5 Week Europe Extravaganza - How to Pack, Where to Stay

Ryan,

My initial impression is that your proposed Itinerary is somewhat "ambitious" and perhaps a bit unrealistic. If I've read your post correctly, your trip will be 35 days and you'll be spending the first 7 days at your Sister's in Madrid. That leaves 28 days to cover 13 cities (including 2 visits to one city) in 9 countries. There was no mention of travel times between cities (which will definitely need to be included given the travel distance between some of your destinations!). With the short time frame before your departure, I'm not sure what advise I can offer?

To answer a few of your questions....

- Hostel reservations: As you'll be travelling towards the end of the spring shoulder season leading into the peak Europe travel season, I'd probably reserve lodgings. However, uncertainties with the economy and now the Flu could mean fewer travellers in Europe - no way to predict numbers though.

- Hostel storage: Yes, Hostels provide storage for luggage (methods vary a bit). Leave your main kit in the Hostel and take a Daypack for touring. DON'T leave valuable in the Hostel! Also, WEAR A MONEY BELT!

- Sleeper Trains: Even with a Eurail Pass, you'll be paying supplemental fees to book a Couchette or Sleeper. Be sure to allow for that in your budget. When using night trains, it's also important to pick trains that have few or no changes - if there are several changes during the night, you won't be getting much sleep!

- RyanAir: They have VERY restrictive baggage limits, so pack carefully. Also, RyanAir often uses very "distant" airports, so you'll have to budget cost and time for getting to & from these airports.

Although you only have a short time until departure, I'd highly recommend reading Europe Through The Back Door as it provides a LOT of great information on travelling in Europe.

Good luck!

Ryan,

One other point to mention if you're using a Eurail Pass, is that these DON'T include reservation fees which are compulsory on most of the "fast" trains in Europe (such as the TGV in France). You'll have to pay these fees separately. If you're caught without a valid reservation, you can be fined on the spot! The fine could be as high as €50 per person!

Thanks for your reply Ken. I'll definitely reserve some hostels then, it'll be nice to count on a place to sleep and probably get some good info online about which have the best stuff around them.

I took a look at the Ryan Air stuff, the carry-on is very restrictive, i'll have to see about checked baggage.

For the ambition of our trip we've already got all of the travel accounted for and planned out. Working with Euraide we have all of our reservations and rail passes including the sleep and overnight stuff. So all of the fees surrounding travel have been taken care of.

Most of the locations follow the format of arriving in the morning around 9-11am, spending the day in the city, staying over in a hostel, spending the majority of the next day in the city and leaving on a night train to the next location. Some places we've emphasized more with longer stays (the Belgium/Netherlands area since trains around there are short and don't need reservations).

I agreed initially on the layout that it was too much, I like my vacations relaxing and pretty loose. As we worked with Euraide and got things organized a lot of things just worked out. The trip is essentially 3 weeks that are pretty laid back, a week in spain, a week in belgium/netherlands and a week in ireland. Then there is a bit of a whirlwind 2 week tour of europe to get us from the first week in spain, through italy/vienna/prague etc to the 4th in amsterdam, if you travel through might as well take the scenic route and see the sites no?

We combined a lot of our travel to be lodging, like from barcelona to rome we take an overnight ferry cruise that has a sleeping cabin and leaves at 11pm.

And in the end, we're young and this might be the only time we get 5 weeks off to do whatever we wish. I want to see a lot and get ideas for shorter vacations to fully enrich myself in whatever excites me on this go-round. I don't mind getting lost and confused in a strange foreign land.

I'm not sure what you mean about packing two bags each, but I think if you are going to follow such an ambitious itinerary you will regret it if you take even one bag as big and heavy as that Travelsmith rolling duffel.

You need to be nimble to succeed, and that bag isn't.

I may be a bit of a "pack light" fanatic, but that bag is three times the size of the bag I used on my five-week trip.

Go small enough and you can even ditch the wheels, saving you a good 6-10 lbs.

Have an awesome trip!

Ryan,

Here's what I pack including what I wear on the plane and what goes in my one carry on. I've done 30 days on the road with this. I always felt like I had comfortable clothes that could dress up for dinner or down for a hike or the beach. I can layer when it's cold or unlayer when it's warm.

