Another Newbie - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

dmac · 10-03-2003, 02:32 AM

Hey guys, this is my first post. I just became a member. I have to say that the site is great, I got a lot of helpfull information. Answered a lot of questions and gave me many good ideas I would have never thought of on my own. Well I have traveled quite a bit but this is going to be my first big one on my own, with only a backback to watch my back. I am probably going to be leaving for Europe around the 15th of this month, yeah, less than two weeks. I was thinking of just sticking around the southern part of Europe, (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece) I was thinking it would be getting quite cold the further north I go, but I would love to see parts of Germany, Amsterdam. I'll have about six weeks but I'm worried it will be cold up north with it getting into November. Does anyone know what the weather is like up there around this time. Also if anyone has advice for things to see places to go in the areas I'm going love to hear them. Thanks for any info anyone can give :D

**Canadian Dude** · 10-03-2003, 03:11 AM

Dmac in the house!!

The first trip on your own is so exciting, have you got the chills yet??? prob not, when they call out your row for boarding the plane, you'll get it!! :D

For your weather info, here is a link that will give you the average temp by the months in the cities of your choice.

Average Temp Europe

Hope that helps!!!! B)

**travelpunk** · 10-03-2003, 07:31 AM

WELCOME TO DA BOARDS, DMAC!

Thanks for joining us. I wouldn't be overly concerned about the weather. Bring a warm jacket, a pair of jeans, boots, gloves(optional), a hat, and buy a small retractable umbrella when you're there(if needed).

The way I see it is, if you have to pluck down more cash to buy a thicker jacket there because your jacket won't be warm enough, then, so be it. You'll go home and when all your friends ask you where they can buy a cool Europen jacket like that, you'll reply, well...you gotta go to Europe like I did! Then, tell them all the places that the jacket has been to and all the action that it has seen

If you do buy a jacket there, as it will get colder in the latter part of your trip, go to all the southern countries first so you don't have to buy one in the beginning then have to lug it around later and not use it in the southern countries with the warmer climates. or, just do the route that you have planned and pull out the bulky jacket sporadically

dmac · 10-03-2003, 12:11 PM

Hey guys,

Thanks for the info. That website was a big help, I should be able to get a lot of good information from it. When it comes to the clothing I was thinking of taking a fleece pullover probably with a collar to cover the neck, some long johns and a thin, but waterproof gortex jacket. With a shirt on as well I am hoping all those layers will keep me warm, of course with a beanie and gloves if I needed. How does that sound?
Does anyone know how long Oktoberfest goes, that would be pretty cool to check out. If I do go to Germany, which cities are a must see? I don't know too many people that have actually DONE Germany, if you know what I mean. I hear they like to party pretty hard in that country. I also hear that the crushing of the grapes is going on aroung this time in Italy. Do you guys think that will make it pretty hard to get lodging there? Should I book in advance at the hostells in Italy? <_<

Thanks a lot for all the good info.

dmac · 10-03-2003, 02:40 PM

Also, is it imperative that I buy Travelers Insurance. Is that something I should definately do or is it a waste of money?

Thanks

**Diorama** · 10-03-2003, 06:57 PM

Yes! buy insurance. It's sooooo important. You never know if something will happen to ya. do you want to be stuck with a huge bill in an overseas country, because you didn't want to fork over a few hundred bucks. (or however much it is). I don't know the going rate of insurance. I didn't have to pay because it comes with my house insurance, so mabye someone else can answer that. Besides that you'llhave options on if you lose your baggage and if ya have to cancel your trip. Take a close look at all options. You never know.

TUI · 10-03-2003, 09:17 PM

yeah I would strongly suggest taking the insurance, its the one time you dont that could make a good trip bad.

Glacier · 10-04-2003, 12:36 AM

Travel insurance is a must. As they say 'If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel'. I paid roughly AUS $400 to be covered for 3 months in Europe. It's really not worth risking travelling without insurance - check out: http://www.dfat.gov.au/travel/travel_insurance.html for more info.

