An AFFer committing sins - Europe on a budget

[medhead]

Did a night train from Vienna - Venice, but we did "first class", so 4 beds in the cabin. Was very pleasant and had a nice trip, sharing with a female who was quite personable. I think the whole shower thing depends on what time of year you travel also, e.g. winter is a bit easier to swing by than summer for example. That being said, I normally like to get 2 showers in per day, but worst case scenario one each morning is the minimum!

Wow, I've also done the night train vienna to Venice (Orient express no less). First class so good service but I almost died when the porter said the showers where closed for "hygiene" reasons. This was in summer and a heatwave had just hit. So it was 27 . I'd just come from a conference so my luggage was overloaded, 5 kg of conference paper etc. Lugging that all over about 15 bridges to the hotel was "fun". This was the place that we couldn't get into until midday. So I felt rather rancid in the end. At least the hotel was great and cheapish.
The night train with the tire guys was from Munich to Budapest.

 

[Flashback]

Wow, I've also done the night train vienna to Venice (Orient express no less). First class so good service but I almost died when the porter said the showers where closed for "hygiene" reasons. This was in summer and a heatwave had just hit. So it was 27 . I'd just come from a conference so my luggage was overloaded, 5 kg of conference paper etc. Lugging that all over about 15 bridges to the hotel was "fun". This was the place that we couldn't get into until midday. So I felt rather rancid in the end. At least the hotel was great and cheapish.
The night train with the tire guys was from Munich to Budapest.

I don't remember there being showers onboard, so must have been different trains! Ours was booked via ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG

 

[medhead]

I don't remember there being showers onboard, so must have been different trains! Ours was booked via ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG

I think there must be different operators of the same train on different days. Ours was a DB carriage. Booked, or maybe reserved, with DB at Munich, with a pass. There was definitely a shower but not allowed to be used.
When later looking into Rome Munich on a day train it switched between DB and Italian trains on alternating days.

 

[anat0l]

Did a night train from Vienna - Venice, but we did "first class", so 4 beds in the cabin. Was very pleasant and had a nice trip, sharing with a female who was quite personable.

I don't remember there being showers onboard, so must have been different trains! Ours was booked via ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG

Our OBB ticket from Vienna to Venice shows we were in a Liegewagen 4er in class 2. Basically a couchette with 4 bunks to a compartment. According to OBB's website, there are only washrooms for our cabins, and by no means first class travel.

Still a comfy ride, except being economical with luggage is most advisable. Plus, don't expect much for breakfast (call it a refreshment )

 

[Premiosa]

Europe on a budget: There is a book by a Brisbane Lady called "Goodnight and Godbless" (and of course a website) that lists monastic and religious accommodation; these Houses it seems also accept Pagans, many of them are in prime locations in the big cities, it could be good to have an occasional night in at one of these Houses; Regards Premiosa

 

[k_sheep]

Good idea on the cutlery, etc. May come in useful if I decide to do a bit of cooking etc. at the hostel rather than eating out. I also already have a silk sleeping sheet, I've read that this will come in handy too! It has a slip for the pillow, too. The length of string I'm assuming will come in for a make-shift clothesline

Amazing how many people in hostels will have a bottle/cask shock of wine to share around to anyone with their own cup. Plus I like having one to brush my teeth with if I'm in a non-potable-tap-water area.

I love my silk sleeping sheet too. Weighs nothing, and you know exactly how clean (or not) it is. I'd still recommend a separate pillow case - besides covering questionable items like shared pillows, it also doubles as a laundry sack, extra carry on bag, makeshift pillow (if you stuff a jumper into it), heck even a towel or bathmat (but dries way quicker).

With the cutlery, just make sure you don't get the "travel" ones ... ie the ones that fold up, or are made of some heavy duty metal. Just get a cheap plastic set - the folding ones are impossible to keep clean, and the mechanisms always jam up. As long as it won't melt in coffee, you'll be right. Mine is actually a kiddie set which are bright pink, with a Stuart Little cup. Who says you need to act your age?

Sky is the limit with string! clothesline, shoelaces, baggage-holding-together, antitheft device, closing device for aforementioned laundry sack, tying stuff onto backpack when you're too lazy to repack and make it fit etc etc.

 

[anat0l]

With the cutlery, just make sure you don't get the "travel" ones ... ie the ones that fold up, or are made of some heavy duty metal. Just get a cheap plastic set - the folding ones are impossible to keep clean, and the mechanisms always jam up. As long as it won't melt in coffee, you'll be right. Mine is actually a kiddie set which are bright pink, with a Stuart Little cup. Who says you need to act your age?

