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Less is more
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 07:51
oneatom
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I’m planning a trip,and would like to keep it as minimalist as possible. I would like to hear anyone’s experience. Food for work, hitching rides,police contact, any info you are willing to share will be much appreciated. A friend and I,backpacking Germany,Czech R,Denmark,Austria,Nederland.Also info on visa for a U.S citizen in these countries?

germany,netherlands,denmark,czech,austria
I am leaving from U.S with $2000 for 551 days
Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Prague, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hallstatt
Requesting help with Transport, Hostels, Budget, Nightlife, Food, Sights
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 10:02
#1
luv_the_beach
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oneatom wrote:
I’m planning a trip,and would like to keep it as minimalist as possible. I would like to hear anyone’s experience.

Well that’s not something people can sum up in a couple paragraphs.

oneatom wrote:
Food for work, hitching rides,police contact,

I’m not sure what your questions are regarding the police and “food for work”.

In hitching rides: personally, I advise against this.

oneatom wrote:
A friend and I,backpacking Germany,Czech R,Denmark,Austria,Nederland.Also info on visa for a U.S citizen in these countries?

All of the countries you mentioned are party to the Schengen Agreement, a group of 25 countries in total. The Schengen Agreement allows passport-free travel between member countries, and a common tourist visa policy for persons from non-Schengen countries. American nationals do not need a visa to visit the Schengen area, unless they plan on staying more than 90 days. This is, not 90 days per country…you have 90 days max for the entire Schengen group of countries. So, your total trip to Germany, Czech Republic, Denmark, Austria, and the Netherlands cannot exceed 90 days. If you anticipate that it will exceed 90 days, then apply for a tourist visa. Otherwise, you don’t need one.

The Schengen countries are (as of August 2009):

Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland


beach-lunch-siesta-beach-shower-dinner-nightlife-repeat

Wed, 08/12/2009 - 12:52
#2
mb
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$2000 for 551 days? Is that a typo.

Eat the food, use the wrong verbs, and end up getting charged double.

Wed, 08/12/2009 - 16:11
#3
finnegan
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oneatom wrote:
I’m planning a trip,and would like to keep it as minimalist as possible. I would like to hear anyone’s experience. Food for work, hitching rides,police contact, any info you are willing to share will be much appreciated. A friend and I,backpacking Germany,Czech R,Denmark,Austria,Nederland.Also info on visa for a U.S citizen in these countries?

Around here we call your travel plans “being homeless” We all like to save a few bucks, but you bascially want to travel like a hobo. Unless you can hook up with a touring circus or a gypsy caravan you gonna have a hard time my brother.

Having said all that, I have hitched rides in europe (usually as a last resort). You can stand on a road with your thumb out, but I found working campsites the night before much easier. Look for a group of young people travelling in a van (most often Germans or Scandinavians). Introduce yourself, ask where they are going and offer to kick in gas money (they usually forget to take you up on it). If you’re doing cold hitching, get out of town and onto highways (it increases you chances of finding someone going somwhere as opposed to just going around the corner for gas).

Sleeping on the beach or in parks is illegal everywhere and you will get moved on by the cops. Germans and their vans like to camp in beach parking lots to save paying for campsites (see above on how to hitch rides)

Depending on what time of year you go, you can always get work picking fruit, grapes, etc.

Other tips I have are most illegal so I’ll keep em to myself

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list”