18-year-old Caucasian Brunette seeks Advice & Therapy

Hi Erin,
First, I think you have a bigger problem than how big should your suitcase be and will you travel by train or tour bus. You (or your Dearest) want to travel to five countries in 8 days, including traveling extensively in Germany. If you can teleport yourself from one location to the next you might be able to fit in a few of those locations. I think you are being extremely unrealistic about how much you can do in that period of time. Would you be able to travel to PA, VA, NC, SC, and GA visiting multiple cities in 8 days?

With 8 days and the locations you mention I would stick to either Italy, going to Venice and Rome, or go to Switzerland and Austria, or Paris and daytrips from there, or go to Germany where you can probably fit in a few places. Travel between locations takes time. If you are determined to go to a lot of locations in a short period then a tour might be what you need. I have never traveled that way, but I am sure others can give you some advice about them.

As for the suitcase, you might want to ask Dearest who will be the one to haul that big suitcase holding both of your clothes up and down stairs. Maybe you can convince her that if you each pack lightly in smaller cases for each of you it will be easier to lift and carry them.

I hope that you and your Dearest can figure out what will make you both happy but with an itinerary that is a little more realistic.

Not only would two suitcases be easier to carry, but if you both pack some clothes in both cases, you'll have an easier time if one of them gets delayed along the way. If they are small enough they could be carried on and no one's clothes will get lost. A big suitcase would have to be checked, and it will not be pretty if ALL of your clothes get lost at once.

8 days is not even close to being enough time to see much of anything on your list.

With your financial and time constraints, and with your moms' history of being stationed in Germany, may I suggest just staying in Germany or in Italy. Base your self in one city and travel out on day trips. Germany is going to be the cheapest, especially if you stay someplace like Berlin in an apt. which are plentiful and cheap to rent. This is great city for day trips too. Another possibility is if you stay in base housing like in Heidelberg, Wiesbaden, Garmisch, or Stuttgart. Train travel is cheap if you use the Laender tickets, or one of the other Deutsche Bahn bargain tickets.

Italy will be the 2nd cheapest and you could also stay in base housing there. Look at Vicenza.

If you don't move around, then mom can bring her giant suitcase.

Naturally, spending more time is more expensive - more food and lodging, if nothing else. But what matters most to me is cost per day. The style of travel you are facing will make your per-day costs (with all transport including your flight there and back factored in) somewhere in the area of $600-$1000 per day, which I think is insane, particularly since you seem intent upon spending half of each day in motion getting from one place to another.

You cannot do even half of that in 8 days.

Travel in the spring or fall and save 40% on airfare and 20% on lodgings. Move around less and save on ground transport.

You may be better off investing 10% of your travel budget on travel "mediation" by a licensed therepist (I'm only kidding a little here), as the situation you describe is doomed on every level.

I hope you can work it out.

ER, I do not think Erin means the trip is 8 days long,she used that as an example about how her mom needs to overpack for a short trip( in contrast to her example of how she could underpack for a much longer trip).

Hi Erin,

First.. rail passes are not always the way to go,, point to point tickets can often work out cheaper. This takes a bit of leg work to figure out,, but there are a few whizes on the "Transportation" forum who may be very helpful.

Second,, how long is trip,, and in what season.

I personally think you shoud narrow it down to alot less places,, I assume your mom had alot more time in Europe then you will so its not practical to cram too many places in.. PLUS , the more you travel, the higher the costs.

I think one should allow for at least 4 -5 days in major spots like Paris and Rome.. and you cannot expect anyone to help with a vague request to set up a time line or itinerary for an entire country( ie, you mention Germany,, but that is a fairly large country,, which PART of it do you want to visit?)

You need a good map and some stick in pins,, for every 4-5 days on trip put a pin in a city. Start with your MUST sees,, and work down by preference,, stick an extra pin in if you wish,, as some places you can see quickly in 2 days( Venice,,which is nice, but very expensive,,so 2 days will do) ,

Now,, connect the dots . Try and arrange airfare so you fly into one major city and out the other.

