PalenQ

FINALLY - PLEASE any tips for our trips? Good hostels? Good restaurants? Cheap trips? Hidden gems? Female advice?>

Well if traveling around much look at the Inter-Rail Pass, sold in the U K and you can chose which countries in which it to be valid - can be a great deal especially because it lets you just hop on most trains willy-nilly - only available to European residents (currently the U K is in Europe - how much longer I don't know!) - American youths under 25 use the Eurail Youthpass and the Inter-Rail Pass is the European equivalent.

RailEurope UK - walk in office in London sells the passes. Other great sources of info on European trains: www.seat61.com - oriented to British folks going to the Continent by train; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and superb IMO online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of sample rail itineraries in various countries.

eat cheaply at hostels, most of which has evening meals and breafasts and eat out of supermarkets or street food - supermarkets are ubiquitous and have deli fare plus all the usual picnic fare - I love the park bench with a nice view as an appetizing place to eat and eat cheaply (and drink too - drinking age in many countries 16 or less- but more and more 18 in some).

PalenQ

http://www.interrail.eu/

The official Inter-Rail site.

PalenQ

And even though you are Europeans I would try to get a copy of Let's Go Europe to take with you - the Bible they say, for good reason, of young backpackers - especially great objective coverage of low-budget hotels, hostels, youth hotels, etc. Amazon.com has them and last I knew so did British bookstores.

uruabam

"Especially if it does not include transportation to the continent and home (you still didn't say how you were getting home, did you?). Because then that gives you a couple hundred extra for your train reservations, etc."

They said they were flying home from Amsterdam. Very cheap to do. Flights from Schipol back to Glasgow can generally be had for under 50gbp.

bethypeggx

Wow thanks so much everyone.
Ahh BERLIN! Thanks to all who are encouraging me to go, I think I'm going to have to alter my route. (mainhatten girl thank you!) I'd be flying home, most probably, from Amsterdam (thanks uruabam).
Geordie thanks very much for the tips! Cheese and bread sounds excellent, everyday will be a delight I doubt we will go to resteraunts often as our budget restricts that, anyway. Also, thanks for the tip about night trains, I don't know how much more the fee will be but I'll check it out, definitely seems like a good idea.
Thanks for the tips urabam, I am definitely thinking about Berlin now.. i heard it's the best night life in Europe, but wondering if my age would permit me experiencing THAT side of Berlin (not that it's the sole reason I want to go, I was just curious)
jpie Hi! Thanks, I know, couchsurfing has so many benefit, i think I'd be far more inclined to stay there if I was a bit older. I like the idea of being shown hidden treasures by real locals, taking me away from the touristy bits of the place.. It'll definitely be an option in future, thank you
suze Oh do you think I should put more money aside for accommodation then? We get money off for being under 18 in a lot of places, just to mention, thanks very much
Christina, thanks for commenting again. I work in a resteraunt and it definitely does annoy me (now I think) when people ask to share a meal ("what cheapskates!!" etc) so thanks for pointing that out. Maybe I am being a bit too opptimistic about food prices, but for the majority of the time I'll be self-catering with what I can buy in supermarkets.
PalenQ thanks so much for all the links and information! I LOVE Rick Steves, his videos have helped me a lot. Thanks for letting me know about the Let's Go book, it's definitely on my list of things to get. What country do you live in may I ask (drinking age haha)? The idea of picnicking either on a bench or at a beach sounds WONDERFUL

THANK YOU ALLL sooo much, you are all so informative and helpful

suze

I'm no expert and would research yourself (travel forums, website, even guidebooks).

I just don't think you can count on always being able to find a safe place to sleep for only 20-25euro a night, especially in major cities.

PalenQ

What country do you live in may I ask (drinking age haha)?>

I live in the US where the drinking age is 21 in all states now. I am talking about various European countries - France I know has just raised its drinking age to 18 - but often not enforced in stores at least - my French son was buying booze in the local supermaket since he was 15! Holland I believe is 16 at least for beer and wine but each country is different. Portugal I believe has no minimum legal drinking age but not sure but 16 for beer and wine except France and UK is about the norm I think but is changing upward.

kimhe

<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>

In Spain, young people gather in certain plazas or parks at night to socialize and drink in open air - at least in week-ends - the so called botellón. Not much age restrictions here, and almost every person under 20 in each city will know where the action is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botell%C3%B3n

PalenQ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age#Europe

18 seems more and more the norm - for buying - in France it says there is no minimum legal age for consumption just buying - family meals with wine for all ages.

bethypeggx

Thanks everyone
suze I have done quite a lot of research and thought that was alright, but I will put extra money aside just in case, thank you
kimhe wow I knew nothing about that, thanks for the inside info
PalenQ thanks for the link! Oh okay, though the US were VERY strict!

suze

You're doing great, you're going to have a wonderful time!

rosetravels

I think you're doing great and I hope the trip goes well.