May I recommend the plastic cutlery that QF uses in Y? They work quite nicely and are fairly robust. You can easily get a container (sometimes meant for toothbrushes) that you can store them in.

 

[medhead]

I'm interested knowing more about the problems with metal cutlery. I can understand folding cutlery would be rubbish. But the cutlery the army gave me a rather functional, metal and I would think would be ok. Being metal they can be cleaned simply in a cup of boiling water without worrying about melting.

I guess metal cutlery would be a problem if doing carry on only. But then I usually found that a decent metal spoon is all that is needed. I could eat anything with that spoon including steak.

 

[Keith009]

*opens thread nervously*

I admit to having stayed at a hostel once (my first trip to Europe back in 2004), the Generator in London. After getting over the shock of sharing a room with a stranger ('treated' myself to the twin share, not realising that they meant 'share' quite literally) and communal bathrooms (at least there was some major eye candy), I actually quite enjoyed the experience. GBP1 pints during Happy Hour at the downstairs bar not something to be sniffed at, as well as getting pissed with new friends - some of whom I still keep in contact with, one of whom married an Aussie she met at the same hostel and is now living in Sydney! That said, I wasn't rushing back to another hostel after that experience!

The trouble was the lack of privacy and you only got 1 poky little locker. I stayed for 9 days and had a new roomie every 2-3 days, one very sketchy one - didn't feel safe leaving my shopping bags in my room (locker was very small and dirty). I also got some odd looks lugging my shopping up to my room every evening. Luckily nothing went missing. So wised up, caved in to Mum's suggestion, and started my hotel loyalty addiction on that trip. (though it wasn't SPG - I actually started with Priority Club at a HI, hey gotta start somewhere....)

 

[Flashback]

I'm interested knowing more about the problems with metal cutlery. I can understand folding cutlery would be rubbish. But the cutlery the army gave me a rather functional, metal and I would think would be ok. Being metal they can be cleaned simply in a cup of boiling water without worrying about melting.

I guess metal cutlery would be a problem if doing carry on only. But then I usually found that a decent metal spoon is all that is needed. I could eat anything with that spoon including steak.

That would have to be pretty tender steak!

 

[medhead]

That would have to be pretty tender steak!

I'm not sure if defence have anything better these days. It was a long time ago. But in the KFS set I was issued the edge on the spoon was at least as good as the edge on the knife plus you could get better leverage with the spoon.
As back up there is always the cutlery issued by god.

 

[anat0l]

Main problem with metal cutlery is if you keep it in your carry-on, as stated. Metal forks get confiscated at security screening; plastic forks (at least in Australian airports) seem to be OK (even those QF plastic forks).

You can eat a steak with a spoon and fork - most Asians in Asia do this - however you would probably need a tender steak or some decent elbow grease.

In saying all of this, I'm thinking that you could almost eat anything using a spoon alone; perhaps throw in a pair of chopsticks....

 

[k_sheep]

I use plastic mainly for the weight saving. A couple hundred grams isn't much but adds up when it's on your back!

 

[casper]

I would second, third etc many of the suggestions people have already given. A few specific things I've found when backpacking (including as an early 20s female travelling by myself):

- as someone has already mentioned, ziploc bags are a must. I tend to use them for dirty clothes - both to keep them separate from the clean stuff and so when you go to do washing you can just pull the bags out and get on with it. Also useful for keeping things like power adaptors safe and dry and easy to find

- look at not only the ratings, but recent reviews on the hostel booking websites so you have a bit of an idea of the specifics of good and bad aspects of places. You'll soon learn what you're willing/able to put up with, and what you're not

- hostels with washing machines will be a godsend

- be prepared for travel plans to go awry, have at least a vague idea of backup options (particularly when you're connecting to another bus/train in a midway town) and be able to entertain yourself while you wait. A sense of humour is even more important when travelling on the cheap!

- avoid any 'YHA' branded hostel at all costs. In my experience, they're uniformly terrible

- I've found that I've been able to get away with booking only a day or two ahead in most places during autumn and winter. Not been to Europe in summer, though, and imagine that approach would not work so well

- your camera's memory card is pretty much the most important thing you'll take with you. Given how long you'll be away, it's probably worth having some kind of way of backing up your photos as you go

- don't be careless with your belongings in a hostel, even if you're just ducking out of your room to go to the bathroom. I've seen people have stuff they've left out or easily accessible stolen while away for only a matter of minutes. That said, so long as you're generally sensible about your belongings, you should be fine.

