Anyone travel with NO itenirary - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

okcrado · 11-28-2006, 10:12 AM

Hello everyone names Jack,
I will be embarking on my very first backpacking trip to the old world with my flight stopping in amsterdam this sunday. I have some money saved up and have some wonderful caring parents that are helping fund me. I plan to start in Amsterdam backpack for a while then finally end up in Prague to what I hope will be a very extended stay. Now my question is where can I travel to between those two places that are absolute must sees.
The fear hasnt set in yet but I'm sure as soon as I board that plane to a brand new adventure its going to be plenty nerve racking so also maybe a little word of advice to those that have lived the life on the road instead of just vacationing then going back to their respective homes.

**space virgin** · 11-28-2006, 10:54 AM

Welcome to TravelPunk!

First of all, lots of us travel around good ol' Europe without any fixed plans other than arriving and departing. It's a lot of fun and believe me, when you get into the groove of it there won't be anything to fear at all.

Second, how long are you going to be gone? That will play a big part in determining your options. What are you interested in? Architecture? Museums? Soaking up culture while letting the world pass by? Europe is a big, diverse place, and depending on how much time you have you'll need to prioritize more.

annielee22 · 11-28-2006, 11:41 AM

I agree with everything stated above, if the fear of going unplanned hasn't hit you yet you are one step ahead of me, by this time before leaving on my trip i was scared shitless already....anyway, i think that you will like not having too much of an itineary, i would plan a couple of key things that you must see, but part of the fun of going backpacking is meeting people and then being able to travel with them for awhile. And when you get on the plane try not to freak too much, try and relax and enjoy it because, at least in my case, it was the best time in my life!

**c0urt** · 11-28-2006, 03:49 PM

i prefer not using an plan, that way you are never late, plus it left me a lot of time to spend exploring back roads and side streets and the neighborhoods no one ever goes to.

and luckily the fear passes quickly for most

davidd · 11-28-2006, 05:43 PM

When I go over im going to have a loose plan which i wont care if I actually follow or not just so I can find out some info about places i want to visit in advance

okcrado · 11-28-2006, 08:48 PM

I have enough to share an apartment in prague plus food/ whatever creeps for about 3 months. My return flight is in 3 months so if I need I'll take it if not I plan on staying and just working to survive as long as I can. I am mostly fasinated with the architecture and the cultures in general. I also love natures natural architecture if anyone knows of any especially cool places Id love to hear it.

**TheJake** · 11-28-2006, 08:51 PM

dude that's wicked. I would love to spend a few months in one place like that in europe. I totally dug my apartment in south america and would love to notch one of those experiences on each continent!!

okcrado · 11-28-2006, 08:59 PM

How long and where did you stay in south america, I am very intrigued by that continent with all its history and would love to visit one day. Plus it always been my dads dream to start a animal health missionary in south america.

**florencia9699** · 11-29-2006, 03:48 AM

Hehe, I wish I could say I did, but I'm a control freak. A TOTAL control freak. I even have this notebook with ideas, itinaries and extra info I gater, I even have a map of the railroads in there!!

Jake had an apartment in Brazil, I think it was in Rio de Janeiro.

**MeTurk** · 11-29-2006, 04:24 AM

I did and it only backfired on me once in Amsterdam and slightly in Madrid. You can look up hostels here and on hostel world then search for them all google they all have websites. I had to do it this way as I didn't have a credit card, booking ahead using these sites is obviously a much safer way of doing it. This time of year though hostels should have plenty of room, I'd get a load of numbers and ring them when I'm on the train.

Trains leave all the major citys almost on the hour I didn't book ahead for them either just turned up in the morning and ask for the next train to desired city.

**indierock05** · 11-29-2006, 01:18 PM

Fuck the plan....the plan sucks

But, if you are interested in architecture and something random, head to the South of Spain, check out around there for a while and then head to Morocco. Definitly worth it and some of the most beautiful architecture I have seen yet.

Make sure you don't set your plans because who knows, you may not like Prague that much, you may like Berlin better (I did) so I left early. Just keep an open mind, hell, I ended up in Prague with some guy name Rory that I met on a train to Munich. A hangover and some broken czech later, I am on a train to Prague!

Good Luck!

**TheJake** · 11-29-2006, 02:10 PM

Yeah I had an apartment in Fortaleza, Brasil. It's a wicked little city on the northeast coast of brasil in a state called Ceara.

The state of Ceara is widely known throughout brasil as having the best beaches in the country. The apartment cost me roughly 250 US a month for a two-bedroom two-bath facing the ocean on Praia de Iracema.

I highly recommend the northeast coast of brasil. It's a bit off the normal american tourist destinations but it's soooo beautiful.