I've been abroad for two months, right? I'm certainly no expert on traveling, and I sure as heck won't claim to be. I'll leave that to Rick Steves.
He also has some good suggestions for traveling around Europe, but the locals still know better.
But I do feel like I've learned some valuable travel tips that I figured I'd post to help friends and family prepare for trips abroad. I feel like half of my friends are studying abroad second semester (sniff sniff), so hopefully some of these will help someone!
Transportation, Navigation, and Other -ations
Seriously.
Do it.
You can buy a Eurail Pass in Europe, but only at select locations--if you buy it a couple weeks before you go, then they'll send it to you in the mail and your life will be significantly easier. If you're a cheapskate like me, you'll freak out when you see the price, and you'll convince yourself that it has GOT to be cheaper to buy individual train tickets.
And then you'll look up train tickets for your first excursion.
And you'll choke. And you'll make your life that much harder trying to find a place where you can buy them in person.
Buying tickets individually can be brutal. Sometimes you can find deals (like I got from Hamburg back to Erfurt for 29 Euro), buuuut my train also left at 4:50 AM. And the flexibility of the Eurail pass is AWESOME, because you can just hop on a train--no reservation required (in most cases...France is a huge exception, beware. Regional trains can also get tricky, we had some issues going to Zermatt).
If you buy individual tickets, you're locked in. If your train is delayed, aliens invade, etc., you're screwed. With the Eurail, you can travel anywhere you want in a 24 hour period. I had the 4 country pass, with Germany, Switzerland, France, and Austria, and I bought 6 days of travel in 2 months for 319 Euro. Sounds pretty pricy, right?
Let's do the math.
Salzburg, Austria to Erfurt, Germany: 99 Euro
Erfurt to Zermatt, Switzerland: 122 Euro
Zermatt to Erfurt: 122 Euro
Munich, Germany to Vienna, Austria: 91 Euro
Vienna, Austria to Erfurt: 170 Euro
Erfurt to Hamburg, Germany: 89 Euro
All told, I would have spent 693 Euro on train tickets alone. I got all of those trips for 319.
I SAVED 374 EURO. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SCHNITZEL THAT IS?!
In short: Eurail. It's worth it.
2. Speaking of trains, download the "Railplanner" app
It shows you all of the train time tables without WiFi--just plug in your destination and where you want to go, and you're set.
That way, if/when you've missed your train, you can figure out the next one to take.
Because WiFi is tough to come by in Europe, even though it is considered by some to be a basic need.
3. And one more note about trains...always use the bathroom on the train.
Or the plane.
Or the boat.
Or the bus.
Because on the train, plane, boat, bus, you don't have to pay for the bathroom. Everywhere else, you most likely have to pay. And if you are fundamentally against paying to use the restroom (like me), then go before you get there.
4. Speaking of planes, beware some of the cheap Ryanair, EastJet flights. They can be great, but they can also take off from random airports that you didn't know existed, and they can be really strict on luggage requirements. Make sure to check all of that before you go so they don't charge you extra when you get there.
5. Don't be afraid to travel alone. I think you should go alone, at least part of the time. Here's a blog about that.
6. When it doubt, bitch face it out.
Should you be on this bus without a ticket?
Nope.
Are you kinda lost trying to find your hostel?
Yep.
Slap a "bitch face" on, described as a facial expression that appears to be a strange mix of confidence, annoyance, boredom, and don't-mess-with-me. No one will question you or attempt to take advantage of you, because you look like you know what you're doing.
7. If you're lucky enough to have a home base like I did, do laundry before you travel. That way, it'll be dry when you come home, and you won't have to try to dry your hair with a wet, just washed towel after a shower. Clothes dryers aren't a thing, or if they are, it's another expense.
8. Also before traveling to a new city, Google what musical artists will be in town. I missed Backstreet Boys in Vienna (WAH). I got to see Ellie Goulding in Hamburg (made up for missing BB). Do your research, it pays off!
You know what else "pays" off? SAVING MONEY (cuz you're probably broke like me)
9. EAT IN
When I'm in Erfurt (my home base), I eat in. I walk a mile or so to the store, buy 12-15 euro worth of groceries, and I'm set--three meals everyday for four days, give or take. That's about 3, 3.75 euro a day.
The cost of the Starbucks you're drinking? Food for a day.
It's awesome.
10. Always have balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil, and hot chili flakes around to cook with. Limitless options, people.
11. When you do eat out, bring a water bottle with you and keep it under the table. You have to pay for water in Europe, and, yes, it if often times more expensive than beer. You may feel silly and the waiters may totally judge you when you say you don't want anything to drink, but you can save 3-5 euro--and that's worth the weird look.
12. You're gonna judge me for this one.
I judge me for this one.
But...always have a Ziplock bag with you, in your purse or your backpack.
Have bread on the table?
Throw it in the Ziplock. That could be another meal.
Hostel has free breakfast in the morning (side note, always stay at a hostel with breakfast included)? Pack a lunch in that Ziplock.
Keeps your food fresh and crumbs out of your journal.
It's a win win.
And reuse the bag! Ziplocks are hard to find! Bring a couple with you, get all different sizes!
13. Always say you are a student when you are paying for a tour, or paying to enter a church, museum, etc. ALWAYS say you are a student, and have your student id on you.
Because as a student, you aren't a kid.
But you aren't an adult.
And therefore, they take pity on you and your broke self and give you discounts. It's great.
