Inexperienced traveler trying to plan for 2 weeks in Europe!
 

On August 1st I am meeting a friend in Paris to embark on a two week trip around Europe. We were hoping to plan an itinerary that allows us to see some of France, some of Switzerland, and some of Italy. I understand two weeks is not a lot of time to see everything we would like, but hopefully there is a way we could plan to see and do as much as possible in just fourteen days!

We are both college students and enjoy all things history and outdoors related. We don't want to spend time shopping or spend tons of money on food and drinks. We also don't have a need to stay in anything more than a basic hostel.

So, what areas of France/Switzerland/Italy do you recommend seeing? How do you recommend we get from point to point? We'd prefer to take a train from each location, is a Eurail train pass worth it? What about cost, what do you think two weeks of frugal travel will cost in the countries listed (less than $1,000 each, more?)?

Thanks!

Whoops, I don't know why it only tagged Italy. I meant to click France and Switzerland as well!

You have chosen three countries, so I assume you have reasons for choosing them to begin with. As you dream of your trip, are there any particular places you feel you must see? For example, "I can't visit Italy without . . . seeing the Vatican, seeing Venice, sitting in a cafe for hours, walking n a beach" . . . whatever. Similarly for France and Switzerland. We can help you plan, but want to include YOUR ideas of what the trip should include.

I think we would most like to see a few castles, churches, ruins, and extremely scenic spots. My friend mentioned she would also like to spend at least a little bit in somewhere "beachy." She suggested we consider San Marino/Genoa/Cinque Terre for Italy and Geneva/Bern for Switzerland.

Well Switz makes frugal travel difficult - very difficult - prices are MUCH higher than in the US.

Do you mean $1K each for 2 weeks? And assume airfare will be on top of this - since that will take almost all of the $1 per person. If you look at student guides they show about 50 euros per day as the absolute rock bottom living cost - this will include the most basic hostels. lots of walking versus local transit and eating either street food ot buying things for sandwiches from a street market or grocery. It doesn;t incude even stuent nightlife - beer and wine can be cheap but not free.

So per person that would be $800 each - but you would have to add intercity trains to that. If a pass makes sense depends on your specific itinerary - but often buying individual tickets (but far in advance and with no change options) is cheaper than a pass unless you will be riding trains everyday.

Suggest you work more on YOUR must sees (pictorial guide books or tour books) to help you hone in on places and how long in each.

In two weeks I would stay in no more than four hostels - or you could end up spending a very large part of your limited time in transit rather than seeing/doing things. Also, the more train travel between cities the higher % of your budget goes on this versus activities/sights.

Yes, I meant $1K each for 2 weeks. We are willing to spend more, but I wanted to see if it was possible to stick around that budget and still have an enjoyable trip. We know airfare is on top of this.

Is Switzerland not worth it then? Is it better to travel along the border and get a "sense" of the country and stick with the euro rather than the franc?

When traveling around Europe do you find it is more advantageous to take night trains or a series of shorter daytime trains?

Thanks again.

OK, it is time to go to the library and get a few guidebooks for the countries you have mentioned and figure out where you want to go and want you want to see. Once you have decided on the places that most appeal to you, transportation options will become more clear.

>>> How do you recommend we get from point to point? We'd prefer to take a train from each location, is a Eurail train pass worth it?<<<

Is your return flight from Paris? If not, you need to provide details before people can advise an itinerary. Often it's cheaper to fly budget airlines. You can fly Easy Jet from Paris Orly to Rome or Venice usually cheaper than the train.

San Marino is not very easy to reach. I would pick somewhere with easier transit. In Italy, many small towns are served by bus, not trains.

>>>Is Switzerland not worth it then?<<<

Of course, but you would probably need to double your budget for days there as it's much more expensive.

I'll just say flatly for inexperienced (and maybe for experienced) travelers that is not enough money, even with the incredible exchange rate now. That is $150/day--please. Trains, food, hotel, entrances? I think you need to do some homework as others have suggested.
It isn't just "stick to the Euro rather than the franc"--Switzerland charges more.
Paris can be very budget friendly, IF you plan well. I suggest you spend a week in Paris and a week in Italy, and try to get an open jaw plane ticket so you don't have to come all the way back to Paris.

