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

greyeyes · 08-24-2004, 08:48 PM

Everyone knows about the trip most people take when they are in college, touring around europe or other places with a pack, a friend, and a map. In my current situation I am in college and I haven't taken said trip quite yet (hopefully I can get things worked out by next year). I was wondering if anyone on this board could tell me about their own experiences or helpful hints. I would especially appreiciate it if you could tell me how to make the trip cheaper (for example: working on a ship as a way of transport (I dont even know if that is possible) or anything really). Thanks guys!

asdfasdf1 · 08-26-2004, 01:49 PM

When I spent 2 months in Europe I did some of the following things to save on money:

Bring a small tent or tarp and camp (Most citys have camping 20 minute walks from downtown)
Work on a farm for a week or two (Hard as hell work, but one of my most memorable times)
Bring a small backpacking stove/pot and make your own food
Sleep in parks, under bridges, in hospitals, train stations, and where ever else you can

Plan for a minimum of $35CAD per day ($25USD?) If I went back again I'd probably live a bit cheaper knowing what I know now, but I did see 90% of what I wanted to, was never hungry, and came back with $10DM in my pockets (Although I did splurge the last day and ate as much as I could)

The main thing is to be conscience of how little you can get by with.. Think of the 3rd worlders when you get hungry and are looking for Junk food (Not good food!)

PulpMind · 08-26-2004, 07:38 PM

where you travel can make a huge difference too...
like, I wouldn't suggest London to anyone looking for a cheap trip.
On the flip side, I went to Morocco for a couple weeks and aside from the last couple days when I went suvenier shopping, I probably spent about $10 a day, including absolutely amazing hotels and food (though, half that time was spent sleeping on the bus going from one part of Moroc to anoher=) ... in retrospect, I should of taken the ferry over to France and hung out there, as you can get by pretty cheaply there too.

You may also want to check out things like WWOOF... I forget the website, but just google that and you'll get it =P ... free room and board in exchange for a few hours hard labor on an organic farm a few days a week.. a great way to extend your trip...

double on what asdfasdf1 said about being conscientious (sp?) about how little you can get by with... any time I craved a big meal in Moroc, a quick glance at the locals fixed that =T

tiltedbc · 08-27-2004, 09:24 AM

Buy a good travel guide written for budget travel. My two favorites are Let's Go and Lonely Planet because they include an amazing amount of info that you need on the road and while you're planning your adventure.

Read through those sites and buy the books. Educate yourself in advance.

Pool as much cash as you can and have access to it even if you don't want to spend it. Just like in normal life, being flat broke is rarely fun and it can quickly suck you down on the road. Get a temp job that pays decent and work to save, save, save!

From the Let's Go site...
There's an old saying that goes: the difference between travel and tourism is that travelers go places to learn new things and tourists travel to confirm what they already know.

What can I say? Free your mind. If you want to enjoy something, you probaly will. If you think it's overrated before you get there, it certainly will be.

happyraul · 08-27-2004, 11:20 AM

Check out CouchSurfing for places to stay for free. I just found that site and it looks promising. There are others like it too.

BBBF · 08-28-2004, 10:58 AM

There are some really cheap "No Frill" Airlines. I used RyanAir, German Wings and Easy Jet to get around Europe

Jackebear · 08-28-2004, 10:00 PM

If you are by yourself I would say NO to camping. You don't want to be lugging around a tent, bag, cooking shit etc. If you are a pair...maybe. Just too much weight and you won't find a locker big enough to store everything when you want to tour around the city.

I would stay in Youth Hostels. Get a membership for 20 bucks or so and get the book and go city to city staying at the Hostels. Meet lots of people, decent breakfast, pretty cheap and sometimes a good sleep (bring earplugs...for sure).

Have fun.

dailyjo2003 · 08-29-2004, 04:45 AM

To save on food, I took a bunch of granola bars and a big bag of trail mix. I ate that a lot for lunch or breakfast. Saved time and money. Had some extra money for a decent dinner etc.

PulpMind · 08-29-2004, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackebear

If you are by yourself I would say NO to camping. You don't want to be lugging around a tent, bag, cooking shit etc. If you are a pair...maybe. Just too much weight and you won't find a locker big enough to store everything when you want to tour around the city.

