{"id":305,"date":"2019-07-24T17:35:14","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T09:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/?p=305"},"modified":"2019-07-24T18:15:10","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T10:15:10","slug":"backpacking-through-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/2019\/07\/backpacking-through-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Backpacking Through Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time : <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\n

Are you ready for an adventure that will reshape your outlook on the world and live in your heart forever?
\nBackpacking through Europe will help you achieve all that and more. This is the best way to cover a lot of ground without eating up your entire life savings. What you will accumulate, however, is a host of new friends and a killer Instagram feed.<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe preparation period before the trip is almost as exciting as the actual adventure \u2013 almost. So, let\u2019s have some fun with our top tips on how to pack and how to make sure you\u2019re fully mobile once you\u2019re there.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

1. Choose the Right Backpack<\/h2>\n

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when you start looking for\u00a0the best backpack<\/a>. First, you want it to be waterproof. Then, you want it to have some sort of internal framework. This will hug the backpack close to your body and help you balance substantial weight.<\/p>\n

Another great feature is the ability to strap on exterior items like toiletry cases and the like. When it\u2019s time to pack, be sure to pack the heaviest items in the center. This, too, will help you maintain balance.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u2019t Take Packing Lightly<\/h2>\n

Although lightness is the goal, it\u2019s a fine line between\u00a0saving space\u00a0and lacking what you need. Likewise, overdoing it won\u2019t make for a fun trip when your back is always sore. So, how do you strike the right balance? Approach it from a three-tier perspective.<\/p>\n

\"Packing\"
Packing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clothing<\/h4>\n

Truthfully, you only want to pack one pair of pants. Wear the other. Same for shorts; only consider one to two pairs. Then, you can aim for five t-shirts and one long-sleeve shirt.
\nAs for outerwear, there will only be room for one raincoat and one hoodie. You\u2019ll be wearing your comfortable walking shoes. From there, you might want to toss in a pair of flips flops. Also, don\u2019t forget a\u00a0bathing suit. As for the underwear and socks, you can go with five of each, as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Toiletries<\/h4>\n

Travel size has never been better. You definitely want to go light here because you can always buy more once you make it to Europe. Only pack the essentials: shampoo, bar soap, toothbrush\/toothpaste, feminine products.
\nIn your toiletry kit, you\u2019ll also want a basic medical kit. This should include: band-aids, antiseptic, and maybe a couple of condoms.<\/p>\n

\"Personals\"Other Essentials<\/h4>\n

As for the essentials, leave anything home that\u2019s of value. You might spend a night or two in a hostel with eight other beds or share a room in an Airbnb. So, don\u2019t bring anything you\u2019d be devastated to lose.
\nMake sure your electrc devices are international – ready (100-240v) and to carry a universal plugs adapter<\/a>.
\nThis leaves your passport, your visa (if required), airplane and train tickets, debit cards, and about $200 in cash. Don\u2019t take any jewelry with you and, unfortunately, ladies, there won\u2019t be any room for a hair dryer. Maybe you can sneak in a travel-size hair straightener, though!<\/p>\n

3. Know the Train Schedules<\/h2>\n

When backpacking across Europe, traveling by train is your best option. Most of the countries in the European\u00a0Union are tied to the\u00a0Eurail pass\u00a0or Interrail Global Pass. They\u2019re both easy to master and can take you long distances.
\nThe best way to save on accommodations and make the train schedule work for you is to plan your longest journeys overnight and sleep on the train. Next thing you know, you\u2019re waking up in a new country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

4. Eat with the Locals<\/h2>\n

You probably already know to avoid tourist traps. But, this isn\u2019t just about local monuments and highly trafficked areas. It also about when and where you eat. If you sniff out the placed where the locals eat, you\u2019ll not only find restaurants that won\u2019t break the bank but also savor some sweet time with the locals.<\/p>\n

Try to embrace a tapas diet wherever you go. We don\u2019t mean the style of the food but the portions of the food. Wherever you go, savor small plates with big flavors.\u00a0Dabbling in small bites\u00a0all across the continent means you\u2019ll have sampled everything under the sun and protected your budget.<\/p>\n

5. Book Hostels with Kitchens<\/h2>\n

This is another nice way to save on the cost of eating out. Try to book hostels that either have kitchens or offer free breakfast. This is a nice way to cook up a light meal made from the local ingredients you purchased at the farmer\u2019s market.<\/p>\n

Then, after you\u2019ve eaten, you can hit up the town for a couple of drinks. But, you\u2019ve just saved a nice chunk of money by eating in while traveling abroad. Plus, this is one of the best, most natural ways to get acquainted with fellow travelers!<\/p>\n

6. Hide Your Valuables<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t hate the fanny pack. It\u2019s a lifesaver when traveling. Sure, you don\u2019t have to go for the actual fanny pack. Nowadays, they have sleek money belts that sit right above your belt loops. No one\u2019s getting at that.\u00a0You might also come upon hidden pockets in your backpack. Be sure to really bury anything of value that belongs in your pack.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

7. Don\u2019t Forget to Splurge<\/h2>\n

Sure, you\u2019re not looking to weigh down your backpack or break your budget; but don\u2019t forget to splurge. You won\u2019t be backpacking in Europe for the rest of your life. Pick up a journal in Barcelona or a jewelry box in Paris.<\/p>\n

Also, toward the end of your trip, when you see you\u2019ve done well in the food and lodging department, splurge on a final night out on the town. Hit up that speakeasy in Paris; stay in that fancy Airbnb. The best part of backpacking is that, every once in a while, you can live the high life.<\/p>\n

8. Travel In a Group<\/h2>\n

Solo travel is life-changing and it stays with you forever. You learn a multitude of lessons in a short span of time. However, there\u2019s always strength in numbers. First, you\u2019ll be safer from the errant pickpocket or shady hostel roommate.
\nSecond, it\u2019ll divide the duties that come with backpacking. If someone\u2019s organized, they can be the planner and master of the train schedule. If someone\u2019s a good cook, they can be in charge of kitchen duties at night in the hostel. It creates a nice balance.<\/p>\n

Backpacking Through Europe\u00a0Like a Champ<\/h2>\n

With these tips, you\u2019ll be backpacking through Europe like a champ in no time at all. Your pack will be light but smartly packed. Your transportation options will be on lockdown, given your thorough knowledge of all the train lines.<\/p>\n

Best of all, you\u2019ll eat like a local and rub elbows with interesting characters in every hostel and pub!\u00a0Here at Trending Travel, we\u2019re your one-stop shop for smart travel. Before you head off, be sure to check out all our\u00a0travel guides<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Jakub Marian Map:
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Europe is by far the most popular destination of international tourists in the world: nearly 590 million<\/b> people spent a night (or more) in a European country (other than their own) in 2016 (with Russia and Turkey counted as a whole). Compare that to around 200 million visitors to the Americas, and 460 million to the rest of the world (Africa, Asia, and Australia) combined.<\/p>\n

The map below shows the number of tourists from another country who have spent a night in the given country in 2016, based on data<\/a> provided by the World Bank (and collected primarily by the World Tourism Organization):<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Tourists
Tourists Arrivals in Europe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"B\u00e9n\u00e9dicte
B\u00e9n\u00e9dicte Lin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading Time : <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>Are you ready for an adventure that will reshape your outlook on the world and live in your heart forever? Backpacking through<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[48,19,57,4,56],"class_list":["post-305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travels","tag-48","tag-benedicte","tag-europe","tag-gout-design","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=305"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":351,"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305\/revisions\/351"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goutanddesign.com\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}