As for hotels,, what is realistic budget,, in EUROS per night,, there are decent places for less then 70 euros a night, but in some places( Paris and Rome) ,, you may go a little higher,, ( I can get a great place for 100 euros) or you can go alot cheaper in others( hubby had a GREAT hotel in Hanover ( Germany) for 50 euros a night last year)..

Agree to compromise.

"She likes one big suitcase between us for an 8 day trip."

The assumption reading that statement is that she has an 8 day trip. If that information is not correct the OP should be clearer regarding how much time she actually has for this trip. Then she might receive some real advice beside how what she appears to be proposing is unrealistic.

Erin- First stop and breathe! Now- There are several questions we have and I can already see several compromises you and mom can make.

1. Does your C.P. limit your walking? Carrying your luggage? Other issues?

2. Has your mom read any of Rick's books? Have you?

3. Have you both made lists of 'must dos' and 'insists on' requirements?

4. What is your budget?

5. How much time do you have?

6. Other than seeing her previous postings, what are your interests?

Answering these will help us give you relevant advice. As to packing- look (and get mom to look) at the suggessted lists on this site and others. Realize that you can buy stuff there and wash stuff there too.

B&Bs might be a good middle ground between hotels and "porch swings".

Now , when you can, give us more info and we'll help you convice mom and plan a great trip.

"There is no way in hell we can afford it" says the 18 year-old Caucasian brunette. Then you cannot go.

Everybody else - Since Erin started by saying that they had been looking at the RS TWENTY-ONE (21) day tour, I think it is safe to assume she is interested in a 3-week itinerary.

Erin - It is nigh on impossible, or at least completely impractical, to try to duplicate a "whirlwind" tour on your own. First off, you will have to spend time checking in and out of hotels and getting to/from train and bus stations, which aren't part of YOUR time on the tours. Then you have to work with/around train and bus schedules, including possible delays (the tour has its own bus).

So the first thing to do is trim the list of destinations. Sit down with a map and mark the places you want to see, then try to find a fairly direct route through them (like the connect-the-dots puzzles) and fly open jaw (for instance, fly into Frankfurt and home from Rome). About the only reasonable way to see Paris with the rest of the areas you listed is to add a European flight - say start in Germany, end in Rome, then fly to Paris and home from there.

An advantage to a European flight is the BAGGAGE LIMIT - one checked suitcase per passenger, maximum weight 44 lbs. Anyway, first you have to figure out an itinerary - don't worry about the luggage yet :-)

In Italy, trains are a great way to travel. Hostels are often more like basic hotels with private rooms and private baths. There are convents and monasteries that offer basic accomodations at lower prices too. TripAdvisor.com and Hostelworld.com are good places to start looking for rooms - get prices, and more important, read the reviews.

When can you go? You said graduation, so probably not until late June. June-August is generally high season, so hotel rates and plane fares are most expensive. If you can postpone until late September or, better yet, October, it will cost less.

Compromise suggestion - see cities on your own. Look for short (1 to 4 day) guided tours to see the countryside.

"likes" as in past tense.

Erin- It has been awhile since I have posted, but your questions caught my interest. I am 53, 5 foot 2 inches and, while I never served in the armed forces, my kids would tell you I would have made an excellent Army Master Sergeant (lol). So you can pass my post onto your mother (my kindred spirit). Two smaller suitcases really does work better than one large: If you need to load them on a bus or train, it is easier to lift and store smaller items. One large one can get quite heavy. In your case, I would recommend two smaller ones with wheels. One person can still wheel both, and it leaves your backs available for daypacks, etc. We met and traveled with a single woman for a couple of days in 2001. She went with the one large suitcase and she was fed up with it by the time we met her. Also, research packing light. I still take too much on USA car trips, but I have really come to appreciate the benefit of packing light in Europe.

