I'm traveling solo to Europe for a bucket list first time trip. Need advice.

• If you're planning on these several countries in one month, then consider the Best of Europe guidebook. Note that it covers Barcelona but not more of Spain and some sights in Bavaria but not Munich.

• Try to fly a "multi-city" itinerary, into and out of your two furthest points.

• Train ticket prices could add up for this trip, but without a firm plan, I wouldn't recommend a railpass.

• Taking a train from Spain to Italy, for instance, is a long proposition if you don't make stops in the south of France, but flying from Barcelona to Pisa or Rome can be relatively cheap. See www.skyscanner.com for flights.

• Once you decide where you're trying to head next, then get online or call ahead for hostel reservations or flights, and stop by a train station or travel agency for train tickets. Being flexible means you can't count on your first choices.

Since you are leaving in two weeks, I would determine your cheapest flight options and go from there. Do it ASAP because the longer you wait the more the ticket prices will go up. A lot of people use kayak to get an idea of the cheapest airline but then buy directly from the airline. It is to your advantage to avoid a third party when booking an airline ticket in case something changes with your flight. You will want to fly "open jaw" (into one city, out of another). You will have to book using the multi city route on an airline.

After getting your start and end point, look at a map and pick out the most logical cities in between. I am not a fast paced traveler. So for me, 4 weeks, I would want to spend 3 nights at least in each city, plus travel time. It can be exhausting to switch cities every night or two nights. Only you can decide if you would want to move faster or slower.

Don't pack more than you can easily carry on your own.

Once you get your flight (or flight options) come back and people can probably help more with the itinerary.

As noted above, "open jaw" flights, arriving in Europe in one city and departing from a different city, avoiding backtracking to your first city, is the efficient way to go, unless you get some outstanding, can't pass up deal on round-trip tickets coming and going from one place. Budget airlines like Vueling and Easy Jet can zip you around within Europe. You don't necessarily get a full or sound night's sleep, but traveling by train in a couchette sleeping compartment saves you one night's hostel lodging and you arrive at your next destination in the morning, ready to go. Note that trains in Spain have luggage security screenings similar to airplane screenings, but you aren't limited on the amount of liquids in your carry-on luggage and won't have to remove your shoes. Whether flying or training, research the best way to get from the airport/train station to your hostel and the main attractions. There's no place we've gone that wasn't worthwhile, but Rick Steves' guidebooks do suggest some ripoff or time-wasting attractions to avoid. The TI (tourist information office) in each city, and some have multiple TI's, can often call ahead to get you a bed in that town or in the next town down the road, for that day or the next. Sometimes they charge a few Euros for this service, but it can save you spending half the day trying to find a place to sleep that night. You may want to invest in a sleep mask and/or earplugs to cut out light or other hostelers' sounds.

Also note that Spaniards eat late - if you go to a restaurant before 8 PM for dinner, it'll be you and the other tourists. Entering a store or other business in France, say "Bon Jour!" immediately, as walking into a store and ignoring the clerk is considered rude. They'll return the courteous greeting. Many major cities, like Paris and Rome, sell sightseeing passes that save you money on musuems, sometimes let you cut lines at the entrance (Rick's guides tell you which attractions need reservations and have other tips to keep you out of ticket queues), and sometimes cover public transportation, like buses and metro/subway rides. Anywhere you go, if there's a farmers market, pick up picnic supplies, taste samples, and mingle with the locals. Learn the local term for "tap water" and ask for it, unless you want pricey bottled mineral water. On the way to Bavaria, are you considering seeing any of Switzerland or Austria? As Billy Joel sang, "Vienna waits for you . . . "

No sweat. Figure out where you want to fly into and out of based upon your own interests. The cost doesn't vary a lot. Book the air. That's all you have to do right now. Sometimes open jaw is the best thing, but your places suggest a loop, so RT may be best. Paris, Madrid, Rome, Frankfurt are possibilities.

Been decades since I used a rail pass. It gives (or gave me) great flexibility and freedom. On a whim my partner and I went to places like Pamplona and Venice. Something to consider. Overnighting on a train is one thing for the young. It is quite another for everyone else. If you do it, get a berth.

Let's Go Europe was once the guidebook for cheap travel in Europe. Nowadays I've read that Lonely Planet is better. And of course RS guidebooks.

Hi,

In Austria if you want tap water, the term is "Leitungswasser." Keep in mind that doing a open jaw flight, you may have to change more than once....only if you mind that.

I'd also suggest reading as much as possible before your trip. Define what you want most to see, then put them in some sort of logical order, fly into one end and out of the other. Since you are early summer, I'd start south and work north to the extent possible (but keeping things in something like a straight line, with a minimum of backtracking, is more important). Remember travel time as you plan. You will only see things when you stop. If you try to see too much, you will be moving all the time and never stop to see anything. I try to keep my travel days down to only four hours of actual travel - the days fill up with checking in and out of hotels, packing and unpacking, getting transportation, and finding meals. If you don't plan your travel days realistically, you will be overwhelmed on your trip.

