110 Day European Backpacking Expedition -- Anyone have some advice?

Hey everyone,



I鈥檓 planning a Summer 2010 backpacking adventure and would love some criticism/advice. I鈥檝e figures out my basic destination list, a rough schedule and a potential budget, but having never backpacked, I鈥檓 not sure how close or far off I am. Any advice you can give me would be much appreciated鈥?br>


Schedule:

[04 May 2010 鈥?09 May 2010] Dublin, Ireland

[09 May 2010 鈥?12 May 2010] Liverpool, United Kingdom

[12 May 2010 鈥?14 May 2010] Manchester, United Kingdom

[14 May 2010 鈥?16 May 2010] Cardiff, United Kingdom

[16 May 2010 鈥?23 May 2010] London, United Kingdom

[23 May 2010 鈥?30 May 2010] Paris, France

[30 May 2010 鈥?02 Jun 2010] Brussels, Belgium

[02 Jun 2010 鈥?09 Jun 2010] Amsterdam, Netherlands

[09 Jun 2010 鈥?14 Jun 2010] Berlin, Germany

[14 Jun 2010 鈥?20 Jun 2010] Prague, Czech Republic

[20 Jun 2010 鈥?25 Jun 2010] Vienna, Austria

[25 Jun 2010 鈥?30 Jun 2010] Budapest, Hungary

[30 Jun 2010 鈥?02 Jul 2010] Zagreb, Croatia

[02 Jul 2010 鈥?04 Jul 2010] Ljubljana, Slovenia

[04 Jul 2010 鈥?09 Jul 2010] Munich, Germany

[09 Jul 2010 鈥?12 Jul 2010] Venice, Italy

[12 Jul 2010 鈥?18 Jul 2010] Rome, Italy

[18 Jul 2010 鈥?22 Jul 2010] Athens, Greece

[22 Jul 2010 鈥?26 Jul 2010] M媒konos, Greece

[26 Jul 2010 鈥?29 Jul 2010] Athens, Greece

[29 Jul 2010 鈥?01 Aug 2010] Florence, Italy

[01 Aug 2010 鈥?04 Aug 2010] Milan, Italy

[04 Aug 2010 鈥?06 Aug 2010] Nice, France

[06 Aug 2010 鈥?08 Aug 2010] Toulouse, France

[08 Aug 2010 鈥?12 Aug 2010] Barcelona, Spain

[12 Aug 2010 鈥?15 Aug 2010] Valencia, Spain

[15 Aug 2010 鈥?19 Aug 2010] Madrid, Spain

[19 Aug 2010 鈥?22 Aug 2010] Lisbon, Portugal



Budget:

Airfare: 1100

Denver to Dublin, Ireland

Lisbon, Portugal to Denver



EuroRail Ticket 1400

3 Months, Unlimited in 21 Countries



Food/Drink 4000

110 Days at $25 a day food (2750)

50 Days at $25 a day for drinks (1250)



Lodging 3300

110 Days at $30 youth hostel (3300)



Attractions 2750

110 Days at $25 a day exploring (2750)



Other Travel 1950

110 Days at $10 for town travel (1100)

Flight from Rome to Athens (150)

Ferry to UK (100)

Ferries for Mykonos (150)

Ride through Chunnel (100)

Train through England (350)



Total: 14,500 for 110 Days110 Day European Backpacking Expedition -- Anyone have some advice?
I agree with the previous answer. Your budget for hostels is kind of low...sure, you may find a hostel that is that cheap, but the chances of finding hostels that cheap every where you go is pretty low. For example, when I lived in Florence, my friend came to visit me and had to stay in a hostel...I think he paid 45 euro a night.



In addition, 25 dollars to see the attractions is also pretty low. If you want to go up the eiffle tower, it is going to be more than 25 euro right there. Also, in Rome, you have to pay more than 25 euro to get into the Colloseum.



However, the good news are the cheaper flights. Try Ryan Air...sometimes you can find flights for as cheap as 25 euro. I found a flight from Rome to Istanbul for about 50 euro on Ryan air as compared to 120 euro on Air Italia.



This sounds like a lot of fun! Have a great time!110 Day European Backpacking Expedition -- Anyone have some advice?
The only thing I miss in your plans is visits to smaller towns, villages and the countryside.

And your expectations on the price of hostels is a bit on the low end, unless the dollar goes up before you travel.

If you buy your food in supermarkets and do your own cooking, $25 will do, but if you want to eat out on occasion, you should budget a bit more.

Most of your travel is in the relative expensive western half of Europe, so you will meet high prices wherever you go.



But the good news, you might well be able to find a cheaper flight, when booking a few months in advance. And your money reserved for exploring and local transport are generous too.

You have planned about $100 per day, unless the dollar exchange rate to the European currencies changes a lot, that is likely to be enough, certainly if you are not yet 25 and can use youth rates in many places.