Looking For Advice And Travel Plan For Backpackers To European

hi i am new to this board and i 'm looking for advice and travel plan for backpackers to eastern Europe countries (for the very first time, I've never been to Europe )

First a little background about myself.

- 30-year-old man from Asia
- except mother tongue Asian languages, I could only speak and listen to English. I may not be able to understand any other European languages except clear English.
- I would like to travel to at least three European countries (or more) and I can travel for possibly 4 weeks. (1 month) because I have very very flexible job and unstable income.
- My budget is around EUR 1300 for 4 weeks, this does NOT include flights between my country and Europe, taxes, insurance, VISA costs or any other unpredictable expenses. Will it be too little??
- Cheap but good meals, accommodation, transportation, nothing fancy. I am not interested in eating
- Luckily, I am NOT interested in richer and more well-known European countries like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Holland so I will NOT go to those expensive places, but EXCEPT Germany, I always like Germany so I will possibly want to take it as one of my destinations
- I may want some night life . I don't mean expensive discos, women or prostitution, but sometimes i may like sitting down, reading the newspaper, nibbling a bowl of peanuts and having a drink or beer, unwinding from the hard day. Because of that , safer cities or countries are preferred. I've heard about that some eastern European countries are dangerous to travelers. My appearance is obviously non-local to any of the European countries
- I have two passports and one of them is a British passport (overseas), is a British passport an advantage or disadvantage to Eastern Europe?

According to my conditions and expectation, would anyone offer me any advice or suggestions?

Thank you.

 

Hello,

I can only speak for Germany. For a hotel room in major cities I've paid between 250 EUR a week (Berlin) and 250 EUR a night (Frankfurt). Look for hostels, they are usually cheaper, esp. if you don't bother to live with several strangers in a multi bed room. Or look for couch surfing. I've never done it, but I think it's a save and cheap way to get a bed, a shower and a local person who can show you the night live .

Pizza from a pizza joint costs about 5 to 10EUR, chips and sausage are sold for about 4 to 5EUR, sandwiches or small baguette are less then 5EUR. Restaurants are more expensive. I would buy bread, cold meat, cheese (if you eat cheese, of course and stuff from supermarkets and only buy warm food every other day or so. It's much cheaper that way.

Can't say much about Eastern Europe. I would think if you are in bigger cities you are more or less save and just carry the 'normal' risk. Don't go to too shabby areas, follow common sense and and your belly feelings.

Regards
Gyro

 

Hi Gyro, I know that there are different VAT taxes in many European countries for sales within European, and these taxes are usually high, e.g. 19% in Germany and 21%in Belgium I believe. When I am leaving Europe with the receipts, will I be able to have the sales taxes refunded in the airports?

 

Hello,

as far as I know the easiest way is to ask for a special form when you buy stuff, and with stuff I mean consumer goods, not your breakfast coffee . Bigger shops and some smaller shops should know what you want. Just say them that you want to export the goods. After check-in you can go to the customs office with that form and your goods. The office to cash in your refunds is usually next door. I don't know exactly how it works if you only have the receipt. I guess then there is paperwork involved at the customs office.

Regards
Gyro

 

What countries do you want to travel to? I have been to Hungary...that is a very colorful place with good people.....
not too expensive, at least when I was there....

 

Hungary sound nice! Budapest?

 

Yes, that is where my brother and I went when we travelled all over Europe. he was the best and found the cheapest places to stay, etc. Ijust had to tag along...alot of gypsies in Budapest...but such a colorful, vibrant place!

 

does it make sense that I can discuss with small shops and pay cash directly without receipt so we both don't have sales tax concern and they can offer better prices? Will they think I am too demanding

 

My favourite porn actress was from Budapest :crowngrin:

 

the most amount of food was in Hungary...ironically...hungary...hungry....lol

order anything in Budapest in a place and got a ton of it....and very spicy and flavorful....You could taste the land in all of the dishes...goulash, etc....

 

Hello,

I wouldn't say that the shop owner calls the coppers immediately , but that doesn't work. It might work, if a craftsman fixed something in your house, maybe after hours. But asking for tax fraud in a decent shop is considered mildly offensive.

Haggling over the price of something is uncommon in Germany. But it's OK to ask for a bonus or a additional goodie if you buy a watch, a TV, or a car or something like that.

Regards
Gyro

 

i have dealt with a couple of German sales through emails. They don't like questions, and they usually start to become unfriendly when you ask the second questions, they think you are time-wasters. But I am not a shopping tourist anyway, and I know it could be highly offensive to German if I ask for something strange.