Backpacking suggestions?

[Beffery]

One of these threads have probably been done before, but I was wondering if anyone has suggestions of places I can go OS backpacking.
I'm planning to spend 2-3 months (depending on how much money I can save) sometime in the next 3 years and I haven't decided exactly where I want to go yet. Obviously I want to go to Europe/Asia and maybe the USA.
Are there places I should definitely go to or those I should stay clear of? Any tips on how to make the most of my money? Recommended accommodation? I don't want to go all "touristy" but I would like to see the main attractions (i.e. Eiffel tower, great wall of China)
Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[otaku]

go to south america, theu brasil...

beautiful place!

just make sure to take heaps of bribe money

 

[Deej]

Have you ever been travelling before? If not then I wouldn't choose Sth America first off, you might not enjoy it much as it can be fairly third world in places. I reckon the first trip over it's better to go to somewhere where the backpacker route is already well worn, so I'd say europe's your go. Europe holds your hand a fair bit which is good if you haven't done anything similar before. Only problem there is you'll need muchos muchos dinero - pretty bloody expensive there now.

go around our winter, it's high season so many $$ needed but the weather's good

My fav's - brugge for beer, greek islands cyclades for sex and sun (if you don't get laid on ios you are ugly or a dead set loser), turkey oludeniz and olympos, prague, cesky krumlov, budapest, zakopane, vilnius, paris, san sebastian, lagos (portugal), the cinque terra (italy), amalfi coastline positano and amalfi both nice, croatian islands rab korchula & hvar is awesome, dubrovnik, venice, amsterdam,

actually for something a little bit different if you're ever in the south of spain near the rock of gibralter get the ferry over to Morocco Tangier I think the ****hole is called, but you can get a bus from there to a place called "Chefchouan" TRUST ME THIS PLACE IS AWESOME very small place in the mountains to chill and smoke a little hash if thats what your into. Great mint tea in the main street.

so many great places in europe and surrounds, who knows where to start. You really need to narrow down what you're after in your holiday and how much you can save, it'll make the advice easier to give.

 

[Asgardian]

Yep, don't do it.

Too many A'holes about wanting to take your money, identity and life.

Travel with a group, something organised

 

[Milkman]

I backpacked around the UK, France and Holland last year. I meant to see more of europe, but I was having such a great time in london, that I spent most of my time running amok there. Amsterdam has to be seen, if you like to smoke, and prefer mushrooms in your salad. If the Glastonbury festival is on, and you're in the UK, it's mandatory that you attend. Unfortunatley it will set you back a good couple of hundred, and you will probably have to book way in advance. You'll have the time of your life though.

 

[Uncle Steve]

I did Europe a few years ago. Started with a Contiki tour, then spent a month wandering around as the whim took me. Both modes of travel have their benefits. If it will be your first time overseas, then I'd recommend doing a coordinated tour first, to get your feet wet, and then taking off on your lonesome.

Check out my web pages (shameless plug):
http://www.chariot.net.au/~sjsearle/frames.html

If you're keen on backpacking, then focus on the solo-travel pages. In particular have a gander at the hostels:
http://www.chariot.net.au/~sjsearle/hostels.html

 

[evade28]

a friend of mine went to switzerland and austria and worked pubs and stuff while he was there, said he had a great time.

 

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by Uncle Steve
I did Europe a few years ago. Started with a Contiki tour, then spent a month wandering around as the whim took me. Both modes of travel have their benefits. If it will be your first time overseas, then I'd recommend doing a coordinated tour first, to get your feet wet, and then taking off on your lonesome.

That is excellent advice. The other thing looking at what you said is not to try to do too much in too short a time. If you have 2-3 months you certainly don't have time to see the Great Wall and the Eiffel Tower and do any justice to what's in between them. If you have 2-3 months then you should look at covering a part of the world - you could see quite a bit of Europe or Asia or North America, but you don't have time to see the whole world. The other advantage of a coordinated tour would be that you can find somewhere you want to see more of and go back and explore it in detail when you're ready to head off on your own.

 

[Milkman]

Bah, I hate those coordinated tours. If you're going somewhere safe like Europe, don't bother with them. Befriend some locals, they'll show you a much better time than a tour guide.

 

[Beffery]

Yeah, I'm not that keen on going on an organised tour for the whole trip. I'd like to be able to go where I want and to be able to take the time to see everything.
Decided that London, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Bali, Singapore, China are definitely on my list. Though, am planning to see as much of Europe as possible.
Convinced a friend of mine to come along.. so atleast I won't be going alone.
2005 is the year we're planning to go and we're hoping to expand the trip from 3 months to perhaps 4 or 5, depending on the money situation of course!!
Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

 

[Pessimistic]

I did south america about 18 years ago and it's really fun.

They say Rio for example is more dangerous than some war zones so better take care.

Greek island hopping used to be very popular.

 

[Longboysfan]

Originally posted by Uncle Steve
I did Europe a few years ago. Started with a Contiki tour, then spent a month wandering around as the whim took me. Both modes of travel have their benefits. If it will be your first time overseas, then I'd recommend doing a coordinated tour first, to get your feet wet, and then taking off on your lonesome.

Check out my web pages (shameless plug):
http://www.chariot.net.au/~sjsearle/frames.html

If you're keen on backpacking, then focus on the solo-travel pages. In particular have a gander at the hostels:
http://www.chariot.net.au/~sjsearle/hostels.html

Great Advice.

You can check out the Hostel network and link in when you need it.

 

[Deej]

I agree who said go it alone in europe, if you have even a slight sense or liking for adventure and chaos then going it alone will get you into situations you could never get into with a group. I guarantee at least once you'll be thinking 'imagine if my friends could see me now'.

Not that everyone does it like I did but maybe it's worth mentioning it took me a year to see 3/4's of europe and i reckon i only scratched the surface. I wouldn't go trying to fit too much in, like MrQ said 2-3 months would seriously only be enough for you to see part of europe so forget thinking you can see nth/sth america or asia as well.

 

[sbagman]

I'm currently backpacking around Eastern Europe, much cheaper than Western Europe but still very safe. Currently in Croatia and heading to Sarajevo tomorrow. But yeah, I'd recommend Eastern Europe... fairly easy, very cheap, and great places like Prague, Budapest, Dubrovnik, etc etc.