The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to Europe on a Budget: Advice on Trip Planning, Packing, Hostels & Lodging, Transportation & More!

201 Pages·2015·4.08 MB·English

by  James Feess

Table of Contents
Introduction
CHAPTER ONE—PLANNING
BIG PICTURE ITINERARY PLANNING
ADDITIONAL ITINERARY PLANNING ADVICE
ESTIMATING DAILY TRAVEL COSTS
Accommodation Cost Estimate
Food Cost Estimate
Sightseeing and Attractions Cost Estimate
Public Transportation Cost Estimate
Alcohol Cost Estimate
Extras and Unexpected Expenses Estimate
MONEY MATTERS
Understanding Currency and Exchange Rates
Withdrawing Money From an ATM
Using Credit Cards in Europe
Alternative Ways to Access Money
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT PRE-DEPARTURE CONSIDERATIONS
UNDERSTANDING TRAVEL SEASONS
High Season
Low Season
Shoulder Season
GUIDE TO LONG-TERM TRAVEL IN EUROPE
Ways to Extend Your Stay Past 90 Days
PURCHASING AIRFARE TO EUROPE
Strategies for Finding the Cheapest Flights to Europe
Our Favorite Airfare Booking Websites and Resources
BEST TRAVEL GUIDE BOOKS AND ONLINE RESOURCES
Independent Online Guides Written by Locals
Crowd-sourced Travel Guides
Traditional Guide Books
CHAPTER TWO—PACKING
BENEFITS OF PACKING LIGHT
Staying Fashionable While on the Road
HOW TO MINIMIZE CLOTHING
CLOTHING PACKING GUIDE FOR WOMEN
CLOTHING PACKING GUIDE FOR MEN
SOCKS
UNDERWEAR
FOOTWEAR
Women’s Shoes
Men’s Shoes
OUTERWEAR
ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES
WINTER CLOTHING
Guide to Layering Clothing
Winter Accessories
USEFUL TRAVEL ACCESSORIES
TOILETRIES
FIRST-AID AND MEDICINE
GUIDE TO USING ELECTRONICS IN EUROPE
European Electricity Basics
Internet and Wi-Fi
Laptops and Tablets
Smartphones, Data Plans, and Mobile Phones
Other Essential Travel Electronics
GUIDE TO CHOOSING A DIGITAL CAMERA FOR TRAVEL
Important Features to Consider in a Digital Camera
Choosing the Type of Digital Camera for Your Travel Style
Important Digital Camera Accessories
CHOOSING THE BEST LUGGAGE FOR YOUR TRAVEL STYLE
Traveling with a Backpack
Traveling with Rolling Luggage
Other Luggage Options
HOW TO CHOOSE A TRAVEL BACKPACK
Backpack Styles
How to Choose the Correct Backpack Size
Important Features
How to Find a Correct Fitting Backpack
PACKING AIDS AND ORGANIZATION
Packing Cubes and Packing Folders
Organize Your Toiletries
More Packing Aids
MINIMALIST TRAVEL
Ultra-Lightweight Backpack
Minimize Clothing
Minimal Electronics
Toiletries
Ultra-Light Accessories
CHAPTER THREE—ACCOMMODATION
HOSTELS—BEER, BUNK BEDS, AND BREAKFAST
Hostels 101
Characteristics of a Good Hostel
How to Find a Good Hostel
More Helpful Hostel Tips
Hostel Etiquette
COUCHSURFING
How Couchsurfing Works
What Are The Hosts Like?
Safety Concerns
Tips for Couchsurfing Successfully
Additional Concerns to Consider
SHORT-TERM APARTMENT RENTALS
Advantages to Renting an Apartment
Disadvantages to Renting an Apartment
Where to Find a Vacation Apartment Rental
CAMPING
SLEEPING IN TRAIN STATIONS AND AIRPORTS
VOLUNTEER FOR ROOM AND BOARD
CHAPTER FOUR—TRANSPORTATION
EXPLORING EUROPE BY TRAIN
Reasons Why Rail Travel is Awesome
Disadvantages of Rail Travel
How to Plan Your Rail Journey
Understanding Train Ticket Pricing
Quick Overview—Point-To-Point Tickets versus Train Passes
Purchasing Individual Train Tickets
OVERNIGHT TRAINS
TRAVELING WITH A EURAIL PASS
Rail Pass Basic Information
Are Eurail Passes Worth the Money?
More Tips for Using Your Eurail Pass
How to Use Your Pass
Where & How to Buy a Eurail Pass
TRAIN TRAVEL SKILLS
At the Station
On the Train
AIR TRAVEL WITHIN EUROPE
Advantages to Air Travel
Disadvantages to Air Travel
How to Find the Best Deals on Airfare
Lowdown on Low-Cost Airlines
Best Booking Websites
COACH TRAVEL
Long-distance Coach Companies
DRIVING AND CAR RENTALS
Things to Think about before Renting a Car
How to Rent a Car for the Best Price
Buy Back Car Lease Program
Benefits to Short-term Leasing
RIDESHARES AND HITCHHIKING
CHAPTER FIVE—TRAVEL SAFETY AND AVOIDING
TOURIST SCAMS
PICKPOCKETS AND PETTY THEFT
Popular Cities for Pickpockets
Who are the Pickpockets?
Pickpocket Hot Spots
Tricks Pickpockets Use
Who Pickpockets Target
How to Protect Yourself from Pickpockets
ATM/CREDIT CARD/DEBIT CARD FRAUD
CROOKED TAXIS
FLIRTY WOMEN AND STRIP CLUB SCAMS
MONEY SCAMS
COMPUTER SCAMS
OTHER TOURIST SCAMS
GENERAL SAFETY TIPS
CHAPTER SIX—SOLO AND GROUP TRAVEL
SOLO TRAVEL ADVICE
Positive Aspects of Solo Travel
Disadvantages of Solo Travel
How to Successfully Travel Solo
GUIDE TO SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN
Safety Advice for Solo Women Travelers
TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH FRIENDS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
Pre-trip Considerations
During the Trip Advice
CHAPTER SEVEN—DAY-TO-DAY MONEY SAVING
STRATEGIES
EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY
Grocery Stores, Greengrocers, and Farmers’ Markets
Street Food and Budget Takeout Restaurants
Budget-friendly Restaurants
Other Tips for Eating on the Cheap
Get Your Drink On
DISCOUNT CARDS, MUSEUM PASSES, AND STUDENT DISCOUNTS
USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
RANDOM HELPFUL TIPS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INDEX
Introduction
For many people, the thought of traveling to Europe is intimidating, or at the
very least, confusing. It’s perfectly normal to feel a little overwhelmed by the
whole planning process. I know felt the exact same way when I was preparing for
my first backpacking trip through Europe. I’d never before used public
transportation, I spoke only English, I had no concept of hostels, and this trip
would be the first time I was truly self-reliant. It did feel daunting at times, but it
was also exciting because I knew I was about to have the experience of a lifetime.
Every year, Europe enchants millions of visitors with her countless charms
while she happily drains their bank accounts. However, savvy travelers know it
doesn’t require a lot of money to have an incredible journey abroad. In fact, the
more money you spend the larger wedge you’ll drive between you and the local
culture. When you travel on a tight budget, you’ll have a more authentic
experience because you’ll find yourself perusing the same neighborhood markets,
shopping at the same grocery stores, and eating at the same restaurants as the
locals.
Luckily, Europe has plenty of inexpensive places to sleep, the public
transportation is amazing, and food can be affordable. The infrastructure for
budget travel is already in place—you simply need to learn the travel skills to take