|
|
Post by alphamoth on Mar 21, 2008 2:57:44 GMT -5
Hi all, I want to try and get to Germany before New Years 2008 (want to be in a friends town in blackenhain that i met here before then), but just after is ok too I don't think I have enough money.. I'm 17( 18 in may) and working my ass off to try and save for this trip. I think by December I'll have around 12k-19k Australian dollars(hopefully), depending on how much work I get, I do cash in hand so there is no taxes and I have my money in a super savings account which I can't touch till December...so hopefully I'll have enough to have a comfortable trip. Want to spend as much time possible there with what money i got
I only want to visit Germany, staying in jugendherberge mostly(hostelling international membership) and eating average to cheap ass, no restaurants or anything, cheap as possible. The question I'd like to know now is around how much do you think it will cost me to stay for 6-12 months(and how much each day of staying will cost me daily), I'll have a couple of free weeks for accommodation/food but don't count that. I want to see the main cities, of course, but I'd rather stay outside of them so it's less expensive. I'm sorting my passport out right now, I have no idea what else I need, like insurance, etc... but i'll research that later.
I don't think I want to see everything, I'll stay in certain places as long as I can so I don't spend to much on travel, I can speak enough German to get around, main reason I want to go is to improve it, and to see friends I've made there. Oh,and I'm probably traveling alone, unless I meet other travelers there.
That's the only questions I have for now, I may have some later, but that is it for now.
I'm really excited because of this, so i'm trying to get as much info as possible.
Also, can someone recommend me a good travel book for Germany?
|
|
|
|
Post by Eagle on Mar 21, 2008 13:29:08 GMT -5
alphamoth, Welcome! A few initial comments regarging your questions.....
First, I'm not sure that Aud$19K will be enough for 6-12 months of travel? That amount converts to about €11K. If my math is correct, for a trip of 12 months (~360 days) that would allow only €30 per day, which is not much! Even on the basis of a 6 month trip (~180 days), even €60 is not an adequate daily amount. Also, I'm assuming that your air fare and rail travel expenses will be paid out of your total travel budget?
The next point that stands out is the duration of your trip. According to the Schengen rules, non-EU residents can only remain in the Schengen zone for a maximum of three months (I've heard that extensions are very rarely, if ever granted). AFAIK Germany is one of the Schengen countries, so that might be a problem. There may be legal ways to get an exemption, but I'd have to do some checking. Hopefully one of our other members here has more specific information on that?
Regarding "good travel books for Germany", you could check Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, Let's Go or others. Everyone seems to have their favourites. The Rick Steves books provide very good and very comprehensive information for the locations that he travels in, however they don't have details for all of Germany. The Lonely Planet books cover a wider range of locations, and are probably aimed more at the "young Backpacker" market. Check your local Bookstores or Library to see which books seems most appropriate for you. Again, I'm sure one of the others here will have some good advice.
Insurance is definitely important for travel in Europe, so you might want to speak with a travel agent or insurance broker about that (I've never been to Australia, so don't know which agency would be best?). Medical insurance is the main consideration, but some people feel it's important to also have trip cancellation, baggage insurance, etc. The travel agent (or whatever) would be best to explain which options would be most important in your situation. If you're travelling with expensive kit (ie: Camera gear or whatever), you might want to consider a specific rider for that?
As this is your first trip (at least that's the impression I got from your Post), I'd recommend reading the Guidebook Europe Through The Back Door. It's an essential pre-read for those travelling to Europe, especially for the first time. It covers a lot of different points, and one of the most important will be rail skills.
December isn't the best time to travel in Europe, but I suppose each season has it's attractions.
Good luck with your planning!
