New to backpacking and need advice!!

[reallivefarie]

Hi! I am new to backpacking and have some basic questions that I hope someone can help me with. :D

First, I have 3-4 weeks in the middle of summer and want to go to Western Europe. I naturally want to see as much as possible. Is it reasonable to plan on concentrating in 3 countries, staying in a city for only 3-4 days, and see around 7 cities, or should I spend more time in just 2-3 cities?

Second, how do I know how far a hotel/hostel is from all the stuff I’m going to want to see? And if it is far how will I know if there is convenient and affordable transportation? How far is too far?

Also I am traveling with someone and want to stay in private rooms. In my research it seams like everything is $30-50 a person, making a room $60-100 total. Is this what I should expect? And if this is too much for my budget (we want to spend $50 a day each) is camping a good alternative? If you camp where do you put your pack during the day?

And if I plan on taking an overnight train using my Eurail pass do I need to book in advance so that I know I will get a bunk, or can I show up on the day?

I know I’m being a bit paranoid, and that spontaneity is part of the experience. I just don’t want to show up at my $70 a night hotel and find out that it is an expensive 30 min by taxi out of town.

[Esterina]

Hello and welcome among us !

To your first question, I'd say it is better to plan a full 2 to 3 days in the city and add the travel time between cities to that. Not have planned the travel time entering and leaving the city with your 2 days, that would only leave you in fact less than 24 hours in town. Also, keep the opportunity to change your mind and stay longer in a city you enjoy. If you aren't travelling during the peak season, you don't need to book everything in advance.

To your second question : got to the library and grab a travelbook such as Lonely Planet. You'll have a good idea of the distance and public transportation. However, I would doubt any hostel is at a 30-minute taxi drive from downtown. I stayed in very off-center hostels in Budapest and Bucharest, and it was within a bus distance of 20 minutes. And those hostels offer advantages such as being cheaper, and in a quieter environment (not inside the hostel though!). They had great ambiance and the service was wonderful !

I can't help you out with the next questions. Other tpunks will !

[reallivefarie]

thanks for the reply.. sorry that I posted in the urgent section everyone, ill repost somewhere else ....wont hapen again.

[reallivefarie]

Hi! I am new to backpacking and have some basic questions that I hope someone can help me with.

First, I have 3-4 weeks in the middle of summer and want to go to Western Europe. I naturally want to see as much as possible. Is it reasonable to plan on concentrating in 3 countries, staying in a city for only 3-4 days, and see around 7 cities, or should I spend more time in just 2-3 cities?

Second, how do I know how far a hotel/hostel is from all the stuff I’m going to want to see? And if it is far how will I know if there is convenient and affordable transportation? How far is too far?

Also I am traveling with someone and want to stay in private rooms. In my research it seams like everything is $30-50 a person, making a room $60-100 total. Is this what I should expect? And if this is too much for my budget (we want to spend $50 a day each) is camping a good alternative? If you camp where do you put your pack during the day?

And if I plan on taking an overnight train using my Eurail pass do I need to book in advance so that I know I will get a bunk, or can I show up on the day?

I know I’m being a bit paranoid, and that spontaneity is part of the experience. I just don’t want to show up at my $70 a night hotel and find out that it is an expensive 30 min by taxi out of town.

[Delaney]

What cities are you going to? Tpunks often have good hostel suggestions. I like to look at hostelz.com and hostelworld.com, though take all the reviews with a grain of salt since you don't know who wrote them!

Also, I haven't used Eurail but have been researching for my trip and it seems like some countries you can just show up and others you need a reservation. For instance, in Spain I think they require you to make a reservation.

Hope this helps!

[blinkchick2134]

I naturally want to see as much as possible. Is it reasonable to plan on concentrating in 3 countries, staying in a city for only 3-4 days, and see around 7 cities, or should I spend more time in just 2-3 cities?

