Not to mention, you also likely have a translator in the local language who can help assist you in learning the basics as well as making sure you don’t get overcharged or ripped off when purchasing things. So, due to my strong desire for iTunes, google maps, whatsapp, and instagram, I had a phone purchased back home and then shipped to me in Italy (which is a whole different fiasco for another time). Everything seems so beautiful and historic and wonderful during the day in places like Amsterdam and Athens but late at night things get a little bit different.
If you are still a student, this shouldn’t be a problem but if you have recently graduated or are about to in the near future, keep you student ID, like forever. If you are doing a true backpacking trip through Europe, your likely to run into various outlets. Me, Empty Handed and iPhoneless, Looking Out Over Budapest Wondering Its Whereabouts, But Wow, What A View!
For no good reason, an ATM in London just swallowed my debit card when I put it in, before even asking for my pin. There were so many times where I would be running low on an item, usually in the toiletry department like soap or toothpaste, as I only carried the tiny bottles and tubes, and the next thing I knew I was out and scrambling or begging for it.
I went here and Dubrovnik in Croatia as well as the Greek islands of Ios and Mykonos and Hvar was by far my favorite stop of the four.
If I would have known how beautiful southern Bosnia and Herzegovina was after seeing it through the window of my bus from Sarajevo to Dubrovnik, I would scheduled to spend a week traveling the route. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I’ll start my journey to Europe two days from now and I’m most excited for Cinque Terre Italia and Santorini! The only thing that keeps blocking me from backpacking in Europe is money… I’m scared of not having enough! In those days, a plain wedding band, head scarf, longer skirt and long sleeved blouse got me more respect in some places than I might have received otherwise.
Multi Trip Insurance, like Backpackers Insurance covers you for around 12 months but unlike Multi Trip Insurance which will often expire on every trip after 30 days of being away, Backpackers Insurance is continuous cover for the agreed time. There is so much information out there on the internet, and I personally think a lot of it is complete junk. With this guide I want you to have a few ‘aha’ moments or maybe a few ‘that’s a good idea’ moments. In this guide I’m going to share everything I wish I knew before heading off on my first adventure.
Because of all of the above, this article is going to be really long, so I will be breaking it down into manageable chunks. In the planning phase and whilst ticking off your ‘backpacking in Europe checklist’, please don’t forget to organize your passport and the appropriate visas for the countries your are visiting (more on visas in a moment). There is nothing worse than thinking you have more than enough time to sort and obtain your passport, only to realize the processing time (according to the post office clerk) ‘may take 6-8 weeks, it really depends…’, and you’re sitting there thinking, ‘but I leave in 4 weeks!’.
Then you’re biting and gnashing your nails leading up to the flight date, only to receive it 3 days before you go. Let me tell you a quick story, when I had to renew my Australian passport, I ran into some troubles due to the fact that I had lost my previous passport (that’s a tale we won’t get into right now) and neither of my parents were born in Australia (my dad is English and my mother is Dutch). So even though I have an Australian birth certificate and had previously had an Australian passport, there was some obscure government ruling that still applied to me where I had to prove extra things and obtain all sorts of paperwork from my parents because I was applying for a ‘new passport’ instead of ‘renewing my passport’.
The point of this story is to make you go and arrange your passport immediately, because you just have no idea what complications may come up.
The US and Australian government allow dual citizenship, so you are legally able to hold two passports (I know this is true, as I have two passports myself). It helps knowing which countries you plan on visiting of course, and US and Australian citizens are often entitled to 30 or 60 days into various European countries without even requiring a visa.
The Schengen Visa lets you into 25 European countries (including ALL of Western Europe), allowing you a total stay of 90 days in the applicable Schengen countries.
Let me say this however, there is one very popular tourist destination that is not currently on the Schengen Visa, and that is Croatia. But get this, I met a friend backpacking, and he was travelling on an Indian passport with a Schengen Visa. So he had to stay on the ferry and go BACK out of Croatia, all because he didn’t realize that his Schengen Visa didn’t cover Croatia.
