Oh, how I love to travel! There’s nothing like exploring the world, soaking in new cultures, and sampling delicious food. It’s always exciting to hop on a plane and experience everything a new destination has to offer. Luckily, my job gives me plenty of flexibility, which means I can take extended trips—no more squeezing everything into a rushed one- or two-week getaway! This is why I’m so excited about my upcoming backpacking journey through Europe, where I’ll have the chance to truly immerse myself in each destination.
A Memorable Trip and What I Learned
One memorable trip was when my daughter was 21, and we headed to Great Britain. She had a huge list of places to see, and after a few days, we realized our ambitious itinerary was a bit too much. We had to scrap one city, and let me tell you, canceling reservations last minute didn’t come cheap! It taught me the value of pacing myself. So, for our upcoming 6-week backpacking adventure in Europe, I’m determined to be a bit more flexible with our plans.
The Adventure Begins: Our 6-Week European Journey
The adventure kicks off in early February when my wife and I will be flying from Tampa, Florida, to Amsterdam. Thanks to some reward miles, we snagged a first-class deal with Delta One (the best way to travel!). If you’re not a miles collector, don’t worry—Amsterdam and London often have some of the best prices for flights to Europe. Our first stop is family in southern Spain, but since we’re so close to Morocco, we’re going to squeeze in a visit to Fez. After that, it’s off to Paris and then on to Germany, where we’ll rent a camper van for a two-week castle tour across southern Germany. Trust me, it’s going to be epic.
Our Flexible Travel Plan
So here’s the plan: we’ve got a loose itinerary, but we’re reserving accommodations just a few days ahead of time. This gives us the freedom to change things up as we go. If we stumble upon hidden gems, we’ll pivot and check them out. If we want to relax on the beach for a few days, no problem! We‘re also sticking to a tight budget, so who knows what might pop up along the way. Make sure to check back often to see how things are going, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop.
The Three Legs of Our Trip
Leg 1: Eurail Pass Adventure
Eurail Pass adventure from Amsterdam to Seville (Southern Spain). I’ve found a super helpful tool on the Eurail website to plan our itinerary. Here’s the list of cities we’re hitting along the way (I’ll keep updating you with more details as we go):
- Amsterdam
- Antwerp
- Ghent
- Lille
- Champagne France (Reims)
- Paris
- Versailles Château Rive Gauche
- Château de Chambord
- Château de Chenonceau
- Bordeaux
- Madrid
- Seville
Leg 2: Family Time and Exploring Spain & Morocco
This leg is all about family time! They’ll play tour guide as we explore southern Spain and take a detour to Morocco for a visit to Fez. Here’s what we’re planning to see:
- Seville
- Cadiz
- Gibraltar
- Setenil de las Bodegas
- Fez, Morocco
Leg 3: A Journey Through Germany’s Fairytale Castles
Time to channel my inner castle hunter! I found a fantastic website with a pre-built German castle itinerary, and we’re going to use that as our jumping-off point. We won’t hit every castle, but it’s a solid start. Here’s a sneak peek at what we’ll be exploring:
- Eltz Castle
- Cochem Castle
- Burg Frankenstein
- Heidelberg Castle
- Würzburg Residence
- Ludwigsburg Residential Palace
- Schloss Drachenburg
- Hohenzollern Castle
- Lichtenstein Castle
- Sigmaringen Castle
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- Berchtesgaden
- Munich
- Nuremberg
Join Us on Our Adventure
So that’s the gist of our 6-week backpacking journey across Europe! Along the way, I’ll be sharing tips, resources, and our experiences so you can plan your trip. Once you’ve taken your adventure, let us know what you discover, and we’ll add it to the list. Here’s to a fantastic journey ahead—let’s go!
6 Weeks, and Countless Adventures: A Backpacking Journey Through Europe
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Sipping Through Bordeaux: A Wine Lover's Dream Getaway
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Castle Hopping in the Loire Valley: A Tale of Two Fairytale Châteaux
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My Adventures at Versailles: A Fun Travel Diary
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Amsterdam Adventures: Kicking Off Our European Backpacking Extravaganza
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6 Weeks, and Countless Adventures: A Backpacking Journey Through Europe
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A Whirlwind Day in Antwerp, Belgium: Diamonds, History, and Waffles!
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From Antwerp to Ghent: A Medieval Marvel Adventure!
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A Whirlwind Adventure: Exploring Lille, France
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Champagne Dreams and Sparkling Adventures in Reims!
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A Fun, Whimsical Guide to Paris: From Iconic Sights to Hidden Gems