Hey, sorry i dont really have any advice but i just wanted to tell you that your trip sounds amazing it really does! I’m also planning to go with my friend in May-June…but we’re going for a month and on a way smaller budget ($4000) maybe a bit more if possible…

but anyways lots of luck planning your trip!!

Here’s a brief reply about the segment of your trip that’ll be in France. You’ll see only Paris and Bordeaux, but you plan to go to Barcelona, so going to Bordeaux will actually involve making a detour!
Bordeaux (the city) is not that interesting for the average person, unless you have a very strong interest in wine, and even then, you’d need car to go to the chateaux. If you do go to that area, I’d recommend St. Emilion, rather than Bordeaux.
If you plan to go from Paris to Barcelona, a more logical route might via Lyon, then Montpellier, then Barcelona. Along this route, there are lots of interesting stops, including Dijon, Beaune, Lyon, Avignon, Arles, Nimes, Montpellier, and Collioure. If you won’t have time for all these places (some of them could be seen briefly in two hours), then I hope you’ll do some reading, and choose one or two places.

Yeah I think it was because we were originally going to madrid, but decided to stick to barcelona. So thanks, Ill look into going via lyon and those place you said

There’s alot of time in spend in Paris, IMHO I would allow 4 days there and add 2-3 days in Florence, maybe deduct a day off Venice. The trip is not rushed (which is the best way to be) as for trip to the Greek Islands, check out cheap airlines which offer the best deals from the cities you will be travelling to and you can work around that, highly recommend you do the Greek Islands

First off, I think your budget is fine. It’s better to have more than not enough.

Now you say that you want to stay in hostels but not in dorms. A little tip: this is not necessarily going to be cheaper than a hotel, if that’s what you’re looking for. I know this from experience. I’ve stayed in some private rooms in hostels with my travelling partner, and when we both end up paying 30+ Euros, we could have got a hotel for the same price. But if you want to experience the hostels and meet other travellers, than don’t worry about it.

I think 6 days in London is going to end up being really expensive. But if you do en up spending that long there, i’d suggest doing a day trip.

7 days in Paris is also a lot, but you can take a day trip to Versailles.

I’d take a day off of Venice, and add it to Rome. You could also use that day as a day trip to Pompeii. You really don’t need that much time in Venice. You’ll know what I mean when you get there. It’s also a very expensive place to stay.

I wouldn’t bother basing yourself in Zurich. Stay right in Interlaken and Lucerne. Do the day trip to Zurich, or see it as you pass through. If you like adventure, you’ll love Interlaken and will want to spend lots of time there.

Maybe take a day or 2 off of Vienna, and go to Salzberg.

It looks like you have a really great trip planned. Have a great time!!

the whole itinery has changed ALOT since i posted. Ive edited it now.
JENNIFER&CHESTER
Im not really an art lover or anything, So a day trip to florence will do me. Ive been told Venice is much better.
And paris is just something that no one will talk me out of going there for that long. I want to sight see, shop, and just chillout. Thanks for you advice

NIVID
Yeah, We’ve changed it London to 4 days, its just because thats our arrival city and i want to go to the markets.

and after seeing someone elses photos of dorms during their stay, we decided to go with dorms. What is your experience on booking them with short notice? 3-5 days? Hard to find for 2-3 people?

Rome didnt really interest me a lot, but i still allowed time for sight seeing, as i said, it is very flexible. If get there and are bored of one place after a day, we’ll leave.

Yes, Interlaken and Lucerne were the main parts of SWITZ we were going to, so maybe we will just do a daytrip to zurich instead.

We’ve also added a few more places, AND its 3 months in april-may-june
thanks for your help!

I think you’ve allowed enough time in Rome but, as you’ve said, by all means keep that flexiblity!
For me, just a day trip to Venice was enough. I went there from Verona, which was a place that I liked a lot. If you don’t care about art, then a short time in Florence will be fine. You could just walk from the station to the Piazza della Signoria, and return by a different route.
I agree with keeping your current amount of time for Paris—- again with that flexibility. There are lots of easy day trips from Paris if you do get tired of being in Paris.

quote: and after seeing someone elses photos of dorms during their stay, we decided to go with dorms. What is your experience on booking them with short notice? 3-5 days? Hard to find for 2-3 people?

Since you say you’ll be travelling from April-June then you’ll have no problems finding anywhere to stay. Even for 2-3 people.

The best way to do it is to book your next accomadation on arrival in the previos city.

Ex. Say you arrive in Interlaken and are going to spend 2 or 3 nights. Your next destination is going to be Venice. Well, when you arrive in Interlaken, phone ahead or book online your reservations for Venice.

NIVID
Yeah, thats pretty much how we were going to do it. Just be one step ahead in terms of trains & accommodation as opposed to having the WHOLE trip planned.
You said it wouldnt be a problem, Is it easier to book online, or just wander around? I suppose booking online gives you the step ahead but if we cant find enough rooms, then is it quite easy to get there, wander in somewhere and get a room?

OH & i didnt get a chance to modify the original post so its still the old itinery. Have to work sometime. lol

BASIE
Verona? Like Romeo+Juliet? Might have to go there =) Though, I watched the movie (with leo) about 1600 times in English class so i think I’m sick of it. hehe
Im glad you agree with me about Paris, Its just one of those places you HAVE to go to you know? Im sure i wont get bored after a week

rhea- Go to bugeurope.com, look at all the favorably reviewed hostels..and get an idea which places sound the most to your liking. I’d suggest making a top 3 list per city (should your top choice be booked)…you can either make the list before you go, or simply look up a city a few days before you plan on getting there. If you have trouble deciding how to rank hostels, just run them by us in the hostel forum…chances are one of us(at least) has been to any hostel you’ll go to…so we can shed more light on things for you. Start at bugeurope though…it never failed me.

Thanks ill have a look at that site. One of the site ive been too had percentage ratings of backpackers that have rated the hostel. do you think those are pretty accurate? Thats a good idea about the top 3 though. i was just going to look up the city on a hostel website and go through them until i found one that was free or suited our needs. your bound to get one sooner or later i figure. lol

I’m not sure about the site you saw…I don’t know which it is…but, save yourself the time, and forget about any other hostel site (aside from here when you want to ask us what we think of your decisions…or a booking site, which I never used)). bug will totally suffice. it has the most reviews…and they have no agenda. it’ll be really easy picking most hostels…as you’ll see the best ones clearly stand apart in the ratings. This site and bug are IMO the most essential online tools in regards to planning/preparation for a european backpacking trip. Bug w/ the comprehensive hostel directory w/ reviews…and this place, because many of us flat out know our shit about everything having to do w/ backpacking in europe…between all of us, you will get some good answers to practically anything you may be curious about re: your eurotrip.

Yes, BUG Europe is the best site to check out. The will post the good and bad comments, unlike some of the others. You can check out my post below (located in the Hostels forum), where you can find links to the major hostel sites.

http://eurotrip.com/…