It's really up to you. I, myself, like to make a brief outline of what I'd like to see and then go with the flow. For example, you may get to Paris and have planned to spend 5 days there but by day two you've seen all that you wanted to and are bored (not saying that's the case but it could be). Usually it's best to give yourself 3-4 days in a city and if you like it you can stay longer - or leave sooner if that's the case.

Second, how do I know how far a hotel/hostel is from all the stuff I’m going to want to see? And if it is far how will I know if there is convenient and affordable transportation? How far is too far?

Most hostels in western Europe and within walking distance from public transit. The best advice I can offer is to borrow a Europe guidebook (or buy one) from the library and check hostel addresses in there. Use the hostel search on TravelPunk's main page and that will give you the street addresses for any hostel listed. If you're not sure about it's location or if it's on a transit line you can always call or email them and ask. As for 'how far is too far' I'd say whatever you think is too long of a walk. For myself, I'd say 6 or so blocks is too far. But it also depends on the neighborhood it's in and the cost of the room.

Also I am traveling with someone and want to stay in private rooms. In my research it seams like everything is $30-50 a person, making a room $60-100 total. Is this what I should expect? And if this is too much for my budget (we want to spend $50 a day each) is camping a good alternative? If you camp where do you put your pack during the day?

For a private room with two people....that sounds about right. Honestly, dorm rooms aren't that bad and if your budgeting then it'll probably be a better choice. You may also want to look into cheap motels - sometimes it's cheaper there to get a small room (then you get your own bathroom and maybe a tv). As for camping - it really depends on if you want to put forth the extra effort. You'd be carrying a tent and other equipment with you and usually campsites are a decent way from the city. There's a few other posts on the camping in western Europe. Try searching it with our search feature.

And if I plan on taking an overnight train using my Eurail pass do I need to book in advance so that I know I will get a bunk, or can I show up on the day?

I can't really answer this one...but I'm sure someone else knows.

I know I’m being a bit paranoid, and that spontaneity is part of the experience. I just don’t want to show up at my $70 a night hotel and find out that it is an expensive 30 min by taxi out of town.

Welcome to backpacking! Don't worry most of us get nervous - it's a normal part of traveling in this style. If you have any questions just ask! And some of your questions are probably already answered in other threads - so just use the search feature and that'll get you an answer a bit faster. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!

-Amber (I wrote too much and don't feel like re-reading - please excuse any errors)

[LiveFreeorDie]

Welcome to Travelpunk!! Amber just about covered everything I would say, so all I will add is......have a great trip!!

[BigE]

Sounds like a great trip. Don't be too organized. Just have a general idea what you want to do. I think the purpose of backpacking is to be free to do things you would not be able to do if you stayed in a hotel. Just be street smart.

[joe7f]

If you are traveling with someone, and have never been across the pond,I recommend that you start in Britain or Ireland (to get acclimated) and then make your way to Spain where Hostals (which are not hostels--more like B&Bs) are about 40 Euro a night.

On Hostelworld you can look for Budget Hotel. Believe me when I say, it is nice to have your own room on occasion but believe me again when I say that hostels are a lot more fun!

I compare it to living on campus. Off campus housing is usually more affordable and you get a better deal for your money but on campus you meet more people, get invited to more parties (well, if you aren't a loser like me :-P) etc

--Joey

[reallivefarie]

Thanks for all the awesome advice. We plan on starting in London because my travel partner has an Aunt and an Uncle that live there. Due to the huge difference in the British pound and the US $ we will only be staying there 4 days. Then after that we want to see France, mainly Paris, then Germany, concentrating on the south west and then probably Florence and Rome for a good chuck of the trip. I’m an art major and my partner is an architecture major, so Italy should be awesome. I’m really excited to go on my first trip, and am sure I will have several more questions.

Also has anyone ever herd of any tours or museums in the afore mentioned countries that are specific to architecture? And has anyone ever taken a cooking class while backpacking?