There is no greater adventure than strapping a 45-liter internal frame backpack on your shoulders, clutching a consecutive 1-month Eurail Youthpass, and boarding the overnight sleeper train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Rome Termini.
In 1998, before smartphone GPS and booking apps, traveling required paper Let's Go guidebooks, pocket language dictionaries, traveler's cheques cashed at railway station exchange booths, and the camaraderie of youth hostel common rooms.
| Country | Daily Budget | Hostel Bed Cost | Currency (Pre-Euro) | Backpacker Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | $35 USD | 90–120 Francs | French Franc (FF) | Buy fresh baguettes, Brie cheese, and grapes at neighborhood street markets for cheap lunches. |
| Italy | $30 USD | 25,000–35,000 Lire | Italian Lira (L.) | Drink espresso standing at the bar counter — sitting at a piazza table quadruples the price! |
| Switzerland | $45 USD | 30–45 Swiss Francs | Swiss Franc (CHF) | Hike between mountain huts in the Lauterbrunnen Valley to experience the Alps on a budget. |
| Czech Republic | $18 USD | 250–350 Koruna | Czech Koruna (CZK) | Prague offers world-class classical concerts and historic cobblestone taverns for pennies. |