A big problem is that a lot of banks will give you cards with this access, but will charge you ridiculous fees just to get money out. It’s a 28 Degrees MasterCard, there is no annual fee, no cash advance fees and no foreign currency fees.
If you endeavor to logon and pay off your card via Internet Banking at least once every two weeks, it is one of the cheapest ways to travel and access money back home in my opinion. It may be a credit card, but I’m not recommending it for you to spend money you don’t have. If 28 Degrees ever remove these great travelling features off the card, I will be removing this recommendation off my website. If you don’t live in Australia, you’re going to need to do a little research of companies in your country and what they can offer you in terms of accessing cash abroad. If you have booked any flights, print out the tickets and confirmations and store them in a safe place. A final note on papers and ID, it’s always a good idea to leave behind photocopies of your passport and ID with family or friends back home.
I’ve used a couple of different travel insurance companies, but have never needed to claim anything (thankfully). If you are wanting to set a budget and get a rough idea of cost and how much money you will need to bring, there are a few things you need to know about your own trip. I pretty much pin down costs to four main categories: sleeping, eating, drinking, and transport. You don’t want to stay in five star hotels, you would love to eat out – but will do so sparingly and at local haunts (not at Michelin star restaurants), and you are more than happy to pre-drink and socialize at the hostel prior to going out on the town.
On average, a bed in a hostel dorm will set you back about 20 Euros a night (will normally range from 15 – 30 Euros).
If you’re happy eating and cooking at the hostel with food from the local fresh food or supermarket, you can definitely get by on 10 Euros a day for food. The cost of drinks is of course very dependent on the person, some people do not drink at all, and others (Australians seem to have a reputation for this) will drink a lot.
As for transport and tickets for museums and other assorted ‘expenses’ that will just show up (trust me, there will be a few of them) – it’s always a good idea to budget for these as well.
All in all, as an average cost to backpack through Europe – I would say 80 Euros a day will get you by very comfortably with no problems whatsoever. If you harbor a secret love for German beer and beer is important to YOU, but your friend keeps telling you how amazing Italy was. I’ll probably say this throughout the article until I sound like a broken record, but when you backpack you backpack for yourself. So using this new little list of European countries that are sorted in order of importance will help you come up with some excellent Europe backpacking trips.
The other alternative is that you can just fly into London or Paris and wing it – (in Australian that means make it up as you go along). Pro: You meet some awesome people who are going to this amazing town in Czech Republic that has the best beer and food hall ever. Pro: We were hitchhiking outside a small French city heading towards Toulouse, we got picked up by a cool guy who was more than happy to give us a lift the whole way there. Winging it opens yourself up to loads of new opportunities, but then again you may get caught out a few times as well. What I mean here is that I might already KNOW of a festival in Paris or Amsterdam that I want to get to, so I will book the flight in advance and lock in that date for flying from ‘X’ airport.
If you plan on travelling in the peak season (which is during the summer months in Europe), then it’s also a good idea to book in advance for hostels as well.
My little sample itineraries won’t tell you how long to stay in one place, that’s completely up to you. Amsterdam: There is a lot more to Amsterdam then the Red Light District and the coffee shops, so make sure you have time to explore this amazing city of canals and all it has to offer. Berlin: With its absolutely fascinating history, do a walking tour and try and see a few of the 183 museums available.
Vienna: A fantastic city to explore, full of romantic history and brilliant architecture (and of course awesome night life).
Salzburg: This city is where they filmed ‘The Sound Of Music’, and is also the birthplace of Mozart. Paris, Lyon, Nice (possible side trips to: Monaco, Cannes and St Tropez), Marseille, Montpellier, Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, San Sebastian, Bordeaux, and back to Paris.
When it comes to a Europe backpacking list, number one on the list for me is always a decent stockpile of clean underwear. I’m going to assume that you know how to pack your own clothes, although I will stipulate that if you’re going for longer than the summer months in Europe you will need a decent jacket. A small torch (excellent for leaving dormitory rooms early in the morning to catch that pesky flight and not waking everyone else up in the room).
