1st time backpacking across Europe, HELP - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

sullid · 02-21-2005, 08:55 AM

HELP!!! I am a 26 yrs old Female from the US, looking to trave to Europe myself this summer. I am looking to go either July of August. If anyone is going during that time maybe they can helo me out. I would like to see Italy and Greece but if I had time maybe some other countries. I am not sure if I should get a rail pass or even where to fly into. This is an all of a sudden thought I need a vacation from my job and unfortunately no one can go with me but I figure we're only young once so I am doing it. Please help anyway possible... Shoudl I fly to other countries or take a bus or train... Thanks

chandy · 02-21-2005, 09:10 AM

I haven't been to Greece, but I just got home from Italy on Feb 3rd. You must see Rome and Venice. I didn't get to go to Florence because we were running out of time. I wanted to go to Greece, but I heard it was really dirty in Athens and it was far away from the othere places we were going. I think it is something like a 3 day train ride plus ferry from Italy. You should for sure research that as I could be wrong on the distance. Maybe you could fly in to Venice take a train to Rome and fly from Rome to Greece. Depending on how much time you have. Rome is really easy to get around. Almost everything is in English and the subway system is easy to follow. Also the overcom speaker repeats everything in English. Venice is easy to get around, but carful you can get crazy lost in all of the little alley ways. There are no cars or bikes. Everyone takes water taxi but mostly foot. I don't know how much help I have been to you. The best thing is to research. We had Eurail passes, I don't know how beneficial it would be to you if you are only going to visit these two countries. If you go to other places I would say buy a Eurail pass. Oh also Italy's trains can be crowded they really depend on the trains to get from place to place. You may have to make a reservation. It is very simple, you just go to a ticket counter and tell them when and where you want to go. They will tell you the time and platform your train is leaving. One warning on that. We were waiting for our train to Rome to Venice. We sat there for 30 min watching the schedule board changing and it never said Venice. Finally I stood up and just happened to look over my shoulder and saw 2 platforms over it said Veniza and our train was already there! We had to run over there because they had loaded early and it never told us of the platform change. That is the main think to pay attention too. I hope this helps and you have an Awesome time! Any other questions email me at Chandy898@aol.com.

cruzintoDK · 02-21-2005, 10:31 AM

I can't really help you, but I just thought I tell you you'll have a great time. Having been to Italy and Greece myself I can say that those are two of my favorite countries. One of my friends actually has a home on one of the islands in greece and he goes there with his family for 2 months every summer. I get jealous when he emails me and tells me that he slept on the beach and went to parties all day long.

Just be sure to see the sights. They're great.

rjt98 · 02-21-2005, 11:00 AM

I bought a rail pass for my trip which includes the countries Italy and greece. The rail pass can take you anywhere in Italy and can also take you on a ferry to Greece. The only problem is the ferry from Brindisi Italy to greece is an 8 hour boat ride and you only get a 50% discount for that. The ferry that is free with the rail pass is from Anconda I think and thats a 17 hour boat ride to Petras, Greece.
If I were you I would get a rail pass for Italy only and see the places you want to see there, then fly from Rome to Athens and see athens and the Greek isles. I think you can fly from Rome to Athens pretty cheap with Easyjet.com

sullid · 02-21-2005, 11:21 AM

Hello Everyone thank you for all of your replies. I think I will visit a few countries while I am there. But while Eurail pass do I get if I am there for 30 days and want to see all I can which should i get.