My two European backpack trip completely gonglue-ready articles

Sequence

Twice in Europe backpacking, first time in September 2003 to February 2004, at that time in music Vienna did a half-year of exchange students, during which went to the United Kingdom and in the southwest of Germany, Austria and other cities.

The second is the lapse of one year after graduation trip with mascarpone to Europe once again set foot on this continent, started 26 days backpack trip. In the meantime through France, Italy, Norway, Austria and Switzerland in five countries in 14 cities. Two experiences vary. The first time since lived in Vienna, so it gives me the opportunity to experience this beautiful city of everyday life, it let me learn a backpacking in Europe. It can be said without first student life will never get a second trip to Europe. And the second from tickets to journeys to provide accommodation are plotted yourself, so there is a sense of achievement. And now, maybe it won't be like as a student, live backpacking hostels, gnawing sliced bread, so the experience was extremely valuable. Then use the forums to ctrip twice experience writing to share with you, or you would like to tell the time, the economy is also passable friends (especially students friends) may wish to go out on a long journey day at a time. That kind of backpack travel will make you feel in love after a number of years.

Before you start

First of all I would roughly think I'm going to the country, the best is nearby, as this buy European train-tail (Rail Pass) is more cost-effective.

Of course since all went to Europe, if there is any country would like to go, whatever the distance, or you want to go.

About the country you want to go, I am going to read travel guide to determine if I need to go to the city.

Personal likes tourist guide is a Lonely Planet. It will be a detailed introduction to the city's attractions, transportation, accommodation, etc., is a very practical handbook. Unfortunately, Lonely Planet price, a Western Europe to sell more than US $ 20, if individual countries buy a more expensive. I was selected in the school library, and then extract the information I want. If you do not find it's Lonely Planet, you can go online to look for to go to the country's famous attractions. Typically each State's official tourism website has very detailed information. Web sites use Google search to find.

Determine the destination, you can design a map routes operated.

If during this period purchased air tickets that can be compared to determine the travel start and end points, on the arrangements for the routes will be helpful. My second trip to Europe before have U.A.E. air ticket sales, from Singapore and from Paris ticket as long as the $ 880 (-4400 Yuan, including tax), so they bought tickets, but also forced me to Paris only design for start and end points of the route. After all other aspects of the consideration (such as train time, European inland flights, accommodation, etc.), identified the following route: Paris (Paris)-Rome (Rome)-Venice (Venice)-Milan (Milan)-Oslo (Oslo)-worth (Voss)-Franco (Flam) – Milan (Milan)-Vienna (Vienna)-Zurich (Zurich)-Lucerne (Lucern)-Yan at Interlaken (Interlaken)-Laut dobron tender (Lauterbrunnen)-Geneva (Geneva)-Grenoble (Grenoble)-Paris (Paris)

The next preparations can roughly be divided into the following categories:

Visa: I because people in Singapore, visa is relatively simple, in China's friends may want to prepare early for visa matters, but believe the tourist visa is relatively easy, steps should also be similar.

Basically to go to Western Europe, only need a Schengen visa just fine (ESV visa is European harmonization between 15 countries, including Austria, visa in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. In the 15 countries can freely, no border checks). Schengen visa should go to the main tourist destinations of the Embassy to check, if there is no major destinations, you can go to the first destination of the Embassy. If you have friends in that country have 6 months of residence permit, you can request an invitation to come to your friends to visit a friend for a visa on the grounds of (specific file depending on national requirements and availability), this can save a lot of trouble. Otherwise, it is necessary to show a return ticket, accommodation order, bank deposits and other materials to do a tourist visa.

Transport: the European train traffic is very convenient, but not cheap train tickets, short range of approximately 20 euros for the night train valuable to 100 euros.

A lot of people take to save money is to buy Eurail Pass (rather then train-tail). A Eurail Pass Eurail Pass, Eurail Pass Eurail Selectpass, Flexi, Eurail Regional Pass and Eurail National Pass 5 categories (price from 1700 to dozens of u.s. dollars). Each of the categories below and have a lot of variety, which is right for you depends on your specific situation. I then selected is 2 months, 6 days, 4 hours by train to Eurail Selectpass from Youth, a total of 304 USD (relatively cheap one). Eurail Selectpass can only be used in an adjacent country travel, I selected four neighboring countries are France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland (which is why I say go to adjacent countries in selected train-tail comparison effective reason when). It is because of my Youth is less than the 26-year-old, thisSample fares with 35% discount. 6 day refers to the number of days by train, not the number of times. If a day on more than one train only spent 6 days in one day. In addition if you are sat 19: 00 after a late the next morning to only be spent the second day, a day trip, rather than two days. I bought the average down Pass every day by train prices 50.7 (304/6 = 50.7) US dollars (about 40 euro), so I will be sitting for long distance trains Pass is only available in a short time to buy a normal ticket. Eurail Pass can be bought online at Eurail or to Beijing or Shanghai to buy the grief travel agency. More information on the Eurail Pass can be found online at Eurail. (http://eurail.lwb-online.info/index.php?view=cms_728)

Buy Eurail Pass will be sent when a European country of train schedule 18, will be very useful for their journeys.

In addition, the official website of the railways in Germany (http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en) are very good you can query the whole European railway timetables, even half-way to interchange, departure and arrival times are clearly listed. Other national railway website also typically have detailed national railway timetables and prices.

If you have remote tourism in Europe (for example, like I have to go from Italy Norway), consider sitting cheap airlines, quicker and cheaper.

RyanAir (http://www.ryanair.com/site/en/) is very good for a low-cost airlines in Europe is the most popular. I had bought from Milan to Oslo's ticket is about 20 euros, with luck you can buy a cheaper. However it is worth noting that ticket to get in, online, the price of the different departure date is not the same, so it is recommended that you get tickets to determine other trips. Another point is usually RyanAir airports are relatively suburbs, prior to first figure out how to get to the airport.

Accommodation: backpack trip will certainly not hold advanced hotel.

In Europe, youth hostels and economic hostels still very much (prices are mostly in 15-25 Euro/night). Many hostels are Hostelling International (China's website is http://www.yhachina.com/) of the international chain organizations. This accommodation can it direct booking on the site (to use a credit card online prepaid 5% down payment). To note is that these youth hostels to Hostelling International member application, an annual fee is 70 RMB or in live in hostels is to spend about 3 Euro/night and buy stamps. Set of six sheets of printing also can become a member. I personally find hostels in General is very good, a lot of rooms have a shower, including breakfast (in particular Germany's very good), but Italy seems to be an exception. Another very good book accommodation place is the Hostelworld (http://www.chinese.hostelworld.com/index.php), here not only the youth hostel, there are many economic hotel. Select the range than the Hostelling International. Also the hotel rating for comparison. Yudingjin is 10%, each scheduled 2 USD service charge, but if you spend $ 10 to purchase the gold card can be used in a year without charges. I am personally looking for accommodation of time usually is dominated by Hostelworld to Hostelling International supplement.

To do this, we are almost ready to start.

Next I'll gonglue detail my experience in the States.