| Want to plan a backpacking trip through Europe? You | | | | your route. |
| probably have a lot of questions. A travel guide or | | | | Hostelling |
| online search can be useful in helping you get the | | | | When backpacking through Europe, you are most likely |
| information you need about backpacking through | | | | going to stay in hostels. There are two types of |
| Europe. Depending on whether you are backpacking | | | | hostels: Hostelling International (HI) hostels and |
| Europe alone, or backpacking with a large group of | | | | independent hostels. Many travelers want to know if |
| people your needs are going to be different. Here are | | | | they need to bring anything specific to stay in hostels. |
| some of the most commonly asked questions about | | | | You'll probably want to purchase an HI membership |
| planning a Europe trip. | | | | card in order to stay in HI hostels since they will charge |
| Transportation Matters | | | | you extra if you don't have one. Some HI hostels also |
| Many people ask about flight costs. First of all, | | | | require you to have a pillowcase and bed sheet sewn |
| depending on how long you plan on staying in Europe, | | | | in half and they'll charge you extra if you don't have |
| you are possibly going to need an open ticket. If you | | | | them. |
| plan on staying for many months such as 7 months, | | | | An HI membership will cost you $28 dollars and you |
| your best bet is to get an open ticket for one year. If | | | | can buy it online. If you are traveling with your |
| you are under 26, make sure to look for youth or | | | | significant other you may want to look into the costs |
| student tickets from student and youth travel agencies. | | | | of private rooms at hostels unless you are both |
| The most common form of transportation used for | | | | comfortable staying in dorm rooms together. If you are |
| backpacking through Europe is train. Make sure to find | | | | traveling alone, staying in a hostel is a great way to |
| out the costs of rail passes. The longest rail passes | | | | meet other travelers. |
| only last up to three months so make sure to take into | | | | Backpacking through Europe is not the exotic |
| account that you will be buying multiple rail passes if | | | | adventure it used to be. It is a well-trodden path but for |
| you are traveling for months on end. To get rail pass | | | | that reason researching and planning a backpacking |
| prices, look online at the RailEurope website. The | | | | trip through Europe has become easier. Many travelers |
| website even has a pass comparison chart that will | | | | have been down the same path so use their advice to |
| help you estimate the cost for your pass depending on | | | | your advantage so your trip can be smooth sailing. |