BF2S Forums Traveling the world next summer... ideas/tips?

Don't bother with Sweden mate tbh

Well, I just found a way to get possibly $5-10K more. My mom said that if I really want to do this, when she sells our house she'll loan me the money and I can pay her back over time.

So now I'll have around $15-$18K.

Poseidon wrote:

Well, I just found a way to get possibly $5-10K more. My mom said that if I really want to do this, when she sells our house she'll loan me the money and I can pay her back over time.

So now I'll have around $15-$18K.

if you have 18k then do a proper world tour, Africa, Asia, the lot. spend 2 weeks max at a destination and should should be able to get it in your time scale

Beduin wrote:

Flecco wrote:

Amdi Peter wrote:

Why would you go to Scandinavia, without going to Denmark?

Because Denmark is a shithole?

gtfo m8 it is the pearl of Scandinavia

Amdi Peter wrote:

Flecco wrote:

Amdi Peter wrote:

Why would you go to Scandinavia, without going to Denmark?

Because Denmark is a shithole?

No.
Not bigger than Down Under, anyway.

Basically trolled k.

haffeysucks wrote:

all europe?  you can't call that traveling the world.

lol, for me it is.

I'll get to Australia, Japan and other far eastern countries later in life...but seeing as I'll only be 18, Europe will do for now.

I actually have an urge to do a walkabout John Locke style later in life.

JohnG@lt wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

haffeysucks wrote:

all europe?  you can't call that traveling the world.

lol, for me it is.

I'll get to Australia, Japan and other far eastern countries later in life...but seeing as I'll only be 18, Europe will do for now.

I actually have an urge to do a walkabout John Locke style later in life.

Read what I posted on the previous page

My friend from flight school who graduated (he was a senior in the first year program, I was a junior) goes there. He seems to like it but I don't really think it'd be for me. I might check it out though.

Poseidon wrote:

So, questions for Europeans and those who have traveled to Europe -

1) How much money should I expect to bring?

I can't really gauge how much you would need but it won't be cheap, especially given the current strength of the dollar and the living costs of some of the nations you mention. There are 'Europe on a shoestring' type books from Lonely Planet which might help. The European backpack circuit is well worn by many Americans and Australians - you may find you fall in with a group of travellers you meet in a particular hostel and end up travelling around with them, which can lead to economies if you go for group discounts, etc. The Inter-rail pass, which I think others mentioned, is probably the best bet cost-wise for cross-Europe transport. Ryanair is the cheapest airline in Europe but be warned that you WILL be treated like cattle by them.

Poseidon wrote:

2) Any safety tips?

1) Any stranger who strikes up a friendly conversation with you in the street is generally a scam artist. Entertain it if you like but always be vigilant. This rule does generally not apply in rural areas, in Irish pubs or in the more 'perfect' nations like Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, etc.
2) Do not take a taxi in Prague. Ever.
3) Read up on the national psyche, culture and politics of any nation you visit just prior to arriving (Lonely Planet is good). Upsetting the locals will not make for a good holiday and knowing something of their way of life and engaging in it will be more rewarding. Walking into West Belfast with a Union Jack t-shirt on will probably leave you needing hospital treatment for instance.
4) It can be very hard but try not to look like a tourist. Pull out your map in a secluded area, in a restaurant or an empty well-lit sidestreet if you must. Do NOT wear a baseball cap. Do NOT wear a 'fanny pack'.
5) Never ever trust anyone in a hostel. If there is a safety deposit box then use it. ALWAYS keep your passport on you at all times. Keep multiple photocopies of the more important pages of your passport in various locations. 
6) Put all important items (wallet, etc.) in your FRONT pockets only.
7) Spain is notorious for pickpockets, alas I too was a victim. Beware the Spanish.
8) Each major city has its bad areas that should be avoided. Suss them out online or in guidebooks before you go. The Dublin no-go areas for instance are most of the northside and the 'wild west'. 
9) Transport hubs like train and bus stations, and just outside them, are where tourists are most likely to get targetted by local malefactors.

I'll add more if I think of anything.

Poseidon wrote:

3) What are the best places to see? Nothing is off limits as long as I can take a train/car to get there.

If you can work it in try and catch the Oktoberfest in Munich and the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. Of the cities I've been to in Europe the top ten ranking is as follows:

1. Rome & The Holy See
2. Paris
3. Barcelona
4. Prague
5. Amsterdam
6. Moscow
7. Belgrade
8. Sarajevo
9. Munich
10. London

[Athens & Istanbul close contenders]

Poseidon wrote:

4) What's the best mode of transportation?

Interrailing, as mentioned. Ryanair to speed between two distant places where rail is a crap or non-existent option. Overnight buses can be handy too, especially in the Balkans.

Poseidon wrote:

5) For a traveling tourist, what are the best places to stay at?

Hostels are great for being in the know about the city you've just landed in, directing you to the best places to eat and drink and to offer the possibility of teaming up with other like-minded travellers. One danger is that the hostel route turns into one long drinking sesson/hangover and you end up seeing nothing. A night in a hotel every now and then just to keep your sanity is permitted.

Poseidon wrote:

6) How long should I spend in each place?

I was thinking:

UK/Ireland: 4 weeks
Czech Republic: 2 weeks
France: 1 week
Germany: 2 week
Netherlands/Amsterdam: 2 weeks
Italy: 3 weeks
Greece : 1 week
Sweden: 1 week
Norway: 1 week
Finland: 1 week
Spain: 1 week

Times could be extended obviously as June-January is quite a long time. Any other country recommendations are appreciated.

