guptamayank14

I intend to take a small backpacking trip to Europe between October 2- October 20.

My budget is around €3000. I intend to start from Munich, attending Oktoberfest's last 2 days (or is it a good idea at all ??), then London >> Barcelona >> Valencia >> Berlin >> Amsterdam (October 16-19) to attend Amsterdam Dance Festival.

I also intend to explore local cuisine and do as much interaction and exploring local culture with the locals. I also intend to go to couple of clubs in London. I will be going alone.

Is the trip too much to cover in too few days or should I include anything more? Also, what is the best way to stay - hostels or couch surf ?

Please help.

dreamon

You've proposed six different places each quite some distance apart. If you allow one day's travel between places (sounds a lot but isn't when you consider hotel to hotel time), that will take 5 days from your 18 days. Do you think that 6 places in 13 days is too much? Everyone travels at a different pace but I would find that too fast personally.

If you're looking to meet local people, etc., then I recommend you stay longer in fewer places. If you've only a couple of days, you'll only skim the surface.

guptamayank14

which places do you suggest that I can strike off my list? I want to go to Spain because I have heard a lot about their food, esp Paella (for which I'm planning Barcelona/Valencia) and Amsterdam because one of my cousins live there apart from the fact, I have couple of friends joining me there for ADF.

So, which places should I be striking off my list ? If not Spain, can I cover Italy and leave Germany?

guptamayank14

I was thinking more like (if I don't go to Munich)

October 3>> Reach London
October 3,4,5>> stay in London
October 5>>Leave for Barcelona
October 6,7>>Barcelona
October 8>>Reach Valencia
OCtober 8,9>>Valencia
October 9 night>>Leave for Italy (Florence)/Germany (Berlin)
October 10,11,12,13,14> Florence/Berlin
October 14 night>Leave for Amsterdam
October 15>> Reach Amsterdam
October 16-20>> Amsterdam
October 20> Leave for New Delhi


Does this plan sound too much??

hetismij2

If you are an Indian citizen you will need a Schengen visa. Not sure about a visa for the UK.
I am pretty sure that the visa requires addresses of places you are staying, but you need to check into that and sort it out asap.

guptamayank14

doesn't Schengen visa apply for UK too ??

I would definitely apply it as soon as I'm able to sort out the itinerary and places I can cover in such a short trip!

dreamon

You may be best just visiting UK, Spain and then Amsterdam, for example:
London (3,4,5)
fly to Seville (6)
Seville/Granada/Cordoba (6,7,8,9,10)
Valencia (11,12)
Barcelona (13,14,15)
fly to Amsterdam (16)
Amsterdam (17,18,19)
Or something like that. Maybe even skip London and make this a Spain-centric holiday with an ending in Amsterdam. This would give you a better feel for Spain than just a few days would.

Another idea:
Spain
Berlin (fly)
Amsterdam (train)


But if you really want to include all the places you've indicated, then perhaps a possibility would be:
fly/train to Florence
Florence
fly to Barcelona
Barcelona
Valencia
fly to Amsterdam
fly/train to London
London
At least you're not doubling back as much. But it's a lot of flights which aren't great. I wouldn't do it but then I don't enjoy flights much - boring and time consuming.

Check www.bahn.de for a rough idea of train journey times and vueling.com or skyscanner for flights. You need to consider how you're going to move from place to place. Train will be much more relaxing than flying (and more environmentally friendly) but you've some long journeys with your current itinerary.

nytraveler

No - UK is NOT part of Schengen. And for a young person with very limited funds and no hotel - or admitting that they plan on couchsurfing - you may not be admitted even if you have a visa. (Admittance is always at the discretion of hte Immigration officer.)

The UK is especially stringent in trying to avoid illegal immigration and especially for young people they will want to have the name/address of the place (at least a hostel) you will be staying and proof of your leaving the UK (in the form of an ongoing plane or train ticket).

They will also want to see proof of your finances.

I would assume you need a visa for the UK, but don;t know the rules for a citizen of India - but a Schengen visa is useless there.

flanneruk

Indians, unless they hold some non-Indian passports, need separate visas for the UK.

