I have several friends who are much more world travelers than me. But I love thinking about the trips I’m excited to take one day (my day is coming up in May of 2024!). My well-traveled pals tell me there is nothing like traveling to Europe…Paris, Krakow, Budapest, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Zadar, Dublin, and the Cliffs of Moher to name a few destinations I’ve heard wonderful things about.
My friend, Heather Young, and her husband, Chris, have found themselves living in Germany for at least a couple of years, thanks to his job. They have been there about nine months, and prior to that, Heather had not traveled Europe. But they have dived in with both feet, and watching their adventures has been so much fun.
Recently, Heather and I recoded a Love Middle Life – The Podcast episode on European Travel 101 (LISTEN HERE, on Spotify, or Amazon Music).
Heather and Chris are teaching themselves how to travel Europe and are learning a lot. Here are some of Heather’s best tips!
First and foremost, Heather has a couple of pieces of advice she give above all others:
Resist the urge to overcrowd your itinerary!
Moving around constantly is a surefire way to end up overwhelmed, exhausted, and not getting appreciate all of the amazing places you are seeing.
Second, throwing down the money and committing to finally taking the trip of your dreams is usually the hardest part – once you take off, everything gets easier!
And Heather will tell you that traveling Europe can actually be budget friendly and she shares some hot tips!
Top 101 European Travel Tips
- Get inspired and brainstorm where you want to go
There are no wrong answers when deciding which destinations are most interesting to you!
- Use Google Flights to find cheap flights
Be as flexible as possible either with travel dates, destinations, or both. And plan to only carry on, not check baggage…THE key to cheaper flights.
Go to ‘Google Flights’ and search one-way tickets so you can start and end in different cities, using the general term “Europe” in the “Where To?” box is a great way to find flight deals.
- Avoid traveling Mid-June to August
Traveling during more off-season months can mean less crowds and more affordable flights and accommodations.
- Book your accommodations
Look on booking.com, as these reservations can be change and cancelled with no fees. Look for an 8.0 or better rating in a central location. Also, know that air conditioning and/or heating are not guarantees in all areas.
- Add more offbeat spots to your itinerary and cluster activities together to maximize time
Thinking ahead a bit and working your way through the areas and things you want to see helps make the most of your time. And there are plenty of offbeat spots you can Google and enjoy in addition to or instead of the major tourist attractions!
- Getting Around
Trains are Heather and Chris’ favorite way to travel in Europe. They are simple, comfortable, safe, and extremely convenient for visiting most major cities. They only recommend renting a car if you’re visiting the countryside somewhere.
- Book experiences in advance when possible
A good place to book tours and experiences is getyourguide.com and can help make touring major attractions go smoothly and efficiently.
- Learn a little bit of the local language(s)
You won’t necessarily need to speak any of the local languages. But it will enhance your experience to know a little bit of the language and can go a long way. Simple phrases like please, thank you, you’re welcome, where’s the restroom, how much is this, and the numbers 1 – 10 can be so helpful!
- Plan for your arrival and beating jetlag
Make an arrival plan. When you arrive, you’ll be exhausted, overwhelmed, and a bit jetlagged.
By planning ahead…knowing where your hotel is, how you’ll get there from the airport, and if there is a set fare from the airport to the city center will help make arrival smooth.
I am so excited for my first trip to Europe and I hope that you are planning or dreaming about your trip very soon, too!