Thanks all of you for excellent advice! I'm booking my flights today. Gotta study the map some more.
I ordered the Best of Europe guidebook on Amazon as Rick's site says that they are out of stock and
I also ordered the Rick Steve's Europe map. Couple of questions. I'll be putting my primary backpack
in check on luggage for the flights and I'll have a smaller day trip backpack inside there. But I feel like
a pocket knife/multi tool would be handy on a daily basis and having in my pack. The flight wouldn't be
a problem since it'll be in the luggage bay but would the Spain train station have an issue with a pocket knife/small multi tool?
Another question: I'm told for times I may need to dress nicer one pair of navy or khaki slacks and one long sleeve
nice shirt would suffice. Thoughts on that? Navy vs Khaki? Jeans are too heavy. But the rest of the time I'd be wearing
shorts and t shirts or Columbia, polo types shirts. Hiking boots for 90% but then sneakers, light weight dark shoes for dressy
and flip flops for hostel showers. My TENTATIVE itinerary thus far is to fly in to Rome and move through Venice, Florence towards Nice and Monaco and the French Riviera. And then through Switzerland ( I hear Durmatt is beautiful) and then France and ending in
Germany. Maybe fly home from Munich. But I'm still open if there are holes in my theory.
Again I'd value anyone's input asap. Thanks again! Michael

I'd also suggest Lonely Planet books, as they offer many choices for places to stay. Rick's tend to be full ahead of time in my experience.

Incidentally I realize I'm way overly ambitious thinking I'll be able to see Italy, the French Riviera, Switzerland, France and Munich in one month so any input on where are "must see" places and where I could trim out would help me narrow it down. Thanks a bunch.

Michael-you're allowing yourself more time with a month, and considering fewer countries over that time, than a lot of people, so kudos for not trying to do 31 places in 30 days ;-)

Still, it's good to not be in too much of a rush, both to allow you a chance to experience a place and not just whiz thru it, as well as to not wear yourself out (even an in-shape 54-year-old isn't 23 anymore).

I've only been to Zermatt in March (to ski) and it was really great. Check out the mountaineering museum (including a display on Teddy Roosevelt when he climbed the Matterhorn) and the climber's cemetery (with climbers from all over the globe). Dinner at the Monte Rosa hotel.

Nice is THE place along the Riviera, with Villefranche-sur-Mer just to the east, and Saint-Paul de Vence just to the northwest. With time and/or a fast TGV train, you could continue westward and see some of Provence, too.

Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Frommers, and Fodor's guidebooks all can also help identify places worth visiting or help with an itinerary. Rick's books don't include every place, but his destinations are all excellent. Other guidebooks sometimes don't always filter out locations based on a I-don't -have-a-huge-amount-of-time-so-I-want-to-get-the-Max-for-my-sightseeing-schedule approach, but can suggest some additional great locations. You local library may even have some of these guides for looking thru without having to purchase.

We always come home with a list of things we didn't wind up seeing, so we always have a reason to go back, but we still saw our most important things first in each location.

Is Annecy, France and/or Geneva, Switzerland being considered? After Switzerland, are you thinking of Paris, or other places in France, considering that you'd already mentioned the French Riviera?

Depending on the weather and how dressed up you want to be, a nice, not overly hot or bulky sweater can sometimes help dress up a gent, above and beyond a shirt with a collar. a place that demands a sport jacket might have one to loan, if you found yourself in that situation (like at the Monte Carlo casino). Khaki or navy, whatever's comfortable and goes with what else you're wearing, just so there's not a big gelato stain on your pants :-)

I believe the Spanish train authorities are more concerned about explosives than a small knife or Leatherman, but we weren't carrying either on our trip this past November. Still, they didn't question (or detect?) some small scissors that we checked for the plane, but had with us in our suitcases on the train. Maybe someone else has a definitive answer for you on that one.

Ricks 21 day tour has 10 cities. I think that is a hard pace to keep up when you are not traveling with a tour group. In your itinerary a few posts back Oukropm, you mentioned 5 cities plus additional cities in France, Germany, Switzerland. I think ultimately, you are the one that has to decide what the "must sees" are and what pace you want to travel at.

I love Italy and I think it makes sense to fly into Rome and work your way north. I would spend 3-4 nights in Rome, 3 Florence, 2 Venice (some people would say 3), 2 Nice. And I think you could easily add another day to do them justice. Add on travel time and that is already half off your trip. So I would pick another 4-5 cities for the rest of your trip. I do not know Germany and Switzerland well enough to make specific recommendations.

