hello travelers
I am planning a 8 weeks (about 60 days) trip to Europe this summer. I am planning on leaving mid June and comming home when the money runs out or the middle of August. I want to see the Netherlands for 7 days (Amsterdam, Rotterdam), Czech Rep for 5 days (Prague, Cesky Krumlov), Spain for 5 days (pamplona for the running of the bulls, Barcelona), Lloret de Mar on my way to the French Riviera for 6 days (Marseille, Monaco and Nice), as much Italy as possible in 2 weeks, Germany for a week (Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf) and to visit friends in the UK for 10 days, I would also like to swing thru Bratislava if I have time. I am looking for help on a route to take and where to fly into, I am going to end my trip in the UK. I would like some help on places to stay (cheap, central, fun) I am thinking of hostels and mabye some small b &b's, things to see ( I like to hike, all sports (and extreme sports like cliff diving), see art/history and party) and any must see or do's in any of my destinations. I am also looking for help on my best and cheapest way to travel to all these places.
I will be traveling by myself for most of it but will have friends for bits and pieces of the trip. The running of the bulls is the only thing I have a time table on July 9-14. Thank you in advance for your help
How are you traveling? How are you getting from the Czech Rep to Spain, for example? Unless you are flying, that is a couple of days on the train depending on where is Spain you are going. If you are going to Pamplona for the Bulls, check on the details and make reservations way in advance.
With your travel plans, you'ld better sell the cow, b4 leaving home! That's the trouble with rt tickets. They don't let us go home when we're broke.
Trains are absolutely the best way of travel. Unless you're uhhh... going to extremes? For very long hauls-> plane. Cheap plane rides make thier big money on overweight. I think we're allowed 50 lbs.
For fun learning, and seeing the countries at ground level, pristine mostly.
Bus? Ya get what ya pay for.
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"Ya can't see it all in one trip."
-God
Use a Rick Steves moneybelt. It fits passport, plane ticket, atm...youu heard me!, and only other things in the funny instructions.
Mine saved all, 3 times.
..it happens. Cops can't do a thing about it.
only thing i would say is if your on a budget avoid the South of France its not cheap. Especially if you like a few beers.
Most of your time allocations are not too bad. Use this rule of thumb to help you plan.
Never stay anywhere for less than 3 days (4 nights) unless it is just an overnight stop enroute to somewhere else. Each time you move, you lose a day even if it is only a 4 hour journey. Effectively it takes full day to move regardless of how far.
With 56 days (8 weeks) available it isn't difficult then to figure out how many places you can actually plan on visiting. It's less than 18 and possibly as low as 14 if you move every fourth day. You've already listed too many places given some of the time scales like 10 days in the UK with friends and 2 weeks in Italy. Those 2 alone are half your total time.
I somewhat agree with BpGuruagain. While there isn't a formula that will work everytime as far as how many days you should stay in one place, it is good advice to limit your destinations. Better yet, choose only a few must sees (like your Pamplona choice) and just go and see what happens. Don't plan it all out because you never know when you might meet an awesome group of people in a hostel and want to stay for a few extra days, or get some interesting travel advice about a place you never considered. Point is, the more time you can spend in one place the better. But I understand that it is very tempting to try and see it all while in Europe, just don't go crazy and skip cities every other day.
As far as the other advice you are seeking, start doing some research. Read previous posts, and websites mentioned above, then come back here and post more specific quetions so we are better able to help you.
Good luck.
I usually stay 3 or 4 days in each place. It just happens. Like many yank families say about returning to Spain, "The more I learn, the more I want to know."
And like Rick Steves says, in ETBD, "Europe is not just cathedrals and historic places. Its the wonderful people you meet." paRApHRASE ANYWAY.
yOU HAVE FRIENDS OUT THERE, YOU HAVEN´T MET YET. tHEY HAVE MUCH TO TEACH YOU, WHILE HAVING FUN. aND YOU KNOW THAT "oH BY THE WAY..." Its often the nut of the conversation. So hear ém out. That´s a talent we yanks have lost. Simply have the guts and courtesy to listen. Then figure whether it was bs.
Don´t book ahead unless its a holiday where you´re headed. It puts you on a phony schedule.
Meanwhile you miss that btw, that tells you of a better place.
trusted partner
