How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap • Hacker News Board

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#11

Post by mattmanser » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:13 PM UTC

mrtksn wrote: post #7

mherrmann wrote: post #3

You can actually do something similar with an Interrail Pass [1]. It's a train ticket valid in all of Europe for 1 month for €407 if you're under 26 or €532 if you're older. Still, pretty cool! 1: http://www.interrail.eu

US users probably don't know much about it but Interrail is one of the greatest things about being young European, together with the Erasmus student exchange program. Add the very low-cost airline ticket to the mix on a continent that is quite safe and peaceful place and you may start to understand why young people are much more positive towards the EU project than the previous generations. EU is also planning to giv…

Most European children don't go through Erasmus or inter rail.

A train ticket for kids paid for by unwilling tax payers is little more than bribery and propaganda. It's disgusting, they can't win the hearts and minds of the populace so they insinuated themselves in schools and now are outright bribing kids.

I was pro-stay, but some of the stunts the EU are pulling to get kids to believe in EU federalisation are disgusting.

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#12

Post by pen2l » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:16 PM UTC

petrikapu wrote: post #9

travel is cheap but you should sleep somewhere and that's expensive.

There's always hostels. Down to $30 some places per night, a small locker to keep your valuables. No?

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#13

Post by mrtksn » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:20 PM UTC

mattmanser wrote: post #11

mrtksn wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US users probably don't know much about it but Interrail is one of the greatest things about being young European, together with the Erasmus student exchange program. Add the very low-cost airline ticket to the mix on a continent that is quite safe and peaceful place and you may start to understand why young people are much more positive towards the EU project than the previous generations. EU is also planning to giv…

Most European children don't go through Erasmus or inter rail. A train ticket for kids paid for by unwilling tax payers is little more than bribery and propaganda. It's disgusting, they can't win the hearts and minds of the populace so they insinuated themselves in schools and now are outright bribing kids. I was pro-stay, but some of the stunts the EU are pulling to get kids to believe in EU federalisation are disgu…

I understand how it concerns you and how on principle can be against your ideology but I wouldn't call a train ticket "disgusting" :)

Giving young people means to travel is not brain washing, it's actually the opposite as they can actually go to that country and see what it is all about so they would be less susceptible to propaganda. It's like public education but with no teachers to push an ideology(it's just a ticket, doesn't come with a guide), I would say that if EU manages to pull this of it would be a great public service.

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#14

Post by dominotw » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:20 PM UTC

Edit: this comment is bogus. I didn't know about sweet Schengen visa .

Only applicable to people from rich countries

Visa costs for everyone else,

UK - $160

Germany - $120-$210

Spain - $100

Portugal - $80

France - $67

Belgium - $80

... you get the idea.

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#15

Post by kornholi » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:23 PM UTC

dominotw wrote: post #14

Edit: this comment is bogus. I didn't know about sweet Schengen visa . Only applicable to people from rich countries Visa costs for everyone else, UK - $160 Germany - $120-$210 Spain - $100 Portugal - $80 France - $67 Belgium - $80 ... you get the idea.

Ever heard of Schengen?

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#16

Post by k-mcgrady » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:24 PM UTC

mattmanser wrote: post #11

mrtksn wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US users probably don't know much about it but Interrail is one of the greatest things about being young European, together with the Erasmus student exchange program. Add the very low-cost airline ticket to the mix on a continent that is quite safe and peaceful place and you may start to understand why young people are much more positive towards the EU project than the previous generations. EU is also planning to giv…

Most European children don't go through Erasmus or inter rail. A train ticket for kids paid for by unwilling tax payers is little more than bribery and propaganda. It's disgusting, they can't win the hearts and minds of the populace so they insinuated themselves in schools and now are outright bribing kids. I was pro-stay, but some of the stunts the EU are pulling to get kids to believe in EU federalisation are disgu…

About 15% of students in Europe take part in Erasmus. Considering moving abroad alone for a year to a country where you don't necessarily speak the language is quite intimidating I'd say that's a pretty high number of students. As for inter rail - maybe the fact it's €400 just for the train ticket is why the only people I know who have done it are quite well off. Making it available to everyone who wants it should change that, opening the experience up to everyone regardless of background.

Edit: Making an experience available to everyone isn't exactly propaganda.*

*unlike that extra £350m pw going to the NHS

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#17

Post by mrtksn » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:26 PM UTC

dominotw wrote: post #14

Edit: this comment is bogus. I didn't know about sweet Schengen visa . Only applicable to people from rich countries Visa costs for everyone else, UK - $160 Germany - $120-$210 Spain - $100 Portugal - $80 France - $67 Belgium - $80 ... you get the idea.

Nope, you can get a Schengen Visa and you will be able to visit most of the countries.

Also, EU citizens can travel visa free. There is a visa free travel opportunities for many other citizens from the world as EU or individual countries have special agreements with many countries.

So no, it is not a 100 bucks per country visa fees.

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#18

Post by k-mcgrady » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:27 PM UTC

dominotw wrote: post #14

Edit: this comment is bogus. I didn't know about sweet Schengen visa . Only applicable to people from rich countries Visa costs for everyone else, UK - $160 Germany - $120-$210 Spain - $100 Portugal - $80 France - $67 Belgium - $80 ... you get the idea.

Free for people in the one of the 26 Schengen countries.

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#19

Post by ascorbic » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:28 PM UTC

dominotw wrote: post #14

Edit: this comment is bogus. I didn't know about sweet Schengen visa . Only applicable to people from rich countries Visa costs for everyone else, UK - $160 Germany - $120-$210 Spain - $100 Portugal - $80 France - $67 Belgium - $80 ... you get the idea.

Almost all of the countries are in the Schengen area, so if you skip the UK you just need one visa for the whole lot.

Re: How to visit 30 cities for less than $450USD – Europe on the cheap

#20

Post by thechowchowman » Sat, Nov 26, 2016, 10:31 PM UTC

mattmanser wrote: post #11

mrtksn wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US users probably don't know much about it but Interrail is one of the greatest things about being young European, together with the Erasmus student exchange program. Add the very low-cost airline ticket to the mix on a continent that is quite safe and peaceful place and you may start to understand why young people are much more positive towards the EU project than the previous generations. EU is also planning to giv…

Most European children don't go through Erasmus or inter rail. A train ticket for kids paid for by unwilling tax payers is little more than bribery and propaganda. It's disgusting, they can't win the hearts and minds of the populace so they insinuated themselves in schools and now are outright bribing kids. I was pro-stay, but some of the stunts the EU are pulling to get kids to believe in EU federalisation are disgu…

Whats wrong with wanting the youth of Europe to be well traveled and be versed in differnt cultures. Even if it is propaganda, it's certainly beneficial.