It doesn't have to be a dream. My Europe 2002
route map looks similar to yours.
To do it right, set aside at least two months and $3-4K. I think I averaged around $30/day on that trip, not including my free air travel (Delta connections) and half-off on my Eurail Pass (won a discount). As soon as you decide to go, buy your airplane tickets and Eurail pass as far in advance as possible. (I recommend
Expedia.com,
Orbitz.com, and
Travelocity.com for plane tickets. I've used several sites to buy my Eurail Pass, and I always pay about the same. Try
railpass.com.)
Consider going over to your local Barnes & Noble and looking through some travel books. I've found that I can do most of my research online, though. Two very essential sites:
Die Bahn and
Hostels.com. Even though Die Bahn's web site is geared towards Germany, I've found it useful for most Western European rail networks as well. You want to get a Eurail Pass that is valid for at least two months and gives you 10-15 days of flexible, non-consecutive travel.
Rick Steves' offers lots of good tips. Pack light! No more than two bags. I'd take one large hiking backpack and one, smaller backpack for day trips. Packing a few bathing suits is a good idea. They double as underwear and are easy to clean. Since you are traveling north of Switzerland, I would recommend some light but decent cold-weather gear. It got very cold up in Denmark and Sweden especially, even in July. This summer was hot for Europe, though, so you never know.
Of course, consider taking a friend with you, though I prefer traveling alone. It frees me to meet local people and blend in more. I also recommend spending at least 3-4 days at each major destination. Going rapidly from city to city, hostel to hostel REALLY takes its toll over time.
As far as money is concerned, forget about travelers' checks. Just use an ATM card. You'll get the best exchange rates possible. Try to start with $50-100 and around 200 Euros. You won't spend the American currency, but it's good to have just in case. Buy a money belt before you go. Make sure your passport is valid well after you return. Make photo copies of all important documents: passports, Eurail Pass, plane tickets, ATM/CC cards. Leave one set of copies at home and keep the other set with you in a location separate from the original documents. Buy a phone card when you get over to Europe. Also, the further east (Prague for example) and south (Greece for example) you go, the cheaper things will be. The opposite is true for the further west and north you go, especially Switzerland and Denmark.
As you can tell, I've done quite a lot of European travel. I've been doing it just about every summer since I was 15 in 1995 for 2-9 weeks at a time. I've traveled with friends, and I've traveled alone. I've met a lot of friends along the way, and what I've said here is pretty solid. I've spent lots of time in Greece, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, France, Denmark, and Sweden. In my opinion, the "Circle of Paradise" as I call it includes northern Italy, Austria, southern Germany, most of France, and Switzerland. If you love the heat/beach scene, I highly recommend the Greek and Spanish islands, Ibiza especially. The best 3-4 days of my trip occurred on Ibiza!
I also highly recommend you take a journal to write down your experiences and keep track of the names and e-mail addresses of the people you meet. You can make friends that will last a lifetime, and having friends in Europe NEVER hurts.
Also, don't forget that the majority of Europe does not like Americans at the moment. They are not violent, but they aren't always nice. You MUST try your best to learn a little bit of the language in each country you visit. Never assume that someone speaks English. Be polite and ask if they do before asking other questions. (This paragraph is more for the typically arrogant Americans I see. Everyone loves Canadians. If you don't put the Canadian flag on your backpack like many do, expect to be taken for an American. I know Canadians don't like that.)
Six-to-eight months by bike/train/hostel/camping is not impossible. But don't expect to bike all that time. Two very capable friends of mine made an attempt this summer and got bored/tired after 3-4 weeks. Besides, you don't see everything you can see while worrying about a bike all the time. Camping sites are just not really where it's at. As you plan to, stay in hostels while in cities.
I know all of what I've said may not apply to you, but it's solid info for anyone else thinking of doing the same.
Good luck and post lots of good PICS when you get back!
(Take a decent camera. If it doesn't take AA batteries, don't forget to buy your electrical converter kits BEFORE you leave North America! Film and batteries tend to be cheaper on this side of the pond. In 2002, I used a 35mm and hated it. I got MUCH better results taking my Canon PowerShot G2 this summer. Also, when packing such things as electronics, little ZipLock bags with a real zipper can do a world of good!)
Edit: A note on food. Drink only bottled water. To keep costs down, load up on food stuffs from local supermarkets, but go out to eat at least twice in each destination to taste the local specialties. Traveling with aspirin is a must. Cold medicine is also good, along with baby-wipes for hand cleaning when soap/sink is not available. Imodium is good for your stomach in case you eat something bad. Earplugs and a eye mask are also good ideas.
