I’ve got 20 years on your brother and I still use a backpack. I stay in hostels at least part of the time. It’s just a lot simpler and cheaper. But two-star hotels and the occasional splurge are good too. There are decent hotels to be had, but with the euro hovering around $1.55, budget travelers are being careful where they stay.
Of course your idea is feasible. How much time do you have? Do you want to just follow the coast along the south of France into the Ligurian coast? I see that Ascoli Piceno is in the Marche region, so you would be crossing over. Not sure what you mean about Euro Star tickets.

I understand the hostel part, but We’re going to use the hotel option.
Apparently there are EuroStar train tickets designed for tourists that are valid everywhere in the EU. Maybe a zigzag pattern from the coast inland. We’ll obviously wan to hit the Louvre….

That’s a Eurail pass. They don’t always make sense; sometimes buying point to point tickets is cheaper, and this is often the case in Spain and Italy. Try to plan out your itinerary in some detail and then you can check to see if a railpass will save you money. Here’s oldlady’s excellent guidance on how to do this:
“You can use www.railsaver.com to see which, if any, railpass or combination of pass(es) and point to point is best. Follow the “I have a good idea of my itinerary” route and check “I prefer purchasing railpasses (to point to point tickets) ‘only when it saves money.’”

Early 30s is still “hostel age”. There’s also pensions. It’s fun because you meet other people.

But I’m not sure what you question is. Has anyone travelled across Europe before, and taken trains and stayed at hotels? Yes, millions of people have.

Just to avoid confusion: the rail pass you’re looking for is called Eurail.

Eurostar is the high speed rail service that connects London to Paris and Brussels. Completely unrelated, Eurostar Italia is an express inter-city rail service operated by Trenitalia, and includes both high-speed service and conventional speeds.

I think the issue is, my brother and I have to plan a bit more. I was thinking there would be a template I could work from. A big map with push pins in it, with the top things to see.
We both like Roman history so that’s one tip of the iceberg.
So now I know what Eurail is.

there are plans in progress that would implement a feature very similar to this. hopefully i will be able to get something up in the near future. there is a lot of planning needed for this tho…

TechieJustin,

You do have a “template”. You just provided one: You are starting in Barcelona, and will end up in central Italy (Marche region and then Rome). Fill in some places in between: southern France, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Catalonia (the region of Spain where Barcelona is located), possibly Corsica. You can go a little out of the way: Madrid, Sardinia, Paris, Madrid, to name some ideas. You’re interested in Roman history: Rome (obviously) and the French towns Nîmes and Arles are towns I suggest; there’s also Pompeii and Herculaneum in Campania region in southern Italy and near the Amalfi coast. It all depends on how much time you have, any additional interests you may have: big cities, beach towns, rural, ancient or medieval history, etc.

I can only imagine how complicated that would be.
I was a Comp. Sci major for my undergrad.
There’s been a new development. My Italian relatives have a set of vouchers for two tickets to Italy. Those are going to My parents, and they have to be used by a certain time – which I don’t know yet. Possibly September.
So, my brother and I may have to fast track this plan if we can even do it. I’ll keep updating – the trip though Europe is something I’ve always wanted to do.

Hey, you know what:

Just tell me the duration of this trip (2 weeks? 3 weeks?), and what you’re interested in (Roman history…what else?)…and I’ll make a rough itinerary for you.

Also…do you know if your relatives in Marche are planning to show you around a bit?

Your turkey sandwich is making me hungry.

Use the map on the home page here. Eurotrip’s Map

It sounds like your first trip. I would recommend a hostel some. You meet people and get sound advice that is not touristy.

I’m working on comp. sci. as a second degree now. @#!%^ Calculus. Where did you study?

Have fun on the trip. You’ll get good advice from the people here. Hopefully I’ll get to go on a trip soon.

We’d still rather use hotels not hostels. I think thats something my brother and I agree on.
I graduated from a small school called Albright back in 2000. Right in time for the dot bomb. Now I just got my MBA and now I want to get a degree in accounting. Getting out of the tech sector IMO is the thing to do right now.

try eurocheapo.com
alternatively bed and breakfasts may cut down on your accommodation costs
i agree with your plan to train rather than drive
enjoy

I talked to my brother today. He’s is adamant on not staying at hostels.

But, there’s a new development. My Italian realitives are sending some sort of airline mileage voucher – or tickets. I’m not exactly sure. They’re for my parents. Of course if they skip off to Italy, my brother and I are coming with. But we’re paying our own way which shouldn’t be a problem if we can nail down a time.
So I’ll propose this idea to my brother, START from Marche and move west after we’re through with the Italian part. Whether he’ll be receptive to that, I’m not sure. I have my doubts. Chances are thsi trip will only be Italy – which is OK with me.

As for the turkey sandwich, I don’t put mayo on it, so they tend to be dry. If there’s one thing in the world I hate, its mayonnaise.