I've done it, I've booked my first flight!!
 

So I have been coming on here debating about where I should book my first flight to and start my solo European travels and I have put it off until yesterday!

I now have a flight booked out of the UK for First week in November to Prague and have a hostel booked for the first two nights!

I posted in another topic about my itinerary and I am thinking now perhaps that is gonna be too much for my £5,000 and 3 months (as this money has to do everything, all travel costs, accomondation, food, things to see/do)

I am willing to take things slow and I may find when I arrive in Prague I wan't to stay there longer and move out to another smaller city. The country I would give up would be Italy, yes I would love to do this solo but it is going to take a huge bit from my budget.

Germany plans - I am hoping to stay with relatives for a bit in Hamburg over Xmas. Will have to give them something small for staying.

These are the main places I wish to visit - and as said I would be willing to take out Italy.

Czech Republic - Prague and Olomouc.
Poland - Warsaw and Krakow.
Hungary - Budapest,
Croatia - Zagreb
Italy - Venice, Pisa, Florence, Bologna,
Germany - Munich, Heidelberg, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin.
Holland - Amsterdam
Belgium - Bruges, Brussels

Thanks
Kathryn

Kathryn

Hi Kathryn. £5000 is not very much for 3 months but I expect you know that - a little under £400pw for everything? But I guess that if you're not booking all your flights in advance, you can just go home when the money is about to run out.

In Italy a good budget option for accommodation is in convents/monasteries, but I'm not sure about the other countries. After our move to Venice (from Edinburgh!) we spent 3 months doing an intensive Italian course and a lot of the other students (of all ages & both genders) stayed in the monastery at Il Redentore. One lady stayed there for a year so it must have been OK! It sounded quite like a student hall of residence, with a kitchen shared between a few rooms (each with their own bathroom, though). I think the advertised price is about E50pn but it seems to be cheaper the longer you stay - the lady I mentioned was only paying something like E350pm.

Hope you have a fantastic experience, anyway - good for you!

I think in reality I am going to have to take Italy off my plans, and instead save for this beautiful country for a seperate trip.

I got my flight from Edinburgh - Prague for £85 and my hostel for first two nights 30Euros. I shall be very sensible with my money and I wan't it to last as long as possible obvioulsy.

My plans are to stay in Czech (Prague mainly), Poland,(Warsaw and Krakow) Hungary (Budapest) and Croatia (Zagreb) for around a week each taking train or bus to each loacation and as cheaply as possible. In Germany I wan't to move aournd more so, (my dads side are German and I am in such love with this country I wan't to see alot of it,) this would take up most of December (again doing things as cheaply as possible), and if I still have money left a visit to Amsterdam and Bruges before coming home.

Many thanks
Kathryn

Have contacted my relatives in Germany (Cuxhaven & Hamburg) and going to try write into my plans a Christmas visit to them from 23rd Dec for perhaps 8 days. Then perhaps stay for New Years Eve or go to Hamburg on my own??

Prague is a relatively cheap place to live and you can certainly visit a few places from there. trains and buses are pretty cheap .
http://www.expats.cz/
maybe getting a room in a flat for a month or so might be an option and the link i have given you will give you a lot of info. Have you thought about possibly working whilst you are travelling, as an EU citizen than you are pefectly entitiled to do so.

Unclegus,

I would love to do some work while I travel but was unsure at how easy it would be to do so.

Would you recommend using Prague as a base for longer?

Kathryn

I am in Prague several times a year,in fact will be there next week.Lots of Expats in the city so obviously lots of people working there , don't know what you do for a living but many of the expat bars/Britsih/irish bars are often looking for staff.Not being able to speak Czech is not a major barrier to working there.
With Prague being a capital city in central europe there are good transport links to various parts of Europe including many Low cost carriers , student agency buses and national train services.

I am a qualified Nurse but wouldn't be using that while away, I am 26, other work I have done is set up my own dog walking business, again not something that I will be using while away. Currently I am helping a friend in their food catering van and enjoying meeting the many different people that come for food every day.
I have no experience with working in bars but this would be the type of work I would be looking for and would accept.

I have only two nights booked so far in Prague but my travels are an open book and I will see where things take me with the obvious sights being visited. I will be extending my time in Prague but just wanted the initial couple of nights booked as a base.

Kathryn

Shall spend some time on the website you have listed.