Backpack, Eurorail Pass an Airbnb ~By Danette

Good news x3! First I am the proud owner of a Coyote Kelty 80 liter backpack! I bought it on reioutlet.com for $124 (free shippig even). It was a little more than I was planning on spending but I believe it will be totally worth it. Also, I was planning on getting like a 65 liter bag,  but this one just seemed too perfect. I don't have to fill it full right? :)

Secondly, Amy and I finally booked out Eurorail tickets! This was probably the hardest decision I've have to make about the trip thus far. Which pass was right for me? Aims and I both ended up with the -travel for 15 days within two months global pass. It cost me $1200. And only because I am over 26!!! Apparently you are no longer youth once you reach 27. Amy's was somewhere around $800. Another thing I dont understand is I had to buy a first class ticket and Amy had to buy a second class ticket. Doesn't make sense to me because we want to actually travel together in the same location.  It says I can just go to second class, so I guess that is what I will do. We decided if we were on the verge of strangling each other maybe it would be our chance to separate and regroup. :)

I was originally planning on getting the -2 month unlimited global pass, but it was going to be $1700. And I am just so unsure if the passes will actually even cover all the places we are wanting to travel. I know a lot of the times we are going to end up having to pay extra for over night and reservations. Anyway, hopefully we made the smartest choice.

Thirdly, we booked our very first might in Valencia Spain! We went through airbnb.com and it was almost too easy!!! I'm so excited to book more places. It's a little like coach surfing where you are staying  at someone's house, but airbnb isn't free. But it's totally affordable. This place was $30 for both of us. 

~By Danette

More Goodies ~By Danette

Two more items for my trip An awesome polyester Pack Towel! It was $24. Not sure if that's a good deal or not. I got an XL but its still the size of a small bath mat. Apparently it drys extremely fast ands it weighs close to nothing. Oh, and another bonus, it's a pretty purple! 

Also I got a pair of flip flips for my trip. They are Reefs and they have a sweet arch. Super comfortable and perfect for walking on a warm day. I spend $35. On them. Amy was a little shocked I spent that much on flip flops, but as long as I don't lose them they will last me for years!! 

Making a trip to Anchorage this weekend, as there isn't much for shopping in Kenai. Hoping to come back with a pair or shoes and a sleeping bag. 

My converter ~By Danette

I bought a converter. :) seriously, the things you have to think about when planning a backpacking trip. I got it at Radio Shack for $22. Bargain? Maybe, maybe not, but now I won't fry my iPod or my camera while I'm there. :)

Also, one would not guess you had to have a return ticket when traveling to europe. I guess they won let you in with just a one way. Glad we found that out now and on at the icelandic boarder. So Amy and I just purchased our tickets back yesterday. We fly out of Copenhagen Denmark on the 17th of October. We paid right around $700 I believe. So total airfare cost us around $1400. Probably would have been cheaper to by a round trip, but how could we have know. Live and learn.

~By Danette

More Research ~By Danette

I just checked out three books from the library today. Europe by Rail, Europe, and Europe on a Shoestring by Lonely Planet. They have been extremely useful thus far! My computer bit the dust the other day and I was more than upset. I text Amy freaking out saying "how am I supposed to f'ing plan Europe without a computer!!!!!" Well, I am improvising. And I almost feel this is easier than trying to find a useful website. Flipping pages and writing on paper with an actual pen, its actually kind of nice.

~By Danette

Purchases ~By Danette

Backpacks, shoes, jackets, sleeping bags and all the other jazz that we need to buy before our trip. Where is a person start?

Ive been online looking at everything trying to figure out which thing will work best for me and what I need. I obviously worry too much because i am so concerned im going to buy the wrong thing because I didn't research enough. Well, I finally made my first purchase today. (other than my plane ticket.) I just bought a Colombia jacket! It was originally $270, but I scored it for $140. Still pricey, but I love it! Waterproof, comes apart in to a lighter jacket and it's black, so it will match with everything!
Can't wait to take a trip to anchorage and get some more of the thing I need.

~By Danette

Tickets!!!!

I cannot believe this is my life!!!! Amy and I have just purchased one way tickets to Europe!!! WE ARE GOING TO EUROPE!!!!! We leave Anchorage Alaska August 26th! We have a a ten hour layover in Iceland so we are very excited to check out Reykjavik for a couple of hours! Then onto Barcelona, Spain where we will officially start off this two month adventure!!!

I dreamt last night we had just landed in Europe and it was mad chaos, we had brought so much stuff with us that mascara, eyeliner and curling iron cords were just falling out of our backpacks. We looked like crazies! So in reality, very minimal of that stuff is going to make it into my backpack! I want to take the very least that I can. :) Though I've already changed my mind from no flat iron to my mini flat iron. I can't look like a hobo the whole time I am there. :)

Passport En Route! ~ Amy

  
Welp its official! I have applied for my United States Passport! it shall be here within 6 weeks! I just can't believe me of all people am going to EUROPE!!! OMG and my passport picture is crazy horrible too!
   I have also applied for three different major travel credit cards too. I have never been fond of those things and actually only have one to my name as of now, but ive read its a great way to avoid foreign transaction fees and everything else that comes along with banking overseas. We shall see, I hope i get approve for at least one. 
   Next big purchase should be our tickets!!!!