Planning 50-day trip to Europe when done school

[simms]

Generally throwing it out there for anyone that can share experiences. I graduate in April and plan to fly out May 1 - Jun 18 to travel Europe for about 50 days, to be back in Jun 22 for convocation, then a few week long trips to the Dominican and Vegas with friends and family in late June/early July before starting work full time in mid-July.

Considering there has been talk about taking a year off to travel, is 50-days (plus a few week-long trips) before starting a full time job a good idea?

Your thoughts?

 

[DainBramaged]

PM Patt

 

[simms]

Any other advice?

 

[michaels]

Wow that must be nice to just drop life and go on a 50 day trip, lucky you.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Do not go to England.

 

[axelfox]

Yes.

 

[Cookie]

I highly recommend it.
As for advice... what parts of Europe do you want to see? East? West? Are you going for culture or scenery or pubs or beaches?

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Originally posted by: michaels
Wow that must be nice to just drop life and go on a 50 day trip, lucky you.

no kidding.. after i'm done with college i've got to find a job ASAP so I can start paying back student loans

DivideBYZero, why do you say don't go to England?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon

Originally posted by: michaels
Wow that must be nice to just drop life and go on a 50 day trip, lucky you.

no kidding.. after i'm done with college i've got to find a job ASAP so I can start paying back student loans

DivideBYZero, why do you say don't go to England?

I don't want to have to bump into yet another geek.

 

[davestar]

best thing you could possibly do. i travelled germany, france, italy, switzerland, and austria between graduation and the job.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Cookie
I highly recommend it.
As for advice... what parts of Europe do you want to see? East? West? Are you going for culture or scenery or pubs or beaches?

How come there is never a pubs/culture option :beer:

 

[JS80]

Sounds like fun (and expensive). Do it because you'll probably never have that opportunity again.

 

[Cookie]

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: Cookie
I highly recommend it.
As for advice... what parts of Europe do you want to see? East? West? Are you going for culture or scenery or pubs or beaches?

How come there is never a pubs/culture option :beer:

You can mix and match the options all you want. Or add new ones as you wish. Therefore, there IS a pubs/culture option. But you should get different advice if you are going to Europe to see Polish pubs then you would to see Spanish beaches.

 

[Cookie]

DP

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon

Originally posted by: michaels
Wow that must be nice to just drop life and go on a 50 day trip, lucky you.

no kidding.. after i'm done with college i've got to find a job ASAP so I can start paying back student loans

DivideBYZero, why do you say don't go to England?

50 days is going to be inconsequential. You get a 6 month grace period for loan interest anyway...

 

[zinfamous]

make sure your trip involves a train ride through Switzerland/Austria. Switzerland is a great place to visit too, just not as much of the cultural/art stuff you'd get in countries like Italy.
As for Italy: Venice-Florence-Rome. In that order. If you have some time, do a hike through the cinque terre in north western Tuscany. It will be packed wtih tourists during the summer...but it's Italy.

the South of France is a great place to relax in the summer. There is a large international fireworks festival in Cannes during the summer; but I think it's after the dates you allotted. France is great, but Parisians suck (most Americans' view of the French is mistaken for Parisians). If you get a chance, head into Czech Republic, Croatia, or some of the Greek Islands--the Cyclades [sic?]. If you want to hit Spain, and esp Barcelona (excuse me: <lisp>Barthelona<lisp> ), be sure to staple all your gear to your back and guard your asshole. Someone will try to steal your ******, and there's a good chance something far more devious could happen......

Get a Eurail pass. Under no circumstances, don't get into one of those "30 towns in 30 days" pre-paid student tours. They're totally worthless. You don't see a thing, and you're too rushed/hurried to have any real fun, or learn a damn thing. Best to pick a few spots and spend the majority of the time exploring the local environs....like spending a week or so in Florence, and making day trips from there to Siena, San Gimignano, Arezzo, etc.

