Travel advice

Ryan676
Junior Member



Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 13

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:57 pm

 

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Hello, Im 18 year old male, and just finishing up school.
I plan on going to Europe for 4 months before college.
Im going to start saving all summer and a few months after.
I budgeted... $50 bucks a day, most of my equipment, rail pass, flight.
And booze cash....I figure around $9500 is a safe amount....TO much to little(???)
I love to party & drink and want to do and see all the fun stuff I can. I plan on doing a circle around europe(Brittish isles, france, spain, germany,italy, holland). I would like to start in Ireland...But Whatever is cheapest.
Im pretty flexable about where I go and how long I go for. But I wanna see the countries listed above for sure!

I plan on travelling with a friend but I think he might not come....But ill go by myself if I have too.

Ive read alot of this site as well as others.
If you have any other advice for me I would love to hear it.
Also, To save cash cant you just bring a tent and crash in that sometimes instead of hostiling??

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Joanne
Senior Member



Joined: 18 Jul 2003
Posts: 122
Location: Stockport

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 5:34 am

 

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Hello,

I live near Manchester (England) since 3 years so if you have any questions about England you can ask me and I will try to help you.

I can say that $50 /day is not much. You have to take the exchange rates and the canadian dollar is not worth much !!
$50 CND = £20 GBP !!
$50 CND = 31 Euros !!

Things cost about twice the price that they are in Canada.
Something that cost $1 in Canada will cost £1 in UK. That means for you it cost twice as much.

Here is a website that could help you to find the cheaper options:
http://www.visitbritain.com/ca/britainforless/

"Also, To save cash cant you just bring a tent and crash in that sometimes instead of hostiling??"
No , not really you will have to go to a camp site. You cannot just put your tent on a private propriety !! I think you can in National parks but they are away from the main cities.

So cheapest accomodation for you are hostels/camp site at £10 minimum .
Cheapest hotel : £35 (outside London)
That is outside London where evething is more expensive !!
Food : £2-3 for a sandwich, McDonalds meal £3-5, Small Starbuch coffee of the day : £1.50. A meal in a restaurant minimum £10 (no alcool et dessert !)
Drinks : a pint of cider/beer : £2.50
Taxi are expensive and cost around twice the price after 12h00am ! (and on bank holidays)
Buses are the cheapest option but it can take a while to go where you want !!
hitchhiking : if you are thinking of doing this I can tell you that I never saw anybody doing this in England. I would advise not to try , people won't stop !

I went on holidays in Barcelona (Spain) and Lagos (Portugal) where it is cheaper than the UK. But still not cheap !!

I hope this give you an idea of how much money you need!!

If you have any questions I will try to answer them.

Joanne

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Ryan676
Junior Member



Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 13

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 11:50 am

 

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Well isnt that a piss off.
Maybe my trip to England will be a short one then.

Second ill pitch my tent wherever I WANT!!!(im crazy like that )
haha just kidding......Of course I ment in a park....ing lot....or forest
IS there any national parks near London??
WHY wont people pick me up?? Do English ppl NOT like canadians?? WHAT is there problem???
WHY is everything so expensive?? 6-8 bucks canadian for a SANDWICH!!

But anyways, yes thank you for your help, I think I need to rethink my budget. Prehaps 60 dollers a day will give me some more flexablity.

Also you say that south east europe is cheaper???
Whats cheaper hostels, food, sites???
What are the main sites in England not to be missed?!?!?
HOW much is a ferry from Ireland to England?
England to Europe mainland?????
How many hostels are in London??

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happy-wanderer
New Member



Joined: 15 May 2004
Posts: 2
Location: London UK

Posted: Sat May 15, 2004 12:42 pm

 

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Hi, I've been living in London for the past six months and still gasp at the cost of living. Joanne was correct, in that everthing is almost twice as much as in Canada. But on the plus side, many of the museums are free, and walking about the center of London is free, and a gread way to soak up the vitalitly of the city.. Wine and beer at the local food stores can be relatively inexpensive.

Good fresh sandwiches are readily available and are a good and inexpensives alterntive to fast food and restaurants. Some pubs offer good meal deals but not all offer food........

Went to Portugal last year, and it was cheaper. I didn't see any one hitchhiking, besides they drive so fast that they would pass you and not even see you at all!!

I suggest you get an international hostel card, check out and book some places in advance if you can.

You may want to check out www.busabout.com which seems to offer cheat bus transport about Europe and also seems to be connected with accommodations (hostels), It looks to be geared to young adults and backpackers. I haven't used it myself, but it might be something for you to check out

The Lonely Planet website is great place for information..........

Good luck and have fun.

Dianne
_________________
Singing is the sign of a happy heart

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