Which is the best way to backpack around Europe?

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dragonfly_3

Get a eurail pass and stay in youth hostels. Look at the website www.STAtravel.com. It's a site dedicated to the student and young adult traveler.

haslo

Above answers are right about train passes and using student visas. I would also strongly recommend getting to know the books by Rick Steves, who is a guru of just such a travel. Check out his cool website for travel ideas:

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/plan_menu.htm

Darla_111

well, first you need to buy a back pack........

Bored

I have just left italy from living in milan for over a year, italy is a great place and travel couldn't be easier.

travelled italy the other year, spent two weeks doing rome, venice, florence, pisa, siena, naplies and sorrento. fantastic place and some real cheap hotels if you just trawl the web. the trains are fantastic and very cheap (i'm english so everything in europe cheaper for me), make sure your there on time though as they leave prompt.

becareful when you go as the major cities get very busy, definately DON'T go in august as Italy shuts down and everyone goes on holiday.

two years later we back packed france again the trains are great and hotels were cheap (again if you spend time trawling the web).

international student passes get you good discounts.

food wise DON'T eat in the main street restaurants, your daily budget will disappear. walk round the city, experience the back streets (they are cool) and you'll usually find some very nice small local restaurants.

baja annie

Get a good European map and plan your route - but remember that it won't be set in stone. Once you are there you will hear about places you will want to visit from other travelers and end up staying in some places longer than others.

Buy an open jaw ticket - which means you will fly into one city (say London) and out of another (say Rome). This gives you more time than flying in and out of the same city and doesn't cost that much more.

Buy a rail pass. If you are under 26 Eurail has some excellent passes depending on the duration and what countries you plan on visiting. Train travel is lots of fun. If you go buy train you can maximize your time by using the night trains. Saves money as you don't have to pay for accommodations (unless you are in a sleeper) and saves time as you leave one destination at night and arrive at your next destination in the morning.

Hostels are a lot of fun and Europe has some phenomenal ones. They are great places to meet other like minded travelers and they are pretty cheap.

If you are traveling in the summer - you might want to check out the local universities as sometimes they will rent dorm rooms out.

When planning your itinerary - make sure you have some time to relax and spend 2 or 3 nights in one destination. This way you can catch up on your rest, do some laundry and just chill.

Eating can be an adventure when you are backpacking. The hostels typically serve breakfast and some even have cooking facilities so you can cook your own meals. Picnics are always good and you can visit the local outdoor markets for delicious local fare. Eating doesn't have to be expensive if you are resourceful.

When packing for your trip - don't over do it. YOu can always buy things while you are over there. Wear your pack around for awhile to make sure it isn't too heavy as it is no fun to have a heavy back pack.

Have a fun time planning your trip and have fun!

mainetotexas721

walk forward it is easy and you see everything and dont get a super large back pac because your date wont carry it

cljonesmem

If you're a student or under 25, I would try www.studentuniverse.com. The best way to do it is to get a rail pass for one flat cost that allows you to ride the trains as much as you please for a certain number of days. It's cheap, and the European train system is extensive. Hostels are good, cheap options for accomodation, but you can also find cheap-ish hotels in some places.

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