Ever travelled through europe? Any suggestions on..

[firestar]

Hotels / Hostels that you've used that are cheap? Actually and good info you can give me on the cites below would be helpful.. transportation, good eats, good clubs, etc etc?

Countries I'm going to include this trip are:

Brussels
Barcelona
Madrid
Venice
Rome
Athens/ Greek islands
Prague
Berlin
Northern Germany
Copenhagen

Any info you could give me would ge great!

[decypher]

For Rome, there are many hostels near the main train/underground metro place called "Termini."

This is where you arrive in Rome and the Hostels are along the street 'Via Giovanni Gioletti'

There are also hostels on Via Nazionale which are apparently cheaper. My friends stayed in a hostel near Termini for 20 euros each a night including a basic breakfast. I really can't remember the name of it but it had a computer with internet as well. I could find the name if you like but i believe you can find a hostel for 15 euros a night. Anything over 20 euros is a rip off and you can be approached by people on the street trying to get you to stay at their hostel for 30 or so euros a night. Don't waste your time.

There are very cheap hostels that say something like "camping" or whatever. These hostels are pretty far from the centre and not a good idea if you really want to see Rome.

There isn't much for big euro clubbing in Rome but there is definately lots of history to see and great eating/drinking places.

You are going to want to take Metro Linea B from Termini to the Colloseo stop. There you get out and see the coloseum then walk down via fori imperiali towards Piazza Venezia to see the "Monumento di Vittorio Emanuelle." This is a modern Italian structure signifying the unification of Italy and actually hated by local romans.

Once you are in this are just ask for someone to point you to Largo Argentina (a stret) where you can walk to "Campo di Fiori" and "Piazza Nevona." They are on opposite sides of Largo Argentina and you can reach the squares through the allys leading off the road. Very easy to find.

These are the main areas to drink and dine in centro Rome. In Campo di Fiori there is a place called "the drunken ship." This is the place where all the travellers go to drink and even some Italians come to mingle. It's a good place to go drink out front of and meet other english speaking people or italians eager to practice there english. The locals will usually be hanging out at the statue in the centre playing guitar, singing and smoking hash. The local guys can be very aggressive with girls who look single but will definately respect you if you show them you are in a relationship. There are lots of places to eat Gelato in this area too.

If you go back up largo argentina from where you were at Piazza Nevona and Campo di fiori you can find a Tram service which will you have to take to get to Trastevere. Literally this means beyond (tra) the (stevere) river. This is seen as the other major eating place. Alleyways and piazzas littered with small places to eat outside or drink wine. Lots of locals hanging out near the statues smoking hash as well.

For daytime stuff take the Linea A from Termini (you can only switch from linea B to A at termini) to Piazza di Spagna. There you can see the spanish steps and all the designer shops with things that are too expensive to buy. You can walk up the steps to the top, walk left and follow this up to Villa Borghese which has a beautiful view over the city skyline. The park itself is massive and has museums to see and bikes you can rent.

Besides the obvious San pietro and museo Vaticano, sistine chapel etc. check out the Santa maria maggiore which is off Via Cavour. It's another major church that is very beautiful. Another major basilica is the St.John Lateran near the San Giovanni metro linea A stop. I personally liked that one. Most people just go and see the main ones without realizing there are other major churches in Rome.

Other tips. Go away from the main centre to eat or else you'll pay an arm and a leg. It's even worse near via Veneto because of the celebrity history, you'll pay like 5 euros for a caffe. All the caffe's are espresso unless you say caffe americano for an actual coffee.

If you have any other questions just drop me a line. I could even write out some common phrases and questions you will need to know in Italian. Most people speak some english but it makes random people really happy if you at least attempt to speak some italian. This is because there are tonnes of pushy tourists who understandbly annoy the locals.

Oh and if you want to go on a pub crawl you can get flyered outside the Colosseo metro stop or outside the colloseo itself during peak hours.

[mapleleaf4ever]

Hamburg, Germany is a really beautiful City. The Transit in Germany is also amazing and stupidly efficient. Be sure to make a trip to the southern Provinces as the Bavarian Alps are amazing. The Tour of the Salt Mines in Berchtesgaden is pretty sick as well... you can also wander up to see Eagle's Nest. (Former 2nd HQ of the Third Reich)

[Carrie]

www.hostelworld.com is a good place to check out the hostels online.

book in advance and it will be cheaper

[jono]

Plan absolutely nothing and give yourself a certain amount of time to get from where you land to where you fly out of. It may end up being more expensive and you may get yourself into some tight spots but it's an awesome adventure.

If I wouldn't have travelled this way I wouldn't have had the option of spending an extra 3 nights in Prague until I forced myself to leave because I would have died... speaking of which the Clown and Bard Hostel has a 24 hour bar in the reception. But don't plan to go there, see where you end up.

Buy a guidebook to fall back on if you haven't met up with anyone who's given you advice on your next destination.

[*SunShyne*]

Don't stay in Venice. Make it out to be a day trip then go spend the night in Florence.

The reason I say this is because it is such a touristy area you really won't get a chance to see anything besides gondelaz (sp?) and painters.

Barcelona Hostels are insane! Any one that you stay at will be a blast I'm sure.

Also, join a pub crawl one night... I managed to sneak on for free for about 4 nights, it weas the 5th one I had to pay for. Just blend in with people!

Have a blast!

[robyn]

guys i don't have any useful suggestions but i'm going to post to prove that i've been to europe. TWICE.

[gnosis]

BARCELONA ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!

If you take the underground from the main train station to La Ramblas, don't exit into the massive Plaza.
Get out onto La Rambas.

As soon as you get upstairs, kitty corner from the Plaza (is hopefully where you'll be standing), just to your right, a couple of doors from the corner, you'll see what looks like a small watch/jewellery boutique.

It's a shared entrance w/ an excellent, cheap hotel.
Walk in, just past the jeweller's and you'll see stairs and a tiny lift and a small reception desk.

If they have a vacancy, grab it, because it's cheap, clean, safe, and you just can't get more central.

Ask at the front desk, and they might still be giving free passes to the Catwalk at "the Towers" (bottom of Ramblas, turn left @ water, and go less than 1km to a couple of big condo high-rises).

Wicked techno, babes on swinging trampolines...AWESOME!
Opens @ midnight, get there, before, because the place jams out really quick!

A small li'l plaza in Barci Goti, w/ lots o' freaky artwork is the hippy/ganja/rasta area, with a great li'l place, all red, that plays wicked rockers and dUb!

Have a great trip!

Frosty
(thinks Gaudi was a genius!)

[gnosis]

And this is PRECISELY the kind of shit you'll see wandering down La Ramblas!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf9oo_jerome-murat

Thanks to MC Hammered for posting the link.

Frosty
(loved the dude falling off a ladder)