I'm leaving this tuesday May 6th for Europe. I'll be gone for 3 1/2 weeks and heres what I plan to do.

Flying into Dublin, staying there for 1 night then taking the train down to Cork staying there for 2 nights. Taking the train back up to Dublin to fly out to Rome. Staying in Rome for 3 nights then taking train to Florence for 4 nights. Going to do a day trip to Pisa and a day trip to Sienna and then train to Milan. Staying in Milan for 3 nights before catching a train to Nice. Staying in nice for 3 nights with a day trip to Monacco and then train to Lyon for 2 nights. Then train to Paris for 4 or 5 nights before I come home. Suggestions on hostels to stay in or things to do?

You're leaving in 3 days and you have nothing planed and no hostels booked? Do you have train reservations/train pass?

It looks like you might be in Nice during the Corpus Christi holiday (May 22 through the weekend) so you might have trouble getting a place to stay.

In Paris try to get into the Aloha hostel in Montparnasse.

For the rest of the trip do a search on this board and get some guidebooks from the library.

Have you made ANY arrangements? It is very late to be looking for accommodations in most any of your cities.

BTW - Why are you traveling back to Dublin to fly to Italy?? You can fly directly from Cork to FCO.

This reminds me of my trip in 1964 to Europe. When I landed in Frankfort with a suitcase, I looked around and said to myself, "Now what do I do?"

So I took the train to Copenhagen, then flew to Stockholm, Amsterdam, London, then the ferry to Paris, then flew to Rome, Israel, back to Frankfort and home.

Boy, was I reckless and lucky then!

Let's Go Europe IMO has unparalleled coverage of hundreds of hostels, both the official HI hostels and the more client oriented and often better located non-HI hostels.

Many cities have dozens of hostels these days. Let's Go Europe will be an invaluable guide for you - not only for hostels but your seemingly budget of travel.

DA

Do you have a guidebook? If not, I would purchase one general purpose one covering all of Europe (Let's Go, Rough Guides, or Lonely Planet) and read it on the plane ride over.

Once you arrive make use of free information in train stations and tourist information kiosks.

My understanding is that you can make reservations via internet from one hostel, to the next one. I would do internet research TODAY on some of the hosteling internet websites and make a list of 4-5 places in each city that come recommended by that crowd.

You ned to move fast and get some reservations made. You don't want to end up sleeping on a bench in Dublin. Make your reservations in the order of your trip. Your schedule defines the priority. you can always cancel thing at the end if plans change or you get a better deal. I do hope you bought a book today. Next, by city search this forum for things to do, sights to see and places to eat. Just print them and take them with you. You can read on the plan, mark things that interest you and toss the rest out. I envy you just a little.....I plan my trips to Europe 10 to 12 months in advance and almost down to the minute....

In Ireland there are lots of backpacker hostels in places like Dublin and Cork - in addition to official HI hostels - Let's Go
Europe will tell you all about them and as hostels always these days have e-mail for clients to use you can make your hostel reservations as you go along by emailing them as per the email addresses listed in Let's Go (or the phone numbers) - good idea to check on your next destination
The best source of info for folks like you is from fellow travelers you will meet in hostels, perhaps, but having a tried and true guide like Let's Go is really helpful

Gosh. Good luck.

I've done a little research on places to stay and what not but I'm more up for the winging it. I will definetly let you know how this adventure goes when i get over there. I LEAVE TOMORROW!!! Also, I bought the 3 country 8 day eurorail pass - can I use that in Ireland and then in Italy and then France or do I have to use this Ireland-France-Italy? anyone know?

the order don't matter - it's a block of the 3 countries as one unit

so yes either way

and you get a discount on some boats between Ireland and France and as it's a discount you use no day on your pass but just for the two-month validity period.

DA? I can only guess at what that stands for. And I agree.

May be too late but I thought 3 country passes had to be bordering countries and did not include the UK.Good luck with your trip.

MATraveler - I'm stunned at the thought of travelling with so few arrangements made, but at the same time, filled with admiration! How wonderful to be so carefree that you can just hop on a plane and let the rest of the trip take care of itself! I hope you have a great trip.

Hope you have someone take your picture so you can prove later to yourself that you actually were there. !!!! That kinda schedule would totally 'dazzle' me...you must remember that there are queues, passport controls, airport hassles, taxis to find and take, money to exchange, bags to pack/unpack, walking to do, maps to read and understand, meals to find and take, sleep to try to get, etc. Travelling is hard work and you need to get an agent pronto, if you havent already, or at least maps and telephone numbers of hostels, a phone that works abroad, etc.

Hope you have a good time.

It's no problem. In Ireland the hostels won't be full at this time of year. If you are stuck for somewhere to stay in Italy, go to the nearest convent, they often rent rooms or at least will be able to point you to a convent that does. France should not be a problem per se - until you get to Paris...you should try to sort something out for there.

This 'youth hotel' in an ancient mansion in the Marais district gets very good reviews on Fodors and elsewhere - i stayed there once long ago and you could do a lot worse - great location near Notre-Dame

Paris: Hotel des Jeunes (MIJE) - Maubuisson - Traveler Reviews ...
The hostels are old hotels particuliers, or old mansion-type buildings that are really beautiful. With Maubisson, you are a minute walk from the Hotel de ...
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