Should I get a travel agent for a trip Im planning to go around Europe?

Question

Im 19 and me and my friends are planning to go to Spain, and thinking about backpacking around. Would it be a good idea to hire a travel agent to help us plan the trip?

Answer 1

Go to Macedonia! http://www.visitmacedonia.com.mk/

Answer 2

Do Madrid, Sevilla and Granada.  Barcelona would be great if you had about another week or a bit less.

No, you don't need a travel agent for backpacking.

You can do everything you need to online, and at your age, I would just wing it for the lodging.  Just walk up to the places with the light blue squares on the front doorpost, they have an H, for hostel/hotel, and look for the number of stars you are willing to pay.  stay away from the ones with an R in the bottom of the H, because that means Residencia, and they'll be a bit less what you are looking for (if you were planning to spend a month or more, THEN you go for those).

Grab a copy of Let's Go Europe, and get some ideas of where you want to go and what to do.

Here's my  recommendations:

Use Madrid as a home base, and explore some of the outlying territories.  You MUST go to the Prado, should go to the Plaza Mayor, and explore the restaurants on the outside, downhill side.  Royal Palace is great, and the Cathedral is right there.  If you are there on Sunday, go to the Rastro flea market, and one day, stroll through the Retiro Park.  If you have other interests, there are plenty of choices.  Check websites, and look at the less obvious places to go...for instance, the drag queen/g*y neighborhood is supposed to be really entertaining, other art museums, shopping, less visited monuments.  All depends on your interests.

Side trips:  MUST see Toledo...so much to see there, but it will only take a day.  MUST do Segovia...same...coolest castle in Spain, the Alcázar, there, and a first century aqueduct, which dominates the entrance to the city.

Also, Avila - best medieval curtain wall in Europe, and all things regarding Sta. Teresa.  Quixote trail, Rioja wine country.  Again, it all depends on YOUR interests.

Sevilla:  MUST see the Cathedral, third largest in the world, it is also the largest gothic structure in the world.  Touch the foot of the Tomb of Columbus...it's good luck.  Climb the Giralda tower, gotta do it.  Then go to the Alcázar (the word means Castle)...REALLY good!  Then the Parque María Luisa - tons of little corners to explore in there.  You should also stroll through the Barrio Santa Cruz, shop, have tapas, etc.  Again, a couple of lesser - known attractions, the Casa de Pilatos, Plaza Nueva, I have a few ideas on places to eat...Really, the best city!

Granada, you MUST see the Alhambra.  Buy your tickets online, and save yourself up to two hours standing in the hot sun to buy there.  Once you have done that, you should go to the cathedral, the Albaicín, and the arab shopping quarter.  Really the most beautiful!  

And, again, no travel agent for backpacking.