Europe Road Trip In 2009.. What to do?

Question

Hey, a few friends and I want to go on a trip around Europe next summer. We kinda want to drive (as opposed to inter-railing) what route do you think is best to take? Any of the E-Road networks? We kinda want to travel from Ireland-France and through Europe to the east (and possibly Finland/Sweden). We Originally wanted to visit Russia but decided against it because we thought it would be much too tedious and/or expensive to obtain a visa. Past experiences would be helpful and thanks in advance. Also, how long do you reckon it would take?

Answer 1

First how long would it take.

Take a general travel planner, like google maps.

I did a random route, Dublin to Rosslare, ferry to Roscoff, fairly direct route to Poland, Estonia, ferry to Helsinki and from there to Sweden, ending the route in Stockholm.

That takes about 4500 km, and with a practical speed of less than 100 km/h often you will be glad to get an average of 80 km/h, that is 56 hour of actual driving. Of course, on a trip like this you will not drive round the clock, say no more than 10 hours a day, still 6 days you do nothing but travel. And as you will want to travel on home, you can add to that.

Making it a round trip, back to Ireland, through Norway, western Europe and England will bring it up to 7000 km. Nearly ninety hours, so at least 9 days of hard traveling.

Much better to do things like that at leisure.

Plan to do a trip like this with no time restrictions and spread it over a few months.

Petrol will not be cheap, even split between 4 for a car or 9 for a van with as many seats. You will better know than I what petrol cost in Ireland, the west of Europe will not be much cheaper, the east might be a little, but still not free, no way. You can use your current cars usage for a quick calculation for milage, look up specifications on the web or talk with a friend who drives a van for that.

And when you are packed that tight in your transport, you will also have to find places to sleep.

Camping can be cheap, free in some places, but in other places you need to pay at least 30 Euro per tent or 10 Euro per person per night.

And if you are like sardines in your car/van you will not have much space for big tents and top gear either.

You can also choose to stay in hostels, 10 to 25 Euro per person per night.

Food, 5 Euro minimum per person per day, and that is if you have a smart cook who can do everything on a single burner and with limited pots and pans.

If non of you can cook worth eating, count on 10 to 50 Euro per day for restaurant food, pick an average, so you have something to calculate with.

If you like to drink, and most groups of guys can use a few beers each night, add a few Euro per day for that too, again the prices in Ireland can be taken for those in western Europe, eastern Europe a little less but Scandinavia a lot more. So on average you can use the Irish prices.

You see how I make the calculations, I think you can do the same with no more than a map and a general feel for cost.

Ferry costs will come on top of what you have found so far. Your initial plan will include some pretty expensive crossings, and more than you might think if you drive in a van.

This site is helpful finding you ferry crossings:

http://www.directferries.co.uk/routes.ht...

They can also help you book tickets, but if you go that routine but stop before actually booking, you can get a fair idea for the prices.

Have fun dreaming about impossible travels, but I think you can find something you will find within reason.

Ireland to Czech republic is only 2000 km, with a long or two short crossings a couple of healthy young fellows can do it in one long drive. Start with staying in hostels or camping in Czech republic, roam around in that country and in Poland and Slovakia just across one border each, all three relative cheap.

You should be able to live there as tourist for less than 75 Euro per person per day, eating out and drinking a bit or cooking your own dinner and having a good drink.

Other options include Slovenia, Hungary and so on. You can even do a tour in the former communist countries, exploring and return from an other country.

Just forget Scandinavia if you are bound for time and money.

That area is worth spending a few holidays later in life.