Last Hurrah--Summer backpacking

[A Wall]

Anyone else planning on doing some backpacking or traveling during their last summer before school starts? I never did a semester abroad, and have been working solidly since I graduated, so I haven't had the chance to travel outside of the country for more than a week or so (other than 9 months when I was a wee one). I'm thinking I'm going to try to head to central or south america from mid june to mid august or so, backpack around either solo or with friends... Thoughts? Places I should look into? Anyone else doing/done something similar?

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[SStorm]

I'm backpacking through Europe for a few weeks this summer before school starts. I'll be going with a friend though. I'm not sure where to go in Central/South America, but have fun doing it! It probably will be my last hurrah as well (unless you count quitting my job and sleeping/playing video games for 2 straight months).

 

[tiedyeddog]

I can't go backpacking this summer but I plan on doing so the summer before med school. I want to take the whole three months and travel all over the west coast (I'm from the east). I have no interest in hostel style backpacking, just a good ole' tent and the life on my back in the woods. Pacific Crest sounds ballin'...


This thread makes me long for next summer.....arrgghhhhh

 

[wutwinb]

i'm backpacking through europe as well, for a month this summer. it kinda doesn't make sense to blow all my money before school starts, but i'm so psyched for this trip 😀 i'm also slightly worried about missing correspondence from the school, but hopefully my family can keep me updated.

SStorm, are you taking the train around europe, or flying? i'm trying to find the most cost effective way, and the flights seem pretty cheap.

 

[tdsbird2]

I might hike from in colorado from the NM boarder to the WY boarder along the continental divide...it is only like 300 miles

 

[aaj117]

wutwinb, trains are reeeeally expensive. I took the train from barcelona to paris, paris to brussles, and brussles to amsterdam, longest trip ever and lots of money, but they were really nice and clean. Price it out though, if you price it well sometimes it's cheaper to fly than take the train.


I myself cannot afford to do another big travel this summer, but i've been lucky enough to do a summer abroad (france), and to travel with my roommates after graduation last year (as above). This summer my big trip is the week of July 4th. I'm going to california and vegas with my weight-loss buddy when i've lost 50 lbs!! (34 down...16 to go) We're doing three nights in vegas, three in LA, and 2 in san diego. I've never been to the west coast so i'm very very excited about it.

 

[studyin]

This thread is right up my alley! I just booked all my flights for a backpacking trip through Europe - if you use Ryanair, then you save a ton over Eurail passes.

A Wall - I'm also trying to hitchike through the Yucatan this summer with a couple friends around the same time period... the more the merrier, PM me if you're interested in running into eachother.

 

[dally1025]

I'm on my way to Bolivia next month. Still waiting on med schools, but it's not like I'll be able to do it in med school. It's cheap, not as touristy, and beautiful!

 

[Atahualpa11]

I'm going to be solo backpacking my way across India and Thailand. I also never really had a quarter or semester abroad so I guess this is how I am making up for it! Anybody else heading to South East Asia??!!!?

 

[SStorm]

I think I'll be flying through Europe mostly. It's ridiculous how cheap some of these flights were. I recall seeing a flight from London to Warsaw for 4 pounds!!!! I'm not planning on going to Warsaw, but even then that is so ridiculously cheap. And ya, I've heard that flying is either the same price or cheaper than taking trains through Europe. And they're faster too.

 

[[pj]]

Yeahh... I've been trying to get some things together to do some backcountry backpacking. Still a bit busy with work right now, but it's definitely on my mind constantly 😉

 

[A Wall]

I'm on my way to Bolivia next month. Still waiting on med schools, but it's not like I'll be able to do it in med school. It's cheap, not as touristy, and beautiful!

Dally, where in Bolivia are you heading, and how are you getting around? I'm actually heading to Belize and Guatemala for a week or so at the end of April/beginning of May ($350 total to fly from newark-->belize, and then guatemala-->newark!), so I'm thinking S.A. for my bigger trip over the summer. I was thinking, vaguely, of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, or the lot of them, since I seem to recall hearing the spanish dialects in those countries tend to be a little slower and therefore easier for a chump like me to understand.

