Im hoping to get some cash together to take a trip to europe here pretty soon. My question for you all is; what do you recommend as the cheapest way to get around the continent these days? I dont care where I need to stay Ill even pitch a tent and camp if I need to. Should I rent a scooter or something, or maybe take busses? Ive never been over there, but I need some culture and peice of mind, and just need to get out of this country for a while. Couple places Im really interested in seeing; Stone Henge, Malta, The Louvre, Rosline Chapel, and much much more. I will probably be spending at least a month or two just traveling around and I want to make my fund stretch as long as possible. This is not some cheasy tourist trip, this is a soul searching of sorts. I have no interest in "touring" around with a group of americans with hawaiian shirts or anything like that. Suggestions?
Ive never actually done that before, and since I dont know my way around I would probably end up in some third world country and hopelessly lost! haha You ever hitch hiked around around Europe before?
I don't want to sound like a party pooper but I don't think it's all that safe these days. There is no way I'd let my kids do it. I'd rather drive them there personally than have that hitch. I know I'm a party pooper but this is the 21st Century, come on!!!!!!!
Plus the rail system in Europe is much better than in America. Stonehenge and Malta are at oposite ends of western Europe so driving is a little unrealistic but these days you can actually catch a train from England to the Continent (which always weirds me out to think about). By training it you can stop on the way, see Paris, Rome The Alps, Vienna (possibly) and Slovenia (possibly again, it's sort of on the way and is the safest of the former Yugoslav states) while on your way to Malta. P.S. I think it's spelled Rosslyn. P.P.S. They used to have a special pass for European rail travel but I'm not sure they still have it. P.P.P.S. British Rail is kind of sucky. If you start there rail transport will only get better.
Thanks for the advice! Im still waiting for my house to sell, but as soon as that puppy goes, so will I. Once I get the money together to see what I can do. I dont want to make too much of a plan, but that is basically how its going to go. Im going to start in the UK and pretty much end up in Malta, and just try to see everything I can see in between.
Just to let you know...Stone Henge is a bit far away from everything else you were wanting to travel. Also, it's in England, so far more expensive than anywhere else you're planning to travel, as well as it being not part of mainland Europe, same as Malta. Just something to consider there...
Well I plan to go basically until Im done, there is no timeline. So I should have plenty of time to see everything!
I reckon if you're actually going to travel "Europe"...you should take Eastern Europe and Scandinavia into consideration also. We're a big continent!
I'm new to the group and I was wondering if there were any small groups or individuals going somewhere in Europe so I could tag along. I want to explore!
I'd agree that England's expensive, but it isn't that big, the whole of Europe is only about 5% bigger than the whole of the US in land mass terms (and I don't mean North America, I mean the country!!!).
Cheap: Eurolines bus and Budget airlines such as Easy Jet. The train system in Europe is often fast and fairly cheap. Book yourself a second class seat and buy a seat reservation if you are concerned about that. You may not have the easiest or fastest ride but it will be cheap. Are flying from the U.S.? Try... -Zoom airlines -Fly out of U.S. on Monday through Wednesday England to France-to Italy/Malta You may want to go to The Netherlands too Hitch hiking is often cheap but it is by no means safe and you won't have any idea if the driver is going in the right direction because you will be in unfamiliar territory. If you are from the U.S. and don't have a passport, you may want to apply now since an expedited passport takes 6 lovely weeks!
I will be hitting up a lot more than just what is directly in between those two places. I will most certainly not be traveling in a straight line! In fact Amsterdamn is one of my primary goals for the trip! lol
Well for your flight over check out Aer Lingus, Ireland's main carrier. If you buy early enough you can get round trip fare from DC or New York fairly reasonably. And really, if you're going to be over there how can you not go to Ireland? Secondly as you have already been told, the trains really are the best ways to get around. Third, as expensive as the UK can be, Malta is worse so if you're on a budget, dont blow it all before you take the boat to Malta. BUT the UK is wonderful and the first view of Valetta, Malta will take your breath away. Have fun!
Sure, but the cultural differences you'll face will be vast, unlike in your own country. Anyway, when did this turn into a "my country's bigger than yours debate"? :lol: As for England, don't be a loser tourist and just go to London...get up North and down to the South West. Why not visit BRITAIN or THE UK instead of just England? Wales is lovely...
Also, Sleazy Jet (Easy Jet) do cheap flights between European cities. I'd also say that the most expensive parts of Europe are Scandinavia and Austria/Switzerland.
Im Irish so you can bet your bum I will be visiting Ireland as well I just figured most affordable flights to europe would probably land in england, so I just thought it would be a good place to start. I will probably be traveling around for good 2-3 months... when I get all my affairs in order over here of course.
Fountians of Nay, I'm English (but do live in the US), so I wasn't trying to get into a "Mine is bigger than yours" contest. All I was doing was to try and set a little context. As a European, I tend to think of Europe as huge when, in actuality, it's not much bigger than America.