14. When you do have to spend money, get a credit card with a chip in it before you go. Europe uses them, the States will eventually go to them...just get one. If you can, get a travel card that doesn't have international bank fees. Those bank fees...they will kill you. Literally. Apply for a card early, so that way if you're denied, you can reapply with your parents cosigning, that may help increase your chances.
15. If you're staying in hostels, most will make you pay for towels or a lock for your locker. Ergo, bring your own towels and your own lock. If it's a combination lock, remember the combination...or else you could have a really, really bad day.
Speaking of hostels....
Don't. Just...don't.
16. STAY IN THEM. Hostels are a wonderful place to meet people traveling around and doing the same thing you are. There, you can get awesome travel tips and recommendations, and often you'll leave with a new friend or two. The thought of sleeping in a room with 11 other people can be totally intimidating, but there are so many different options--some all girl, some mixed, all ranging in size from one person to 12. They are so worth it, I promise.
17. Meet everyone in the hostel. People want to talk....just some people are really, really scared to introduce themselves. Be the freak that breaks the ice. A warm introduction can go a long way. That, and just because you don't hear them speaking English doesn't mean they don't speak English. Try. Ask if they do. Introduce yourself anyway. I had an awesome conversation with a girl from Russia done almost entirely in charades. You make it work.
18. On that note, bring a phrase book. You legitimately have no idea who you will meet, or what language they will speak, or where they will be from. It's so cool. Do your best to greet and thank people in their own language. It means so much to people that you are willing to try.
19. Use HostelWorld to find your hostels, and review the hostel after your stay. Read the reviews to figure out what's best for you--they are usually spot on.
20. Practice putting duvet covers on. Because it can get complicated. And that is how you make your bed in hostels. That's it.
21. Get a bed bug guard before you go. Lightweight, comfy cozy, and you can sleep well knowing nothing will eat you in the night.
Bed bugs bed bugs, whatcha gonna do...
22. Have a flashlight for early mornings and late nights. Hostel etiquette basically states "Do NOT wake up anyone else EVER for any reason". Therefore, lights stay off. If you have a flashlight, your life gets much easier. Get up when your alarm goes off the first time.
23. If you have one, bring a power strip. You'll be the hero of the hostel when there is one electrical outlet for 12 people.
24. On that note, BRING SHOWER SHOES. You may be totally impressed by these people and their life experiences, but you don't know where they've been. Jussayin'.
25. If you judged me for #12, you'll laugh at me for this one.
But I mean it.
Bring business cards (I had them left over from TOG stop laughing at me...).
You meet incredible people while abroad, and you may want to keep in touch with some of them. Give them your business card--then, they can find you on Facebook, shoot you an email, text you when you're back in the states, or find you on LinkedIn (I know, I know, that only happened once, I laughed). But do it, it really does work out well.
NOT a business card I received, but I totally endorse this.
26. Accept that, in a hostel, social norms go out the window. When you have people from various parts of the world all sleeping in the same room, everything goes. People will sleep naked. Some shouldn't sleep naked. Just go with it.
Speaking of things going out the window...
27. Usually, if you don't know what something is, you might not eat it.
Stop that.
Especially when it comes to döner kabob.
Just go for it.
Don't question it.
Make like Nike and Just Do It.
And speaking of things you should just do....
28. Bring more t-shirts than you think you'll wear. You don't want to do laundry. You don't have time for laundry. Bring more plain, regular old t-shirts to hang out in, because looking cute all the time is overrated.
29. Bring Febreze for Fabrics for when you don't want to do laundry and you don't want to smell. Rewearing clothes is unavoidable, smelling is avoidable to an extent.
30. When you do do laundry, bring laundry detergent from home, so you can smell like home--it's comforting. And so you don't accidentally buy fabric softener thinking it's detergent because you can't speak/read the native language.
31. Bring a small collapsable fan for hot days. Air conditioning isn't a thing.
32. Have a little umbrella with you at all times. Rain starts spontaneously and sometimes doesn't stop.
33. Download Disney Movies Anywhere before you leave. Netflix and other video sites don't work abroad (unless you use hidemyass.com or some other potentially illegal service), but Disney Movies Anywhere does, and works on your iPhone, iPod, iPad, and computer. It's great when you need a night in.
Hehehe.
34. Cortizone 10 cream is like Windex in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Weird bug bite? Cortizone cream. Some sort of rash on your arm? Cortizone cream will take care of it. Bring some.
35. If you love peanut butter, bring peanut butter. Peanut butter as you know peanut butter isn't a thing across the pond.
36. Bring something that gives you a little confidence boost when you're homesick, or stressed, or thinking that you are totally incapable of succeeding in a foreign country. For me, it was a card from my mom. It made all the difference on tough days.
And, finally....if you want to see the world, do it. There are so many avenues and ways to get to go abroad, some you might not have thought of. Here are two that I've come across by talking to people:
37. Workaway.info. Trade a few hours of honest work for free accommodation and food. It's a legitimate thing, with reviews from workers and hosts. Then, you're only responsible for paying for your travel to and from. It's been highly recommended to me!
38. Take an Au Pair year.
In the US, it's not really a thing. But here, I've met a ton of kids that have done/are doing it. You work as a nanny/caretaker for a host family for a year. They feed you and give you a place to stay, and in exchange you take care of the kids. Your only cost is your travel.
Well, this post was way longer than I anticipated...but, I hope it helps somebody as they prepare to go abroad. If you have any questions...holla at yo girl.
Wander onwards,
kendall
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