Critique this West/North/East European Itinerary

[Guyon]

For Cliff's Notes, address points 1) & 2)

This summer, like many of you, I am planning a multi-destination budget backpacking/rail trip through Europe.

Previously, I have made a similar backpacking trip. Stops included London, Paris, Barcelona, Interlaken, Prague, Berlin, and Amsterdam. This summer, I would like my brother to accompany me. He has not been out of the US ever, so I am considering revisiting some of the places on my first trip I wouldn't mind seeing again.

Some points of interest for this trip I am considering:

1) I would like to see parts of Scandanavia, but have concerns about the logistics in relation to my budget. I am considering a loop through either [Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Russia] or [Holland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Russia] Any ideas on deriving a Scandanavian loop that hits two of the Scandanavian countries, goes through St. Petersberg, and incorporates the least expensive travel methods that go beyond the Eurail Select Pass?

2) I really want to see Russia and spend time in at least one former USSR state, perhaps Ukraine. Sadly, I am grossly underfamiliar with knowledge of these countries. Any recommendations that could point my research in the correct direction that consider budget, off-Eurail travel, and general tourist value?

3) Here's the flexible itinerary:

Arrive Amsterdam (best $ at this time) 5-17
To Norway/Denmark 5-20
To Sweden on 5-23
To Finland on 5-27
To Russia via Estonia 5-30
To Ukraine/CIS/Eastern Nation on 6-4
To Czech on 6-7
To Switz on 6-9
To France on 6-12
To Amsterdam 6-16
Depart 6-17

I encourage experienced travelers to poke holes, make suggestions, etc.

Gracias [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]