backpacking trip in europe in januarY!

[superoldgranny]

Hi all, I am from Singapore and im planning a trip to europe in next jan!! ( albeit this is the PRELIM period.. and before the Os PERIOD!! --->ACK!!!)
so anyway, I would like to make a few inquiries first:

1) Is eastern europe safe? for two girls?

2) Should we get the student passes? because ive seen the types of tickets sold by eurostar, like the youth 1 youth 2 and the leisure package stuffs, and they seem pretty worthwhile anyway, but it is quite disturbing cos they put there" limited". what if we cant get a ticket? if we place reservations before, then we would have to follow a schedule.

thats 2 qns for now, we're in the VERY early stages of planning! =) thank you very much!!

[Canadian Dude]

Its great to hear that your have the travel bug at 16 yrs old!!! And welcome to the Travelpunk.com family!!!

Eastern Europe huh? Well i do know there are a couple of memebrs here who can give yoiu the low down on Eastern Europe, like kerouacscabbie, and I think verstehen, hopefully they will jump on this post, and any others who can fill ya in on some info.

For some info on what rail pass you should get, here is the contact info for Rail Europe Agent in Sinapore

Singapore Travelex Singapore Pte Ltd
50 Raffles Place
#01-02 A/B Singapore Land Towers
Singapore
tel: 65 360 002
tel: 65 343 211
fax: 65 423 0062
leisuretravel@travelex.com.sg

They should be able to help you in picking a package that will best be suited for your needs, there has to be a way around those "Limits"
Here is the Travelpunk.com Eurail Info section of the site, which might give you some options aswell.

Here is the US travel warning page that can give you any current and past warning about a specific country your going to Travel Warnings

I think thats about all i can help ya with, but i think the others will be more than happy to help when they come on...just keep checking in and maybe even PM them for some imput.

B)

[travelpunk]

Welcome to the boards, SOGranny!

Throughout these boards, there is plenty of advice for you and your friend in regards to traveling overseas.
The same basic measures that you would take to protect yourself in your city, applies to Eastern Europe and elsewhere. Be alert at all times, and don´t look like a target. Many tourists get robbed while traveling each year, because their whole appearance/demeanor screams "TOURIST!"

An eurail pass may suit you well, if you´re going to wing it. Here´s some info Eurail passes

If you´re worried about safety, take a basic self defense course. You´ll learn the basics and you will feel much more confident when you´re traveling.

[superoldgranny]

thank you both so much!!!

[worldwidemike]

Hi Granny!

I've been to a number of Eastern European countries. Although I am not a 16 year old woman, I have never felt unsafe or threatened. I just got back from Bulgaria, and other than the Cyrllic lettering being hard to read and figure out your way around, it was fine. Prague is safe, of course, as were Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Hungary.

If you want to read my travelogues from those countries, check out my web site at: http://home.earthlink.net/~mikedemana/

Have fun!
-- Mike Demana

[TUI]

yeah Im definatly with TP on the touristy look issue,

looking like a tourist is like begging to be robbed

you'll be fine, have a great time and drink one for the rest of us tpunkers