 

[foster033]

I think I'll be flying through Europe mostly. It's ridiculous how cheap some of these flights were. I recall seeing a flight from London to Warsaw for 4 pounds!!!! I'm not planning on going to Warsaw, but even then that is so ridiculously cheap. And ya, I've heard that flying is either the same price or cheaper than taking trains through Europe. And they're faster too.

Sometimes the flights are cheaper if you actually buy them in Europe as well. I know this was the case when I was abroad. I flew from Berlin to London, London to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Nice, and Nice to Paris, and then took a bus from Paris to Copenhagen (which was sort of a mistake, but that's another story) all for ~$275 including tax. When my mom priced the same flights from her computer in the US they were more expensive and the same trip would have cost me ~$400-500.

Someone mentioned ryanair...there's also Sterling which is based in Denmark and has pretty cheap flights. I flew Copenhagen to Prague round trip for ~$80.

Of course all these prices are from a few years ago, I'm not sure how much stuff has gone up since gas is so expensive these days.

be careful of really cheap flights (ie .01 pounds) with extremely high tax. sometimes they can end up being a lot more than flights with a higher ticket price.

 

[jem]

I'm taking a month to drive accross country (car camping and day hiking thru Oklahoma, Colorado, and Utah), then I've got three backpacking trips planned: Northern Cascades, Northern California (not sure where yet), and Wynds River Range in Wyoming. I cannot wait - I wish it were all starting tommorrow 😍

I can't really afford all of this, mind you...but it does feel like the last summer I'll have off like this for awhile, so I'm living it up now!

 

[rds726]

im planning to do the backpacking through europe thing for a few weeks in late july/early august.
planning this trip is getting crazy. i need some tips.
ive looked into ryan air and eurail and it seems to be cheapest by mixing the 2. i dont know. i'm new at all this and the estimated expenses are getting higher and higher.
can anyone help me out here for cheaper transportation internationally and within-countries?

or any other tips to do this on a low budget. 😛

 

[barto123]

just got back from backpacking solo 2 months in costa rica and panama. at the end i realized i can't just be a wanderer and i needed something to fill my time especially cause i was alone. those are nice countries, lots of outdoor activity if you're into that sort of thing, but tourist heavy, esp costa rica, so if you're into hanging with a lot of foreign travelers and wannabe rastas, that's the place for you.

lots of tourists think all latin america is the same and people coming down from nicaragua and guatemala, where americans and canadians are sorta a rare commodity and appreciated, are caught off guard when they get to costa rica where no one thinks you pitiful spanish is cute anymore ...... i'm not describing myself. if you're going solo, i might suggest finding some place where you can settle down for a few weeks, maybe do some volunteer work or something that will occupy your time. in addition if you dont already speak spanish, i would suggest learning some, esp if you're going alone.

 

[biggoron42]

i backpacked through some of europe last summer, and i'd strongly recommend relying on trains.

sure, booking all your flights here sounds great - planes are much faster than trains, it takes all the hassle out of tranport, etc. but i'd tell you that over-planning your trip stateside takes a lot of the spontaneity and fun out of what you'll experience in europe. granted, i was traveling solo, and that gave me a ton of freedom. but even if you're going with a friend, you're gonna hear about some cool place you hadn't read about in a guide-book (for me, eger in hungary and cesky krumlov in the czech republic) and you'll just want to go - trains allow you to do that. or maybe you'll really like budapest - like i did - and want to stay for a few extra days; if you haven't completely planned yourself in with flights and hostels in the next city, that's something you can do.

the eurail pass is 100% recommended if you are going to be spending time in western europe; i paid for my 6 day pass with just one berlin - amsterdam express train. if you are going to be in eastern europe, point-to-point tix are more cost effective. since i visited both, i bought a 3 country eurail flex pass for the west and individual tickets while i was in the east.

an alternate approach would be to mix in a few flights between hubs that you KNOW (amsterdam, london, etc.) you will be visiting and filling in the gaps with trains, but make sure to keep a good hold on your "travel freedom".

ahhh....this discussion makes me nostalgic - i'm glad you guys are doing this before med school hits 🙂 i'm planning on traveling solo to the middle east during some of my time off next winter; the thought keeps me going sometimes 🙂

 

[blargh]

*sigh* i planned a trip to europe, but everyone flaked out on me or just didn't have enough money. i don't what i'm going to do with my summer now...