Agree that the OPs budget is absolutely rock bottom.

Our younger DD, 19, went 2 summers ago with 2 friends and she spent about $8k for 6 weeks. But they did not travel at this level. They stayed in modest hotels - but with AC (esp important in Italy and many modest lodgings do not have it), ate in modest restaurants (but sitting down) and did some student nightlife. They did do a LOT of sightseeing (some of this is very expensive) and took day tours in a couple of cities. But next to no shopping.

So, even being careful it's possible to spend WAY more (and the $ was much lower against the euro then) unless you are VERY strict with everything you do and realize that you may have to avoid more expensive sights.

Second the idea of looking at a number of Guidebooks--Lonely Planet has a "Europe on a Shoestring" which, while I haven't read it, sounds promising. I'd stick to central and southern France and northern Italy. The French and Italian Alps and the Dolomites in Italy are as scenic as those in Switzerland, IMO.

European beaches aren't all that, and the places you mention don't have very good ones. See this link for Italian beaches:http://www.roughguides.com/article/b...ches-in-italy/ and this link for French: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travele...s-cTop-g187070.

With your interests, I'd explore the Loire Valley (more castles and churches, including ruined castles like Chinon--than you can see in a month), then to Cluny, for a ruined abbey/church and Besancon for one of the mothers of all "castles"--the Citadel. Go up into Savoy around Annecy for mountain views, then down into northern Italy. Just about anywhere you go in Italy and southern France will have churches, castles and Roman ruins. Verona, for example, has all three (if you count the nifty amphitheatre as a ruin) Then head back along the Mediterranean coast (Italian and French rivieras), stopping at a beach you've selected from one of the above links or find on your own.

$1000 for 2 weeks equals less than $72 a day pp.

Even doubling your budget might mean having to do some couch surfing. All the transport will really eat into your budget, plus Switzerland is an expensive country. Yes, there are ways to economize even in Switzerland. But $70 per day is an awfully low budget.

Less moving around and skipping Switzerland would help a lot though.

Janis, it is "each".
One caveat when travelling on a tight budget--there's no room for mistakes. And if you have one, it can leave you in a bad place.

Yes -- $1000 each for TWO weeks = $70+ per person per day

That is not enough money to do what you propose. And 3 countries in 2 weeks is too much moving around (mostly because it is cheaper to stay more time in less places than move around so much).

<<San Marino/Genoa/Cinque Terre for Italy and Geneva/Bern for Switzerland.>>

I actually think that is a doable trip, I you can raise a little more money. For the Geneva area, stay out in Vevey or Montreux instead of right in the city. It's prettier and not as expensive (about 1 hour on the train, right along Lac Leman).

You don't need a rail pass for that trip, just a few point-to-point 2nd class tickets. And look for hostels or other alternative lodging. You won't have enough to eat in restaurants very often, so plan your meals around grocery stores, outdoors markets, bakeries.

Well, with couchsurfing and sandwiches it is probably doable. Maybe with hostels and sandwiches. But the OP needs to spend some quality time with the Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Let's Go and/or Time Out guide books, and should probably be posting on the Lonely Planet forums rather than here.

I'm fine with paying significantly more than $1,000! I just wanted to see what a realistic amount would be. I'll take what everyone has said thus far into consideration and create a better itinerary before asking any more questions. Thanks for all of the help!

Please don't let people make you afraid to ask your questions! That's what this forum is for!!

Good luck, megalodon. Moving around a lot is expensive, so try to zero in on what your top priorities are for the trip.

Once you get your "we must go here"s down, be sure to check skyscanner.net as well as rail routes. Sometimes it's cheaper/faster to fly than take the train. Not always, but sometimes.

I think you and your friend will have a wonderful trip! Please do continue to ask questions.

I suggest you get a copy of Rick Steves' "Europe Through the Backdoor" which has suggested itineraries as well as advice about travelling by train. You could take his itineraries for your countries of interest and adapt them to your time frame. Also you will want to fly "open jaws". Have fun planning.