These are some tips I found quite useful when backpacking around the world, and specifically in Europe:
1. Decide what you're going to need for your trip, and then reduce this amount by at least half. A big mistake that many travelers commit is bringing way too much with them for their trip. You're striving to enjoy your vacation and visiting places that are absolutely incredible should not be impacted by incredible luggage loads. You should also factor in that you will likely purchase souvenirs which will take up space in your luggage.
2. Get a camping towel! Believe me, the first time I traveled through Europe I took an ordinary beach towel and by the end of the trip I couldn't stand the sight of it! It didn't matter how many times it was washed it just never seemed the same. But luckily you can buy camping towels (that are very similar to a sham wow) that are anti-bacterial, dry very fast and absorb lots of water. The second time I traveled Europe, this was best improvement in packing I made!
3. Take advantage of accommodation deals on websites. If you are the type of personality that can travel around and book your accommodations with short notice (I know some people like to know far in advance they have a place to stay every night), you can really save a lot of money on hotels. The later you book generally the better deal you receive. You don't want to be stuck at the last minute and suddenly find hotels in Paris all booked up.
4. If you want to have an experience that is a lot more unique than the hotel experience stay in hostels. They offer a great place to meet travelers like you who could become great friends with you, even if it's just for a few days. The memories you can create from staying in hostels cannot be understated.
5. Once in Europe a great way to travel is with a EU rail Pass. These passes can really save you a lot of cash once abroad. As well the trains are an incredible way to travel around most places in Europe. Essentially how these passes work is that you pre-pay for your tickets before you leave and get a significant discount. It takes a little research to determine what pass is right for you but from my experience it is always a good buy!
6. A secondary way to travel is to look into discount airliners over in Europe such as Ryan Air or Easy Jet. Because these airlines (and there are others) don't serve all places in Europe I find that they are a great way to supplement an EU rail Pass for transportation. Often you can find flights for as low as $50 and depending how you plan your trip there a great way to get from one remote location to another and save valuable time those other forms of transportation take.
7. Be sure to register with your embassy before you depart on your vacation, especially if it's a long one. The reason to do so is not always the best topic to discuss before you go on your adventure, however it's very important. The reason it's important is just in case disaster of some form strikes in the region you're traveling in. By being registered with your embassy they will know you're there and be able to find out if you're okay for your family and/or help you. The chances of something unfortunate happening while you're on your trip is quite slim, however being prepared for an unfortunate situation is always a good idea.
Author Resource:
Alessandra S. Llewellyn was born in Switzerland and lived in Paris. She has traveled throughout the world with her family and loves to see new cities and meet new people. She loves to write about her travels and will sometimes review a Paris hotel for different travel magazines and travel sites.
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