You need to apply NOW. If you're short of funds, you might not want to bother (it's pricey) - and they'll almost certainly reject you if you say you plan couchsurfing.

Even if you get one, you'll have a heart attack when you calculate the cost per night on your proposed itinerary.

https://www.gov.uk/visas-immigration

PalenQ

How old are you - if you are under 26 you can get the Eurail Youthpasses and for what your plans are that would be a great deal - in most countries still can hop on and off any train anytime (Italy, France, Spain you must pay a few euros extra for mandatory seat reservations before boarding) - anyway trains are the way for you to go if just visiting big tourist cities like most are want to do.

And you can take overnight trains many times and save on the cost of a hotel and day travel time as well. For lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight these IMO superb sites: www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and superb European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of suggested rail itineraries.

There is also an overnight ferry between Barcelona and Italy - landing near Florence - railpasses get a discount and you again save on the cost of a hotel.

PalenQ

One guidebook that is invaluable to backpackers is Let's Go Europe - written by college students for young folk - superb coverage of budget accommodations and just a wealth of info - amazon.com has it. Really worth its weight in gold for a trip like yours.

janisj

>>oesn't Schengen visa apply for UK too ?? <<

I'm sorry - But being from India and not realizing that a Schengen visa doesn't apply to the UK would indicate you have a TON of research to do before even thinking of taking this trip. Have you applied for your Schengen visa yet? If not you have a LOT of work ahead of you. W/ your small budget I would not count on getting either a Schengen OR UK visa.

And if that €3000 budget must include your airfare - then I'd guess you wouldn't be successful.

PalenQ

so being from a British Commonwealth country does not have any better possibility?

PalenQ

I was referring to U K entry not Schengen of which insular UK is not a member but most countries in Europe are.

But I agree OP is putting the cart in front of the horse here.

jamikins

UK does require tourists from India to have a visa

https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

guptamayank14

@Jainisj...i could expect a condescending reply only from a fellow Indian...my budget is 3000€ excluding Visa and return air fare from India...
I have my friends and cousins in London and Amsterdam... So was planning to stay with them there...

flanneruk

"I was referring to U K entry not Schengen of which insular UK is not a member but most countries in Europe are."

Just like America, and Canada, and Japan (and like India and Australia, and China and every other self-respecting country in the world) we don't let foreigners decide who comes into our country.

If PalQ thinks we ought to, perhaps he might tell us what he personally has done (after all, the USA purports to be a democracy) to make it easier for citizens of the country just a couple of miles away from his house to enter his country without being interrogated by immigration officers.

There are 26 European countries in Schengen and 24 steering clear of that xenophobic racket.

nytraveler

Sorry - but saying you will be staying with relatives is like waving a red flag at a bull to the Immigration officers. This is a strong indication that you might be considering staying longer than the visa allows - with the family - it's a detriment, not a benefit - and makes it MORE likely they will think you might be an illegal immigrant.

Do you have a job or school that you must get back to by a certain date? That may help support your application - but citing a lot of family you will stay with will NOT help. What is to prevent you from just staying on with them, getting an under the table job and just not leaving at all?

janisj

Oops - sorry about the emoticon, wasn't intended. . . . that should have just said >>doesn't Schengen visa apply for UK too ?? <<

>>@Jainisj...i could expect a condescending reply only from a fellow Indian…<<

I didn't intend 'condescending' - honest. I meant that it really does sound like you have a lot of homework yet to do. (and if you meant I am from India - nope)

If you are traveling on a low budget (and €3000 is low for 20 days in expensive cities like you are mostly visiting) and intend to couch surf w/ relatives -- that will likely make it even harder to get the necessary visas.

guptamayank14

Yes, I have a job back home here in India - and my office rules ask me to inform the authorities that I shall be returning back to India by so and so date. We have to sign an affidavit for the same.

I am 30 years old.

And how much times does it usually take to get a Schengen visa - if I steer clear of UK.