Backpacking Europe... Alone!
Jan 13th, 2012, 12:43 AM
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Backpacking Europe... Alone!
Hello All! I am backing Europe alone for a good two months this summer. I have the countries I wanna go to picked out, my unlimited global rail pass purchased & both flights set in stone. Other than this I have bought all the "stuff" I will need but am still worried about a couple of things. One being me being a younger American girl traveling alone & not having plans while over there set in stone. Should I be worried? ANY feedback would be much appreciated, thank you!
(I am flying into Ireland & plan on going to Western part of Europe while gone.)
(I am flying into Ireland & plan on going to Western part of Europe while gone.)
Jan 13th, 2012, 05:05 AM
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Welcome to Fodors,and congrats on taking your first trip to Europe.
Since this is your first trip, it is understandable that you are a bit apprehensive. However, many young people backpack through Europe. As long as you use common sense and take normal precautions (don't get drunk and go home with strangers, safeguard your personal belongings, trust your intuition if a situation doesn't feel right, etc), you should be fine.
Even though you don't have a fixed itinerary, you should have info on what cities you want to visit and the things you want to do in those cities. You can adjust your plans as you go along, but you can also waste a lot of time if you have no idea what you want to see and do. In general, the more last-minute your plans, the higher the prices.
Read several guidebooks and do your online research. The more knowlegeable you are, the less anxious you will feel in a strange city.
Are you staying in hostels? If so, have the addresses and contact info for hostels in the cities you want to visit. Some of the more popular ones may not have availability on short notice. Check out Hostelling International:
http://www.hihostels.com/
Most of the people on this site are older and are not backpackers. I suggest you take a look at the Thorntree forum on Lonely Planet, which has lots of info for backpackers. They have a forum for UK and Ireland, and one for Western Europe. There are also forums on "Travel on a Shoestring" and "Gap Year and Round the World Travel" that you may find useful:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa
Other useful websites for backpackers:
http://www.euro-backpacker.com/
http://www.eurotrip.com/
http://backpackingthrougheurope.net/
Good luck to you and happy travels!
Since this is your first trip, it is understandable that you are a bit apprehensive. However, many young people backpack through Europe. As long as you use common sense and take normal precautions (don't get drunk and go home with strangers, safeguard your personal belongings, trust your intuition if a situation doesn't feel right, etc), you should be fine.
Even though you don't have a fixed itinerary, you should have info on what cities you want to visit and the things you want to do in those cities. You can adjust your plans as you go along, but you can also waste a lot of time if you have no idea what you want to see and do. In general, the more last-minute your plans, the higher the prices.
Read several guidebooks and do your online research. The more knowlegeable you are, the less anxious you will feel in a strange city.
Are you staying in hostels? If so, have the addresses and contact info for hostels in the cities you want to visit. Some of the more popular ones may not have availability on short notice. Check out Hostelling International:
http://www.hihostels.com/
Most of the people on this site are older and are not backpackers. I suggest you take a look at the Thorntree forum on Lonely Planet, which has lots of info for backpackers. They have a forum for UK and Ireland, and one for Western Europe. There are also forums on "Travel on a Shoestring" and "Gap Year and Round the World Travel" that you may find useful:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa
Other useful websites for backpackers:
http://www.euro-backpacker.com/
http://www.eurotrip.com/
http://backpackingthrougheurope.net/
Good luck to you and happy travels!
Jan 13th, 2012, 05:35 AM
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Worried? You should be elated.
In Western Europe, you will not have much cause for worry if you use a moneybelt and are religiously careful about handling your passport, credit cards, cash, etc. Losing any of this stuff is no fun.
Read about pickpockets in certain major cities like Rome, Florence, Paris, and a couple others. You probably won't have a problem if you visit these places, but it's wise to be more attentive in places where such problems have a recorded history. If you stay in hostels in shared rooms, you'll want to be careful with your stuff as well, no matter what city you're in.
If you aren't booking places in advance, make sure you have a list of potential accommodations that you have already checked out, with numbers, so that you can call ahead a day or two before you arrive. This cuts down on search-for-a-bed time and minimizes any worries you might have about finding a place to sleep.
Have fun!
In Western Europe, you will not have much cause for worry if you use a moneybelt and are religiously careful about handling your passport, credit cards, cash, etc. Losing any of this stuff is no fun.
Read about pickpockets in certain major cities like Rome, Florence, Paris, and a couple others. You probably won't have a problem if you visit these places, but it's wise to be more attentive in places where such problems have a recorded history. If you stay in hostels in shared rooms, you'll want to be careful with your stuff as well, no matter what city you're in.
If you aren't booking places in advance, make sure you have a list of potential accommodations that you have already checked out, with numbers, so that you can call ahead a day or two before you arrive. This cuts down on search-for-a-bed time and minimizes any worries you might have about finding a place to sleep.
Have fun!
Jan 13th, 2012, 11:07 AM
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Hi Alexandra, You'll be fine! Ireland is a great place for backpackers and for solo travelers, too.
I used to stay at hostels when I was young. If you're using a sleeping bag, or a sheet-sack, you can keep your moneybelt & documents safe down at the bottom of the bag, while sleeping.
Have a great trip
I used to stay at hostels when I was young. If you're using a sleeping bag, or a sheet-sack, you can keep your moneybelt & documents safe down at the bottom of the bag, while sleeping.
Have a great trip
Jan 14th, 2012, 07:08 AM
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As the parent of a young daughter who has backpacked in Europe twice on her own, I "second" all of the excellent information you have received here. Just a couple of extra notes:
1. Have a tentative itinerary before you go. Not only will your family feel better knowing where you are likely to be, you won't be wasting time while you're in Europe trying to figure out where to go and how to get there.
