http://backpackpodcast.com One Summer in Europe - For those who wonder, for those who wander... Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:34:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Welcome to One Summer in Europe, the backpacking Europe podcast. Join restless backpackers Ryan and Melissa on this ongoing podcast series as we simulate an extended budget trip around the must-see destinations in Europe, while offering real-world advice to help you create your own European travel adventure. We encourage listener questions and feedback to incorporate into the show, so listen in and tell us where you need help. Ryan Stuckey and Friends clean Ryan Stuckey and Friends questions@backpackpodcast.com questions@backpackpodcast.com (Ryan Stuckey and Friends) © 2009 Rakasa Worldwide, Inc. One Summer in Europe - the backpacking Europe podcast backpacking europe, backpacking podcast, europe podcast, travel europe, hostel, europe trains, summer in europe, europe itinerary, budget travel, http://backpackpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/valid-rss.png http://backpackpodcast.com http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/05/episode-6-barcelona/ http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/05/episode-6-barcelona/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 23:25:00 +0000 Ryan http://backpackpodcast.com/?p=221 http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/05/episode-6-barcelona/feed/ 0 AVE Train,Backpacking Europe,Backpacking Europe Itinerary,Backpacking Podcast,Barcelona,Eurail Pass,Europe Summer,La Sagrada Familia,Las Ramblas,Montjuic,One Summer in Europe,Parc Guell Coming from Madrid, after a detour around Andalucia, we make our move back east to the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast. - Barcelona has climbed into the upper echelon of desirable backpacking Europe destinations, Coming from Madrid, after a detour around Andalucia, we make our move back east to the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona has climbed into the upper echelon of desirable backpacking Europe destinations, ranking right after Paris and London and probably ahead of almost every other city. It's easy to see why this is so, with its decidedly cool and stylish atmosphere and nearly perfect climate. We recommend 3 days in Barcelona to fully experience its offerings, but be careful as it is not a cheap place to stay like most of the rest of Spain. On this episode, we welcome Melissa back to the podcast, and we talk about: Barcelona fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Europe the last two decades the vibrant and colorful mood of Barcelona that delights visitors as a very popular destination, the expensive nature of the city Melissa's pickpocket experience departing the Hard Rock cafe, and the interesting reaction of the locals witnessing the event several interesting things to see and do in Barcelona (our favorite being La Sagrada Familia) the energetic Barcelona nightlife special focus and attention on traveling alone in Europe: keeping safe, being smart, and meeting people (you don't need to travel with others to have a great experience in Europe, it is actually more liberating) TRANSPORT IN RENFE (Spanish rail system) AVE (high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona) ACCOMMODATION One Summer in Europe (Barcelona hostel and budget hotel (”hostal”) search) SIGHTSEEING Las Ramblas (famous tree-lined street in heart of the city) La Sagrada Familia (amazing church being built over 125+ years - official site) Parc Guell (pleasant Gaudi-designed park overlooking the city) Picasso Museum (lots of early work) Montjuic (historic hill with many attractions, including 1992 Olympic sites) Barcelona Aquarium (best aquarium for Mediterranean sealife in world) One Summer in Europe (other miscellaneous sightseeing activities) TRANSPORT OUT RENFE (Spanish rail system) SNCF (French rail system) Time to finally leave Spain after a fantastic 2-week jaunt through this wonderful country, and now onward to France: Nice and the tres chic Cote d'Azur (French Riviera). It feels like a 007 movie every day of the week... Ryan Stuckey and Friends clean http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/04/slowdown-in-europe-rail-travel/ http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/04/slowdown-in-europe-rail-travel/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:50:48 +0000 Ryan http://backpackpodcast.com/?p=135 http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/04/slowdown-in-europe-rail-travel/feed/ 0 http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/03/episode-3-paris/ http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/03/episode-3-paris/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:59:52 +0000 Ryan http://backpackpodcast.com/?p=100 http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/03/episode-3-paris/feed/ 0 Arc de