I dunno man, I took all my camping stuff to morocco... you just have to take the right kind of camping gear. get a really good sleeping bag that packs down (I had one that weighed like 2 lbs and went down to 10*F), get a compact stove (if you even need it, depending on the style of camping you do), get a single person tent... don't pack more than a couple changes of clothes (and alot of socks!).. especially if you'll be around cities alot, you can just keep restocking certain things that would normally weigh you down on a long wilderness trip...
/end ramble

will57 · 09-03-2004, 03:28 PM

GreyEyes,

Pulpmind gave you some good advice. Namely , avoid the really expensive places. You can get all the flavor of Europe from three or four countries. Cheap places...Amsterdam, Spain , Greece and especially the eastern europe countries. Places to avoid...England , Paris and most of France , Scandinavian countries. Germany is OK if you are careful about where you go. I have to agree with Jackebear in that Youth Hostels are a lot easier than camping unless you are a very experienced camper. Pack light.

briedcan · 09-08-2004, 06:07 PM

Youth Hostels are the way to go...you typically spend about $10-15 a night and that usually includes a breakfast of musuli, breads and jam. Stay out of the UK its expensive...unless you want to hit up Edinburgh International Festival...cause thats pretty sweet. Also, don't overpack...you don't want to lug too much stuff. Besides you are probably going to pick up alot of shit on the way. You could always work at a resort...I'd recommend www.thepinkpalace.com in Corfu, Greece. It is quite the awesome place and you can extend your trip. I traveled around for about 2 months and spent about $3000. Now just go DO IT!

bc

tiltedbc · 09-08-2004, 08:12 PM

I spent a week at the Pink Palace on Corfu. Wild times indeed!

splck · 09-09-2004, 06:35 AM

When I was 21 I went by myself for 6 months. I spent just under $4000 by staying at friends, family, hostels, cheap hotels and sleeping on trains. I toured England, Ireland (had a couple of friends to stay with), France (my sister was attending university in Bordeaux), Spain, Portugal, Italy( I found hotels were cheaper than hostels), Greece, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Germany, Holland (got some family here), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden (more family here too), and Finland.
Although I went by myself, I was rarely was alone. With so many young people over there, it was easy to hook up with fellow travelers and share the cost of many things. One thing we would always offer was to help around the hostel for cheaper or free board. In the warmer countries we would sleep outside under the stars in our sleeping bags.
Read a few books for pointers on making your trip cheap.

CMC3 · 09-09-2004, 12:20 PM

Use overnight trains to get a) Free Sleep, b) maximum time in a place, c) Minimum wasted travelling time.
Spend time in Eastern Europe where your money goes further.
Hook up with every contact you ever made through Forums like this to maximise Free accommodation.
Don't stick too rigidly to a plan. Once in Berlin I realised the following day was 14th July, Bastille day in France. Hopped on an overnight and was in France for the big party the following morning. More flexibility means you can take ideas from the people you meet en route too.

Have fun.

greyeyes · 09-10-2004, 08:20 AM

This is all great, thanks for all of this advice.

Splck: was all of that 4000 including tickets over there and if so who did you use? (and your aviator is just making me crosseyed, probably becuase I just woke up)

CMC3: that is probably some of the best advice so far, I would definately want to do spur of the moment things around traveling. I've never rode a train before. How much should I expect for an overnight train? and would I have to pay extra for a bed or is it all the same?

briedcan: is that 3000 including tickets (plane tickets) and if so who did you use?

Will57: have you heard anything about sweeden if that is a worthwhile place to visit and if so what time of year would be best?

Daliyjo2003: Last spring I went to California, stayed in a hostel, pretty much lived off porage (oatmeal Real good stuff, light, cheap) Granola sounds like a good idea when hot water is unavailable!

Jackebear: I would have to agree with you on that one, not for the sake of carrying around all of the weight but for the fact that I might get mugged with all of that shit, alone in the streets is not a good idea. Hostels are worth it (or seem that way so far).

BBBF: I know that tickets vary from time to time but how much should I expect on those sorts of airlines?

tiltedbc: where would you reccomend getting a temp job? and wouldn't I need a work Visa for that?

Pulpmind: Is WOOFF pretty hard to sign up for? and do you have to stay for a minimum time?

splck · 09-10-2004, 01:25 PM

The $4000 included two one-month Eurail passes and airfair from Vancouver to London. I think the airfair was just over 600. I flew standby both ways on British airways. I had budgeted around $500 a month in expences.
I was in Sweden in May and I can tell you that it was a wonderful time of year to be there.
I agree with CMC3 in that you shouldn't stick with a ridgid plan. It's nice to stay a little longer in a place if you want to.
Trust me, if you want to travel cheap and I mean really cheap, it can be done.

