Hi! I'm 17 years old and planning a month long trip to Europe in May. I have been contemplating and changing my destinations etc., and am at a loss for my final itinerary. I want to go everywhere, but I know I need to decide on a few places!! I figured I'd fly into Milan go up to Lugano (where my bf goes to school) then take 3-4 day trips to paris, brussells, tuscany, rome, and then finally to milan and fly out there. This is my first time extensively staying in europe other than a trip to Greece/Mykonos/Cyprus and I'm traveling with one other person. Any advice would be great, and I'm on a budget so if you know of any good, cheap, clean hostels that would be awesome!!

Oh yeah, and I am buying a one month Eurail pass, so that is what I will be traveling by. Good, bad???

You need to look at Lonely Planet for help with low priced housing and hostels. The eurrail pass can be a good thing, especially with student fare. You might look at flying into Milan, but out of Paris or Brussels though to avoid backtracking. I'm not sure why you are choosing Brussels, though. That seems an odd destination for a first time in Europe. I can't blame you for wanting to head to Paris, but Brussels?

My personal suggestion is to do a text search here for posts by "crazymina."

Wishing you well in your adventure!

Haha. That was an honest mistake, I meant to type Berlin, I have friends there not Brussells. Long day

Also! (sorry for so many additions) I have been checking out NUMEROUS hostels, but most only allow > 18. If you have any info on where to find hostels that allow minors, GREATLY APPRECIATED!! thanks

If one of our daughters (ages 19, 20, 22) had told us - - at age 17 - - that one of her friends was planning a trip to Europe for a month, and didn't have a parent or other helpful adult giving her some help and advice, I feel sure that I would have wondered what is wrong with her family.

Of course, you don't actually say that you DON'T have such an adult offering you guidance. But you don't say anything about what the person advises you to do, and whether you are in disagreement with your adult resource or not.

Maybe I am just too conservative, now that I am 50 (and one day).

Best wishes,

Rex

My parents are offering plenty of help, that said I am also highly independent. I am only asking for general advice seeing my parents havent traveled to Europe too much, and I thought others who have frequently might be of some help.

I wish i had been able to start travelling so young, good on you.
Check out www.hostelseurope.com
www.eurotrip.com

Have you thought of joining YHA?

What an exciting time for you! I hope you have a fabulous time.

I wanted to let you know about Student Universe as well. If you are a student, they have good deals for flights, hostels, and rail tickets. To get the very best deals or their "hot tickets" you do need to register (it's free) and may have to provide some type of proof that you are a student. I'm a graduate student and was able to take advantage of a great air deal to Paris last year. Because of various reasons, I had to make three changes to my flight plans and their customer service was very helpful and charged a low fee for changes. Their website is www.studentuniverse.com.

Best wishes on a great trip. I went to Europe this past summer for a month with myself and had a great time planning and actually experiencing it - I wish the same for you.

Hi dani,

Before you buy the railpass go to www.railsaver.com and enter your planned itinerary. They will tell you if a railpass will save you money.

I realize that this means that you actually have to have a planned itinerary, but you will.

I do think, that even for a healthy, independent 17-yr old, your itinerary covers too much territory. Have you considered one month in Italy? You could see Rome and the Cinque Terre; Venice, Padua and Verona; Florence, Tuscany and Bologna; Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

Enjoy your adventure.