All in all, Europe isn’t exactly ‘behind the times’, so if you do happen to forget to bring anything with you it will certainly be possible to buy it over there.
For a more comprehensive article and information on the items you really should bring with you on a backpacking trip, checkout my backpacking essentials article. There are two big boys of travel tours throughout Europe and they are Contiki and Busabout. There are differences between what the two companies offer, which I will explain in more detail in a moment.
It can be worth doing, and if you plan on travelling solo and are finding this a bit daunting, doing a guided tour like this can definitely ease you into the travelling experience. Contiki and Busabout differ slightly in the sense that Contiki offer complete guided tours. Busabout has similar guided tours, but they also offer something else which they call the ‘Hop On Hop Off Loops’. Sarah: “I liked Busabout, but I didn’t like all the guides – they were a little hit and miss. As you can see, she touted the main benefits as flexibility of travel and meeting new people and friends. On a personal note, I tend not to do these types of tours, as I enjoy travelling by myself and leaving things a little more open ended then what these tours offer. Contiki is also notorious for a lot of heavy drinking and a lot of time spent on the bus – many people claim it is not ‘real’ travelling. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you do not travel for anyone else but yourself. Check out some of the pictures in the Europe Backpacking Gallery from some of my own backpacking adventures, most of the photos were taken by my lovely girlfriend Trudy (she’s much better with cameras then I am). Travelling Europe for your first time can be a little bit daunting, and I remember before I left for my first time, I wanted all the advice I could get. Now this might sound a little silly, but just remember that wherever you go in the world, whatever new countries you visit, the people you meet are STILL people just like back home – you will meet amazing and fantastic people, people who will be more than happy to help you, and yes, some annoying and rude people too. They might have a slightly different view on life (like the Spanish siesta, or the Dutchman’s ‘tell it how it is’ attitude) – but there are going to be wonderful people in every country you visit. I’m not sure where I was going with those last two paragraphs, but I hope I got what I was trying to say across. Introduce yourself to everyone in the common room at every hostel (you will get used to answering and asking what I call ‘The Big Five’. When at a Hostel, if everyone goes out on the town it’s important for you to stay with the group and not get lost, especially if you’ve had a few drinks. A lot of hostels I’ve stayed at will have female only dormitories, so if you are a solo traveler and feel more comfortable sleeping in a dorm with other females, this is certainly an option. Always try to arrive in cities during the daytime, and if you ever feel you are being followed or threatened, duck into the closest shop and talk to the clerk or ask if you can use their phone to call the police. I remember catching a bus from Paris to Barcelona once, and a girl on the bus was a little creeped out by one of the me on the bus.
This is a great way to handle a situation like that, talk to some other travelers and ASK for help. I had my girlfriend Trudy look over and contribute to this piece of the article, and it has her seal of approval.
The Backpacker Grapevine is an overflowing fruit of abundant information, so get involved and help yourself to it!
Lonely Planet Guidebooks – These guys are the 300 pound gorilla in the room when it comes to guidebooks.
Lonely planet books have great summaries and introductions for countries and are a good read when you’re on the bus or train.
Kathmandu Backpacks – I brought a Kathmandu backpack when I was 18, and it’s still going strong today.
HostelBookers is great because you are not charged any extra fees for booking through them. HostelWorld does charge $2 per booking but has a great listing directory and well designed website, with reviews, dashboard features etc.
This post is a monster at over 7000 words (maybe I should have written an eBook or something? I just found your website randomly while searching for backpacking advice online and it’s sooo helpful! 1) I am able to travel and live within the EU (European Union) for as long as I like because as well as my Australian passport I also have a British passport (I’ve got dual citizenship).
If you’re just going for the summer or a couple of months, then the Schengen is the way to go. I’d like to add that this is AWESOME information- thank you for taking the time to write this! MY NAME IS TRAMY, I AM GOING TO EUROPE NEXT YEAR FOR TWO MONTH IN THE SUMMER AND I WOULD TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY TO I NEED FOR TWO MONTH TRIP EUROPE?? We suggest starting a few weeks before the trip so you don’t have to deal with the “itchy” stage while traveling. This is one area that many beginner travelers don’t consider but experienced travelers know how important quality socks and underwear are. Moisture-Wicking – Your feet will sweat a lot (especially since you’ll be doing a lot of walking) so you want a sock that draws moisture away from your feet. Quick Drying – It is pretty easy to wash your socks in the sink so you want a pair that will dry overnight (about 6 hours).
