Month: February 2017

When traveling to Europe, there are a few key ways to get more of an experience for less money. Getting time off and actually getting over there are the two hardest parts of traveling that far from home. Since Europe is one of the most interconnected continents, it is very easy to get to experience more than just one city throughout your travels. You may think that this would be too pricey for your budget, but the truth is, it’s extremely easy and relatively inexpensive.

The first thing you need to do is decide whether you want to explore one country in depth or experience a few in the same region or even if you want to go to two completely unrelated countries. You have to be willing to do a little bit of research, but the amount you could save would be well worth it. You could even use that money for extra fun while you’re abroad.

A magical thing about Europe is the vast number of trains and busses that go throughout countries, connecting multiple places to your original destination. Depending on the size of the country or the distance you are going to travel will determine whether you take a local bus, something like the Mega Bus, or a train, such as the European Rail.

When destinations are further apart or difficult to get to, I would suggest looking at airlines. Sticking to local, European airlines is usually the cheapest option because they regularly conduct flights throughout the area. Many places that you would never think were related can sometimes be, such as Oslo, Norway and Barcelona, Spain. Many people from Norway vacation in Spain during the winter to escape the cold, so surprisingly, flights between the two places are not expensive and occur regularly. Also, it is very difficult to get from parts of Italy to Greece, so flying may be the best option.

Whether you are going to experience one country, a region, or two separate places, there are easy ways to help make the world feel a little smaller. You can start anywhere and end somewhere completely different. Putting in the hours planning will be worth it, I promise you.

The most amazing parts of going to a new place is finding the hidden gems; wondering off of the beaten path of tourism. Most of the time, travelers fall in to tourist traps and not really getting the full experience of the culture, or an even worse travesty, the food, which is one of my favorite aspects of traveling. Having a local guide, or contact, can make all of the difference.

My main example is in the city of Florence, when you’re visiting the Duomo, DO NOT EAT IN THAT SQUARE. It is very Americanized and not a good example of the amazing Italian food the city has to offer. If you walk two to three streets over in any direction, the food is significantly better all around. It’s better quality, more authentic, and often, the most important, it’s cheaper.  

This was one of the best tidbits of knowledge that I gained from going on a tour with a company. Would I have known this fun fact without the help of a local? Possibly, but most likely not. If you’re new to traveling, I would definitely suggest going on a tour where you have an expert, local tour director. They can make your trip go from just the basics to a full experience you wouldn’t have been able to do without their help. It’s also great to not have to plan every single aspect of your day on your own. They handle transportation and touring of the major attractions, while being able to provide you with suggestions for free time.

Once you get comfortable being abroad, navigating the cities, and venturing around on your own, you can totally do it all on your own without the need for an official tour. However, it is a good way to start. To this day, I am still friends with my tour director. If I am going anywhere in Europe, I always check with him on Facebook to see if he has any suggestions. Nothing… I repeat… Nothing beats the knowledge of someone who has spent an immense amount of time in an area.