Check it out and adjust to taste:

http://www.polyvore.com/mens_travel_pack_list/set?id=1440268

Hi Ryan,
Your trip sounds like a great adventure! With regard to your question about packing, I'd plan to take everything carry-on--one small bag and one daypack each. Pack light--enough clothes for one week and do laundry as you go along. Rick has a good packing checklist in the back of his books.

Congratulation on your graduation!

For a place to stay, it depends on what your tastes are. Can you live with a bathroom down the hall? I have simple tastes, clean and quiet are fine for me. I spend my money on sites and entertainment and save on food and lodging.

For single traveling, I'm happy with hostels because they save a lot of money.

The private double rooms at hostels usually cost the same as a budget hotel but aren't particularly nice.
When traveling as a couple, I think you do better with a Pension or B&B.

I create a list of decent sounding places before my vacation and carry a small wire-bound notepad with contact numbers. On travel days, I call ahead about 10 am for a place for the next couple of nights. I tell them generally what I'm looking for (eg Two nights for two people). If it sounds good, I ask the price. If it's a good deal, I book it then and tell them when I'll arrive. If I'm running late, I call again to tell them I'm still coming.

Ryan,

Thanks for the clarification on your plans. I wouldn't normally suggest trying to fit so much into a limited time as one has to allow for "unexpected events" which tend to happen in Europe at times, and which tend to disrupt even the best laid plans. Hopefully everything goes as planned?

Be sure to stop by here when you get back and let us know how it went.

Cheers!

Thanks for all your replies, i've gathered that "Pack Light" is a priority. So that duffel is out. Instead I am thinking about this bag: http://tinyurl.com/cqx767

The dimensions are 23 x 54 x 36 while RyanAir requirements for carry on are 20 x 55 x 40, are they going to require this bag be stored underneath? I have already paid for 2 checked bags on each flight but I might be able to get that refunded in advance. And is dealing with checked baggage a hassle? Does it take a long time on these small planes?

I was thinking of using that bag as my main bag, everything in there, is it big enough for 5 weeks of Europe?

For day packs I was thinking of taking this which I already own: http://www.goincase.com/products/detail/nylon-sling-pack-cl55026

I'll be taking my MacBook Pro with me (got the world travel kit) as a laptop seems pretty useful out there. The bag has a slim profile and I think would make a good day-bag. I would also grab one of those collapsible bags for if I can lock my laptop away and travel reallllly light.

Would moving around trains and cities with the Rick Steves bag be cumbersome? I plan to lock it up at train stations or leave it at hostels/B&Bs the majority of the time, but I am sure there will be some time where i'll have to wander for a few hours with it on my back.

We want to pack with packing cubes and folders, its hard to get an idea of the amount of stuff that bag will fit from the pictures, it looks like its packed all fluffy.

Since I've already paid for the checked bags would it maybe just be better to suck it up and play it safe and get a wheeled luggage type unit bigger than that?

Thanks again for your help.

I am getting ready to leave on a 30 day trip to Europe. Here is the backpack I purchased http://www.ebags.com/eagle_creek/maiden_voyage_70l_backpack_closeout/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=67245

I am not using the attached day bag but instead bought a messanger bag for during the day. I would for sure limit it to one larger backpack and one day bag. I personally am not a fan of rolling bags, especially if you are moving around a lot, most people in hostels will also probably have a backpack.

I would have a maximum size of 5000 cubic inches for a guys bag, smaller for a women. It will be easier on your back and will also make getting on and off trains easier.

I purchased medium packing cubes from ebags http://www.ebags.com/ebags/medium_packing_cubes_3pc_set/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=48439&lastterm=ebags%20packing%20cubes%20medium

I am using two. One fits 6 shirts and a bathing suit. The other is going to hold 1 pair of pants, 2 shorts, and underwear/socks and a lightweight dress. My backpack easily fits those two packing cubes, my rain jacket, a toiletry bag, and all my electronic chargers and devices. My financee's bag is even a bit smaller then mine so hopefully all his clothes fit, we haven't tried yet!

I would forget the wheels on a bag. You will have to haul the bag up and down stairs and it is no fun rolling a bag on cobblestones. The wheels just add weight.

I would think twice about taking your Mac Book Pro. Are you going to leave it locked in a hostel locker or carry it around with you all day? And are you going to spend enough time on it to justify the risk of traveling with it? If you stay in hostels, most will have very inexpensive to free internet access available for you.

