Backpacking trip in Europe

[Colt45]

9 days is nowhere near long enough.. save your money and go when you can afford to stay a while.

or go to east europe, that will stretch the cash a bit too.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Colt45
9 days is nowhere near long enough.. save your money and go when you can afford to stay a while.

or go to east europe, that will stretch the cash a bit too.

I disagree. That next chance may be 50 years down the road. Everyone needs to see themselves from the outside, to see a different world, so now is a perfect time, especially if he's never ventured outside the US before.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Legendary
You can't do a satisfying Europe in 9 days. Pick a country (or two) that interest(s) you (see the Italy promo above, I <3 Italy too so I couldn't say it any better, Switzerland is nice too) and explore it to the depths. I spent 2 weeks in just Italy and it was possibly the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. Wine + Food + Girls + Natural Beauty + Architectural Beauty + History = the win.
Spanish will help in Italy (I negotiated 150 euros off a present for my mom using broken Spanish + English) and most people speak some form of English anyway.
Italy is also a relative stone's throw away from many other interesting countries.

100% Agree! I would take 9 days in N. Italy (see above post) and let that be it. Still would only scratch the surface.

You can fly JFK direct to MXP for $900, departing October 1, coming back October 9. You can fly direct from JFK to ROM for $750. (Expedia.com)

Edit: You can start making your train plans here.

I would agree too. I did 9days for Milan, Venice, and Florence last November and it was awesome, great food, beautiful things, and lots of wine. Didn't even bother getting a pass for Italy, their trains are relatively cheap.

An imperfect trip taken is better than a perfect trip planned.

 

[jagec]

Nine DAYS? I did three months and it wasn't enough.

 

[chcarnage]

In nine days, I would go to a total of three cities in two countries. Of course it takes more time to "fully appreciate" a place but 72 hours for each isn't that bad (provided that you want to explore them a bit and are not here just for relaxing). Also, you'll want to get around a bit and spread the risk that you don't especially like a place (there is a ton of good places in Europe but preferences vary).

Anyway, I'd try to make it a 14 days trip, with a slower pace you still could comfortably go to four different places.

On the other hand, our replies here tend to propose a city tour and you might've thought about a more adventuresome vacation in terms of never sleeping twice at the same place... That's of course a possibility, too, but as a general rule requires a bit more prearrangement or money.

Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Switzerland are great destinations, Italy too... Italy and Germany are a bit cheaper for bread-and-butter products and except maybe in Italy (depending on your flexibility), English will do the job.

Make your decision based on internet/travel guide informations or on a gut level and drop me a PM if you plan to go to Switzerland and still remember this thread and if you like.

(The Canadian flag remarks are not meant to be taken seriosly, most Europeans aren't prejudiced against Americans and who should make sure that doesn't change if not travellers?)

 

[Rage187]

Aight heres what I did with 10 days


Fly to Heathrow, spend day 1 and 2 in london

Take a train to Hull on day 3 and get on the P&O Ferry to Europort in Rotterdam

This ferry trip is an overnight trip across the north sea, wake up on day 4 early and watch the sunrise on the deck of the ship

Catch the metro from Rotterdam centrum to Amsterdam centrum, about a 45minute train ride

Spend days 4, 5, 6, 7 here; smoke some pot, go see the Anne Frank house, I suggest not doing it in that order though or it will kill your high. Quite a few museums here as well
Don't forget the red light district!

Day 8 ride the train back to Rotterdam and explore downtown. This place rocks! It's about as diverse as you can get. Equal parts White\Black\Asian and everyone I ran into was amazingly nice, they love Americans and like to speak american english!
Catch the ferry that night back to Hull England

Day 9 catch the train back to London
Either catch a plane back home that night or the next morning.

 

[Horus]

In 9 days, you can see exactly 2 countries. That's it. That's even cutting a lot out.

Personally, I'd spend the whole 9 days in Rome...but I'm also a Roman History major