A friend and I have decided that we would like to save up to backpack in Europe for 4 weeks next summer. Money is our major concern. I would like to keep the trip to about $4000.00. I am wondering if any of you who have been on similar trips think this is a reasonable amount. We will be staying primarily in hostels. <BR>Also, is 4 weeks enough time to visit Italy, Spain, England, and France? <BR>Thanks in advance for any help!

We did a 6-7 week backpacking trip three years ago around europe and together, our costs came up to about US$6,000-8,000 very roughly (having to translate it back on current US exchange rates). We didn't really do the restaurants as our trip was a power/quick trip and we usually ate on the go. This cost includes eurail passes and return airfare to/from Australia. We didn't always stay in hostels as we got tired of them at times, and got places to stay in pensions etc..<BR><BR>As to the breakup of your journey, it would help to know what your interests are - why these countries, and your hopes of this trip. It's always easier to break it down to waht you want to do in each place, how long that would take and then work out the overall timing.<BR><BR>For some a week in Spain might be enough, but for others, 4 weeks may only scratch the surface.<BR><BR>The board on www.eurotrip.com is geared well towards backpackers/budget travellers in terms of hostels etc..<BR><BR>G'luck.<BR><BR>-brownie.

You neglected to say from where you will be flying. Assuming that you live in the USA, you can get flighst from NYC and Atlanta and Miami pretty cheap. The cheapest cities into which you can fly are usually London, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Frankfurt.<BR><BR>Assuming that you get a ticket for about $600-$800, then you have to buy a Enurail pass. There are a bunch of different types of passes - you need to decide exactly what you need, but if you want to go all over Europe and travel almost every day (whirlwind trip) then probably the 1 month unlimited pass is the best. Otherwise, maybe consider the 15 day flexi-pass.<BR><BR> After you buy your airline tix and train pass and passport and backpack and any other stuff that you might need (international student id card) you have spent X amount of money. That will be a sunk cost. The next amount will be what you will spend when you are in europe. In general, plan on spending from $40-$60 per day for your daily expenses when you are in Europe.<BR><BR>So, for 4 weeks, that's 28 days, $40 per day is a minimum of $1120, and $60 per day is $1680.<BR><BR>Rounding, you are talking about $2000 for yoru daily expenses in Europe, and maybe $2000 for your pre-Europe expenses. the pre-Europe expense are hard to figure out because it really depends on what you still need to buy and which Eurail pass you end up buying. <BR><BR>Bottom line, I think that you will have a pretty high budget for a backpacker if you can keep your pre-Europe expenses around $1800-$2000.<BR><BR>Trust me, plenty of people backpack around Europe on $35-$40 per day, but that sucks and means that you can rarely eat out, rarely go drinking, and you might have to camp. If you have $60 per day in Europe, you will be able to do anything that you want. Keep in mind that certain cities sich as Paris and London are really expensive, and your money will not go as far in those places. Then again, some places, like Prague and Budapest are cheap and your money will last much longer. So, visit some cheap countries and it will offset the expensive places.<BR>

Brownie and Snorklman thanks for your responses. I am feeling a much better about my budget now! It looks like the trip really will happen! By the way, we will be flying out of Phoenix, AZ, so I know that my plane ticket will probably be expensive. We were thinking of flying into London. That seems to be the cheapest. <BR>Thanks again!<BR>Shannon

Can definitely be done for $4000 or less. You can certainly see a bit of those 4 countries in four weeks, but you'd be very limited. Definitely go to eurotrip.com It's my favorite website.

$4000 for 4 weeks backpacking in hostels! Is that for 1 person or both of you?<BR><BR>You should be able to get a flight form Phoenix for about $700.<BR><BR>4 weeks is not enough to see all 4. Cut out Spain unless you really need to see it.<BR><BR>You will be just as well off staying in small hotels than using hostels

www.ricksteves.com or the Rick Steves guidebooks like Europe thru the Backdoor are very helpfor for 1st timers (I assume?). planning itineraries, rail passes, packing, etc. etc.<BR><BR>Personally I'd cut two countries (you can always go back!) because I don't like to rush around.

4000 is plenty. and 4 weeks is enough unless your like some fodorites who sit in a cafe for 2 days straight.. wait in lines for 1/3 of thier trips. and ponder every artistic piece. <BR><BR>

Shannon, another really good internet BB that is much more aimed at backpacking and budget travel is Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Western Europe branch (if you haven't already, you might want to read and post there as well). Generally it has much more advice about your particular style of travel than this board does.<BR><BR>www.lonelyplanet.com