I want to travel to Europe in 2 years(age 18) and visit many countrys, I'll live cheap, how much would it cost

Question

Stupid character limit for the title, lol.

So I have a dream of travelling to Europe after my senior year of high school, which would be the summer of 2010. I would probably go by myself unless I convince a friend or two to go with. I would definitely plan on living cheap, staying at cheap hotels or hostels, and most likely getting a Eurotrain pass. I would like to visit as many countries as possible while there. I'd probably like to stay at least a month, maybe up to two. About how much would it cost? I've started saving now, I have about 1300 in a personal account and work 3 days a week, hoping that will be enough from now until then to pay for the trip, or at least most of it. Maybe my dad would chip in for a birthday present.

Thanks!

Answer 1

If you get a Eurail pass (or its equivalent) keep in mind that you will have to pay extra to use certain services. When I travelled through Europe a few years ago, I used a Eurorail ticket for the first 4 weeks in the more expensive Western European countries and paid myself for the last 4 weeks in Eastern Europe. Depending on how much you're going to travel, this may be the best way to do it.

There are loads of ways to save money - only eat from supermarkets, bring a tent, travel by night and save the cost of a hostel. There's a brilliant travel book called "Europe on a shoestring" by Lonely Planet that will help you, but make sure you get the most up to date version just before you travel, as things change pretty quickly.

It's almost impossible to say how much it will cost you in 2010. In general, if you avoid the tourist traps like Rome, Venice and Paris, your money will stretch much farther AND you'll have a much better quality of adventure. You could probably survive on 30 a day average, NOT including plane/train tickets, which is about 1800 (euro, not dollars)over 2 months . So keep saving. No where is truly cheap anymore, unless you restrict yourself to Eastern Europe (which I recommend, it's beautiful).

Cheap options to include on your travels would be:

Most of Eastern Europe (especially Poland, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania, but avoid tourist-popular cities like Prague & Budapest.

Germany - Berlin is cheap and very very cool. Hamburg is like a budget Amsterdam (in a good way).

Northern France - you can visit all the World War II beaches etc really cheaply and the people are much nicer than in the south or Paris.

Rural Italy/Spain/Portugal - avoid the touristy towns.

Don't come to Ireland or the UK this time, save it for when you have money cos it's a miserable place to be broke.

Answer 2

I Don't know how much it'll cost you in USD, but i understand how precious ur dream is... don't worry mate... like my old man said to me once... "Dream BIG and Achieve BIGGER"....