Backpacking Europe: Getting Off to a Flying Start

Imagine this: you've just landed, exhausted, at Heathrow (or Charles de Gaulle or any European airport). It's an evening flight and all you have is a dog-eared guidebook you've almost memorized.

What next? Where do you go? What about food? And don't you need a bed and a shower?

You'll have access to all these things if you're unprepared, but it'll cost you.

Wouldn't it be better to have everything ready before you land - at least for the first night?

Backpacking Europe travel checklist

• Don't run out of money by underbudgeting. Some travel advice on money will help you estimate how much you need.


• And don't run out of time by understimating the size of Europe. Europe is filled with small diverse countries so you'll be able to get around quickly if you plan properly. BUT - it takes time to travel in Europe so don't try to pack too much in or you'll end up not seeing anything!

• View from Circus Hostel, Berlin
  Photo: Nevado via Flickr

• Get the best prices and have the most fun by choosing your season wisely. High summer in Paris or late autumn in central or northern Europe can be pretty dismal so choose the best time to visit carefully.
  

• Where will you stay? Check out budget hostel accommodation and make sure you book in high season. Other options: Stay with friends, find  last-minute deals online, use couch surfing or become a housesitter and stay for free!


• Don't risk getting turned away at a border so make sure you get your papers in order. Have you got an international travel visa if you're going to a country that requires one? What about international travel vaccinations if you're coming from a country with yellow fever or cholera for example? And don't forget to photocopy all your papers in case you lose them.


• Don't look like a hunchback on the road - you've seen those first-timers who travel with everything but the kitchen sink. My travel packing list for women will show you how to pack like a pro and just take what you need.


• Worried about being lonely on the road? Managing travel loneliness is an art, but you'll have to decide whether to travel solo or look for female travel companions or guys to travel with.


• How will you get from A to B on the continent? Europe has plenty of cheap train travel schemes, but you could also travel by bus or travel on foot.


• Not everyone speaks English everywhere - so how to learn a language might be a good skill to put to work, even if you just learn a few words or phrases. Or why not pick up a phrasebook or one of those handy electronic translators?


• Fit in like a native by learning as much as you can about the cultural etiquette of the countries you'll visit. Each country is different and unique.


• And finally, book your flight! You'll find plenty of very cheap international flights to  Europe, especially if you start looking early enough.

Your backpacking Europe trip: Day 1

• Reserve your first night in a hostel or hotel (or remember the couch-surfing or housesitting options I mentioned?) There are plenty of woman-friendly hostels across the continent. You'll enjoy the comfort and safety of knowing where you're going when you land.
• Go straight to the tourist office when you arrive. If you don't have a room, they'll usually have lists. If you do, they'll have plenty of useful information. If it's closed... that's when your trusty guidebook will come in handy. Make sure you've marked out a few just in case (now you see why it's important to book that first night!)
• Get a city map - tourist offices often give or sell these, so no need to spend money buying one ahead of time, especially since your guidebook will probably have at least a basic one.
• Get a subway or bus map, which will usually be available at large stations. Find out about special deals and passes for tourists. You'll probably be using a lot of public transport, after all!

Travelling Europe

What exactly is Europe, anyway? 

The core of Europe is made up of the 27 countries of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Switzerland, Norway and Iceland are the only countries in the region NOT members of the European Union - but that doesn't mean they're not great European destinations!

Europe, in full evolution
Photo: San Jose via Wikimedia

While European countries are incredibly different from one another, certain things will still be familiar enough - whether it's traffic lights, fast-food chains or consumer products. You'll never be too far from something you know - if you need it!