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Q #1: When do I want to backpack
Europe?
This is an important decision, because if you plan to backpack Europe
during high-season-June, July and August- then you will want to start
looking for airfare as far ahead as possible. The further in advance you
look the greater chance you have of getting a good fare. If you are backpacking
Europe during high-season you should spend a little more time doing some
planning as finding a bed in a European hostel can be tough during this
time of the year.
Q #2: How long will I backpack Europe?
You will need to know this so you can decide on how much money you will
need for the duration of your trip.
A good daily average to consider for food and lodging is about $75-100
per day. You can keep eating expenses down by buying food at a supermarket
and lodging expenses down by taking overnight trains, such as the Artesia
Night which has night travel between France and Italy . This daily average
of course does not include pre-trip expenses such as airfare, toiletries,
youth hostel membership, passport, passport photos, Eurail Pass and other
necessities.
Deciding how long you will backpack Europe will also help you decide on
which type of Eurail Pass you should purchase. There are several different
Eurail passes. You can choose consecutive day travel Eurail passes or
flexible travel day passes, also know as Eurail Flexipass. Eurail Youth
Passes are discounted for travelers under 26. The classic Eurail
Youth Pass covers 17
countries, has both the consecutive day travel Eurail Pass and Eurail
Flexipass options. The Eurail
Select Youth allows you to choose 3, 4 or 5 countries that are connected
by land or by sea and gives you the choice of 5 to 15 travel days over
a 2 month period. Choose from over 20 country choices of the Eurail Pass
network.
Q #3: Which countries do I want to visit?
This will help you narrow down which type of Eurail pass you will need.
If you want to see it all the classic Eurail
Youth Pass covers all 17 countries of The Eurail
network. The Eurail
Select Youth allows you to choose 3, 4 or 5 countries of the Eurail
Pass network that are connected by land or by sea and gives you the choice
of 5 to 15 travel days over a 2 month period. If you are looking for rail
travel in a specific region, or just one country Eurail also offers Regional
Youth Passes and Single
Country Youth Passes (go to the appropriate page and check the
prices marked YOUTH).
Q #4: How am I going to get around?
Public transportation systems in Europe are very good. When you arrive
at a subway or bus station inquire about a daily, weekly and monthly discounted
tickets available for public transportation. You can use your Eurail pass
on some suburban trains like the S-bahn in Germany. However we do not
recommend using one of your Eurail travel days, unless you have a consecutive
day Eurail pass, to ride on suburban trains. Use your Eurail pass for
long trips; that way you get the most for your money.
Q #5: Why is a Eurail Pass the best way to backpack around
Europe?
Traditionally college students that backpacked around Europe did it by
hitchiking. Since this tradition began in the 60s and 70s hitchiking has
become dangerous and taboo. A Eurail Pass is a much safer means of backpacking
Europe, and it is also affordable!
Q #6: Where am I going to stay in Europe?
The best and least expensive places to stay in Europe are youth hostels.
Hostels in Europe offer a variety of accomodations. Some have single,
double and quadruple rooms, while other have huge dormitory style accomodation.
They range from quite nice, to "it will do for a night". Most
people in hostels are backpacking Europe too. You will meet a lot of interesting
people from all over the world. For more information on hostels in Europe
go to www.hostelseurope.com
or the Backpacker.net's
hostel index.
Q #7: How can find a travel partner to backpack
Europe with me?
There are several ways to find travel partners. You can either fly straight
to Europe and join others that are heading in the same direction as you
or post messages in news groups like Google
Groups and establish a rapport with someone before deciding whether
or not to travel toghether. Other options include joining all inclusive
youth tours offered by All Europe Rail. These tours range from 9 to 35
days to all areas of Europe. If you are interested in finding out more
about these youth tours contact our travel team for more information at
info@alleuroperail.com
Tips for Backpacking around Europe:
Tip # 1 - Take some cash with you but your best bet is to have an ATM or credit card while backpacking Europe. Banks and credit card companies get a better exchange rate. And if you loose all your cash it is gone, if you lose an ATM or credit card it is replaceable.
Tip # 2 - Nobody wants or expects something bad to happen while they are backpacking in Europe. Unfortunately sometimes these things to happen. We recommend that you buy Eurail Pass insurance for your Eurail Pass, and travel insurance for your other travel documents. Furthermore, make copies of all your important documents such as your passport, visas, credit card and ATM card and leave them at home with a relative so that the information is readily available should you need a replacement. If you can upload it to a secure website for storage that it is ultimately the best solution as it is only an internet cafe away.
Tip # 3 - Choose your travel partners will when you backpack Europe. Backpacking in Europe will be a truly wonderful, enlightening experience. Some will love it and some will hate it. You and your friend or best friends may get along famously in your familiar home setting but backpacking Europe is challenging and not everyone reacts the same. You will be in another country and have to deal with unfamiliar situations, and it is best to have a travel partner who handles impromptu situations in good humor, and always looks on the bright side of things. After all it is your European backpacking adventure and if you are in a difficult situation at the moment, we guarantee it will probably be something you will laugh about when you are home after your backpacking tour of Europe. Best of friends can become the worst of friends while you backpack Europe, so choose your travel partners wisely or consider going at it alone.
Tip # 4 - There is so much to see and do while you backpack Europe it is helpful to make some plans. You should always be flexible because while backpacking Europe you will undoubetdly meet people you would like to spend more time with and if you have an all inclusive Eurail Pass you can just hop on the train with your new friends for a new adventure backpacking around Europe. We highly recommend Let's Go Europe, the backpackers' bible to backpacking around Europe. During high season try to make reservations at youth hostels as early as you possibly can as during the summer it can be tough to find a place to sleep.
Tip # 5 - Before you leave to backpack Europe be sure to have all your student discount and youth hostel cards purchased in advance. You will waste a lot of time trying to get them done during your precious backpacking tour, so save yourself the time and the trouble get it all done before you go. For more information pick up Let's Go Europe, the backpacker's bible to backpacking around Europe.
Useful backpacking Europe links:
Hostels of Europe - great list of hostels by country. Hostel reservations online and you can purchase a Hostels of Europe discount card for $15.00
The Backpacker Net - Hostel Index with commentaries, message board and other resources for the prospective backapcker.
Eurotrip - Hostel review, travel tips and much more information about backpacking in Europe.
Backpack Europe on a Budget - Insighful, comprehensive, first-hand information on backpacking through Europe.
So you Wanna Backpack through Europe? - 6 short articles filled with pre-trip travel conisderations and travel tips.
Guide for Europe - great site filled with tips for backpackers. Created after author spent 7 months backpacking through Europe.
Hostel World - Find a hostel anywhere in the world, make reservations and much more. Very useful site.
If your question is not answered here, talk to us on our live chat from 8am to 8pm or drop us an e-mail at info@alleuroperail.com with your questions, or your suggestions for adding a site our list.