CMC3 · 09-11-2004, 07:17 AM

If you get a Eurail or Interrail then all you will have to pay is a supplement for a sleeper (Quite comfortable, sleeps 2) or a couchette (sleeps 4 or 6, more sociable).
European stations have large booking offices, normally with people speaking excellent English who will guide you through the process.
Quite often many trains in Europe have compartments where you can shut the door, pull down the seats and (as if by magic) you have a free bed. This is good if you are in a group of 2 or 3 as a compartment on your own is a little much to ask!
A sensible thing to pack is a chain and padlock which enables you to secure the sliding door of a compartment or couchette overnight for extra security. I must admit being padlocked into a couchette with 4 young oriental ladies was an experience en route from Krakow to Prague.

max01 · 09-20-2004, 06:05 AM

CS looks nice on the surface, but also check out www.hospitalityclub.org !
It is actually the largest site in this area of hospitality exchange..

===
Free accommodation worldwide? Meet friendly people on your travels?
The Hospitality Club (www.hospitalityclub.org) is a network of friendly
people around the world who offer each other help when they travel
- be it free accommodation, a tour around town or a visit to the best
local pub. The aim is to bring people in contact with each other: we
believe that friendships will establish and that this will lead to more
intercultural understanding and more lasting peace in the long run.
Membership is free and 4 years after the start there are now more than
25000++ members in 158++ countries. So it's possible to meet friendly
people and stay for free in almost every corner of the world. We
invite everyone to join - this can be done online and just takes a
couple of minutes.
===

www.hospitalityclub.org

max01

PulpMind · 09-21-2004, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Pulpmind: Is WOOFF pretty hard to sign up for? and do you have to stay for a minimum time

oops, totally missed this... WWOOF ( http://www.wwoof.org/ ) farms kind of determine their own rules. some require a month long stay. some only a couple weeks. some let you do as you please. Just decide on a ocuntry you want, send in the money for the book with the contact info for farms, and there you go =)

good luck!

HockeyGuy · 09-23-2004, 04:01 PM

If you're looking to fly Ryanair is a great way of travel VERY cheap! Don't expect all of the luxuries of a larger airline but it gets you where you want to go for a low price. I fly with them regularly!

Alyssa · 09-25-2004, 02:25 AM

I'm sorry, I have never been on that side of the pond, but...My boyfriend is over there right now. He has been in Europe for two weeks now with his mom and brother and back-pack. They have been through France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Italy and they just arrived in Greece. This whole time, he has been mentioning that everywhere is expensive (for example a restaurant in Naples had a small glass of Coke, which they charged $5 for) I talked to him today and he said Greece has been pretty cheap so far.

They have been staying in hostels most of the time, and cheap hotels. My boyfriend said that is pretty much what you have to do, in order to stay over there for any amount of time...or if you are a college student on a budget....or in his case, spending his college loan money on! He will be over there for 6 weeks.

He studied a lot of budget travel books and bought his tickets through STA Travel which has excellent prices on travelling for students. They also bought Eurail passes, which I know that if he were the one typing this right now...he would DEFINATELY rec. buying a Eurail pass. They have been able to get around with ease and sometimes they pay a little extra to upgrade cabins on trains and ferry's.

CMC3 · 09-25-2004, 10:05 AM

In Italian bars, you may find differing prices. Stand at the bar with your coffee or cola and its a low price, sit indoors it becomes medium range, sit outdoors and it becomes top dollar. As ever avoid eating/drinking at the tourist traps, St Marks square in Venice must have slices of gold in its pizza slivers.

Pack a bottle opener, because using a local supermarket will save you an absolute fortune and if you're on an overnight train your couple of beers or bottle of soft drink will be even more expensive from the buffet car.

Tralls · 10-13-2004, 02:16 PM

Definitely buy a Let's Go Europe book. Comes in very handy for hostels and hotels. People at the train stations offer cheap hotels that sometimes can be as cheap as a hostel, be sure to check out the room first though.

I would definitely recommend Amsterdam!!!

As an 18 year old, that is truly one of the places I will never forget.

flip · 10-25-2004, 06:53 PM

I just got back from six or so months of travel through Europe. I did it WAY cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyraul

Check out CouchSurfing for places to stay for free. I just found that site and it looks promising. There are others like it too.

This site kicks ass and saved me a BUNDLE. I met up with 40+ people from it and didn't have to pay a thing for a place to sleep. Even better was that I met people I would have liked to have met either. Oh, and the site is free, too.

