Planning a trip to Europe(questions, not exciting)

[Gunitsoldier]

Come through Belgium, you can stay in mah villa *DATASS*

[Talragan]

I spent 6 months 2 times in Germany mainly, but also around Europe and general.

- Youth hostels as stated above are cheap and easy accommodation. But make sure you keep an eye on your valuables.

- Trains are a good way to go alot of the time as can usually get a pass that will last you all day to wherever, as well as discounts (at least in germany) with the more people you have traveling with you. A good way to get dirt cheap tickets is to stand around a station and ask other backpacker looking people where they are going.

- I used RyanAir a few times. Really cheap and easy to book online.

- Dont get lost in amsterdam (not physically lost, but lost in a haze of pot filled coffee shops) I meant to stay there 2 days and ended up staying 2 weeks.


Those were first few things that came to mind. O and also, If going to berlin and plan to see cultural sites (eg. the many museums) you can get a 14 euros (i think) pass for 3 days to all the museums.

[Fooobos]

Best thing I can personally recommend to keep it as cheap as possible is RyanAir for air-travel, and checking out hostels. However, my general rule of thumb when looking for hostels at www.hostelworld.com is to sort by cleanliness rating, as opposed to price. 2 of my friends got bedbugs at 2 different hostels (one in spain, the other at dublin) because they wanted to keep it as cheap as possible. After cleanliness, check out the prices. Trust me on this, you don't want to suffer as my friends did with that bedbug bullshit.

For RyanAir, just make sure of 2 things:

1- Make reservations as early as possible. The sooner you make them (as in, weeks in anticipation, preferably a month or so) the cheaper. You'll end up paying just for the stupid taxes for travel. You can get one-way tickets for less than 10 dollars... Yes, it's retardedly cheap, I got a Stockholm-Berlin round-way trip for like 20 dollars.


2- Your luggage size has to have certain dimensions (and weight iirc), and they should be specified in their website. Inside the airports, you'll see some RyanAir luggage-testing-dimensions-thingy, where you can try and put your luggage in, and if it fits, you're good. Otherwise, they'll charge you a bitch-high price for having to check-in luggage. This is probably where RyanAir makes most of its money <.<. I'm not kidding, you'll pay like 30 euros or so for checking in a bag, and depending on its weight, it'll only go higher.

Another catch with RyanAir, is that it normally operates on secondary airports, not the main ones like Stockholm Arlanda, London Heathrow, etc. so consider this when travelling so you don't get lost on the way to the airport or hostel; have your to- and from- airport travelling well planned.

[Zoolander]

That sounds amazing. If you don't mind me asking, how much did that end up costing you? I'd love to take a similar trip but I can't even begin to fathom how much money I would need to save up.

We had a pretty agressive schedule really, but the trip was definitely awesome. That trip with everything(like every cost associated with this trip) was about $5000. Flight cost close to a thousand (we went during the busy travel time - late june - so not any good deals on flights out there), room averaged $30 a night x 42 days = $1260ish, Eurorail pass was $500 (we did like 4 days of travel within like 4 countries, something like that), all of the intereuropean flights didn't come out to a whole lot, maybe $250 for all of them (the Amsterdam - Dublin flight was like $100+, couldnt find a decent deal for a long time on that flight).

We spent a significant amount of money on beer - not bragging, just saying that if you weren't that into drinking, that would lower the price a bit. We spent more on food than we would have liked too, and by the time we realized we should be cooking most of our meals, the rest of the hostels we had booked all lacked a kitchen, so can save money there too. Could do that trip for $4000 or so I bet, although I EASILY could have also spent $6000 if I had the money - I spent all I had saved up lol.

[Komm Suesser Tod]

Funny, I'm planning a generic backpack through the States trip this summer and I could use some help there. Are rental cars really that expensive?

I checked some of the local rental companies locations, and they almost all have age restrictions, (25 and up) but they also didn't have anything less that about $160 a week for their cheapest car, and those aren't very good. Keep in mind, that was for March. In the summer they could be substantially more.

