bethypeggx

Hello everyone!
I'm planning a trip through various cities in western Europe for summer 2015, and I'll be 16 (nearly 17) at the time. I'll be traveling with my friend (also 16).
We both live in Scotland, and our 'list' is something like this;
Paris, Barcelona, Cannes, Rome, Venice, Berlin, Amsterdam. I'd love to be able to go to Cinque Terre, but don't yet know if it will be an option. I'm aware this is quite a long list - considering we only have 3 weeks max.
We will be living in budget accommodation, and have relatively small appetites. We've put aside around 20-25 euro accommodation per night, and around the same for food (though probably less). For drink we don't plan to get blazing at any given opportunity, but we do plan on taking advantage of the lower drinking ages and more relaxed bars, haha.
We don't mind roughing it a bit. We know that our inter rail ticket will be under £200 (even at high season). We don't plan on buying lots of gifts for people, just the odd postcard here and there.
All in all we've calculated we need to save around £1400, but to be on the safe side, we're aiming for £2000.

Since we are 16, I'm aware some hotels and hostels won't allow us to stay without an adult. However, after personally emailing numerous hostels (where we'll be most likely to stay in) in said locations, and they say that we may stay if we have parental consent (in the form of a written note and photocopy of their passport) then we may stay.

I am hoping our age won't prove problematic. I literally have my heart set on this trip and hope my age won't make it difficult. I'd say my friend and I are certainly mature enough, and would be careful. She looks older than her age, and I look my age.

We both speak fluent English (obviously), and basic French and Spanish. I hope to learn basic Italian, German and Dutch out of respect for the countries, but we will be in no way fluent in any other than English.

Sorry that was so long!
QUESTION:
Have any under 18s travelers got any advice for us?
Will it be more difficult for us to make friends/socialise because we are younger?
Will it be a problem since we don't speak any other language fluently
How strict are bars in these cities? (I've been served beer and cider whilst on holiday in Amsterdam and Spain, just wondering if everywhere else is as relaxed?)
Do you think we have put aside enough money? As I said, we don't mind the cheapest option as long as it ain't dodgy haha.
FINALLY - PLEASE any tips for our trips? Good hostels? Good restaurants? Cheap trips? Hidden gems? Female advice?

THANK YOU!!

jpie

If you don't already know about it, check out couchsurfing:

https://www.couchsurfing.org/

https://www.couchsurfing.org/n/about

It is a great way to meet people who are wiling to host you and even if you prefer to stay in a hostel, many of the people like to act as hosts just to show you around their city and I think now they even have events. It also really helps you stretch your vacation money, but really the big benefit is social I think.

Also I assume you know about lonely planet and hostelworld:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www.hostelworld.com/

I don't think language is going to be a problem. I am US born married to a French husband and when I first arrived here nearly 40 years ago, hardly anyone spoke English-now almost everyone around me here in France understands English for sure although they may be a bit shy about speaking.

I hope you have a great time-I stared treking alone around your age. I was 15 1/2 when I went to Argentina to see a family friend and yes I got stopped at the airport in Miami because I as under-aged, but eventually it all got straightened out and they let me on the plane, and this was before internet and cell phones. I was very impressed that you have done the leg work to check out the legalities ahead of time!

Oh and here in France, they don't to be very strict about checking id for drinking-especially in the summer

nytraveler

I encourage you to do as much planning as possible before the trip. The biggest problem I see is that you are operating on a very tiny budget which can easily get out of control. I wouldn't attempt this unless you have access to back up funds or your parents are willing to chip in as needed.

Your budget seem to include only lodging (low) and food (very low) and not anything for sightseeing (most major sights are NOT free) or local transit (I know you're 16 and have boundless energy but you will want to take Metro or tram sometimes).

A couple of summer ago my DD, 19, traveled through europe for almost 6 week for about $8000 US - 5,700 euros. AT 3 weeks a similar budget for you would be almost 3000 euros. They stayed in very modest hotels, and were not big eaters or drinkers or shoppers, but did pay for intercity trains, local transit within cities and a LOT of sightseeing (otherwise why go?).

So on that basis I would say your budget is very tight.

During the trip they did encounter 2 young american girls who had outspent their budget and had several days before their plane home and simply had run out of money. My DD and friend advanced them the money for dinner and the night's lodging until they reach their parents and collect money the parents put in their ATM account. Otherwise they would have had no place to sleep and no food for 3 days. (They thought they could go to the embassy for help and were astonished to learn that the embassy would not serve as a bank.)

adrienne

This board is mostly populated with more mature travelers. You should post on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum where there are younger folks who backpack and stay in hostels.

