mj88

Hello fellow world travelers! I'm going to fly into Paris and fly out of Madrid. I'm traveling solo planning to backpack around France and Spain. I usually do not replant my trips and go with the flow. Literally I never book train plane tickets in advance or hostels. I just figure it out when I'm there! I need help since I feel that this trip should be somewhat planned to save money. So far I want to visit Paris, maybe Lyon, Barcelona, Sevilla, and Madrid. Idk if these cities are doable within my time frame and I'm not sure if I need all my train tickets bought in advance or if I should figure out once I'm there. Also I need advice on how much time I should sown in these cities. I'm pretty good about jam packing my days when I travel and seeing as much as I can in a day with no breaks until I sleep! Also isn't the hostel situation: book ahead of time or do as I always do: figure it out once in there! I was also considering couchsurfing? Any recommendationson that idea? As you can see, this trip is unorganized and I need serious advice! Please help a spontaneous traveler out! Thanks!!!

kimhe

Affordable places in the best location in Barcelona, Sevilla and Madrid. Have stayed in all of them:

Barcelona: http://www.budgetplaces.com/barcelon...l-orleans.html

Sevilla: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hostal-museo.en-gb.html

Madrid: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/la-p...ana.en-gb.html

PalenQ

So far I want to visit Paris, maybe Lyon, Barcelona, Sevilla, and Madrid. Idk if these cities are doable within my time frame and I'm not sure if I need all my train tickets bought in advance or if I should figure out once I'm there.>

Could save a bundle on trains between those places if you book online for the limited in number discounted tickets that may sell out weeks in advance - www.renfe.com for Spain and www.voyages-sncf.com and www.capitainetrain.com for France. There is also a France-Spain Eurailpass that would let you decide which trains to take once there vs full fare for several long trips could be a great deal.

Great sources for trains in Spain and France - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com - the latter sage advice on discounted tickets (which can be a pain to book say many!)

mj88

So it looks like I should definitely have my train tickets in advance? Do you know how much the train pass is for France and Spain? Thanks for the help!

Bedar

Get yourself a guidebook, maybe Let's Go to Europe, or another for backpackers. Look in the library first.

PalenQ

Do you know how much the train pass is for France and Spain? Check the sites I gave you in my post for the current prices of that railpass.

StuDudley

Five cities in 14 days doesn't give you much time "being there". I sure would not want to waste ANY time (that you don't have, anyway) trying to find accommodations when you arrive at these cities (perhaps late in the day). The fast TGV trains in France can get fully booked up in peak season - and taking the slower trains will really eat into your time (that you don't have, anyway).

Here is what I would do:

- Paris 4 nights
- Take one of the many morning 2 hr TGV trains to Lyon & stay 1 night.
- Take the 14:30 TGV to Barcelona that arrives at 19:20 and stay 3 nights
- Take the 8:30 train to Sevilla that arrives at 14:02 and stay 3 nights.
- Take one of the many morning 2 1/2 hr trains to Madrid & stay for 3 nights, or however many you have remaining.

Adjust your schedule to make sure that you don't arrive in Lyon on a Sunday. Shops close on Sundays and many on Monday morning also. If you can't adjust - perhaps skip Lyon & take the TGV all the way to Barcelona (departs 7:15 & arrives 13:30).

Stu Dudley

PalenQ

Yeh 14 days for the original hope list is way too little time as these places are fairly far removed from each other. But it could be done:

Paris 3 days + 1 landing day = 4
Train to Lyon - 1 day = 5
Train to Barcelona - 3 days = 8
Train to Seville - 2 days - 10
Train to Madrid - 4 days + 14

I guess that is feasible after all - a bit hurried and lots of traveling on trains. flying would really be no faster all in all on any component it seems.

mj88

I have a friend in Lyon so that's the only reason I was going to go but maybe he can meet me in Paris! I just want to make sure I get a good experience in the major cities! Thanks for your help! Next step... Figuring out the train business and hostel situation! Have any of you couchsurfed before? Any recommend stations on inexpensive hostels?

PalenQ

For good rundowns of low-budget accommodations there is no better guide than Let's Go Europe IME - thousands zillions of hostels, B&Bs, low-budget hotels, youth hotels, etc. amazon.com or any large bookstore or library.