Regarding pants color: up to you. Both are neutral colors and would go with anything. Perhaps navy- it will hide wrinkles/small spots better? Remember that many churches want knees covered, including men. And they will enforce that.

In Italy they will not allow shorts in church's and Vatican. .They are pretty strict, but in France they are far more lenient and won't stop you.

Thanks to everyone for the friendly advice the last few weeks. I've taken Rick's packing tips to heart
and have most travel arrangements planned. Two things are still holding me up:
1) I'm having trouble deciding if I should keep my Smartphone working on the US plan
and just turn off the roaming automatic updates to avoid data loading charges (like my tablet) and just use Wifi
where ever available and maybe buy a Europe phone card to call to book places to
stay or count completely on Wifi email for most things and have my US based phone just
for emergencies regardless of the charges.
The other option is turning my plan off in the US for the month and getting a Europe
plan with a new Sim card.

This is one of my toughest decisions and I'd appreciate advice. Thanks, Michael

2) I fly in to Paris from NY and after 3 days will fly to Nurnberg, Germany to stay with friends for
3-4 days. From there I'm thinking of flying to Barcelona, Spain for 3-4 days and from that point utilizing
train (or bus when suitable) to go to Nice and from there to Venice, then Florence with maybe a day trip to Siena or Cinque

Terre and ending up in Rome for my final 3 days . With all that said it doesn't seem like a Eurail train pass would be cost

effective. I'm sorry for being long winded but these two last things keep me up at night trying to make the best decision.

So anyone has the patience to advise me on these topics I'd be very grateful. Thanks very much. Michael

I don't possess a smartphone, so may not be able to weigh in on the merits of taking your current device and finding a suitable method for using it in Europe, but for the last 2 trips, after landing, I went to a local phone company store (TIM in Italy, Movistar in Spain) and purchased a SIM card. They installed it in my unlocked flip phone, and the card had minutes already loaded onto it. The phone + card were all very affordable and worked great for making a few calls to make or confirm reservations. This may or may not be an affordable option if you were making a lot of calls back home, or if you needed a device for doing things besides making phone calls.

I would also look at flying Barcelona-Nice and Nice-Venice

Hi Michael, sounds like quite an adventure. I hope you keep a journal and post here again when you return. Have a great trip!

Barcelona-Nice-Italy . . . you'll need to compare the travel time and the costs. Travel time by air - include getting from town to the airport, arriving at least an hour in advance, waiting for luggage, then getting to town after landing. Cost - watch out for extras on budget airlines - booking fees, luggage fees (carry-on limits are usually very limited and often strictly enforced). Also know that the flights get more expensive the longer you wait to book them.

Unless Nice is a really high priority, I'd fly from Barcelona to Italy. There is so much to see and do there! Going south from Venice to Rome makes perfect sense. Siena is an easy day trip from Florence, but the Cinque Terre take a long time to get to and from. If you really want to go, then plan on training from Florence, overnight stay and on to Rome from there.

Regarding the phone ... I'd recommend your first alternative (keep your smartphone on US plan, turn off data roaming, just use Wi-Fi for emails, etc.). You can buy cheap phone cards once you arrive, or (even easier) just install Skype on your smartphone.

When I signed up for Skype years ago, I bought $10 credit and have made several calls to hotels, restaurants, etc. every year since while in Europe ... and I still have $7 credit remaining. You can call any phone in Europe or US using Skype -- they don't have to have Skype. And a bonus: U.S. 800 numbers are free -- these calls don't use any of your minutes, which is nice if you have to call a bank or airline. If you are really efficient, you could pre-enter some phone numbers (hostels, your credit card company, etc.) in your Skype contact list to make it even easier.

Your trip sounds great! Hope you have a wonderful time.

On your itinerary, you're running in circles. Have you locked down your flight cities? When people suggest you fly open jaw, they're telling you to fly into Rome and home from Barcelona to avoid expensive backtracking.

My suggestion is to go to Rome, Florence and Venice via fast trains (reservations required). Forget the C.T. and Nice this trip. Go from Venice to Munich via train. Rent a car and make a circle around Munich--Fuessen/Garmisch, Innsbruck, Salzburg and back into Munich. Then overnight train to Paris. From Paris, you can catch the new 6 1/2 hour very fast train to Barcelona.

As far as the telephone, there are alternatives. I signed onto the new $50 monthly T Mobile plan that has unlimited text and data in other countries. And voice is $.20 per minute--very, very low. If you have a GSM AT&T phone, they can program it to go with you and you're not locked into any 2 year contract. You can cancel the plan when you return. Recently, we kept getting phone calls in Budapest @ 3:30 a.m. from our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter dialing her mother's cell phone speed dial.

My home land based phone is a MagicJack Plus. My unit can be plugged into a laptop or notebook running on a hotel's WIFI system, and calls home are free. You just have to carry one of the old style phone handsets to talk into.