First, read the “stickys” at the top of each forum and a couple of weeks worth of old posts in each of the forums, here. Also look at the “travel tips” tab. I like to go to a travel agency and pick up some of the big brochures from the tour companies as a starting point. Also look at a guidebook for budget travelers like Lonely Planet or Let’s Go — check for a copy at your library before you buy one. I start by copying on of tour company trips, or combining a couple of them to get a very basic idea for the trip. Just remember that you can’t cover quite as much territory in the same amount of time when you’re traveling on your own — largely because you’ll want to visit places rather than see them through the window of a moving bus. Use a map and a calendar to develop a basic itinerary. Post that as a “eurotrip” here for comments. Post more specific questions in the appropriate forums.