Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - That college European packing trip (CHEAP)

turbofish · 11-09-2004, 04:13 AM

I've been traveling in both West and East Europe.. If you want to conserve money go to eastern europe... A bit "no shit, sherlock" I guess... Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Polen and Serbia aren't much to see... If you have the ability to go to Bosnia Herzegovina, do!!! Czech and Slovakia are great aswell. (Slovakia has decent hiking)

As far as Western Europe, visit the main big cities. Buy a Hi Hostel card for 20 bucks, it will give you a discount at many hostels. There are also hostels who do not accept non-members, period. I've only come across them at places who have alot of backpackers, for example in Venice. If you aren't traveling long distance (eg over half of Europe), take the train. Buy a Inter-Rail or Eurail card.

Try to figure out what you want to see! Outline a map where the stuff is and interconnect them... Figure out how long it will take to visit em all, add a few days...

I personally found alot of nice stuff in Lonely Planet... Didn't really go for Let's Go... Lonely Planet has more maps and is more directed at exploring what's out there for you where's Let's Go is more outlines and you have to research on other places for yourself... It's a taste thing, check them both out... Only buy one! Individual countries, Western and Eastern Europe are available for Lonely Planet... don't know about Let's go... Have one for whole Europe...

Don't carry to much stuff around!

Don't get a stove! You'll have trouble with gas for it and running around to get the proper stuff. Will be easier in Scandinavia where outbacking is common. There are however variants who will eat any sort of fuel, but their expensive, around $250. They also make a noise I don't really like (I use "Gasol", LGP when I'm out treking).

Don't carry to much weight!
If you are a avid fan of treking, chances are that you already own a good (light and high quality=expensive) tent, but otherwise it's cheaper to stay at a hostel, and nice to be able to do your washing, drying etc... Less to carry!

Set up a limit of what you can afford to spend every day, eg $20-40, depending on your budget. Lay aside about $200-500 for expences you can't do without, eg fines or whatever crap pops up. DON'T spend more than you can afford. I can't stress this enough as this totally fucked up my last two days before flying home from Venice.

11-09-2004, 04:13 AM	#25 (permalink)
turbofish Tilted	I've been traveling in both West and East Europe.. If you want to conserve money go to eastern europe... A bit "no shit, sherlock" I guess... Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Polen and Serbia aren't much to see... If you have the ability to go to Bosnia Herzegovina, do!!! Czech and Slovakia are great aswell. (Slovakia has decent hiking) As far as Western Europe, visit the main big cities. Buy a Hi Hostel card for 20 bucks, it will give you a discount at many hostels. There are also hostels who do not accept non-members, period. I've only come across them at places who have alot of backpackers, for example in Venice. If you aren't traveling long distance (eg over half of Europe), take the train. Buy a Inter-Rail or Eurail card. Try to figure out what you want to see! Outline a map where the stuff is and interconnect them... Figure out how long it will take to visit em all, add a few days... I personally found alot of nice stuff in Lonely Planet... Didn't really go for Let's Go... Lonely Planet has more maps and is more directed at exploring what's out there for you where's Let's Go is more outlines and you have to research on other places for yourself... It's a taste thing, check them both out... Only buy one! Individual countries, Western and Eastern Europe are available for Lonely Planet... don't know about Let's go... Have one for whole Europe... Don't carry to much stuff around! Don't get a stove! You'll have trouble with gas for it and running around to get the proper stuff. Will be easier in Scandinavia where outbacking is common. There are however variants who will eat any sort of fuel, but their expensive, around $250. They also make a noise I don't really like (I use "Gasol", LGP when I'm out treking). Don't carry to much weight! If you are a avid fan of treking, chances are that you already own a good (light and high quality=expensive) tent, but otherwise it's cheaper to stay at a hostel, and nice to be able to do your washing, drying etc... Less to carry! Set up a limit of what you can afford to spend every day, eg $20-40, depending on your budget. Lay aside about $200-500 for expences you can't do without, eg fines or whatever crap pops up. DON'T spend more than you can afford. I can't stress this enough as this totally fucked up my last two days before flying home from Venice. __________________ ><((((°> Jag bara gissar o spekulerar o det jag skriver behöver inte ha någon förankring med verkligheten alls.