Don't plan on taking a carry on bag that is bigger than Ryan Air's dimensions. You know what their restrictions are and can plan for them; save yourself the potential headache.

We are a young couple and stay in hostels most of the time. For a 5 week trip I would try to book a private room at least 2 nights a week. I would book hostels ahead of time. That way you can get the best value for your money (breakfast, internet, etc.). Hostelworld.com is great resource for this. If you are looking for recommendations I have some for most of the cities you are going to.

You don't need a bigger suitcase for 5 weeks than you do for 5 days. Just do laundry. You won't have any issues with a wheeled bag--I use one every year in Europe and have never had issues pulling it over rough surfaces.

Don't count on hostels having luggage lockers--it really varies. Some might have lockers that don't fit a suitcase.

I would at the very least call the hostels a few days in advance. You will probably find that the most popular ones are booked, so if you have a handle on the ones that are very popular (or in expensive cities), book from home.

Lindy,

I was looking at a similar pack by eagle creek called the Thrive. It looked to be just about perfect (and I was also thinking of leaving the carry-on behind). The Thrive is quite expensive but that Maiden Voyage is much more affordable.

What are the changes made to backpacks to brand them 'female' or 'womens'? Would a male wearing one be uncomfortable?

Thanks,
Ryan

The only difference I know of is the torso length. I know the bag I bought has an adjustable torso for 15 to 19 inches. I am 5 foot 8 inches and had to shorten the torso from the normal length. For comparison the mens Thrive has a torse length of 17.5-20.5 in. Overall I think the pack is really adjustable for different torso and waist sizes.

If you are not really tall or large I don't think it would be much of a problem. If your girlfriend coming along need a backpack you could buy the women one and then see if it fits you too. I agree the Thrive is a little expensive, Eagle Creek is a good brand though.

Here is a website I used to help pick out my backpack, there's several good backpacks on there http://www.backpackeurope.com/packing/backpacks.html
The lady who made the website has backpacked Europe several times.

My experience with storing gear at hostels is spotty. Not all have a locked room for storage and some just have a little out-of-the-way nook (not even a room). And, of course, they won't keep your stuff beyond the day you check out.

Storing luggage at London's air port was very pricey. Train stations I don't know about.

Amsterdam is the only place that I have used a locker at the train station. There was a 24 hour time limit. I don't know if other train stations have limits. Why are you going to Dublin twice?

Andrea,

We're not necessarily going to Dublin twice, but we want to get a lot of Ireland in. The plane schedules and prices from mainland Europe to Glasgow were much more restricted and pricey compared to going from Dublin to Glasgow. Since the plane ride is 20 minutes or so we're going to arrive in Dublin and have 7-10 days in ireland, 2 of which we'll take an overnight trip to Glasgow. There is a couple things we want to see right inside the city so we'll just take our day bags with a change of clothes and leave the main bag locked up in dublin, if necessary at all....

We are pretty much decided on using a convertible suitcase/backpack either the Rick Steves convertible backpack or this one: http://www.ebags.com/ebags/weekender_convertible/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=15026&rlid=detail&rcode=155362059434578

Ron, we are going to take your re ommendation and leave the MacBook at home. I bought the international data plan for my iPhone so that should provide all the web access we need in a bind. And it's tiny not bulky.

We just ordered both the rick steves bags and ebags weekenders from ebags. Were going to try out both on a mini trip around our state for a day. See how they fit our packing cubes and how the weight feels. We'll send the two we don't need back. I'll let you guys know which we pick and why.

We bought a packin folder. And 2 sets of cubes that come with a sm. Med. And large cube plus 3 'slimcubes' each. I think well have more than enough.

Hi Ryan, There a couple of fallacies in your assumptions. The first is you can jam too much into little time "because you are young." Young people plan unreasonable itineraries because they underestimate how much time it takes to move from one location to another. That's inexperience, not an abuncance of energy. If you move to a new city every day, then that means you spend more time moving around than you spend enjoying Europe. What is an appropriate ratio of travel time vs. vacation for you? Would it be 2:1? A 2:1 ratio-- for example- means that 2/3 of your trip is spent on buses, waiting in train stations, finding your hotel, etc. and only 1/3 doing what you traveled to Europe to do. 1:1 means half of your time is wasted. You are underestimating travel times between destinations-- it's more than just time on the train.