 

[Cookie]

If you aren't going to stay in the same area the whole time, check out EasyJet and RyanAir. The sooner you book, the cheaper the flights. My cheapest of seven flights was 3 euros plus tax (20 euros) from Berlin to Krakow, booked 3 months in advance. MUCH better than the train in price, comfort and speed of travel (based on the train from Krakow to Prague a few days later). The downside is you don't see the countryside along the way.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon

Originally posted by: michaels
Wow that must be nice to just drop life and go on a 50 day trip, lucky you.

no kidding.. after i'm done with college i've got to find a job ASAP so I can start paying back student loans

DivideBYZero, why do you say don't go to England?

50 days is going to be inconsequential. You get a 6 month grace period for loan interest anyway...

50 days is going to be about $7k of pay (hopefully more).. Paying back $2k-$3k before interest kicks in would really help with my (large amount of) loans.

Back on topic though, OP if you can afford it, I say go for it

 

[Cookie]

This thread makes me want to take a couple months off work and go travelling again. It's been almost 2 years since I've gone on any extended overseas trips.

And for those who would complain they don't have the time or money, it is all about priorities. Most of you DO have the time and money, you just choose to spend it on other things. Computers, cars, beer, girls, gadgets, student loans, etc. If you REALLY want to quit your job and go travelling, it is not hard to do as long as you make it a priority.

OP, good luck, have fun. And go to Berlin.

 

[simms]

I have $11K liquid and another $5K in long term mutuals that I'd like to save and not use for this trip.
I have never been anywhere in Europe so I'd like to try everything - although I know it's not possible.
Cookie, which airline did you book with for a flight to only cost 20 euros?

I will take the advice for Italy and visit them in that order, as well as make stops in Austria and Switzerland.
Also I am a visible minority so people wouldn't think I'm from Canada much less the US - any advice on this matter (not like I can change it!)

 

[ElFenix]

a couple months rail pass might be better than getting cheap tickets on ryanair or other discount carriers. often the super cheap tickets are on odd days (tuesdays only) and airport taxes are ridiculous. plus you might have to reserve tickets well in advance, which isn't as conducive to adventure and spontaneity. pick up a lonely planet and stay at the places it recommends or insist on seeing the room they'd put you in if you're just finding places at random.

as you're in the area, you might want to check out morocco, tunisia, or turkey. i can't speak for the first two, but turkey is pretty nice.

 

[Cookie]

I booked all my flights with EasyJet.

Seeing everything in Europe in 50 days is not an option. Do you have any priorities, or specific reasons you are going, or things you want to see??

 

[simms]

Originally posted by: Cookie
I booked all my flights with EasyJet.

Seeing everything in Europe in 50 days is not an option. Do you have any priorities, or specific reasons you are going, or things you want to see??

To travel and see the world. No priorities, just a desire to see what there is to offer... the bigger cities would probably be an option but that's because I don't know enough about the smaller countries to head out of my way there.

 

[Cookie]

Bigger cities are going to be more expensive, but maybe easier to get to and from.
Prague, Paris, Berlin are popular choices. I'd recommend Slovenia, Croatia, Belgium, Poland. Mediterranean coastline if you want the beaches and sunshine. Normany, Belgium, Berlin for WWI and II history. Plus all the other suggestions in previous posts.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: Cookie
If you aren't going to stay in the same area the whole time, check out EasyJet and RyanAir. The sooner you book, the cheaper the flights. My cheapest of seven flights was 3 euros plus tax (20 euros) from Berlin to Krakow, booked 3 months in advance. MUCH better than the train in price, comfort and speed of travel (based on the train from Krakow to Prague a few days later). The downside is you don't see the countryside along the way.

The problem with that is that they fly into airports that are all the way in the sticks. You then have the buy a bus ticket that will take you into the main train/bus station in town and then go from there. Cheap way to travel, but you might pull your hair out if you've never experienced it before.