travelling around europe 2012

Hey im a 20 year old female originally from England but living in Ireland the last 7 years. I REALLY want to travel around europe for about a month or two next summer (2012). None of my friends are interested in travelling and i dont like the thought of going alone! i would love to find a travel buddy of a similar age to travel with. im looking to have a fun time but also see lots!! Im not that rich (but am working and saving:/) so im planning on staying in hostel and maybe getting a eurorail ticket to get around but nothing is set in stone. Id love to go to see the following places:

France-paris (Eiffel tower)
Amsterdam
Germany-berlin/munich
Greece-athens (Parthenon)
Italy-rome (colosseum), pisa (leaning tower of pisa)

the usual places, but wouldnt mind going to some different places either, like i said nothing set in stone. im just googling lots of places and how to find a friend so would be really great to find some one to travel with for a bit of company and banter along the way

please comment if you are in a similar situation and interested in doing the same! thanks

Hi Laura

Don't worry too much....you have the right idea staying in hostels,and you will meet a lot of other travellers in those places you mentioned.Many of them will be solo travellers (more female than male in general).

There are some advantages to having a travel companion but also plenty of disadvantages...its hard enough to travel for a long period with someone you know well,never mind a complete stranger.....

solo is the only way I'll go any more. I can go back to some museum, to see one thing again. Or move on, on a whim.

My terms. My choice of eating and accomodation style. Why not try this in stead of that, on a whim?

As said above, you'll be fine going of on your own. Start somewhere popular like Amsterdam and you'll meet people at the hostel to then continue travelling with. And if you want to go somewhere and they elsewhere, no worries, go your seperate ways and meet new people. I have, in the past, travelled for up to 6 months without actually doing any bit of the journey by myself, not all with the same people but with some people for a couple weeks or a month or even just a few days and then going with someone else, either with an overlap or completely switching travel partners. You'll see many people in the same boat as you - and indeed more girls on the road than guys even amongst solo travellers.

thanks for all your comments but this wil be the first time and its a very scary thought going alone! but id prefer to do it alone then not atal! :P and hopefully il meet some cool people along the way...thanks again!

Hey Laura!

I too plan on traveling around Europe from the middle of May- possibly middle of August 2012 and would really like to have a travel companion. I really want to go to everywhere, but would really like to go to France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Croatia, Germany and Morocco (I know that's not Europe). Maybe we could either meet up or plan a trip together if we decide we have similar travel interests!

Heather

If by 'a eurorail ticket' you mean a pass of some description, please be aware of the cost, additional costs and terms and conditions. It will likely be a foolish waste of money most especially if you can plan ahead. Read at least this - http://tiny.cc/rudzv and this is also a huge resource for train travel - http://www.seat61.com/ which again, within, confirms what I point out.

I think you will be really surprised if you visit some more less visited countries like Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Tallinn and Riga are amazing places and not very expensive. Also Stockholm is a great city but expensive. The list goes on though on places to go. My thought is if you are going to take a longer time to travel, go to some places which you can't normally just jump on a ryanair and go their any old weekend (i.e Paris, etc). You can always try to go to those places some other time since you are only 20.

You can probably find a travel partner on couchsurfing as well.
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my travel blog
www.nickybartlett.blogspot.com

I'm in an absolutely similar situation. I too plan to stay in hostels and buy a Eurail student ticket. But don't have a companion. I'm planning a backpacking Eurotrip next summer. Go through my profile and let me know if we can plan a trip.
:)

solo is best!

What if your travel partner is not so trustworthy?
Or is a Bible basher?
Or doesn't like what you'd like to see? Or thinks museums are too much like school? Or is impatient as Hell? Or just never quits talking inane bs? The list goes on....

Or won't eat at places w/out translated menu? (which have tourist prices. (little mom and pop cafés in paved alleyways, where locals pay no tourist prices)

i will be traveling around europe next year to on my motorbike. i did have a companion but he has changed his mind. im 19 from the south east of england. pm for more info.

cheers alex