Mastercard are the most used credit cards, American Express is not liked much, as it costs the shop owners too much, often they will not accept it.

Answer 2

Airfare is expensive in the summer and drops dramatically in September and October. The cost will depend where you live? I bought a 30 day unlimited train pass to travel all over Europe. I stayed in hostels. The only city I had trouble getting a room was in Venice. Hostels are super cheap but totally random. Some are nice rooms that you share with 3-5 people and have a bathroom. Others are like a gym with 30 bunkbeds and nasty bathrooms. Some rooms are men and women, some are same sex only. Many of the nice hostels are full service. They have a bar, laundry, food and even offer adventures like bungee jumping, sight seeing tours, or snowboarding.

Answer 3

The best way of getting around Europe is by rail. You can book rail passes online these days http://www.thetravellerslounge.co.uk/getting_around/rail_passes/

The cheapest places to stay are hostels or small hotels. You can book anything from bunkbeds in shared dorms to small private rooms. See http://reservations.bookhostels.com/thetravellerslounge.com

Everywhere takes Visa cards these days. Just have some Euros as spare cash.

Budget from about $1500 a month

Answer 4

where is the most important holland and british countryside are nice.Airfae probably about 700 to 900 dollars and about 200 in supplies plus you will need money to spend in country.In case of emergency 500 will be more than sufficent.but double check currency transfer rates.Use travler checks , never cash.