Could some Europe Traveller Experts please check over my itinerary and see if it is realistic. I'm From the U.S. My budget is around 60-90$ USD's a day.
LEG 1
Portugal- 5 weeks,
Spain- 6 weeks,
Andorra- 5 days,
Leg 2
Belarus- 5 weeks,
Ukrain- 7 weeks,
Moldova- 3 weeks,
Romania- 4 weeks,
Leg 3
Malta- 2 weeks,
Crete- 2 weeks,
Cyprus- 2weeks,
Leg 4
Turkey- 7 weeks,
Armenia- 3 weeks,
Azerbaijan- 4 weeks,
So, does that look like it could work?
The title of this thread is hilarious.
I can't even do the math/research, because I have indigestion from Father's Day brunch- do you go over 90 days in the Schengen countries? Is this how much time you are spending in each place? Do you need visas for any of these other places?
Just so we're all on the same page -- you're doing every bit of it by bike or swimming, right?
Disregarding the cost of moving between legs, and even the cost of moving within legs as well:
Leg 1: probably not, but if you make it, figure on being on the top side of your range.
Leg 2: (Romania only, no experience on the rest)sure -- lower end
Leg 3: (no knowledge of Malta) tight but maybe, Crete might get tricky
Leg 4: (Turkey only -- are those last two real places or did you make them up to fun us) probably
The odd thing is, when I back up and look at it, I'd almost bet that you can spend a year wandering around for thirty-five grand. Go for it. Come home early if you go broke. It's going to be one hell of a trip.
My first question was the Schengen issue too. You definitely need to do some math and research on that area and figure out if you would need special visas, etc. Just 5 weeks Portugal plus 6 Weeks Spain plus 2 weeks Crete alone would be more than 90 days within 6 months. Add Malta and you are way over.
I assume you would be staying in hostels to make that budget? If so, I would think the budget would be possible, even in Spain, which I would presume just by guessing is the most expensive place on your itinerary. Are you traveling alone? Traveling with someone allows money savings sometimes (splitting meals, accommodations, etc). You might also want to consider safety/language/customs types of things in some of those countries so you'd be well-prepared for what to expect.
all that said, it sounds pretty freakin amazing and if you can make it work financially and legally, I'm sure it'd be the experience of many lifetimes.
Portugal, Spain, Malta, and Crete are currently in the Schengen zone, and according to this itinerary, he plans on spending a total of 115 days there. However, since there are about 19 weeks between Spain and Malta, the 180-day clock resets and he has another 90 days within Schengen. As long as he sticks to this order, the 90-day rule shouldn't be an issue.
I cannot believe you're leaving out Kyrgyzstan.
I'm just curious to know what about Andorra captured your attention to give it 5 days? To me, that would be like spending 5 days in a very large airport Duty Free shop.
If this is to include transportation betw your locations, your budget will not work!
If this is only lodging and food then yes.
I suggest you cost out ea day as a prelim itin to include hostels w/ their rates. Assume you will be using grocery stores for your food 80% of the time. Sandwich/deli/gelato/cafe bars as your splurges.
Also have you checked into your visa needs for some of your destinations? They cost.
"realistic" from what sense? cost, time, places. Clarify what research you have done and put it in context for us - how did you arrive at the time frames listed in your post? Are these wild guesses or is there some method to the madness.
Some quick observations:
as already stated, there isn't much in Andorra
not sure what you are going to do in Moldova for 3 weeks
I have been researching Azerbaijan and at most I could see someone spending is about 10-14 days in the country unless you are going to park yourself in some small town/village and just hang out.
This seems to span a full year - is this all being done continuously - if so which countries are you spending the winter months in?
Without knowing your intent and likes, each of the above is clearly doable but seems like an enormous waste of time and money from a first glance.
Thank you everyone for your comments, I still have to do a lot of research but I think this might work. My daily cost doesn't include transportation. Just food and hostel money.
It might be easier (tho colder) to ski across Antarctica
You could even do the trip with a bike in less time. What are your plans in each country?
I think I'd be bruised and seriously injured after a trip like that too. I've never been to any of these places but it's a HUGE jump between Andorra and Belarus. It seems to me that will take a lot of time and money - unless the EurRail Pass covers it. Why are you planning to end your trip in Azerbaijan?
It looks to me like you are trying to pack A LOT into just one "trip of a life time" and I suspect that you have personal reasons for wanting to see and spend so much time in all these countries. If that's the case, I'd say just go, have a blast, and, like someone else said, go home if you go broke, and then you can finish the trip another time.
Have fun! :)
