rissybaby01

Thanks guys I'm not big on partying (though I'm not opposed to it so I figure I'll make sure I set aside some time before bed in a new place to make further hostel arrangements.

If I wanted to land in Italy first and Greece last what would be the easiest order for my itinerary to work if I wanted to fit Spain in with France & Slovenia?


Sorry I have so many questions, but you're all so helpful

travelerjan

riss, end up in Greece, because in May (at least after mid-may), you CAN swim tho it will be "brisk" and at that time you'll meet more people your own age.

About booking ahead. In my opinion, more important to PLAN ahead, and have a good cell-phone that works in Europe. NOTE: not one that's on a US phone plan because then the charge for each call will be like transAtlantic!!! U can buy a cheap one IN Europe and then buy chips for some many minutes. The planning part?? Spend some time with Guide Books (you don't have to BUY them, get 'em at the Library, you do have a library card?), and use Budgeteering ones like Lets Go Europe, and Let's Go France etc & some lonely planets, and Cooks "Greek Island Hopping" & Rough Guide. XEROX maps of all cities - and copy down a TON of cheap places to stay. Get the hostel lists off the internet. Get all the phone #s. Then, as you go along, phone a few days ahead.

Why do you want to go to Italy first? Are you a fan of backtracking? You probably would do best starting with Spain, do a couple of cities, then get el cheapo flight to Paris ... then trains down to Italy and to your various stops there. (If you DO take a nite train please read up on security, for self & possessions).

Also what is this obsession with Slovenia? Do you have ancestral roots there? It is a dear little country but not a scenic biggie... main advantage is it will be cheaper than france/italy. Main disadvantage, bad connections. U may be able to go there from Venice, via train. But u won't do well by trying to then get down to Greece via train --- Greece has just cancelled most of its rail service because the railway is almost bankrupt. Better to find a cheap Euro-air flight from Ljubjanya to Athens. Once u are in Greece you can bus anywhere on Mainland (or on Crete) and ferry to all the islands.

rissybaby01

"Also what is this obsession with Slovenia?"

Haha, no family there and no obsession, I basically just fancy going to Lake Bled for a day or two

As for Italy - i felt as though I'd like to see Rome first, though I realize it may not be most convenient to start with.

Good tips about the planning ahead, I've been thinking about doing just this!

So you reckon the best way to go would be Spain, Paris, Italy, Ljubljana, Greece?

Thanks!

lenlu

I RAN through Europe when I was 21 so I may be the only person that says you don't need five days in Venice or Rome, nor three in Dijon. Are you aiming for sights? Nice is great but I'd add Cannes for a day visit and if you can get to St. Tropez, I'd toss that in as well. So many places in the S. of France to see and Carcassonne is also a great stop. I very much agree on 6 days in Santorini because it's so fun and gorgeous. I took the train down the boot of Italy, hopped a boat from Brindisi to Corfu and then flew to Athens one way. I also hopped a boat from Santorini to Samos and then Samos to Kusadasi, Turkey. Turkey is wonderful. I cannot tell you how great Turkey is. And it would fit well in your budget, especially if you shave a day or two off some of the big cities you're planning on seeing. If you can be flexible, you can play it by ear and leave a day earlier than you thought. Five nights in Paris is good, there is a lot to see. What a great trip. Haven't been to Egypt but I'm told one ought to really fly to Luxor to see the ruins...might be a separate trip but hard to resist if you're already all the way over there. Have fun!

travelerjan

lenlu --PLEASE!!! We are just gettin her to pare down things just a little bit and you are adding Turkey AND Egypt.

If you ar suggesting all these add ons (SW france, Corfu, etc), at least give her a sequence that will retain her (odd) insistence on Slovenia.

"Haven't been to Egypt but..." OK lenlu, here's your reponse to someone who's coming to the USA and wants to see Boston, NY, Phila, Wash DC, then fly to Florida & New Orleans:

"Don't forget Charleston South Caroline, and hey! go to St. Louis nd take a riverboat down to Nw Orleans instead! And, as long as you're in the United states, how about the Grand Canyon I'm told one ought to really fly there, and then there's Yosemite if you're already all the way over there. Have fun!"

Heimdall

Suze, it's a rite of passage for Aussies to backpack through Europe, and distance & expense make it worthwhile for rissybaby to do an extended trip.

Good idea from travelerjan about the cellphone. Rissybaby, your Aussie mobile phone will work in Europe, as my phone did on visits to Australia. You can pick up local SIM cards from around €5 plus airtime.

suze

Heimdall~ Yes I am well aware of that. That's why way back up the thread I directed her to Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree, where the other long-distance backpackers her own age are hanging out and discussing exactly these topics.

Heimdall

Lonely Planet isn't what it used to be.

suze

Heimdall~ Are you talking about the website, forum, guidebooks, or all of them. Do you really think there are more 20-something backpackers posting here on Fodor's than on The Thorn Tree?

Heimdall

I'm talking about the Thorn Tree forum. I still like the guidebooks, but they have gone upmarket and aren't aimed at backpackers anymore. Lonely Planet is an Australian company, so I'd be surprised if rissybaby isn't already aware of it.

Heimdall

BTW, many of the regulars on the Thorn Tree Greek forum are in their 60s or older.

suze

Fine, you've made your point Heimdall, several times. So how about helping rissybaby plan her trip here then?

Heimdall

Go ahead and have the last word, suze. ;-)

rissybaby01

Whew, you guys have been busy on here.

Lenlu - I appreciate your reply. There's some good info in there and It'll help me get sorted for my next trip.

Travelerjan - I'm curious - although I added Slovenia to my itinerary I believe I mentioned in reply to you why. That and I just kept repeating it because it was in my initial itinerary. I'm a bit confused - whats so odd about wanting to see a new place? Also, thanks for your help, you settled a few worries I had about booking ahead

Heimdall - Yes, I've heard of lonely planet and I'll check it out again Regardless of how it is now there's probably still a lot of useful information there which is probably why suze mentioned it. Thanks for the cell phone info.

Thanks again.

travelerjan

suze, probably more backpackers posting on Trip Advisor or Virtual Tourist than here ... Fodors is the Forum for folks who like to read about every course of a 5 course meal. LP Thorn Tree does have 2 venues "Gap Year & Round-the-World Trips" and "Travel on a Shoestring." The first one seems heavy on logistics -- getting complicated multi-continent air tickets, visas, shots, etc. The "Shoestring" one has a lot of questinos like Rissybaby's from people under 30 THere are a lot of wise Old Hands there who are endlessly patient with kids who've never picked up a travel guide in their lives, and are tossing out impossible scenarios ... they get good advice. Rissybaby might do well to hang out on "Shoestring" awhile.

suze

well travelerjan, that is what i said (just someone didn't agree with the suggestion).

travelerjan

Right you are, Suze -- I got tangled up in the back-and-forth.