Back Packing Through Europe

Europe is one of the most popular places to travel to and back pack in. Why? Many assume that backpacking through Europe is a rite of passage. For others it is a fun way to visit some of the best hotels, get to know the locals and experience life in the old country.

Back packing through Europe is one of the cheapest ways to visit several countries in one trip. Usually people who backpack do so with the intention of working on a budget.

If you do decide to back pack through Europe, the good news is you really don't need to know what you are doing. One of the main reasons people enjoy this activity so much is it requires relatively little knowledge of Europe. Basically all you have to do is grab a map and a well packed sack and you are on your way.

The best time of the year to engage in backpacking is the summer. During this time most of Europe is open to tourists. The weather is nice and you'll have plenty of places to travel. Keep in mind if you do decide to back pack in the summer you will compete with tourists for stays in a hostel. You may also have to pay more. What exactly is a hostel? One of the biggest appeals of backpacking in Europe is the hostel. In simple terms it is a place to stay. A hostel, much like a hotel, provides a bed and a bathroom. But that is where the similarities end. In many cases you'll find yourself sharing a room with several people.

Winter is a good time to travel if you don't want to deal with crowds. Unfortunately many of the sites you'll want to see like museums and hostels may be closed or opened for shorter periods during the day. You may however get great rates on hotels and other boarding homes.

How long should you plan on traveling? This depends entirely on your goals. Most first time back packers travel through Europe for a good four weeks. This allows enough time for you to visit some major hot spots without getting too tied down. The costs of a backpacking trip for this period of time vary. Usually you will spend anywhere from $30 to $60 per day. Much of your expense comes from airfare to get to Europe and train passes. You can save money on airfare by booking your ticket several months in advance. There are also several discount ticket sellers online.

One thing important to have along with you at all times is proper identification. You'll need at the very minimum your passport. You may also want to carry a student ID if a student, which will afford you many discounts.

Packing Right For Your Trip

So how do you pack for a trip through Europe? It's not as difficult as you might think. Keep in mind while traveling on an extended trip like this it is essential you pack exactly the items you'll need. You don't want to carry too much, but you also don't want to end up carrying too little.

So how do you pack for a trip through Europe? It's not as difficult as you might think. Keep in mind while traveling on an extended trip like this it is essential you pack exactly the items you'll need. You don't want to carry too much, but you also don't want to end up carrying too little.

So what should you carry? First you will need to consider the weather you will encounter on your trip. You'll find the weather very different at the same time of year in different areas of Europe. The first thing you need to do is pack for each occasion. You'll need to have at the very minimum a sleeping bag or mat, tent, jacket, sweater, pair of pants, pair of shorts, swimsuit, hat, a couple of t-shirts, a button down shirt, 2-3 pair of underwear, open toed and closed toed shoes (one of each).

Here are some other items you may want to carry with you:

• Two different copies of your passport, located in different places
• Towel & Wash Cloth
• Canteen
• Compass
• Matches / Lighters
• Pocket knife
• Plastic bag for wet items
• Detergent

That's about it. You may consider a book or two, it's up to you. Remember the more you carry the heavier your bag will get. You want to make sure you don't tire out from carrying too much stuff around. Which is why you should be taking minimal clothing - the detergent is for rinsing out your clothes overnight. One thing you can do to gauge whether you pack too much is try your pack on for size. Pack it up then walk around town for a day. If you find you feel exhausted, you are probably carrying around too much. One other thing - forget modern amenities. You won't need a hairdryer or electric toothbrush when backpacking through foreign lands.

Now let's talk a minute about money. You should have traveler's checks with you at all times when back packing. Credit cards come in handy but keep in mind many places including hostels may not accept your credit card. If this is the case and you are short on cash, you'll find yourself scrambling about for much needed money. Another benefit of traveler's checks... you can get your money back if they are stolen (provided of course you keep track of your serial numbers).

Once you decide to back pack in Europe you'll want to take advantage of the Europass and Eurail Pass. These passes provide unlimited access to Europe's train system. You don't need to get both necessarily, but depending on where you want to go you'll want one. The Eurail pass covers more ground than the Europass, thus it is more expensive. The Europass is suitable for traveling to primary countries including Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and Spain. You can add two additional countries for an extra fee. Keep in mind when you buy your pass you have to use it within six months, so don't think about buying it a year in advance.

Back packing through Europe is not for the feint of heart. You'll find yourself hunkering down in noisy stations and hostels. You'll be staying in areas with little modern amenities and comforts. It's not like you are paying to stay at the Hilton. Be sure you are prepared for a rugged adventure in many ways just like real camping - not campground camping! If this sounds like fun to you, keep in mind it can be. All you need to do is set yourself up with the right pack and the right supplies, and you'll find you are on your way to the adventure of a lifetime.

What To See In Europe

What you see depends entirely on where you want to go. If you get the Eurorail pass your trip will be limited to certain countries. By no means however does that mean you will suffer. You can for example, visit Venice, Italy. You can move on to Athens, Greece to visit the Acropolis. Your travel may then take you to Paris, France. There are literally hundreds of attractions to see in each of the countries you visit.

What you should do is plan out your trip ahead of time. Make a list of all the countries you plan to visit. Once you do this, you can specify one or two places or towns that are "must see" when you visit the country. This will help you lay out an efficient and expedient route to get where you need to go while back packing.

One thing you might consider is enlisting the assistance of an experienced or inexperienced travel partner. Traveling with another is not only fun, it's safe. If you're lucky you can pair up with someone that knows something about Europe and speaks one or two languages you may not. Together you can travel the countryside in luxury, a virtual dynamic duo!

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