dawna

Okay, i posted another topic just recently with too many TOO BIG ideas (..or just dreams).
I guess i have decided to narrow it down for the sake of being able to actually experience things instead of just 'flying' through each city.

So i am thinking that the Germany- Benelux selectpass is maybe my best option.

I know i want to exerience Berlin and i know i want to experience Amsterdam.
I have a few problems:

1. I dont know ALL other cities in Germany/Benelux, so i would know which places to add to an itenerary.

2. i wouldnt know how many nights too allow myself in each city.

3. i need to be BACK to Baumholder, Germany, so i would be having to plan for a roundtrip, of sorts.


With the eurail select passes, when i choose my days of travel, do i have to have the times and places SET already? OR do i just have to have the days or travel set out?

I am on a budget of about $800, but will be trying to spend way less. Unlike other people i have read from on this forum, i dont have $100+ to spend on a room each night. I would love to find hostels under $20/night at the most. And i am definitely willing to take night trains when i do travel, even in second class where i will only have a SEAT and not a bed or anything. And food... Grocery stores and dumpsters will be my motto on that. i want to use my money on going INSIDE places, and sometimes for those other ..little..greener things on the menu .
Experience comes NOW, comfort comes LATER.

I want to be gone the better part of 3 weeks.

Ive had a suggestion to just buy a ticket to berlin and spend 10 days there then buy a tickt to amsterdam and spend 10 days there. But to me, this leaves out the option of any other trips to other cities. Plus, i would need, also, a ticket back to a place near Baumholder, Germany. So this is why i am pretty sure that a selectpass will be my best bet. I am just not sure how to go about the whole planning of itenerary process. and THAT alone was one reason i wanted to do the Eurailpass for 21 days, so that i wouldnt have to plan out anything.

but i suppose i should think a little more thrift about it, since my pockets arent exactly overflowing with cashola.

so, some basics required for you to have in order to give me the best tips:

1. i want to EXPERIENCE places, not just see a postcard picture of a place

2. i want atleast amsterdam and berlin

3. CHEAAAAAAAAP

4. A trip lasting the better part of 3 weeks

5. im traveling EXCRUTIATINGLY light, so this whole "packing and unpacking at a hotel/hostel/place to stay/taking 30 mins of my day" type stuff does not apply to me.

6. I am not a picky sleeper, atleast not for these 3 weeks.


SO help me with plans and itenerary!! Suggestions DEFINITELY appreciated..

thanks/!

ira

Hi D,

If you keep all of your posts on one thread it is easier for us to follow you while you think out loud.

>3. i need to be BACK to Baumholder, Germany, so i would be having to plan for a roundtrip, of sorts. <

On your other thread I suggested Baumholder to Berlin to Amsterdam to Paris - flying home from Paris.

However, if you plot this as a loop at www.mappy.com, you will see a few places that you could visit along the way.

Do not buy a railpass until you have an itinereary and can compare the cost of the pass to Point to Point tickets.

Viajero2

YIKES, apparently you are not only NOT a picky sleeper, but also NOT a picky eater......eating from dumspters to save money??!!! That where I draw the line--- go for two weeks instead of three and spend the money on better (and healthier!) food.

dawna

(I wont be coming back to Baumholder without atleast being gone 3 weeks..)

I AM EXPERIENCING CABIN FEVER!!

Okay, so If i got the Germany-Benelux 4 day eurail pass, what other city should i hit?
I know i want Berlin and Amsterdam.
HELP ME PLAN THIS TRIP!!

Should i stop in Hamburg for a few nights?

I want to be in Berlin for about 8 nights. Then Amsterdam for maybe like..8 or 9 nights.

Then I dont really know where else i would want to stay. I think i would want to hit brussels on the way back to where i need to be (booo baumholder).


When I purchase the eurail pass, do i need to pick out exact travel days at that point, and if so, do i need to also tell of exact places i will be traveling to and fro?

Kansan

Dawna, you have a great sense of adventure! A neat site I found here on Fodor's is www.Budgeteuropetravel.com It details the different rail passes, where they go, and what's included in the pass. I didn't realize the pass included free rides on the Rhine River or Italy-Greece ferries.

As far as how long to stay in each place, search here under destinations to get an idea of you would like to see. Also www.virtualtourist.com for travelers tips.

Too bad you aren't traveling in the summer, as I'd suggest camping.