WOW! SO much info and I thank you all! I hear what some of you are saying about first time travel, but I am definitely going hard or going home (maybe even literally lol). My current job would never allow me to take 3 weeks off or 2 weeks even for that matter (consecutively). And it sounds a lot more stressful coming back to the US than just taking my time overseas, but hey what do I know . I will be in NO rush on this trip so if I need some days to just chill and do nothing and recoup I will definitely do that. If I find it's getting too expensive, I can just move on to the next leg. It's all flexible! I've lived entirely on my own since I was 17/18 (28 now) so I know how to handle life solo. I am an extremely independent person (actually prefer being alone) so things like this don't scare me one bit. The scariest part of it ALL is knowing I will have to be without my dog for 6 months *sobs*. And honestly... I will be over the moon to see any part of the world so I just can't go wrong with any of it!! It might all turn into one big fat lesson or it will truly be an amazing adventure or maybe a little bit of both... however you cut it, I am SO excited!! Carpe diem!!


ANYWAYS in regards to what I was asking about the itinerary this has all been very helpful! I like the idea of picking a couple of major cities/countries and branching out from there. And I also like the suggested itineraries! It helps SO much! At the end of the day, if I need to, I could "really" do without all of my must see's (with the exception of Greece, which has been a lifelong dream), the others just seem super cool so I will do some more research and digging in combination with this advice and if I need to make changes accordingly I will! Thankfully my sister is going to help me, too, because I'm not the greatest at the planning stuff lol. eek.

Izavious, you will have a wonderful time! My daughter spent 6 months doing a solo round-the-world (RTW) trip at age 18 between school and university. She met other young travellers in hostels along the way, and teamed up with them until they went in different directions.

I second the advice to look for an RTW deal (my daughter used STA Travel), because sometimes it is easier to go all the way round rather than doubling back. How many people can say they've travelled all the way round the world?

I've only done 3 RTW trips so far, but who's counting?

Lol, kerouac. I just finished my fourth. But I did more of this one by plane, so I rank the 2004 one mostly by train higher.

It sounds to me as though you're more interested in outdoor activities than in urban exploring. With that in mind, you might want to skip London, Paris, and Rome, or at least tkmit your time in those places.

Another point is that a car is very useful (and in some places almost indispensible) in rural areas. Would you be willing to rent a car for short periods of time?

I live in Italy, and can suggest that there are regions in central Italy other than Tuscany that are just as beautiful, and where your money goes a lot further. Some of these are Umbria, Le Marche, and Abruzzo.

Well, that's three so far, counting my daughter. I've been half-way round the world twice, but came back the same way, so that doesn't count.

Zero RTW for me.
with zero time constraint I would either spend a lot of time planning or more likely not much.
I would have ins and outs and a very loose planning Inbetween.

I've never done a super long trip in Europe (a few 3 week trips), but I much prefer road trips. I also like to see as much of a country as I can. I know everybody said Rome, but Rome is one of my least favorite cities. It's right up there with Beijing, honestly. It was super crowded and I just did not enjoy it really. I LOVED The Netherlands and I could have spent forever in Amsterdam and Haarlem. Brugges is hands down my favorite city I have EVER been to. We spent 3 days there and I could have done 4-5 easily (I like to see a lot of places, so spending 2 weeks in one city isn't my style). Haarlem could have been 2-3 days. Amsterdam 4-5. I LOVED Germany.

For a 19 day trip to Greece, with cheap hostels but not really watching my money otherwise, I spent about $1000. It was cheap. And we took ferries.

For a 19 day road trip around the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Austria, my husband and I spent about $5000 (car rental included- we paid $400 for our flights) and stayed in decent places.

I would couch surf in some locations to make the most of your money. I find that hostels as a non-partying adult are in general, a HORRIBLE idea! I did stay in a very nice one (Stayesk or something?) outside of Amsterdam, but it was more of a hotel. Poland is cheap to stay in. Germany was more expensive, but AirBnB had some decent options. We couch surfed in Greece and had a wonderful experience. I think as a solo traveler too, it could be really neat to couch surf (make sure they're reviewed and obviously, I'd pick females) and go hang out with the locals.

