Feasibility of European Travel?
Discussion
A friend and I have been considering traveling to Europe, mainly to the UK, Germany, and Italy, for a week or two this November. Both of us will be 18, though now that I have been doing a little online searching, it seems as though it would be difficult to rent cars/book hotels under the age of 21. So, my question is, how feasibile is it for two 18-year-old students to travel about Europe?
I can't understand the difficulty in booking hotels etc Imp2024, Don't worry about that, there's no problem.
London, like any other Capital city is very expensive, so go elsewhere. Visit it from a distance. Manchester? Liverpool? Or a small town nearby. Hotels and car hire are ALL much cheaper in this region. Liverpool is well worth a visit despite our "southern bias", it's a beautifull city, small, yes, but a great visit. Then visit London/Scotland by train, around 2 hrs each way, or Manchester, (by the first passenger railway in the world) via Rainhill, where the 1829 trials took place. Consider hiring a car here, check prices and don't go for big engine.
York, is Superb! (visit the Minster, the Shambles, and the Viking centre) is also easy to reach by train from Liverpool/Manchester
Car Insurance is astronomic here compered to the US, as are gas prices. (£0.90p/ litre) Generally, the further North you go, prices are cheaper, until you reach Scotland, which again is a little more expensive, but worth it. Scotland is the great attraction out-side London, and rightly so.
But Derbyshire, north Yorkshire, Cumbria are also worth a visit.
Whatever you decide, please come, and enjoy, Cheers!
>> Edited by 8Pack on Wednesday 20th April 06:23
London, like any other Capital city is very expensive, so go elsewhere. Visit it from a distance. Manchester? Liverpool? Or a small town nearby. Hotels and car hire are ALL much cheaper in this region. Liverpool is well worth a visit despite our "southern bias", it's a beautifull city, small, yes, but a great visit. Then visit London/Scotland by train, around 2 hrs each way, or Manchester, (by the first passenger railway in the world) via Rainhill, where the 1829 trials took place. Consider hiring a car here, check prices and don't go for big engine.
York, is Superb! (visit the Minster, the Shambles, and the Viking centre) is also easy to reach by train from Liverpool/Manchester
Car Insurance is astronomic here compered to the US, as are gas prices. (£0.90p/ litre) Generally, the further North you go, prices are cheaper, until you reach Scotland, which again is a little more expensive, but worth it. Scotland is the great attraction out-side London, and rightly so.
But Derbyshire, north Yorkshire, Cumbria are also worth a visit.
Whatever you decide, please come, and enjoy, Cheers!
>> Edited by 8Pack on Wednesday 20th April 06:23
Renting cars will be a problem. Most car rental companies require you to be 21, some insist on you being older still.
However - although we revile it on here there is some semblance of public transport in Europe and you will be able to get about.
Plan on using the trains and buses and you should be able to have a good time!
However - although we revile it on here there is some semblance of public transport in Europe and you will be able to get about.
Plan on using the trains and buses and you should be able to have a good time!
Interrail is the way to go. Cheap as chips, long distance trips on train meeting loads of people, and absolute freedom on deciding where you want to go to and when. Car rental is a pain if you don't have someone over 21 with you. Get a youth hostel card too, cheap also and meeting loads of nice people around who might be following the same route as you. I have always been too lazy and done the tour by car when older, but most of my friends have done the Interrail experience, and all of them say it is a MUST, above all if, like you, the aim is to visit main places here and there.
I recommend travelling by train too, but www.e-sixt.de allows cars to be rented by 18yr. olds. Not all models, but up to VW GOLF size...
Me, my cousin and a couple of mates fancy taking a few weeks out, buying tough old low-level GT cars and leaving from Hull to see how many European cities we can visit before getting back to Calais for the return leg of the round trip.
It's just a pipedream at the moment, but we're thinking Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Turin/Milan, Monaco, Paris, London, home (Manchester)
We've just had this idea for ages to cruise around the continent like International Men of Mystery on a severe budget, with no purpose other than to get round a big European route in a certain time - a sort of really lazy road rally, really. I just reckon we'd come back with a load of funny stories.
Part of the challenge, of course, is to get hold of a serviceable, cheap GT car for less than £1k - the sort of thing that's tough as old boots, but that has enough room for plenty of bags, two people, a bit of retro style and wouldn't get taken away and crushed by the Riviera police for being out of place.
I'm thinking:
Datsun 280/300ZX
Opel Monza/Vauxhall Royale
Camaro/Firebird 2.8
Mitsubishi Colt Sapporo GSR
Toyota Celica Supra
Ford Capri Laser
BMW 323i E21
I know Love Machine did something similar (in Africa, in a Capri) and loved it.
