Most people love to travel. I am most definitely not an exception to this rule. If I had it my way, I would spend three quarters of the year exploring the world. Since this is not exactly possible – at least not until I win the lottery – I try to make the best of what I’ve got and see as much as I possibly can. I’ve been to all sorts of places so far but, until a few months ago, I have never visited Europe. I know, the so-called “old continent” and somehow it managed to slip my traveling grasp.
One of the reasons why I think I postponed my visit to this beautiful continent is that I felt it’s just so hard to organize everything properly. Since Europe is made up of many different countries, I feel visiting them can eat up a lot of your time and resources. If you want to embark on such an adventure, you’ll need to plan ahead.
So now, after my return from my 6-month visit, here are some tips for anybody who plans to go to Europe for the first time.
Plan your itinerary to avoid missing the important sights
First and foremost – you need to make a list. My experience has taught me that it is extremely easy to miss the most amazing sights if you don’t do your research well in advance. And trust me, Europe can be like a maze made out of fascinating stuff to see. They are everywhere and you can easily miss anything. Well, except maybe for the Eifel Tower. That’s kind of hard to miss.
Nevertheless, planning a trip is not for the faint of heart. Get informed on what each country has to offer, set your priorities straight, and you’ll get to see and experience a lot more than you thought possible. I have a soft spot for historic places, archeological hotspots, and ancient castles. This is why I adapted my itinerary to fit as many of those as possible. Europe is practically overflowing with them. There was so much to see, my head was starting to spin. I definitely have to return at some point.
So, before you even get on the plane, plan what you want to visit, where, and when. A simple app can do wonders.
Take care of travel & accommodation
Once you’ve decided on what you wish to see, the next step is to organize your modes of transportation. Getting from A to B in Europe is comparatively easy but can be surprisingly costly if you don’t book well in advance. You can look up planes and trains or even consider renting a car for your trip. Knowing which part of the continent you wish to focus on could be of great help here.
Trains are the most reliable mode of transportation in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and most of Scandinavia. Much of Eastern Europe, however, will rely on buses. They are far more likely to be on time than the average train. Consider that a warning. Of course, you should also think of your preferred type of accommodation – whether it’s a hostel or a 5-star hotel.
Again, no matter how you’re traveling, there’s a cool app you can look up and download. For train travel, there’s a euro rail app that helps you organize and pay. As for accommodation, if you’re not an Airbnb type of person, there are many other options as well.
Mind your budget & never overspend
Needless to say, most of your choices are likely yo be influenced by your purchasing power. Consider the amount of money you are willing to spend and carefully outline your budget. Knowing your priorities will help you make the right choices and still get to experience all the amazing things the old continent has to offer. Funnily enough, these apps helped me quite a bit on my journey a couple of months ago.
Great Apps for a First Time Euro Trip
You’d be surprised how much you can achieve with just your phone. There was absolutely no need to even crack open my laptop. I got a lot of things sorted on the go and really got to enjoy my trip properly.
Conclusion
A first-time trip to Europe can be a magical journey or an endless source of stress. Since you’ll be paying out of your own pocket, it’s better to go with the first option.
Preparing well can make a huge difference. Planning your itinerary and deciding on what you want to see is a good way to set the foundation for an unforgettable adventure. Making sure that you opt for the best mode of transportation as well as accommodation that is within your budget is equally important. With the help of a few online apps, I was able to achieve all this and really fall in love with the old continent.
Hopefully, it will be the same for you. You don’t even need a dozen apps on your phone. 2 or 3 solid apps will save you time, money and a couple of nerves. And you know what they say, you can never have enough of either of those.
Comments are closed.