Odor Eliminating – Some synthetic socks have special anti-bacterial features that help eliminate odor. You can probably get away with whatever you normally wear but you really would like Exofficio Travel Underwear (here is the link for women’s).
Versatile — Don’t bring fancy dress shirts but a nice casual button up will work well during the day and at night. Non-wrinkle — It is hard to keep clothes unwrinkled while traveling so non-wrinkle fabrics are a nice option. While I prefer wearing mostly button-up shirts, I still like the option of wearing a t-shirt. Obviously, weather you take a jacket will depend of when and where you travel. Fleece Jacket – A nice fleece jacket is a great because it is very lightweight and it provides a lot of warmth. There is a 300% chance that you’ll encounter multiple snorers and people who turn he light on at 3am. Most hostel sheets were clean but is isn’t uncommon to find that some are a little less than clean… If you don’t want to chance it then I suggest a cotton Sleep Sheet. If you plan on ever washing your own clothes in the sink you’ll need a Travel Sink Stopper. You should also pick up some Woolite Travel Laundry Soap or Travelon Laundry Soap Sheets so you can hand wash laundry in a sink.
You never know when you’ll need to patch something or tape your snoring roommates mouth shut. MacGyver always carried his trusty swiss army knife (he also had a pretty bitchin’ hockey-haircut).
Make a few copies of your passport and other important documents just in case you lose them. Searching for an umbrella in an unfamiliar city (especially while it’s raining) isn’t any fun. A toothbrush cover is something you’ll want to bring along since hostel bathrooms are not always super clean. Lint rollers are a must because all those dark clothes attract a lot of lint and they need to be spiffed up about every day. I like to bring a few quart and gallon size ziploc bags because they are great for holding damp or dirty clothes. Read my guide to traveling with electronics for more in-depth advice about using electronic devices while traveling.
You’ll obviously want a camera when you travel. Check out my guide to picking the best digital camera for travel. Don’t make calls with your home cell phone because it either won’t work or it will cost a fortune. Plug adapters change the plug on your electronics to fit the outlet of the country (UK and Europe are different plugs). In many European counties you can only get medicine (even basic stuff like Tylenol) from a pharmacy. You’ll need to get the diarrhea medicine from your doctor but it works a lot better than Pepto. I wasn’t in any hurry to leave the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea from the island of Hvar, off the coast of Croatia, after two months on the road. I’m planning a 2 month(ish) backpacking trip this summer, and I’m beyond excited!
I backpacked Western Europe while I was studying abroad in England last spring and I definitely agree with these tips! I am planning a 6-month backpacking trip across ALL of Europe for next year, and this has been one of the most useful sites during my research! Backpackers Insurance is unique in the fact that it effectively covers you for a twelve month holiday that will encompass a range of destinations. On first glimpse, policies like Multi Trip Insurance or even normal holiday insurance may seem sufficient, but when it comes to a claim they may well prove flawed.
Backpackers Insurance can also cover you against injury inflicted through extreme sports. Many people go abroad backpacking to experience adventures like rafting, climbing or bungee jumping so to have a policy which covers these pursuits is vital.
It starts to become clear that what we know as holiday insurance is woefully inadequate for this type of experience and when it comes to a claim it may not cover you for very much at all. Cover can be granted for up to 18 months with medical cover and personal accident cancellation being regular features. I want this article to be the NUMBER ONE resource when it comes to backpacking through Europe. I want this to be a valuable resource for other backpackers like myself, or for fledgling backpackers who may be about to start on their very own journey to Europe.