>> Edited by Twincam16 on Wednesday 20th April 20:46
It's just a pipedream at the moment, but we're thinking Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Turin/Milan, Monaco, Paris, London, home (Manchester)
We've just had this idea for ages to cruise around the continent like International Men of Mystery on a severe budget, with no purpose other than to get round a big European route in a certain time - a sort of really lazy road rally, really. I just reckon we'd come back with a load of funny stories.
Part of the challenge, of course, is to get hold of a serviceable, cheap GT car for less than £1k - the sort of thing that's tough as old boots, but that has enough room for plenty of bags, two people, a bit of retro style and wouldn't get taken away and crushed by the Riviera police for being out of place.
I'm thinking:
Datsun 280/300ZX
Opel Monza/Vauxhall Royale
Camaro/Firebird 2.8
Mitsubishi Colt Sapporo GSR
Toyota Celica Supra
Ford Capri Laser
BMW 323i E21
I know Love Machine did something similar (in Africa, in a Capri) and loved it.
>> Edited by Twincam16 on Wednesday 20th April 20:46
With only English you will get by fine in every major city in Western Europe (possibly except Paris - not because they can't speak it but because they won't.)
All tourist areas are also very easy where you might find trouble in the villages and small towns, get a good phrase book and start practicing.
Some places like Amsterdam and part of Switzerland seem to use English as an almost official second langauge.
All tourist areas are also very easy where you might find trouble in the villages and small towns, get a good phrase book and start practicing.
Some places like Amsterdam and part of Switzerland seem to use English as an almost official second langauge.
imperialism2024 said:
A friend and I have been considering traveling to Europe, mainly to the UK, Germany, and Italy, for a week or two this November. Both of us will be 18, though now that I have been doing a little online searching, it seems as though it would be difficult to rent cars/book hotels under the age of 21. So, my question is, how feasibile is it for two 18-year-old students to travel about Europe?
You won't get far in a week or two. You'll be pemanently travelling. Unless you can manage a longer break, aim to spend longer in fewer places.
Saying that, if you pulled your finger out you could get your ass over to Le Mans over the weekend of 18/19th June. Ebay or the forum here should land you a camping pass or two. Buy the entry tickets on the door.
You could combine that with a week in the UK and, perhaps, some time in Paris.
I did Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Nuremburg, Rome, Nice and then back to Paris last summer in 3 weeks - cost about a grand. Don't stay in each place more than 3 nights - its more fun visiting lots of different places. It cost us all about a grand each. Went with five mates, all of us 17, and there were no problems. You can book hostels and Hotels at www.hostels.com and www.hostelworld.com ; they'll even automatically generate a schedule for you. About travel, use the railways as theyre cheap and efficient, but if going overnight always upgrade to couchettes [roughly 8-10 E] and make sure you go to Amsterdam first, as drugs are a lot cheaper there than everywhere else!
I'm guessing that the threadstarter is a Yank like me, if not ignore what I say here since it won't necessarily apply. First off, yes, under 25 you just about can't rent a car, period. Even if you are an Astronaut-qualified saint in the employ of the CIA they don't give a damn and won't rent a car to a 21-year old. Sorry. But certainly in Germany and the Netherlands they have good train service. Buy a Eurorail pass here in the states, it's much cheaper than buying it over there, and will allow you to ride around about all you want. I don't think hotels will be a problem. Definitely in Holland there are a lot of nice small hotels reasonably priced.
Frequently I see the best air fares to either UK or to Netherlands (Northwest/KLM).
You might want to concentrate on just a few countries or even just stay in the UK for the first trip -
Frequently I see the best air fares to either UK or to Netherlands (Northwest/KLM).
You might want to concentrate on just a few countries or even just stay in the UK for the first trip -
If you decide to venture into main land europe get your self a basic phrase book for which ever country you intend to visit. You may not need it but if you at least try to comunicate in the correct language, people will be more helpful and friendly towards you.
I've had the "pleasure"
of traveling by an interail train and sleeping over night in a Couchet. Two sugestions, take bottled water with you and keep it handy and take ear plugs! These sleeping compartments are hot, noisy and cramped. They make prison cells look spacious, allegedly!
One more thing get decent travel insurance, you realy dont want to be stuck 5000 miles from home with a broken arm/leg etc.
I've had the "pleasure"
of traveling by an interail train and sleeping over night in a Couchet. Two sugestions, take bottled water with you and keep it handy and take ear plugs! These sleeping compartments are hot, noisy and cramped. They make prison cells look spacious, allegedly! One more thing get decent travel insurance, you realy dont want to be stuck 5000 miles from home with a broken arm/leg etc.
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