Christina

Do you mean the website couchsurfing or are you just using that term loosely? I have a relative who used to work there and thus did it a couple times as it was the business, after all. It can be a great experience, but it isn't supposed to be just a place for people to get a free place to sleep. It's really a community and people who use it are expected to reciprocate and host people in their home. It's kind of for people who really like meeting travelers and showing them around their city. I'm not sure how they regulate that, or if they can't and it's just the honor system (that you aren't just supposed to take). I think it takes a while to set up and come to agreements, and the people sort of require recommendations, videos, you name it (not that some are mandatory, just you may not get a spot).

I think obviously it's the kind of thing you have to be savvy, also, in terms of who you pick as a place you want to stay. I don't know of any horror stories, but I imagine there are some bad apples in a thing like that.

Let's Go is a good book for your situation, and for hostels, I think there are reviews of hostels in particular on some specific websites (like maybe www.hostels.com?). For Paris, I know the MIJE hostels are considered good, but there are plenty of others. https://www.mije.com/

mjs

I like the schedules posted above but might suggest 5 nights in Paris with one day less in Madrid unless you are planning on several day trips to places like Segovia... Might also caution about using Lets go for accommodations as a gazillion other people are also using it during the summer so if you are use it for that purpose I would try to book now so you might have availability.

mjs

I like the schedules posted above but might suggest 5 nights in Paris with one day less in Madrid unless you are planning on several day trips to places like Segovia... Might also caution about using Lets go for accommodations as a gazillion other people are also using it during the summer so if you were to use it for that purpose I would try to book now so you might have availability.

clarkgriswold

Whether you need to pre-book might depend on WHEN THE HECK you are traveling???

mj88

Thanks for all the help! I get into Paris at 11 on June 22 and leave from Madrid on the 7th at night.

mj88

7th of July*

PalenQ

For Paris, I know the MIJE hostels are considered good, but there are plenty of others. https://www.mije.com/>

Yes indeedy - been around for a long long time and very reputable - shared rooms about 35 euros - private rooms 55 euros - kind of a youth hotel more than hostel.

Markfiori2119

BEFORE I COMMENT. I WANT TO START BY SAYING I LIVED IN VALENCIA SPAIN FOR 3 YEARS, I AM NOW LIVING IN BELGRADE SERBIA WITH EXTENSIVE TRAVEL AROUND THE GLOBE.

14 DAYS FOR ME PERSONALLY, I WOULD ELIMINATE ONE OF THE COUNTRYS. AND EVEN MORE PERSONALLY I COULD SPEND 14 DAYS ALONE IN BARCELONA, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE THINGS I WOULD DO LIKE BARCELONA MADRID SEVILLA AND VALENCIA IN A 14 DAY TRIP.

IF YOUR MORE KEEN ON FRANCE, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU LIKE YOU COULD A SOUTHERN FRANCE AND ALPS TRIP OR NORTHERN FRANCE AND EASTERN ALPS LIKE GRENOBLE AREA.

IN ANY CASE I WOULD NEVER TRY AND FIT ALL THAT IN FOR A 14 DAY TRIP BECAUSE YOU WILL BE SPENDING MORE TIME TRAVELING WHICH IS THE SHITTY PART OF TRAVELING AND NOT ACTUALLLY BEING IMMERSED IN CULTURE MEETING PEOPLE SEEING THE SIGHTS AND ACTUALLY HAVING THE TIME TO ENJOY THEM AND YOURSELF.

CHEERS

Markfiori2119

ALSO IN REGARDS TO MY LAST POST.....TRAINS IN EUROPE ARE WAY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN FLYING.....USE SKYSCANNER.NET ITS AMAZING....EASY JET, RYANAIR, VUELING ARE ALL VERY CHEAP AND YOU CAN FLY FROM PARIS TO MADRID FOR 10 EUROS DEPENDING ON THE OFFER SOMETIMES IT CAN GO UP HIGHER BUT REGARDLESS WILL ALWAYS BE CHEAPER THAN THE TRAINS....WITHIN SPAIN THE BUSES LIKE AVANZA BUS ARE THE CHEAPEST YES THE AVE TRAINS ARE HIGH SPEEED AND FAST BUT YOUR PAYING A LOT FOR THAT SERVICE...SOO SKYSCANNER USE DISCOUNT FLIGHTS AND THEN IN SPAIN AVANZA BUS IS GREAT

mj88

So would you recommend for me to fly from Paris to Barcelona and then do trains to Sevilla and Madrid? Thanks for all this information it's really helping me!