Gone are the days of Rick Steves’ travel advice monopoly, where you needed to buy a book to get quality, accurate information. Here are 8 of the most important pieces of advice I would give to someone wanting to travel in Europe.
1. Before you start looking at specific countries, begin with a general idea what you want to do.
Do you like shopping and partying? Backpacking in the mountains? Hanging out on the beach? Europe is unique because it has it all, in close vicinity. Taking this approach guarantees you will enjoy wherever your travels take you.
2. Plan your budget conservatively
Begin by calculating your expected costs: accommodations, transportation, food, activities, museums, clothing, etc. From there, account for public transport, extra city taxes on accommodations, lost or broken gear, possible health costs, and more. To make your budget more conservative, add 5-10%.
3. Transportation: fly, bus, or train?
I started writing this section, but then realized the discussion is complex, requires a deep dive article by itself. For now, all you need to know is: Rome2Rio.com. A friend showed me this website and it works better than any other tool out there, including Google.
4. Costs vary significantly across Europe
As a general rule of thumb, it’s safe to expect Western and Northern Europe will be more expensive than Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Greece, and even Italy. Depending on your itinerary, spending more time in places that cost less may extend the potential duration of your trip. Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Belgrade, Sarajevo: these are gorgeous cities with great restaurants serving food for a fraction of what you would find in the US, France, Germany, or Scandinavia. Hostels are cheaper too.
5. The “Time of Year” Factor
The high-season in Europe is the Summer. Traveling between October and January for example, means colder weather, but shorter lines, cheaper accommodations, and more available trains. It also means less cool people to meet. That being said, I’ve met good folks at every hostel I’ve stayed at. One of the best parts about traveling alone is the likelihood you will meet people sky-rockets. Open your mind, let down your barriers, and talk to someone who lives far away from you. The insights and stories you will hear are priceless.
6. Bring a Lock (or two)
Hostels usually have lockers for day storage, but often not enough locks left to borrow. When you share a room with 4-8 other people, leaving your personal belongings unattended all day poses a risk to the success of your trip! In places like Switzerland, theft is rare, but having a lock guarantees your items will remain safe while you explore the local attractions.
7. Ask a local about what to do and see
This might be obvious, but it is solid advice. If you try to plan the minute details of your trip on the internet, you will inevitably be sucked into tourist traps. Searching terms like “best things to do in…” does not mean you will find the best things to do- instead it will give you the list of businesses and tourist attractions which have paid Google the most money. Staying at hostels makes this advice easy to follow, as the employees are typically young, local folks, hoping to make your visit memorable.
8. Travel with a Purpose
Although this is #8 in my list, it is the most important advice I can offer you. Traveling provides opportunities to enjoy yourself, and IMPROVE yourself (see my blog, “Improve Yourself”). Set a few goals and use your time amidst new people, places, and cultures to grow and learn. Shaking up your routine allows you to break bad habits, and form new, healthier ones. When you return home, you will be rejuvenated, and often find yourself appreciating the little things even more.
Kyle Huber 