My name is Keshav and I’m thrilled to share with you my experiences of backpacking across Europe from last summer! This travel wasn’t really on the cards but somehow happened by itself! Magically I swear! What makes it immensely more special is that this was a budget trip and I could actually pull off the entire trip in less than INR 100,000!
Sharing with you little tricks and tips that worked like a charm for me!
Pre Booking is the secret : Be it the Lion King Musical in London or the Opera Tickets in Rome, make an online booking ! You might end up getting discounts being run on pre booking and cashbacks from your bank. Plus you save the hard cash by paying electronically.
**Google maps is a life saver:**Maps help you save ways and routes offline. You can forsee best travel routes including city commutes taxis lifts rails roads metros trams everything! Make the most aware use of Google Maps to make sure you dont end up paying excessively for a wrong route or otherwise.
Ditch the hotel : It was my first time that I stayed in hostels and they turned out to be definately a lot more better than hotel rooms! They’re warm, they’re live and there’s so much happening always. They cost so low and they have almost everything on their reception in relation to walks and tours. You end up making friends for life with the person right next to your dorm.
Know the other useful apps : Every city your travel to has a dedicated app (usually) for transport and commute. Look our for local apps that can help you stay updated for detailed commute. Other apps like those of bookings hostels and weather helps you stay informed beforehand.
HopIn HopOff : There’s no denying that you can not see a city better (and cheaper) than on a hop in hop off route buses. Pre book your slots for BigBus or other tour buses and save by paying online!
Watch what you carry I carrieda 40ltr travel backpack alongwith a small suitcase. Europe is best seen on foot, so carry a small handbag to keep your essentials such as passport, cash, raincoat, energy bars/snacks, a charger and a water bottle. Keep you spirits high and luggage light.
Flight tickets:
Of all the things that cost the most are flight tickets. Watch out for flight rates and monitor them before 4 to 6 months of your travel (Google Flights keeps you updated of price charts) and fetch the fish when you think it’s just right to! My return tickets were worth INR 45,000 (New Delhi to London & Rome to New Delhi).
Another hack to find cheap flights is look for flights with mid city halts. In fact I took a sector flight from London to Crotia via Amsterdam with a lay over of 12hours at Amsterdam so that I could drop off my bags at airport cloak room and travel the city during daytime! No hotel expenses!
Travel overnight to different cities : Whenever you’re changing city, try and book your commute for night time so that you dont have to pay for accommodations for that night and by the time you wake up its a new city new sunshine of a new city! Know the Visas - You dont want your dream trip to be called off for not having avalid Visa! Always apply Vias beforehand and skip doing it through the agent. Most embassies accept the applications online (followed by a visit for bio metrics) which helps you do it by yourself and save monies of routing through agent.
Here are few of little realizations during my few days of travel (no travel tips but few of self observations)-
It’s great to have an unplanned journey but a little pre planning only helps you save time and money , especially if it’s a multi city travel.
There’s no right time or right age to travel - majority of people I saw travelling were in their 50’s or above. I saw couples with new borns travelling to places that we would otherwise hesitate with little kids. I heard stories of 15s and 18s year olds travelling on their savings of pocket money.
Joy is in the little things. I rejoiced performance of street theater more than the famous stage shows. An English breakfast at local corner cafe served better food that fancy dine in. Travelling on foot was so much better than any other transport.
There’s nothing like - ‘omg how will you go to work when you return’ , it is infact the opposite. After a long long trip you go in a zone where you start thinking about your work as the end approaches and become more zealous and enthusiastic about getting at it with great zeal. A good holiday leaves your body levels pumped high and leaves you internally happy and smiling. Eventually making you after-vacation life much much better**
Slept a dog, feasted variety of foods, scribbled though plenty of local maps, finding places to sleep and shower, sleeping in airport waiting area, camping and tenting, changed buses, trams, flights , metros, trains, ferry, boat and cars. Somedays slept for 14hours some days for just 4. Lost internet connections, dying phone batteries, counting coins and currencies, shuffling between tickets and boarding passes - such a great satisfying feeling ?
My phone is filled with gazzillions of pictures of stars, beaches, selfies, people, cafes, roads, hostel scenes and what not. And heart filled with ecstasy joy and gratitude! I feel blessed!
How was your first solo International Travel? Look forward to reading your experiences !
I liked a lot how you described and summarized the tips that you used by your vacation! I strongly agree with you that there is no right time or right age for traveling and the best feeling is when you travel with your own earned money.