Having backpacked Europe a number of times (and having lived there as an expat for a while) I like to think I have a few good pointers that can help you get started. Any decent Europe backpacking guide would be remiss without actually showing you a map of Europe. It’s the world’s 6th largest continent and consists of 47 countries (as well as other assorted dependencies, islands and territories). Not only will this build up the anticipation of the trip to come, it’s also a great way to avoid homework and other dull activities. If either of your parents are born in a European country, I highly suggest looking into getting a passport from their country. So if you are planning a short trip to one country, do a bit of research and see if a visa is even required. So if you plan on going to Croatia, you need to look into whether or not you need to arrange a visa, as having the Schengen Visa will not help you. So have a good peruse of the Schengen country list, and if you plan on visiting countries in Europe that are not on the list, you need to investigate whether your passport will allow you to enter that country with or without a visa.
I would recommend a card that has Visa or MasterCard access – with either one of those you will not have trouble getting money out anywhere in Europe.
I guess where they make money is that you get charged about 18-20% interest as soon as you withdraw the funds. It’s purely a means of access for me, and not a way of drowning myself in debt, and I suggest you treat it the same way! If you can get it, you want something that will not charge you cash advance fees or foreign currency fees, give you an exchange rate based on a standard Visa or MasterCard rate, and preferably one that has no annual fees as well. But apart from a passport, what are some other useful papers and ID cards to bring along with you on a backpacking trip to Europe? Put in the emergency travel insurance phone number as well (more on travel insurance in a moment). Trust me, losing your passport is an absolute pain, having a safe photocopy of it may well come in handy at some point. So I cannot really take you through the claims process and tell you exactly which company is amazing and perfect, because I haven’t done it myself. She needed hospital treatment in Croatia, emergency surgery in Germany, and then had to fly back to her home in Australia and get treated there – this would have cost her a pretty penny if she didn’t have any decent travel insurance. Well, it’s a pretty common question, and obviously, it can have a lot of different and varying answers.
If that seems expensive, bear in mind I’ve factored train tickets, flights, museum tickets etc into this equation.
Flights are extremely expensive, but you know for a fact that if you had booked in advance a few weeks ago it would have been more than half the price.
So that’s why I’m now more of a fan of loosely based plans that are open for interpretation. Then I will leave my plans open and meander my way from point A to B going where I please with the knowledge that I need to reach that airport for that flight on that date.
Cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam are notorious for completely booking out (I’ve had to stay up all night at the Amsterdam train station once before because I didn’t book in advance), so you are better off locking in your dates when planning to visit those cities. There is no right or wrong way to do it, just do whatever feels comfortable and exciting for you!
These are just for fun, and of course you can use them if you like, but trust me, you’ll have way more fun picking your own countries to visit and making up your own travel plans. Two days as a minimum in each spot (unless you’re positive it’s a stop-over) is always a good way to go.
Make sure you stay in the ‘new city’ as this area is absolutely loaded with cafes, pubs and clubs and a real buzzing and vibrant atmosphere. Many people feel it has been completely overrun with tourists and ‘stag’ parties and the like – which they believe has destroyed the city.
From water sports to the pub crawl down the river, you will meet lots of people and have heaps of fun. There are exceptional museums to visit, and lots of culture to experience, it has been named the European Capital of Culture twice now.
It can be an amazing experience, but it’s one of the more expensive locations for backpackers.
I’m more than happy to wear the same shirt for a while, and I’ll wear the same pants until I simply have to wash them due to the fact that they are covered in gross food stains. If you enjoy recording your experiences, writing in a Journal regularly is a fantastic thing to do. These ‘Loops’ are more open ended and give you more freedom to stay in one place for longer.
As someone who was travelling solo, it was great because I got to choose to mingle or not, and for me that was a safety net. Hostels are definitely a great place to meet new people as well, so don’t feel you need to be on a Contiki or Busabout trip just to make friends! I remember visiting a new country when I first travelled, and having this sense that everyone and everything would be completely different. It makes for fun reading in years to come and is a good way to formulate thoughts on things you have seen.
