kybourbon

The regular walk up price on Trenitalia is listed as base price. Summer schedules aren't loaded yet (current schedules are through June 8). Once they load summer schedules (keep checking), you can book 120 days in advance. Rome/Turin base price is 90€. You may or may not be able to snag a discount online.

I agree with everyone else. Too many places and too little money. What is the point of a trip if you are just going to ride cheap trains or buses the entire trip and not actually visit any of the wonderful sites in these cities? It's a tour of bus/train stations and the inside of transport. The more you move around, the more expensive your trip.

Frances

Sorry to be dense but where in this list of destinations is WEU?

janisj

Frances: I took it to mean Western Europe i.e. Western EU since the OP is starting from Serbia.

msteacher

You may find the Thorntree forum on the Lonely Planet a helpful resource. There tend to be more backpackers traveling closer to your budget level on that forum, so they may have some helpful advice for you. Just don't use all caps there either. God luck with your plans.

Danila84

Thanks kybourbon, I guess you're right.
It's because since recently we didn't have visa free option in this shitty country. So now I have a BIG oportunity "to see it all"..ofcourse I can't. There the wish and enthusiasm.

So I have 7 weeks. And let's say 4 or fullmax 5000euros for everything.

And I want to see the most of Europe that I can.

I can walk 15-20km a day no problems. Thats how I saw most of Amsterdaam center ring + Vondellpark in 2 days. And most of Rotterdam and Haag in another 2. And "whole" Utrecht in 2. I walked the cities all day, stopping by here and there to rest/eat/meet people. Slept in hostels. Thats what I want to do. My accent is on the big cities
+ Alpes somewhere
+ 1 idyllic countryside experience (for some reason France associates me to that)
+ the Athlantic ocean somewhere
+ cote d'azure somewhere

So what would any of you recommend me to do if you were in my place considering my situation, interests and capabilities?

What route - what to see - how many days in which place?

Let's say I'll skip Belgium, Prague and Vienna.
let's say Rome, Barcelona, Paris and Berlin is a must.
everything else is open ... to fit in
and Potgual is far...but if possible I would love to experience it just a little.

I would mix the alpes, countriside and coast...in between to take a rest.

Please give some suggestions...

Thanks...

bilboburgler

Ok, you have loads of time, which is a real asset. The cheapest places to stay are areas like Eastern Germany (still struggling) so you could do Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Prague (Prague can be expensive but after three cheaper cities that should help),
I have to go, maybe more tomorrow.

bilboburgler

After Prague train to Rome (stay near the main railway station the hotels and hostels are cheap), then a train to Paris but stop off at a few glories like Genoa and Auxerre. After Paris I'd fly to Porto (which again is a cheap area) and use buses/trains to work your way south until you get to Lisbon then Barcelona.

Not a great plan but by focusing on a bunch of second class smaller sites you can keep the prices right down.

kybourbon

A bus pass might be more economical for you. Many buses are overnight so you could save a night of staying in a hostel if you can sleep on the bus. I would check some of the postings on Lonely Planet Thorntree for reviews of bus passes.
http://www.eurolines.com/en/

Danila84

That actually are some great ideas Bilbo! Thank you very much.
Does the stop off mean that I can get off the train, and catch another one with the same ticket?

Yes kybourbon, so I've heard the buses are the cheapest transportation in WEU. I'll check them out. Especially in Germany where trains are expensive. Though I guess I should use trains somewhere else if price is good cause I could see lotz lotz...during a day trip...

bilboburgler

If you really want to keep the costs down, do the trip by bicycle with a tent. Certainly there are a series of european bike arterials that could link up much of what you want to do.

http://www.eurovelo.org/routes/

jamikins

Sorry, I may have missed this - what is WEU?

janisj

jamikins: Danila84 hasn't confirmed this but from up thread, >><i>Frances: I took it to mean Western Europe i.e. Western EU since the OP is starting from Serbia.</i><< That is my guess.

But anything is possible

jamikins

Wow I never would ha e guessed that..I haughtily it was a tour group! Thanks!

jamikins

I Thought...sorry argh!

Danila84

Thanks Bilbo, nice perspective. Perhaps one day I'll do it with a bike and a tent as well. Havent used a bike for a long time so Im not in shape I guess. Nor do I own one at the moment. Ill leave that for the years to come, when doing a nature camping trip..

Yeah for me its all Western EU.

I was looking at some airplane options,
around July 18th
Prague - Rome ~ 60e
Berlin - Rome ~ 60e
Vienna - Rome ~ 75e

around August 12th
Paris - Lisabon ~ 75e
Paris - Porto ~ 60e

I've heard it can be cheaper like 20-40e, I guess not or is it just the last minute special price?

I see a bus Prague-Rome is similar price as an airplane. And a train a bit pricier...like 110e with changing trains in Vienna.

Since not a huge difference in prices...Should I use the overland or fly? I mean, am I going to see much through a window or is it not worth the 20h vs 2h trip?

bilboburgler

Note that the flying bit includes, getting to the airport early outside of a city, hanging around, flying, getting off the aircraft and catching a bus/train into the city.

The train involves, get on, travel, get off.

Danila84

yeah I'll keep that in mind

I was watching pics of French regions...Brittany looks the prettiest so far Asterix&Obelix are waiting for me!
Is it smarter to switch places in Brittany or sleep in Brest(or some other place) and make a few daily trips to different parts of Brittany(Bretaigne)?

Im thinking about spending ~ 15days in France, ~20+ days in Spain+Portugal, ~10 days in Italy and another ~10- in Berlin+Prague

Danila84

I am considering options for the Italian itinerary part in mid July.

After visiting Venice->Dolomites->Florence->Rome OR Rome->Florence->Venice->Dolomites I will be heading to Nice,

I am considering a day train so I could see some more Italy from the train...

In terms of scenery - should I take a day train:
a) from Rome to Ventimiglia
b) from Verona to Ventimiglia

or
c) I should just fly to Nice?