Planning A Trip and I Need Suggestions

I am planning a trip to Europe and I have an idea of what countries my sister and I want to see: England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and possibly Greece.

I particularly like the beaten, off-track roads with the beautiful scenery and my sister likes the popular sites and the cities.
Does anyone have suggestions on the best places to visit, eat, stay, and transportation?

Also, an approx. guess at how long we should stay in each country would be greatly appreciated. I am not looking at spending a lot but if something in particular is worth the experience then I might splurge.

Thanks

If you want to do this properly, you'll need between two and three weeks for each country. The exeptions are Belgium and the Netherlands, which can be combined in this time and Czech Republic and Switzerland, for which you'll need about 10 days each.

Note that most tourists in Europe travel by train and flights, using Eurail passes and budget airlines. Car rental is just too expensive. Fuel costs are also significantly higher than in the USA so that taking the plane or the train with a Eurail pass is cheaper. It only becomes worthwile to have your own car when you stay for a few months, travel with tent and cooking gear and intend to camp illegal on a field track away from the road.

Nevertheless I highly recommend using Eurail for the UK, as driving on the left side can be a hassle. A car would also be a real nuisance in London.

Visa issues: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy and possibly Greece are part of the Schengen agreement. Your combined stay in these countries must not exceed 90 days in a 180 period. This is the maximum time you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area visa free.

Budget: You have picked the most expensive area in the whole world to travel in. As a rule, sufficient funds for travel in the Schengen area are considered by the German government to be around 45 EUR a day per person. For two people in a car I would expect you to need around 60-100 USD per day plus flight tickets to Europe and cost of buying a cheap car.

www.eurail.com
www.skyscanner.net
www.ricksteves.com

One warning about the last link - ignore Rick Steves' recommendations of "highlights" for Germany. It is the typical tourist route unchanged since the 1950's, totally ignoring the north and the sights accessible since the reunification.

[ Edit: Edited at Sep 17, 2006 11:35 AM by t_maia ]

Hello Csielite
In Italy, i would suggest Venice. So unusual and beautiful a city. It is quite expensive. But if u dont want too much expense,u could just stay there,for the day. That is what a lot of people do.
I live in Europe, so can think up more suggestions. I will post them, here, as i do.
Mel

Hello again
What about Brighton, in the south of England. I was there, once. It is a lovely sea side town. I stayed in a hotel room, with a view of the pier, and beach. Cant remember how much the hotel cost, or what the name of it was. But if u can get a hotel room,with a view of the pier, i think it would be worth the splurge.
Mel

The old town in amsterdam is quite and experience.

Hello Again Csielite
Check out Uncle Harrys Hostel.
When i was in Prague, i picked up a pamphlet about it. I did not go there, but plan to, because it looks interesting. It is a hostel, located near a little village in Czecia. I would like to just hang out there and absorb village life.
Here is the web link.
www.uncleHarry.cz
Mel

Hello Csielite,

If possible, go to Jungfrau region in Switzerland, this is truly gorgeus.
Switzerland has an excellent train system, just check out at http://www.rail.chfrom where to where you want to go and enjoy.
Although, do not just buy tickets, calculate, which "card" gives you most value, we used "half fare card".
If interested, you can read our travel diary at -snip
At -snip you will find other travel stories to Europe as well.

Moderators comment: posting of promotional websites is not allowed at tp please read the forum rules before posting in any topics

[ Edit: Link removed ]

Thank you so much for the suggestions I will check them all out! Anything else is appreciated!

Well, big cities one must see in Europe:

London, Amsterdam, Paris, Florence, Venice, Rome, Athens, Berlin, Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, Bratislava.

Depending upon the season, add a few smaller and more medium-sized towns.

Nice areas/sights to see:

Italy: Tuscany, Naples and Pompeii, Lago Maggiore and Lago di Garda
France: Cote d' Azur, Marseilles, Nice and Monaco, Provence
England: Salisbury, Bath, Stonehenge, Wales, Scotland
Austria: in summer cross into Hungary to Balaton lake for the party
Germany: Black Forest, Waddensea in the North( especially one of the islands in the North Sea), Harz mountains, Spree Forest area with the Sorbs, the Iron curtain memorial place near Helmstedt, one of the Concentration camps (not so nice, but it is a must see) cities Quedlinburg, Dresden, Weimar, maybe Cologne or Hamburg too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadden_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quedlinburg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreewald
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quedlinburg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar

If your not used to driving on left hand side for UK dont worry...buses and trains go everywhere... and there priced quiet well... Im from bedfordhsire and i can get to oxford for £5!!

If you do england for a few weeks then places to go are:

Cornwall for a real country view... great place... great vibe!! lots of surfer dudes and dudetts!
Brecon in wales for typical country living
London for shopping and clubbing, museums and sites
Stonehenge
Brighton
Bournmouth
Warwick castle for some history
Alton towers for scary rides
Oxford for shopping and views...typical english style ...where our best uni is..

When you get to UK post on this thread..maybe someone can take you about or to a few places,... ??