My summer of 09' trip

[Marcus Nappy]

Here is a map of my intended itinerary for this up coming summer adventure. It is still in the works,and some of the dates are still tentative. Basically I have 125 days for this trip, check it out and any feed back would be welcomed.

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?hl=en&...,75.673828&z=4

[pinknic38]

sounds like a sweet trip!!!

no Germany stops?!

[simply_angelic]

seems good until you see bankok 28 days? I'm hoping you're just re-distributing that amount of time within the other asian countries.

[LostFarmboy]

I'm diggin' the map!! Looks like an awesome trip!

No Venice while you're in Italy?

[mbo108]

Looks sick bro, good luck with everything. Be sure to come back with questions, updates, etc.

[Marcus Nappy]

Ya the 28 days in Bangkok is just the amount of time ill be in Thailand for. I haven't yet decided where exactly ill be heading within the country yet

[Marcus Nappy]

Germany you say...? Any city in particular?

[offhegoes03]

Wow, looks like an amazing trip. The only city I've visited in Germany is Berlin, but the consensus here is that Berlin rocks, so it's definitely a fun city to visit. Also, this bit of advice depends entirely on what type of traveler you are and what you can handle. Personally, I started my last trip off moving from city to city every 3 days or so (Bercelona, Sevilla, Madrid, and Paris) and I started getting really tired of all of those train rides. Now, this was only after 2 weeks too, so I can't imagine what it would be like for a longer trip. If you don't think this constant moving around will bother you at all, then definitely don't take my advice because everyone is different! Just thought I'd throw in my advice.

Other than that, it looks like you're hitting a ton of amazing cities. I spent 2 nights in Paris and wished I had at least one or two more so that I could get out and see more than just the touristy stuff. Madrid was cool too, but I didn't spend enough time there. Barcelona is very awesome, especially if you want to party. Stay in Kabul Backpacker's hostel if you just want to go crazy.

Hope this helps.

[Marcus Nappy]

Originally Posted by offhegoes03

W Also, this bit of advice depends entirely on what type of traveler you are and what you can handle. Personally, I started my last trip off moving from city to city every 3 days or so (Bercelona, Sevilla, Madrid, and Paris) and I started getting really tired of all of those train rides. Now, this was only after 2 weeks too, so I can't imagine what it would be like for a longer trip.

Ill start out like that and go with the flow from there. I dont really know what kind of traveler I am as this is my 1st trip, so if after a couple weeks I start to feel dragged out Ill slow down.

Thanks for the advice on the hostle as well.

Anymore advice on awesome hostles to stay in for any of my destinations would be welcomed.

[polarbear]

do you know your start and End times for this trip?
its possible our trips may be near each other at some point and time!

[Marcus Nappy]

April 28th till September 2nd. Yourself? Where/when are you going?

[mbo108]

I'd search around on the boards for recommendations on hostels - I'm sure most of your cities have been visited before.

[offhegoes03]

Originally Posted by HenryJones

Ill start out like that and go with the flow from there. I dont really know what kind of traveler I am as this is my 1st trip, so if after a couple weeks I start to feel dragged out Ill slow down.

Thanks for the advice on the hostle as well.

Anymore advice on awesome hostles to stay in for any of my destinations would be welcomed.

Yeah, you actually have to do it for a little while before you can discover what type of traveler you are. Some people love constantly being on the move, but keeping some flexibility in your plans is a good idea too.

I can try to recommend some hostels that I remember.

Kabul Backpackers hostel in Barcelona, Spain is awesome. It's right of Las Ramblas and not too far of a walk from the beach. They have a happy hour special where you can get 2 liters of beer for like 3 euro. Definitely a good way to start off the night before heading out to get some Sangria.

The hostel I stayed at in Paris was reasonable, but it wasn't amazing. It was called the Caulaincourt Square Hostel and it was in the Montremartre area right near a metro stop. It was actually fairly cheap for paris at 25 euros a night. The rooms are kind of cramped, but it wasn't bad. I'm sure there are better hostels out there in Paris.

If you do end up going to Berlin, I stayed at the Generator Hostel which is in East Berlin. It's supposedly the largest hostel in Europe (900+ beds). I enjoyed my stay there, and it never felt too crowded. It's really new and if you book ahead, you can get pretty cheap rooms. I paid like 18 euro for a 6 bed room, but I knew people that spent 9 euro for a 8 person dorm.

Those are the ones I can remember off my head. Looking through the hostel review section on the boards is a good idea too.

[Dig]

That looks like an intense trip. This is your first trip too? If so that is a great way to begin traveling.

I have found that I like to spend more days each place I visit vs. visiting more places. With 125 days you can really gather a city's vibe.

What day do you leave?

[Marcus Nappy]

Yup this will be my 1st trip, and ill be going solo as well, Im stoked about it to tell you the truth! Im still working on the tail end of the trip so I might be able to spend a few days more in a couple of select cities.

Im still working on the transportation through SE Asia, so if anyone knows the best way to travel from Myanmar SE to Cam, Thai, and Viet. that would be great if you could give some advice.

I play on flying out on the 29th of April till the 2nd of September.

Originally Posted by Dig

That looks like an intense trip. This is your first trip too? If so that is a great way to begin traveling.

I have found that I like to spend more days each place I visit vs. visiting more places. With 125 days you can really gather a city's vibe.

What day do you leave?

[joe7f]

Originally Posted by HenryJones

Anymore advice on awesome hostles to stay in for any of my destinations would be welcomed.

Matt is right that you can search the boards for some good advice on the hostels in those cities. Lots of reviews for the cities you have on your itinerary.

Sant Jordi Aragon was a great hostel in Barcelona. I did a campground stay in Rome (which saves quite a bit of money but it is pretty far from the city). The Flamingo in Krakow was possibly the most centrally located hostel I have ever seen.

Looks like a great trip!

--Joey

[offhegoes03]

Once you start planning everything out, it becomes that much more difficult to wait. Good luck with the planning, and April 29th will be here before you know it.

[DharmaBum]

how did you make that map like that?

[mbo108]

^ It was created on Google Maps.

First you'll need a Google account (which are free - just sign up) then you can start creating maps (in addition to Word-esque documents, spreadsheets, slideshow presentations).

Once you're signed in, click on "Create New Map" and then it should be created. It will initially say "Untitled Public" where Untitled is the current title (which you can change down in the little "Title" text box and "public" means that its anyone can find it by browsing the map directory - you can change this setting if you wish.

After that, just start typing in destinations in the "Search Maps" function. Once the map is centered on your new spot a pushpin will show up. Click on it and you should get options, one of which will be to save the location to your map (you can choose between them if you have more than one map).
You can manually add the lines connecting destinations on the map as well.

So that's a primer. I do a lot with them, usually modifying the little white boxes to show pics of places I'm staying, including the phone and email. Sometimes I'll make the map private right before I leave, and add in all of the hotel/flight/train/etc confirmation information to each city. That way if I lose my printed documentation I can go online at a internet cafe and print it out again. Then when I get back I delete my personal info and make the map public again.

[Marcus Nappy]

lol nicely said! I wouldnt have said it better myself, in fact I would have just said I made it on google haha. thanks mbo108!