2. Check out www.hostelworld.com My daughter really liked this site because there's a lot of info about the hostels and they are rated by the people who use them. (She disagreed with the ratings on only a couple hostels, but thought the information and ratings on the majority were spot on.) Remember that the best deals at the best hostels will be snapped up early. She tried booking hostels a couple months in advance of her trip last June and found that some of her first-choice hostels were already full.
3. Be vigilent!!!! A young (male) relative of mine who was also traveling in Europe last summer (not with my daughter) lost his backpack, including his laptop, to thieves in a subway station. The American Embassy official that he spoke with to get his passport replaced told him that these thieves are PROFESSIONALS, so you can't ever let your guard down. (He trusted them because they were young like him.) Don't be scared, just be watchful.
4. Finally, check in with your family every few days. A simple email saying, "I'm still alive" from my daughter was all that I needed.
1. Have a tentative itinerary before you go. Not only will your family feel better knowing where you are likely to be, you won't be wasting time while you're in Europe trying to figure out where to go and how to get there.
2. Check out www.hostelworld.com My daughter really liked this site because there's a lot of info about the hostels and they are rated by the people who use them. (She disagreed with the ratings on only a couple hostels, but thought the information and ratings on the majority were spot on.) Remember that the best deals at the best hostels will be snapped up early. She tried booking hostels a couple months in advance of her trip last June and found that some of her first-choice hostels were already full.
3. Be vigilent!!!! A young (male) relative of mine who was also traveling in Europe last summer (not with my daughter) lost his backpack, including his laptop, to thieves in a subway station. The American Embassy official that he spoke with to get his passport replaced told him that these thieves are PROFESSIONALS, so you can't ever let your guard down. (He trusted them because they were young like him.) Don't be scared, just be watchful.
4. Finally, check in with your family every few days. A simple email saying, "I'm still alive" from my daughter was all that I needed.
Jan 14th, 2012, 08:53 AM
#6
Where else are you going? The thread is only tagged for Ireland and some places might require different advice/suggestions.
You will most likely be absolutely fine-but just remember to never leave your things unattended. That doesn't mean just keeping your eye on them.
And if you are staying in hostels -some are great and some are nasty. Note longhorn's post that the better ones can book up pretty far in advance.
You will most likely be absolutely fine-but just remember to never leave your things unattended. That doesn't mean just keeping your eye on them.
And if you are staying in hostels -some are great and some are nasty. Note longhorn's post that the better ones can book up pretty far in advance.
Jan 14th, 2012, 10:15 AM
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Hello Alexandra, one other thought. Will your medical insurance cover you while you are on your trip? If not you should consider obtaining it. InsureMyTrip.com is used by a lot of Fodorites and I believe you will find it self-explanatory.
You have received a lot of valuable advice, I like others wish you a wonderful, safe and fun trip.
You have received a lot of valuable advice, I like others wish you a wonderful, safe and fun trip.
Jan 14th, 2012, 10:25 AM
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Summer is prime time for travel and the best hostels are often booked solid. And while there are a lot of good ones - there are also a bunch that aren;t (drugs, theft and partying all night). I would reserve hostels in large cities - and any place you don't reserve do your work in advance and know where you don;t - and don't want to - stay.
Definitely get the Let's Go student guides and go to the Thorn Tree section of the Lonely Planet web site to get info from other students - much more than we will know.
Definitely get the Let's Go student guides and go to the Thorn Tree section of the Lonely Planet web site to get info from other students - much more than we will know.
Jan 14th, 2012, 11:40 AM
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<i>Alexandra_Breen on Jan 13, 12 at 4:43am</i>
Looks like you are in for a great adventure. To get you up to speed on riding the trains see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b. I wouldn't restrict myself to *western* Europe. Your pass can take you all the way to the Black Sea. Your biggest danger is with pickpockets and luggage thieves. NEVER put any valuables in your backpack. Use a money belt for your cash, passport, and credit cards. You really should make a tentative itinerary. The Lonely Planet book *Europe on a Shoestring* is all you need.
Looks like you are in for a great adventure. To get you up to speed on riding the trains see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b. I wouldn't restrict myself to *western* Europe. Your pass can take you all the way to the Black Sea. Your biggest danger is with pickpockets and luggage thieves. NEVER put any valuables in your backpack. Use a money belt for your cash, passport, and credit cards. You really should make a tentative itinerary. The Lonely Planet book *Europe on a Shoestring* is all you need.
Jan 14th, 2012, 11:58 AM
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Hi Alexandra welcome & congrats on your trip.Overall quite safe if careful. www.backpackeurope.com www.eurocheapo.com tips seat61.com training info hostelbookers.com for top hostels ricksteves.com hasa great money belt I got long ago and still wear as well as tips on eurpean scams on his
Grafitti Board. journeywoman.com also good tips.
Reaview travel.state.gov for a heads up on crime stafety
in each country it tends to get dodgier ther further east
and south you go. Travel simply leave bling expensive electronics dress down to blend and buy your own drinks
and watch them mixed.Travel buds usuallyeasy to find.
Columbusdirect.com for backpackers insurance.
Then relax enjoy have fun!
Grafitti Board. journeywoman.com also good tips.
Reaview travel.state.gov for a heads up on crime stafety
in each country it tends to get dodgier ther further east
and south you go. Travel simply leave bling expensive electronics dress down to blend and buy your own drinks
and watch them mixed.Travel buds usuallyeasy to find.
Columbusdirect.com for backpackers insurance.
Then relax enjoy have fun!
