Kiaora :) - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Convenience · 06-09-2010, 04:49 AM

Hey everyone, Im Adam, from a little town in New Zealand planning to either solo travel Europe (Or mates if they decide to) and eventually the world

. Any tips on where to stay, what to do or anything would be much appreciated.

**agriadam** · 06-09-2010, 09:48 AM

Welcome to the Boards Adam.

When are you planning on going, how long are you planning on traveling, what is your budget and what cities do you want to hit?

**marc873** · 06-09-2010, 05:38 PM

Hola Adam.. Your question is very open ended... Do you have a starting point for places you would like to see?? Then maybe some of us could give advice... Any idea of countries or continents would also help narrow this down... Share and welcome to Tpunk

**mooloo** · 06-09-2010, 10:38 PM

Kia Ora Adam,

Can't help with the Europe q's, never been there before.

Where in NZ are you from?

**The Sasquatch** · 06-10-2010, 01:27 AM

hey adam, welcome to the boards. yeah, asking more specific questions will result in some better info for you. but if you don't know where you want to go yet, you could peruse some of the threads here for ideas. once you have more specific questions, i'm sure you'll find this place a great fountain of info.

Convenience · 06-11-2010, 02:35 PM

Thanks for the comments, will try and give you a better idea

About me:
Well I'm from a little town called Whakatane and just about to finish high school, I'm 17 and have before traveled around New Zealand solo taking week trips to Auckland, Bay of Islands Kaitia but really want to branch out and take a gap year traveling Europe! My dads from England so a passport should be fine and also have a couple of friends i could stay with worst comes to worst.

Transport: Originally we thought it would be awesome to travel in a van although realistically that would be very expensive and once looking around i think that a eurorail pass and public transport as well as good old walking should be the cheapest and most fun way of traveling.

Accommodation: Generally we would love to stay in hostels wherever we go for "comfort", info, location and the chance of meeting new friends although worst comes to worst where prepared to sleep in a small tent and "rough it".

Companions: I have 2 of my really good friends willing to join me on my trek although of course its possible for them to change their mind. Ones traveled quite a bit around America and Germany while the other is similar to me with only traveling inside of Nz and Australia. Both of them have about the same amount saved as me and we all get along great.

Duration: Well i have an entire year to spare even longer if i want the only thing is how long i can survive on my funds or whether i can get a job over there.

Destination. As said before i have no real plans ill go anywhere on a whim however id firstly like to go to Germany in February next year as i have some friends there and I'm not 18 till April so wont be able to get in pubs/drink anywhere else. From there i would love to celebrate coming to age with a trip to Amsterdam. Other major cities i would love to see are Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Budapest then maybe find a way to Oslo, then Stockholm. I know these are very spread apart but these are my general goals and would love to visit some if not all of these cities although if i find a nice town on the way i may stay there for who knows how long and same for the city's.

Budget: So far Ive saved up about $4000 NZD and am planning to save up at least $10000 NZD. Were generally very "stingy" opting for anything free or cheap such as same meal for weeks on end ( Noodles for breakfast,lunch and dinner while trekking up to Kaitia) so we believe we can survive on very little although we want to save a backup $3000 each for emergency's and or flight home. Were also very keen to work with each of us having experience in a range of jobs.

In the end this is only speculation as we have no real idea so would love and advice from you "seasoned" backpackers, Cheers

**Dig** · 06-13-2010, 10:50 AM

Hello and welcome!

I would search the boards here for past posts concerning employment. Some hostels are willing to give free room and board if you work the desk. I am not sure how helpful that would be if you only speak English. It sounds like you want to "float" around Europe for about a year. Sounds awesome. I'm not sure what the conversion rate is from NZ to Euro, but you are going to have to be very tight. I know Aussie's can work in Great Britain, does that apply to you too?

**mooloo** · 06-13-2010, 02:33 PM

Yup you can get the two year working holiday visa where you can work for up to 1 year of the visa, I don't think this has changed I think its still the norm.

You've saved an incredible amount for your age! I wish I had that much saved when i was 17!

But yeah the NZ dollar sucks so much that you would have to work while your there, its pretty common for kiwis to get bar work over there, although you would proberly have to be 18, which I imagine you would be before you go.

NZ to euro & pound is a lot better at the moment than it used to be so at least your $$ will go further!

Convenience · 06-13-2010, 03:54 PM

Thanks for the responces, the visa shouldnt be a worry as my dads english im able to get Europeon union passport, meaning work shouldnt be a problem if i find it. Yea the exchange rate will screw me over, Almost 2NZD:1EURO so ill have around 5000 euros. Ive got alot of experiance working so finger crossed or a job anyway. Also ive had a little check at one way flights over there and their about $1000 NZD so that should set me back as well.

**Canadian Bacon** · 06-15-2010, 08:29 AM

Ahlan!! or welcome in Arabic!

Not that I really speak Arabic, but I've been to the Middle East a few times so if u need backpacking advice there, just ask -- although Europe can't be topped as the 'first time' location.

All the same... welcome! And whatever you do... SPEND TIME IN SPAIN

Convenience · 06-15-2010, 12:32 PM

I definitely have Barcelona and Madrid on my must see list

Yea i cant think of a more culturally diverse and travel friendly pace to go. Reading some other posts on this awesome forum have inspired me to buy a tent and camp outside some cities (cheaper, in touch with nature etc ...) . Any ideas what tent would be a must have? Ive also more so narrowed down my dates to arrive late March and leave early December, for warmer weather and also allows me time to save up more cash. Also would welcome any places/activities suggestions, Thanks heaps everyone!

**mooloo** · 06-15-2010, 02:13 PM

One note about the leaving in december, try to leave as early as possible in december to come back as flights are ridiculously expensive the closer to the end of the month, I was hoping to go to europe at the end of the year when i get a month off work but the flights are way to expensive round mid-end dec/jan. Sometimes it sucks living so far away from everywhere else! But you should be fine in march for getting a reasonable flight.

**The Sasquatch** · 06-16-2010, 06:06 PM

as for spain, barca and madrid are great! make sure you hit up a chupitos (sp) bar in barca (shots bar). toledo is a good day trip from madrid. medieval looking city with old walls and what not. but my biggest piece of advice is that if you are in spain it would be a crime to miss granada and the alhambra. very cool city and the alhambra was probly my single, favorite site in all of europe. very cool.