I think your overall budget should be fine. I'm just back from 15 days in southern Italy, staying in nice places and having great dinners with wine. Not including our car rental or airfare (but including a few hundred for gas), it was just under $4,000 for my husband and myself. That's US dollars. We didn't eat out for every meal; we often had a snack for lunch.

We find Italy (except for hotels in the bigger cities) to be really affordable. If you find rooms too expensive in big cities, consider other cities. Bologna, etc. All of them are fun, cheaper, and appear to me to be packed with young people.

Also, we had no trouble splitting a primi in Italy - it was really fine. Once we even split a pizza.

For budgeting a trip, I usually make a spreadsheet and figure out (based on prices online) what I'm spending on the room, on the meal, on activities, etc. Then I feel comfortable that we will not be impoverished by my travel habit. Keeps me from worrying!

bethypeggx

thanks suze and rosetravels
rosetravels, wow that sounds amazing. I'm very glad to hear you had that budget whilst staying in nice places, so i'm hoping hostels won't be too bad for mine!! i am obsessed with italy, as I've said it's the dream.. Thanks for the tips about the spreadsheet, I get soooo stressed so sounds like a good idea haha! I'm glad to hear you sometimes split meals, I was hoping this would be an option and certainly for Italy as I never can manage a whole pizza!!
Thanks again, your budget for two people has put me at ease

suze

Pizzas in Italy can be tiny, "personal sized" ones. They aren't the whole pizzas like you're thinking of in the US.

Since Italy seems to be a big interest for you, you might spend more time there, and (as already suggested) not only in the big cities, and not try to include all 5 countries like you first were considering. Staying longer in a place is one easy way to bring costs down (save on transportation costs, plus maybe get to find the 'hidden gems' like a room in someone's home for rent, etc.)

uruabam

"Pizzas in Italy can be tiny, "personal sized" ones. They aren't the whole pizzas like you're thinking of in the US."

They're from Scotland. Our pizzas are Italian sized.

Hans

"Thanks for the tips urabam, I am definitely thinking about Berlin now.. i heard it's the best night life in Europe, but wondering if my age would permit me experiencing THAT side of Berlin (not that it's the sole reason I want to go, I was just curious)"

German law allows you with 16 to go out without an adult until midnight and drink wine and beer but no hard spirits.

My experience (long time ago) was that nobody ever carded me since I was 15 with the exception of some popular clubs which wanted to keep the very young crowd out. Not sure how Berlin for 16-year olds is today but I'd be very surprised if there weren't a lot of options.

And if you go for the most popular fast food in Berlin, Doener Kebab or Currywurst (sausage with curry sauce plus some fries), you'll find a lot of places which sell it for around 3 euro. There'll be a lot of other options to fill your stomach for around 5 euros.

CatchK

1. I am really impressed with the research you are putting into this. I teach and coach and not many 16 years-olds I know are even close to being capable of putting a trip like this together.

2. I went to Italy for the first time last year (from the US) and although I was prepared and had plenty of money in my budget, the prices were much higher than I expected, even for street food and especially in the cities. I would definitely way overbudget and that way you are covered.

Have fun - look forward to hearing about it!

nytraveler

At 16 you can drink beer or wine in quite a few places. And I would forget about hard liquor - it's very heavily taxed and expensive and there is no way you can afford it on your budget - even if you don't go for 20 euro martinis.

sassy27

I've not travelled at your age or budget but want to add that maybe in Italy you might want to consider/check into staying at a convent. I had a relative who loved staying with the nuns. I don't think I would like it but he said it was cheap and didn't mind the curfews and didn't need much. My relative is no longer alive so I can't ask him where he stayed or how he booked with them but it might be an option for you so just do a search on the Internet for staying in convents in Italy.

Robert2533

"At 16 you can drink beer or wine in quite a few places." But no longer in Spain!