Well...I went quasi-back packing one summer. While I should have "roughed it" and stationed myself at the 15 dollar/night hostels, I went the "book a hotel in each city you visit" way.
In my opinion, buy a Eurostar pass and let it take you any place you wake up and decide to go each day. It's a lovely form of transportation.
I loved London. I stayed in a quaint inn a few steps away from Picadilly Circus.
The shopping in Firenze(Florence), Milano, and Rome is marvelous. The gardens at sunset are amazing. Just make sure you make purchases at the end of the day if you are walking around all day. I ended up carring a rather oversized painting I purchased for 35 francs the entire day through the city of Rome. What a site!
I've spent a few spring breaks in Paris, which is absolutely freezing in April, but simply gorgeous , brilliantly sunny and crisp. The one tourist-y place I will recommend is Montparnasse, the location of Monet's home. It was almost a surreal experience to stand in the drizzle of France aside one of the most well recognized painting scenes of all time!
I stayed a month on a farm in Vollerup, Denmark. The castles in Denmark are indescribable. This was when I roughed it, waking up to feed pigs and horses. I even witnessed the delivery of two cows while I was there. One was named after me!
Switzerland is wonderfully picturesque as well as Luxembourg.
Goodness, here I am reminiscing. Instead of telling you where go , how about I administer some advice?
-always carry with you toilet paper and a bottle of water. Often in Europe you will have to pay for toilet paper and wine is cheaper than water.
- Invest in a belt that holds your money. Never put your wallet in your backpack pockets.
- Carry a calculator to work out currency conversions.
- Go of the beaten path to dine. These small restaurants are usually cheaper and have more authentic food.
- Don't invest all your time in museums. After about 50 portraits of the Virgin Mary, you WILL become jaded and will just go through the motions of being a tourist. Get outdoors!
- Carry an umbrella at all times. (It was pouring in Vatican City in August!)
OK...I need to stop. Ahhhhhh....Europe.
Hybrid Mode
