Itinerary;; Europe 2009

[kawaii*kimmy]

WHAT!?! I’m letting go of all the ‘what ifs’, the ‘I can’ts’, and ‘but I have toos’, to finally do something I’ve been dreaming about since middle school. Backpacking has been an adventure I’ve wanted to partake, and now that I’m in a voided zone of my life I figure now is the best time to accomplish it.

WHEN!?! This time roughly next year, that being May of 2009. As to how long, until the end of September; unless of course something happens and the trip is shortened.

WHERE!?! Europe’s high season.

WHY!?! Like I said, I’m in a voided zone. I’m a twenty year old girl still not at all sure as to what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Having graduated high school with honours and merit grades, its not that I can’t get into a post-secondary institution, it’s the fact that I don’t want to go into something, blow thousands of dollars only to find out halfway through that this is something I don’t actually want. Plus, like hello, I spent twelve years of my life in school already, why on earth do I want to go back so soon?



Questions ::
.1. What do you think of my itinerary?
I know I’m going at the busiest time of year, and I’m prepared for that. My itinerary is done up in the order for which I will be travelling, now is there possibly a better sort of combination for going about my travels or does it look half decent? Keeping in mind that as this is going to be major culture shock, I’d much rather start in the UK and Ireland due to the fact I’ll probably be more comfortable.

.2. What are your Hostel suggestions?
Some as you can see for certain cities, I’ve left blank. Simply because I’m having troubles with finding accommodation so far in advance. For ones I’ve suggested, are they decent? I know that a lot of things can change within a year, so what one person says in a review could be the complete opposite of what another says. Also, if there are suggestions that aren’t necessarily within the city but outside of it, let me know anyway!



The Intinerary;;

May 6/May 7 :: Depart from Edmonton/Arrive in London, England

May 7 to May 9 :: Sites of London and surrounding area
Possible Hostel(s) :: Palmers Lodge, Generator

May 10 and May 11 :: Sites of Edinburgh, Scotland and surrounding area
Possible Hostel(s) :: High Street Hostel

May 12 to May 14 :: Inverness and the Highlands of Scotland
Possible Hostel(s) ::

May 15 :: Glasgow
Possible Hostel(s) :: Globetrotters


May 16 :: Chester
Possible Hostel(s) :: Chester Backpackers


Morning of May 17, head from Chester to Holyhead to catch a ferry over to Dublin. Estimated sea time is two hours.


May 17 and May 18 :: Dublin, Ireland
Possible Hostel(s) :: Abigail’s House/Ashfield House

May 19 and May 20 :: Galaway
Possible Hostel(s) :: Sleepzone

May 21 :: Killarney
Possible Hostel(s) :: Paddy’s Palace

May 22 :: Cork
Possible Hostel(s) :: Sheilas House

May 23 :: Wexford
Possible Hostel(s) :: Kirwan House


Morning of May 24, head into Rosslare to catch a ferry over to Pembroke. Estimated time of sea time is four hours. Then make way for Cardiff.


May 24 :: Cardiff, Wales
Possible Hostel(s) :: Riverhouse Backpacker’s

May 25 and May 26 :: Bath, England
Possible Hostel(s) :: St. Christopher’s


Morning of May 27 make way to Portsmouth. Catch night cruise over to Caen. Estimated sea time is eight hours.


May 28 to June 31 :: Paris, France
Possible Hostel(s) :: Aloha Hostel
* day trips to Versailles, Chartres, and Giverny

June 1 and June 2 :: Bordeaux
Possible Hostel(s) :: Barbey Hostel/Studio

June 3 to June 7 :: Madrid
Possible Hostel(s) :: Barbieri/Albergue Municipal
* day trips to Toledo, El Escorial, and Segovia

June 8 and June 9 :: Lisboa, Portugal
Possible Hostel(s) ::

June 10 and June 11 :: Lagos
Possible Hostel(s) :: Rising Cock

June 12 and June 13 :: Sevilla, Spain
Possible Hostel(s) :: Samay

June 14 and June 15 :: Alacant
Possible Hostel(s) ::
*For the 15 may possibly head to Ibiza

June 16 and June 17 :: Barcelona
Possible Hostel(s) ::Kabul

June 18 :: Toulouse, France
Possible Hostel(s) ::

June 19 :: Marseille
Possible Hostel(s) :: Bonneveine

June 20 :: Lyon
Possible Hostel(s) ::

June 21 and June 22 :: Interlaken , Switzerland
Possible Hostel(s) :: Backpacker’s Villa Sonnenhof, Balmers Herberge

