(Part 2) Best europe travel guides according to redditors

You need to read Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson [1]. It's his impressions of the UK when he first arrived from the states. His observation of how we talk about the roads is spot on:

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“If you mention in the pub that you intend to drive from, say, Surrey to Cornwall, a distance that most Americans would happily go to get a taco, your companions will puff their cheeks, look knowingly at each other, and blow out air as if to say, ‘Well, now that’s a bit of a tall order,’” writes Bryson. “‘There’s the Great West steam rally at Little Dribbling this weekend,’ somebody from across the room will add, strolling over to join you because it’s always pleasant to bring bad motoring news. ‘There’ll be 375,000 cars all converging on the Little Chef roundabout at Upton Dupton. We once spent 11 days in a tailback there, and that was just to get out of the car park. No, you want to have left when you were still in your mother’s womb, or preferably while you were spermatozoa, and even then you won’t find a parking space beyond Bodmin.’”

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1. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Small-Island-Bill-Bryson/dp/0552996009

If you liked Lyme Park then you'd probably like Dunham Massey and Quarry Bank Mill.

 

I'd really recommend this book, it's what got me into walking and discovering the countryside round here.

For two months ?

I'd go with https://www.amazon.com/Michel-Thomas-MethodTM-Beginners-Program/dp/0071614478 - Michel Thomas

And maybe some Babbel (paid app/website)

You need a passport. Get that going first. (If you're a US citizen, this is the link you want.)

I think the best thing to do is to pick up a travel book for your intended destinations. Read through it, use it to plan and budget, then bring it along when you go. Let's Go is geared towards young adults. It's kind of fun to read through and plan.

Kayak.com is great for finding budget flights. Late night and early morning flights, mid-week flights, and flights with a few connections save airfare. Basically, less convenient = lower fare most of the time.

You'd probably do well staying in youth hostels. You can meet other people your age very easily in them. There are also rail passes for western europe that can save you money and hassle. There are also very cheap flights to be had within Europe: Ryanair comes to mind.

Plan to pack light, it will save you money and make your trip far better. www.onebag.com is a helpful resource there. You really only need a couple changes of clothes, a bathing suit, a travel towel, toiletries, a smartphone, and some warm & waterproof layers. Packing light makes a trip so much better.

Buy some guidebooks, such as this one, and this one, or whatever others. They cost practically nothing compared to the thousands you'll spend on the trip.

Get a good guidebook like Rick Steves Europe through the Back Door, seriously, it will answer all your questions and has more tips and advice than you will find here.

it all depends on your priorities. hostels were a base and a mattress for me, so i didn't care much for cleanliness or services. location was key. if you ask fellow travellers for advice on where they're staying in the city that can be helpful, but depending on season you might find yourself stuck with the next best hostel that still has room. take your own towel. put cash inside a small inconspicuous pouch at the bottom of your cash and carry valuables for the day around your neck and under clothing if possible.

here's a link to the american amazon for the travel guide: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/161237042X?pc_redir=1397645056&robot_redir=1

• You will definitely need a passport but no medical exam is required
  
  
• Here is some info on getting to Dorset: http://www.visit-dorset.com/plan-your-visit/travel-information/getting-to-dorset
  
  
• I suggest booking a flight to London, and then either taking the train to France and Spain, or taking short-haul flights. There are many carriers that offer cheap flights (EasyJet, Ryanair) but their baggage allowance is normally minimal so watch out for that. If you're totally lost on what to do and how to book, consider using a travel agent given that this is your first trip.
  
  
• For hotels, check out Trip Advisor and type in the name of the place you want to visit. You can sift through hotels that way and read reviews from people who have stayed there. Then, when you're ready to book, try hotels.com or booking.com, or book directly through the hotel's website.
  
  
• Generally, it sounds like you might benefit from a Europe travel guide, which has a lot of great information in the introductory section. for example, here is one

ah. it was paris/London specifically not Europe.

http://www.amazon.com/Frommers-Paris-95-Day/dp/0764598937
http://www.amazon.com/Frommers-London-Day-Donald-Olson/dp/0471747025

but both are old books


er wait here it is. but from 2004
http://www.amazon.com/Frommers-Europe-85-Day/dp/0764568906/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369661824&sr=8-2&keywords=frommers+Europe


They probably just don't put the dollar figure in the title anymore!

Hi there! I could not find it anywhere on the web. I think your best bet might be the second book referenced on the wiki page, Traveller's Literary Companion: Eastern & Central Europe (here on Amazon). I don't know for certain if it's in there, but it's at least referenced in it and there may be a sizable abstract.
Good luck. Sorry I don't have more info for you!

This book is exactly what you need: Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door 2016: The Travel Skills Handbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631211757/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_W6tPwb5YNSNTY

Also check out rome2rio.com and seat61.com for travel around Europe.

Pick pockets are an issue in Europe, so it's a good idea to read up on tourist theft/scams: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams
Especially if you end up drunk/high at Tomorrowland.

https://www.amazon.com/Fodors-York-Full-color-Travel-Guide/dp/1640971629