There will be no problem in the cities you mention with only speaking English.

I don't think your nightly budget for lodging is enough. Check Hostel World for the prices per night per person to verify how much you'll need for a bed in a dorm room.

I think you'll be able to make some friends in hostels. When I stayed in hostels I was a bit older than many of the others but it was easy to engage in conversations and find people to hang with temporarily.

Some of those cities are expensive and you may not be able to eat for E20 per day. Buy food in local supermarkets to save on restaurant meals.

7 locations in 3 weeks is a lot - that only gives you 3 days in each location but part of that time will be spent in transit so 2 to 2.5 days in each place - not much time in the larger cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Rome.

The best guide book series for budget traveling is Let's Go. They give lots of tips on good, inexpensive restaurants, women travelers, etc. Check your local library to see if there are copies available or you can go to letsgo.com and see much of the book on line. What you want is the general information parts of the book for traveling tips.

Female advice - use common sense and don't go off alone with strangers - stay with your friend.

Enjoy your trip!

nytraveler

Sorry - can;t help with the underage issue - my DDs didn;t go alone until they were 18 (elder) and 19 (younger).

hetismij2

One important thing - in the Netherlands you now have to be 18 to buy and consume alcohol, and you will be asked for ID if you try to buy it. The same is true of coffeeshops should you be considering a visit.
Don't worry about learning any Dutch if you are only in Amsterdam. Politeness in English will be fine.

Christina

I also think your budget is too low. I think you should lower the number of places you plan to go in order to stretch your budget. And why on earth did you pick Cannes, for example, as a must-see place for a 17 year old?

Your places are too far apart. I don't know how that interrail ticket works, but can you really use that to get to all those places for that price? If so, it will just take a lot of time, and I know there must be supplements on some of those high-speed routes.

I think you should do a little more research on the price of hostels as I know in Paris they are not that cheap. I think there you may have to pay 25-35 euro per night even in the large dorm rooms.

Your language skills sound fine, I wouldn't worry about that.

vincenzo32951

A couple of comments.

First, you may want to greatly scale down your plans, in terms of time and places to visit. That leads to my second comment.

Money. Ask yourself this question. When you visit all these fabulous places, what are you going to do when you get there. Drink and socialize? That costs money you probably haven't budgeted for. Visit iconic sites, like the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, etc? That costs money.

About a hundred years ago, I made a trip similar to yours at a a similar age, with three friends. We went bust in about half the time we expected. Maybe you'll be a lot smarter than I was. Good luck.

kybourbon

The interrail pass is similar to rail passes Americans might buy, but for Europeans only. The pass does not include seat reservations which are mandatory on many trains (all the faster trains in Italy - 10€). Other trains between countries may have higher seat fees and some countries limit how many pass holders allowed.

The Thorntree forum is your best bet for other backpackers and people booking hostels.

You don't say where you live in Scotland, but if rural or smaller town, things might be much cheaper there (food/bus, etc.). You've picked major cities in Europe and big cities come with higher prices.

progol

I also can't speak to the age factor, but think you are trying to see too man places in a short time. I don't think you can adequately determine your budget until you do more research.
1) where will you stay in each city? Many hostels now take reservations, and you may need to do that given your time frame.
2) how will you get there? How long will it take? Are you sure the rail card will be accepted? If so, you'll likely need to make reservations.
3) What do you want to see in each city? Even with a student card, it still costs money.
4) is your food budget realistic? If you eat bread& cheese, maybe, but not much room for any dining out.

Truly, what is it you want to do? If you can plot out your trip and see how long it takes to get from one place,to another, you might see that the number of cities you've listed will give you very little time to enjoy any of them. If you want to enjoy the ambience of any of the cities, give yourself a little more time in fewer places.

Just my thoughts.

janisj

The very easiest way to stretch your meagre budget is to cut back both the length of the trip and the number of destinations. Since you have a limited budget - go for 2 weeks instead of 3. Right there that gives you 1/3 more per day spending money. And if you go to say Paris/A'dam/Berlin (or any threesome you want) you will cut way back on transport costs and need for extra seat reservations.