 

[A Wall]

I've pretty much decided on my plans for the summer, and am ridiculously excited... Looks like I'm going to volunteer in Honduras through an organization called Helping Honduras Kids for about 5 weeks from the end of June through the end of July, and then backpack/chicken bus around Honduras and Guatemala for about 3 weeks until the middle of August... And then move to a new city, learn medicine, yada yada yada, good life. Got it allllll planned out, clearly. Anyone else thinking they're gonna be in C.A. over the summer? Studyin, your plans solidified at all?

 

[bluesTank]

going to Puerto Rico for 1.5 weeks. Come party it up there

 

[A Wall]

going to Puerto Rico for 1.5 weeks. Come party it up there

Sadly, I don't think the Guatemalan chicken buses run to P.R... But if I find someone who offers to drive me there, maybe I'll take them up on it!

 

[DoctorDreamer]

Hey, you Bolivia people... I'm headed to Bolvia for May 8th - July 8th, and I'm wanting to do some weekend backpaking through Argentina, Chile, Brazil, etc. I'd be interested to know what you'll be doing.

Also, have you gotten your Yellow Fever vaccination, yet? (It's required to enter the country, takes 10 days to activate, and is not easy to get an appointment to get, at least in Oklahoma.) I got mine yesterday, in addition to Typhoid Fever and Hep A (I got my Hep B a couple of years ago), and they hurt like heck! My arms are still in pain!

Also, are you guys going to take any prophylactic malaria meds, and if so, what ones?

 

[A Wall]

just got back from backpacking solo 2 months in costa rica and panama. at the end i realized i can't just be a wanderer and i needed something to fill my time especially cause i was alone. those are nice countries, lots of outdoor activity if you're into that sort of thing, but tourist heavy, esp costa rica, so if you're into hanging with a lot of foreign travelers and wannabe rastas, that's the place for you.

Barto, or anyone else: What kinna backpack and shoes you recommend for a central/south america trip? I'm only gonna be actually moving around a lot for about a month, I think. I've got a 75 L pack that's served me well backpacking in the past, though that was when I had to carry a tent, sleeping bag, and camping gear, none of which I'll need this summer.

 

[MsJLewis]

After getting some of my financial aid packages, I've determined that I can afford some time in Europe this summer! Unfortunately it seems like I have no one that can commit to going with me. 🙁

 

[ShipsDr]

Sadly, I don't think the Guatemalan chicken buses run to P.R... But if I find someone who offers to drive me there, maybe I'll take them up on it!

hehehe.

 

[DoctorDreamer]

After getting some of my financial aid packages, I've determined that I can afford some time in Europe this summer! Unfortunately it seems like I have no one that can commit to going with me. 🙁

I would totally go with you, but I'll be in South America... Want to come backpack through Argentina, Chile, and Brazil with me?

 

[kansaskid]

Not the summer before school, but the summer after graduation (I'm taking a year off for AmeriCorps), I'm planning on backpacking through Europe with my boyfriend...who might be my husband by then...but we'll see 😀

 

[barto123]

Barto, or anyone else: What kinna backpack and shoes you recommend for a central/south america trip? I'm only gonna be actually moving around a lot for about a month, I think. I've got a 75 L pack that's served me well backpacking in the past, though that was when I had to carry a tent, sleeping bag, and camping gear, none of which I'll need this summer.

i used a 75L too but that was also with a tent, sleeping bag, and camping equipment. i saw people with all different size bags. a guy traveling throughout central america for 6+ months had nothing but a normal jansport school backpack. if i were to go again without camping i would bring a 55L or less, something not so conspicuous. sometimes I didn't want to stick out, so the smaller the better for me. you probably already know, but pack light if you'll moving around a lot. some people packed their whole wardrobes and then after a week the realized they can wear the same shirt and jeans or shorts for days on end. if you're not hiking any normal shoes that are versatile, somewhat sporty but good for walking that look nice, will suit your purpose. don't forget the flipflops though for beaches and showers.

