My trip to Europe in June of 2016 was my first international trip as well as the longest I had been away from home. I knew nothing about traveling. Sure I read a couple of blogs and looked on Pinterest for ideas but I really just made it up as I went. I learned a lot that way but you don’t have to, learn from my mistakes instead!
Packing
This is a big one! It’s hard not to overpack when you don’t know what you might need, especially when you’re going from London in late May to the middle of June in Italy. I also have an irrational fear of running out of underwear when traveling so I pack just about every pair that I own. I’m working on it, if you know of a support group for this please let me know! Here are my best packing tips for a month in Europe.
- Don’t pack more than 10 days worth of clothes, you will have to do laundry one way or another and nobody wants to carry around 3 weeks worth of dirty clothes.
- Bring clothes that mix and match easily. I tend to go with a lot of solid colors and change it up with 1 or 2 printed shirts.
- You will experience a variety of climates and temperatures so bring layers! 1 warm jacket, 2 pairs of long pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of capris, 5 short sleeve t-shirts, 2 tank tops, 1 bathing suit, 1 casual dress and 1 going out outfit should be plenty.
- 4 pairs of shoes, you do not need shoes for every outfit. 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes, 1 pair of comfortable sandals and 1 pair of flats or heels if you absolutely NEED them. Most importantly 1 pair of flip-flops for the hostel showers, they’re usually pretty clean but it still freaks me out.
- Roll your clothes and use packing cubes! I can’t stress this enough, it saves a lot of room and keeps your clothes organized. I’ve gotten most of my packing cubes from Marshalls but something like these from Amazon will work great!
- Have a shower bag, again it keeps you organized and there’s nothing more annoying than dropping your toothbrush as you juggle 7 items on the way to the bathroom.
Research
After booking my trip I became a little overwhelmed with the sheer number of places I was going to be visiting. I had no idea where to start in the search process so I just didn’t look into anything. I completely relied on suggestions from other people in the group and from our tour guide on places to go/things to see in our free time. I would highly recommend doing a quick Pinterest search or even a quick google search. You want to make the most of your time so make sure you’re finding things that interest you! I wish I had looked into more food spots, nobody in my group was interested in food so we ate at a lot of touristy spots instead of finding local restaurants and cafés. Which brings me to my next point doing things by yourself.
The Solo Experience
Even though I traveled with a tour group for this trip I still did a lot on my own. Doing things alone at first can feel kind of awkward and lonely but I promise with more practice it won’t feel as weird. Eating out alone is something a lot of travelers hate and I did too at first. Here are some easy tips for getting over eating out alone.
- Eat at the bar if they have one. Sitting at the bar feels less lonely, there’s not that empty chair across from you reminding you that you’re alone the whole time. Plus there are usually other people alone at the bar also so there’s an opportunity for you to strike up a conversation.
- Bring a book or a journal! If you feel uncomfortable just kind of sitting there waiting for your food to arrive bring something to do. You can use this time to jot down some notes about your day or check in with family/friends if there’s wifi at the restaurant.
- Take this quiet moment to reflect on your day and everything that you’ve seen and done!
- Still feel uncomfortable remember that more than likely you will never see these people again who cares what they think?
Transportation
Getting around on your own can also be tricky and seem pretty scary at first so always have a map with you. There are also tons of apps you can use to help you get around! Google maps are great even if you’re using them offline and if you’re prepared you can download directions from one place to another while you have wifi and use them later! Maps.me is also a fantastic app! Maps.me lets you download cities or sometimes even whole countries while you have wifi or service and then you can use them for directions offline. You can even look places up without any service or wifi!
Live in the Moment
I know its easy to lose yourself trying to get the perfect photo but take at least 5 minutes at every location to enjoy the sight. Places like the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum are packed with tourists who are seeing these amazing pieces of history through a screen. Remember you are surrounded by some of the most incredible sights in the world. You are literally looking at hundreds if not thousands of years worth of history. Put the phone down and your camera too and live in the moment. Same goes for when you’re walking around, don’t be so focused on your destination that you forget to look around you.
Safety
We hear about scams all the time so how do you avoid them? And what about pickpockets?? Trust your instincts about people! If it seems too good to be true it probably is. As far as pickpockets keep everything in zippered pockets if you can. I usually use a cross body bag while traveling or a backpack. Anything important is kept in the innermost pocket behind multiple zippers and layers. I also try to spread things out, don’t keep all your money in one place. I usually keep what I think I need for the day plus 1 card on me. The rest I leave back at the hostel locked up in the safe, including my passport. In my opinion, it’s much more likely that something will happen to my passport if I carry it everywhere with me than if it’s locked up in the hostel with my own lock. Don’t bring jewelry that you would be upset about losing either keep it simple.
I’m not saying don’t talk to strangers, absolutely talk to new people just be aware of your surroundings. A lot of scams involve more than one person so while you’re talking to one person another is taking the money out of your back pocket.
Being aware of your surrounds is also super important if you’re going to hook up. If you read my previous blogs you know I’ve had one night stands in more than one country, is it taking a risk? Yes of course but if you’re smart about it it’s no more risky than sleeping with someone back home. In the era of tinder where we literally summon strangers from the internet to have sex with, meeting someone at a bar and going home with them is still seen as taboo. I find this ridiculous, it’s much more challenging to fake who you are in person than it is online. Listen to your gut if you feel like something is off about this person trust that! If they seem pushy do not go anywhere private with them. And ALWAYS ALWAYS use condoms, bring your own don’t expect anyone else to look out for your sexual health. And if they put up any fight about using a condom don’t sleep with them. Between two consenting adults there is nothing wrong with a casual fling just be sure to protect yourself.
Keep a Journal
Right before leaving for Europe I decided to start a journal and I am so incredibly grateful that I did. If I hadn’t I wouldn’t have been able to write my first 4 blog posts. Nearly 3 years later off the top of my head I remember very few specific details. But going back and looking at my journal combined with the photos I have all the memories come flooding back. It’s also a great way to process everything you’re seeing and feeling as it’s happening. If you keep up with it, it really only takes 10 minutes or so a day. I usually wrote in mine before bed or if I skipped a few days I would write on the bus to the next location. There’s plenty of opportunities along the way to take a few minutes and someday those memories will be priceless to you.
Learn the language
Honestly learning a few phrases/words of the local language goes a long way! I would recommend learning how to say hello, excuse me, thank you and do you speak English or any other language that you are comfortable with. Numbers are also helpful but not necessarily since they are written the same. If it helps you make a note in your phone with the phrases and the translations that way you don’t have to remember them all. It’s a small gesture but most people really do appreciate the effort.
Be Respectful
Being respectful is the most important thing to keep in mind when traveling. Remember you are a guest in this country. Read up on local customs and norms, whether you agree with these customs or not you need to respect them. American travelers get a bad name in many countries because we tend to be loud and over the top. Pay attention to how the locals are behaving and try to duplicate that.