If I could do a trip in Europe, I would honestly start in Copenhagan, and go see the Fjords while up there, then take a ferry down to Turon from Helsinki and start planning train travel. I love picking smaller towns (loved the Romantic Road in Germancy and am dying to go to Alsace in France) and doing those for my lower key days. Haarlem would be perfect for that and so is Brugges. Smaller places with walkable "Old Towns." Buses are cheap too, so I would probably take a lot of buses.

I would not plan it too much. My dream (but now I have a husband and a kid) would be to just fly into a city and go where the wind takes me. Take your computer and hook up to Wifi. Definitely get a couch surfing account and go with the flow. I am a super cheap traveler (lots of bread and cheese for meals or cooking in my rooms) when I want, and I feel like I could make $25k go a LONG way for 3 legs.

Oh, and I loved Meteora in Greece and definitely go to the islands. The ferries were cheap. But you may look into a flight into Greece, or at least a few overnight trains.

Liztatern- I don't stay in party hostels at all. The family friendly hostels are really no different than something like a holiday inn, except you are sharing a room. Clean, excellent security, usually pretty modern amenities. Lights out 10-8, generally, so sleep is not a really a problem unless you like to sleep in.

I would never couch surf because (other than safety concerns) you're on the schedule of your host. That would not work for me at all, but I do understand that some people like it.

And Germany is pretty cheap, considering. I had a few hotels for 40-50 a night, and that would easily fit with the OP's budget. Food there is really cheap, OP, so I definitely recommend adding Germany to your list!

As far as budgeting, northern Europe is much more expensive than Spain, Greece or Turkey for example. I just spent five weeks in Europe, Italy, Germany, UK, Greece and Turkey (2 days). Northern Italy and London are much more expensive than Berlin, Athens and Turkey. Check out booking.com to get an idea of various accommodations. Also choosing accommodations close to the center of town will cut down on transportation costs. Book places with a free breakfast.
For example, in Chios I spent $50 per day on hotel with breakfast, in Athens it was about $90.
Sight seeing can be costly too. The UK has many free museums but many cities charge 10-12 euros per museum.
Good luck with your planning.

Remember as you plan:
1. Pack lightly. Carry-on only if possible. Even with changing seasons, you can layer to keep warm or get cooler. There is nothing worse than dragging big packs or suitcases around. It limits the way you can travel so much.
2. If you do the above, plan on laundry once per week and build it in. It doesn't take long and you meet neat people while you are doing your chores! You can also get away with hand rinsing many things to keep you going.
3. Remember that 2 nights in a place yields one day to look around.
4. Every time you move, by any mode of transportation, you lose at least half a day. (packing, getting to station, travel, getting to next hotel, unpacking, getting oriented)
4. For a long trip like this, I would schedule a vacation from the vacation! Hang out on a beach in Thailand (or whatever you would choose) just to give your brain and body a break from absorbing so many things.
5. Keep a diary (electronic if you like). I love going back over records of my travels. Send it to your family and friends along the way so they enjoy your trip as well.
6. Make arrangements for health insurance. Even if you are young and healthy you can get appendicitis, get hit by a car, catch an unfamiliar bug or parasite. (my husband and I were both hit by motorbikes in Thailand, but thankfully weren't hurt...there are basically no rules to the roads!) We spent 5 months doing a circle Pacific trip from Japan to NZ and found we had colds all the time. You are exposed to different viruses than you have been at home.
6. If going to Asia, check first with a Tropical Diseases Unit if available or at least your MD about what vaccines you need and get them as early as possible.
7. Take me with you!!!!!~

Everyone keeps going on about how expensive the UK is. I spent 33 nights there this year in August with a little bit of September.

See: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-transport.cfm

So I went back and added up my ATM withdrawals and my CC receipts. Now, it is true that I spent four nights at my sisters, but it is also true that aside from that I was staying in comfortable SINGLE rooms with en suite bath and usually a good breakfast, and I was eating restaurant meals for dinner and often for lunch, with wine at dinner. I had a Royal Oak membership (65 USD) that got me into National Trust properties for free, but I paid a number of other admissions plus a London theater ticket and an architecture tour.

The average cost per night for this "expensive" country?

155 USD.

And I could very, very easily have done it for less if I had cared to try.

<i>The average cost per night for this "expensive" country?