I'm heading to Europe in a week. Meeting a friend in Austria, and we'll go on from there. No real plans. Basically playing it by ear. Should be good… and cold.

**Canadian Dude** · 10-04-2003, 04:15 AM

DUde, don't ever leave home with out the coverage!!! Thats like leaving without your pack..I have heard storied of people overseas getting into BAD $$$$ trouble because they did not have coverage and they ended up in the hospital...its not worth it, I get coverage even if I am leaving my province!

**travelpunk** · 10-04-2003, 05:22 AM

I agree with them.

All insurance is, is that you're betting that something may go wrong, and the company is betting that something won't go wrong (car insurance, health, life, etc...).

It is better to be safe than sorry

As an option, for those who don't know, through one of our many partnerships, TravelPUNK offer's travel insurance as cheap under $1.25 a day.

To see what it covers, here's the link- Travel insurance

This has been a popular service on the site, and has been used by many backpackers since it was added to the hostel booking engine.

Personally, I used this very same insurance booking engine to insure my girlfriends recent 3 month trip to the US(from Spain). It was $110 for 3 months.

dmac · 10-04-2003, 12:38 PM

Cool :D thanks for the advice. I guess I will look into getting the insurance, it doesn't seem to be expensive anyway. Better safe than sorry.

So I heard they are doing the crushing of the grapes in Italy around this time. Does anyone know if I should reserve a Hostell there since it might be busy?

This site Rocks by the way! Once I found this site I havn't had to go to any others.
Keep up the good work.

dmac · 10-04-2003, 12:39 PM

Cool :D thanks for the advice. I guess I will look into getting the insurance, it doesn't seem to be expensive anyway. Better safe than sorry.

So I heard they are doing the crushing of the grapes in Italy around this time. Does anyone know if I should reserve a Hostell there since it might be busy?

This site Rocks by the way! Once I found this site I havn't had to go to any others.
Keep up the good work.

**Canadian Dude** · 10-04-2003, 05:07 PM

If you know where you are going to be and at what dyas, then i would say book before hand, if your flying by the wire, then it makes it kinda hard, book through this site TravelPunk it easy as pie, i did it with no probs!! B)

dmac · 10-05-2003, 02:06 AM

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. And I have a feeling that's what I'm going to be doing.

I actually just made some good contacts in Italy that I know here in SD, they are going to be back home at the same time I will be there, So that should be great. They can show me how to really party Italian style, and well I guess show me you know the sites

.
I don't think I'm going to do the prebooking thing, thanks for the advice.

**TheWills** · 10-22-2003, 09:06 PM

Hey there
Off the insurance thing, and about partying in Germany. Im part German (parents come from there) And I go back almost every summer, last time I went I was legal age and I visited one of my friends in Dresden, and I tell you that was a week of craziness. Dresden is mega good it has a big university and a lot of people like to go out and have fun. If your ever in Frankfurt then hit up SaxonHuasen (I think thats how its spelled.) Its this little back corner of the city thats tucked away however its a square kilometer area and it holds roughly over 100 pubs. Apperenlty during festivites and weekends thousands of people flood into this place, I have never been at night only durnig the day and its totaly rockin. Of course if your going to Germany during summer time your tip around Love Parade, I think something like 300,000 + people filled the streets of Berlin to dance and party the day away, its just an overwhelming feeling (Dont smoke pot the crack down hard there) However Love Parade is the epidimy of party especially if you like the dance music. In any decent sized city you will find clubs that are gonna be hopin on certain night, just swing by the club and ask when something like 2 for 1 drink night is on and go then usually it will be on a firday or saturday, you get rip roaring wasted for cheap and only the Germans can pack that many people into one room. No joke it took me the better part of an hour to navigate my way through a room a bit smaller than a skating ice surface. Germany is definitly a good place to go and unwind and simply giver hard

They love the beer and they love to party. Another thing you might wanna consider is oktoberfest but thats more cultural then all out partying however its still rocking good fun
Hoped I helped a bit I definetly owe this board some