Back from May-July European adventure!

[Lilise]

Below is my itinerary of my 7 week trip in Europe. I also provided the names of places where we stayed.



21-May Arrive Lisbon: Hotel Berna
22-May Lisbon
23-May Lagos: Angela's House (she was a lady we met at the train station in Tunes, Portugal)
24-May Lagos
25-May Lagos
26-May Seville: Hostel La Gloria
27-May Seville
28-May Madrid: Los Amigos Hostel
29-May overnight train from Madrid to Barcelona
30-May Barcelona: Kabul Youth Hostel
31-May Barcelona
1-Jun Montpellier, FR: HI Auberge de Jeunesse
2-Jun Nice: Hotel le Petit Louvre
3-Jun Nice
4-Jun Nice
5-Jun Interlaken: Balmer's
6-Jun Interlaken
7-Jun Interlaken
8-Jun Venice: Hotel Adua
9-Jun Salzburg: YoHo Hostel
10-Jun Salzburg
11-Jun Vienna:Wombat's Hostel
12-Jun Vienna
13-Jun Prague: Boathouse Hostel
14-Jun Prague
15-Jun Prague
16-Jun Munich: 4 U Munich
17-Jun Munich
18-Jun Berlin: Circus II Hostel
19-Jun Berlin
20-Jun Overnight train from Berlin to Brussels
21-Jun Brugges: Bauhaus Hostel
22-Jun Brugges
23-Jun Amsterdam; Flying Pig Palace
24-Jun Amsterdam
25-Jun Amsterdam
26-Jun London: The Generator
27-Jun London
28-Jun London
29-Jun London
30-Jun Dublin: Avalon House
1-Jul Doolin: Rainbow Hostel
2-Jul Killarney: Killarney Railway Hostel
3-Jul Dublin: Avalon House
4-Jul Dublin
5-Jul Dublin
6-Jul London: The Generator
7-Jul Fly home

My personal top three places:
1) Lagos, Portugal
2) Interlaken, Switzerland (GO CANYONING!!!!)
3) The west of Ireland

I also adored Prague
Best Hostels: Hostel La Gloria in Seville, Kabul in Barcelona, Wombat's in Vienna, Circus II in Berlin

Worst Hostels: Montpellier youth hostel

Tips & Advice:
1)Book Cinque Terre WAY ahead of time. The reason we went from Nice to Switzerland was because we called every accomodation in CT and there was NoOavailability. That being said, we were thrilled with Interlaked, Switzerland (and Balmer's Hostel), which wasn't on our original itinerary, but it would have been nice to have gone to CT.

2)Ireland was wonderful because we did a Shamrocker Tour (through http://www.radicaltravel.com). I would highly reccomend one of these tours (I also did the Haggis tour in Scotland a few years ago which was equally wonderful). It was affordable, the guides were awesome, and I saw places I wouldn't have seen if I planned it myself.

3) Ryan Air is fantastic: I went from London to Dublin for $14 US dollars! (I booked 3 weeks in advance)

4) If you go to Berlin, do a Brewer's walking tour. It is 10 hours long, but fun and fascinating

5) Last but not least...go with an open mind and don't expect to adhere to your itinerary at all!

I will try to post some pictures...but I have an old-school film camera, so I'll have to get out the old scanner.

I hope this is helpful!

[WillTravel]

Lilise, glad to see you enjoyed Brewer's walking tour also. It's such a great way to see a lot and learn the history of the place. I took both the Berlin and Potsdam one.

[LovinEurope]

Sounds like u had a good time:)
I just have one question. where do u look to find all these little tours that are worth while and not too expensive? Do u have to book them or just kinda show up and if u do have to book can u do it online? Sorry more than one question.

thanks muchly
Jaymi Dee

[Lilise]

Jaymi,

The Shamrocker Tour I had learned about when I booked my Haggis Tour (Soctland) a few years ago. Both tours operate under the same company. I booked the tour on-line before I left the states. Go to www.radicaltravel.com for more info. The Brewers Tour was advertised at our hostel in Berlin as well as in a few guidebooks, so I had a good feeling about it. I also did the Sound of Music Tour (it was about 5 hours) in Salzburg which was advertised at out hotel.

Also, for some more tours, you could always do a Google search to see what is out there. I know that Contiki runs tours that go anywhere from 4 days to 40 days. Also, I think STA travel does organized tours as well, but I haven't been on either, so unfortunately I cannot comment.

[LovinEurope]

awesome, thank you so much...i'll have to go look into that because i would like to do walking tours in the large cities i visit so i can learn more...i like learning new stuff and rather than reading it, i'd rather see it and have someone explain it:D