Another is you are packing way to heavy for Europe-but I think you got the message on that point by now, so what I would like to emphasize is the faster you travel, the lighter you need to travel. So, you should scale back by 20% over RS guidelines and onebag.com suggestions. This is not just about the weight, the size, the bulkiness of what you will be carrying around. Rather, you must keep packing/unpacking simple since you will be doing it constantly, and you will be frantically rushing around to make your trains. So, you need a bag that has such easy access you will not need to unpack anything. A traditional backpack or duffel bag with poor access is out. Also, you bag should be 2/3 full to ensure easy access.

Finally, your questions indicate you do not have a travel guide. You really, really need to buy one. We're happy to help you, but can't give 250 pages of advice in one Reply. You should get RS ETBD for general planning, then you will need to augment that with regional guides for the other countries you will visit.

Linda,

I've picked up a lot of travel books, Rick Steve's Europe Through the Backdoor, Best of Europe 2009, Ireland 2009, Amsterdam brussels and brugges 2009, phrase books for italian, german, and czech, we have a ton on spain from my sister.

I just like to get input from as many sources as possible, not just the texts. It helps me verify what I've read works for other people.

As for travel time vs vacation time I might have oversold the amount of traveling we'll be doing. We're never leaving (save once) a city the same day we arrive. In all of our stops we have at least one, and generally 2 nights at the city. The only city that is 'moving to a new city each day' is Vienna, and we were not planning on going to Vienna at all there is just no direct train from Florence to Prague. We figured a 12 hour layover in Vienna would allow us to walk around the city a bit and pick up some food but not really explore the city like it deserves to be, that'll be for next time.

The overnight train from Florence into Vienna arrives in Vienna at 7am, so assuming we can get situated and coherent and out of the train station by 9am we've got a good full 12 hours in the city before heading back to the station early (9pm) to make our 10:45pm night train to prague. I pad every arrival/departure time with an hour or 2 especially in the beginning as we get used to using the Euro train system.

By stating "we are young" I suppose I sounded a little arrogant. It is not that I assume we can do more than most people in shorter time frames, but rather we can come back to Europe again later in life. So only 12 hours in Vienna is preferable just to see a place we've never seen before, rather than an extra day in Prague or somewhere else, especially if its on the way.

Our current itinerary meets all the guidelines in the first half of Rick Steve's ETBD save for that one stop in Vienna. I think we'll be alright, we're doing a lot of reading and still optimizing.

Ah, I understand now. I never thought of that interpretation-- that being young means you will be back--not that you can travel faster. No, I didn't think you were being arrogant-- it's just a common assertion that I've heard before and I try to firmly dissuade. Hope I didn't lecture you too much, sometimes I'm abrupt in my postings without meaning to be.

Linda, worry not, it was good to hear some scrutiny. I realize sometimes in all the paper shuffling and planning one can get 'too close' to the trip planning and need to take a step back and make sure the whole goal is being accomplished.

It helped me turn a critical eye to what we had already planned and make sure we weren't going to make our vacation into travel insanity.

I added up all the travel time including buses, trains and planes with some healthy padding on either end, our travel time is 11.9 % of our trip. Oh and then we might as well subtract the 12 hours I'll spend just staring at green Irish fields with a stupid grin :)

I am really getting excited, 16 days left till departure.

Ryan - wow that sounds like a wonderful trip! You guys are really fortunate to be traveling on a such a trip at this point in your lives. You have gotten some really good advice and I only want to echo pack light, pack light, pack light. My husband, teenage daughter, and I went to five countries over 3.5 weeks last summer and each only took a RS convertible and small daypack. I had my doubts about it working out but took the good advice I received on this site and just went with it. It was all fine and in fact I may be able to pack lighter this year! Light, thin layers are key and clothes that wear/travel well. You will appreciate the mobility with all your train travel. Have a great time! Michelle

Ryan... My name is Ryan also and I am going on a VERY SIMILAR trip which departs on June 9th. Just out of curiosity, how much do you plan on spending on travel alone and how much in total?