I would use the 21 day tour as a starting point. Research each area and just start making plans for each day of the trip. Be sure you allow lots of time for travel items: trains, finding hotels, checking in, etc. Then see where you stand. My first trip to the British Isles we had a month. We thought we could see England, Ireland, and Scotland with that much time. In the end, we saw all of Ireland and part of England. Keep in mind that it is good to have some "vacations within your vacation" For my husband and I, that means a day to enjoy a relaxing bike ride or hike. I once planned a 3 week trip to the east coast for our family. I packed every day with wonderful worthwhile activities and "must sees". By the end, we were on auto pilot, not taking in anything, and even I was ready to fire myself as tour planner. (I'm pretty sure that trip alone qualifies me for Master Sergreant as I "paraded my troops around Washington DC.")

I'll have to post below as I am out of room.

Lastly: You CAN plan your own trip and find reasonable, acceptable places to stay with in your budget. What do you need: Time, guide books, time, internet access and time. I have planned over 20 weeks in Europe with a good guide book and the internet. In 2008, my husband and I paid $35 a night (or the euro equivalent) for a room with an older retired couple in Melk (bath down the hall) and $120 a night for a room with a private bath right in the heart of Venice. Both were clean and acceptable and while there appears to be a huge price difference, they were both exceptional values for their location. We have found private homes (B&B style) to be as private and comfortable as hotels. In fact, after trying out both hotels and B&B's, we prefer the latter. As you get closer, feel free to ask for specific recommendations in the areas you will be traveling.

Right now, it sounds like you are just getting started. It can be done, and you can do it!! Have a great trip.

One more thing: As you plan, try to minimize one night stays. It is tiring and time consuming to change rooms every night. (I learned this the hard way...see "east coast trip comments above") In a 3 week trip, I usually have 1-3 one night stays.

Erin,

You've received lots of good tips so far. I have a few comments to add.

As some of the others noted, it would help if you could clarify the exact duration of your trip. As you mentioned the Best of Europe 21-day tour, can I assume that's the time frame you're considering?

It would be difficult for the average traveller to duplicate the experience of the ETBD 21-day tour without some very precise planning and a generous travel budget. The tour uses a full sized Coach for travel between cities and all lodgings and some restaurants are pre-booked. Without the Coach, travellers have to rely on rail, local Bus or rental car (and the cost for those will add up).

"There’s no way in hell we can afford it"

It would also help to have a clear idea on how much you can afford. It's difficult to make suggestions without that information.

Finally, it would also help to have some idea on which destinations are most important to you and "Dearest". Given the "issues" you mentioned, you'll both need to be willing to compromise! However, I can appreciate that compromise might not be the easiest thing for a retired Army Master Sergeant to accept.

One other thing to keep in mind is that you'll both need to be "flexible" during the trip, with respect to which sights to see, etc.

Don't despair - I'm sure the group here can help you work out a reasonable Itinerary.

Good Luck!

Erin,

A couple of further points.....

I definitely agree with the others on the point of luggage. Travelling with a behemoth wheelie bag is a goofy idea and something that you'll tire of very quickly. If "Dearest" insists on that type of luggage, make it VERY clear that she's going to be the one carrying it!

Two smaller bags (along with a couple of carry-on bags) would be a much better idea. Would Backpacks be an acceptable option? I'm sure some of the ladies here can suggest some good options for "mix & match" clothing choices. There are lots of travel friendly clothing ideas available.

On the question of lodgings, you might have a look at some of the budget Hotel listings in Rick's Guidebooks. In some cases the price is not too different from a double room in a Hostel. Given your budget constraints, there's no way that staying in the typical Sheratons or Hiltons is going to be possible.

I'm a bit surprised that "Dearest" won't consider Hostels. The Dorm rooms are somewhat like a barracks and some have a cafeteria-style breakfast line (take a tray and move down the line to get the food). She might think she's back in the Army!

Many Hostels these days have double rooms available, so you could have some privacy, possibly an ensuite and still keep the costs down. The "doubles" tend to book up quickly though, so keep that in mind. Check the This Website for one example of European Hostels.

Cheers!