[richardd]

so crazy kap, lol

im going to norway and have absolutely no idea how to speak it or whatever i dont even know where to exchange currency or get some good plane tickets or where the good sights are. i dont wanna spend more than 2 grand overall and im only gonna be there for a week at a house that im not really paying for, but for the most part i have about 700 USD spending money since the flight is gonna be approx 1200~1300 which = 4.2k kr, but i heard everything is expensive as hell in oslo

im excited tho, europe, yuh son!

[Fuja]

Almost everyone in Norway speaks English, to varying degrees. Yes, it's expensive as hell here. When are you going to Oslo? Most banks have currency exhange, and of course there's the ATMs as well.

I know SAS flies out from the East Coast, you might wanna check their prices, but I'm doubtful it will be a direct flight to Oslo.

As to sightseeing, the castle, Tusenfryd (amusment park), Holmenkollen (ski jumping facility). I haven't been to Oslo proper in ages, so there is most likely some tourist spot I'm missing.

[richardd]

im staying with my gf over in Askim which is about 1 hour away from oslo, i think? we're already planning on taking trains everywhere we go. i want to go bar hopping and shit, but shes not really into it, but i will def spend my money conservatively ;p

how are the rates on currency exchange? trinidad was a bitch. my dad never got 100% of his money back lol

[Fuja]

Banks usually exhange at the current rate against a small fee. As for ATMs it can be cheaper, but that depends on your bank in Florida really. Drinks are really expensive, beer is around 12 dollars, but usually more expensive and drinks are around 16 dollars.

If you're planning to buy clothes or shoes, look up a size converter. Bring ID for when you're going out clubbing. Here most people just bring their CC as we have pics on it and it's counted as a valid ID, but I'm guessing you don't have that. Legal drinking age for alcohol up to 4,7% is 18, same with smoking. Legal age for vodka etc is 21. No smoking inside cafés, clubs and so on too.

[richardd]

Banks usually exhange at the current rate against a small fee. As for ATMs it can be cheaper, but that depends on your bank in Florida really. Drinks are really expensive, beer is around 12 dollars, but usually more expensive and drinks are around 16 dollars.

If you're planning to buy clothes or shoes, look up a size converter. Bring ID for when you're going out clubbing. Here most people just bring their CC as we have pics on it and it's counted as a valid ID, but I'm guessing you don't have that. Legal drinking age for alcohol up to 4,7% is 18, same with smoking. Legal age for vodka etc is 21. No smoking inside cafés, clubs and so on too.

where are the good places for couples spots? its kind of my turn to go see her now, so i need to be ready for it. im thinking i can take her to the theatre in oslo but she says that i would probably fall asleep or end up playing with my phone since i would get bored (she knows me so well) so she would rather hang out by the cinema. but i want to be mature this time around lol, so i can deal with it. and i want to take her to a nice restaurant where we have to actually dress up in sports coats and nice dresses to go to. she LOOVES that kind of thing, and i dont mind it once in a while. i can eat almost anything really. but she hates fish/sushi/or turkish food. can you make any recommendations? im really appreciating all your info btw nice guy

[Fuja]

I'm not a guy haha. But yeah, again haven't been to Oslo proper in years. Only been to the airport. You'd be better off asking someone who knows the area better. There should be a couple more people from Norway here on BG. Maybe some of them are from around Oslo.

[richardd]

I'm not a guy haha. But yeah, again haven't been to Oslo proper in years. Only been to the airport. You'd be better off asking someone who knows the area better. There should be a couple more people from Norway here on BG. Maybe some of them are from around Oslo.

oh sorry lol, nice woman*

but i meant anywhere around that area in general. tbh, if its not in oslo, its saving me more $

but idk if you've been to askim or whatever

[richardd]

oh, and it doesnt help the fact that im in FL and in the most stereotyped "stupid" country in the world. im in the opposite of norway, where my location is i asked someone the other day if they ever been there, and she asked if it was next to israel. its hard to get advice on this damn country lol

[Zoolander]

Well the fun thing about traveling and doing your own trip (for me anyways) is that you can do whatever you want whenever you want. I always really enjoyed just walking around the city the first day or two and figuring shit out as we went along. You don't need to really plans hit down to the day, and talking to locals is always a great way to find out where to hang out and which bars/areas are good to check out. Half the time we would walk around, see cool shit, say "Lets go there," and...go there. Worked out pretty well.

