Despite the emergence of scenic destinations such as Southeast Asia, South America, and Australia, Europe is still a favorite place to go among the global backpacking community. It is particularly popular among native Europeans who want to experience a backpacking trip closer to home. These often turn out to be test holidays; who wants to go backpacking around the other side of the world if you’re not sure you’ll actually enjoy it?
That said, there is much more to Europe than just being a testing ground. People from all over the world travel to the continent to experience what is on offer. Here are some tips for backpacking around Europe.
Decide the Type of Trip You Want
The area of Europe means that it is an extremely diverse place to travel. From the calm Mediterranean to the cold climates of Scandinavia, Europe really represents two extremes, not to mention everything in between. Of course, it’s not practical to pack everything, so you have to decide what you want to see in Europe. You can decide to backpack around the Greek Islands, for example, or stick to the mainland and head to the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands.
Unless you can change the contents of your backpack mid-trip, it’s best to take one approach, and stick with it.
Plan where to stay
Part of the fun of backpacking is the unpredictable and spur of the moment nature of finding somewhere to stay. However, you really need to have a plan. We understand that you may not want to be fixed in an itinerary; after all, who’s to say you can’t stumble upon something you’d like to explore on a given day? Instead, know where you are going, and make sure you know of at least two or three hostels or other cheap accommodation options.
Think Money
There are a few lines to this point. The first is that you need to work out how you will keep the money safe on your person while you are travelling. Yes, most modern bank accounts allow you to make cash withdrawals and use your plastic abroad, but you need to think about any additional fees you may incur, as well as the lack of competitive exchange rates that you can access.
backpack (Photo credit: sparky_vision)
Packaging
We’ve left the most important aspect of any backpacking trip for last, so the information is fresh in your mind. How you pack will have an effect on your enjoyment of your trip, so it’s crucial to get it right.
The biggest advice we can give you is to avoid cotton. Go for cycling jerseys or similar clothes so that they carry the sweat away from your body but don’t let you still drip. Linen is another great option, but it can be difficult to keep it looking good. While you can use vacuum bags to save space, it might be a better idea to just take a ‘less is more’ approach and come up with a strategy for washing and drying your clothes in hostels during to travel. A good pair of shoes, comfortable and above all functional, is also necessary.
Author Bio: Kevin is a passionate traveler who often goes around Europe in search of firework displays and celebratory occasions. Upon returning home, Kevin enjoys meeting up with friends and buying fireworks from Fireworks Crazy to use at his house parties.