Top 7 Tips You Must Know Before Traveling In Europe

Packing - less is more!

The first lesson I learned after months of going alone around Europe was about packing. I first thought I never wanted to be a backpacker and could get around anywhere I wanted with trolley luggage. I carried my digital gadgets in a separate bag, which I always carried with me to ensure safety of my most valuable belongings. It was a perfect plan until I found it too complicated to go around with two bags. Eventually, I decided to go casual with just one backpack and leave the other one behind. If you do the same this means having only carry-on baggage, and thus you can save time checking in and going through the security gate. Try not to buy too many extra souvenirs on the road. You may not want to squeeze them into your bag and carry them all the way with back pain.

Go digital!

I highly recommend keeping your reservations of transportations and accommodation along with your passport in both paper and digital form. As a long term traveler, I usually bring my phone, camera and earphones, plus a power bank, with me everywhere, and leave my laptop and hard drive that I use to backup my photos in the hostel’s locker. Short-term travelers should also keep a memory stick to store photos or friends’ photos so you don’t have to waste time sending them via the internet back home.

Chargers are also important items in my checklist, as my camera (Canon EOS D700) and Apple device chargers are not the most common ones you can find in certain countries in Europe. In Bulgaria, for example, I could barely find Canon products in regular electronic shops. As and I had lost the charger in Italy, and my camera was out of battery, I did not manage to take high quality photos.

Check the weather and events going on!

Prior to your departure date, make sure you check the weather for dressing appropriately and warm enough before entering a country. Europe is cold in most places, even in the south, between November and February. If you wish to experience the European Christmas markets or winter sports, bring warm clothes, including hats, gloves, and extra warm socks in case your feet get soaking wet. I usually dress in many layers so I can combine many choices of clothing to be in style.

Another important tip to keep in mind is to check what’s going on in your next destination. You may not want to miss an exciting event or local festivals that you wish later that you had gone to. There are usually many carnivals in Italy in February, such as the Carnival of Venice and the Carnival of Fano, and in Spain and France before Lent (a Christian season). April is the best time to visit the Netherlands because of the King’s Day celebration and tulips are blossoming during this time of the year (or between March and May). Tons of music festivals take place during the summer months around Europe. September and October are the months of Oktoberfest, not only in Germany but also a couple of nearby countries. Europe is also gorgeous in December and January due to Christmas markets and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Stay in touch with people and have breaks in between

Traveling to a place where you don’t know the people and language can be fun, but also nerve-racking at the same time. If you feel insecure, spare some time to call your friends and family. Keep in touch with them regularly so they don’t worry too much about your travels. You may not have internet connection all the time but, fortunately, there are many ways to stay connected in Europe, such as making use of abundant Wi-Fi connections in hotels, hostels, bars, cafes, libraries and public malls. Those who stay in Germany for more than a month should also get a German simcard for callings and data. Being adventurous is fun, but take a break if you feel like it! As I travel for a long time, I usually go to places where people are more relaxed and calm and stay a bit outside the city center so I can avoid the hectic atmosphere.

Choose people to meet

The second most valuable tip I keep forever in my heart when traveling is to carefully choose people to meet. In most places in the north and west of Europe, it’s safe to meet and be hosted by locals you meet online via sites such as Couchsurfing, Bookalokal, HospitalityClub, etc. In southern countries, like Italy and in the Balkans, be more calm and skeptical when meeting people you found online. It’s not so common here, but interactions between locals and foreigners are improving. In hostels, be open to talk to fellow guests, but spare time for yourself as well.

Know when to say NO!

When on the road, you may come across many invitations by friends and locals to join parties, drink, go on expensive excursions and events, and even share drugs with them in places like the Netherlands or Germany, where certain sorts of drugs are legal. I highly encourage you to say no to these offers immediately and as politely as you can, in order to save your budget and not to mess up your ongoing travel plans.

Travel slowly, but not too slowly

I always recommend people to travel slowly as much as they can, as many people hustle through foreign countries finding places to check off their list, or also simply because they freak out. Have two or three things fixed in your plan per day, and be spontaneous for the rest of the time outside of the schedule. Avoid rushing from one city to another in two or three days so as to be in as many places as possible so you have something to brag about afterwards. Remember, you travel for yourself, not to tell people about it! So keep calm and enjoy the local life, even little things you see people do on the street, and how their body language is. As a long-term traveler, however, I’d rather not stay for too long (over a month) in one country, as it can sometimes make me feel bored and homesick, especially during Christmas and New Year’s Eve when locals spend time with their family and close friends.