Also, if you're up for it, hitchhiking is easy in most of Europe. Check out www.digihitch.com for more info. My second favorite way of travel was through a German based ridesharing board (www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de). It's in German so use AltaVista's Babelfish translation until you figure it out (won't take long).

If you'd like to hear about my experiences you can check out my travelblog (www.fliptophead.com). Feel free to email me if you have any other travel related questions like this, especially concerning Europe. All I do is travel now so it's fun to help out others who are doing it the same way.

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.

turbofish · 11-09-2004, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HockeyGuy

If you're looking to fly Ryanair is a great way of travel VERY cheap! Don't expect all of the luxuries of a larger airline but it gets you where you want to go for a low price. I fly with them regularly!

It's not always cheap... I had booked a flight from Venice to London and another from London to Stockholm (7 hours in London before that flight)... I missed the flight and wanted to rebook my flights... I bought the tickets for 1300SEK ($180) and they wanted 6000SEK ($850) to rebook it to the next flight... I took a direct flight with SAS for 2500SEK ($350) instead... Bit me in the ass.

turbofish · 11-09-2004, 04:20 AM

How old are you?
If your in Stockholm, let me know...

almostaugust · 11-11-2004, 11:46 PM

Thanks for all the info people. Im planning just such a trip.

WillyPete · 11-17-2004, 08:40 AM

This site rocks:
http://www.skyscanner.net/wings.asp

Use it instead of trying to find all the little cheapie deals on the other websites.

snowy · 11-22-2004, 04:55 PM

I've been to Europe and I learned a few things on even my little trip.

In expensive cities, save money by buying food from sidewalk stalls, markets and grocery stores. In Paris this was far cheaper than any other option we came across. A good loaf of bread and good cheese shouldn't set you back too much.

You have to accept you will be a) walking most everywhere and b) eating simply.

The Netherlands is a great place to visit, but there isn't a Dutchman left in Amsterdam. To really get a feel for the country stay in Haarlem, outside of Amsterdam. It's a fifteen minute train ride to central Amsterdam, things are definitely more pleasant and Haarlem is a happening place in its own right. People fail to realize that things available in Amsterdam are quite often available in other Dutch cities

and there are much nicer places than Amsterdam to visit. Haarlem is also close to the beach!

I'm looking to go back this summer, so all of this advice has certainly been helpful.

hokiesandwich · 12-12-2004, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbofish

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.

What kind of fines came up?

I set up a new thread on international Law....if you wouldn't mind posting to that, I think that would be more helpful to everyone. The legal culture is so different in the EU from the USA, I'm afraid of running into stupid trouble when purchasing tickets, walking on the wrong side of the street, not paying service fees, etc.

snowy · 12-12-2004, 09:58 PM

One of the fines I ran into was a ten pound tube fine for buying the wrong ticket (I didn't buy it, my traveling partner did). That was roughly equivalent to $15 at the time, and that was a good chunk out of my money for London. So be aware of fines such as those. They're small, but if you make the mistake more than once, they'll add up.

turbofish · 12-13-2004, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hokiesandwich

What kind of fines came up?

I set up a new thread on international Law....if you wouldn't mind posting to that, I think that would be more helpful to everyone. The legal culture is so different in the EU from the USA, I'm afraid of running into stupid trouble when purchasing tickets, walking on the wrong side of the street, not paying service fees, etc.

Well... for one thing, I missed my flight home... so I got a fine to rebook it... Otherwise, like not paying for the buss etc... It's cheap, but nobody does it, and nobody checks it... Albeit this is from country to country... But Eastern Europe atleast

turbofish · 12-13-2004, 04:56 AM

Regarding International Law... Use common sense...

You break it, you probably buy it...
Jaywalking isn't something you get in trouble for...
You can drink a beer in a park without any problems, which I understand you can't do in the states (opened container).
DON'T drink and drive... You'll get raped in prison for that... I can't emphasize this enough.
Always have your passport on you if you run in trouble... Just being an US citizen (I'm afraid it's true) will get you off the hook sometimes.

Got any questions, just post a reply and I'll try to answer them...

roderickpsu · 12-16-2004, 07:00 PM

Use the trains extensively....relatively inexpensive, fast, on time, etc...

hokiesandwich · 12-20-2004, 09:40 PM

Turbofish,

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I have American common sense, though, you know? I just have this fear that being an American citizen will be a bad thing in places like France.
But enough about my neuroses, how about some cheap eats in Eastern Europe? Sausages and beer? Anything I should definitely try in Prague?

turbofish · 12-21-2004, 03:59 AM

Well... the cheapest places to eat are the street vendors...

