Finalizations to my first solo trip.

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anonymous
anonymous

Hi, I'm an 18 year old Irish male hoping to go on a solo backpacking trip in Eastern Europe for a month this July. I've finally been given the OK by my parents so it's starting to feel very real and I just wanted any opinions or tips you might have as to solo backpacking so young. I'm hoping for a trip with good nightlife, other young travellers and hopefully some adrenaline-type activities. These are my planned destinations:

• Budapest (4 nights) (on the fifth day I hope to do a skydive here)
• Overnight train to Belgrade (I've heard a few horror stories about this train so if anyone has any advice or knows if these stories are true please share)
• Belgrade (2 nights)
• Overnight train to Bar, then bus to Budva.
• Budva (2nights)
• Kotor (3 nights) (I also plan to hike the ladder of Cattaro here one of the days)
• Bus to Zagreb (The reason for this crazily long detour is that I'm thinking of getting the 'OhSo Croatia' Bus down through Croatia, which if anyone has taken before please let me know what you thought because it sounds great but how much can you trust a companies own website?)
• The bus supposedly runs down the coast of Croatia over the course of 10 days stopping in places like Novalja, Sibenik, Split and a few others. It also says while its not included in the ticket price they will reserve hostel beds and provide optional activities such as Island Quadbiking, sea kayaking, Zip-lining, Krka national park etc. It sounds amazing and exactly the kind of thing im looking for, I'm just worried it could be too good to be true! So, if anyone knows about the OhSo company please do tell me!

• The bus then finishes in Dubrovnik where I hope to then fly home to Dublin... After claiming the Iron Throne of course ;)

Ive budgeted approx. €40 a day excluding accommodation. Will this be enough for food, nights out etc? (This isn't including the skydive or activities with the bus either.) And I dont need or expect restaurant dinners, I'm more than happy with self-cooked supermarket stuff.

Apologies for the length of this post but I'd love to get some feedback, especially regarding the solo travel aspect, the Budapest - Belgrade train and the OhSo bus.

Thanks to everyone :)
Jack.

PS: I was also thinking about getting a tattoo while travelling, on my forearm about 3×2 inches big and was wondering if anyone could estimate a price? Its nothing too intricate so shouldnt take hours to do. Also anyone know any good parlours in any of the above locations? Thanks again.

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AndrasF
AndrasF

Hi

Your itinerary looks really good. I try to answer a few questions. I know Budapest and Montenegro and I spent 2 days in Dubrovnik. You will love Budapest. It is cheap and there is so much to see and do. And definitely good night life. Hope you will not go out alone though. Also the biggest summer event in Budapest is in August, it is called "Sziget" (means "island") but for sure you will find something in July. Ruin pubs are quite popular among travellers. My favourite one is the "Szimplakert" in 7th district. but there are many more. just google ruin pubs Budapest. A pint of beer is around €2-3. A whole pizza €4-5 but hope you will eat some Hungarian stuff too. Goulash is also around €4. Or if you want cheaper than this go to one of the shopping centres such as West End and try one of the buffets. Younger people up to 40 are more likely to speak English. If you find some travellers you may try these locked escape games like Bank Robbery on Széll Kálmán Square. It is real fun but you will really have to find a team to enjoy.I dont know anything about Serbia and trains to Serbia and bus to Croatia. montenegro is such a beauty. they are not in the EU but they use Euro as currency. you can hike a lot. Kotor and its bay is a beauty. worth hiking up the hills for the perfect view. Unfortunately I picked a dirty accommodation in the old town of Kotor and then I found another one just in Dobrota for €25 per night, approx 15 minute walk from the old town. Pizza Pronto is also here, really good, and as cheap as in Hungary. Kotor is small and in July it is busy. If you see signs with "soba" (room) that means they offer accommodation. I tried to rent a sea kayak here but I found just some odd ones so I didnt rent any. Budva is better for night life, I went to Trocadero, which was ok but nothing special. Dubrovnik was a bit more expensive than Montenegro. I went to Buza bar just for a few drinks. It is on the cliffs just outside of the old town. Great views to the sea. That's all I can suggest. Hope you have found some useful information. Take care

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InnovKate
InnovKate

You should have no problems travelling with that plan. I can only comment on Zagreb, Budapest and Dubrovnik. Your budget seems fine though.

I would recommend the Chillout hostel in Zagreb. The staff there are amazing. Some have tattoos so will be able to help you out in finding a decent parlor. I don't have a tattoo so I can't help you on this one.

I stayed there about 2 months ago and it is a very sociable hostel. They do nightly pub crawls. It is not really my thing so can't comment on it.

Budapest is a great city with a good nightlife.

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