NewburyFox Posted 20 October 2013 Posted 20 October 2013 Me and my friend are looking to go next summer as we're finishing uni this year, we've got a rough list of places we'd like to go to (Paris and south of France, Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam, Auschwitz, Budapest, a few cities in Italy etc) and a general route planned, although nothing has been booked yet. We're looking to get a 30 day rail pass, so we should be able to go on most lines around Europe. We're not necessarily looking to do it on the cheap, but are looking to keep costs down. Neither of us have travelled around mainland Europe before, bar a couple of cities, so are there any must-see cities that you would recommend, or just general advice? Thanks.
Vlad the Fox Posted 20 October 2013 Posted 20 October 2013 I done this just nearly 20 years ago, watched leicester beat derby on TV, straight to the train station and off we went. Barcelona was great, a lot better than Paris. Also we took in the Munich beer festival which should be on about now. If you can get a mountain train up the alps to Chamonix, fantastic ride up through the pines and small mountain villages and the mountain air is a perfect pick me up after trawling from one big city to another. Berlin is good as well, the train dropped us off in the east which still looked like a destitute communist state, and due to there being no American Express we had to walk from east to west which was an eye opener as in the east the shops were empty as we bought the last of the bread and biscuits, buildings were run down and poverty was everywhere yet you walk through the zoological gardens and the Brandenburg gate and the bright lights of the west greet you with its neon, Hard Rock Cafe, expensive designer cloths and jewellery shops. I've been back Berlin since and the east is the place to go now for a good night out. Use hostels as they're cheaper and a great place to meet other backpackers and usually end up in some good house party style do's but if you start running short on money get the night trains to places saving on accommodation costs. I had a fantastic time and would do it all again.
Vlad the Fox Posted 20 October 2013 Posted 20 October 2013 Oh, and keep your wits about you. Keep your passport and money close and watch out for each other. You shouldn't get any trouble but some people may target you because you're backpackers. My friend and myself nearly got into a fight with possibly the worst gang of pickpockets ever in Barcelona but fortunately they backed down.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 Backpackers hostels, swear by them cheap and normally in the heart of the cities plus it immediatly gives you alot of drinking partners.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 Has anyone ever done this alone? Not interralling but i've backpacked on my own, I actual prefer it. Just got back from 7 weeks in America and Central America where for the most part i travelled on my own and just met up with alot of fellow travellers.
Webbo Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 If you like statues of muscular men with their cocks out don't miss Rome and the Vatican.
ADK Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 Or if you're under 12 and like big cocks just visit your local Catholic church.
bovril Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 Novi Sad and Belgrade are good cities and with direct rail and bus links to Budapest
cambridgefox Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 If you like statues of muscular men with their cocks out don't miss Rome and the Vatican.youve sold it to me.Do they have a no touching policy like Spearmint Rhino?
cambridgefox Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 Me and my friend are looking to go next summer as we're finishing uni this year, we've got a rough list of places we'd like to go to (Paris and south of France, Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam, Auschwitz, Budapest, a few cities in Italy etc) and a general route planned, although nothing has been booked yet. We're looking to get a 30 day rail pass, so we should be able to go on most lines around Europe. We're not necessarily looking to do it on the cheap, but are looking to keep costs down. Neither of us have travelled around mainland Europe before, bar a couple of cities, so are there any must-see cities that you would recommend, or just general advice? Thanks. i might be wrong but did Monk have a website regarding rail journeys?
NewburyFox Posted 21 October 2013 Author Posted 21 October 2013 Venice and Florence. Vienna's lovely, too. These two and Rome are the Italian cities we are looking to do I done this just nearly 20 years ago, watched leicester beat derby on TV, straight to the train station and off we went. Barcelona was great, a lot better than Paris. Also we took in the Munich beer festival which should be on about now. If you can get a mountain train up the alps to Chamonix, fantastic ride up through the pines and small mountain villages and the mountain air is a perfect pick me up after trawling from one big city to another. Berlin is good as well, the train dropped us off in the east which still looked like a destitute communist state, and due to there being no American Express we had to walk from east to west which was an eye opener as in the east the shops were empty as we bought the last of the bread and biscuits, buildings were run down and poverty was everywhere yet you walk through the zoological gardens and the Brandenburg gate and the bright lights of the west greet you with its neon, Hard Rock Cafe, expensive designer cloths and jewellery shops. I've been back Berlin since and the east is the place to go now for a good night out. Use hostels as they're cheaper and a great place to meet other backpackers and usually end up in some good house party style do's but if you start running short on money get the night trains to places saving on accommodation costs. I had a fantastic time and would do it all again. Thanks for this. I've been to Barcelona, it really is a lovely place. What did you do regarding luggage? I think that's what's concerning me most, as I don't want to be leaving a huge rucksack lying around, but don't want to be hauling it around with me. I'm trying to avoid just hitting all the tourist hotspots, although it appears that we're going that way. Rather than just hitting the main cities in all the big European countries, I'm keen to go to less well known places, although nothing too out the way, such as Eastern Europe. I think Budapest in Hungary will be the furthest east we're going. I think essentially I want to have a proper European experience rather than a tour of the capitals, if you see what I mean. i might be wrong but did Monk have a website regarding rail journeys? Now you mention it I think I remember reading about that, although I don't remember the website or where to find it. Chances are we'll get a 30 day rail pass which allows you to hit most of the main lines in each country.
