Europe : https://pixabay.com/en/world-europe-map-connections-1264062/
The Old Continent is one of the favorite destinations for people all over the world, especially those who are interested in history, architecture, and good old European-style fun. Still, although we often view it as a whole, Europe is a continent consisting of a diverse set of countries – each with its own uniqueness, charm, and rules. All of that should be taken into account when planning your itinerary and trip strategy, unless you want your perfect adventure to end up as a complete failure. Here are some tips that will help you have the time of your life in Europe.
Dresden, Germany: https://pixabay.com/en/martin-luther-church-pray-617287/
Set Up a Budget
You should establish a budget early on, even before you choose your destinations, itinerary, or travel date. Being aware of how much money you have on disposal will help you determine whether you should travel on or off-season, or which city you should visit (e.g. London and Paris tend to be very expensive, and eastern European capitals like Prague, Budapest, and Athens are much more affordable). Knowing your budget will also help you with choosing the accommodation and means of transport.
Mont Saint Michel, France: https://pixabay.com/en/mont-saint-michel-france-normandy-688405/
Perfect Timing
The time of your travel will depend on many things. Putting aside your job/college or other responsibilities, the best time to travel to Europe is during April, May, mid-June, September, and October. This way you will get the most out of peak-season and off-season. Sure, peak-season travels have their advantages (such as plenty of festivals and other events), but during the summer, European cities can get too crowded. Also, the peak-season is not the same in every European country. For Mediterranean areas, the peak is July and August, but you would be surprised to see just how quiet Paris is in the summer. If your priority is to save money, off-season (generally November through March) should be your choice.
Dubrovnik, Croatia: https://pixabay.com/en/dubrovnik-croatia-kings-landing-512798/
Means of Transport
Depending on how many destinations you want to see and how large the city you’re staying in, you can choose between different means of transport. Western European cities are usually well-connected by railroad, and the trains are more comfortable to travel in for several days than buses. If you want see many countries and at the same time enjoy the very traveling itself, organized canal cruises might be the best choice for you. If your destinations are too far away from each other, there are plenty of low-cost airlines operating in Europe.
Arno River, Florence, Italy: https://pixabay.com/en/italy-river-arno-uffizzi-sky-1786418/
Choose Your Destinations
Europe can be overwhelming because there are so many different destinations which are on everyone’s bucket list. Just take a look at Paris, London, Barcelona, Rome; and those are just the most popular places. We haven’t even begun naming the hidden gems of the Old Continent. Unfortunately, one rarely has time to see it all. So, pick one place that is a true must-see for you and then build the rest of your vacation upon it (for example, if your bucket list location is Spain, you can visit Portugal and France too).
Lyon, France: https://pixabay.com/en/fireworks-night-celebration-city-1843175/
A Day-to-Day Itinerary
It’s easy to get carried away in one of Europe’s magical cities, but if you stick around at one place for too long, you may miss out on others. Create a rough itinerary that will help you accomplish everything you want. Before traveling, research your options when it comes to accommodation and sites you want to explore. Speaking of, remember never to pre-book small stuff, such as museum tickets and walking tours.
Street, England: https://pixabay.com/en/urban-people-crowd-citizens-438393/
We can all agree that Europe is fascinating, starting from the Ville Lumière all the way to the roads less traveled, such as Dubrovnik, Krakow, Kiev, Oslo, and Copenhagen. Precisely because there are so many things to see and so many places to go, it’s important to have some sort of plan before setting off on the greatest adventure of your life.
About the author
Marie Nieves is a student and a lifestyle blogger who loves unusual trips, gadgets, and creative ideas. She is an avid lover of photography and a regular author on several blogs.
You can find Marie on Facebook or follow her on Twitter, G+ and Pinterest.
