I want to go to Europe July and August
Jun 20th, 2009, 08:37 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I want to go to Europe July and August
Hello,
I am new to Fodor's. It seems as though this is a great resource for traveling. I am looking for info/advice/suggestions.
I am a 29 year old female. I am interested in backpacking. I will be traveling alone. I want to travel to Europe for 6-8 weeks (July/August) I have been several times to Britain (my parents are from Scotland- immigrated to Canada years ago).
I am not sure where to begin. I have read some forums and it seems that a lot of people recommend spending 2 weeks per country?
I was thinking ...Italy, Spain, Portugal...maybe France. Switzerland would be great! Norway/Sweden/Finland?
Any suggestions for a first timer?
I am new to Fodor's. It seems as though this is a great resource for traveling. I am looking for info/advice/suggestions.
I am a 29 year old female. I am interested in backpacking. I will be traveling alone. I want to travel to Europe for 6-8 weeks (July/August) I have been several times to Britain (my parents are from Scotland- immigrated to Canada years ago).
I am not sure where to begin. I have read some forums and it seems that a lot of people recommend spending 2 weeks per country?
I was thinking ...Italy, Spain, Portugal...maybe France. Switzerland would be great! Norway/Sweden/Finland?
Any suggestions for a first timer?
Jun 20th, 2009, 08:54 AM
#2
Your options are wide open. But in your decision be sure to factor in the weather. Italy, Greece, Spain, southern France will all be VERY hot in July/August.
Since you really don't seem to have any set agenda yet - I'd personally choose north and or mountainous. Switzerland, parts of Germany, Scandinavia would all be good choices.
Since you really don't seem to have any set agenda yet - I'd personally choose north and or mountainous. Switzerland, parts of Germany, Scandinavia would all be good choices.
Jun 20th, 2009, 09:22 AM
#3
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 26,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You must have some preconceived notions about these countries. Take a coin and say country X is heads and country Y is tails and when the coin is midair whatever side you want to win is where you start.
Jun 20th, 2009, 12:08 PM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You need to do some research to see what YOU will enjoy.
I hate ht weather and would stick with the alps north in the summer (we will do Spain or italy only n April or May to have decent weather. But you may be one of the people who loves high 90s and humid without AC.
I do urge you to start making some plans now, since hostels vary tremendously - some are great and some are awful (nothing but druggies and drunks) and the good ones often sell out.
Besides some regular guidebooks you need t have a look at some of the student guides, which will have info appropriate for the budge traveler. Also, assume you have our finances in order, as well as health insurance coverage (immigration officials often ask this info from travelers who are young and plan on staying for a significant amount of time based on their return ticket date).
I hate ht weather and would stick with the alps north in the summer (we will do Spain or italy only n April or May to have decent weather. But you may be one of the people who loves high 90s and humid without AC.
I do urge you to start making some plans now, since hostels vary tremendously - some are great and some are awful (nothing but druggies and drunks) and the good ones often sell out.
Besides some regular guidebooks you need t have a look at some of the student guides, which will have info appropriate for the budge traveler. Also, assume you have our finances in order, as well as health insurance coverage (immigration officials often ask this info from travelers who are young and plan on staying for a significant amount of time based on their return ticket date).
Jun 20th, 2009, 12:30 PM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If your parents were born in UK, I presume you have a British passport. This makes travelling in Europe a lot easier, as you have no limit to how long you can stay and can even work without a visa or permit (not that getting any kind of job is easy at the moment).You should still have travel insurance with medical cover, as you aren't eligible for European Health Insurance Card issued free to UK residents and permits free or subsidised medical care in Europe.
As stated, you should do your homework in narrowing down where to go, as each country and region has its own character, which may or may not appeal to you. If you are going to popular cities and resorts in Southern Europe, you should book accommodation in advance (it may be too late for some popular hostels and cheap hotels). Remember also the air fare to Europe is at its highest in July/August, so you need to be flexible about where to fly to. Being so close to departure, you may find it difficult to find cheap or even reasonable fares. Some kind of rail pass may be worthwhile, depending on your itinerary, combined with budget airlines for some longer sectors - you should book in advance, as fares rise closer to departure. Avoid flying at weekends to find cheaper fares.
Consult Rough Guide's Europe on a Budget or Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring.
