1st time backpacker through Europe...
Jan 27th, 2005, 07:40 AM
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1st time backpacker through Europe...
I've been researching my trip to Europe in which I plan to leave on August 31st. I'm planning on staying until the first week of November and would love some feedback if my travels seem reasonable in the amount of time; and, if the route I am taking makes the most sense.
So here goes: I'm staying in Hamburg with a friend until September 17th. We will be traveling down to Oktoberfest on that day and staying for a week.
From Munich I will be traveling alone to Zurich, (for 3 days), Grindelwald, (for 2 days), and Lauterbrunnen (for 3 days).
From Switzerland, I'm going to head straight up to London, (via Brussels) for a week.
From London, to Ireland (probably stay mostly in Dublin) for a week.
Back down to Holland to meet up with a friend of mine. (I plan on staying in Amsterdam for a good part of the week, but other suggestions would be great, too! Rotterdam? Utrect?)
Then back into Germany to Berlin for 3 nights.
My last leg of the trip is to visit Auschwitz, in which I will travel overnight to Krakow, then to Oswiecim, (staying at Hotel Galicja). I'll spend 3 nights here, then travel overnight back to Berlin; back to Hamburg to fly out a few days later.
Does this sound completely ridiculous? I figured a week at each destination seems legit? Is the route I'm taking to see all of these places make sense, or is there a different way I should be going?
Any help would be greatly appreciated since this will be the first time doing this alone, and the first time traveling without my own transportation (seeing how I have been to Holland and Belgium before)
Thank you SO much,
Kritter
So here goes: I'm staying in Hamburg with a friend until September 17th. We will be traveling down to Oktoberfest on that day and staying for a week.
From Munich I will be traveling alone to Zurich, (for 3 days), Grindelwald, (for 2 days), and Lauterbrunnen (for 3 days).
From Switzerland, I'm going to head straight up to London, (via Brussels) for a week.
From London, to Ireland (probably stay mostly in Dublin) for a week.
Back down to Holland to meet up with a friend of mine. (I plan on staying in Amsterdam for a good part of the week, but other suggestions would be great, too! Rotterdam? Utrect?)
Then back into Germany to Berlin for 3 nights.
My last leg of the trip is to visit Auschwitz, in which I will travel overnight to Krakow, then to Oswiecim, (staying at Hotel Galicja). I'll spend 3 nights here, then travel overnight back to Berlin; back to Hamburg to fly out a few days later.
Does this sound completely ridiculous? I figured a week at each destination seems legit? Is the route I'm taking to see all of these places make sense, or is there a different way I should be going?
Any help would be greatly appreciated since this will be the first time doing this alone, and the first time traveling without my own transportation (seeing how I have been to Holland and Belgium before)
Thank you SO much,
Kritter
Jan 27th, 2005, 10:17 AM
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Well it probably wouldn't be exactly my cup of tea, but if you have the stamina to visit all of those places in a row, then go for it!
Just don't forget to check the no-frills airlines at whichbudget.com to consider flying to some of these places rather than taking the train. It might be both cheaper and faster.
Just don't forget to check the no-frills airlines at whichbudget.com to consider flying to some of these places rather than taking the train. It might be both cheaper and faster.
Jan 27th, 2005, 10:44 AM
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I'm jealous.
I think most of us at Fodors are a bit past the age where we can backpack, so you might also look at some of the sites for younger travelers.
I assume you are American and will be flying over and back. I don't know how much of your itinerary is controlled by wanting to be a certain place at a certain time, but my first thought was that I would be inclined to start at the eastern end and end at the western end; for example, fly into Germany and fly back from London. That would save you a little on airfare, I think, and perhaps give you a day or two more to see things rather than to be rushing back to the airport.
My second thought was that you are staying a lot longer than most tourists, so I would check into whether you will need visas. My impression is that if you stay under 90 days you don't need a visa, but I'm hardly sure of that, and your passing into Switzerland and England could also affect that.
My final thought is be sure to put enough flexibility in your schedule that you can stay longer or shorter anywhere. You may find on arrival that you can see all you want of Zurich in two days, and when you get to Grindelwald you might decide you want to stay longer. If you are backpacking and using hostels and friends, it should be easy to adjust your plans as you go. My sister did a backpacking trip years ago and reports she often changed her plans after talking to fellow guests in the hostel and discovering something new to see.
I think most of us at Fodors are a bit past the age where we can backpack, so you might also look at some of the sites for younger travelers.
I assume you are American and will be flying over and back. I don't know how much of your itinerary is controlled by wanting to be a certain place at a certain time, but my first thought was that I would be inclined to start at the eastern end and end at the western end; for example, fly into Germany and fly back from London. That would save you a little on airfare, I think, and perhaps give you a day or two more to see things rather than to be rushing back to the airport.
My second thought was that you are staying a lot longer than most tourists, so I would check into whether you will need visas. My impression is that if you stay under 90 days you don't need a visa, but I'm hardly sure of that, and your passing into Switzerland and England could also affect that.
My final thought is be sure to put enough flexibility in your schedule that you can stay longer or shorter anywhere. You may find on arrival that you can see all you want of Zurich in two days, and when you get to Grindelwald you might decide you want to stay longer. If you are backpacking and using hostels and friends, it should be easy to adjust your plans as you go. My sister did a backpacking trip years ago and reports she often changed her plans after talking to fellow guests in the hostel and discovering something new to see.
Jan 27th, 2005, 10:47 AM
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Hi krit,
You are starting in Germany, then going west to Ireland, then going East to Poland.
You might want to reconsider this.
You could fly into Hamburg and out of Dublin for about the same price and save some travel time.
You are starting in Germany, then going west to Ireland, then going East to Poland.
You might want to reconsider this.
You could fly into Hamburg and out of Dublin for about the same price and save some travel time.
Jan 27th, 2005, 10:53 AM
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I think you are doing alot of zig zagging. I would work West to East or around in a circle. The joy of having so much time (I had 4 months for a student back pack years ago) is that you dont need a fixed itinerary just a very short list of things that you feel you must see and one or 2 fixed dates at which time you must be somewhere- ex meeting friends or Octoberfest. WING IT! Check lonely planet as I think that forum is much better than this for back packing. Have a great time.
