backpacking in Europe

hi! i've decided i want to go backpacking in Europe. i've never done
such a thing so im basically just asking for any tips, suggestions, or
comments! all are appreciated. thanks!

cb609009@wcupa.edu wrote:
> hi! i've decided i want to go backpacking in Europe.

When you say "backpacking" do you mean camping, or
wandering from hostel to hostel? You going alone? What
was your inspiration? Where have you traveled before?

> i've never done
> such a thing so im basically just asking for any tips, suggestions, or
> comments! all are appreciated. thanks!

Visit a library. There are several books like "Lonely Planet",
and "Europe on $X/day" (used to be $5, probably more like $40
these days). Ultimately you'll have to piece together a budget
and a rough intinerary so that you can make some decisions
about whether to buy a Eurail pass amongst other things.
You'll also need to decide how long you'll be gone, and what
time of year. You may need to spend some time on the
weather channel website considering the weather in Europe
the time of year you are planning to go. London is better
than Rome in June, that kinda consideration. And since
you've "never done such a thing" you might consider some
sort of "shakedown" trip right here in the good ole USofA.

On Wed, 08 Mar 2006 19:31:31 +0100, in .europe, DDT Filled Mormons
<deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> arranged some electrons, so they looked like
this :

... On 8 Mar 2006 08:35:08 -0800, "cb609009@wcupa.edu"
... <cb609009@wcupa.edu> wrote:
...
... >hi! i've decided i want to go backpacking in Europe. i've never done
... >such a thing so im basically just asking for any tips, suggestions, or
... >comments! all are appreciated. thanks!
...
... I will bet 2 Mixi's and a Martin that we never see this guy again.

A few centesimi di lire??

cb609009@wcupa.edu wrote:
> hi! i've decided i want to go backpacking in Europe. i've never done
> such a thing so im basically just asking for any tips, suggestions, or
> comments! all are appreciated. thanks!

Rent and watch the movie "Hostel".

Be afraid, be very afraid.

There are many campgrounds in all countries. All accept tenters. We
met a couple bicycling from the top of France to Spain, stopping in
campgrounds along the way.

Read Carol White's book. She does rents a car and back packs. I have
not met many hitchhikers but Carol probably discusses that way to get
around.

If I were backpacking I would stay away from Italy below Naples and I
would be especially careful in Spain. I also would be leery of
backpacking in formely East Europe countries. See our Dept of State's
postings on dangers in the various countries.

Ron

....of a movie that went to DVD before the blood even coagulated...<g>

My best advice to the OP is just "GO"; don't wait until the other
backpackers tend to ask you for 'fatherly' advice...

Tim K

<po.ning@> wrote in message
news:1141847566.460670.29880@z34g2000cwc. ...
>
> cb609009@wcupa.edu wrote:
> > hi! i've decided i want to go backpacking in Europe. i've never done
> > such a thing so im basically just asking for any tips, suggestions,
or
> > comments! all are appreciated. thanks!
>
> Rent and watch the movie "Hostel".
>
> Be afraid, be very afraid.
>

Well, I don't think it is wise to totally discount the observations of
the US State Department about conditions in other countries just
because the crime rate, especially the violent crime rate, here is so
high. I would hope that the State Departments of other countries warn
their citizens about those crime rates here. I can tell you that the
Caravan Club in the UK has also provided the same warnings to their
subscribers as appear in our State Department bulletins. I agree with
you that the US has more violient crime than virtually all countries in
western Europe, and, except for the pickpockets in Europe, central
cities are safer in European cities than in the US. But still, there
are places in Europe that are dangerous and it is foolish to ignore
that.

Ron

Well, I could be wrong, but better safe than sorry. Italy below Naples
is economically the poorest area and there are reports of thieves
preying on people in vulnerable situations. Backpackers probably fall
into that sort of category. I wrote that" if I were backpacking I would
stay away." You may feel otherwise, but its your risk. Nothing could
spoil a nice backpacking trip faster than being mugged and robbed of
all your belongings. I would not take that risk.

As to the tent camping, I guess that that is how I would do it. I know
the campgrounds and would enjoy doing it that way rather than staying
in hotels or hostels. Campgrounds are safe and the sanitary facilities
are generally excellent. And I have met many backpackers in them. But
of course, there are other ways.

On 9 Mar 2006 06:36:46 -0800, "Ron" <milavskys@rv2europe.com> wrote:

>Well, I don't think it is wise to totally discount the observations of
>the US State Department about conditions in other countries just
>because the crime rate, especially the violent crime rate, here is so
>high. I would hope that the State Departments of other countries warn
>their citizens about those crime rates here.

Certainly last time I booked a fly drive package to Florida the travel
company included a full page with advice and safety tips for when
driving around, parking, walking to your car etc.


>I can tell you that the
>Caravan Club in the UK has also provided the same warnings to their
>subscribers as appear in our State Department bulletins. I agree with
>you that the US has more violient crime than virtually all countries in
>western Europe, and, except for the pickpockets in Europe, central
>cities are safer in European cities than in the US. But still, there
>are places in Europe that are dangerous and it is foolish to ignore
>that.
>
>Ron


--==++AJC++==--

> Well, I could be wrong, but better safe than sorry. Italy below Naples
> is economically the poorest area and there are reports of thieves
> preying on people in vulnerable situations.

I've been below Naples, until the end of Italy, and I didn't feel unsafe at
all;
very nice people down there. They are poorer than in the north, but they
definitly want to increase turism down there and won't hurt you!

Rainer