As a first time traveler to Europe (age 20) I would appreciate any suggestions from the seasoned travelers out there.
I am planning to spend 2-3 months in the UK, but I am also considering spending 1-2 months in main land Europe. My first question is whether it would make more sense to book flights in and out of London, or book a flight into London and out of somewhere like Munich, which seems to be one of the cheaper European airports. The second option is slightly more expensive (up to $300 different), but I'm not sure if the return expenses to London (I'm thinking train and ferry) and time this would take make this the better option.
I've also been looking around to get an idea of daily travel expenses. On the cheaper end they seem to range between 40 and 100 Euros a day, without a huge difference between the UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and France. Those are the countries I've looked at at least. I'm planning on staying mostly in the countryside and at hostels, or B&Bs, and not going to any fancy restaurants. Do these figures seem about right?
Lastly I've finally figured out the rules on volunteering in the UK, and plan to spend the soon to be allowed 30 days volunteering with a couple organizations there. I'm still looking for information though on the regulations on volunteering in the Schengen zone (practically the rest of Western Europe). Any information would be greatly appreciated. I've been through the Schengen zone visa website without a mention of volunteering. I'd love to know if any amount of volunteering, which seems to be classified slightly differently than "unpaid work" in the UK, is allowed in the Schengen zone solely with a passport during a normal, less than 90 day stay.
Thanks for your input!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32227 posts
Teagan,
Most of us here travel only for holidays, so don't have much knowledge about things like volunteering. I'd have to do some research on that point.
Generally speaking it's always a better idea to book open-jaw flights rather than having to return to the starting point, for the reasons you mentioned. If you're going to be in Germany at the end of your trip, look for flights from Frankfurt as it's a major hub airport and has a lot of flights available.
Posted by
4 posts
Don't the place you volunteer at cover expenses?
Posted by
OP
CO, USA
2 posts
Thanks for the advice on the flights Ken.
Volunteering would cover the cost of room and board, but there are restrictions on volunteering, so I'm planning on being a good old tourist for some time as well.