Scandinavia is so fucking expensive though lol, you are going to like the most expensive region in the damn world. Why only two weeks? Such an expensive plane ticket, should get more bang for your buck!

[Mayareira]

You traveller guys should start a thread with travel photos. I'd if I had trip scheduled :/

If nobody does I'll do it in Spring Break when I go to New Orleans and FL(maybe)...and Chicago(again, maybe maybe maybe) I have a hard on for trains...so...yeah...we'll see something on the Memphis - Orleans route !

[Fuja]

oh sorry lol, nice woman*

but i meant anywhere around that area in general. tbh, if its not in oslo, its saving me more $

but idk if you've been to askim or whatever

I'm from Northern Norway so I can't really help you unless you're coming up here. But yeah, you should def just take the train into Oslo and walk around the city center, it's easy to navigate there. If you or your woman is into reading sci-fi or fantasy there is this bookstore in a "mall" called Oslo S. It's where most trains stops, but it's full of shops on the upper level, and it's smack in the middle of the city center.

[Vigilia]

You traveller guys should start a thread with travel photos. I'd if I had trip scheduled :/

I didn't have a digital camera yet when I did most of my Europe touring so my photos are all old skool but my younger sis did and has a fuckload of her photos up here:
http://www.pixbox.se/usr_show_id15478_page0_order1.html

She went to most bigger cities around Europe over the years through college and early jobs, they're all arranged by city/country. I did most of the same places as she did minus Spain and Italy.

[510Meeze]

Hostelbookers.com is what I use for booking hostels. I'm a big fan of two Greek destinations for cheap partying, Pink Palace in Corfu (west side of greece) and Ios in the cyclades. PP is a resort for backpackers, 20-25 euro a night includes breakfast and dinner. They have basketball, quad rentals, jacuzzi (jizzcuzi), a beach and volleyball all on the premises. Oh, and it's pink. thepinkpalace.com

Ios is the backpackers Ibiza, most people stay at Francescos or Far Out (Far out has camping). Francescos is in the village so near all the parties, Far Out is cheaper and on the beach with wet tshirt contests during the day, but a pain to get home to at 6am after being in the village all night. They also have Harmony, the best Mexican food in Europe I would say.

The further east you go, the cheaper things get in Europe. Istanbul, Bucharest (Club Bavaria, you gotta see it), Prague etc.

In July/August Rimini in Italy kicks off, Barcelona is probably the most chilled out city you'll find. I would suggest going somewhere that loves soccer during world cup, when I was on Ios during world cup, it was nuts since everyone there was from a different part of the world.

Also for flights, skyscanner.com I wish I had flown when I went to europe, I spent too much on a train pass, and didnt end up using it a lot. Ryan air has shuttles at a lot of popular cities to and from the airport.

[Zoolander]

I'm from Northern Norway so I can't really help you unless you're coming up here. But yeah, you should def just take the train into Oslo and walk around the city center, it's easy to navigate there. If you or your woman is into reading sci-fi or fantasy there is this bookstore in a "mall" called Oslo S. It's where most trains stops, but it's full of shops on the upper level, and it's smack in the middle of the city center.

That is what I love about most/all of the European cities...all you gotta do is head to the city center and then walk around from there. Here in the U.S. it is definitely a lot tougher to move around on foot/utilize public transportation.

Meeze...I keep hearing you talk up that Pink Palace, I'm gunna have to go there whenever I make it out to Eastern Europe. I really wanna see Istanbul along with Greece and some of the other countries out there...damn it now I am thinking about the ridiculous number of cities I want to see/see again. I'm pretty well traveled, but all it does is make me want to travel more and more and see even more remote places around the world.

[Xno Kappa]

I have to disagree with the whole soccer bit. Europeans are freaking die-hard soccer fans, say the wrong thing and expect to get your ass whooped. I'd stay away lol.