Whats some advice for teens traveling europe?

Question

my 4 friends and i plan to take a trip to europe next june/july for about 2 weeks after our graduation from greensboro NC, but we don't really know where to start. we're tryna spend as little money as possible on tickets and a fairly nice hotel. Also we want to know after those expenses how much pocket money would we need for food and bus fare and shopping etc on average. we also want to travel to different countries so whats a good place to go where u have easy access to some attractions. I speak some french and 2 of my other friends speak spanish if that helps any. if anyone has had any experience personally by all means tell me everything =]]]]

Answer 1

I did the same thing, but alone, and it was many years ago.  

Back in my day, you just bought a train pass, slapped a backpack on your back with three extra pairs of undies, and you were good.

Things have changed!!!!  you need to make TONS of comparisons, to make sure you are getting the right deal FOR YOU.  

There are websites with different train passes.  RailEurope.com is a good one.  You can compare the different EuroRail passes, and the individual tickets, and decide which way will work better.  TONS of those tickets, now force you to pay for reservations and surcharges, even WITH that rail pass.

There's also the Interrail pass, which works a bit differently, but the most important difference is that it includes Britain (not included in the EuroRail).

Plus, there are all those discount airlines that a lot of people are using to travel in Europe.  For about the same price as the train ticket, you can fly the long-distance routes, and save a day, as well.

Also, you may want to book your rooms in advance, or you may want to just wing it, or use the Youth Hostelling system (clean, safe, not private, and cheap).  compare online.

But first things first:  Make yourself an Itinerary.  Set up a time when the five of you can get together, so you can discuss and plan.  Pick out cities, plan your time, leave some flexibility.  This is going to be complicated, trying to combine the ideas of five people, but it can be fun, too.

The good news is, every time you get together, or get online to start planning things, you will feel the anticipation, and it's a little like actually going on vacation for an hour or two.

You can do a LOT of the planning online, and use a couple of good guide books.  I love the DK books.  They are pretty, and complete.  Lots of good information, and lots of great photos. But Let´s Go Europe is, I think, still the best guide for the young traveller, trying to cover several countries.  

For money:  lodging is going to run from around $20/night pp for Youth Hostels (maybe a bit more - check the website: http://www.international-youth-hostels.c... to around $100 - 150/night for a four-person room and an extra bed might be more, still) for budget places.  

Food, you can do at around twenty a day, if you shop at markets and grocery stores, and even less, if you do as I did:  breakfast at the hostel (free roll and coffee or tea), some fresh, local bread, cheese or margarine (easy to carry around and will last a while) during the day, maybe one snack during the afternoon at a café, and then some packaged soup and maybe rice cooked at the Youth Hostel in the evening.  I kind of regret not having sampled more of the local cuisines, but I did some eating out.  That was my typical diet, and I subsisted fine for about two and a half months.

Busses, Metros, etc., you probably want to figure around $10.00/day, and the monuments and museums are almost all under 10€ (or around $15 US).  Figure two to three per day is the most you can do.  

French and Spanish and English will get you pretty far, along with a little sign language.  Learn to say please, thank you, hello and goodbye, in the language of any place you are going.  The natives LOVE if you try a little.  And ignore the chick who says to be rude because we saved their butts...don't know whether she's a patriot of some country there, and had enough of American tourists, or if she's just being funny, but the point is, if you are polite, and put on a good face as an American, you'll have a good time, and people will respond nicely to you, too.

One last thing:

Use common sense!  you know when you are in a crowded, touristy situation to be aware.  Keep your valuables REALLY close, like inside your clothing.  Dress appropriately when you go into a church, and HAVE FUN!!!

Answer 2

this might sound strange but beleve me do it... go to your docter and ask what jabs you might need and other stuff... i was realy ill last time because of somthing or other... hope that helps

Answer 3

My advice to you since you are an American is to chant U.S.A and never stand in line skip everyone, look we won the war for those Europeans so we should be able to have special treatment. Anyway learn to say this phrase " get you dirty hands off my passapport" in a desperate yet urgent tone.

Answer 4

go to a travel agent, they will be able to get you a great deal on ticket, that allows you to travel either by plane or by train all over europe.

the trian one is called an interrail ticket, it is cheap and you can use it everywhere.

i would start in london, as they speak english, then go to paris, as there are lots of americans on holiday over there this time of year.

you will find out form other travellers where the best places are to visit.

best to book a hotel before you go,or to stay in youth hostels, they are cheap and very well run.

Enjoy your stay.

Answer 5

using a travel agent is a good idea since they have a lot of resources to find you the best deal based on the criteria you provide for them and can map out the most efficient route for you and how to get from place to place (bus or train) and if the book series 'culture smart' has an edition for anywhere to plan to visit, read it first; it's an easy, short read and provides a lot of useful tips.

i would recommend staying on the mainland (in other words not the united kingdom, scandanavia or an island) because traveling from those locations to anywhere your language skills would be of use would be more expensive than flying to the mainland initially (i would fly to barcelona, madrid or paris) if you want to travel where you can more easily communicate

i have been to barcelona and loved it. it is architecturally stunning- if you do not eat meat, it is difficult to find food in spain aside from tapas bars. i have also been to paris and have no desire to return- it was oaky, but nowhere i need to go back to. switzerland is nice and french is spoken in parts. generally in large cities you can find someone who speaks enough english to help you. my favorite places are likely more spread out than you are going to want for budget purposes (dublin, copenhagen and dubrovnik) i am going to slovenia next month so if you have an interest in going there, drop me an email after sept 10

ways to save money:

don't shop

stay in hostels

if there is a lot you want to see in a certain city, buy a city pass- it is a better deal than several spearate tickets

walk or find a bicycle rental place

safety:

look for good deals but remember than your safety is more important than saving a few dollars

stick together always- do not wonder off on your own

and watch out for pick pockets; keep your money secure and do not get destracted from it

keep in mind that in the summer, everything costs more because it is prime tourist season; esp. lodging will be more than in the off season

have fun

Answer 6

Dont eat yellow snow, never pet a burning dog, and a wise man once said "He who gos to bed with itchy but wakes with a stinky finger"

Have fun on your trip!