I am considering/in the planning stages of taking a trip through Europe during the 2009 year.
Rather than this being a hectic & rushed, short vacation, I am intending for this to be an extended leisurely trip (at least 4-5 months (if not longer) through Europe.
Because this is not only going to be my first “solo trip” without my parents & family (yes, I know, that’s embarrassing!!) but also my first time traveling internationally to a foreign country/countries, with the exception of going to India with my family, to visit relatives, I would really appreciate any help, advice or travel tips that I can get from those familiar with travel in Europe.
In addition to the usual/classic European travel destinations (France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland/Netherlands, Italy, Spain, etc.) I am also interested in visiting many “off-the-beaten-path” places like Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland and Ukraine.
The tentative list of all the countries I’m interested in visiting on this trip are:
England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Monaco, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Italy, Vatican City, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Kaliningrad, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Turkey, Cyprus
What kinds of clothing, toiletries, and other supplies should I pack and what stuff can I leave behind & just buy there?? For example do I need to pack enough tampons/sanitary pads for the WHOLE 5 months or can I just take a few, or enough for a short time and get the rest in Europe??
I am looking for advice on the best months to go which particular country (with an estimated travel range between January & August of 2009, as I have to finish my travel and be back in the US by the end of July or the beginning of August 2009 at the latest), I also need some tips about finding the best & safest, yet most reasonably priced hostels, inns, or hotels, and the ways to get around within or between any particular locales, without having to drive yourself (as I currently don’t drive – though by the time I travel I may likely have my license, but still may not feel comfortable driving in the unknown setting of a foreign country)
Also, I need help, with what to pack for an extended trip to Europe such as this. What clothing should I pack? What about other supplies like toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, etc?? What, and how much do I need to pack of those??
What about food?? Though I will be taking maximum advantage of the trip to experience new tastes and cultures of the various regions, to save money, I will be staying at hostels whenever possible, and though I will be eating out (but NOT at international restaurant “chains” like McDonalds!) at different local restaurants serving regional food from time to time, the rest of the time, I will be cooking or getting my own meals together myself at the hostel, hotel, etc.
What is the groceries & other shopping system like in Europe? What things do they carry, and what things would I need to bring with me from the US??
Any and all help is appreciated
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Whoa, those are a lot of questions.
For affordable hostels you can take a look here: http://www.hostelseurope.com/ or here http://www.backpackingeurope.com/. If you’re to go into the countrysides where there aren’t many hostels available you might be able to camp if you bring a tent. You can find a listing of camp sites here: http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/
Regarding what to bring:
- It isn’t necessary to bring 5 months worth of toiletries: there are plenty of shops in Europe that will sell you more or less the same products that you could get in the US. By all means bring a box of tampons and a bottle of shampoo, but you’d be needlessly taking up precious space if you take more.
- Same thing for food, no need to stock up, you’ll find plenty of stuff you’ll recognise, and part of the fun of travelling is discovering new things.
- One word of advice: don’t assume that you’ll be able to shop 24/7, in many countries shops are closed in the evenings and on sundays.
- If you’ll be camping, bring camping gear, a gas stove and some cooking gear. Bring a first aid box, some basic pharmaceuticals (pain killers, antidiarrheal tables, antiseptic spray), a small sewing kit, worldwide adaptor plug,…
- In most major cities you’ll be able fine just speaking English, if you go into the countryside then you should bring a phrasebook.
Regarding best times to travel: if you check wikipedia then you’ll find a weather chart for many major cities (for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona). Where to travel and when depends on your personal preference (ok with hot/cold/wet etc). Mark what you really want to see on a map, connect the dots in different ways, and see what would make for the most interesting journey.
A lot of countries in Europe have good public transport systems. You have to decide where and when you want to go, and check the schedules on how you’ll be able to get there. Don’t forget that saturday and sunday timetables might be different from weekdays (I once ended up walking miles because there were no busses on sunday).
Finally there’s a wealth of information on the internet for first time backpackers, here are some sites that may be usefull:
http://www.europebackpack.com/
http://www.firsttimebackpacker.com/
Take a look on these sites and get in touch with people that can share their experiences.
And last but not least: take plenty of pictures, and have a great trip!
For affordable hostels, you can check on http://www.hostelworld.com and then google the hostels that you are most interested in. That way you avoid the booking fee & can often get a better deal directly from the hostel.
What to bring — DEFINITELY NOT TOO MUCH! You would be surprised how quickly the pounds can add up. This is extremely difficult to carry around plus your airline charges go up for luggage once you exceed a certain limit.
I hope that you enjoy your time in Sicily & Visit Us Here At Gianni House When You Come To The Taormina Area…:)
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