Backpacking accross Europe - Need Advice

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by Boric

So looks as if the first weekend of the festival in Spain is already pretty hard to find hostel/hotel. We are thinking of spending the first 3-4 days somewhere else in Spain and training over Monday for the festival.

Anyone have experience with some must see's?

I had a really great time in Barcelona. It's very different from the rest of Spain and there is plenty to do there. I wanted to get down to Granada to see the Alhambra (Muslim Palace) but it didn't work out time wise.

[Kswiss]

Originally Posted by Superfraggle

Strongly disagree. The worst thing Canadians have going for us is our accent, as most Europeans can't distinguish it from American. The flag lets them know where we are from. When I was in Italy, people instantly got friendlier and vendors got cheaper when they learned we were Canadian. Should that be the case? No, but it's real useful.

Definitely leave the flag off your back pack...as a previous expat in Eastern Europe, I often found it weird to see travellers with a big ol Canadian Flag on the back...who cares where you are from?...you travel to travel.......

I feel that you dont get the true experience of travelling....and meeting new people blindly is a lot more exciting then saying "hey Im Canadian" I am automatically awesome....Im not even caucasian...so they auto think Im from China or Japan right away anyway...

Oh and as someone mentioned before....Eastern Europe is the bees knees..

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Boric

So looks as if the first weekend of the festival in Spain is already pretty hard to find hostel/hotel. We are thinking of spending the first 3-4 days somewhere else in Spain and training over Monday for the festival.

Anyone have experience with some must see's?

When I went I was there at the beginning of Sanfermin too... the first night there is a ceremony in the old town where everyone holds up candles and sings and VIPs wave from a balcony above. I'm sure you can find a clip on Youtube. It is really cool and would be a shame to miss. So as mentioned before look into campsites on the edges of town if you can't find accommodation in town itself.

Otherwise, you can start off at the beach in San Sebastian which is quite close to Pamplona and is a really nice town. You can even do some surfing.

One last thing about Sanfermin. At night in town for the kiddies they have a fake bull carried by people that goes through the streets shooting out sparks. But these sparks aren't like your birthday cake sparklers, they will burn your skin and singe your hair and clothing. Stay away from the sparky bull! It f---ing hurts and is arguably worse than running with the bulls itself.

[core_upt]

Originally Posted by Boric

So looks as if the first weekend of the festival in Spain is already pretty hard to find hostel/hotel. We are thinking of spending the first 3-4 days somewhere else in Spain and training over Monday for the festival.

Anyone have experience with some must see's?

You're going to find it hard to find a cheap place to stay, or a place at all, during these huge summer events. Octoberfest is very hard to find accommodations, so if you are set on going, book something now and accept the premium price you'll pay versus any other time in the year.

I've rented cars w/o any problems in Denmark and Germany. Driving from one city to another and leaving the car there is not too pricey, but picking up in one country and leaving in another is stupid expensive. Trains in these countries are great too. Buses on short stints are okay too, say under 4hours. Cheapest way to go and the nice luxury liner buses aren't a bad way to go - nicer than some trains even.

Playing golf will require research too. Some courses may require handicap verification to ensure you are skilled enough to play.

Your trip sounds rad - make sure you keep us posted!

[icarus]

Yeah, for Oktoberfest you'd better book accommodation like right now, unless you want to commute from far away in your drunken state. The other option is going to an Oktoberfest event in another town, not Munich. It's not 'the' Oktoberfest but it is still an Oktoberfest and in fact the locals like it more. Germans view Oktoberfest in Munich mainly as a tourist attraction for drunken Aussie (and Canadian, I guess) backpackers--which it is. Authentic, warm-weather, quality beer festivals around Germany as a whole start this month and run throughout the summer. You can just about go from village to village and festival to festival each day.

[core_upt]

^ Good post. I didn't go to Oktoberfest in Munich, but have been there a few times at other points of the year. I did go to 'Fruhlingsfest' in Stuttgart last spring, which is basically a smaller version of the fall beer fests. It was fun, for about an hour.After that, you realize it's just like Stampede with a carnival and rides, and way too many people that are way too drunk. Although the first beer tent I walked into had about 1,500 drunk Germans singing '99 Lufballons', which seemed pretty authentic! The novelty wore off quickly though, and it made me glad I didn't make grand plans to go to Munich for Oktoberfest. Munch is worth seeing for sure, and it's great to have a mass in one of the legendary beer halls, but Oktoberfest may be over rated. just my $0.02

[Boric]

Looking for some advice from people who have flown to London.

I found a flight from Air Transat from Calgary-->London (LGW) airport.
2:40 PM Depart from Calgary (YYC)
6:25 AM Arrive in London (LGW)
Travel time 8h45 min


It is priced at 381.00 after all taxes.

I looked at some flights from London (LGW) to Barcelona and seems they will be easy to get for around 140-175$

This would total ~550-600 dollars for the entire flight by booking seperate and through LGW airport.

------

Other option is through London (LHR) airport which the full package would be ~1100-1200 dollars depending how I did it.

Anyone have experience with the different airports and if there is anything I should be weary of with Option #1? Seems to cheap to be true haha.

Thanks,

[dissentowner]

Has anybody mentioned to bring lots of condoms yet?

[Boric]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Has anybody mentioned to bring lots of condoms yet?

Thats the most useful piece of information ive gathered so far... Is it really that easy?

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Boric

Looking for some advice from people who have flown to London.

I found a flight from Air Transat from Calgary-->London (LGW) airport.
2:40 PM Depart from Calgary (YYC)
6:25 AM Arrive in London (LGW)
Travel time 8h45 min


It is priced at 381.00 after all taxes.

I looked at some flights from London (LGW) to Barcelona and seems they will be easy to get for around 140-175$

This would total ~550-600 dollars for the entire flight by booking seperate and through LGW airport.

------

Other option is through London (LHR) airport which the full package would be ~1100-1200 dollars depending how I did it.

Anyone have experience with the different airports and if there is anything I should be weary of with Option #1? Seems to cheap to be true haha.

Thanks,

Cheapest flights to and from Canada are definitely Air Transat to Gatwick. Once at Gatwick you can catch the EasyBus directly into London which will drop you near Earls Court. From the dropoff point you can catch another Easybus to Luton airport if needed, or the Picadilly line from Earls Court tube station to Heathrow.

Oh sorry, I misread--if you've got onward flights booked from LGW you're set.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Boric

Thats the most useful piece of information ive gathered so far... Is it really that easy?

Yes, yes it is.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by Kswiss

Definitely leave the flag off your back pack...as a previous expat in Eastern Europe, I often found it weird to see travellers with a big ol Canadian Flag on the back...who cares where you are from?

Every person I ever had a conversation with while traveling.

I wore a small flag on my backpack because I didn't like being mistaken for an American, and I didn't mind other Canadians approaching me. I can't think of anything negative about wearing it. I suppose if you're really worried that somebody might think it was "weird" that you're wearing one, but if that kind of thought even enters your mind then backpacking probably isn't going to be your thing anyway.

[Kswiss]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Every person I ever had a conversation with while traveling.

I wore a small flag on my backpack because I didn't like being mistaken for an American, and I didn't mind other Canadians approaching me. I can't think of anything negative about wearing it. I suppose if you're really worried that somebody might think it was "weird" that you're wearing one, but if that kind of thought even enters your mind then backpacking probably isn't going to be your thing anyway.

I think its a matter of how you want to travel...I am sure there are travellers that love to meet people from certian countries like Canada...but there are some that like the mystery...the surprise of where you are from or finding out where someone is from is just as exciting....