I kindly ask you to change the third and the sixth photo in the post because they don’t appear to be your own and is in violation of the Local Guides program rules. Posts with more content and good photos have a good chance of being featured or chosen for a Friday Favorite post.
Thankyou @PoliMC what a delight to see your comment and appreciations! I’m overwhelmed!
I have replaced the third photo (of cafe) and sixth (of hotel) but just also wanted to check because third photo of cafe was clicked by my phone’s camera and sixth was taken from Library option of Upload Images option and it auto picked the caption too with credit to getty images. Is it best to avoid using pictures from Library as we go ahead?
Thank you once again for inputs to help me make this article better
Thanks a lot for the reply and for the clarifying that the photo is from Getty and from our library, then you can use it. We just encourage the Local Guides to share their own photos in such great posts like yours.
This is a beautiful read Keshav. I am sure you had a fantastic time exploring all these beautiful places. I am planning my Eurotrip next year. Not sure if I can manage it in the budget you mentioned. If I do then, I will see more cities and places.
Life is an adventure wish you a great time exploring.
Amazing to read your experience and tips you mentioned. It is making my excitement double. I was reluctant to believe that Europe trip can be comocompl within INR 100000. But your post makes me to believe this. Thanks for this information. It will be helpful for my maiden Europe trip in 2019. Keep sharing your experiences.
Looks like you had a blast! I live in Europe, but havn’t seen everything yet, there is so much to explore and everything is so close. I’m glad you had a good time!
Thank you @KarenVChin yes I had time of my life but there’s so much to explore in Europe I’m wondering I should visit one city every two year Thankyou for taking a moment to appreciate
@Explore_Keshav - I’ve done both, visit lots of cities at one time or spend more time in particular cities. As I get older, I like to spend more time in a particular city or area. It’s not a race, but a journey to see and explore.
Also for me when I travel overseas, I like to go at least 3 weeks because of jet lag, wanting to savor the flavor of a city or country. Taking the time to hangout with the locals - coffee shops, food markets/grocery stores, parks, plus museums, etc. They are inexpensive relatively and has the most lasting memories.
@KarenVChin I wish I had your relaxed attitude. It is not a race, but sometimes it sure does feel like it to me. Not a race against someone, but against my own remaining life time, which I have left. I realise that sounds morbid, but realistically there is only so much one can see with the means they have in a certain time.
I totally get where you are coming from. I used to have a highly structured travel schedule from morning to late at night. But I find now it is just as important to chill and relax and just enjoy. Soak up the experience. I still have stuff I want to see, but I prioritize what is the “Must Sees.”
Try it for a day the next time you travel, let me know what you think, ok? = )
Cheers @KarenVChin ! What a perfect way of taking trips around the world. No room for doubt in mind saying local coffee shops, roadside snacking and not so touristy places leave some of the best impressions when travelling. Been thinking to visit Australia & New Zealand next!
@Explore_Keshav Amazing Man, what you said is true, i did my journey with my wife and two kids aged 12 & 13, went to 5 countries, by air from Abu Dhabi to Belgium and from Paris to Abu Dhabi, rest all went in Bus, Train, Metro, Tram, Cruise & bicycles and walking too. I too saved lot of money, everything was handpicked by me from google and started thrilling, it was really a nice trip. Anyway, good additional tips from you.
Thankyou @ajlenin ! So glad to know that our love for travelling like a local is mutual! Next I’m planning to visit New Zealand and Australia this year =) Any tips ?
@Explore_Keshav Great read Keshav! Thanks for sharing your experience. I have one question about the visas… Looks like you applied yourself, right? Didn’t they want the booking of every stay and transport? Also, did you make two applications as London is not a part of the Schengen list?
Hello @vvbellur yes I applied for both the visas myself. It’s a lot easier and you know status of your apoliceiota real time. You need to apply both Visas separately however go for UK visa first because once approved Schengen visa doesn’t take much time. Both these visas are embossed and printed beautifully to your passports. Take good one month time in hand.
As far as accomodation is concerned yes they ask for sector flights and stay details. Here’s a tip - just dummy book places on various apps that don’t ask for advance payment and put your bookings on hold. Offer those in case you are not sure about booking and paying in advance . If you also don’t wish you book within state travel beforehand you can mention you’d be using local transport on the spot.
PS - I love love love your podcast series. Would love to speak with you someday on your podcast! Keep sharing