Three or four can be a crowd, but backpacking in a pair can be very rewarding – and you can look out for each other and keep each other entertained. Most groups I’ve gone out with will always make sure people are not left behind and are being looked after. You will learn little lessons along the way, and before you know it you will be sharing travel tips and secrets with other backpackers. Some people will be MUCH more picky then you might be, and will leave a bad review for a hostel that you would have found perfectly acceptable and perhaps have met some great people. There are party hostels, where you may find it quite difficult to sleep if you don’t plan on partying. If you can pick one up at a cheap secondhand store that’s always a good option as they can be pretty expensive brand new. If you plan to travel a lot you can purchase a gold membership for $10 that gives you unlimited free bookings. It’s normally a good idea to try and look like a local, but it can be hard when you’ve got your big backpack on haha! This is extremely useful for me, so if you have a parent or grandparent who was born in an EU country it’s definitely worth looking into! Make sure you check that each country you plan on visiting is on the Schengen though, you don’t want to get caught out! I went backpacking around Europe two years ago with my boyfriend and had the time of my life! I would suggest you take a look at this article which outlines our cost backpacking Europe for about 2 months.
I also found that it would be useful to scan and email photos or copies of all of your important docs (passport, credit cards, etc) to yourself and you always have an eletronic version which can ce accessed from a computer anywhere. If you exceed 22lbs (10kg) you start running the risk of exceeding the carry-on weight limit for budget airlines (Ryanair).
Between the shampoo, body wash, toothpaste and everything else it is easy to amass 5-10lbs of stuff (most of it you don’t need).
Most hostel bathrooms are small and have no shelf space so being able to hang up your bag is incredibly convenient. If you’re going to shave, I suggest bringing a travel size shaving foam and some disposable razors. If you think about it, socks and underwear are worn close to your skin so they can be the difference between being comfortable or not.
Unfortunately, nice socks can be expensive and a lot of people don’t want to spend the money on something as unsexy as socks. Light-weight wool socks will also do this naturally (light-weight wool can also work well in the summer). But it is understandable if you want to bring two pairs. You’re going to be on your feet a lot while in Europe so you really want a sturdy pair of comfortable shoes for sightseeing.
For maximum versatility, make your sweaters and button-up shirts all look good together because you can wear them together. They are good for around the hostel, sleeping, wearing under other shirts and sometimes around town. I suggest getting a black fleece jacket just because it will be the most versatile. Rain Jacket – A rain jacket is one of those things that take up a lot of space and are rarely used.
A key chain flashlight is perfect for those nights where you return to your hostel dorm room late—don’t piss off your roommates by turning on the lights at 3am.
I highly recommend Hearos Ear Plugs (they’re cheap and effective) and there are a range of eye mask for sleeping. I prefer the rubber braided clotheslines because they don’t require any clothespins—you just stick the clothes through the braids. You never know when you’ll have to carve a baguette into a knife so you can cut some French cheese. I think I wore mine for about 10 minutes before I threw it into the bottom of my bag and never saw it again. I like the Steripod Clip-on Toothbrush Sanitizer covers because they sanitize the brush while the cover is on. Ziploc also makes a large 3 gal bag that are nice for storing an extra pair of shoes (so you don’t get your clothes dirty). I made this mistake on my first trip to Europe, and I had to always find a computer so I could transfer pictures off my card to free-up space. I bought a super cheap 3rd party battery from some seller in China and it was extremely helpful on my trip.
To me, they seem like a huge hassle and people end up spending a lot of time on them (although I understand the draw of having easy access to a computer). If your phone does work, you’ll need to buy an European SIM card (you can get one all over Europe). Don’t confuse these with “voltage adapters” [Read the savvy guide for traveling with electronics to find out the difference]. So, bearing that in mind, here are my tips for backpacking Europe after living through the experience firsthand.