Regarding France... They have such a downpour of tourists that they are all just fed up about it, it would seem... Don't worry about them being petty and not very fourthcoming... They deal with asshats all day long in their own minds... If you suddenly speak their language that all changes in a flash... Really a shame they can't give you service if you don't speak french... This mostly applies in Paris.

Read up on Prague before going there

tommylee02 · 12-21-2004, 08:37 PM

Don't forget "the Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring" for cheap eats and places to stay, like hostels. Dining can be a big cost though, the markets are much cheaper, if you can find them, and if you don't mind warm soda and beer! I saw 16 countries for only a few thousand dollars, it was the greatest experience of my life. Have fun and keep an eye out for the pickpockets!

turbofish · 12-22-2004, 03:21 AM

Cooking at the hostels is often the cheapest way to get by... and making sandwishes before going out on the town...

89transam · 12-22-2004, 03:03 PM

cool i like to travel

08-24-2004, 08:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
greyeyes ham on rye would be nice Location: I don't even know anymore	That college European packing trip (CHEAP) Everyone knows about the trip most people take when they are in college, touring around europe or other places with a pack, a friend, and a map. In my current situation I am in college and I haven't taken said trip quite yet (hopefully I can get things worked out by next year). I was wondering if anyone on this board could tell me about their own experiences or helpful hints. I would especially appreiciate it if you could tell me how to make the trip cheaper (for example: working on a ship as a way of transport (I dont even know if that is possible) or anything really). Thanks guys! __________________ I'm kind of jealous of the life I'm supposedly leading. - Zach Braff

08-28-2004, 10:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jackebear Insane	If you are by yourself I would say NO to camping. You don't want to be lugging around a tent, bag, cooking shit etc. If you are a pair...maybe. Just too much weight and you won't find a locker big enough to store everything when you want to tour around the city. I would stay in Youth Hostels. Get a membership for 20 bucks or so and get the book and go city to city staying at the Hostels. Meet lots of people, decent breakfast, pretty cheap and sometimes a good sleep (bring earplugs...for sure). Have fun. __________________ Life's jounney is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn-out shouting, "Holy sh*t! What a ride!" - unknown

09-09-2004, 06:35 AM	#13 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	When I was 21 I went by myself for 6 months. I spent just under $4000 by staying at friends, family, hostels, cheap hotels and sleeping on trains. I toured England, Ireland (had a couple of friends to stay with), France (my sister was attending university in Bordeaux), Spain, Portugal, Italy( I found hotels were cheaper than hostels), Greece, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Germany, Holland (got some family here), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden (more family here too), and Finland. Although I went by myself, I was rarely was alone. With so many young people over there, it was easy to hook up with fellow travelers and share the cost of many things. One thing we would always offer was to help around the hostel for cheaper or free board. In the warmer countries we would sleep outside under the stars in our sleeping bags. Read a few books for pointers on making your trip cheap. __________________ nice line eh?

09-10-2004, 08:20 AM	#15 (permalink)
greyeyes ham on rye would be nice Location: I don't even know anymore	This is all great, thanks for all of this advice. Splck: was all of that 4000 including tickets over there and if so who did you use? (and your aviator is just making me crosseyed, probably becuase I just woke up) CMC3: that is probably some of the best advice so far, I would definately want to do spur of the moment things around traveling. I've never rode a train before. How much should I expect for an overnight train? and would I have to pay extra for a bed or is it all the same? briedcan: is that 3000 including tickets (plane tickets) and if so who did you use? Will57: have you heard anything about sweeden if that is a worthwhile place to visit and if so what time of year would be best? Daliyjo2003: Last spring I went to California, stayed in a hostel, pretty much lived off porage (oatmeal Real good stuff, light, cheap) Granola sounds like a good idea when hot water is unavailable! Jackebear: I would have to agree with you on that one, not for the sake of carrying around all of the weight but for the fact that I might get mugged with all of that shit, alone in the streets is not a good idea. Hostels are worth it (or seem that way so far). BBBF: I know that tickets vary from time to time but how much should I expect on those sorts of airlines? tiltedbc: where would you reccomend getting a temp job? and wouldn't I need a work Visa for that? Pulpmind: Is WOOFF pretty hard to sign up for? and do you have to stay for a minimum time? __________________ I'm kind of jealous of the life I'm supposedly leading. - Zach Braff

09-10-2004, 01:25 PM	#16 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	The $4000 included two one-month Eurail passes and airfair from Vancouver to London. I think the airfair was just over 600. I flew standby both ways on British airways. I had budgeted around $500 a month in expences. I was in Sweden in May and I can tell you that it was a wonderful time of year to be there. I agree with CMC3 in that you shouldn't stick with a ridgid plan. It's nice to stay a little longer in a place if you want to. Trust me, if you want to travel cheap and I mean really cheap, it can be done. __________________ nice line eh?

