I’ve been lucky enough to visit quite a few places in Europe – romantic Paris, ancient Athens and beautiful Cork are only three of over 20 places I have set foot. However, there is still a great deal of Europe yet to be explored and I would urge anyone to grab their backpack and get out there to experience one of the most diverse contents.
Traveling all across Europe, if your budget allows, can be extremely fun and most travellers will agree that you can visit Europe year round. The months of June, July and August do tend to be the hottest, busiest and most expensive, therefore the transportation and accommodation costs can indeed be high – but don’t let this deter you! You’ll have a great time and if it’s something you know you’ll be doing soon, here’s some handy advice from a seasoned travel.
- Transport
Europe is relatively easy to navigate as the continent is connected via a vast rail network, so interailing is probably your best option. is an amazing experience and I encourage everyone to try it – even if it’s only for a week or two. First things first, the InterRail Pass is a rail ticket designed for EU residents and Eurail is the equivalent for non-EU residents, so make sure you get the right one. Available to both are the Global Pass, which is valid in 30 counties, or the One Country Pass, only valid in one country. They both come with a variety of traveling duration options.
- Gear
You need a good backpack and well thought-out clothes. Whilst you don’t need to pack too much, as most of what you need can be picked up on your travels, don’t skip on the bag. Buy a cheap one and it could break! As for clothing, if you’re not sure you need it, then you don’t, and if it can’t be washed in the hand basin of a hostel and hung up to dry, leave it. Only take stuff you are certain about, otherwise it’s just unnecessary weight to carry. Shoes are important but heavy so can add serious weight if you take too many. I suggest two pairs; one comfortable pair for walking about in, bearing in mind you will be on your feet a lot whilst traveling, and another lighter pair for less strenuous activities – like boozing. , available at Jones Bootmaker are a good option as they make comfortable, but light women’s and men’s walking shoes perfect for exploring.
- First aid
The medicine cabinet – whilst you can’t take every cream and ointment a mother would advise, you will need your own backpack pharmacy; painkillers, plasters and Imodium are the three key essentials every traveller needs.
- Locations
This will be entirely dependent on your budget and personal preferences for what you want to see when you’re away. Make sure you know exactly how much money you have and go from there. Research destinations online and using handy guides such as the to figure out your route – the rest will simply fall into place.