We’re thinking of spending 4-5 days in each country- do you think this is too ambitious? My trip was only 5 weeks, but we managed to hit Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Salzburg, Interlaken, Rome, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Nice, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid. A friend and I opted for Galway on the west coast instead of Dublin and we were surrounded by locals (apparently that’s where all the Dublin locals flock to when Dublin is overrun with tourists on St. We’re thinking of hitting Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Croatia, then either parting ways (she goes to Milan I go to Greece) or head to Greece from Prague and then back up to Milan to catch her flight. I am trying to fit soo many countries into my trip and some small ones like Luxemburg, liechtenstein, and albania may only have two days there, so I’m trying to cross off countries to lengthen the stay in each, it’s just hard to choose! Includes hostels in Europe for a backpack, budget or student trip, message boards, book hostels online in Europe.
Obviously with so much travelling between destinations your luggage is under greater threat, being passed through baggage handlers and airports endlessly unguarded; Backpackers Insurance is a real asset for those with precious cargo. If you are after some specific tips or information in particular, use the links below to jump around the article. Might I also suggest getting a globe for your room (I have one that is also a lamp and lights up from the inside, it’s AWESOME, so get one of those).
You may well be applicable for one, and it can make travelling Europe a LOT easier, especially if they are from a country within the EU (European Union). Citizens of the US, Canada or Australia are not required to have a visa and can stay in Croatia up to 90 days, for example. HOWEVER, used sensibly, this card will save you a bucket load in conversion fees and cash advance fees.
Bringing along your Student ID is an absolute must (I didn’t have one on my last trip since I’m not a student anymore.
I can tell you that if you lose something, report it to the police (and get a receipt for that) as soon as possible if you can. If you would like to eat out every now and then, perhaps set yourself a budget of 20 Euros a day for food. A flight within Europe booked in advance with EasyJet or RyanAir will cost you anywhere from 30 to 80 Euros.
Of course you can do it MUCH cheaper then that, but if you can save your backpacking money with that figure in mind you’ll be doing great. List them in order of importance, and listen up, list them in the order of importance FOR YOU PERSONALLY.
Using your ‘countries in order of importance list’, print out a map of Europe and start drawing squiggly black lines and writing things like ‘2 weeks in Germany’ or ‘at least 3 weeks in France’. There is no possible way we are going to get accommodation, but through the course of 3 hours driving with this guy, we become friends, and he offers to take us out in Toulouse and give us a place to sleep for the night. We have to stay up all night with our backpacks in the local town square trying not to fall asleep so some unsavory characters don’t rob us blind. The irony is the ‘new city’ is in reality the oldest part of Dresden, as the ‘old city’ was completely destroyed during World War II but was rebuilt faithfully according to old plans. It’s definitely worth seeing however, and it’s always good to make your own opinions about places whilst backpacking.
The food and the wine are stellar, and there are some world class museums (The Louvre, Museum D’Orsay etc). There are so many amazing places to see in Europe, from Croatia to the Greek Islands to Slovenia and Italy – you certainly have a lot of options. Most of the water throughout Europe is drinkable, and having your own sturdy bottle is definitely the way to go.
Imagine how fun it will be in 20 years when you dig it up out of that musty old box that’s been sitting in the back of the cupboard. It was fun, and I made a few great friends that I am still in touch with – but from what I saw and heard there, people have very mixed experiences.
It’s a real hand holding guided travel experience, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, that’s just what it is.
You choose when to go on to the next destination within the Loop and there are Busabout buses leaving on set days. I changed my itinerary twice to stay with friends, and sometimes I split up with them and made new friends. That’s just me though, and I can certainly see the appeal for these tours as a solo traveler.
It’s a comforting fact when you discover that no matter where you are in the world, people still have hopes and dreams and want to meet new people – and in my opinion are mostly kind. Because we were due to arrive in Barcelona early in the morning, she asked if it would be okay if we walked with her when we arrived. There are more ‘relaxing’ hostels, where if you are looking to party you may get a little bit bored.
It’s not really for hostel recommendations as they can be quickly dated and I get those from other travelers and online mostly, it’s actually to get a feel for a new country that I may be visiting or about to visit.
Another tip for female travellers (solo or not) is to try to behave like a local, don’t look scared or worried, put on your tough face and strut down the street! Being confident in yourself whilst backpacking would definitely help avoid a lot of problems I think.
