Backpacking around Europe, hints and tips!

Megahurtz400 · 9 Jul 2012 at 19:47

Hi there, some of you may already know im off round Europe starting on 16th August, and it seems a few other people either want to do the same or have done the same

Just after some hints and tips and general advice really, im going to be Interrail from Amsterdam to Croatia via Brussels and Italy, then up to Berlin through a load of places

Ahleckz · 9 Jul 2012 at 19:49

Stay at The Flying Pig downtown in Amsterdam.

Eat the breakfast at hostels, it's not great usually but it's pretty much always free.

Megahurtz400 · 9 Jul 2012 at 19:50

Ahleckz said:
Stay at The Flying Pig downtown in Amsterdam.

Eat the breakfast at hostels, it's not great usually but it's pretty much always free.

Already booked my first 3 nights there, anything worth knowing about it in particular?

Ahleckz · 9 Jul 2012 at 19:53

Na, it's just awesome. Staff are great (and are allowed to give out free drinks

), it's really chilled out but also a great place to begin (and end) your nights partying, and it's in a really good location.

The1nonly1 · 9 Jul 2012 at 19:58

Megahurtz400 said:
Already booked my first 3 nights there, anything worth knowing about it in particular?

Great city, I went there back in February, lots of small bars and places to grab a drink. I mainly stayed around the Dam Square area, More touristy part of the city.

FabienO · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:11

Smile

Megahurtz400 · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:12

FabienO said:
Smile

That's my golden rule of life so no worries there

Megahurtz400 · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:21

Also was wondering the best way to access money while travelling, have a debit card with Natwest, don't have a very good credit rating so a credit card is out of the question, would one of those pre-paid visa/mastercards be a good option?

Jongo · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:31

Get a travelex cash passport if you plan on just hitting europe. No charges for using abroad and you just load it up like a debit card its fantastic and you can just pick it up easily from the airport!

Trifid · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:38

Megahurtz400 said:
Also was wondering the best way to access money while travelling, have a debit card with Natwest, don't have a very good credit rating so a credit card is out of the question, would one of those pre-paid visa/mastercards be a good option?

I just withdrew money from my Natwest debit card for my whole trip. The exchange rate appeared to be great and avoided having wasted money and is no hassle to use, just find any ATM.

Megahurtz400 · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:40

Jongo said:
Get a travelex cash passport if you plan on just hitting europe. No charges for using abroad and you just load it up like a debit card its fantastic and you can just pick it up easily from the airport!

Looking at it now, i'd get it with Euros on there, but can I use it in Croatia and Poland where the main currency is different?

Megahurtz400 · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:42

Trifid said:
I just withdrew money from my Natwest debit card for my whole trip. The exchange rate appeared to be great and avoided having wasted money and is no hassle to use, just find any ATM.

No fee's for this?

Jongo · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:44

Megahurtz400 said:
No fee's for this?

None in EU countries iirc.

Megahurtz400 said:
Looking at it now, i'd get it with Euros on there, but can I use it in Croatia and Poland where the main currency is different?

You can use it in Croatia and Poland( i did) but it charges you a little bit (around a euro per transaction), will be tons less than natwest though! If i remember correctly natwest charge a bomb for using a card abroad.

Megahurtz400 · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:46

Jongo said:
None in EU countries iirc.

You can use it in Croatia and Poland( i did) but it charges you a little bit (around a euro per transaction), will be tons less than natwest though! If i remember correctly natwest charge a bomb for using a card abroad.

Lovely stuff will get one of these then

Jongo · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:49

Also if your going to Berlin,Munich,Vienna or Budapest check out the Wombat hostels they are some of the best i've stayed in while travelling and cheap and do a damn fine breakfast!(you can also get a free breakfast if you keep one of their leaflets as proof of staying in another hostel).

[TW]Fox · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:50

Cash passport cards are **** - you get 'no fees' but you get landed with a cruddy exchange rate instead. Think about it, something has to pay for the system!

Get a Halifax Clarity Mastercard. Not only are there no fee's but the exchange rate is simply the Mastercard wholesale rate, as close to the spot rate as you'll ever get being a tourist.

You can also withdraw cash, too - the only cost of doing this is interest @ about 20% APR from the day of withdrawl. But practically speaking this works out at only just over 1% max pre withdawl (So 1 euro for every 100 you take out) if you've got a direct debit clearing the card in full each month.

Don't waste your money being conned by travel agents, foreign exchange shops or silly passport cash cards.

[TW]Fox · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:51

Jongo said:
Also if your going to Berlin,Munich,Vienna or Budapest check out the Wombat hostels they are some of the best i've stayed in while travelling and cheap and do a damn fine breakfast!(you can also get a free breakfast if you keep one of their leaflets as proof of staying in another hostel).

I looked at these today and had to laugh at the pricing. They wanted 50 quid a night for a double room in Vienna.

So I booked a double at a Marriott instead for 7 quid a night more. Whats the point when the savings are so lame

Ahleckz · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:55

[TW]Fox;22311693 said:
Cash passport cards are **** - you get 'no fees' but you get landed with a cruddy exchange rate instead. Think about it, something has to pay for the system!

Get a Halifax Clarity Mastercard. Not only are there no fee's but the exchange rate is simply the Mastercard wholesale rate, as close to the spot rate as you'll ever get being a tourist.

You can also withdraw cash, too - the only cost of doing this is interest @ about 20% APR from the day of withdrawl. But practically speaking this works out at only just over 1% max pre withdawl (So 1 euro for every 100 you take out) if you've got a direct debit clearing the card in full each month.

Don't waste your money being conned by travel agents, foreign exchange shops or silly passport cash cards.

He's a student, so might not be able to get that card. What would you suggest if you were refused?

Jongo · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:55

[TW]Fox;22311697 said:
I looked at these today and had to laugh at the pricing. They wanted 50 quid a night for a double room in Vienna.

So I booked a double at a Marriott instead for 7 quid a night more. Whats the point when the savings are so lame

Its always more expensive to have your own room, we stayed in a dorm with 4 others it was around 20 euros per person iirc. Which was probably the most expensive hostel we stayed at but it was also a very great social place to meet new people etc.

Megahurtz400 · 9 Jul 2012 at 20:56

Ahleckz said:
He's a student, so might not be able to get that card. What would you suggest if you were refused?

Not a student, in a very well paying job for my age, but the fact I have a poor credit rating from being silly when I was younger and the fact i've just handed in my notice will mean I probably won't be able to get one