From: citrin@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Wayne Citrin)
Subject: Re: backpacking through Europe
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 18:19:25 GMT

In article <1d9847INNm13@gap.caltech.edu> keith@cco.caltech.edu (Keith Allan Schneider) writes:
>After I graduate from college (ie Summer, 1994), I am thinking about
>backpacking through Europe for at least two months or so.  Has anyone
>else done this?  If so, any preparation advice would be helpful.  I
>have seen books in the bookstore that offer such advice, but I though
>first-hand reports would be better.
>
>Specifically, I am wondering the following:
>
>How does one go about getting the cheapest air fares possible?  I would
>like to probably fly into Rome, and then out of London a few months 
>later (supposedly, most other tourist do the opposite, so I'd be
>avoiding the flow... plus, it is supposed to get rather hot down
>South late in the Summer).
>

As much as I don't like the Let's Go guidebooks for trip planning, they do
have a fair amount of information on cheap air tickets.  I would recommend
getting one of these books and following their advice.  Also, call a student
travel agency like Council Travel.  The type of ticket you're after (in one
city, out another) is called "open jaws" and is definitely available.

>Are Eurail passes the best way to travel?

Not necessarily.  It really depends on what type of travel you plan to do.
If you're going to do the grand tour, visit a lot of cities, and be on the
train (for long trips) every two or three days, it may well be a good idea.
If you're going to spend most of your time in places where train tickets are
expensive (Germany or Switzerland, for example), it may be a good idea.
If you're only going to make a few long-distance intercity trips, or are going
to spend lots of time in Italy or France (for example), where rail tickets
are cheaper, it may be better to buy individual tickets, or some of the
special national or regional passes or discount tickets that are available.
Determining this takes a bit of homework.  Come up with a tentative itinerary
and try to estimate the fares using information from the US offices of the
various European railroads, Rail Europe, national tourist offices, or travel
agencies.  Then make your decision.  If you're under 26, you might consider
the half-price tickets known as Transalpino or B.I.G.E.

>
>Are there adequate campgrounds, etc., all through Europe?  Any places
>to avoid (I'd rather camp than stay in hotels--probably much cheaper
>and more atmospheric)?
>

There are campgrounds, but they're generally not as frequent as in the US.
Also, camping often seems to mean trailer camping, not tent camping.
Also, campgrounds are generally outside the center of town, and often hard
to get to.  As far as camping outside campgrounds, some countries (some of
the Scandinavian countries, for instance) allow it, while in other countries
(Switzerland, for instance) it's forbidden (at least in the mountainous
backcountry areas).

If you want to travel on the cheap, I would suggest youth hostels.  They're
pretty "atmospheric".  So are the right hotels, for that matter.

Wayne

-----------
Wayne Citrin   citrin@soglio.colorado.edu   citrin@cs.colorado.edu
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU