dovmi88

I'm 19 years old and I'm planning on taking next summer off from classes and traveling to Europe for about a month. This is really just one of those things that I have been dying to do and I need to get it off my chest before I enter the "real world." I'm looking to live in and around Europe for about a month or so, with no real agenda, and just really exploring. I'm not looking to be a tourist, I want to actually live and breath a different civilization. I'm starting my research now, in order to be well prepared next summer and was wondering where to start. Does anybody have any advice or websites where I can start? I'm totally aware of the hazards involved in this, but I'll be 20 at the time and I'm really just looking for adventure. So please no motherly advice! Thank you!

AdamJ

Go track down a lonely planet guide...Check out STA travel for relativel inexpensive student fares... Paris, London and Rome are awesome...

mgmaui

Going to europe was the best trip I have taken. We started in Munich and did sort of a southern loop: Munich, Austria, Venice, The lake distrct in northern italy, Alsac france(great wines), zurich swiss, back to munich.I would have liked to see more but we only had 3 weeks and we wanted to spend a few days in each spot.I don't think a month is enough time to escape the tourist statis unless you are going to stay at one spot. If you are going to take the entire summer off from school that gives you 3 months go for and it stay for all 3.Time flies over there. Do the 3 month vacation before you get to the "real world" as you put it.

SUE0715

I'm a woman, I was twenty when I did that. I actually lived in Spain for a full year, and spent my winter break (a month) and summer break (about 9 weeks) travelling the trains and youth hostels. I think a month is great, but you will probably decide it wasn't enough to be a "non-tourist". I would suggest finding a smallish town to settle in, and use as a home base, and only try to fit in as much as is reasonable...don't try to get all of Europe in in only a month, because you won't see anything. One other thing: (ok, here's the motherly advice). Always be aware of your surroundings. Be careful of the people you get around...most are wonderful, nice, and warm, but there are pickpockets and thieves out there, too. If you use normal precautions, you should be ok. And Have Fun!!!