Europe Trip
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slmkhoo:
My family just did a backpack holiday in Europe last summer - 2 adults, 2 teen girls. A piece of advice I have is to carry your passport and spare cash in a hidden pouch, leaving only enough for the day in your wallet or pockets. Travel light so you have your hands free - the more things you have on you, the more distracted you will be and the more likely to have your pockets picked. Be aware of people around you and be very alert when approached by strangers who ask for directions, ask for donations, tell you that there is something wrong with your bag/clothes etc - they may well be genuine, but there are a lot of pickpockets around, especially where tourists go. Always have your next destination hotel info on hand with phone nos, map etc, especially if you are arriving at night. If you are booking tickets online, make sure you know if you need to collect paper tickets, and when and where you need to go.
How did you back pack in Europe? By rail or car?
I'm keen in rail because I have done the by coach route. But not sure how feasible is it... -
I backpack once by rail. Its pretty simple actually. Plus not as much planning required since rail timing is quite fixed.
Another time by car (but that’s consider luxury travelling :p) -
sleepy:
Rail. It's really easy to get info and book online. I live in China and did all the rail and hotel bookings online, and even some tickets to sights. So different from my student days! We saw Paris, Lucerne, Venice, Florence and Rome over 2 weeks. Let me know if you want more info.slmkhoo:
My family just did a backpack holiday in Europe last summer - 2 adults, 2 teen girls. A piece of advice I have is to carry your passport and spare cash in a hidden pouch, leaving only enough for the day in your wallet or pockets. Travel light so you have your hands free - the more things you have on you, the more distracted you will be and the more likely to have your pockets picked. Be aware of people around you and be very alert when approached by strangers who ask for directions, ask for donations, tell you that there is something wrong with your bag/clothes etc - they may well be genuine, but there are a lot of pickpockets around, especially where tourists go. Always have your next destination hotel info on hand with phone nos, map etc, especially if you are arriving at night. If you are booking tickets online, make sure you know if you need to collect paper tickets, and when and where you need to go.
How did you back pack in Europe? By rail or car?
I'm keen in rail because I have done the by coach route. But not sure how feasible is it... -
Yes, I will be travelling by rail using eurostar and eurail from berlin to berne in Switzerland via budapest and croatia. Look pictures that seem very exciting. But recently Eurozone debt crisis seems to worsen in Italy when yesterday Mario Monti loss election, with Silver Belusconi winning with opposition against austerity measures. Don’t know if it will spread to Germany which is the largest economy there. But, euro keep falling. So going there is cheap now. Book Lufthansa for special offer in Natas. If anyone interested should buy euro now. Very cheap.
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A friend went to Greece at the height (or rather depths) of the early onset of crisis and found it alright. You may have to consider possibility that your train/flight may get delayed in event of strike. Otherwise, just the normal precautions should do - wear money belt, put passport in safe place (make photocopy and store elsewhere). Be aware of your surroundings (esp if you are travelling alone) - don’t walk into quiet alleys esp if you feel someone is tailing you (I got that before when in Paris and it was quite a distance until I shook him off by running into a deptal store).
Most importantly, have fun. -
Cheap is subjective. It is cheap only if compare to the past. Who knows what the future is, it maybe expensive compared to the future.
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kiasu_student:
Yes, I will be travelling by rail using eurostar and eurail from berlin to berne in Switzerland via budapest and croatia.
Wow! That's quite some distance that you are covering.
Do remember that Switzerland, Hungary and Croatia all do not use the euro! -
Best to go now that the Euro is cheaper compared to last time.
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I don’t know for how long you will be travelling and your stle of travel, but I can recommend for you to flight to England and buy a car from there- you can get really good deal for second hands cars, like Honda Civic’s for $300 pounds only etc. Then just buy a map and drive around Europe. It is the cheapest and most exciting way to explore Europe. From England you will need around two weeks to go through France, Spain, Sen Trope, Monaco, Greece, Italy (not in the same order). When you finish make your route plan you can book tickets in advance from you ending point back to Singapore.
Some not so known places like Bulgaria worth visiting, as the country offers amazing countryside and it is very cheap.
Europe is relatively safe, well you can’t be too safe almost anywhere in the world. Switzerland is one of the best places in Europe. The standart there is very high and I don’t think you will have any problems. Not sure about Ljubljana.
You should follow the simple tips and you should be ok: always carry your passport with you. Travel light. Don’t trust strangers and don’t take anyting from them. Some people may offer you something for free, but at the end they will rob you. Don’t buy anything from the street, you may end up with a box with rocks inside.
There are so many beautiful places around Europe and I hope you will enjoy your holiday. -
Foreigners can buy a car there? how much the insurance and road tax etc?
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