08-26-2004, 01:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
asdfasdf1 Upright	When I spent 2 months in Europe I did some of the following things to save on money: Bring a small tent or tarp and camp (Most citys have camping 20 minute walks from downtown) Work on a farm for a week or two (Hard as hell work, but one of my most memorable times) Bring a small backpacking stove/pot and make your own food Sleep in parks, under bridges, in hospitals, train stations, and where ever else you can Plan for a minimum of $35CAD per day ($25USD?) If I went back again I'd probably live a bit cheaper knowing what I know now, but I did see 90% of what I wanted to, was never hungry, and came back with $10DM in my pockets (Although I did splurge the last day and ate as much as I could) The main thing is to be conscience of how little you can get by with.. Think of the 3rd worlders when you get hungry and are looking for Junk food (Not good food!)

08-26-2004, 07:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
PulpMind Addict Location: Portland	where you travel can make a huge difference too... like, I wouldn't suggest London to anyone looking for a cheap trip. On the flip side, I went to Morocco for a couple weeks and aside from the last couple days when I went suvenier shopping, I probably spent about $10 a day, including absolutely amazing hotels and food (though, half that time was spent sleeping on the bus going from one part of Moroc to anoher=) ... in retrospect, I should of taken the ferry over to France and hung out there, as you can get by pretty cheaply there too. You may also want to check out things like WWOOF... I forget the website, but just google that and you'll get it =P ... free room and board in exchange for a few hours hard labor on an organic farm a few days a week.. a great way to extend your trip... double on what asdfasdf1 said about being conscientious (sp?) about how little you can get by with... any time I craved a big meal in Moroc, a quick glance at the locals fixed that =T

08-27-2004, 09:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
tiltedbc Crazy Location: BC, Canada	Buy a good travel guide written for budget travel. My two favorites are Let's Go and Lonely Planet because they include an amazing amount of info that you need on the road and while you're planning your adventure. Read through those sites and buy the books. Educate yourself in advance. Pool as much cash as you can and have access to it even if you don't want to spend it. Just like in normal life, being flat broke is rarely fun and it can quickly suck you down on the road. Get a temp job that pays decent and work to save, save, save! From the Let's Go site... There's an old saying that goes: the difference between travel and tourism is that travelers go places to learn new things and tourists travel to confirm what they already know. What can I say? Free your mind. If you want to enjoy something, you probaly will. If you think it's overrated before you get there, it certainly will be.

08-27-2004, 11:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
happyraul Crazy Location: St. Louis, MO	Check out CouchSurfing for places to stay for free. I just found that site and it looks promising. There are others like it too.

08-28-2004, 10:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
BBBF Upright	There are some really cheap "No Frill" Airlines. I used RyanAir, German Wings and Easy Jet to get around Europe

08-29-2004, 04:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
dailyjo2003 Tilted	To save on food, I took a bunch of granola bars and a big bag of trail mix. I ate that a lot for lunch or breakfast. Saved time and money. Had some extra money for a decent dinner etc.

09-03-2004, 03:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
will57 Upright	GreyEyes, Pulpmind gave you some good advice. Namely , avoid the really expensive places. You can get all the flavor of Europe from three or four countries. Cheap places...Amsterdam, Spain , Greece and especially the eastern europe countries. Places to avoid...England , Paris and most of France , Scandinavian countries. Germany is OK if you are careful about where you go. I have to agree with Jackebear in that Youth Hostels are a lot easier than camping unless you are a very experienced camper. Pack light.

09-08-2004, 06:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
briedcan Upright	Youth Hostels are the way to go...you typically spend about $10-15 a night and that usually includes a breakfast of musuli, breads and jam. Stay out of the UK its expensive...unless you want to hit up Edinburgh International Festival...cause thats pretty sweet. Also, don't overpack...you don't want to lug too much stuff. Besides you are probably going to pick up alot of shit on the way. You could always work at a resort...I'd recommend www.thepinkpalace.com in Corfu, Greece. It is quite the awesome place and you can extend your trip. I traveled around for about 2 months and spent about $3000. Now just go DO IT! bc

09-08-2004, 08:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
tiltedbc Crazy Location: BC, Canada	I spent a week at the Pink Palace on Corfu. Wild times indeed!