|
|
|
|
Post by alphamoth on Mar 21, 2008 17:40:39 GMT -5
Hi, thanks for answering my questions. I said between 6-12 months because I wasn't sure how long my money would last me...if 60 euros a day(I don't think I'll be spending that much money a day) is too little for 6 months, then I'll probably stay for a shorter time...I don't really want to do all the touristy things.. most of the time just live. I'm aware of the schengen rule, I'm still looking into that...can I get a visa or even a work visa? How long would that allow me to stay? I have no ties in Australia, and I am really considering moving to there... www.germanembassy.org.au/en/welcome/visa/long_term_visa_merkblatt.pdfH According to this, if I want to stay for more then 3 months, I can apply for this after I enter Germany? The time of year when I leave isn't a problem for me, main reasons I want to go is to see friends, improve my German and see some sites, not necessarily the ones I have to pay to see  just the main ones, don't care about the rest. Ok I admit the main reason I am going at that time of year is for a girl, but the weather isn't going to bother me, I live in Australia... the sun doesn't impress me much anymore, I want to see Germany in the snow! For rail passes, etc...The money I mentioned above is from work, I'll be saving my birthdays and Christmas money for that, and I'm pretty sure I get a 2k inheritance when I'm 18. I won't need as many as the average backpacker, I want to stay in certain places for as long as possible. I don't want to have a set plan, maybe just the first few weeks, but I want to choose what I want to do. I'll be definitely looking into insurance... but I'm not near that point yet... just trying to organize things with money, and how long I can stay. I'll check out those books, I have a lot of time to read them, so the more I know the better. I'm very excited for the trip, so I have a lot to research. When I am 18 I might go out to near the mines and work there for free accommodation and food and a lot more money, in 5 months I can get around 20-30k, depending on my situation, I think I'll go out there. I'll have some more questions later, that's it for now... I have to get a bus now, I love working on public holidays..  Also, I want to order a book today, is Europe Through The Back Door a good book just to read through? |
|
|
|
Post by Eagle on Mar 22, 2008 21:59:21 GMT -5
alphamoth, thanks for the clarification on a few points.
That explains a lot! I hope it all works out for you.
Just curious, no family left in Australia?
Regarding your "daily allowance), depending on which Hostel you select, you might be paying Eu$35 per night for a bed. Add about Eu$20 per day for food, and that doesn't allow much for additional expenses. You might be able to get by with less than that for the food allowance, depending on your eating habits? Although you plan to stay in one location for a while, you'll also have to allow for some rail trips.
It's great that you have an opportunity to travel in Germany to study the language! I'm working on Italian at the moment, but with "work" committments I don't have the ability to study in Italy at the present time.
I also don't mind working on public holidays. The extra pay isn't much, but every little bit helps.
Cheers!
|
|
|
|
Post by alphamoth on Mar 22, 2008 22:23:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply.
Most of my family are now in Australia, but I have nothing holding me back besides that...Hopefully that won't change...
My eating habits are good, I can survive on very little food, if my mum is at work and there is nothing to eat usually I just eat 2 minute noodles or buy a chicken and bread and that lasts me awhile....food is just a tool to me, so I think surviving on something filling and cheap everyday won't bother me. My family might support me every few weeks by putting some money in my account for a bit better food if I need it. Haha, I think I'm going to get some very odd looks at by the Germans staying in the hostels from the ways I'll make my food. The girl I was talking about stayed at my house for awhile just a few weeks ago, I put some fried chips on a sandwich and she thought it was very odd...I thought something like that was normal, at least here it is! Here you can make a sandwich out of anything ;D
I've been looking at the jugendherberge hosteling site in the main places I want to stay, just the cities... Not sure of the other places I want to stay, the average price is 18-20 euros... is that good?
I would like to order the Europe Through The Back Door book today, is there any recommendations against it? Later I'll get one specifically on Germany when I find a good one.
What are the average temperatures in Germany during January? I know I'm going to freeze my ass off, but I am really looking forward to seeing forests and lakes in snow weather.
|
|
|
|
Post by alphamoth on Mar 30, 2008 19:06:26 GMT -5
Hi again.
Does anyone recommend couchsurfing? I'm seriously considering to do this a lot to save money, anyone else here tried it?
|
|
|
|
Post by madamtrashheap on Mar 31, 2008 2:14:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by alphamoth on Mar 31, 2008 2:58:41 GMT -5
Hey, thanks.. I already saw those when I searched couch surfing on here earlier. Was just wondering if anyone here has done it themselves. I'm aware of the risk, and I'm willing to take it... I don't think I will get harmed from trying it, hey there is a chance... but it can't be that bad, I know someone here that has done it and he said he had no problems.
The more money I save would be great, I want to get tattoos added to a sleeve from all around Germany, so if I can do a lot of couchsurfing that would allow me to get that.
Update: I think I will only stay for 3 months, I just hope that is enough to attain the fluency I want in the language and to see some things. If I change my mind I'll need to apply for a VISA, but I think I'll be happy with that. I think if I have enough money I'll fly over to London and do some site seeing in the places I want to see there and Scotland too. I'll have a lot of free accommodation because I have loads of family there... depending on how much money I can get before December, I think I'll have enough for 3 months in Germany.
|
|
|
|
Post by alphamoth on Apr 1, 2008 0:53:36 GMT -5
www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de/my mate from germany just recommended me this site, people offer or search for lifts to share fuel costs. She said her mate used this and he got a lift from dresden to munich for 15 euro or so
|
|
just the main ones, don't care about the rest. Ok I admit the main reason I am going at that time of year is for a girl, but the weather isn't going to bother me, I live in Australia... the sun doesn't impress me much anymore, I want to see Germany in the snow!
