newb traveler just realized he knows nothing about - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Koomori · 10-09-2005, 01:08 AM

okay, I just realized I have no idea what I'm doing, what's the best way to travel around europe and the UK for an undetermined amount of time with no real set itinerary?

I'm going to be traveling with my girlfriend, who will be 18, and I'll be 21, we want to hit germany, england, ireland and scotland maybe wales, and possibly poland, maybe italy, I want to go to London Zoo, see the music scenes in each country, and try absinthe, that's basically my goals, I may want to go to hadrien's wall, since last time I went it was pouring and I was walking around in brand new "new rocks" which hurt my feet like a bitch...

**worldwidemike** · 10-09-2005, 02:41 AM

I'd use easyjet or ryanair to get between England (which I assume you're flying into) and Ireland/Germany/Italy. There's also a low-cost air carrier or two operating out of Germany (Air Berlin is one). So, you could find your cheapest ticket to London, then use rail and buses around England, Scotland and Wales. Then, use ryanair or easyjet to Ireland, and same from there to Germany or Italy. From Germany or Italy, use someone like Air Berlin.

And once inside Germany or Italy, I would use the trains or buses, whichever works out best. I prefer train over bus travel, especially for longer distances. However, sometimes the schedules work out better with buses.

You can book hostels ahead of time, but if you're travleing with your girlfriend, also look into less expensive hotels. They might end up being about the same when you combine what each of you'd pay at the hostel. I pick my hotels by reading several guidebooks and seeing which are mentioned as a good deal by more than one. Often, you can book these online, as well.

Feel free to ask any specifics or other questions...and welcome to the Boards!

worldwidemike

**LostFarmboy** · 10-09-2005, 02:24 PM

what WWM said.

**bluepea** · 10-09-2005, 05:53 PM

For transportation: Megabus offers uber cheap transportation throughout the UK if you book ahead. And when I say cheap, I mean cheap even for the UK. Germanwings and Wizzair offer transportation to/from Germany and Poland. Poland is definitely worth the trip - it's beautiful, cheap and there's so much history there. Aushwitz (Oswiciem) would be worth the trip alone. If you like hiking, Krakow has some amazing mountains.

I am a total sucker for Germany and think everyone should go there. Food and beer is amazing. There are so many beautiful cities, especially the smaller ones. People are generally very kind. We caught a great swing band in Idar Oberstein one night.

Ireland's great. It's very pretty and there are palm trees. I think it's a very neat country, although the weather wasn't to be missed.

Dublin has a very good music scene. We went to Galway which was good for shopping and apparently geared a lot more to young people (we were camping a few miles away and didn't do much in the city).

Italy's gorgeous. There's obviously lots to see there as well. I didn't spend much time there so don't have much to offer.

Obviuosly, your ages won't be much of an issue. If you're looking for things more geared to young people, I would say college cities usually have a lot. Also, check out bulletin boards in hostesl (or if in another language, ask the reception [if they speak English]) about events, such as bands and what not.

As far as I've heard, trying real absinthe is very difficult.