June 23 :: Zurich
Possible Hostel(s) :: City Backpacker

June 24 :: Milan, Italy
Possible Hostel(s) :: La Cordata Casa Scout, Piero Rotta

June 25 and 26 :: Florence
Possible Hostel(s) :: Santa Monaca, Foresteria Valdese, Archi Rossi Hostel

June 27 and June 28 :: Rome
Possible Hostel(s) :: Alessandro Palace, Colors

June 29 :: Naples
Possible Hostel(s) :: Le Sirene

June 30 to July 1 :: Venice
Possible Hostel(s) :: Domus Civica, Foresteria Valdese, Ostello Santa Fosca

July 2 and July 3 :: Austria
Possible Hostel(s) ::

July 4 and July 5 :: Vienna
Possible Hostel(s) :: Hostel Ruthensteiner, Westend City, Wombats

July 6 to July 9 :: Prague, Czech Republic
Possible Hostel(s) :: Sir Toby’s, Clown and Bard

July 10 to July 13 :: Budapest, Hungary
Possible Hostel(s) ::Vamhaz, Back Pack Guesthouse, Yellow Submarine

July 14 and July 15 :: Belgrade, Serbia
Possible Hostel(s) :: 3 Black Cats


July 16, leave for Nafplio. Simple travel day.


July 17 to July 19 :: Nafplio, Greece
Possible Hostel(s) ::

July 20 to July 22 :: Athens
Possible Hostel(s) :: Hostel Aphrodite, Athens Backpackers

July 23 :: Meteora and Kalambaka
Possible Hostel(s) :: Plakias

July 24 :: Thessaloniki
Possible Hostel(s) ::

July 25 and July 26 :: Sofia, Bulgaria
Possible Hostel(s) :: Sofia Guesthouse, Orient Express Hostel, Kervan Hostel

July 27 :: Veliko Turnovo
Possible Hostel(s) :: Hikers Hostel, Hostel Mostel

July 28 and July 29 :: Bucharest, Romania
Possible Hostel(s) :: Villa Helga, Villa 11

July 30 and July 31 :: Brasov
Possible Hostel(s) :: Rolling Stone, Villa Kismet Dao

August 1 to August 4 :: Kyiv, Ukraine
Possible Hostel(s) ::

August 5 to August 7 :: L’viv
Possible Hostel(s) ::

August 8 to August 10 :: Krakow, Poland
Possible Hostel(s) :: Mama’s, Nathan’s Villa, Gardenhouse

August 11 and August 12 :: Wroclaw
Possible Hostel(s) :: Mleczarnia, Nathan’s Villa, Stranger

August 13 to August 15 :: Warsaw
Possible Hostel(s) :: Nathan’s Villa, Oki Doki, Tamka


Take night train from Warsaw to Moscow.


August 16 to August 19 :: Moscow, Russia
Possible Hostel(s) :: Godzillas, Lenin, Moscow Home

August 20 to August 24 :: St. Petersburg
Possible Hostel(s) :: Sleep Cheap, Nord, Cuba

August 25 to August 27 :: Helsinki, Finland
Possible Hostel(s) ::
* with day trip over to Tallin Estonia

August 28 and August 29 :: Turku
Possible Hostel(s) :: Linnasmaki, Hostel Turku

August 30 to September 1 :: Stockholm, Sweden
Possible Hostel(s) :: City Lodge, Af Chapman

September 2 and September 3 :: Ostersund
Possible Hostel(s) :: Jamtli, Fornborgen Youth

September 4 and September 5 :: Trondheim, Norway
Possible Hostel(s) ::

September 6 and September 7 :: Oslo
Possible Hostel(s) :: Anker

September 8 to September 9 :: Kristiansand
Possible Hostel(s) ::


Ferry from Kritiansand to Hirtshals then train/bus to Arthus.


September 10 :: Arthus, Denmark
Possible Hostel(s) :: Danhostel Arthus, Arthus City Sleep-In

September 11 :: Odense
Possible Hostel(s) :: Danhostel Odense City

September 12 and September 13 :: Copenhagen
Possible Hostel(s) :: City Public, Danhostel Copenhagen City

September 14 and September 15 :: Hamburg, Germany
Possible Hostel(s) :: Instant Sleep, Schanzenstern

September 16 and September 17 :: Frankfurt
Possible Hostel(s) :: Frankfurt Hostel, Haus der Jugend

September 18 and September 19 :: Munich
Possible Hostel(s) :: Wombat’s, Easy Palace, A&O

September 20 and September 21 :: Berlin
Possible Hostel(s) :: The Circus, City Stay, BaxPax

September 22 to September 24 :: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Possible Hostel(s) :: Bob’s Youth Hostel, Bulldog, Flying Pig

September 25 to September 27 :: Brussels, Belgium
Possible Hostel(s) :: 2Go4, Sleep Well, Le Center Vincent Van Gogh

September 28 to September 30 :: London, UK
Possible Hostel(s) :: Palmers Lodge/Generator
** chill out and then head home.