155 USD.</i>

per 24 hours or just for lodging?

Compared to what? In Greece, in late May/early June as a single I can cover virtuallly ALL basic expenses for about $80 USD per day -- single room in nice small hotel (10-20 rooms) w bath, 3 meals, snacks, wine at dinner, transport (ferries, busses), site admissions. Half of UK. That's why Brits love to holiday in Greece.

The UK can be expensive -- if one wants to splurge. So can just about any other country. But everyone who wrings their hands "OH, the UK is sooooooooo expensive!" are really misinformed. I go there between 1 and 3 times every year, and most trips include at least some time in London. If it was that pricey I certainly couldn't afford to visit once a year let alone 2 or 3X.

My last trip was in early Dec. There were three expensive events (two world famous multi-michelin starred restaurants and No Man's Land in the best seat in the house) which were all bucket list-type things . . . But otherwise the rest of the trip was flat cheap. £95 ($115) a night including full breakfast in a very nice B&B between Sloane Sq. and Victoria. Loaded £25 on my Oyster. Several free museums. Plus free exhibitions at two museums where I'm a member.

@Michael - no, per 24 hours including sleeping, eating, transport, attractions, coffee and incidentals. In other words, everything I spent while I was in England, but not including my medical and evacuation insurance which is higher for me because I'm older.

@travelerjan - no, not compared to Greece. Compared to the illusion that the UK is an expensive country, which is what I keep reading here and which no doubt informs Michael's suggestion that 155 USD is what I spent for lodging alone.

I would never plan such a complex trip when you have never even traveled anywhere before.

Travel, like anything takes skills you learn along the way.

Although you say you have no time constraints, your budget will be a "constraint" as there is only so far that amount will take you.

Are you sure you want to do this as proposed? No change you might want to try an easier trip first to get your "sea legs" so to speak?

@suze - did you read the thread or just the first post? We've been through all that, no need to bring it up agai.

Since you mentioned that you like hiking, I'd recommend visiting Cinque Terre. It could be quite busy in the summer, but there are a variety of trails between the five towns that are really nice to hike, and there's a train that goes between the cities in case you get tired. You could stay in one of the town's (which I'd recommend) or in one of the larger (often cheaper) cities nearby, like La Spezia.

As far as an itinerary, I'd start with something like this:
Fly into Dublin
Dublin 3 nights
Western Ireland (I loved the music!) 4 nights
Belfast 3 nights, with a trip to the Giant's Causeway
Fly to Edinburgh
Edinburgh 3 nights
Tour Scotland (possibly the Isle of Skye or the Orkney Islands with a tour - I used Rabbie's as a tour operator and loved them) 6 nights
Train to Wales
Wales 3 nights
Bath 2 nights
See Stonehenge on the way to London
London 4 nights (I'm not a huge fan of London)
Fly to Granada and see the Alhambra, stay 2 nights
Fly to Barcelona, stay 4 nights
Train to Paris, stay 4 nights
Train to Aix en Provence
See the Luberon and Provence, 4 nights
Train to Nice, stay 3 nights
Train to Geneva
Switzerland, 5 nights
Train to Dolomites, stay and hike 6 nights
Train to Venice, stay 3 nights
Train to Cinque Terre, stay and hike 4 nights
Train to Florence (which I also don't love), stay 2 nights
Tuscany, 4 nights
Train to Rome, stay 5 nights
Train to Bari, stay 3 nights
Fast ferry to Corfu, stay 3 nights
Cyclades islands (Santorini, Patmos, Naxos?), 6 nights
Athens, 4 nights
Fly home

I've been to most of these places - my favorites are probably Cinque Terre, Granada, Ireland and Northern Ireland, and Scotland. I haven't been to the Dolomites but would love to go and think they'd be awesome for you.

There is no such thign as a 'must see.' By that, I mean, of course if you go to Rome you should go to the Coliseum, but not everyone goes to Rome or even Italy in the first place.

First and formeost, go where you are passionate about. You can go hiking in all the places you listed. My best advice is to not just see the so-called highlights, but really spend time exploring. As is, the places you listed as your 'musts' could take a very long time to explore. People do regret rushed travel sometimes (hence the advice you see repeatedly on this forum), but I am not sure I have heard any regrets about slow travel....