Can I make it to Spain, France(Paris), Switz., Austria, and Italy all in 1 month of backpacking?

Question

A friend and I are going backpacking next summer and we were planning on going for a month. We wanted to not be rushed through each of the places, but to get to stay in each city(Madrid, Barcelona, Monaco, Paris, Bern, Zurich, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Rome) for at least two or three days. We also want to take a ferry from Italy to Spain so that we can make it back to Madrid to fly home. Is this possible?

And, how much would you recommend I bring if Im just staying in hostiles and taking trains. (I've already taken care of airfare). Any other tips would be great!

Answer 1

I would think you'll need to budget $100 a day, even if you eat only from take-outs and stay in hostels.  The euro is now worth $1.50 (last time I looked).  The American or Canadian dollar is worth much less than the currency you'll be using, so everything will be very expensive.  For instance, it will cost you $1.50 or so to purchase a sandwich priced at 1 euro.  

Also, don't try to see all of that in one trip.  You will become very familiar with the insides of train stations, and you won't have a very interesting trip.  It takes lots of time in a new city with a different language to find transportation, food and hostels, and you have less time left to see sights.

Once you arrive in Europe, you will realize that every city has wonderful things to see and do, and you'll never be able to see it all.  Don't try to cram so much into one trip.  Traveling on a train from one city to another takes time also, as does sitting in the station waiting for the next journey.  

I'm not familiar with ferries between Italy & Spain, but they are available for sure.  Do lots of reading and research (Lonely Planet & Let's Go) and you'll be prepared before you go.  

Try to learn to say "please, thank you, do you speak English?, and I do not speak ------" before you arrive in the various countries you will visit.  It's easy to learn these few phrases, and the residents appreciate your effort to speak a little in their language.  Most Europeans speak some English, but people are much more helpful if you have been polite before you ask for directions!

Be careful, wear a money belt with your passport and tickets, never never let it out of your sight.  Bon voyage!  Have a wonderful time!

Answer 2

"We wanted to not be rushed through each of the places, but to get to stay in each city(Madrid, Barcelona, Monaco, Paris, Bern, Zurich, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Rome) for at least two or three days."

If you want to see all ten of those cities in one month, that's only two or two and a half days each when you factor in travel time.  You will definitely be rushed if you try to include all of those places.  It's possible, and some people prefer to see a lot of places in a short time, but you will probably enjoy your trip a lot more if you cut the list down and spend at least 3-4 days in each place that you visit.

"We also want to take a ferry from Italy to Spain so that we can make it back to Madrid to fly home. Is this possible?"

Possible, yes, but I would recommend a one-way flight instead if you can find a reasonably priced one (check Ryanair, Easyjet, etc.)

There are ferries from Civitavecchia (near Rome) and Genoa (near the French border) to Barcelona.  It takes about 20 hours from Civitavecchia and 18 hours from Genoa.  The Mediterranean ferries tend to be basic with very few facilities, and the seas are often choppy.  IMO the ferries are unpleasant if you don't have a cabin, and if you do have a cabin it's much more expensive and you might as well just fly.

"And, how much would you recommend I bring if Im just staying in hostiles and taking trains. (I've already taken care of airfare). Any other tips would be great!"

$75 per day at the absolute minimum.

$100 per day if you plan in eating a lot of your meals in restaurants OR on going out a lot at night.

$125 per day if you plan on restaurant meals AND going out.

Have you looked at whether a Eurailpass of some sort would save you money?  If you want to do that full itinerary it might make sense, especially if you are under 26 and can buy the youth pass.

Answer 3

Yeah sure no worries, just make sure that when you hitchhike you go only for Ferrari's an Porsche....

Good Luck!