This way you can always say that your finance is coming back in a while (helpful when sitting in cafes on your own). Then check Home Hostels Valencia, we offer you 2 modern hostels in Valencia city and also one of the best hostels in Spain in Barcelona city center. I highly suggest spending a little extra money to buy quality items because you’ll be much more comfortable. But, I suggest you spend a little extra money to get a few nice pairs (plus, nice socks will last for years so you can still wear them when you are home). Guys can get away with a pair of nice leather sneakers that are comfortable during the day and look nice enough for going out at night. You want to be able to pack it into your main backpack without it taking up a ton of space. The Streamlight 73001 Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight is an amazing little flashlight that is super bright and tiny. Unfortunately, I like to always carry-on all my luggage when I fly so a knife is out of the question. You can get a loaf of bread, deli meat, cheese, granola bars, etc here and eat for a day or two for around 5 Euros. The EUrail pass definitely was great, but like you discovered lots of little costs along the way with booking trains. I’m headed back in September with a girlfriend of mine and Hvar Island is on our list so I’m glad your experience was such a positive one! My main concern is trying to find friends to come with me for parts of it, because I will only be 19 during the trip and am a girl, my parents don’t want me to go by myself, but there’s hardly any friends interested in joining me, would it actually be a problem to do some countries or something by myself? I have no affiliation whatsoever with this company or this card, it’s just a fantastic product for travelling so I’m recommending it here. The card itself will convert currency at the global MasterCard rate (which is always going to better then your local bank). Will you need to specifically add your new Canon Camera or MacBook as a specifically covered item to ensure it is covered appropriately. Buses will be cheaper then trains, but trains are a lot more comfortable to travel in, so keep that in mind.
It doesn’t matter if friends or family or even society might see your reasoning as ‘trivial’. This will help you formulate your thoughts, and already you will probably find you are developing a loose Europe backpacking route in your mind. Make sure you have a picnic as the sun sets in front of the Eiffel Tower; you’ll get a dazzling light show (we did it a few days running, and it’s a fantastic cheap night out).
Bring along a pair of flip-flops (in Australia we call them thongs, but this is often awkward for non Australians).
But it’s a good way to keep all of your important items in one safe place (although if you have two different bank cards with you I suggest storing them in different places in case you lose one) especially on night buses or trains. I did the north and south loops, and yeah there is heaps of flexibility, and you are best off booking your buses in advance, especially during peak season. So I’m a bit of a fan of that brand in particular when it comes to backpacks (it’s an Australian brand though). Traveling solo is good for everyone, and really makes you more outgoing, and can really make your experience incredible instead of just great.
Most experienced travelers recommend quality wool socks—you can get lightweight wool socks for the summer and they’ll actually keep your feet cool and dry.
Some hardcore travelers don’t wear jeans because they are fairly heavy and take forever to dry. I’ve seen many backpackers open their bags to find that their shampoo bottle had spilled all over their clothes. I’m not really sure of the rules about buying prescription medication overseas but I’m sure it is a hassle.
This is a great way to save some money and allow you to do something really cool like rent a jet on one of the Greek Isles.
We were able to see Brussels, Munich, and Pisa by passing though on one of our travel days which was awesome.
I tend to use them in the showers – which is generally good practice especially in large hostels. You’ll learn to pick the party hostels and the quiet hostels online based on location and the reviews, but there’s always room for surprises (that’s what makes backpacking fun!). I’ll be honest here and say that I haven’t tried any other brands, but the bonus and the point I’m making is that I’ve never needed to.
Men are less likely to hassle you if they don’t think you’re a clueless tourist!
This Monster 4 Outlet Travel Power Strip is my favorite (there is also a 6 outlet version).
Also given the fact that I will be in in Europe during the high season (June-Sept), what do you think will be the anticipated $ spent per day? Please don’t wear those travel pants that zip-off and turn into shorts — they are just way too dorky. Also, if you have set dates for what city you will be in, go ahead and post them as soon as you can and you may be invited by a host to stay with them instead of having to send requests out.
You’ll probably be pegged as a tourist if you decide to wear them so just keep that in mind if you plan on bringing them.
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