Summer 2012 Backpacking
Replies: 3 - Last Post: Nov 30, 2012 6:25 PM Last Post By: WaterhazardJack
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Summer 2012 Backpacking
Hello all,I've been planning out my backpacking trip for summer 2012 for a little while now. I've finally managed to cut it down to a trip that I think is reasonable. Just looking for second opinions, maybe some advice as to where I can go asides from the big cities, and if my budget is reasonable. I really enjoy nature, especially hiking and biking, so anything that revolves around that would be great. This is what I have planned so far.
-1 week in Reykjavik, Iceland (July 18-24th). From here, I fly to Frankfurt. I'll then take a train to Poznan, Poland.
-1 week in Poland (July 25th-31st). Need some advice as to where to go. Would definitely like to end in Krakow for the last 3 days, but would love some help trying to figure out what to do before that.
-1 week in Prague, Czech Republic (Aug 1-7th). I'll be taking the overnight from Krakow. Planning to do a side trip or two, maybe Cesky Krumlov or Plzen.
-1 week in Budapest, Hungary (Aug 8-14th). Similar to Prague, I'll make Budapest my base and then do some side trips. However, I know a lot less about Hungary, so I'd really like some help with this part of the trip.
-1 week in Vienna (Aug 15-21st). Planning to split the time between Vienna, Linz, and possibly Graz.
-1 week in Slovenia (Aug 22-28th). Split between Ljubljana and Lake Bled, with a day trip somewhere if there are any recommendations.
-2 weeks in Croatia/Bosnia & Herzegovina (Aug 29-Sept 11). Would like to go to Plitvice, Split, Mostar, Sarajevo, do some hiking in BiH, and then end the two weeks in Dubrovnik. Thinking I might have to spend a day in Zagreb, too, as that is the easiest way to get from Ljubljana from what I have seen. This part is a bit confusing because I'm not sure the best way to travel it. Should I go from Split to Sarajevo to Dubrovnik?
-1 week in Montenegro (Sept 11-17). Would like to see Kotor, Budva, and Sveti Stefan.
-1 week in Macedonia (Sept 18-24th). Any advice on how to get here from Montenegro would be helpful. Do I need to go to Podgorica?Skopje and Ohrid are the two obvious ones, but I'm thinking I might have a day or two to spare.
-1 week in Bulgaria (Sept 25-Oct 1st). Sofia and Plovdiv are what I have planned right now. Would love to see some of the coast, but not sure if that's possible given my time and the direction I am heading in.
-1 week in Turkey (Oct 2-8th). This is the last leg of my trip. Will base myself in Istanbul and take some day trips from there. Will be flying back to the US on the 8th.
I'm planning to bring $5,000 USD with me, not including the cost of my flight from New York to Europe. That's about $60 USD (47 EUR) a day. I plan to stay at hostels, and also do some couch surfing every now and then to keep costs down. I've done some research and this budget seems to be workable in this area. I hope I'm not mistaken.
Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated. This is my first extensive trip, so I'm a bit nervous. Thank you!
Edited by: southernriot
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I really enjoy nature, especially hiking and biking, so anything that revolves around that would be great...1 week in Poland (July 25th-31st). Need some advice as to where to go. Would definitely like to end in Krakow for the last 3 days, but would love some help trying to figure out what to do before that.Try and get down to Zakopane and the Tatra National Park for great hiking...you could also cross the border to Slovakia to the far side of the Tatra Mountains for a few days, to see a different complexion of the same mighty range...
1 week in Prague, Czech Republic (Aug 1-7th). I'll be taking the overnight from Krakow. Planning to do a side trip or two, maybe Cesky Krumlov or Plzen.
Good day-trips to both...you could also consider breaking the journey from Krakow to Prague at the beautiful city of Olomouc for a night or two...
1 week in Budapest, Hungary (Aug 8-14th). Similar to Prague, I'll make Budapest my base and then do some side trips. However, I know a lot less about Hungary, so I'd really like some help with this part of the trip.
Most of the day-trips from Budapest are on the Danube Bend which can be seen in 2 or 3 days...you could also stop off at Bratislava for a night to see another fine capital city (Slovakia) on the Danube...
1 week in Vienna (Aug 15-21st). Planning to split the time between Vienna, Linz, and possibly Graz
Probably best to skip Linz unless you have a specific reason to go there and spend 2 days in Salzburg or maybe Klagenfurt, seeing as you're heading for Graz and then Slovenia...
1 week in Slovenia (Aug 22-28th). Split between Ljubljana and Lake Bled, with a day trip somewhere if there are any recommendations.
2 days will do you in Ljubljana so you can spend more time in the Julian Alps at Bled, Bohinj and exploring the scenery around Mt Triglav and the Soca Valley...
That's about $60 USD (47 EUR) a day. I plan to stay at hostels, and also do some couch surfing every now and then to keep costs down. I've done some research and this budget seems to be workable in this area. I hope I'm not mistaken.
That's quite tight but you'll probably just manage it if you're doing some couch-surfing...won't leave you with much beer money, though, if that has any bearing...Austria and Croatia are dearer than the others, if you want to take that on board...maybe you could couch-surf there?...
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Thanks so much for the reply. With your advice, I've decided to adjust my itinerary a bit. I think that taking out Iceland altogether is probably for the best. I can get a free stop over on the way to Germany, but the cost of spending a week there isn't worth it at this point in time. Plus, now I can fly directly to Poland instead of going to Germany. I'd love to make it there some time, but it's probably not a great idea being on a tight budget. That'll cut out a whole week, plus I think I'm going to shave two days or so off of Hungary, Macedonia, and Montenegro. With that done, I'll have about two weeks taken out in total, which would bring my daily spending to about $70 USD a day. I'm going to try to bring a little more with me, too. I think I'd be more comfortable getting to the $75-80 a day mark. Couch surfing in Austria and Croatia sounds like a great idea. With this plan, I'll still be able to hit the major spots I want to while being able to afford a few more beers. Thanks for the help. I feel a bit better about this now.3
I think I'd be more comfortable getting to the $75-80 a day mark....Thanks for the help. I feel a bit better about this now.No problem and I hope it goes well for you...but do try and have some kind of financial back-up plan or access to spare funds, just in case...I reckon you can do it on the figures that you mention but you have no comfort beyond that...anything can happen on the road, so plan accordingly...
