Backpacking Europe for one month?

Sorry -- this may be a little lengthy, but I appreciate your answers as this type of travelling is new to me. :)



My friend and I are planning a trip to Europe for one month in September 2011 -- next year.

We've looked into tour companies, and have decided that we want to do this on our own so we can go where we want and at our own pace.



I'm already going to have been in England for two months prior to this -- so come September, she is going to fly over (from Canada) to meet me so we can began our travels.



We're thinking of starting in either Ireland or Scotland -- and then working our way across to the countries we want to see:

Spain - France - Italy - Greece - Germany - Netherlands - and possibly, Sweden.



Few quick questions:

1 - Aside from buying our Eurorail pass in advance while we're still in Canada ...... we don't want to commit or book anything else. That way, we're not tied down to HAVING to be in a certain place at a certain time. So, if we were to be in Germany, we would just check in to the nearest available hotel or hostel ---- does availability work like this over there?



2 -- She is going to have about $8000 CAD saved, and I will have between $5000 and $6000 CAD saved to do this. We are going to be cheap and smart over there -- but if we want to book into a hotel instead of a hostel one night, we don't want to be counting pennies. Will this amount of money between the 2 of us allow for this?



3 -- As far as luggage goes, any suggestions? I don't want to be wheeling around one of those big suitcases for the whole trip -- but would a backpack be big enough? Any suggestions from those who have done this before?



4 -- Anything else you could recommend? We have a year to plan this, so we're looking at all of our options.



THANKS! :)Backpacking Europe for one month?
I teach a college seminar on independent travel for first-timers. Brava for you! I am so pleased to see a young adventurer planning well in advance!



Generally by September many of the lines are getting shorter and summer travel holidays are winding up, so you can probably get away with not pre-booking your accommodations. Some Europeans are still traveling, however, so if there is someplace you really, really want to stay (such as a centuries-old castle on the Rhein River!), you should still book it in advance. Also, some of the trains to popular locations might be crowded, so you would want to combine your travel time and sleep time. reserve a couchette or sleeper several days in advance. Otherwise, you can try pot luck and hope you don't arrive somewhere in the middle of the harvest festival and find the town packed to the gills.



I envy your travel kitty! Between the two of you you should have no problems as far as money is concerned. I usually plan on spending about 鈧?0-75 per day. Some people end up turning their trips into exercises in frugality to such an extent that they forget the joys of the occasional splurge (like staying in a centuries-old castle on the Rhein River!).



For your luggage, the backpack still makes the most sense. I got addicted to mine after the first trip and am now on my third pack. Now I want one with wheels! It is the best of two worlds. There are still circumstances where slinging it on my back works best (wheels just don't work when bumping along a cobblestoned road or up a mountain path). I usually take three- or four-week trips and have always found everything fits great in my main backpack and my daypack. My problem is I love to buy books and CDs, so my luggage always winds up weighing a ton! Next time I will definitely pack an empty duffel just for souvenirs!



One thing I really, really recommend is getting a decent guidebook and planning map of Europe for plotting your travels. You'd be amazed at the number of people who think nothing of paying thousands for hotels, railpasses, meals, etc., but won't spend $15 on a decent copy of "Let's Go: Europe," Rick Steves' "Europe Through the Back Door," the DK "Eyewitness Travel" guides, etc. Spend time in a good bookshop like Books-a-Million, Border's or Barnes %26amp; Noble, peruse the "Foreign Travel" section, and find the guidebook that "speaks" to you. I usually buy a previous year's guide to save money. The admission prices or bus times may change, but the wonderful landmarks will always be there, just as they have for centuries.



One other great thing is to spend a night in a centuries-old castle on the Rhein River. Did I mention that? ;-)



Happy planning! Happy travels!Backpacking Europe for one month?
A backpack is definitely the way to go. Those wheely things are not very convenient. Also, the handle bit adds a lot of weight which you could use instead for clothes etc.., and backpacks leave your hands free.



A good idea is that after you have packed, spend a day walking around with your pack. Spend a few days carrying that stuff around, and you soon weed out unessentials. Also, you might want to consider taking clothes you wouldn't mind casting aside when your journey is ended, so you have room for any keepsakes you want to take home.



Europe is well geared for tourists, so walk-ins are usually not a problem. Most hostels are just as good as a hotel. Some have been nicer than hotels. Most hostels are between 20 and 30 euros.



Buy a Lonely Planet guide or whatever the equivalent is, ahead of time. They really are a good resource. It's good to decide ahead of time what you want to see. We make a list and put stuff in order of how much we want to do it. Then if we only get to do the top 3, we're happy and don't feel like we've missed out on anything.



A main meal in most countries is between 8 to 10 euros. Some are a little more, some are a little less, so it all evens out.



A little courtesy goes a long way. So learn hello, good-bye and thank you for whatever place you land in. The locals are always pleased when you enquire.



And be understanding when people don't speak English. Most people try to help and communicate, esp. if you are obviously trying too.



And most importantly....Have fun. Have a great time. Any hiccups make the journey memorable and interesting, and are fun to regale others with.



Happy trails.