Whats the best/cheapest airport to fly from the USA? And which country would be best to arrive in first from USA (NY)?
I would want to probably spend about a month in Europe. Maybe a few days in Italy, a few days in France, a few days in Greece, a few days in Spain, etc.
Even if I am a guy, is couchsurfing safe? haha I have heard horror stories.... such as the Amanda Knox story and that Liam Nelson movie Taken. What are the hosts expecting in return?
Would I be okay if I travel alone? Or is it better to go with a friend? Because most of my friends are not in limbo like me haha... they are working and studying....
Thanks.
I have found the cheapest airport changes depending on when you are flying and exactly where you are flying. In flying to Europe I have flown out of Chicago twice, New York once and Dallas once. But it all depends on where you are starting in Europe. Big cities are almost always your best bet, and generally the cheapest airline's hub for when and where you are flying is best. Search around a lot. I use studentuniverse.com for most of my flights. They tend to be a little cheaper (for students only.)
Couch surfing is exactly what it sounds like. Is it safe? Most of the time yes. But it is a lot like hitchhiking. It is safe, but every now and then there could be a crazy. I personally am not willing to take that risk, but I wouldn't hitchhike either. In most parts of europe a bed in a hostel is not very expensive (especially if you stay out of the capital cities). Plus hostels are a fun way to meet people.
In terms of travelling alone, it really depends on you. I have done both in Europe. I have more fun when with a friend. But when I was alone I could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted and I was able to make friends in hostels much easier. I met some pretty cool people, but I also was lonely from time to time. It really depends on you. Are you ok being alone for long times? Do you make friends easily? Are you really social? Traveling alone might be great for you. Do you struggle to make friends and hate being alone? Take a friend. It depends on who you are. I am fairly social and I still prefer to take someone. Usually I still meet lots of people and have fun with random people I meet, but it also gives me someone to be with for the entire adventure and to share it with. Depending on how long you are going it may be best to make sure you are really compatible with the person.
A few more tips from my own experiences:
1. Have at least a general route in your mind before going. As in where you want to start and finish. Then buy an open jaw ticket starting one place and ending in another. One time I flew in and out of London because it was cheapest, but I spent 2 days getting back to London. I should have paid a couple hundred more and simply flown out of Italy.
2. Trains are the easiest way to see Europe but not always the cheapest or most efficient. Trains in Europe are fantastic and generally are the way to go. But sometimes they are not. For instance you said you want to go from Italy to Greece. Your eurail pass will cover a ferry to go there (or discount it at least) but the ferry will take a day of your time! It may be wiser to purchase a cheap plane ticket instead (through someone like easyjet) and fly there in an hour. Sometimes it is worth it to spend a little money. Otherwise I am a huge eurail fan. But don't be afraid to fly across long distances.
3. As someone said earlier pack light. I mean really light. I have a small backpack and that is all I use. It is small enough to carry on to my flight to Europe. No lost baggage, and then when I fly easyjet I don't have to check it either. My rule of thumb is to make my backpack comfortable enough that if I get stuck with it all day it doesn't ruin my day. Because although this rarely happens with train lockers etc. it still has happened to me from time to time.
4. Get a good guide book and read up on some places before you go. It means a lot more to you if you know the history and story being a site/museum piece/ art work. That you don't walk around saying "Is that a thing?" And taking a picture just because everyone else is and then getting home and learning later it was some masterful piece of art you didn't get a chance to fully appreciate while actually in front of it.
K that is a freaking long post but hopefully it helps you out a bit from someone who has learned the hard way on most of those.
Remember when you are there you have flown all the way there. Don't make the mistake I made the first time of not paying 15 euro to go into the coliseum because it just seemed too pricey. I had already paid thousands of dollars to get there, to not enter a magnificent piece of history because of 15 euro was sad. Luckily I have been able to get back and enter, but hopefully my point makes sense.
