2 week trip, weekend trip, 13 day trip

[RootBrewskies]

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So my plans are now finalized and on January 1st, I'll be heading to Spain (Vallodolid) to study for 4 months then stay to work an internship for the Red Cross for an additional 4 months, I'm pretty excited and pretty scared too. Ive traveled quite a bit through Canada, Mexico, and South America but never ventured to Europe so I need some help.
I have two weeks off of classes for Spring Break while im studying in Spain and I'm looking for places to travel to, how I should get there, and what to do. I'd like to be able to check out some other countries but I'm not sure if buying a Eurorail Pass is a smart move for 2 weeks or not. Also, I have a one week trip I can take after classes and before my internship, so I'd like to travel somewhere cool and fun but not overly expensive during that week, so any suggestions would be reccomended. And finally, I have about a 12-13 day trip after my internship when mommy and daddy will be coming to travel around with me so this is when money no longer becomes really an issue. What places would you reccomend to go if there really isnt too much of a budget, in Italy, Spain, and any surrounding places that rock.
Thanks for all your responses, this website rocks.

Parker.

p.s. if anyone has any study abroad experiences in Spain or other places I would appreciate hearing them or getting some advice.

[Canadian Dude]

Hey RootBrewskies, To The Boards!!!

I guess you must really be excited about going over seas, and working with the Red Cross, what a score!!! It will be a life changing experience for sure, and I hope all goes well.

As for your travel needs...

On your own for 2 weeks huh???

If I might make a suggestion...Why not use those first 2 weeks to make a trek into North Western Africa? It is a great opertunity and you are so close...Then trek Europe for the extra 1 week that you had, and the 13 or so days with your parents...

Morroco, and then hit some of the surrounding countries, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania...They would be cheap to travel through for sure!!!

Anyway enough of my rant and 2 cents worth....

Europe for 2 weeks starting in Spain....

Southern France for sure, Cannes and Nice are sweet
Then take the train down into the boot, Seeing all the touristy cities, Rome, Venice, Florence...Stop in some small towns though aswell, you should be able to get private rooms for pretty cheap...
I would bet Sicily is an amazing place and would you would enjoy...Then if you have the time...Malta...Just south of Sicily by plane..or boat maybe??? Then either fly home, or take the train...that will depend on time and $$$ i guess.

For your weeek alone...Portugal, hands down, one week you will be able to see alot, and it is one of the cheapest countries to travel in ( Western Europe), you do not have to spend a day and a half getting to Eastern Europe where the other " affordable" countries are.

And for the trek with your parents, since they are footing the bill, and money is not an issue... (SWEET!!!!)

Central France: Wine Region
Switzerland: Fribourg, Luncerne, Zurich
( Litchienstien would be a treat to stop in just for some fun)
Austria: Salzburg, and Vienna if you have time..
Germany: Munich, and Nuremburg

And that will pretty much be it for the time you will have, now where will you be flying home from when you are with your parents??? Do you go back to Spain to fly home, orcan you leave from another country??? If you could leave from say the UK, then you could stop in and see Paris on the way to London.

ANyway, these are just some ideas, and you will get more I am sure, they are just guidline , you will make the final say on what you will do!! :D



The trek with your parents

[RootBrewskies]

Thanks for the reply, those are some awesome ideas. I will be flying out of London so it would be sweet to stop by Paris on the way, I'd love to see it.