If a landmass can be said to be sexy, then Europe is the one. For years, it was a rite of passage for aristocratic youth to take a tour of the continent, staying in the best hotels and getting pampered. It was wonderful... assuming, of course, you were of blue blood.

Those days are gone. Now anyone with a small pool of cash and some smarts can get to know Europe up close and personal. All you have to do is strap a backpack on your back and go where the European winds take you. Not only is backpacking across Europe tons cheaper than being a Tourist (with a capital "T"), but it also makes you sound really cool and dangerous - much like a homeless drifter, but without the homicidal tendencies.

1. CREATE AN ITINERARY

Let's start you off with a shocker: contrary to popular belief, you don't need to know where you're going in Europe beforehand. In fact, one of the greatest joys of backpacking across the continent is arriving at a train station and deciding right then and there where you want to go (not to mention the appeal of flying by the seat of your pants). That said, you do need to have an idea when you'll be traveling, and for how long.

Time of year

Most people do their traveling in the summer, and with good reason; everything is open and the weather is usually perfect. However, because the summer offers such nice travel weather, it can be tough to get into a hostel, the tourist sites have long lines, and the prices are at their highest.

If you choose to travel in the winter, you'll have an easier time getting in everywhere but there'll be less open. Many hostels are seasonal and most museums operate under shortened hours from September through May; smaller ones may close altogether. This is partially made up for by the discount rates offered across the board.

If you want to check into any particulars (that is, find the schedules of some places that you'd like to visit), then pick up the latest edition of a budget travel book, which you'll need anyway; the three biggest sellers are Let's Go, Lonely Planet, and Rough Guide. They will give you info on all the tourist attractions of every major and most minor cities, as well as accommodation information and food and market recommendations.

Length of stay

You should also have a rough idea of how long you'll be traveling. Some people go for two weeks, some for two years; most people fall somewhere in between. Obviously, packing and planning will be greatly affected by how long you must live off your back, but if you're a first-timer, we recommend 3-4 weeks - this'll give you enough time to get around and see lotsa cool stuff, but you won't get too homesick - or poor.

Cost

It's very difficult to really peg a cost, but you should calculate all of your travel/hostel costs in advance, and still give yourself about $30 per day (and that's the CHEAPEST you'll get!). Try to use credit cards whenever possible, as you never know when you'll go someplace that only accepts cash. But back to the main point: you should be prepared to spend about $4500 (most of which will go to paying for airfare and train passes).

2. GET THE NECESSARY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

International Student Identity Card

Now that you've committed yourself to European travel, the next step is to stop by STA Travel (1-800-777-0112), which is a travel agency that caters to students. These people know their stuff.

When you get there, you should first buy an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). Well worth its $20 price tag, an ISIC gets you tons of discounts and offers you plenty of services. While you must be student to get an ISIC card, there is $15 card for all youths under 26 that offers similar (but reduced) benefits. Some of the services an ISIC card can get you include:

  • Travel discounts
  • General student discounts anywhere they are offered throughout Europe
  • An email address
  • Voicemail
  • Phone card service

Plane tickets

Now that you've got your card, unless you're a really good swimmer, it's time to purchase your plane ticket. This is where the student travel agencies really shine, as they can sell you flexible return tickets at much lower rates than offered conventionally. This means you can change your return flight date for as little as $25 if you give proper advanced warning (as opposed to the standard hundreds of dollars) and you also can return out of a different city than you flew into. The cheapest places to fly in and out of are London, Zurich, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam. For more info about flying around the world at really cheap fares, check out SoYouWanna find cheap airline tickets?

Passport

OK, so let's hop on that plane! Woah, Ugly American Cowboy/girl - you still need to get your passport. It's really easy:

  1. Gather some proof of your citizenship (e.g., a birth certificate)
  2. Go to your local copy store and get 2 passport photographs taken
  3. Got to any post office or state/federal courthouse
  4. Pay $65

The passport will be good for 10 years (unless you're not 18 yet; then it's only good for 5). For more info, check out the U.S. State Department's Passport Services web page.