As stated, you should do your homework in narrowing down where to go, as each country and region has its own character, which may or may not appeal to you. If you are going to popular cities and resorts in Southern Europe, you should book accommodation in advance (it may be too late for some popular hostels and cheap hotels). Remember also the air fare to Europe is at its highest in July/August, so you need to be flexible about where to fly to. Being so close to departure, you may find it difficult to find cheap or even reasonable fares. Some kind of rail pass may be worthwhile, depending on your itinerary, combined with budget airlines for some longer sectors - you should book in advance, as fares rise closer to departure. Avoid flying at weekends to find cheaper fares.
Consult Rough Guide's Europe on a Budget or Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring.
Jun 20th, 2009, 01:25 PM
#6
If your idea of this holiday is night clubs and hanging out on the beech with Europeans then all along the Med are countries who will satisfy. Depending on languages ( I assume Engish and French) then it is possible to find english speaking parts of spain, france is good and engish speaking Greece, Croatia etc which wwould do it all
If you want to visit for cultural and cooler regions then you can draw a line through, Uk, France, Holland, Bits of Germany and Czech should satisfy. Of these a large proportion of the first 4 countries leave in this time period and head to the med so you should find accomdation possible.
On a positive note these northern areas also start local festivals and so you can find fun things to do as well as visit art centres etc.
If you want to visit for cultural and cooler regions then you can draw a line through, Uk, France, Holland, Bits of Germany and Czech should satisfy. Of these a large proportion of the first 4 countries leave in this time period and head to the med so you should find accomdation possible.
On a positive note these northern areas also start local festivals and so you can find fun things to do as well as visit art centres etc.
Jun 20th, 2009, 01:35 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the info. Is it necessary to book accommodations ahead of time? Can you just show up at a hostel and will they have rooms that are open to "drop-in" travelers?
I am not interested in beaches and nite clubs. I prefer to see landmarks, churches, concerts. I am not on a tight budget but because I am traveling alone...I thought hostels may be a good place to meet up with other travelers?
I am not interested in beaches and nite clubs. I prefer to see landmarks, churches, concerts. I am not on a tight budget but because I am traveling alone...I thought hostels may be a good place to meet up with other travelers?
Jun 20th, 2009, 02:37 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hostels and cheap hotels tend not to hold back rooms for walk-ins and unless you've reserved in advance, you risk not having a roof over your head or paying a lot more than you've budgeted for. You are travelling at peak time for European travel with lots of young people and families looking for reasonably-priced accommodation. This holds particularly true for hip cites (e.g. Paris, Barcelona) and historic places (e.g. Florence, Venice, Rome). Just find out booking situation on www.hostelworld.com.
Jun 21st, 2009, 04:22 AM
#10
Depends
Firstly might be worth joining the international Youth hosteling association (YHA in UK) this gives you an idea of standards and availability. Not all hostels (by any means) are in the international or national organisation. But it gives you a start. In uk it gives you the options of staying right in say London for reasonable prices. Yes it lets you meet other people and do stuff together. Denmark has a whole system of women only hostels for example.
If the towns are busy then accomodation will be short and you need to book ahead.
Firstly might be worth joining the international Youth hosteling association (YHA in UK) this gives you an idea of standards and availability. Not all hostels (by any means) are in the international or national organisation. But it gives you a start. In uk it gives you the options of staying right in say London for reasonable prices. Yes it lets you meet other people and do stuff together. Denmark has a whole system of women only hostels for example.
If the towns are busy then accomodation will be short and you need to book ahead.
Jun 21st, 2009, 05:56 AM
#11
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Booking ahead of time is fine in that it guarantees you a room but it's very constraining in that it makes you stick to a schedule and may not be convenient at all.
I have traveled in Europe several times during July and August without reservations and have always found somewhere to stay... especially now with the internet accommodation can be so much easier to find. Take a small netbook computer and you can always stay in touch with home and research new destinations as you go. They're so inexpensive now and so small it would be worth having one even if backpacking.
As to where to go... impossible for others to decide for you. I have been to Europe several times but have never been to Spain. I probably never will as it doesn't interest me in the least... so do some reading and see what grabs YOUR attention.
Rob
I have traveled in Europe several times during July and August without reservations and have always found somewhere to stay... especially now with the internet accommodation can be so much easier to find. Take a small netbook computer and you can always stay in touch with home and research new destinations as you go. They're so inexpensive now and so small it would be worth having one even if backpacking.
As to where to go... impossible for others to decide for you. I have been to Europe several times but have never been to Spain. I probably never will as it doesn't interest me in the least... so do some reading and see what grabs YOUR attention.
Rob