I would go like this:

Ireland: 1 week - Dublin (1/2 days), Glendalough, Galway & Connemara, Cliffs of Moher & The Burren,  Ring of Kerry (with some surfing), West Cork, Giant's Causeway, Belfast

- Ryanair to London Stansted -

UK: 2 weeks - London (3/4 days), Oxford or Cambridge, Bath & Stonehenge, York or Lincoln, Hadrian's Wall, Edinburgh, Loch Ness & The Scottish Highlands

- Ryanair to Paris Beavais or Eurostar from Waterloo -

France/Switzerland: 3 weeks - Paris (3/4 days) plus visit to Versailles, Normandy beaches & Mont Saint Michel, Chartre, Lyon, skip into Geneva, Switzerland for some Alpine scenery, go coastal: Avignon - Marseilles - Cannes - Nice - Monte Carlo

(if you're into wine you should probably also visit Bordeaux)

- Cross into Italy -

Italy: 2 weeks - Cinque Terre, Milan (1 day, apparently it ain't great but obviously has some interesting stuff), Florence plus day trip to Pisa, Rome/Vatican (3/4 days), Pompeii (Naples), Venice

- Boat to Dubrovnik -

Balkans: 1.5 weeks - Dubrovnik, Croatia (1/2 days); bus to Kotor, Montenegro (1 day); overnight train to Belgrade, Serbia (2/3 days); bus to Sarajevo, Bosnia (2/3 days); bus to Mostar, Bosnia (day or less if possible); bus to Dubrovnik

- Flight/Bus/Train to Athens -

Greece: 2 weeks - Athens (2 days), optional: Oracle at Delphi, cruise boat or ferry from Piraeus (Athenian suburb) to the Greek Islands, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete.

NB: Avoid Mykonos.

- Fly to Amsterdam -

Netherlands/Germany/Poland/Hungary/Austria/Czech Republic: 4 weeks - Amsterdam, Netherlands (3/4 days including cycling trip into countrside) train to Berlin, Germany (2/3 days); train to Krakow, Poland (2 days plus day trip to Auschwitz); train to Budapest, Hungary (2 days);  train to Vienna, Austria (2/3 days); train to Prague, Czech Republic (3/4 days); train to Munich, Germany (hub for a week with trips to Dachau, Schloss Neuschwanstein, the Eagle's Nest, Salzburg (Austria), Rothenburg & Nuremberg

- Fly to Barcelona -

Spain/Portugal: 2.5 weeks - Barcelona (3 days), attempt to latch onto the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (non-pilgrams are welcome) hitting Pamplona, San Sebastian and Bilbao on the way, train to Madrid (2 days), train to Granada to visit the Alhambra (2 days), train to Seville (2/3 days and take in a bullfight), train to Lisbon (3 days). 

- Jet pack back to America -

Ideally you would get a trip around Scandinavia, hit St. Petersburg and Moscow and work in Istanbul but I think that would be too much to bite off in one trip.

Honestly man, Norway is boring as fuck. Really fuck all to see here, it'd be a waste of a week

Last edited by Jenspm (2009-10-06 13:46:21)

CameronPoe wrote:

Jenspm wrote:

Honestly man, Norway is boring as fuck. Really fuck all to see here, it'd be a waste of a week

It ain't riveting but it is pretty cool. A trip during winter time to Oslo and then on up to see the Northern Lights in the isolation of the arctic circle is a unique experience. The only problem is that it is fucking extortionate beyond belief. €12 for a fucking pint of beer is just not playing fair.

Yeah, a minor brainfart from me there actually.

Correction: Oslo is boring as fuck. There is some fantastic scenery other places (fjords, valleys, mountains, etc).


Poseidon, I can reccomend you a one-day hiking trip if you want. It's really worth it, out on the west coast of Norway. I did it this summer

let me know if you come to finland

Vilham wrote:

ghettoperson wrote:

Vilham wrote:

You mean 3k just for the train ticket right. Coz that is about how expensive it would be. Cost me £150 for a 2 week zone 3 pass. He would need a 19 week all zone pass.

16 days in eastern europe cost me about £1000 and that was with us planning it out months in advance staying in the cheapest places we could find.

360 quid for a month pass through all countries. So a little over a grand for 3 months, depending how long he actually ends up doing it. Hostels are 15-20 euros per night, depending on where you are.

360 quid pass if ur under 18. I presume he wont be. Its 545 quid for a month otherwise. Quite a difference. He could get a none continuous one. But that limits your traveling options alot.

hostels were 20-30 euros in eastern europe. So i highly doubt they will be that cheap in western europe. going at the 20 scale thats still 2500 euros for 19 weeks. Add on the train. Add on flights. Add on eating and social stuff.

He is NOT going to do this for 3k.

Says the cheap pass is for under 25's. I've stayed in a few hostels in France and they've always been about 20 euros per night, although I can appreciate that can change depending on where you are. Most of his costs are going to be hotels though. I was talking more travel and accomodation for 3k, sorry if I gave off the wrong impression. The rest doesn't add up to that much though, you can fly from the majority of large Eastern airports in the US to basically anywhere in Europe for 600 euros or so.

you can see the northern lights in canada.

Oh and Pos, I'll buy you a hooker if you come see me in Amsterdam.