Time of Year?

[Izzy]

My friend and I are planning a backpacking trip for next year, but we're not sure about the timeframe we'd like to travel in. I like the idea of going in the off season so that it's less busy and the prices are lower. On the other hand it would be nice to be there in the summer and go to some beaches or something. Any suggestions? Is it worth the extra cost in the summer time? How much competition is there for hostel beds? What do you think the best months to go are?

[Jules80]

i went in september which is getting into the shoulder season so while there were tourists around it wasn't completely insane. we were in nice in mid september and hit the beaches for 2 days. it was about 25-27 deg C and perfect beach weather. i'm not sure how inviting the beaches would have been in october or anything tho...

Jules

[me]

shoulder season is the best time to go, imo. but, if you're interested in hitting the beach near the Russia/Norway border, it'd be a little cold.

in Faro at late March/early April time frame, there were sunbathers on the roof of the hostel. it depends where you go.

[izzy]

first of all, thanks for the replies. we were thinking of going from early march to late april, but since researching the average temps, rainfall, and such in those months we're thinking maybe more like may-june. the prices go up a bit, but it's such nice weather. also, we're not sure if we want to wait clear till next september what do you think?

[me]

as above, it depends where you go & what kinds of things you plan to do.

[izzy]

basically everywhere, haha....we're going from spain to the uk, to france, to amsterdam, to berlin, to italy, and to greece. anyway, i think i've narrowed it down to either this september-october or next may-june. it depends on whether i have the money saved up by september or not.

[me]

if a fall trip, start North. if a Spring trip, start South. this will minimize the bulky cold weather gear needed. so, you wouldn't need to carry as much stuff. (a heavy load gets old)

btw, is your boyfriend "Scratchy?"

[izzy]

That helps a lot.....and no, I do not have a scratchy boyfriend, just a hairy roommate

[me]

i like the Mahatma Gandhi quote. would the whole thing not fit?

"If we practice an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, soon the world will be blind and toothless."

[me]

i was confused: it's Itchy who's "friends" with Scratchy on the Simpsons.

Izzy is a nickname for Isadore. at least it is in "Julida," a song recorded by Brave Combo.

[izzy]

haha, yeah i was a little confused until i got the whole "itchy and scratchy" thing! in my case izzy is just an old family nickname.....when my kid sister was very young she couldn't pronounce my name, so she called me "sissy".....unfotunately, she couldn't really handle that either! so it just came out "izzy".

thank you for all of your help, starting in different places for different seasons was something i hadn't thought of before!

[me]

another technique is to not visit London <prolly the most expensive city> until after you've traveled and practiced your low cost travel skills.

[izzy]

That's a good idea....I've also found that flights into dublin are cheaper than flights into London. Also, I went to www.whichbudget.com and I found out that buying seperate tickets from Seattle to Boston and from Boston to Dublin is much cheaper.

[Jules80]

izzy said:

and I found out that buying seperate tickets from Seattle to Boston and from Boston to Dublin is much cheaper.

the only problem with that is if you're first flight is late well the second airline has no obligation to you. you're stuck cause you've missed your flight and you'd have to pay. whereas if you book straight through to dubling from seattle, if the first flight is late, they just put you on a another flight. you don't have to pay again.

[me]

this might work, Izzy, if you have friends or family in Boston whom you could visit a day or two before crossing the "pond." [this would give a significant buffer in case of a delayed transcontinental flight.]

otherwise, Jules is right on about the dangers.