Advice please

[Beaker]

Hi ,
I'm a Victoria girl planning a trip to Europe this September for 2-3 months depending on savings. I did have travell partners but it looks like its not going to work out  , so I'm thinking of going solo. The top priorities for me are Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal. I would also like to see Prague if I could fit it in. So here are my questions,

1. As a girl going alone would it be smart for me to hook up with a jump on/off service where I would have a better chance of meeting people? I’m looking at stray travel.

2. What kind of $$ am I looking at would $5000 be enough? I’m not a big party girl so I don't need to buget for that.

3. Is Spain worth it (I don’t know anyone who has been there), should I substitute in somewhere that I haven’t considered.

4. Any out of the way great places that anyone can suggest?

5. I know I’m a pain…any advice would be great, its my first time doing something like this.

Thanks for your help!!  ;D

[[e-mail]]

went to spain & portugal on my last europe trip.  It was beautiful there!  Only difficulty was language in Spain.  my Spainish is poor so it was hard to talk to folks.  

As Spainish is one of the worlds most widely spoken languages, the Spainish don't push languages in school.  But, i met almost no one in Portugal who didn't speak English.  <i only speak english & german well>  

Prague is also a nice place!  if you go there, Salzburg & Vienna aren't too far away.  Budapest is also nearby.  

Although i've never been, others tell me that Greek men can be hard on woman travelling alone.  Actually, not only have i never been there, i'm a guy.  i'm just passing along what others have said.  

Take two ATM cards, in case one gets demagnitised, or something.  use a secret pouch or something for them, credit cards and your passport.  ATMs are the best way to "take cash" with you.  it stays safely in your bank.  

be careful & have fun!

[wanderworthy]

SPAIN?  OOOOOOH YES, MAHYTE!!! I can see why there's so many expats in Spain. I can see why folks go just there every year. I spent a month wandering Portugal and Spain last year. I'm sure I didn't spend US$3000.
Spain goes all the way back to Neanderthal. In Antiquera there's the oldest Neolithic tomb in Europe. And magic Ronda goes all the way back to the Iron Age. Please go to Ronda! Stay at the Arunda 1 or 2 Hotel.
They are cheap and great.

Have a great trip.
THE SLOWER YA TRAVEL - THE MORE YA LEARN

IN ANTIQUERA THE HOTEL COLON IS A TRIP.

[azdesign]

Beaker said:

Hi ,
I'm a Victoria girl planning a trip to Europe this September for 2-3 months depending on savings. I did have travell partners but it looks like its not going to work out  , so I'm thinking of going solo. The top priorities for me are Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal. I would also like to see Prague if I could fit it in. So here are my questions,

1. As a girl going alone would it be smart for me to hook up with a jump on/off service where I would have a better chance of meeting people? I’m looking at stray travel.

2. What kind of $$ am I looking at would $5000 be enough? I’m not a big party girl so I don't need to buget for that.

3. Is Spain worth it (I don’t know anyone who has been there), should I substitute in somewhere that I haven’t considered.

4. Any out of the way great places that anyone can suggest?

5. I know I’m a pain…any advice would be great, its my first time doing something like this.

Thanks for your help!!  ;D

I'd actually like to know if $5000 is a good amount, I've got 9 months to pull it together at two jobs, living in the west end of vancouver. So we'll see how it turns out. This is money aside from the airplane and eurorail pass

[snorkelman]

First off, break your expenses into what you need to spend to leave your country and get to europe and then secondly what you will spend in europe.  After yoiu get to europe you will need about $40 - $60 per day.  assuming 2 1/2 months (75 days) at $40 per day, that is $3000 and the same time at $60/day is $4500.  So, you will do just fine if your expenses are IN EUROPE.  don't forget to add in the flight, eurail pass, passport, visas, backpack purchase cost, moneybelt purchase cost, student id, hostel card (if you think you really need it).

So, hope that clarifies things.  when people say they traveled in Europe on X dollars per day, that is the cost they paid per day in europe - not the amount of money that they needed for their whole trip.