The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Backpacking Europe?
arod_77
__BANNED USERS regular
__BANNED USERS regular
My head is full of romantic notions maybe, but I have decided that I need to do something dramatic.
I will have some start up money but I intend to travel leanly and maybe work my way from place to place--I want it to be crappy, dull and hard.
I am virginal and naeve.
What do I need to bring? What is a good jumping off point? What resources might I find in western european countries that I can use and abuse?
I will have some start up money but I intend to travel leanly and maybe work my way from place to place--I want it to be crappy, dull and hard.
I am virginal and naeve.
What do I need to bring? What is a good jumping off point? What resources might I find in western european countries that I can use and abuse?
arod_77 on
0
Posts
Check out couchsurfing.org
Make a photocopy of your passport. Keep the real passport someplace safe and use the photocopy as ID. (Of course you will need your real passport, just stash it somewhere so it doesn't get stolen).
You will have a hard time finding work to make money, there is not nearly as much crappy under the table employment available in Europe as there is in the United States (well, not for backpacking youth anyway). That said, working at bars/clubs and the like, especially in coastal resort areas, is a good place to start.
That's ok though, because by buying food at grocery stores (or markets) instead of restaurants, staying in dorm hostels like VisionofClarity said and other similar measures you can stretch your money out a lot.
Prague is indeed very nice and I recommend it too.
All that being said, if you really want dramatic, may I recommend backpacking South America instead? It is much much cheaper, more dangerous, more strenuous and all around more of an adventure. There is sort of a standard set of routes, but you can get off them in a day or less and find yourself in some really amazing places. Also, the work-to-make-cash as you travel thing is totally feasible there, at least in the big cities.
Its interesting and I do want to learn the fullness of my Spanish again. (Only spoke it until 7 and now I can understand it perfectly but fail at speaking it)
Haha, this is very true. My experience is limited to living in Mexico and leanly visiting Central America, but if they're any indication South America would be an amazing adventure if you keep your wits about you. That said, you'll never know what you'll run into. The attitude toward gringos varies pretty dramatically.
But yeah, I'm not speaking from experience, just all the hollerin' I hear when I mention I want to do what you want to do.
Having a small multi-language book for tourists is mighty helpful. I used a 4500 cubic centimeter (I think) backpack from Kelly or Keltec, don't remember the name, with those plastic space-saver bags.
Hostels are your friend. Also, I found that the shittier the hostel, the more beautiful the attendant at the desk (they are usually women, especially in eastern Europe), so keep that in mind.
I also saved money by bringing along 45 MREs (modern military rations) to have for 1 meal each day. Its a solid 1,500 - 2,000 calories if you eat everything in the package. Since I normally eat at least 4,000cal a day, I knew I would have to have spent a bundle on food while I was there. MREs can be had for $1.50 a piece if you buy in bulk.
Here was my 45 day itinerary when I went backpacking -
Berlin, Germany to
Krakow, Poland to
Prague, Czech Republic to
Vienna, Austria to
Rome, Italy to
Paris, France to
London, England
[edit] The trains are convenient, yes, but I recommend them for the memories you'll get when you are stuck on a shitty fucking train overnight sharing space with strangers. There is nothing like it - it is hot, sweaty, cramped and shitty as balls, but you are all in it together, and gives you a great opportunity to meet people and get tips.
Then after two or three days, we decided it was better to just have a smaller trip, but one that we would enjoy much more by doing the stuff we wanted to do on a reasonable budget without worrying about penny pinching. We had nice hotels we stayed at, getting great deals because we stayed at business hotels on the weekends when they had no guests. Instead of a month we were there for 20 days. No regrets.
And we had a great time. Enough that we will probably go back in spring 2009, especially if the Euro and Pound keep falling.
I know you have this idea of how great it's going to be. But you can't ignore the culture shock that hits you no matter how much you plan for it, or the language barrier and attitudes in certain countries. Add to it the notion of under the table pay is very hard to get in reality (particularly because a lot of Eastern Europeans have already taken those jobs), and I would recommend just saving up, visit 3 or 4 countries, and thoroughly enjoy those places and come back in 2 years.
In Munich I came down with a sore throat and had to mime my symptoms to a German pharmacist to get meds. Best damn cough drops ever. No idea what was in them, but they were great.