I am certain that you will enjoy your trip. I must echo the packing advice. Pack as light as possible. Packing for 5 weeks is the same as packing for 2. One carry-on sized case each and one day bag. My husband and I have been Rick Steves converts for many years. His suitcase will weigh less than 10 lb. and mine will weigh in at about 15lb.(I carry all our meds. etc. as well as a few more extra tops and scarfs). You will not regret packing light- you might really regret over packing with all the train traveling you will be doing. Don't forget that many stations have removed lockers due to security concerns. And yes-- you WILL go back!!!

Ryan,

I use the ebags weekender convertible (no wheels). It's held up nicely. I'm not sure how long I've had it, at least five years and used a handful of times a year for anything from a weekend to a month on the road. I leave the shoulder strap at home. If I want to sling it over one shoulder, I just use one of the straps instead of both.

For a daypack, I like the Rick Steves civita daypack. I only carry one thing at a time. If I'm carrying my weekender, the daypack is inside and the civita can fold up to virtually nothing.

Thanks for the bag recommendations guys.

Ryan, travel breaks down like this:
$800 for the round trip ticket to Madrid from Newark US

$500 for a 15 day global railpass (starting its use from florence -> Vienna)

$220 for the ferry across the mediterranean (for full 4 person cabin even though it is just 2 traveling) I saw single seats (like a bus) for 18 euro

$100 for misc. train tickets, reservations, couchettes - you can probably triple that in-country for some bus rides/taxis

$262 for a 5 day car rental in Ireland + fuel

~$250 for intra-Europe plane tickets

That is around $2300 for one person, double it for 2 save for the ferry and car rentals. I rounded up on a lot of that just to be safe and not give unrealistic expectations.

Thanks for making me add that up :P We've been planning and buying parts of it since fall so I forgot about the initial US plane tickets and some other charges. If you haven't gotten your train stuff squared away I highly recommend working with EurAide to help plan and get the best passes/reservations for your given itinerary. I worked with a lady named Karen who was fantastic, a great help.

-ryan

Ryan, I just returned from 2 weeks in Europe, changing locations every two days, using trains for travel. I want to join the chorus saying, "Pack light."

When you're moving around that much, the last thing you want to do is carry anything you don't absolutely need. And you also don't want to spend time looking for lockers at train stations and finding, for example, that none are available and you have to carry everything to the hostel, which you're not quite sure how to find, which means taking some wrong turns and getting more tired and frustrated with each overladen step.

I went with just one carry-on bag, a backpack that's small enough to fit under an airline seat. It would easily have served me for 8 weeks, not just two. It contained two shirts, three pairs of underwear, two pairs of socks, a thin pair of pants, two silk undershirts for cool nights, food and a water bottle for the plane, my netbook (I had to work on the road), a small and thin backpack for day use, and a few toiletries.

So including the clothes, vest, and jacket on my body, I had three days' worth of clothes. That might sound like nowhere near enough, but I basically wore just one shirt over and over. I spent about 10 minutes each night doing laundry in the sink, and my shirt was always dry the next day. The only time I really needed a backup shirt was when I was too lazy to wash out my favorite one.

Since I was carrying just that bag, it was easy for me to get on and off trains, I didn't take up extra seats with my luggage, I didn't have to look for lockers or worry about long treks from the station to the hotel, packing took literally minutes, and I felt absolutely free. Next time I'm taking less.

Adding to my previous post:

Laundry on the road is simple if you have a flat, works-anywhere drain stopper, an inflatable hanger for the shirt, and (optionally) a microfiber towel. Wash the laundry with your bath soap, wring it out, roll it up in the towel and wring again for quicker drying, and then artfully hang it about your room.

I occasionally used a rubber laundry rope that I got several years ago from an online travel site. It's made of several strands twisted together, so to hang something from it you just poke some of the fabric between two strands.

I never wore the backup pair of pants, but if I had stayed longer I would have worn them while I washed my main pants in a laundromat (my main pants are cargo pants and even I wouldn't wash them in a hotel sink).

I also learned from previous trips that the shoes on my feet are enough.

My "daypack" is a very lightweight hemp backpack with no padding (padding takes up too much room). I didn't miss the padding, because I carry little with me--a water bottle, a snack like a bag of nuts, and a guidebook or, if I'm working, my 10-inch netbook.

Awesome Cathy, thanks for the detailed recount. I am getting really excited not only for the trip but just living so efficiently with 'so little' compared to what we normally have access to.