Hostel life

Nothing is more associated with European backpacking than staying in hostels. Similar to a YMCA, a European hostel provides you with a place to sleep and a bathroom to use. Depending on the hostel, you may have to share a room with others, and you'll probably have to share a bathroom with many.

You should definitely shell out $25 and buy a Youth Hostel International Card (YHIC). If you plan to only visit big cities, there will be plenty of independent hostels and you won't need it; but if you decide to go off the beaten track, many smaller cities and towns only have one hostel (usually one that requires you to have a YHIC card). If you happen to go to a town that only allows YHIC members, don't cry; you can often buy one there, or you can pay a fee and get a temporary membership for the length of your stay. Do this 6 times and you'll have a full membership, albeit a more expensive one. You can also consider purchasing a $16 Hostels of Europe card, good at over 250 independent hostels.

3. PACK RIGHT AND PACK LIGHT

By far, the most important element of planning a good backpacking trip is how you pack. You're going to be carrying all of your worldly possessions on your back, so it is critical that you bring exactly what you need - no more, no less. What you pack will mostly depend on where and when you'll be traveling. December in Stockholm and August in Athens require very different clothing. So find out the average temperatures of where you're going, and prepare accordingly. The one important rule is pack light. You've heard that before, you've heard people say they packed too much, you think you're different; YOU ARE NOT. One sweater is enough, not two. See if you can get pants that turn into shorts. We're telling you that you must leave your worries about fashion at home; fitting life into a backpack is a purely utilitarian exercise. If that doesn't jive with you, rethink this trip.

Here's a good list of what to bring. Anything marked with a ** is "optional," depending on what you want to do and where you want to go:

  • A camping backpack (that has proper back support)
  • A sleeping bag**
  • A sleeping mat**
  • A Tent**
  • One jacket (only in winter)
  • One sweater (lightweight in summer)
  • 2 pairs of pants (try to get those changeable pants that can turn into shorts)
  • Money belt (for tickets, traveler's checks, passport)
  • Combination lock
  • 2 copies of passport (kept in separate places)
  • One towel (see if you can get one of those napkin-sized ones from L.L. Bean or EMS)
  • One (or 2**) T-shirts
  • 2 button-down shirts, one short one long
  • 3 pairs of underwear
  • 2 (or 3**) pairs of socks
  • A pair of shorts (If you got those changeable pants, then you don't need shorts)
  • A swimsuit (really only the women need to take this; men, use shorts or boxers)
  • One pair of boot-ish shoes
  • One pair of open-toed shoes (only in summer)
  • A hat**
  • Toiletries (minimalist set)
  • Army Knife (with at least scissors and corkscrew)
  • Plastic bags (in case something gets wet)
  • Concentrated detergent**
  • Entertainment options**

Notice how many **s there are? Keep your bag light - you'll want it that way when you're walking across Paris from one rail station to the next, your back dripping with sweat and your shoulders still sore from yesterday's trek.

How much is too much? We suggest the following exercise: pack your stuff and walk around your town for one day with your bag on your back. Is that complaining we hear? Oh, come on, you lazy bastard, this is what you'll be doing every day once you get to Europe. Might as well find out if you can handle what you've put on your back. After a couple of hours, you'll realize that you don't need an electric toothbrush, you'll toss out half your crap, and you'll be a much happier camper.

Money

You really should bring traveler's checks. Basically, they're replaceable money, and they can be a godsend if the unfortunate does happen. American Express offices offer decent deals and great service, but feel free to shop around. Remember to keep your serial numbers completely separate from the checks; these function as the receipt for your checks and are the only way for you to get your stolen/lost money back.

4. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EURAIL PASSES AND EUROPASSES

At this point, you might be thinking, "You've given me tons of useful information, but how do I 'backpack,' exactly?" Here's the answer: you don't. You're not really going to walk from Rome to Paris; instead, you're going to take advantage of Europe's train system. To do this, you need to get a Eurail pass or a Europass. These passes are by far the easiest way to get around; getting a pass is so helpful, that you should buy one right here in the U.S. at your student travel agency.

