Hi all,
My boyfriend and I will be travelling around Europe for a month, starting 2nd August in London. We'll be visiting the following places:
London - Frankfurt - Rome - Pisa - Venice - Milan - Brussells - Paris - Dublin. Our time in Italy and Dublin will be spent driving around (hire car), and we'll be getting a rail pass to travel through France.
I've never backpacked in my life, so the whole experience is new for me! I'm looking online at estimated prices for hostels/cheap hotels, and wondered if anyone could give me some tips regarding things to watch out for, what to expect... especially how much I can expect to pay.
I found a link from a user's post here at TT, and found a price for a hostel in Rome, for one night, at €18.00. Is that a reasonable price to pay? Seems a little steep.
Cheers.
I've also found some others in Venice for up to €40.00 !! I realise prices must vary based on where the hostel is located (ie proximity to the city centres and such), but that seems like a ridiculous price just for a bed.
Can anyone recommend any cheap hostels they have stayed at?
Also, is it illegal to sleep in our car? We're hiring a car for 9 days in Italy, and i'm considering just sleeping in the car for a couple of days, even though it's uncomfortable, will save a lot of money!
If your in any warm countries, it might be worth buying a cheap tent, especially if your hiring cars.
Hostels vary. Is that price for a dorm bed or a private room? Also, very large dorms are usually cheaper than small dorms, hostels very centrally located can be slightly more expensive than those way out - but you might save money staying centrally if you can walk everywhere and don't have to pay a fortune for a taxi at night.
In London, a dorm bed can cost over £20 in some places, though others can go for around £15. A private hostel room can cost more. Try travelodge for very cheap double rooms - if you book well ahead some can be got for £26 a night per room. The Generator is said to be super cheap, and non stop party all of the time. You don't say how old you are, but the cheapest hostels tend to be very party orientated and attract a younger crowd. If you want to meet loads of people and get super drunk, that is great, but if your wanting quiet, privacy, intimate romantic atmosphere you are not going to get it at the party central places. The HI hostels tend to be more expensive but quieter and I have stayed in many where the guests are mostly older than teens and mainly couples and families rather than independent and single backpackers (which is boring for me as a lone traveller as I like to meet other lone travellers but couples and families prefer that set up). Apart from annoying school groups.
Bear in mind in hostels, a private two person room, or two bedded room, may actually be a pair of very narrow bunk beds instead of a double bed.
Check out university accommodation - most universities let out student accommodation during the summer vacation, and that can work out cheaper than a hotel (though more expensive than a hostel) but you still get a private room and access to self catering kitchen, lounges, etc. Some rooms are en-suite but the cheapest ones have shared bathrooms. Hundreds of student rooms are available in London until mid September, offered by several universities. Do a web search for universities in the cities you are going to.
thanks, ft for the informative reply. :) My boyfriend and I are both 23, and are not all that interested in a quiet romantic sort of atmosphere. Will take all that into consideration, thanks! :)
Why 9 cities in one month ??
Cut out Frankfurt to allow more time in Italy. Cut out Paris to free up a lot of budget.
Go camping in Italy if you have a car. Far nicer places to stay, and parking in places like Venice is even more expensive than sleeping !
There are campsites along the coast and take a local bus into Venice, Pisa or Florance.
Enjoy !
Ferdinand
trusted partner
