I am planning to travel for 3 weeks to Europe in late May/ early June, with my boyfriend, for the first time. I am decidng if we should go on a guided tour for that time or if we should backpack it. Any advice for making this decision would be greatly appreciated.

I vote for backpacking it. A lot of the fun of European travel is discovering things on your own. Sure, you may get lost a couple of times, but this is the best way to discover the true Europe. <BR> <BR>There are so many good books/web sites these days that planning a good self-tour is much easier. <BR>

I agree with Brian--backpacking is the way to go. If you want adventure and a chance to meet the locals, backpacking is the best way to do it. You won't have to follow anyone's itinerary but your own!

Definitely backpack it. Go to the bookstore, library, or one of the internet bookstores (they're cheaper there) and get Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door. It is an excellent reference for planning a first time trip to Europe. He also has a website ricksteves.com. You might also want to check out eurotrip.com - the bulletin boards there are geared more toward backpackers. Have fun!!

Hi Amy, <BR> <BR>One of the great things about Europe is how easy and safe it is to backpack. I have taken a tour, and I have traveled by train. By far, backpack and trains are the way to go. You will be able to get off at cities that look like fun and go where you want to go, when you want to go. All of the prevous suggestions about websites and book are correct. You will love it. <BR> <BR>Jerry

I agree with everyone above. Backpacking far outweighs tours (no pun intended). Tours are for the over 70 group. If you are young enough to be carrying a backpack, do! You can then go where YOU feel like going when YOU want to. And best of all you will meet and talk to and interact with Europeans, something you will never do on a tour. Go to Europe and get immersed in it, don't just see it through bus windows with a bunch of old geezers from the midwest. <BR>