NewburyFox Posted 21 October 2013 Author Posted 21 October 2013 How early would people recommend booking hostels? I've never stayed in one before so don't really understand how they work.
MC Prussian Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 All I can add to this is to keep your wallet close in most major cities, and in the South in particular - I've never been affected myself, but I've heard some pretty drastic stories from people getting mugged in the Barcelona subways, for instance. I'd always try and book hostels a couple of days in advance, as you see fit. You don't want to go through the hassle of looking for options, wandering around endlessly before something pops up at night. Why don't you become a member of Hostelling International? They usually have very decent offers.
Unabomber Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 If you go to Brussels, make sure that you go to Cafe Delirium and Celtica!
NewburyFox Posted 21 October 2013 Author Posted 21 October 2013 All I can add to this is to keep your wallet close in most major cities, and in the South in particular - I've never been affected myself, but I've heard some pretty drastic stories from people getting mugged in the Barcelona subways, for instance. I'd always try and book hostels a couple of days in advance, as you see fit. You don't want to go through the hassle of looking for options, wandering around endlessly before something pops up at night. Why don't you become a member of Hostelling International? They usually have very decent offers. When I went to Barca as part of a geography trip we were warned about pickpocketers. Certainly had to keep my eyes open on Las Ramblas! A few days before? Isn't that a bit short notice? Would seem to me that that would cause unnecessary stress when it could've been sorted months in advance. I've never heard of that, I'll take a look, thanks. I think we will get a couple of nights at cheap hotels in, if only to relax a bit.
Smudge Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 Watch out for street money exchangers; do not deal with them. My mate got $5 in Polish złoty for a $100 bill. Mind you this was in 1989 so they may have changed the currency by now. The con man counted out to the money to about $95 of the currency and he then pretended to be a few złoty short, so he put his hand in his pocket and swaped the high value note for a much smaller one. With so many zero's it's hard to spot in the moment.
Webbo Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 youve sold it to me.Do they have a no touching policy like Spearmint Rhino? Touching no. They never mentioned licking though and yet that's what they threw me out for.
Vlad the Fox Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 We tended to leave our bags at hostels, they were quite good as a lot would give you they keys to the room and you'd have it to yourselves, (though this wasn't the case in Chamonix were I woke up to a lady wandering around the dorm in her underwear) but if not they would often have lockers, or train stations would have lockers. Has for booking hostels, we just rolled into wherever we were staying and seemed to find one through asking other backpackers, or people handing out flyers at train stations, I think the hostel we stayed in/partied in, in Paris was Mikes hostel. It would be a good idea to book in advance but sometimes your decisions may be spur of the moment. The pickpockets on the ramblas in Barcelona are the worst ever, shove them away and tell them to **** off, in the end me and my mate squared up to about five of them, fortunately they backed down and left us alone. Just dont let your guard down, you'll be fine.
katieakita Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 Recently did Krakow, really good very cheap and they will love Wasi, Auschwitz is a place you have to do if over their. Bratislava good as is vienna but it,s not cheap all dpends on your budget i suppose..
Vlad the Fox Posted 21 October 2013 Posted 21 October 2013 Nuremberg was nice taking a walk up to the castle. If I remember rightly someone told me it was the only German City that was rebuilt to its original state after the war.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 22 October 2013 Posted 22 October 2013 How early would people recommend booking hostels? I've never stayed in one before so don't really understand how they work. http://www.hostelworld.com/
DANGEROUS TIGER Posted 22 October 2013 Posted 22 October 2013 Me and my friend are looking to go next summer as we're finishing uni this year, we've got a rough list of places we'd like to go to (Paris and south of France, Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam, Auschwitz, Budapest, a few cities in Italy etc) and a general route planned, although nothing has been booked yet. We're looking to get a 30 day rail pass, so we should be able to go on most lines around Europe. We're not necessarily looking to do it on the cheap, but are looking to keep costs down. Neither of us have travelled around mainland Europe before, bar a couple of cities, so are there any must-see cities that you would recommend, or just general advice Thanks. Prague is fantastic for its architecture.
SemperEadem Posted 23 October 2013 Posted 23 October 2013 Has anyone ever done this alone? Yes did 3 weeks around Europe last summer... what a summer it was.
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