The planning part of this trip has been learning curve but a great one at that. Here are a few of the resources we have found helpful in this process of preparation for our 6 week hop scotch around Europe.
STA: I mean who wouldn’t use them? The worlds largest travel agency, cheap deal finder, and awesome customer support make this a first choice of research. Originally founded in Australia, this company caters to students and young people everywhere. If you happen to find a cheap ticket through another consolidator tell STA and they will price match it for you. They are far easier to deal with then other companies. Ask for Alice when you call 1-800-781-4040, this lady knows her stuff and is very helpful.
Route Planner: Planning this trip would have been very difficult with out the help of this site. When traveling by train it is important to have options. This site will give it to you in full. All you have to do is type in your departure and arrival info and wala, you get live access to all the train schedules and routes.
Eurail Pass: If the above site wasn’t good enough this one is sure to do the trick. This site is pretty much the answer to all your problems, well kinda. Everything from country profiles, logistics of planning and the best means of transportation for ya, its all here!
Ways to find cheap/ free tours during your travels: With out even having to wheel and deal for a tour of your favorite city, be sure to take a hold of these opportunities. This site provides for us a way to get to know the country in its deepest roots….for FREE!
Interested in learning more about what comes ‘free’ in Europe. Check out this top ten list!
TripAdvisor: This site is sure to give you good advice from real travelers. We’ve been saved a few times from making bad turns by reading up on other traveler experiences.
Cheap airfare in Europe! Who would have thought you could get from London to Vienna for 5 EUROS! Well you never know what you might come across on these sites. Be sure to navigate through some of these airlines when you are about to circumnavigate this part of the world. You never know what you might find. Here are a few we’ve found helpful. Ryanair, known for having the best deals, as well as Easy Jet, Wizz Air, Agean airways, Air berlin, and Croatian Airlines. Skyscanner.net is a great search engine that usually comes out pretty accurate with some of the best deals. Also check out Which Budget.
Traveling within the Balkans come at a cost…inconvenience. In planning this specific trip, if you ever want to fly from Greece to Croatia, just stop. Don’t even consider it, unless of course your cool with plopping down 500 bucks. A whole site was created to help travelers like us with roundabout hang up’s such as these, called Balkanology. Leave room and time for travel because the Balkan region is not as up to par in the transportation department as we shall soon find.
Lindsay Clark- STA World Traveler Intern 2009. Just go read her blog. This girl is a machine and a mouthfull of knowledge when it comes to anything travel. NOMADDERWHERE
ACCOMODATIONS
Gintherhof Chateau, Austria
Located in the petite town of Ehenbichl, Austria just a jog away from the bigger “city” of Reutte, this family-owned seven-bedroom home turned bed and breakfast offers one of the best deals in the area. 26 Euros a night for a room and bathroom, complete with free breakfast (hot or cold), and not to mention the most comfortable beds and pillows to speak of.
BoatHouse Hostel, Prague
Just a 20 minute tram from Old Town and City Centre can take you to the doorstep of a quaint and homey hostel on the river Vltava. Prague locals and makeshift mothers for weary travelers own and operate this backpacker’s hidden safe haven, providing guests with cozy rooms, towels free cold breakfast (about two dollars for hot and Viera’s eggs ARE my favorite in the world), plus a mini convenient store with ammenities and cheap beverages. Bikes and canoes are available for rent on request, plus a golf course and bike paths are literally just outside your window. Excellent stay.
Hocus Pocus, Krakow
Prepare to be bewitched…decor, location, ambiance, ammenities, staff, this hostel is truly magical. Located on a main street central Krakow only two minutes from the train station by foot, this artsy and unusual abode is the epitomy of what a traveler needs in Krakow; a two second walk to an array of AMAZING kebab and gelato stands and a 20 second stroll to the main square. A handful of friendly, stylish, edgy chicks operate Hocus Pocus and make beaten backpackers feel right at home upon arrival. Witchy decor (think a low dose of Halloween flair) dons the several rooms of bunkbeds, plus retro photographs throughout the rooms, kitchen, and living room. Free breakfast is included, pretty much a 4 star bathroom (trust me you don’t see this often in hostels), plus loads of free advice about where to go and what to do by your mystical hosts. A mystic must.
Red Bus, Budapest
This cozy lil hole in the wall is conveniently located a tram stop away from the main station and is perfect place for travelers wanting a quiet and homey feel. Free breakfast, clean rooms…a satisfying stay.
Hostel Ana- Pireaus, Greece
If you want to stay by the beach, meet fun people, and score some deals on great food, Hostel Ana’s got what you need. It’s positioned just a stone’s throw away from Black Beach, arguably Santorini’s most coveted beach spot in the hub of Pireaus, a laid back, friendly town filled with young travelers always on the look out for a good time. You can nab sweet discounts on grub by flashing your room key and pay only 5 Euros a night if you don’t mind sharing a room with 25 other people. Ideal spot for solo travelers…warm, welcoming, always down for a party.
Villa Bananna- Dubrovnik, Croatia
The way to stay in Croatia is private accomodations. Mladen Brajkovic and his family are one of many who open their doors in the summer to travelers offering them a home away from home. For only 16 Euros a night, guests share rooms of four, six rooms total, guests have a chance to get a more home/local flavor of the city. For just seven Euros more, Mladen will cook you up a mean barbecue Dubrovnik style.
Balmer’s, Interlaken, Switzerland
Magical is the first word that comes to mind. Hardly a ‘hostel’ this 60-year-old haven in the heart of Interlaken at the foot of the Swiss Alps is tailored for the youthful, adventure-seeking traveler. The main cabin is Swissed out in the friendly colors of red and white which houses a selection of rooms with great prices from doubles to larger dorms. Balmer’s is a playground for adults, day and night. Locals and travelers from the city come to Balmer’s to partake in the constant party. An open courtyard with bar, beer garden,and lifesize chess board greets travelers biking or walking up from the main road. Expect two, yes two , happy hours offer two for one deals on famous local beer, free breakfast, and information desk to sign you up for any and all outdoor adventure activities…Balmer’s knows how to hook you and keep you. It also hosts one of the town’s most popular nightclubs, Metro. Be sure to kick back in the one of a kind ‘hammock’ room in the main cabin to lounge in one of the eight swinging hammocks. The personality of this place is as almost as fun, lively, and carefree as the man, the legend, Eric Balmer who dreamed up the place in the 70s. Basically, the balm in hostel experience.
