hey everybody.
I think I posted a similar question here before but if you don't mind I'll ask again.
I really want to do a 2 weeks trip (Sep25-Oct08) and i simply can't figure out where to go.
one of the problems is budget which is around 1200euros (excluding the flights from Israel). I'm traveling solo (27yr old female) and travel as a backpacker (hostels and public transport).
the thing is I'm not sure what I'm looking for. but I do know 4 things:
- food. I don't eat in restaurants for budget reasons but I'm looking for a place where I can find nice cheap food. I don't need some high end cooking. what I like is nice food in the supermarkets, food markets and some cheap food chains (but not junk food).
- sightseeing. half of those 2 weeks I want to spend in one big city so I need a place that will keep me busy for a week. the thing is I'm not a big fan of museums and history.
- shopping. looking for good shopping options for not so high prices.
- a friendly place for a solo traveler like me.
so far I visited London, Paris (about 10 years ago with my parents) and did some hiking in Switzerland but I'm used to traveling alone (including Asia and Africa).

The first thing that comes to my mind is a town with a university. Hub and I have been fortunate to have visited the following (Paris, Venice and Rome also but the university vibe more apparent below):

Aix-en-Provence, Montpellier, France

Pisa, Padua, Verona, Bologna, Perugia, Italy

We easily found (as in stumbled over because we weren't looking for them) super mercatos in Bologna and Verona.

Train travel was a breeze from Montpelier but bus was easier in Aix. We trained in most of the Italy towns above but did take busses from Perugia.

Good luck with this and please write about your trip.

you did get suggestions on your original thread

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...e-387095-3.cfm

I would recommend Portugal, Germany or Greece.

In all these you can find clean and not expensive hotels (in Germany we love to book a B&B instead a hotel room), good public transportation (train, metro, taxi), good food.
I do not much shopping, so I can not tell you about this.

In Germany you can be in Berlin a week then for another week in Mosel / Rhine valley or in Black Forest. Look for my report: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ack-forest.cfm). Re.Mosel / Rhine I see that I did not write a report, but if you need some advices, I'm glad to help.


We stayed a week in Lisbon and made some day trips. It is very easy to make day trips by train: there are 2-3 trains per hour. They are clean and very cheap.
Sintra - we saw there the town, National City Palace, Pena Palace. There are also 2 more other palaces, but we had not enough time in the same day for all four.
On the line Sintra-Lisbon is Queluz with its splendid palace and one of the most beautiful garden that we saw, full of statues, fountains and flowers.
Cascais and Estoril - see the towns, casino , beaches.

Or you can stay a week in Athens (with 1-2 day trips) and then another week in an island.

The autumn is a good time to visit Europe and I am sure you will enjoy.

If all you have is 1200 euros I don't see how you possibly have any money for buying anything. That's only 85 euros per day for housing, meals, in-city transit, sightseein and transit between cities - which seems to be way too tight for comfort even in hostels.

You're not planning on couchsurfing are yuo?

well in Berlin for example I found many hostels for around 17-18euros, which leaves me 67euros for everything else. I think I can easily get by with that.
I know I've posted the question before, but since I can't choose a place I'm really excited about I keep changing my mind about what I'm looking for