How do you go about planning a trip to go backpacking through Europe?
Backpacking is not always the cheapest option, it can be quite costly if you are on the move all the time. Most lodgings give reduced prices when you stay more than a few days (often a week but sometimes already when you stay more than one night,) and finding your way around is always a little more expensive as you have not yet found the cheaper options. To travel with 4 (or more) people, best make a list of what you want to see and do, each separately and talk those lists over later. That way you know what each wants to do and see which prevents a lot of arguments later. The biggest risk when traveling with friends is breaks in the friendship, sometimes even soon after setting off. Knowing what to expect is a way to prevent that (even though it might result in not traveling together.) If one person just wants to go to the beach to sunbade, the second want to see all museums in Europe, the third is only interested in beer while the last wants to do long distance hikes you will understa