What's the difference between the two passes? Both offer unlimited train travel on given days; the real difference between the two is in the countries covered:

Eurail Pass

Eurail Pass - Covers 17 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden. It can be bought for travel on consecutive days or scattered days. The consecutive days must be used on (drum roll, please) consecutive days. The price depends on your length of travel. To qualify as a youth, you must be under 25.

Adult Youth 15 Days $554 $338 21 Days $718 $499 1 Month $890 $623 2 Months $1260 $882 3 Months $1558 $1089

The Eurail Flexipass can be bought for use throughout any two-month period.

Adult Youth 10 Days in 2 Months $654 $458 15 Days in 2 Months $862 $599

Europass

Europass - The Europass is cheaper, but covers less ground - only Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, and Spain. You can add up to two "countries" out of Austria/Hungary, Benelux (that's Belgium, Luxenbourg, and the Netherlands), Greece (including the ferry to Greece from Italy's Brindisi port), and Portugal. Adding one country costs $45 or $60 (youth/adult), and adding two countries costs $78 or $100.

Adult Youth 5 Days in 2 Months $348 $233 6 Days in 2 Months $368 $253 8 Days in 2 Months $448 $313 10 Days in 2 Months $528 $363 15 Days in 2 Months $728 $513

A few more technical notes about using Europasses and Eurail Passes:

  • You must begin using your pass within six months of purchase.
  • You must mark each date of travel in the space provided on your pass BEFORE getting on the train. Usually this is not a problem, but some stuffy conductors - or those fishing for bribes - will give you a hard time otherwise. Though quite rare, the stiffest penalty you could face would be the cost of the train trip, a $100 fine, AND the confiscation of your Eurail or Europass. It's not worth risking the wrath; just remember to fill out your pass before boarding.

  • Any day of travel actually begins the previous night at 8 p.m. This is a huge perk that you should take advantage of; travel by night train as often as possible, since you'll want to be seeing cities during the day, plus it saves you one night's accommodations. Of course, if you've got enough cash, you can still save the day for sightseeing and buy a bed in a sleeper or couchette on a train, usually for about $20.

  • While they entitle you to free travel on any train in the given countries, sometimes you still have to pay a reservation fee for a seat. This is true of most specialty or high-speed trains, and certain countries always or often require it, like Spain and Italy. But don't worry . . . even with the reservation fee, you're still saving crazy amounts of money.

  • Both of these passes offer group discounts, even for groups of 2.

  • If you want to save even more money, you can buy a Euroline pass, good for unlimited bus travel between selected cities for 30 or 60 days. The travel time is much longer and your options are much more limited (many countries only have one city included), but the price is nice; it ranges from $249 for a youth traveling 30 days in the off-season, to $449 for an adult traveling 60 days in the high season. There are bathrooms on board.

5. KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET THERE

You've landed! Now start seeing the sites. We're not going to tell you what to see in each city - there would just be too much ground to cover. Instead, just get one of the books we recommend in the column to the right of this article, and you'll get plenty of recommendations. However, you do need some advice on how to find good housing and how to get around England.

England: a special case

This is the easy part. You've landed and now need to start moving. If you landed in London, you'll instantly notice that England is not one of the countries included on the Europass or Eurorail Pass; instead they only offer their own Britrail ticket, a one-country version of Eurail. Rail travel is prohibitively expensive in England, so unless you plan to really bum around a lot in Britain, skip the Britrail and just use the buses (called "coaches" over there). Distances are short enough, and prices low enough, that it really is the only option that makes sense.

Luckily, there is a 40% discount on the Eurostar train (the one that uses the Chunnel) for all holders of validated Eurail passes, so getting to Paris or Brussels from London only costs $90 one way instead of $149 (still a hefty sum, though). It could be more economical to take a puddle-jumper out of London, as airfare is quite cheap. But we honestly recommend that you skip England on your trip and just fly into (and out of) another city.