Well, there you have it. Any help and encouragement would be muchly appreciated!


Kimmy

[micdans]

Sounds awesome to me. I'm doing a 4 week trip in the middle of yours. we won't be overlapping cities at all tho.
A little of what I know is that you may not want to stick to this rigid schedule, because you may love some city you planned two days for and dislike a city you planned 5 for. You may also meet up with other backpackers and follow a route they are doing.
All of the city-to-city trips will be spendy.

I've only stayed in a few cities that you are going to. I don't personally enjoy balmers - too many N. American adrenaline junkies. Paris is difficult to find hostels in. Rome - I forget, sorry. Munich - same.
Time for bed.

[ajb3000]

One thing I will add is that for a trip of that length, you will want "chill out" days every now and again where you just do nothing and relax, being constantly on the move can be tiring. As previously mentioned though you will find your schedule changing during your trip, you'll hear about cool towns from other backpackers or locals that you'll want to add and also decide to leave others off. Use your itinerary more as a guide than a schedule.

[kawaii*kimmy]

Originally Posted by ajb3000

One thing I will add is that for a trip of that length, you will want "chill out" days every now and again

I can see your point, and although I don’t really know what the term “chill out” means, I’ll keep it in mind. I’m one of those types of people who have to be doing something. And I’m sure come trip time it will be amplified, I broke my heel three days ago and I haven’t been able to leave the house yet. Driving me crazy.

Originally Posted by micdans

I don't personally enjoy balmers - too many N. American adrenaline junkies. Paris is difficult to find hostels in. Rome - I forget, sorry. Munich - same.

Thanks micdans, I’ll keep that note about Balmers in mind. As for the Hostel situation in Paris, I probably won’t even stay in one while there seeing as a few of my Aunties friends have heard of my expedition and are expecting me to stop by. And too bad about our schedules not overlapping slightly.

Who knows, maybe this is when I’ll relax with a decent shower and home cooked meal!

Originally Posted by micdans

A little of what I know is that you may not want to stick to this rigid schedule,

Originally Posted by ajb3000

Use your itinerary more as a guide than a schedule.

I doubt very much that I’ll actually stick to this thing. Sure I like to plan, but half the time a wing it anyway. Tends to turn out more interesting.

[mbo108]

As everyone has mentioned and you yourself have affirmed, this will most likely change a bunch in a year, but I do have some suggestions. If you get to Helsinki, definitely get over to Tallinn. I'm going to both in a month but my research shows that the latter is cheaper and more fun. I'll let you know how that goes.

Also, if you're getting to Brussels GO TO BRUGES. I've been there twice, its one of my favorite spots in all of Europe.

As far as hostels, I've stayed in the Ashfield House in Dublin - thought it was a great location, good prices, worked out really well. Same with Sir Toby's in Prague, that was probably the best hostel I ever stayed in - hands down.

[Elizabeth]

You are going to get burned out really fast. You have a lot of cities where you're only staying 1 or 2 nights. Those cities will seem like a blur. There is the temptation for first timers to "see it all" but you'll end up seeing less overall from exhaustion.

For example...you wanna go from Budapest to Belgrade which is a 24 hour train ride and spend two nights there. Most or all of your first day will be spent recovering from the train ride. Then you will have another day and then you'll be on another 24 hour train ride to Greece. This will burn you out I promise.

A problem I see right now with going from Warsaw to Moscow is A. its probably going to cross thru Belarus which you need a visa for B. thats gonna be at least a 24 hour train ride

I would try to go Lviv-Kyiv-Moscow-SPb as these are all just overnights.

[joe7f]

I agree with Adam and Lizz. You are changing locations a lot and that primes you for burnout. I don't care how A.D.D you are and you are going to want a break from the insanity. Try staying a minimum of 3 days in every place you go. Unless you think this will be your only chance to go to Europe and you literally have to see it all, I would suggest you make the trip less cluttered, so it is less stressful and more memorable (when I did things approximating what you wrote they became blurred)

Looks like a blast though!

