solo getting around - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

familyguysolo · 04-11-2006, 08:47 AM

Was ment to go in group, now solo doing Europe summer 06, starting from around mid July till money runs out.

im not to worried about meeting plp, i love to drink and who isn’t friendly after a couple of beers, my issue is with the actual getting around. i never even use my home public transport, so bad at reading maps etc.

will i find it hard to get from A to B? finding the right train? Finding my hostel?

**simply_angelic** · 04-11-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by familyguysolo@Apr 11 2006, 10:47 AM
Was ment to go in group, now solo doing Europe summer 06, starting from around mid July till money runs out.

im not to worried about meeting plp, i love to drink and who isn’t friendly after a couple of beers, my issue is with the actual getting around. i never even use my home public transport, so bad at reading maps etc.

will i find it hard to get from A to B? finding the right train? Finding my hostel?

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It takes a little getting used to, but once you've got it after the first time or 2, it really is quite easy. Every subway systems different, most are okay...Paris was a b*tch (and that's where I started->so smooth sailing from there onward)...the trains are all the same, they have a big board w/ all the departures & you just wait for yours to come up, along with the # of which platform & it's smooth sailing. If you don't know where your platofrm is, just ask a security person, or really anyone that works there & I'm sure they'd be happy to help. Just make sure that you are always at the right train station in a city...I made that mistake once, assuming I was in the right place b/c I only saw 2 train stations on the map & seeing as I needed the other one I just kind of assumed

...Buses are just as easy. You buy your ticket, wait in the correct platform, etc. Don't worry, you'll do fine

familyguysolo · 04-11-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by simply_angelic@Apr 11 2006, 04:34 PM
It takes a little getting used to, but once you've got it after the first time or 2, it really is quite easy. Every subway systems different, most are okay...Paris was a b*tch (and that's where I started->so smooth sailing from there onward)...the trains are all the same, they have a big board w/ all the departures & you just wait for yours to come up, along with the # of which platform & it's smooth sailing. If you don't know where your platofrm is, just ask a security person, or really anyone that works there & I'm sure they'd be happy to help. Just make sure that you are always at the right train station in a city...I made that mistake once, assuming I was in the right place b/c I only saw 2 train stations on the map & seeing as I needed the other one I just kind of assumed ...Buses are just as easy. You buy your ticket, wait in the correct platform, etc. Don't worry, you'll do fine

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familyguysolo · 04-11-2006, 10:37 PM

thank heaps.
just needed that little bit of confidence. Cos its going to be so busy, is it k to reserve trains and hostels only a coulpe of days before, so to leave myself open to change? Ill be heading over mid july

**LostFarmboy** · 04-12-2006, 03:02 PM

I'd never been on any subway or any public transport bus before i went over to Europe and i managed to figure it out. I had a couple of interesting moments where i missed my stop and ended up going waaayyyyyyy past where i wanted, but it always works out. You'll be right.

Yeah, it's fine to book hostels and trains just a few days before, except in Amsterdam, that place is popular in summer so you might want to book a week in advance.

**omisan** · 04-12-2006, 05:23 PM

Same goes for Paris and Barcelona. Paris is pretty short on decent hostels, and Barcelona simply gets packed in the summer months.

I'd have to say that the toughest inter-city train system I've encountered is in the Czech Republic. Help in English is sparse at best, and figuring out the platforms, etc. seems to be a bit tougher, but if you do wind up going there, you'll figure it out, as with anywhere else.

astro25e · 04-12-2006, 11:19 PM

I think that the train systems are much easier to understand than bus systems. And the best thing to do is to get a map of the lines before you start going around on them. And don't be afraid to ask someone if you're confused. Uaually, the employees and just random people are very nice and will let you know what the correct stop is, what line to connect to, etc. also, the lonely planet books usually have transportation maps in them, and the places of interest/hostels usually have the particular train/trolly stop they are located near.

Good luck! it'll be way easier than you think

**aliz** · 04-13-2006, 05:34 AM

you'll be fine. the thing you find with travelling alone is that you have to figure it out. if you miss your stop you can't call your mum and get her to come and pick you up, you have to figure out a solution, and you always do. you might surprise yourself with your abilities!