 

[coldweatherblue]

I won't be backpacking but I am going to spend two weeks in Prague at the end of May. I used to teach English over there and for part of my "graduation gift to myself" I'm going back to visit friends and possibly some family in Germany.

Last chance for these adventures before med school/residency, gotta take advantage!

The first two weeks in May I'll be on a medical missions trip in the Peruvian Andes. :-D.

 

[Little Etoile]

I'm going to be solo backpacking my way across India and Thailand. I also never really had a quarter or semester abroad so I guess this is how I am making up for it! Anybody else heading to South East Asia??!!!?

I'm not exactly backpacking in the traditional sense (camping n all that), but I'm trekking with my best friend through SE Asia late May- late July.

On the list: India (second time for me), Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Bali.

I gotta get my kicks out before I buckle back down again for med school. 🙂

Good luck on your trip! If you have any questions about India, lemme know!

 

[Hurricane95]

Traveling through europe is something I really think I would have liked to do at some point in time but never got to it (mainly because I was always working in undergrad and it can be pretty expensive). I'll definitely have to catch up once I'm finished with training. At least by then once I'm an established doc I'll be able to afford staying at a different nice hotel every night I'm there, not to mention splurge on buying souvenirs, eating well and inviting people to come with me 😀

If you decide to travel through central america and certain other places in latin america, I suggest you be very careful about where you go. Not every place in latin america is as stable and open to visitors as europe. Central america in particular can be pretty dangerous if a) you clearly stick out as a tourist and b) don't speak the language and have limited means of communicating. Dress poorly and don't wear any flashy jewelry or new shoes...it doesn't take much to convince someone who is poor and kind of desperate for some quick cash to rob you and/or do worse. A nice pair of "american" sneakers may be enough incentive. Guatemala and belize are generally safe, as is most of costa rica (lots of american tourism there), but watch your back in nicaragua, honduras, and don't set foot in el salvador. El salvador is riddled with gang violence and an adventure before med school is not worth it if you may not come back to start school.

In south america, don't think about going to colombia since the entire country is pretty much a warzone right now. It's too dangerous for american tourism and the guerilla controls lots of the country. Americans make nice ransom prizes and/or bargaining tokens. And Brazil has one of the highest murder rates in the world. While it's very famous for tourism because of the beautiful beaches and women, you really have to stick to the limited official tourism areas, especially if you cannot communicate with the people. You can be at a gorgeous beach, ogling the hot girls in their thongs (or nothing at all) one minute, then walk over 2-3 city blocks and find yourself suddenly lost in the ghetto. If that's your idea of adventure and you love the adrenaline rush of actual danger, then go for it, but I'm more careful when I travel 😱
And don't count on the police helping you since in brazil oftentimes a uniform means very little...the police are the ones committing half the rapes and murders. They won't help you and no one will find you.

Sorry for the downer, but I add my advice simply because I keep up with latin america and what goes on there and think that maybe some of you in say oklahoma or missouri may not get news coverage from those areas and really might be naive about what it's like there. It can be fun to travel there but if you want to be safe too you have to know where to go/not go. Otherwise you may decide to go backpack through el salvador, with your nice new shoes and watch, giant pack full of goodies and (probably cash, the natives will think) flashy abercrombie shirt or something, and then during your adventure you may have to ask these guys for directions:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tkb.org/documents/Groups/GR4486_ms13signelsalvador.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rapdict.org/MS-13&h=249&w=188&sz=17&hl=en&start=41&um=1&tbnid=WyZU2oEO9p55bM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=84&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMS%2B13%26start%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US😳fficial%26sa%3DN

Not fun.