--Joey

[polarbear]

that is in intense trip, wow.
looks like we both will be in Ireland around the same time, although i havent got my trip planned out quite so nicely yet lol.
looks like you got a buttload of ground to cover in your months haha

[kawaii*kimmy]

Originally Posted by mbo108

If you get to Helsinki, definitely get over to Tallinn… I'll let you know how that goes.

Originally Posted by mbo108

Also, if you're getting to Brussels GO TO BRUGES.

Dually noted for Tallinn and Bruges mbo.Thanks for the insight and I look forward to your findings on Tallinn when you do that trip.

Originally Posted by lizz

Budapest to Belgrade which is a 24 hour train ride…you'll be on another 24 hour train ride.

Originally Posted by lizz

cross thru Belarus which you need a visa for

Okay, so twenty-four hour train rides kill a person. Must find ways around that then, lizz dear I once again thank you. You’re Lviv-Kyiv-Moscow-SPb night trips sounds like a great idea- thus in the end I probably will go that route. And I’m not at all worried about needing Visas for certain countries, all that I’ve gone through already.

Originally Posted by joe7f

Try staying a minimum of 3 days in every place you go.

Three days huh? That can actually probably be arranged to happen. Thanks sweets

Originally Posted by polarbear

looks like we both will be in Ireland around the same time,

Well polarbear, I’m sure you’ll see me around posting tons about my trip and problems I seem to be facing. Let me know how your plans are coming a long and maybe we could have a meet up?

[snowball1982]

Aye caramba that is one hell of an itinerary!

I have to ask though - did you copy my format for posting itineraries to this message board? If you didn't, then wow - we definetly do think alike, scary!

Like the others said, this trip seems very intense and non flexible! The first thing that goes wrong will throw everything else off!

What happens if you get sick, or miss a train, or anything that sets you back? It would send you into a state of pandemonium. Trust me, things do go wrong and you have to be ready to roll and change.
But it looks pretty good.

[kawaii*kimmy]

Copy your format of posting? snowball dear I must say I’m rather confused on that comment. I don’t think I copied yours, and I don’t think I’ve read any of your topics either… * insert very puzzled looking Kimmy here *

I like intense, not much more I can say on that, even though you’re all probably right on me getting burned out. If I snap, I snap and chill out for a day. As for flexibility, I’m backpacking. Nothing I’m sure will go right, so things will have to become flexible. My itinerary is just something I’m going off as a bit of guidance – that’s all.

And as you so put it love, I ‘have to be ready to roll and change’.

[snowball1982]

OK Kimmy fair enough!
But do take a look at this, http://travelpunk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=15611, my original itinerary and tell me yours is not eerily similar to mine!!

[kawaii*kimmy]

That's... So freaking weird!

Like I don't even know what to comment on that. Mm... If you want I can like edit my post or something...?

Eh. I really don't know what to say.

[snowball1982]

Originally Posted by kawaii*kimmy

That's... So freaking weird!

Like I don't even know what to comment on that. Mm... If you want I can like edit my post or something...?

Eh. I really don't know what to say.

Hmmmm, great minds think alike??

Haha its similar even down to our first question being exactly the same.

Don't edit anything! Be you.

Snowball ©™

[lilchappy]

Bruges: St Christophers was brand spanking new but the showers were awful. Easy to find via bus from train station and about a 5 min walk to the center

Interlaken: Balmers was great american debauchery...like staying at a frat house

Prague: Stayed at the clown and bard in the 36 person dorm room. Scary if your not hammered or with friends! A little out of the way and hard to find stumbling home drunk when the metro's close.

VEnice: I stayed at the campsite on a different island where they have ferries take you back. Good place with good cafeteria and bar, but tough to get back to if you want to see Venice at night. Will have to take a 30 euro cab ride home.

cya...lilchappy

[kawaii*kimmy]

Thanls for the tips lilchappy. I'll for sure keep those all in mind.

And thanks again snow, great minds do think alike

[Esterina]

Reality will reset your itinerary once after the first week or so. Your desire to see everything is typical of first timers, we ALL have been through this...

You will probably find my suggestion extreme : to skip either southern Europe (ex-Yougoslavia, Greece, Bulgaria) or Russia (and go directly to the Baltic countries).

You said you have the visa thing sorted. You know that for Russia and Belarus, you need an invitation letter from a hotel or agency in order to obtain the visa ? Maybe you don't need the invit letter for Belarus, if you only ask the transit visa.