09-09-2004, 12:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
CMC3 Upright	Use overnight trains to get a) Free Sleep, b) maximum time in a place, c) Minimum wasted travelling time. Spend time in Eastern Europe where your money goes further. Hook up with every contact you ever made through Forums like this to maximise Free accommodation. Don't stick too rigidly to a plan. Once in Berlin I realised the following day was 14th July, Bastille day in France. Hopped on an overnight and was in France for the big party the following morning. More flexibility means you can take ideas from the people you meet en route too. Have fun.

11-09-2004, 04:20 AM	#27 (permalink)
turbofish Tilted	How old are you? If your in Stockholm, let me know... __________________ ><((((°> Jag bara gissar o spekulerar o det jag skriver behöver inte ha någon förankring med verkligheten alls.

09-11-2004, 07:17 AM	#17 (permalink)
CMC3 Upright	If you get a Eurail or Interrail then all you will have to pay is a supplement for a sleeper (Quite comfortable, sleeps 2) or a couchette (sleeps 4 or 6, more sociable). European stations have large booking offices, normally with people speaking excellent English who will guide you through the process. Quite often many trains in Europe have compartments where you can shut the door, pull down the seats and (as if by magic) you have a free bed. This is good if you are in a group of 2 or 3 as a compartment on your own is a little much to ask! A sensible thing to pack is a chain and padlock which enables you to secure the sliding door of a compartment or couchette overnight for extra security. I must admit being padlocked into a couchette with 4 young oriental ladies was an experience en route from Krakow to Prague.

09-20-2004, 06:05 AM	#18 (permalink)
max01 Upright	CS looks nice on the surface, but also check out www.hospitalityclub.org ! It is actually the largest site in this area of hospitality exchange.. === Free accommodation worldwide? Meet friendly people on your travels? The Hospitality Club (www.hospitalityclub.org) is a network of friendly people around the world who offer each other help when they travel - be it free accommodation, a tour around town or a visit to the best local pub. The aim is to bring people in contact with each other: we believe that friendships will establish and that this will lead to more intercultural understanding and more lasting peace in the long run. Membership is free and 4 years after the start there are now more than 25000++ members in 158++ countries. So it's possible to meet friendly people and stay for free in almost every corner of the world. We invite everyone to join - this can be done online and just takes a couple of minutes. === www.hospitalityclub.org max01

09-23-2004, 04:01 PM	#20 (permalink)
HockeyGuy Psycho Location: London, England	If you're looking to fly Ryanair is a great way of travel VERY cheap! Don't expect all of the luxuries of a larger airline but it gets you where you want to go for a low price. I fly with them regularly!

09-25-2004, 02:25 AM	#21 (permalink)
Alyssa Tilted Location: Chico, Ca.	I'm sorry, I have never been on that side of the pond, but...My boyfriend is over there right now. He has been in Europe for two weeks now with his mom and brother and back-pack. They have been through France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Italy and they just arrived in Greece. This whole time, he has been mentioning that everywhere is expensive (for example a restaurant in Naples had a small glass of Coke, which they charged $5 for) I talked to him today and he said Greece has been pretty cheap so far. They have been staying in hostels most of the time, and cheap hotels. My boyfriend said that is pretty much what you have to do, in order to stay over there for any amount of time...or if you are a college student on a budget....or in his case, spending his college loan money on! He will be over there for 6 weeks. He studied a lot of budget travel books and bought his tickets through STA Travel which has excellent prices on travelling for students. They also bought Eurail passes, which I know that if he were the one typing this right now...he would DEFINATELY rec. buying a Eurail pass. They have been able to get around with ease and sometimes they pay a little extra to upgrade cabins on trains and ferry's.

09-25-2004, 10:05 AM	#22 (permalink)
CMC3 Upright	In Italian bars, you may find differing prices. Stand at the bar with your coffee or cola and its a low price, sit indoors it becomes medium range, sit outdoors and it becomes top dollar. As ever avoid eating/drinking at the tourist traps, St Marks square in Venice must have slices of gold in its pizza slivers. Pack a bottle opener, because using a local supermarket will save you an absolute fortune and if you're on an overnight train your couple of beers or bottle of soft drink will be even more expensive from the buffet car.