You live in Scotland - in the next few years you'll have plenty of opportunities to visit just about anyplace in Europe that interests you. So cut back the scope for this first trip - learn your way around and plan future trips when you have more £££/€€€

bethypeggx

Thank you all for your honest opinions - particularly in regard to budget!!
I'm thinking I've been a bit (or a lot) optimistic with money... I'm considering shortening the trip to 17 days or less, and cutting Cannes out. For the person asking I know it isn't a typical choice for a teenager, but we just wanted to be exposed to some sort of luxurious place, haha.
COST WISE: Hostels: 25 x 17 = 425... FOOD: 25 x 17 = 425... DRINK (inc water): 200... Train ticket: 269... OTHER TRAVEL: 200... DAY TRIPS/SIGHTS: 200
TOTAL: £1719
So round up to 2100 in case... ? Do you all still think I'm being optimistic? We really don't have big appetites and can see ourselves opting for self catering rather than eating out a lot. Particularly in Italy and Spain I can see us sharing meals (pizza and tapas).
I was also considering leaving out Paris/Berlin till another time.. Thoughts? I think you are all very right in that there will be plenty time later on to travel.
THANKS for pointing out about the coffee shops as OF COURSE we were going to try our luck with that haha!
Also, thank you all for not being judgemental about our age, as a lot of people were on Yahoo!

bethypeggx

Oh and thanks for mentioning couch surfing! Truth is I'm a little reluctant and I think my parents would have something to say about it haha

bethypeggx

adrienne thanks so much for the book reccomendation!

Jean

When I traveled around Europe at your age, I often stayed in university dorms. This may not be feasible everywhere you're planning to go, but I'd investigate the possibilities.

I also think you'll need more money, esp. if you plan to do things like go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, go inside Guell Park, see the inside of the Coloseum, ride the vaporetto in Venice, etc. The cost of just a few experiences like these will add up.

bethypeggx

Jean, thanks very much. I'm wondering for your opinion - and anyone else's - on how much do you think we should put aside per person for these activities (Colosseum, Eifel Tower, Vaporetto etc) ?

Jean

Figure out what you want to do in each destination and then look up the entrance fees online.

Christina

I don't understand your recent budget where you are now quoting prices in GBP, not euro. Originally, you said euro, which is it? Because if it is pounds, then it is a better budget as 25 GBP is about 31 euro. I know the 269 for the railpass is in euro, though.

If it is euro, you can do it but you won't be eating much and will really have to watch where you eat. You budget about 11 euro per day for local transportation (that's fine), sightseeing (also seems okay, you just can't do a lot for that in some of these cities, maybe one museum or sight), and 11 euro for all drinks per day. That's fine if you don't buy hardly anything in cafes. Don't buy water, just buy a bottle once and fill it up with tap water after that (or bring your own sports bottle). But any other drinks will cost you maybe 3-5 euro each.

You haven't budgeted anything to pay for the reservations you'll need on the train, even with your railpass.

It probably would make sense to drop Berlin as it's really out of the way of everything else. To be honest, dropping Barcelona would then make the most sense, not Paris, as the other place to drop. Do you have any idea how long it will take by train to get to Barcelona from Italy, for example? How do you plan to get there? Now they do have a new high speed train line to Barcelona from Paris which takes about 6:30 hours, but that still eats up most of a day. But that will cost extra, I imagine, and France limits the seats they allow to railpass holders, also. And then you'll have to get back somewhere from Barcelona.

Paris has enough luxury for anyone, if you want to see some luxury stores and hotels.

How do you plan to go to these places from Scotland to being with, I missed that. And how to you plan to get home from your last city? I am presuming it is by train, but that eats up at least two days of your 10 day pass right there (if not more, I can't imagine how long a train trip from Scotland to Barcelona, for example). The 269 fee is only for a 10-day pass. So that should work if you plan to stay in a place a few days, sure.

suze

I still think the budget is way too low. Start doing some research to see the kinds of places you will be able to find in major cities for that price range.

I also think you have too many places for the amount of time. And remember moving around place to place costs money. 6 major cities (not near each other) in 21 or 17 days.

How about only going for 2 weeks, and only to 3-4 places? Then your budget might almost start to work.

Robert2533

As noted, everything is typically more expensive in big cities than in smaller villages, but it would be rather difficult for two people to survive €25/day for food and drink, even in Spain where you can buy a Caña, the smallest glass of beer, for less than a Euro.

A glass of wine in Barcelona could set you back around €3 for anything decent. It would be the same in Paris.

A menú del día at lunch, the menu of the day, for under €12/person, isn't very satisfying or filling, especially if you're doing a lot of walking and burning a lot of energy. But it is a great way to go if you want to loose weight and can survive the rest of the day on a liter of bottled water for the two of you.