facepaintedwhite

Alrighjt, my friend and i have decided to save up money to backpack through europe for one month.we will be 16 or 17 when we go, we want to go to Spain, France,Switzerland (lodgins at my friends cousins house), Italy, Greece (possibly take ferry from Italy to greece), Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, possibly poland and willing to land in any other countries if its cheaper to land there vs. other countries. We want to depart from St.Paul, Mn. can anyone tell me good places to visit in these countries, a cheap fluasable route, and any other information? thank you.

JomtienC

for accomodation try backpackers.comto eat, avoid restaurants. go to supermarkets and buy ready meals

ani

http://www.hostelbookers.com/booking/index.cfmhttp://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/TravelGuide-Europe.htmlhttp://www.startours.co.uk http://www.tajtours.co.uk

TeroJ

I have Been packpacking first time in 1976 and visited just about all the European countries. The cost steers very much where to travel. . Travelling is not that expensive if you buy an eurailpass for youth. It costs currently $634.00 for one moth travel in Austria 3, Belgium 3, Denmark 3 , Finland 3, France 2, Germany, 3 Greece 2, Holland 2, Hungary 1, Italy 2, Luxembourg 3, Norway 4, Portugal 1, Republic of Ireland 3, Romania 0 , Spain 2, Sweden 3 and Switzerland 4. You can also extend your trip to Czeck 1 and Slovakia 0, Estonia 1, Poland 1 you have to buy the train tickets (boat for Estonia), but prices of them are very reasonable and living cost make it up. I would recommend Prague (old city and center price level 3 all other 1). Other Cities definately worth seeing are: Berlin, Porto (take a tour in port cellar) and Barcelona maybe also Paris, Cologne, Amsterdam, Delft (Holland), Annecy (France), Berlin, Copenhagen, Tampere.I have number behind each giving idea of price level there this correspons the price level on regular towns not historic city centers etc...4 - much higher than states3 - somewhat higher than states2 - states level1 - below states0 - way below The same list for ability to get along with locals in English and find chat companion in PUBs among locals (not fellow tourists) 4 very easy 0 slight chance. Getting along with hotels and torist professionals is usually easy in all the countries.Austria 3, Belgium 2, Denmark 3 , Finland 4, France 1, Germany3, Greece 1, Holland 4, Hungary 1, Italy 2, Luxembourg 4, Norway 3, Portugal 1, Romania 0 , Spain 2, Sweden 3 and Switzerland 3. Czeck 1 and Slovakia 0, Estonia 1.So if you are low on budget go east if high west and north, very easy. My son has backpacked at your age with 15 dollat budget a day for accommodatoin, food and even travel in slovakia (where eurailpass does not cover) Budjet tips:1. Stay the hostels, you will find them there www.HIhostels.com, saves a bundle over hotels.2. Visit and see historical centers, but do not drink or eat anything there, few blocks of busstops can halve the price.3. Spend some nights on train traveling, get more covered (one night covers cross Europe East-West) an save on accommodation.4. Buy food at supermarkets, do not eat in restaurants more than necessary, my son even used to have a cooker with hi´m. A noodle lunch is around 1 dollar anywhere if you can make hot water.5. If you want to eat or drink in a restaurant check the prices from menu and order from there so you know what to pay (even if you dont always exactly know what you ordered, goes mainly for 1 and 0 on the last list) Usually the cheapest eating out is pizzas and stuff.6. Best budjet months to travel are June and September, the entire Europe is still warm, but prices (and flights from USA) much cheaper than July-August.I would not use long fery trips they add to cost, railpass is free once you bought it, so take trains. That would exclude Greece from my trip. Long and difficult by train, no budget flights, costly ferries if you compare them to ferries Demark-Sweden-Finland-Estonia giving you 50 % discount on Eurail pass.Have a good trip and always ask your fellow travellers for hints, they are plenty in trains. You would no imagine how easy it is to travel a month for way under 1000 dollars (exl. flight and urailpass) if you follow even some of these hints.Flying in I would find the cheapest flight from Mn to London Stanstead (priceline.com has been good, make a low bid). Then take flight to any destination they have with ryanair.com, the cheapest airlline in Europe, be sure to book and pay about 6 months prior your trip, you get incredible prices. Three hour flight to Tampere or Palermo Sicily for 50 dollars one-way and so.