I'm a 25 year old pissed off American woman and want to travel to Europe for atleast 1 month. Any suggestions?

Question

haha. i want to have fun and i want to be safe. Mostly, I want to feel uncomfrotable and open my eyes. And have the best time of my life. If that makes any sense to you, please tell me where I can have a bittersweet life changing experience. The sooner the better- and when i sooner I mean, like, 3 weeks...... xo.....

Answer 1

You better be cheerful when you get here - we throw out the moodies! Ha!

Town or Country? City or Rural?

OK - both.

England! Start here! London for a couple of days then across to us in the South West for a little peaceful rural splendour. Then off to Paris for a couple of days, restaurants and bustle - the Seine and the Louvre, outside the city to Versailles for some art and beauty, then out to the countryside for another brief chill. Perhaps to the champagne region to sample some produce while you're there.

Next - Rome, to the splendour of the fine architecture, the Fountain Walk, the Colosseum and Vatican City. After that, back to the countryside again, Tuscany for choice, for a recharge before flying home.

Super!

Answer 2

My advice to you is (1) wear a money belt and your chance of being pickpocketed goes way down, (2) stay in hostels if you want to meet people, (3) make sure you spend enough time in the major cities to really experience them and not just take a few pictures of yourself in front of things - you really can't see London, Paris, Berlin, or Rome in any meaningful way in just 2 days, (4) tourist offices are very useful for free detailed maps and for finding you a room at the last minute, (5) try to budget for an occasional expensive meal in countries like France and Italy where the food can be a big part of the experience, (6) you should visit Brugge, Siena, Salzburg, Aix-en-Provence, or the Loire Valley chateaux if they are at all convenient to your itinerary, and (7) Ryanair, Easyjet and Air Berlin are a good way to travel long distances cheaply.

Answer 3

Stay in America. We have enough pissed off Europeans without adding you to the lot!

If you do come, Skylark's suggestions are superb and her advice is spot on!

Answer 4

If you really want an eye-opening experience that will take you out of your comfort zone, go to Turkey. Istanbul is an exotic,  dynamic, beautiful city that is wholly unlike any in the US.

If you cross over to the Asian part of the Turkey and venture off the beaten path, you will definitely find yourself wide-eyed and bittersweet.

Turkey has more Greek ruins than Greece, and more Roman archaeological sites than all of Italy. It was the cradle for three of the dominant world religions, and revered sites for Christians, Jews and Muslims are there. What better place than the country that straddles two continents to expand your horizons?

It also has girly frills like awesome spas, great shopping & the gorgeous Mediterrean Sea.

Many parts of the country are impoverished, but the people have such a generous spirit. They are lovely.

You will be stared at a lot there if you're a young blond, but don't take offense. They're just appreciating you.

It's become more expensive since they switched currencies, but it's still way more affordable than Western Europe.

Other ideas:

Croatia: intoxicatingly stunning country filled with so many gems & history. It's sun-kissed, blissful, beautiful, fascinating and culturally enriched. There is a great music and art vibe going on, and Zagreb is very fashionable. When you drive through the gorgeous National Parks and see signs warning you to stay on the road because there might be undiscovered landmines, your eyes will be opened wide. You will meet people your own age who lived through the wars you heard about on the news when you  were growing up.

Loads of young ppl are there, so you'll find company if you want to to. The Lonely Planet has named it a top destination in recent years. It's also affordable. Bonus perk - the men are hot.

Other ideas:

Prague: it's a bit over run with tourists  in the summer, but it's still one of the most awesome & beautiful cities in Europe. There are TONS of cool expats there, and you can get by without speaking Czech. You can find an apartment there fairly easily. My boyfriend found one there last summer on Craigslist.

Poland

Romania

Latvia

Ukraine - you will def. get some perspective on your life there

Slovenia

I envy you for being able to take this sojourn. Traveling enriches and matures you in so many ways. I've traveled extensively with my family, & have studied abroad four times already, but I've never taken a solo trip, and I would v much like to. I was hoping to take one this summer, but my parents nixed it. (I'm 16)  I plan on spending the summer after I graduate roaming.

Load up your iPod with great music (and get it and your camera insured before you leave) and bring a fresh journal and sketchbook with you.

Americans have been stereotyped as being loud, obnoxious, and pushy...and I've witnessed 1st hand why.  Do your best not to be. Lower your voice an octave. Know in advance that at ruins in Turkey or in Greece or Italy you might have to wear a long skirt because that's the custom. If men catcall you, just ignore them completely. Always be aware of your surroundings, but don't walk in fear.

You can totally arrange a trip within 3 weeks. Just start doing your research ASAP. My dad and I went to Costa Rica once after just spending less than a week planning the trip. We picked up the tickets on the way to the airport.

Be open hearted, open minded, & observant....and have an awesome time.

I bet when you come back you won't be pissed off anymore.

: )