Triomphe,Backpacking Europe,Backpacking Podcast,Beauvais Airport,Champs Elysees,Disneyland Paris,Eiffel Tower,Eurail Pass,Europe Podcast,Europe Summer,Jardin du Luxembourg,Luxembourg Gardens We arrive on the European continent in perhaps the most enchanting city in the world, Paris. It may be an acquired taste for some travelers, but it is fairly easy to see why Paris is the favorite city of so many people from around the world. We arrive on the European continent in perhaps the most enchanting city in the world, Paris. It may be an acquired taste for some travelers, but it is fairly easy to see why Paris is the favorite city of so many people from around the world. It's an unmissable destination for your European adventure. With countless sights and activities in Paris, we recommend five days and four nights there on our One Summer in Europe trip. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss: arriving from Dublin and getting acclimated to Paris some basic facts on Paris and France overcoming the stereotype of the "rude French" avoiding theft, and my story on witnessing this on a Paris train daily cost of accommodation and sightseeing in Paris our respective top 5 things to see and do other interesting sights outside our top 5 selections where to go next and the experience of a night train We also hear from our friend Tory, an American living and working in Paris, on her experience as a foreigner in the city. Finally, I speak with Katia on her perspective as a native French person and her advice to travelers to Paris. Here are some relevent websites for Paris based on our discussion (in rough order as we talked): TRANSPORT IN Paris Beauvais Airport (how to get to Paris from there) Paris Metro (subway system) ACCOMMODATION One Summer in Europe (Paris hostel and budget hotel search page) SIGHTSEEING Disneyland Paris (EuroDisney) Champs-Élysées (the famous street in the heart of Paris) Chateau de Versailles (official site) Musee d'Orsay (official site) Arc de Triomphe (Napoleon's triumphal arch) Eiffel Tower (official site) Notre-Dame de Paris (official site) Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens) Sacre Couer-Montmartre Sunset over the Seine in Summer One Summer in Europe (other miscellaneous sightseeing activities) TRANSPORT OUT Elipsos TrenHotel (Paris-to-Madrid overnight train) We find it nearly impossible to leave Paris but we pull ourselves away and head far south into Spain - first the capital Madrid! Ryan Stuckey and Friends clean http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/02/0-introduction/ http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/02/0-introduction/#comments Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:25:06 +0000 Ryan http://backpackpodcast.com/?p=55 http://backpackpodcast.com/2009/02/0-introduction/feed/ 0 Backpacking Europe,Backpacking Europe Itinerary,Backpacking Podcast,Eurail Global Pass,Eurail Pass,Eurail Selectpass,Europe Itinerary,Europe Podcast,Europe Railpass,Europe Summer,Hostels,One Summer in Europe We're pleased to present the first episode of One Summer in Europe - the backpacking Europe podcast! - As this episode is an introduction to the rest of the series, we name it episode #0. - In this episode, Melissa and I discuss: - We're pleased to present the first episode of One Summer in Europe - the backpacking Europe podcast! As this episode is an introduction to the rest of the series, we name it episode #0. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss: who we are and our different European travel experiences why people should consider taking their own backpacking Europe trip (hint: FUN), whether one is a recent graduate or is out of school a few years why traveling on a budget is a great skill and how it actually leads to a better experience than spending a lot of money we set up our virtual "one summer in Europe" trip scenario which is based on : 10-week trip (last half of May + June + July) visiting 20 interesting destinations (3-4 days on average in each) with no formal itinerary (next stop = ??) spending on average $50-70 per day by keeping to a budget using a 2-month unlimited use railpass for 20 countries flying into London as our 1st stop Here are some relevant links from this episode: a useful airfare comparison website: Momondo.com where to get your European railpass: RailEurope where to get your passport: USA, Canada, Australia and of course our partner site where you can quickly search 1000s of hostels and things to do across Europe: One Summer in Europe For reference, here are the railpass prices we mentioned: 2-month unlimited Adult = $1590 Youth = $1034 Group = $1351 15 days in 2 months Adult = $1085 Youth = $704 Group = $924 Finally, we welcome listener questions and comments at questions (at) backpackpodcast.com, and we may read these emails on future episodes. Join us soon for our first stop in Europe - episode #1 London! Ryan Stuckey and Friends clean