- definitely head to Eastern Europe - my favourite part of Europe, and changing so quickly that it will be unrecognisable only a matter of years after going (necessitating you go back again to see how things have changed, of course! ) Budapest, Estonia and Transylvania are highly recommended

 

[MissBurrill]

But the cutlery the army gave me a rather functional, metal and I would think would be ok. Being metal they can be cleaned simply in a cup of boiling water without worrying about melting.

You washed yours? I may have once or twice licked them clean, wiped on my pants then put back in my webbing :shock:

I'm not sure if defence have anything better these days. It was a long time ago. But in the KFS set I was issued the edge on the spoon was at least as good as the edge on the knife plus you could get better leverage with the spoon.

They still issue KFS although FRED is being phased out :evil:

My advice to Flashware is to think 'what would Karen do' and do something else. This will save you from pole dancing on subways and street signs, really bad karaoke and sneaking into pools that are closed (along with a lot of other things).

One thing I once did in the USA was go to the train station and just chose a random Amtrak train to buy a ticket on. You could have a fun few days choosing spontaneous destinations however you then need to find accom.

 

[medhead]

You washed yours? I may have once or twice licked them clean, wiped on my pants then put back in my webbing :shock:

Normally only when back home. Best wiping place used to be the shirt pocket flap between the outer and inner layers. Unlike pants that is one place that stay relatively dirty free.

 

[harvyk]

Just one last piece of advice - trust your instinct - if it feels wrong then it probably is. Make sure that when you do things cough the level of perceived risk and add "would I do this at home?". Eg. that poor girl that broke her back in Croatia - would she be cliff jumping at home?

Yeah I'd second that, if someone is offering you "super cheap sunglasses", and all you need to do is follow them in to that elevator there (in a set of residential apartment blocks) and go up to the second level, it's probably best to find a reason why you need to be somewhere else.

Also look at setting up some sort of online (but secure) file storage and make scans of all important documents (eg passport, tickets etc) that way if your passport \ luggage goes walk about, you can simply jump online and access the things that can get you home. (gmail could work for this, simply email yourself copies of all important documents)
Also it can be good for backing up other things such as photos.

Can't really say much else except for have a blast.

 

[Dougo]

If you are going to the UK, I'd recommend staying in University cities such as Oxford etc - basically anywhere where there is a student population as you'll find cheap accommodation - particularly in their holiday break - and also cheap eats there too to feed the poor students.

The cheapest and best meals we had in the UK were at Oxford - eat before 5pm and we paid something like 4.99 GBP each for a substantial main and dessert. Eat after 5pm, and the price increased by a couple of pounds for the same food.

We didn't find B&B's in the UK were that cheap at all and none of them wanted to take CC even tho' they advertised that they did.

Pre-book some accommodation using an Aussie site such as hotelclub - at least you pre-pay in Aussie dollars which can save a lot of time and effort not to mention $$. Also check out Agoda and booking.com - I have used the latter site to reserve a room at a cheap rate without paying for it until I actually got to the hotel - tho' you would neeed to read the T&C for any booking you decide to make. Another option is to have a look at the Travelodge site in the UK - they often had fantastic specials when we were headed over there.

Go to the supermarkets and buy pre-prepared food there - it's often much cheaper than at a take away stand.

One of the best and relatively cheapest accommodation we had was a tiny apartment in Paris for 70 Euro per night when everything else that was 2-3 star was more than 100 Euros. While an apartment may cost a little extra, you can save $$ by buying food from a supermarket and preparing it yourself.

We had a cheap hotel in Rome near the main train station area - I beleive that there is a cheap but good foodcourt area over the top of the railway station and plenty of accommodation that's cheap nearby - we were about 4 blocks away from the station opposite a "backpackers" place called "Yellow" (??) which had quite a few people staying there. It was not only close to the main station but near a cheap supermarket, and excellent pizza place on the corner and a laundromat with cheap internet access to boot.

Friends used a bus around Europe rather than a train and they found it was great - pick ups and drop offs at certain times and cities. They also told me that the backpackers accom in Vienna was excellent - tho I'm not sure if there is more than one there.

Finally check out the hints and tips about cities on Venere and other travel sites / forums such as Tripadvisor.

Finally, don't take anything with you that you are not prepared to lose. Email copies of important documents to yourself so that at least you can access them from an internet cafe if by chance all your belongings are lost.

 

[zig]

I have been deeply disturbed by reading this thread, and hope it isn't the start of a trend on the site.

My only advice is don't do it........

 

[Flashback]

TR available here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....otos/move-uk-random-travel-between-24971.html