Transportation Matters When Backpacking in Europe

Many people ask about flight costs. First of all, depending on how long you plan on staying in Europe, you are possibly going to need an open ticket. If you plan on staying for many months such as 7 months, your best bet is to get an open ticket for one year. If you are under 26, make sure to look for youth or student tickets from student and youth travel agencies.

The most common form of transportation used for backpacking through Europe is train. Make sure to find out the costs of rail passes. The longest rail passes only last up to three months so make sure to take into account that you will be buying multiple rail passes if you are traveling for months on end. To get rail pass prices, look online at the RailEurope website. The website even has a pass comparison chart that will help you estimate the cost for your pass depending on your route.
Hostelling

When backpacking through Europe, you are most likely going to stay in hostels. There are two types of hostels: Hostelling International (HI) hostels and independent hostels. Many travelers want to know if they need to bring anything specific to stay in hostels. Youll probably want to purchase an HI membership card in order to stay in HI hostels since they will charge you extra if you dont have one. Some HI hostels also require you to have a pillowcase and bed sheet sewn in half and theyll charge you extra if you dont have them.

An HI membership will cost you $28 dollars and you can buy it online. If you are traveling with your significant other you may want to look into the costs of private rooms at hostels unless you are both comfortable staying in dorm rooms together. If you are traveling alone, staying in a hostel is a great way to meet other travelers.

Backpacking through Europe is not the exotic adventure it used to be. It is a well-trodden path but for that reason researching and planning a backpacking trip through Europe has become easier. Many travelers have been down the same path so use their advice to your advantage so your trip can be smooth sailing.