Europe in September/October

[lollylon]

I'm planning a backpacking trip for (hopefully) September/October. I wanted to do a full 2 months, but I think I may have to cut it down to about 5 or 6 weeks for my bank account's sake. I have a friend currently planning to go with me, but I'm not counting out the solo option just yet, as his plans could always change in the next few months.

I have a vague idea of an itinerary--I want to concentrate on Italy, the UK and Ireland--but I am definitely open to suggestions (especially on things like day trips, etc.). This is a rough outline so far:

Start in Rome, move north through Florence and Venice
Munich--I really want to be there during Oktoberfest, although I realize this probably means actually staying in a nearby city as the hostels will be filling up as I write
Prague?--I'd really like to get to Prague, but upon mapping it out, it's looking pretty out-of-the-way, since my next destination is...
Amsterdam
Bruges/Brussels?
London--Stonehenge is a must!
The rest of the UK/Ireland is pretty fuzzy yet--I'd like to hit a couple of spots like York and/or Bath, spend a few days in Edinburgh, bum around southern Ireland as much as I can.

Any thoughts/suggestions? My priority for Italy is the art, while my priority in Ireland is to experience the small town/local pub scene (tips for Ireland are especially welcome!). Places in between are sort of stops I feel like it would be ridiculous of me not to make, since I'm out that way anyway. I was in France for a few weeks 4 years ago, so I'm skipping that one altogether.

I'm currently budgeting myself at about $75/day, doing a combination of hostels and couchsurfing. Doable? I'm planning to read Europe Through the Back Door, which I've seen mentioned here several times, and hopefully that will answer a lot of my questions, but at the moment I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

Thanks in advance!

[Eagle]

lollylon,

First of all, welcome to the Boards!

I'll have a closer look at your proposed Itinerary in a day or so (it's a bit late at the moment).

Cheers!

[lollylon]

Thanks Eagle!

Just a quick update. Spoke with my friend tonight (we're currently planning this all via phone calls between Minnesota and Massachusetts), and he definitely wants to hit Germany and Austria, which puts Prague back into the mix as a 'definite possibility.' Apparently he has friends and relatives in 17 countries in Europe; it looks like I may be able to slash my hostel budget by quite a bit, freeing up a little money. (I don't yet know in which cities he has these connections, but he seems pretty certain that we'll be spending very little on sleeping arrangements.) The UK/Ireland is still going to be a top priority--Ireland for me, Scotland for him, with Wales thrown into the mix as well. Is Cardiff worth spending a few days in, or is there another town anyone might recommend? We want to do some 'touristy' things, but would love to get a taste for what local life is really like.

[Eagle]

lollylon,

I'll try to offer a few suggestions, in the same order as listed in your Post. You might want to check your local Library or Book Stores to browse through other Guidebooks (perhaps by the same author as Europe Through The Back Door). They will provide lots of ideas for touring, etc.

> Rome - that's a good place to start, but if you've never been there before there will probably be a bit of "culture shock" for the first day or two. Allow at least 5 days if possible as there's LOTS to see and do. If you're planning to visit the Borghese Gallery, reservations are compulsory.

Not stopping in Florence??? One of the greatest spots for Renaissance Art!

> Munich - a wonderful city! I'd suggest 3-4 days as there are some good day trips possible (Neuschwanstein Castle in Fussen or Dachau, for those interested in history). Have a look at www.radiustours.com for some ideas.

> Prague - It would be good to fit that in, if possible.

You might try to fit Berlin into the Itinerary between Prague and Amsterdam.

> Amsterdam - Two or three days should be sufficient.

> Belgium - Definitely two or three days in Bruges. You could spend one night in Brussels if you're really interested.

> London - I'd suggest at least 4-5 days for London, as there's an incredible number of things to see.

At the beginning of your trip to the U.K., you might go directly to Bath for a few days (one of the most beautiful cities in England IMHO). That's the best location for touring Stonehenge. Have a look at www.madmax.abel.co.uk/ for details on short tours. Since Stonehenge is a bit out of the way, taking a short day tour is about the easiest method. The least expensive way to get from London to Bath is via Coach (Bus). Check www.nationalexpress.co.uk for information.

After Bath, return to London for several days and then head to York (it's a nice intermediate stop on the way to Edinburgh, and a fascinating city with lots of history). Be sure to visit the famous York Minster, take one of the local walking tours and visit "The Shambles". The Railway Museum is awesome (if you're interested).

Edinburgh is another awesome city. The www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/ is located a short distance from the city.

I'd use one of the budget airlines from Edinburgh to Dublin. I haven't checked to see whether EasyJet flies that route but if not you can use RyanAir (although I shudder at the thought of suggesting that). If using the budget airlines, be sure to PACK LIGHT or you'll get nicked with expensive overweight baggage charges (RyanAir is about the worst for that!).

Wales IS worthwhile, but I don't have much information on it at the moment.

Spending a few days in Dublin is definitely worthwhile, as there's a lot of history there. You can tour the Guinness Storehouse, although that's a low priority. The Kilmainham Gaol is a very interesting site to visit, as is Dublin Castle. BE SURE to visit the Temple Bar district as it's incredible!

One of the towns that I enjoyed the most in Ireland was Dingle. It's a great "Pub Town", and there are often terrific local bands playing in the Pubs. The Gallarus Oratory and some other historic sites are close to Dingle. Kinsale is great and of course Galway if you're planning a trip to the Aran Islands (there is a Hostel on Inishmore, the largest of the islands). There are some interesting stops in the north also, in addition to Belfast. The area on the Antrim Coast has the Bushmills Distillery (nothing like a 16-year single malt Irish Whiskey for lunch!) as well as the Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle. However, without a car you'd need to look at day tours from Belfast.

IMO, US$75 per day is a bit "low", especially consdering the current exchange rates vs. the Euro and UK Pound. I'd try to increase that if possible to at least US$100 per day. The fact that you'll be able to stay with friends part of the time will help, however it's good to have a "cushion" for unexpected expenses.

If you're planning to use ATM's for cash, note that your funds must normally be in a Chequing account with a four-number PIN.

I assume you're flying home from Ireland?

Hopefully the others will have a few suggestions as well.

Good luck with your planning!