I'm officially backpacking throughout Europe!!!

[Mitch21]

I just bought my tickets which means its OFFICIAL!!! For a while there, I was skeptical that the trip was really going to happen, but it's on! One of my roommates from college is moving to France for a job so this is somewhat of a sendoff trip for him and us. I told my girlfriend and family, but I was still raging with excitement so I figured I had to let it out on BP.net!

If anyone has any tips regarding a European backpacking trip, PLEASE share!

We are flying into Madrid, then going to Barcelona, then Nice, then Rome, then Switzerland, then Munich, then Amsterdam, then back down to Paris, back to Madrid, and then home.

If anyone has any suggestions of "must see/must do" adventures, please feel free to share!!

[Montessa Python]

I hate to say it, but my first thought was American werewolf in London...
My advice would be "Stay off the Moors." LOL, there are moors in spain.
Try to find places that are off the beaten path and are great to see but not all the touristy things that have huge long lines.

Carol

[JLC]

Sounds AWEsome!! I'd love to do a trip like that! How long will you be stomping around the world?

[Samuel]

You sir .. are living my dream. I would love to do something like that .. I first need to lose some weight ... and get some money, but I would so do something like that!

Good luck .. I hope you have a blast. Bring me back some dirt from Rome.

[Vypyrz]

In Spain... Benidorm, Alicante', Cadiz... Palma De Mallorca

In France... not to far from Nice... Hyeres. It's a smaller coastal town, a little cheaper and fairly close to Nice and St. Tropez.

Italy: My favorite parts of Italy were the Southern end and Sicily. Yes All the tourist attractions are in the North but if you want to see the best parts, I recommend either Calabria, in the South or some of the Towns up North near the Alps. Or Messina or Taormina on the island of Sicily.

If you want a straight up European summer party spot then you want to go to either Mallorca or Ibiza (more expensive)

I spent 5 years living in Europe(Sicily)To me all the big cities are the same, its the culture you find in the small towns and rural areas that makes all the difference. I mean, by all means, hit the big ticket items like the colliseum, etc, but don't spend all of your time just in the cities...


Rob

[PrioBull]

Watch out for those sleazy hostels, you don't want to get tortured and cut up like those people in those movies just kidding, you will have great experiences. Good luck!

[Vypyrz]

I forgot to add that my favorite places to just chill out and relax were 1) Northern coast of Crete near Hania or Souda 2) Cefalu, Sicily 3) Sardinia

[Mitch21]

To me all the big cities are the same, its the culture you find in the small towns and rural areas that makes all the difference. I mean, by all means, hit the big ticket items like the colliseum, etc, but don't spend all of your time just in the cities...

That was our thoughts exactly... I need to see the big stuff in Italy, but I'm almost more excited for the little villages that we're going to try wandering off to. We had to cut a lot of stuff out of the trip like Greece and southern Italy due to the fact that we're trying to squeeze 8 locations into 30 days.... Thirty days seems like a lot, but since I'm sure it's going to be eaten up fast!

Sounds AWEsome!! I'd love to do a trip like that! How long will you be stomping around the world?

We're going to be over there for 30 days!! I'm super excited! All my buddies and I decided that we're gonna give skydiving a try---- in the Alps!! Hopefully I can buy a video or something of the jump!


I'll be sure to post many many pictures on this thread when I get back!

[Montessa Python]

Oh.. and youth hostels in germany... cold water only.. and stampeding cows.. I had a friend go to a furry convention and it was held at a youth hostel... they had no hot water, and the dairy herd next door got loose through a gate and went all around the hostel (outside I think)...
So... before staying at a youth hostel... check if they have hot/cold water and "the techno twins" playing bad 80s music on a cheap boom box
Carol

[Ginevive]

Haha! Maybe the cows just wanted to attend the convention.

Sounds awesome, dude. Traveling, and having awesome experiences, is what life is all about to me. I haven't hit Europe yet, but someday.. we are just embarking on a trans-US roadtrip and moving to Cali, but I wish you happe travels. And I hope that you keep in touch!