Traveler to Europe - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

sportslover2125 · 10-20-2004, 06:46 PM

I have read most of the posts concerning this topic but I need some questions answered.

I am currently planning a back packing voyage to Europe June 2005. I am planning 14 days and hopefully at least 7 countries. I don't want to make a circle around Europe but hope to fly out of a different city than I came in. I want the best possible cities and countries to enjoy in the short time I will have. I would like to go to England, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and maybe Switzerland.

1. Can anyone suggest the best route for the best enjoyment?

2. Is the Euro Rail better/cheaper than Easy Jet or Ryan Air?

3. How much would a trip like this cost?

4. Which city is best/cheapest to fly to from the USA?

Thanks for the info.

**U2fan** · 10-20-2004, 07:58 PM

Welcome to the boards! Well, first and foremost I would say you REALLY should not try to be in 7 countries in only 14 days; you won't see much of anything besides the inside of a train or plane and won't enjoy it very much. I would say in 14 days you shouldn't plan more than 3 countries at the most and just plan to be back to Europe sometime

Sidenote: my 300th post, yyyyahhhhh

**JiveTurkey** · 10-20-2004, 08:09 PM

Hola and Welcome sportslover,

For starters, only 14 days and 7 countrys will be hectic to say the least. I think you should do at the most 4. I would look at the list and decide what ones you really want to see. If you tried to do more then 4 countrys you will have a hard time really enjoying the time you have in each place.

As for the Eurorail pass vs. Ryan Air or Easy Jet that is really up to you. When you make your list of countrys and they are close to one another I would say use the Eurorail (FYI - The Eurorail does NOT work in England, you will need a Britrail pass)

If the countrys are a good distance from one another I would use EasyJet or RyanAir, however, keep in mind that the airports sometimes are a good ways out of the center of town (thats really the only con to air travel)

As for cost its totaly up to you.. If you wanna do it as cheep as possiable you could stay in larger doorm rooms, eat mainly bread and cheese, and not party (drink and such) too much. I would decide how much you want to spend a day. For example I will plan on spending 80 Euros (around 100 USD) a day. This is my breakdown:

25 Euros a day for Room
25 Euros a day for Food
30 Euros a day for Partying and Such

You also have to factor in things like taking the night trains will save you money on not having to get a room. I won't be partying EVERY night so I will save there too.

Flying in from the US you have 2 good options for good fairs. Flying into Brussels or Amsterdam are the cheepest places to fly into. I would check a site like travelocity and use the flexable dates option to see when I can get a good cheep flight.

Hope this helps

**JiveTurkey** · 10-20-2004, 08:11 PM

Bahaha, me and U2 posted at the same time... Some kind of TP ESP thing going on.... w0ah

**ashpunk** · 10-21-2004, 08:49 AM

ryanair! but on that note... make sure you get there early to check in. Most of the time the check in lines are long and if you dont make it up to the counter in the allowed time. They will litterally place a closed sign up on the desk and say tough cookies. So as long as you're not cutting your flights close and have time left to goof off in the terminal (you can always type emails at one of the many internet kiosk) ryanair will be your best bet.

Trains are awesome as long as you buy a rail pass... I didnt buy one thinking it was too much money to spend on rail ticket... boy was I wrong. I ended up spending 3 times as much just buy ticket to ticket.

I will say.. I hate busses... but it is also a cheaper option.. so if you can stand the chance you might get set next to a smelly hairy old man for 8 hours (yes, that happened to me on the way to madrid) then the bus is and idea to keep in mind.

Good luck!