Questions about shoes and sleeping bags!

[Emma]

I'm going backpacking starting 1st March. Our itinery looks like this:
March:Greece
April:Italy
May:Spain
May+June:France,Belgium,Holland (maybe Luxembourg).

We are planning on staying for longer periods of time in fewer places rather than staying a few days in each place and going to loads of different places. We aren't planning on doing much hiking or hill walking but we will be doing day trips to see sights around the towns we're staying. Anyway, What shoes should we bring? Are hiking boots really neccesary or will trainers and sandals be ok? What does everyone think?

Another question-going by the time of year we will be in each country do you think we'll need sleeping bags?  I'd rather not as they take up so much space but I will if I'm gonna freeze.  I heard that some hostels let you use/rent a blanket for the night.  I don't get cold that easily.

Emma

['Guest']

The hostels where i've been do not even allow sleeping bags.  You must use a "sleep sheet," which can be rented but you save cash in the long run by bringing your own & a pillow case (i always rent).  The hostels have always provided a pillow & blanket/covering to me with the overnight fee.  Unless you plan to camp, i'd suggest leaving the sleeping bag at home.  

For shoes, i've never brought boots.  But my european travels have mostly been urban.  If you want to go to night clubs, you may need nicer shoes to get in.  I've been turned away at a club here, in Dallas, for not wearing nice shoes!  

- d

[Cat]

I agree with 'me', skip the sleeping bag. Allmost all hostels provide blankets and sheets for free or you can rent. A cotton sleeping sack can be usefull. I would bring two pairs of shoes: hiking boots and sandals. Greece in march can be a bit chilly and Holland in may can be quite warm (although it is also likely to have rain showers and wind then). But still, this way you'll be prepared for all weather conditions.  

[snorkelman]

Forget the boots.  Make sure that you bring shoes that you have already broken in.  I don’t care how cute your brand new shoes are, if they are not broken in, don’t bring them.

I suggest teevas or berks and brown casual/dress shoes for guys (that way you can get in the discos/clubs)  Although I like comfortable crosstrainers, they are heavy and require you to bring more pairs of socks, and they will not grant you access to clubs. Even if you bring teevas or berks, still bring some socks because your feet will be cold sometimes.  The key is that shoes are heavy and the less weight that you bring, your back will thank you.

Personally, I like cross-trainers and given the time of the year that you will be there, it may be too cold for sandals, berks.  

Oh yea, bring some real cheap lightweight flipflops/shower shoes for the showers so you don’t get athlete’s foot in the hostels (when you leave the hostel, the shower shoes will be wet and you can place them on the outside of your backpack).  I opted for shower shoes and my friend just wore his teevas in the shower (and then they were wet for the rest of the day and squeaked).