First time backpacker in europe

[blackstar]

Planning on a 2010 summer trip to Europe from June and July. For a month my brother and I will be spending time with family in London, Brussels Amsterdam and Rotterdam. After that though I have a month to travel the rest of Europe. Would like to see Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Venice, Rome, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin. But I don't know if I will have the time. Nothing is set in stone so i can make many changes to cities and areas I will go. How much should I save (i have alot of time). Should stay in hostels and travel by rail, but if i find cheap airplane tickets that's fine with me to. Just wondering if i could get some general advice. thanks

[herrbert]

Hi Blackstar, I copied the cities you mentioned and will add the number of days I feel are about right to cover these cities. Of course a lot also depends on how much time you would like to spend with relatives/friends, and on you interests. (e.g. if you like art, you will spend more time in Madrid, than somebody who will not visit the Prado, Reina Sofia and the Thyssen museums.)

London (4 whole days & 1 for recovery)
Brussels (1-2 days) - think about adding Brugge, or maybe a daytrip from Brussels.
Amsterdam (3 days.)
Rotterdam (1-2 days.)
Paris (4-5 days - Versailles-daytrip?)
Madrid (4 days, incl. Toledo & Segovia daytrips)
Barcelona (3 days or 4 including daytrip to Dali museum)
Rome 4-5 days (Pompeii as daytrip?)
Venice 2 days
Vienna 3-4 days (Bratislava as a daytrip?)
Prague 3 days
Berlin 4 days

Think about some extra stops like Dresden in between Prague and Berlin. Also think about Florence. If you like to see Pompeii it's possible as a daytrip, but you can also opt for 2 or 3 nights in Sorrento, and take the trip from there, spending one other day on Capri or in Naples.

I would suggest flights for the travels from Paris to Madrid and from Barcelona to Rome.

As I filled it in it would a total of around the 40 days. Probably a bit more. The general feel here that you also need to calculate for a couple of travel days. So I think that adding other places would be too much.

I am not the money expert, as I have no overview on the costs of transatlantic flights, which always take up a lot of the budget. As for the rest my guess is that with about 60 euros (excluded a railpass/flights) to spend every day, you would be able to live pretty comfortable. (I am guessing that spending time with family also means having shelter and food?) - For me that breaks down to about 20-30 euros for the hostal, 10-20 for food and drink, and the rest for attractions and public transport in the cities it self (think metro/busses).

I always try to keep the costs for food low, by buying my stuff at a local supermarket, and if possible to prepare at the hostal (check if the have kitchen facilities if you like to do the same.) If you make a habbit out of eating in restaurants, calculate a bit more.

I am sure the other have some advices as well.

[blackstar]

wow thanks a lot herrbert

I made a few changes to my itinerary. You right flying from Paris to Madrid and Barcelona to Rome is probably my best option. I was looking up rail packages and wondering whether it would be smarter to buy one and if so which one.

[herrbert]

You could check railsaver.com and fill in the route you want to take, and they calculate the best option.

For europeans there are other passes, so I can't give you a good advice as it comes to passes. (and I usualy make shorter trips, with only limited traveltime, and therefor most of the time just buy p2p-tickets.)