Backpacking Through Europe?

Myself and two of my friends are planning on backpacking through Europe in the summer of 2015. Our plan is to be in Europe for three months. We do not want to set a strict plan (i.e. 2 days in Scotland then 3 in Britain), therefore we cannot use a travel agency to help us out. I know we need to get passports to get out of the U.S. My question about Visa's is do we need to get a Visa for each country (i.e. One for Britain, France, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, etc) or is our passport good for all of them? And how long are the Visa's good for?



Also, I have estimated a cost of about $7200 per person (based on hostel lodgings) but this is a really, really rough estimate as I can't get any Eurorail price estimates for that far in the future. Does this sound like a fair estimate?



Also, any general tips about Europe and travel/expenses are appreciated, this is our first voyage beyond the U.S. shores that hasn't been a military tour of Afghanistan..Backpacking Through Europe?
Sure you will enjoy that summer, its best not to structure these things cos it just takes one delay and your whole trip is pushed back so thats the right idea, visa wise it shouldnt be necessary to get seperate visas for the EU countries- you may just have to get one for the country you plan to stay in the longest, not 100% on that though, the non EU countries you will need seperate visas for, shouldnt be too hard for you though



Sounds like a fair estimate at this time, obviously your expenses could vary hugely, depends on a lot of things not least of all which countries you will spend most of your time ie expensive ones like ireland and uk or cheaper like poland, given economic circumstances EU may be bust by 2015 so could be cheap(mind you USA will probably go first so maybe not!)



Im sure people can tell you lots of places to go but id say dont rely too heavily on advice or books- find your own way and have your own adventures- not somebody/everybody elses



PS- Scotland is part of Britain!
You shouldn't need a visa for each country, I'm sure that the European Union (plus Norway and Switzerland) has some agreement with the US.

As for costs, remember to pay a membership to youth hostels before you go - you can save about 10% that way. Also consider camping, if you're going in the summer - most middle-sized cities have an area with camping facilities. Another way to save money is to focus on 'untouristic' countries such as the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and the East (Poland, Hungary, Slovenia...) where prices are generally much cheaper and there is just as much to see.



Have fun and welcome!Backpacking Through Europe?
There are two things in Europe: the EU and Schengen Zone. For current maps, and which countries belong where, best to check Wikipedia.

When you travel between Schengen countries (most EU countries NOT including UK and IRL) there are no borders and no border control. And you won't need a visa, only a passport. So, one short border control between Britain and France, then no border control until the Polish-Ukrainian border.

Going out of the European Union, that's a different story. There's a REAL border, and each country outside the EU might want a visa from you. Additionally, you might wait quite a long time at the border, get checked and asked all sort of stupid questions especially when you are entering the EU from the outside, like going from Ukraine to Poland as you mentioned.

As for the money, I guess it all depends what you want from the trip. Check the prices, they can vary enormously!

General tips: Europe is not very exotic in comparison with Afghanistan :) Basically, you might be surprised how civilized and similar to the US it is. One difference is that the distances aren't so big.

You will find huge differences, however, for example in how transport is organized in different countries, some local rules, and of course - the prices, especially in and outside the EU.
I don't think you require visas to visit each country, but if you're planning on travelling in the summer, which is during the busiest time of the tourist season, you need to rethink not booking your accommodation ahead of time.



Your best bet is to go to the EU website and investigate whether or not you'll need visas on that, and if you are going to any European country that's not a member state you could just contact the Embassy of that country in the US and ask them.