im a college student planning a trip to europe for next may. i plan to do everything as inexpensively as possible, but i still have no clue how much things will run. im assuming youth hostels would be my best bet to stay in, but can anyone give me a ballpark figure? i was hoping to spend a month traveling all over europe, probably on the train. how much would train passes be? im trying to figure out if my budget can cover two people or not. id desperately like my boyfriend to join me, so any tips on how to do it cheap would be appreciated.

Camp? <BR>Bunkhouses? <BR>Don't eat out <BR>Stay with friends or friends of friends. <BR>Hitch-hike (not on your own, of course)Rail pass <BR>

1) southern Europe is cheaper than northern Europe <BR>2) Europass offers a 15% discount to second traveler <BR>3) Hostels are cheap ($10ish a night per person), but depending on what part of Europe you're in, a room for two in a hotel, over a pub, in a house might be just as inexpensive. <BR>4) Instead of eating in restaurants, buy food in grocery stores, delis, bakeries and picnic. For hot food, look for self-serve cafeterias and university or college student cafeterias. <BR>5) If you eat in restaurants, buy lunch; it's cheaper than dinner. <BR>6) Don't use laundromats, they are VERY expensive; wash stuff out in the sink. <BR>7) The fees for big museums (like the Uffizi), tourist sights (like the Eiffel Tower), and tours (like Rhine boats) are very expensive; mix those in with free stuff (like castle ruins in the Dordogne or cemeteries anywhere). <BR>8) Don't mail postcards; stamps can be 50-75 cents a card. <BR>9) For a month's travel, your railpass will cost anywhere from $475-$850ish, depending on what you use. There's a website with descriptions and costs: http://www.eurail.on.ca/welcome.html <BR>Figure $10 a night per person for lodging, $15 a day per person for food, $3 a day per person for local transportation, $10 a day sightseeing. You're looking at $4000 for two. Now, start whittling: Instead of the $800 whole-month passes, stick with the Europass (5 most "popular" countries). The youth pass is for the under-25s and is a lot cheaper. Plan on walking everywhere, or most everywhere, instead of taking public transportation. <BR>Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera

Don't forget night trains. You won't necessarily sleep, but you pay for your train ticket and your night's lodging in the same pop. <BR> <BR>Also, check out www.eurotrip.com It's geared to 20-50 somethings who are backpacking theirway across Europe, usually on the cheap. Lot's of discussions re: Hostels and doing things cheaply.

Trying to figure out if YOUR budget can cover two people? Tell your boyfriend to pay his own way.

I agree with Anna! Don't pay for your boyfriend!

Check out the "Let's Go" guides, written by students who've been there, done that. Agree with everyone else - either your boyfriend pays at least his way or leave him behind. You have lots of time to plan, so be sure to read a few tour guides between now and then - especially the chapters about safety (such as how not to "lose" your bags while asleep on an overnight train). There are also websites geared to students traveling abroad - you might want to try a search.

I just spent a month in Italy. Don't know if this is 'budget' enough for your case or not, but I spent around $50 per day. Try to stay in cheap hotels ($30-$40), or hostels near city center ($15-$20). Learn from the locals: food from markets and supermarkets, water from fountains. Make a splurge once in a while: an opera ticket, a nice hotel room, etc.

The cheapest way is definitely to get a small tent and camp your way around. Its also a great way of getting to know more locals - we had some great times with the people we met camping. Also, take a small (one element cooker) and a few utensils. You can cook up healthy, fulling pastas etc for next to nothing. Transport wise - in the campsite, you'll meet a lot of people travelling by van. I did it last year. We picked up people and took them (for a share of the petrol - next to nothing basically) with us for a week or two. Then when their plans differed they found another van. It also allowed them to save by joining in with a group cook out, BBQs etc. We also free camped in certain places because we had the facilities to do so. The people travelling with us could no so as well - and this of course saves a lot of money. Its also a great way to meet people from all over. Recommend you forget the "travel all over Europe" bit. We travelled hard for 4 months, and never touched half of it. Concentrate on what you're interested in. On a budget I'd definitely recommend Spain and Portugal. Maybe also add in Italy (much more expensive) for good measure. You'd have more than enough in them 3 countries to have a great time. Also realise that the more distance you travel, the more it costs There are loads of ways to cut costs. One thing you must do, is work out a daily budget. If you go over one day then cut back the next. Touristy things really cost a lot (sightseeing and so forth). Keep it down to a minimum - only do the things that really interest you. There are lots of not quite so touristy things that are free, and allow you to experience the culture more fully than just visiting the expensive sights. <BR>Hope this helps. <BR>Jo

thanks everyone! the info and links have really helped. and by the way, its not really me paying for my boyfriend. hes already said he cant afford to go, and he really cant, but id like him with me. ive recieved a $2000 scholarship to spend on basically anything this summer, and im trying to figure out how far we can stretch that, along with what little money the two of us have. im workin on figuring out where we can save money and what we'll have to pay for things. i appreciate the help. but trust me, my boyfriend isnt just a freeloader.