ANYWAYS
I thought it would be nice to blog about how EASY and AFFORDABLE it is to backpack across Europe--and therefore TOTALLY DO-ABLE. That's right folks--it's not just some unattainable dream. You can do it. Hopefully this will help get you started!
(And as a side note--when I say "backpacking" I mean flying between countries, but not having any luggage other than a small backpack such as this ------------> I'll explain the necessity for it's smallish size later...)
For starters, you have to remember that this is a backpacking trip. If you don't like the idea of walking almost everywhere with only a back pack on your shoulders carrying everything you'll need for a couple weeks, turn back now. That means your clothing, toiletries, ONE extra pair of shoes, etc.
So, to being. The most expensive part of the trip is the plane ticket to Europe. You're looking at around $1,200 (tops) if you fly into a big airport in western Europe, such as London, Dublin, or Madrid. And hey, those are all great places to start your adventure!
Once you're in Europe, flying gets significantly cheaper. Here's one of the best tips that I can offer in this blog. It's called ryanair.com and it's going to be your best friend. (right click, open in new tab/window). This company flies all over Europe for SUPER CHEAP. We're talking London to Rome for like $25. In the top right hand corner of the site, there's a link that displays all the destinations they fly to--route map. Four things to keep in mind when using this site.
- Backpack size: one of the reasons for the small backpack is because ryanair wont charge you for luggage if all you have is a small carry-on. And you don't want to push it either. I almost didn't catch my plane out of Ireland because they said my backpack was too big. Keep it in mind.
- Ryanair only from certain places, to certain places: thus the reason/importance of the route map. For example, there aren't flights within Switzerland. Take a train.
- Currency conversion: Ryanair is dealing with you in either pounds or euros--make sure you factor that into the equation when you're adding your dollars up.
- Remember you're American: i.e. you'll have to pay an extra $10 for each flight because you're not a member of the E.U. I know, right?....
So, what you want to do is buy one-way tickets from country to country in a line. For example--from London to Palermo, from Palermo to Pisa, from Pisa to Frankfurt, and so on.
Also, ryanair flies into smaller airports, so you'll have to factor in the transportation charge from the airport to your hostel/hotel/villa/etc. The airport pretty much always has a bus or train for this exact purpose, and they charge about $25 round trip. As soon as you get off the plane, you'll see ads for this service, so don't worry about planning ahead on that one, or having to speak the language :)
OK! You've reached a whole new country! Now what? Well hopefully you've already booked your lodgings (seriously though--throwing caution to the wind on this one is a bad idea. You'll never find a place on short notice if you want to be frugal).
2 options here:
- Right hand corner of ryanair.com --> says "Villas and Apartments". You can find pretty good deals on villas and apartments (duh) here if you're looking to spend a little more money--and they charge one big fee, so if you're traveling with a bunch of other people, you can divide up that fee.
- Hostel World and Student Universe are great places to find hostels (and you don't have to be a student, fyi). Now before you freak out about hostels, keep in mind that young, drunk, hooligans are not the only ones having adventures. Families stay at a lot of these places too. All you have to do is research. Let's say you find a place that's a good price for you; google the name of the establishment and read every review on it to find out if you'd want to stay there. I personally stayed in places that were about $20 a night/per person, and thought it was perfect. I felt safe, and wasn't sleeping with bed bugs. They have options for private rooms, all the way up to mixed dormitories of 20+ people. You have options.
**Something important to keep in mind when you're trying to figure out where to stay, is what you plan on doing in this city. If you're going to Rome to see the sites, make sure you stay in the city, otherwise you're going to have to pay for transportation. If you're going to Scotland to see the landscape, well that's another story. Just make sure you look at location...**
Now how do you survive with just a backpack? Very well, actually. I guess this is more for the ladies than the former boy scouts.....
First off, when you're traveling, you have a home-base: your hostel. You can relax and take a nice shower and eat--a lot of places you can even cook in their kitchen! A lot of places also have laundry facilities and internet cafes, reading rooms and televisions. YOU'LL BE FINE. You don't need 5 pairs of shoes (you need exactly 2 well-worn pairs, and maybe some flip-flops) and you just wash your clothes as often as you need in the hostel or at a laundromat. Don't speak the language? Worried you won't be able to find a laundromat? Awesome. ADVENTURE, PEOPLE!!! ADVENTURE!!! But seriously, as long as you're staying at a place that's comfortable for you, you'll be too preoccupied with the fact that you're in a beautiful, new country!
WHEN do you go?? Well that is up to you--but there are pros and cons to every season. For example, I went end of November, beginning of December, and though it was FREEZING in the British Isles, the Colosseum was breathable because there were fewer tourists, and overall, things were cheaper. But man, nothing beats the Malta beach in July (or so I hear...).
Some nice little tips:
- Take the shampoo and conditioner samples with you if they're offered at the hostel you're at. Those are always helpful so you don't have to buy those things as often.
- For every city you plan on visiting, take a city map. Small, pop-out ones such as THESE are FANTASTIC to say the least.
- Forget the museums--just walk. Unless it's the the Louvre, or some special exhibit, or a personal life dream, DON'T GO TO MUSEUMS JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO. Walking without a plan can be the most amazing thing! Just you, your companions, and a map. This is how we accidentally stumbled upon St. Paul's Cathedral in London right on time for the Thanksgiving Day service for the American Community.
- Bus tours to see the country-side are primo. We stayed in Dublin and realized that the city was just not all it's cracked up to be, so we called up a bus company we saw advertised and booked a trip to the country for the very next day. $20 = one of the best days of my life.
- Avoid touristy areas, especially for dinner.....because right around the corner is a little cafe with the best pizza you've ever had in your life for half the price, and the people around you are speaking ITALIAN.
- Before you go, research festivals in each city!
- If you can, between your visits to big cities, plan some relaxing stops in not-so-busy places. You're going to be exhausted, and you'll need some time to catch your breath :)
There are so many, many things I could talk about, but you can email me if you're interested in more info. So.....i'll leave you with some of my favorite pics of my adventure with a backpack:
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St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
FACT: No matter what time of day, year, era you go, the Vatican is going to be extremely crowded. Just be prepared to shuffle around some very small rooms with many foreign (and sometimes smelly) people. Also, don't take pictures of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Angry Vatican guards will rip off your head. <--
Abbey Road in London--truly a different kind of museum :) it was kind of hard to find, but we met some pretty great people on our way there! -->
<--Cooking at our hostel in London! Free kitchens rock!
Enjoying Cabury chocolate smothered crepes in front of the London eye--yet another impromptu moment of bliss. -->
My friend Hamish, the Scottish highland cow! Discovered on a bus tour pit stop! (he's famous--google him.)
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Like I said--pros and cons to traveling in December...while the fog made it impossible to see Stirling Castle, it sure was gorgeous--and FREE.
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On a bus tour in the middle-of-nowhere-Ireland, we found this amazing landscape. Where they filmed Braveheart and P.S. I Love You. Something for everyone :)
Part of my fantastic, 3-month adventure in Spain--but THAT is a completely different blog :)