Find accommodations

Finding a nice quiet place to bed will be very rare. But don't complain, that's part of the backpacking experience. Here are some tips to finding a place to rest your weary head:

  • Most train stations will have runners trying to bring tourists to various hostels and hotels; these people can be helpful, but beware, for often the room is not as advertised in the brochures they like to hand out. The safest bet is to check your Travel Guide for accommodations and investigate the listed hostels. They'll usually be full, since every other American using the same guide is doing the same thing, but the staff will almost always help you find alternate rooms at another comparable hostel. You can look up hostels at www.hostels.com or at www.hostelseurope.com.

  • Another easy option is to ask around and find out where most of the hostels are centered (usually quite near the train station itself). Walk around, see if you can bargain with the staff, find a room you like at a nice price (and make sure the place is secure), drop your things, and take off. Get a map from the front desk. Walk around. Do this in every city. Enjoy.

  • The only time you need to call ahead to book a bed is in Italy. Always full of tourists and low on rooms, you are likely to get screwed if you arrive without a reservation somewhere.

  • Get there as early as possible, preferably before 9:30 a.m. Hostels fill up VERY quickly (especially the good ones).

  • A cheaper option than hostels is camping. Believe it or not, most major cities in Europe have more than one campground serviced by the city's public transportation. Often, these campgrounds have better facilities than hostels, and a more colorful selection of people. Tents - and sometimes even mattresses, if not beds - are often rentable in these spots, though you should call ahead to make sure. Go to www.campingeurope.com to find contact information for hundreds of campsites.

  • In some countries - especially Eastern European ones - it is just as cheap to get a hotel room as a hostel bed. This can be a welcome break from a lack of privacy and a cleanish shower, but of course there isn't the camaraderie of a roomful of travelers all having a good time. Just make decisions as they come.

  • For food, most hostels and campgrounds offer a kitchen, or make cheap food themselves. There are always plenty of markets around, and they can be different, funky, and fun, not to mention comparatively cheap. Make your own meals at least some of the time. The rest of the time there are many street vendor types, fast-foodish joints, and (of course) restaurants.

Now you're ready to see the sights of Europe. Sightseeing is the easiest part of the trip; just go to what interests you out of all the museums, exhibits, parks, markets, beaches, ad infinitum. Walk as much as you can, but get to know the public transportation of cities as well. Few things feel better than successfully navigating a strange land.

6. BE SAFE

This is always a sore spot. Of course it is impossible to safeguard against every contingency, and the road is full of stories of roaming gypsies throwing babies into the arms of tourists so as to snatch a suddenly unguarded bag (or other equally improbable but reportedly real occurrences). In all likelihood, nothing like this will happen to you, as long as you don't do stupid things.

But you'll have to tell your mother that you've taken all sorts of safety precautions, so we suggest that you read her the following list:

  • The most likely type of danger you'll face is someone stealing your bag while you're napping on the train. A great way to deter is to lock your bag to the baggage rack. Most crooks are hurrying through cabins, and if they tug your bag and feel it stick, they'll probably move on.

  • Be sure your hostel or campground has a secure place to keep your bag. A locked and guarded front door is nice, but unfortunately not everyone in a hostel is full of clean air and good vibes; some are not above stealing. A personal locker is best.

  • Never talk about how much money you have (even to the "friends" you make at the hostels), and never take too much money out in public.

  • Don't walk around alone at night.

  • While they are admittedly unfashionable, keep your ID and passport in a fanny pack and wear it at all times. These are hugely important documents that you can't afford to lose. Also keep some money in there, just in case; it's easy for someone to reach into or unzip your backpack when you're not looking.

  • When sitting down (to eat, rest, kiss, whatever), always keep one foot looped through the strap of your backpack. You'd be surprised at how quickly a thief can make off with your goodies.

  • Don't keep everything in one place. If you keep all your stuff in your fanny pack and it gets stolen, you're done for. Separate your money, ID, traveler's checks, travel passes, and airplane tickets into different places.

Now you're set. Have a wild time, get to know the natives, do all sorts of things your parents wouldn't, feel free. The hardest part of the trip is coming home.

Here are some good links to check out: