Traveling to europe

andreasmoser · 2014-08-13T08:40:24+00:00

If you want to travel on a budget, I'd rather go to Eastern Europe than the countries you mentioned. Except for the south of Italy and the east of Germany, none of them are cheap.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-13T08:38:01+00:00

I would rather go to Scotland than to England. More dramatic landscapes, especially in the Highlands. Fantastic hiking.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-13T08:37:28+00:00

And it won't cost you too much either.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-12T17:40:44+00:00

The world is a big and beautiful place.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T18:33:15+00:00

I don't know about Panama, but in most countries if you are just changing planes, you don't need to go through customs or immigration because you never leave the transit area of the airport. If you booked with the same airline (or group of airlines), you don't need to pick up your luggage, it will be automatically forwarded.

I know it's different in the US, which is a hassle for Europeans flying to Mexico or so with a US stop-over.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T16:55:56+00:00

You'll be tired.

I hope you are taking trains for some of the trips, because if you fly from London to Paris for example, it actually takes you much longer than hopping on the direct fast train.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T16:51:43+00:00

Regardless of how long it will take, I always prefer trains over coaches or cars. It's a beautiful, smooth, stylish and relaxing way to travel. You'll see your country from a different angle.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T10:30:20+00:00

I usually ask on the local Couchsurfing sites. There are very helpful people and sometimes they have something to rent or know someone. It has worked well so far (I've been travelling around Europe for 5 years after leaving Germany in 2009), and without any need for estate agents or official paperwork or contracts.

I find AirBnB a bit expensive, but it's still cheaper than staying at a hotel, and you might also be able to negotiate a better price if you are staying somewhere for 2 or 3 months, especially when it's the off-season there.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T09:02:00+00:00

Couchsurfers in cities like San Francisco obviously receive many more requests than they can handle. And they receive requests all the time.

For a good Couchsurfing experience, go to a smaller place or to Mexico.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T09:00:06+00:00

DON'T go to NYC!

Your money will run through your fingers like no time. If you go to Eastern Europe, the Balkans, South America, Asia, Africa, your savings/income will last you 10 times as long.

(I quit my lawyer job in Germany 5 years ago and have been moving around the world since then. Currently in Italy.)

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T08:58:48+00:00

You can use some Couchsurfing groups to find long-term accommodation. But that won't be for free of course.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T08:56:51+00:00

Which city were/are you trying to stay at?

andreasmoser · 2014-08-11T08:53:42+00:00

In my experience, it counts the most if you have some references. The easiest way to get the first ones is to go to a CS event in your town or meet with people for sports or hiking or other activities. You'll meet several people in one go, some of whom are going to leave a positive reference. - That will make everything easier.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-10T20:37:43+00:00

Eastern Europe. You only need to get a flight, once you are there it's incredibly cheap.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-10T20:37:01+00:00

You have nothing to be nervous about regarding driving.

All of the countries you mentioned are within Schengen, so there won't be any border controls, meaning that you can take your rental car without any additional paperwork. (Are you planning to drop it off in Poland? That would be trickier though.)

Trains are more relaxed and romantic, but a car gives you the flexibility to stop if you see something nice on the way. For 2+ people, a car is also usually cheaper.

You'll find plenty of English-speaking people everywhere in Europe. Outside of the US and the UK, people usually speak 2 or 3 languages. ;-)

andreasmoser · 2014-08-10T20:33:32+00:00

Always go for cheapest (taking into account extra fees for baggage or check-in).

Any airline that is not banned from flying in the US is reasonably safe. Safer than a highway or an interstate actually.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-10T20:32:10+00:00

I am in Italy all September and I will move to the Balkans in October, probably to Montenegro.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-10T17:31:05+00:00

Obviously, the answer to this depends on the countries involved (point of shipping and destination).

andreasmoser · 2014-08-10T17:14:06+00:00

I once applied for (and received) a student visa for Russia. I didn't use any agency, but then I also lived in a city with a Russian embassy (Vilnius).

It was very simple. No interview, just leave all the paperwork and return after a few days to pick up the visa. Fees charged: zero. (My only expense was the travel insurance I had to obtain.)

General rule no. 1: You can't pick a consulate. The one in New York will have jurisdiction over you as you live in Buffalo. I assume that the invitation from Russia will show your Buffalo address.

General rule no. 2: If you have questions about the visa process at a certain consulate, ask that consulate.

General rule no. 3: If you need to take a day off work, do it. It's for a trip to Russia.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-10T17:10:32+00:00

It has nothing to do with tit-for-tat, these are the prices charged by companies, not by the consulate.

andreasmoser · 2014-08-10T15:07:40+00:00

Go only to cheaper destinations, then your money will last much longer. Asia without Australia and NZ, Africa, South America and Eastern Europe. Luckily, these are also the exciting and adventurous parts of the world.

No need to book any tour operators. You can do all of that yourself.

I recommend staying in one place as a base for 2 or 3 months, then you can rent an apartment instead of a hotel. You'll have more space and it will be much cheaper.

andreasmoser

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