initial planning stage - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**d_fresh** · 03-30-2004, 03:12 AM

hey, I'm going to be backpacking across europe for 33 days in september. we just did up our initial itinerary and I'm wondering if this seems too much to try to do in that time. here's the breakdown. we'll be using eurail except where noted:

sept. 3 arrive at heathrow 6:25am
eurostar to paris
paris (3 days with day trip to rouen, maye beaumont hamel)
paris to rome
rome (3 days)
rome to venice
venice (2 days)
venice to salzburg
salzburg (2 days)
salzburg to berlin
berlin (3 days)
berlin to copenhagen
copenhagen (2 days)
copenhagen to amsterdam
amsterdam (3 days)
amsterdam to liverpool (easyjet is looking like the best option for saving time)
liverpool (1 day)
liverpool to edinburgh
edinburgh (2 days)
edinburgh to dublin(flying)
dublin (3 days)
dublin to london
london (3 days)
back home @ 12:30pm

so that's 27 days with 6 flexible (some of which will be taken up by travel). does this seem like a good itinerary or too much to try? we're eurovirgins and finding it a little overwhelming trying to plan from here.
thanks in advance.

**Carisia** · 03-30-2004, 07:17 AM

Wow! This looks like a great itinerary, and it's good that you have the 6 flex days. Just remember that some of the legs are pretty long, ie. france to rome, so you may want to consider doing the overnight trains, nonetheless just assume that for some of the longer distances, maybe 1/2 your day will already be used up getting there, finding your bearings, getting to hostel... Have fun!

**worldwidemike** · 03-30-2004, 07:42 AM

I'd say you're hitting some of Europe's highlights, there. Your itinerary looks like it is made for a rail pass of some sort. You are planning on getting one, right? I count six big train legs outside of Britain. Maybe you don't need a montly pass, but one that allows X number of travel days within a certain period of time.

Others will know more about the topic, but I'm not sure if your rail passes will work on the Eurostar or within the British Isles. Definitely something you should research...any other TPers got the skinny on this?

worldwidemike

**d_fresh** · 03-30-2004, 07:52 AM

yeah, we were thinking of getting the unlimited month long eurail pass (works out to like $50 more canadian than 15 days in 2 months). inside the UK isn't covered (discounted I think), but it's only like 2 rides inside the UK (liverpool to edinburgh, dublin to london).
overnight train is what we're thinking from paris to rome. kill 2 birds with one stone.

phlipfudge23 · 03-31-2004, 07:09 AM

just a warning, train prices in the UK were kinda steep last time I checked, so you should look into that and see how it fits your budget. Bus is alot cheaper, but kinda meanders and from what I hear doesn't always run on schedule, whereas trains are much more reliable.

luisfc1972 · 04-07-2004, 02:21 PM

well id say just one day in venice is enough, unless you have your significant other with you. id add one day to paris for a side trip to versailles. add one day to rome and see pompeii. you could see naples too, i think

Sam UK · 04-08-2004, 05:37 AM

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourne...03_200448133652

hopefully this will give you an idea of the train prices here in the UK.

***Beady*** · 04-08-2004, 01:28 PM

If you book early, or grab a very late train ticket, then sometimes you can get good deals on the train fares here in the Uk. But, say you were going from London to Manchester, its £60!!!! Sooooo damned expensive travelling by train. If you can, but it looks like you got quite a tight schedule, try travelling by bus. About a fifth of the price!