<p>My friend and I (a male and a female) are planning to backpack through some major cities Western Europe for about two weeks in Europe. Our plan is to get Eurail passes and travel by night and sleep in youth hostels. We'd start in Milan, then go to Bern, then go to Paris, then go to Brussels, then go to Amsterdam, then go to Berlin, then go to Prague, then go to Munich, then back to Milan. This is all subject to change, if we figure out that we don't want to go to a certain place.</p>
<p>This would be during the summer after graduating from high school, so we will both be 18 at the time. My mother's concern is safety. She has heard from many co-workers and family members about stories of strangers trying to lure them to those of pickpocketers who have taken valuables such as passports to thos of friends who have gotten sick and so forth. </p>
<p>My question is: is this scenario safe?</p>
<p>Sounds like a lot of fun!</p>
<p>This kind of trip can be safe if you’re careful and use common sense. However, not paying attention and acting recklessly will, as usual, cause problems.
A big problem, unfortunately and unfairly, is gender. It is statistically more dangerous for a woman to take such a trip than a man. Just something to consider.
Also, as for pickpocketers and thieves, the best thing is to get a pouch that you wear around your neck that hangs under your shirt for valuables. There are plenty of similar precautions to take to avoid such situations.
Looking at your list of places, there aren’t any red flags for food safety (stomach bugs from food and water), so that’s good. Watch for undercooked food and if you’re really paranoid just drink bottled water :P</p>
<p><em>The biggest thing is to use your common sense! ALWAYS stick together, keep your wallet close, don’t wander around in dark alleys, no hitch hiking, make sure you will not run out of money, etc.</em>
Any questions, PM me :)</p>
<p>Your mother is completely right to be concerned about safety. You will have to be careful and aware of your surroundings. This sounds like a terrific adventure - but things to consider would be how much experience you have with foreign travel, how much experience you have navigating busy urban areas (trains etc.), your comfort with languages in the places you will visit, etc. </p>
<p>I would not let my well-travelled daughter go on this trip alone at 18, and would be very cautious with 2 young women alone. Having a male with you will somewhat mitigate the scariest risks (mugging, sexual harrassment/assualt), but both of you will need to do plenty of study beforehand - know where you plan to stay in each city, how to get there from the train station you will be arriving to, read guidebooks or websites that tell you about places to avoid after dark etc.</p>
<p>That said - I hope it works out and you have an amazing experience!</p>
<p>It should be pretty safe. Beware of pickpockets in busy city areas, yes, but you’ve chosen relatively safe destinations where most people will know some English (they’ll be better than you at it in Brussels and, eh, a lot worse in Milan) and the railroads should be in good order. Getting a cheap phone/pre-paid card could be a good idea for keeping in touch with each other and having to worry about one valuable less. Common sense is fundamental but don’t be too afraid of being spontaneous either. If you suddenly decide you would like to detour for just a day to London or something - do it. Europe is pretty small and there are a lot of trains going about in the Central Europe areas you mentioned.</p>
<p>Guard your stuff and don’t stray off paths.</p>
<p>The places you’re going to are all pretty safe, and you’re traveling with a guy, which makes it even safer. But do make sure that you trust your friend beyond a shadow of a doubt and that you’ve known him for a while. Don’t carry a lot of cash on you and never let your passport/phone leave your side.</p>
<p>Have fun! :)</p>