Post by KimS on Jun 30, 2003 1:10:25 GMT -5
I got back from a five week tour of Western Europe last week. It was absolutely wonderful and I really want to thank all the people on this board for all the great advice and resources - couldn't have done it without you! I went on this trip by myself and was really nervous/scared about it, and it was hard for a week or so, but now I believe it is one of the best things (if not the best) I have ever done. Don't be scared to go alone! you meet so many interesting people and see such amazing beautiful sights.
Anyway, maybe I will just list my fave hostels and any out of the ordinary things I did, I ofcourse, saw all the regular touristy things.
I arrived in London and stayed at the Generator. If you are looking to meet friendly people and party, this hostel is great. The bar was so fun, i didn't even make it out to the city at night!. conveninet location near the tube station.
The flying pig palace in amsterdam was a great location, right across from a beautiful park and right by the best coffeeshops!
The YoHo hostel in Salzburg was great. Met wonderful friendly people and had a great atmosphere. Fun bar with smoking and non smoking areas. A fun, out of the ordinary thing to do at night is to go to the Augustiner Monastery Beer Hall, an actual monastery at the top of a hill. Also, if you happen to be a Sound of Music freak like me, take the tour, it is a bit expensive, but the bus takes you to beautiful mountain and lake regions.
Although my hostel wasn't that great looking, I have to mention Rome because it was my FAVORITE city. unbelievably beautiful and moving. I stayed at the Yellow Hostel, great staff, but could have been cleaner. i recommend taking a bottle of wine to one of the many piazzas at night and just people watch. my last night i sat on the steps in front of the Pantheon and had the greatest time.
IF you are tired of huge cities, there is a great little town in Tuscany , about a half hour or so from Siena, called Certaldo with an awesome hostel called the Fattoria Bisetti. An old italian villa with a gorgeous backyard complete with hammocks. Wine and pastas available for purchase.
In Florence I stayed at the most awesome place in the city, almost don't want to give the secret away but there is a campground called Campeggio Michelangelo that you can rent a two person tent in for very cheap (13 euros). This campground is located right next to the Piazzalle Michelangelo, a huge parking lot that overlooks the entire city - gorgeous views, and good exercise walking back from the city center.
In Paris I stayed at a nice hostel in the Latin Quarter (great lively area) called the Young and happy hostel. It is smaller than most i stayed in but clean and as usual, full of wonderful interesting people. I went to a jazz festival in a park outside of town one day and also day tripped to Versailles - beautiful and extensive gardens.
I can't believe my trip is over. it went by so fast, though there were times when i felt like I had been away for months instead of weeks. I can't emphasize enough how much i enjoyed traveling alone, you meet so many people and get to control your own destiny so to speak. I am definitely a travel fan and will be gone again, as soon as I earn enough money =).
"DO NOT TRAVEL TO ESCAPE LIFE, BUT TRAVEL SO THAT LIFE DOES NOT ESCAPE YOU"
Anyway, maybe I will just list my fave hostels and any out of the ordinary things I did, I ofcourse, saw all the regular touristy things.
I arrived in London and stayed at the Generator. If you are looking to meet friendly people and party, this hostel is great. The bar was so fun, i didn't even make it out to the city at night!. conveninet location near the tube station.
The flying pig palace in amsterdam was a great location, right across from a beautiful park and right by the best coffeeshops!
The YoHo hostel in Salzburg was great. Met wonderful friendly people and had a great atmosphere. Fun bar with smoking and non smoking areas. A fun, out of the ordinary thing to do at night is to go to the Augustiner Monastery Beer Hall, an actual monastery at the top of a hill. Also, if you happen to be a Sound of Music freak like me, take the tour, it is a bit expensive, but the bus takes you to beautiful mountain and lake regions.
Although my hostel wasn't that great looking, I have to mention Rome because it was my FAVORITE city. unbelievably beautiful and moving. I stayed at the Yellow Hostel, great staff, but could have been cleaner. i recommend taking a bottle of wine to one of the many piazzas at night and just people watch. my last night i sat on the steps in front of the Pantheon and had the greatest time.
IF you are tired of huge cities, there is a great little town in Tuscany , about a half hour or so from Siena, called Certaldo with an awesome hostel called the Fattoria Bisetti. An old italian villa with a gorgeous backyard complete with hammocks. Wine and pastas available for purchase.
In Florence I stayed at the most awesome place in the city, almost don't want to give the secret away but there is a campground called Campeggio Michelangelo that you can rent a two person tent in for very cheap (13 euros). This campground is located right next to the Piazzalle Michelangelo, a huge parking lot that overlooks the entire city - gorgeous views, and good exercise walking back from the city center.
In Paris I stayed at a nice hostel in the Latin Quarter (great lively area) called the Young and happy hostel. It is smaller than most i stayed in but clean and as usual, full of wonderful interesting people. I went to a jazz festival in a park outside of town one day and also day tripped to Versailles - beautiful and extensive gardens.
I can't believe my trip is over. it went by so fast, though there were times when i felt like I had been away for months instead of weeks. I can't emphasize enough how much i enjoyed traveling alone, you meet so many people and get to control your own destiny so to speak. I am definitely a travel fan and will be gone again, as soon as I earn enough money =).
"DO NOT TRAVEL TO ESCAPE LIFE, BUT TRAVEL SO THAT LIFE DOES NOT ESCAPE YOU"