Hey! does anyone have any advice for me, im going on the european experience trip July 3rd, 2006. and im going by myself. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

G xox

You'll have a blast! I did the Euro Experience in May 2005 and had the time of my life. Just remember you get out what you put in.
In terms of actual advice, what do you want to know? I can tell you about the accommodation, the optional activities, what to pack etc... Just depends what you need to know.
Shannon

I am also going on the european Experience on April 29th.....10 sleeps!  I'm starting to freak out about what I'm forgetting.  Any advice you could give would be great!  Accommodations, optional activities and packing....I have no clue what to pack!  How was the weather when you went last May? 
Also, what was the guy/girl ratio?

Thanks for your help! 

Prepare for a long one....

Weather: Well last May was warmer than I was expecting it to be... every day I was in pants and a t-shirt and some days that was a little uncomfortable for me - I would have been better off throwing a couple of little dresses in. In Rome (30 degrees) it was way too hot for jeans & sneakers (which were almost the only shoes I brought) so I actually bought a little sundress and a pair of thongs in the city. I also didn't bring swimmers cos there would only be two pools on the tour but ended up going swimming in Rome in my underwear LOL so maybe bring the bikini (not like they take much room up anyway). BUT I was in a jumper in the Beaujolais chateau so do bring some layers just in case. I had a short leather jacket that I wore pretty much every night we went out.

Accomodation: It IS a cheap tour so expect small rooms etc. In most places you stay in little timber onsite cabins within a campsite. Some cabins have two bedrooms with two beds in each, some are all four in one room. Most accommodation sites are shared amenities although Paris and Florence had their own bathrooms. Florence's cabins are the best on the tour and Rome's are the smallest but the campsite is cool anyway with a great pool area with bar, and another bar at the top of the campsite. The chateau in Beaujolais are two sets of bunk beds (very squeeky) and shared bathrooms. You get your own bathroom in Amsterdam  but the stairs in that hotel are murderous!!! Really steep so quite a challenge with luggage. The bathrooms can leave a bit to be desired - not enough hot water etc or just being skungy (the Venice ones are the worst) but as I say, it is a cheap tour so you have to expect some creature comforts aren't there.

Optional activities: Go on everything you can afford. I didn't think anything wasn't worth the money (except maybe Jungfrau but even though it's expensive, I'd still do it again - I was just sick from the altitude so didn't enjoy it that much even though it's stunning). The parapenting was awesome fun, the white water rafting is freezing but great fun, and all the dinners etc are great cos alcohol is included (limited but gets your night started!!)

Packing: I took one pair of high heels for nights out and they rarely got worn - my sneakers moulded to my feet by the end of the trip! Likewise I took a pair of black pants that never got worn cos I couldn't iron them. As I said I had to buy thongs and a dress so bring some thongs along too (you'll probably use them in some of the showers). Other than that I basically had some tracksuit pants, a pair of jeans, a pair of cargo pants, a skirt, the leather jacket, a handful of t-shirts - I deliberately packed light so I could buy the t-shirts, jumpers etc as souvenirs so I did add to this list over the time!!

Jeez that turned into "War & Peace"! Sorry it's so long but hopefully it answered your questions thoroughly enough... Let me know if you want to know more!
X Shannon