10-13-2004, 02:16 PM	#23 (permalink)
Tralls Crazy	Definitely buy a Let's Go Europe book. Comes in very handy for hostels and hotels. People at the train stations offer cheap hotels that sometimes can be as cheap as a hostel, be sure to check out the room first though. I would definitely recommend Amsterdam!!! As an 18 year old, that is truly one of the places I will never forget.

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.

11-11-2004, 11:46 PM	#28 (permalink)
almostaugust Junkie Location: Oz	Thanks for all the info people. Im planning just such a trip. __________________ 'And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe Maybe this year will be better than the last I can't remember all the times I tried to tell my myself To hold on to these moments as they pass'

11-17-2004, 08:40 AM	#29 (permalink)
WillyPete Addict	This site rocks: http://www.skyscanner.net/wings.asp Use it instead of trying to find all the little cheapie deals on the other websites.

11-22-2004, 04:55 PM	#30 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	I've been to Europe and I learned a few things on even my little trip. In expensive cities, save money by buying food from sidewalk stalls, markets and grocery stores. In Paris this was far cheaper than any other option we came across. A good loaf of bread and good cheese shouldn't set you back too much. You have to accept you will be a) walking most everywhere and b) eating simply. The Netherlands is a great place to visit, but there isn't a Dutchman left in Amsterdam. To really get a feel for the country stay in Haarlem, outside of Amsterdam. It's a fifteen minute train ride to central Amsterdam, things are definitely more pleasant and Haarlem is a happening place in its own right. People fail to realize that things available in Amsterdam are quite often available in other Dutch cities and there are much nicer places than Amsterdam to visit. Haarlem is also close to the beach! I'm looking to go back this summer, so all of this advice has certainly been helpful. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

12-12-2004, 09:58 PM	#32 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	One of the fines I ran into was a ten pound tube fine for buying the wrong ticket (I didn't buy it, my traveling partner did). That was roughly equivalent to $15 at the time, and that was a good chunk out of my money for London. So be aware of fines such as those. They're small, but if you make the mistake more than once, they'll add up. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

12-13-2004, 04:56 AM	#34 (permalink)
turbofish Tilted	Regarding International Law... Use common sense... You break it, you probably buy it... Jaywalking isn't something you get in trouble for... You can drink a beer in a park without any problems, which I understand you can't do in the states (opened container). DON'T drink and drive... You'll get raped in prison for that... I can't emphasize this enough. Always have your passport on you if you run in trouble... Just being an US citizen (I'm afraid it's true) will get you off the hook sometimes. Got any questions, just post a reply and I'll try to answer them... __________________ ><((((°> Jag bara gissar o spekulerar o det jag skriver behöver inte ha någon förankring med verkligheten alls.

12-16-2004, 07:00 PM	#35 (permalink)
roderickpsu Crazy Location: State College, PA	Use the trains extensively....relatively inexpensive, fast, on time, etc...

12-20-2004, 09:40 PM	#36 (permalink)
hokiesandwich Upright Location: Virginia, USA	Turbofish, Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I have American common sense, though, you know? I just have this fear that being an American citizen will be a bad thing in places like France. But enough about my neuroses, how about some cheap eats in Eastern Europe? Sausages and beer? Anything I should definitely try in Prague?

12-21-2004, 03:59 AM	#37 (permalink)
turbofish Tilted	Well... the cheapest places to eat are the street vendors... Regarding France... They have such a downpour of tourists that they are all just fed up about it, it would seem... Don't worry about them being petty and not very fourthcoming... They deal with asshats all day long in their own minds... If you suddenly speak their language that all changes in a flash... Really a shame they can't give you service if you don't speak french... This mostly applies in Paris. Read up on Prague before going there __________________ ><((((°> Jag bara gissar o spekulerar o det jag skriver behöver inte ha någon förankring med verkligheten alls.

12-21-2004, 08:37 PM	#38 (permalink)
tommylee02 Tilted	Don't forget "the Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring" for cheap eats and places to stay, like hostels. Dining can be a big cost though, the markets are much cheaper, if you can find them, and if you don't mind warm soda and beer! I saw 16 countries for only a few thousand dollars, it was the greatest experience of my life. Have fun and keep an eye out for the pickpockets!

12-22-2004, 03:21 AM	#39 (permalink)
turbofish Tilted	Cooking at the hostels is often the cheapest way to get by... and making sandwishes before going out on the town... __________________ ><((((°> Jag bara gissar o spekulerar o det jag skriver behöver inte ha någon förankring med verkligheten alls.

12-22-2004, 03:03 PM	#40 (permalink)
89transam Psycho Location: Central California	cool i like to travel __________________ I'd rather be rich than stupid.