Backpacking though Europe
 

Seasoned Travelers,
I am studying abroad at Oxford next Spring and am free to travel my last 3 weeks. What is the easiest/cheapest way to get from England to the rest of Europe, and then around Europe (EurRail,hostils?)Do you all know of any sites that help you plan out a trip for free? THANKS

You should post this in the Europe Forum - you'll get loads of help there.

Yopu'll get less help here. You'll just get called a "left wing wacko" (don't take it personally - everybody does, reagrdless of political opinion or mental stability.)

Try Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum. Its exactly what you are looking for.

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com

Have a great time and safe travels.

Also go read & post over at www.lonelyplanet.com & go to their forum called The Thorn Tree, Western Europe branch. It is a wealth of backpacking information!!

And also the Europe forum here at Fodor's (but there aren't all that many backpackers here really).

It's been over 20 years since my backpacking days, so I have no practical advice to offer. One thing I would say is this: Don't micro-plan everything. Be prepared to go with the flow depending on who you meet up with (and possible do more than just "meet up with" (fond, but distant memories are stirring). Be flexible.

There are many guidebooks about such travel. One would be Fodors, who sponsors this board.

Remember that sometimes free advice is worth just what you paid for it. You can certainly hobble together your own trip by doing your own research. Lonely Planet also makes budget guides, and Rick Stevens has some very practical information.

Can't offer anything insightful (sorry) but I just want to add that I'm a bit envious and do hope you enjoy.

Same as the others, I haven't back packed thru Europe for awhile but I did find the Eurail pass to be the least costly method.
Of course, hitch hicking was also a viable option back then.

Check out the thorntree board for useful info.