Where to go? Research and planning

The most difficult and yet exciting part of any trip, might be planning. I presume that in a backpack destination one could really chose the "Distré" (Absent minded) way,  going along with destiny, no plans, but if you are going on a budget and want to respect that budget, planning is essential. 

-Plan according to what you like, not what is popular.
 
- List all the places you and your kid wish to go.  Go wild, you will have enough reasons to remove places from the list at a letter stage, either by efficiency of schedule, budget, or any other impractical reason. Pick your starting point and secure it if possible, it is the first step to opening the door to the adventure.

-Read about the places you wish to go. Make sure you share information with your child, show him/her maps, you will notice how exciting the conversations become. Prepare him/her with the idea of carrying his backpack around Europe, the trains, the destinations, places and food he will taste. Remember, your enthusiasm is essential to inspire and motivate young ones.

- Ask around, it is very likely that somebody you know can recommend a must see place, village, city, attraction. Take their suggestion seriously, for they will probably recommend what has left a long lasting impression on them and not necessarily all they have seen.

Is not about seeing it all, but experiencing some.

-Whether you know someone or not, make sure you watch Youtube traveling videos, they'll teach you a lot in little time, and will get you excited about the places you are potentially heading to.

-I have been using TripAdvisor for many years now, it is safe to say, that the time spent there reading reviews has been not wasted, I really read them all, over and over. There is precious information, from the basic recommendations, to dialogues about safety, expectations, etc.

-Research and secure your Airbnb Accomodation, they book fast. I found out that hostels generally don't accept children, unless you book a private room, which for a budget travler is not convenient. Airbnb offers private rooms in residential areas. I got great deals, in safe places with very good recommendations. It also adds an extra dimension to stay with locals.

-Have fun thinking about it! It can be very overwhelming, but is an excellent challenge, how to make the best of an opportunity like this with the resources of time and money one has. When the thought of economy overwhelms me, I remember how much I have traveled so far, I know very well by now, that many of the things I remember where not expensive to see, they were available for everyone to experience. For me is the purity of the feeling I search, and that usually doesn't carry a big price tag.

-Keep an eye on the budget, but safety first in mind.