Folks, greetings to you all.

As a 42 year old male with a love of bike travel (restricted to Europe), good times, laughter and obeying the law I am totally fed up at work and am going to pack it in around mid July. I had originally intended to do a RTW trip but to be honest I just can't afford to do it so I have to look at something less costly. For this trip I will have around £3000 - £4000 to spend on a trip around Europe. I'm just wondering if anyone has had an endured trip on this level of cash and am looking for ideas on how to make it last within certain perameters. There are things I am happy to do and there are things I am not happy to do......as follows:

1) I am happy to camp out in decent weather but I do like the occasional comfort of a hotel.
2) I am happy to cook as I go along but I like restaurants, cafes etc as well.
3) I am happy to have the occasional takeaway but I really like pubs too.
4) I am happy to wash in the river but a hot shower wins every time.
5) I love my own company but the company of others and having a crazy time is very appealing.

In a nutshell I guess I want it all on a budget!!

I know there are lots of campsites etc. all over Europe and I would intend to use those where possible. I guess I'm really looking for stories from people who have done it all already. I want to head off for as long as possible and if there is anyone in a similar position let me know. Who knows, we could make a good team. I have my immediate family here in Northern Ireland but I do not have a partner/wife/children etc so I reckon I won't be missed too much, and I certainly won't miss the miserable weather we've had for the last 7 or 8 months. And I think that's a priority for me too....good weather. I've travelled in Europe by bike a few times and am well aware of the general rule of "go south for sun."

I don't want to be in a position where I am away for 6 months but have done it so meagrely that it hasn't been enjoyable. Enjoyment is the name of the game for me and that I guess is always the No.1 priority.
There has to be a very big involved in all of this. Don't get me wrong though, I know how to make my own fun and can be content by some very simple things in life. I do not live a life of fine wine and fine dining anyway so I don't expect to change in that respect.

My bike is the only way I want to do this trip. No planes, trains or automobiles for me, I'm afraid!

There must be others who have done something like this before on a similar budget. If I could get 3 months out of it then I'd be very happy. Any ideas anyone?? And anyone else genuinely interested in doing it with me???

Chris

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"Life is too short to drink cheap wine!"

Hi Chris,

Nice idea.
Go as far south as Morocco and get to know it intimately is what I would do if I had the time.

IMO, if you stay in Europe, camping is the name of the game.

You have touched on something I have been considering recently: the £-Euro exchange rate is/has been going down the pan rapidly. I now know how the guys and gals from the USA feel!
So, I have been wondering where the better value places are, outside but "next to" Europe.
The following come to mind, although I have not looked into the specific exchange rates for each country, other than the first in the list:-

USA: excellent value still - OK, not right next to Europe.
Morocco: nearest to the western Euro zone that has the sun.
Turkey: big, worth a visit.
Scandanavian countries that have not adopted the Euro: Norway for instance - traditionally expensive in any case.
East European countries that don't have the Euro yet: Croatia for instance, or others in the Balkans.

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Dave

HI chris

im looking to do something similar in July im planning to ride across to poland down through eastern Europe to Greece. Catch the ferry from Greece to Italy and ride back up Italy stopping in Slovenia and then home through germany.

Like you im on a budget so im thinking cheap accomodation and a bit of camping along the way.

thought id add my route

Google Maps

regards

.......from your map is a trip to France!!! Great country for biking Matt.I've been a few times and it really is worth the effort. The rest looks and sounds very interesting indeed. And I genuinely mean that. I reckon it would be a real blast to drink in all of those countries too and in a way it would be culturally rude not to!

How long were you thinking of taking, and what kinda budget are you working to? I wouldn't want to live like a pauper and watch you living like a king along the way!!! (I'd have to poison you if that were the case!! lol)

I'm open minded Matt, and if you're seriuos then so am l.

Cheers
Chris

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"Life is too short to drink cheap wine!"