How To Plan Your First Euro Trip

Fill The Piggy Bank

There's so much to do when planning a trip but you're not going anywhere without some money in the bank.  Don't worry though, if you come up with a budget and set saving goals, you'll be on your way before you know it.

1) Budget Your Trip

A budget for a euro trip can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the length of your trip, where you go, and how you travel.
If you're staying in hostels and eating street food your budget is going to be a fraction of the cost of someone who is staying in hostels and dining out each night.

2) How To Save Money

Burn a vision of yourself walking the cobblestone streets of Europe into your brain and you'll find that motivation to save.  Sacrifice some luxuries you have in your day to day life like eating out and instead put that portion of your paycheck into your travel fund.

3) Set Goals

The best way to accomplish something is to set goals and saving up for a trip is no different.  Set a start date for your trip and then figure out how much you need to save each month to get you there.

Related Posts

Where To Go

Europe is vast with dozens of countries and hundreds of cities to visit.  Most likely you won't be seeing them all on this trip so you'll need to decide where to go.

Try to balance your trip out between eastern Europe and the more touristy locations in the west.  Not only will you experience unique adventures but you'll be able to balance your travel budget as the cost of traveling in eastern Europe is much less expensive.

Something to also keep in mind if you're traveling for more than 3 months are the restrictions that are placed by the Schengen Agreement.  Make sure you're aware of what the rules are before you go.

Related Posts

Get The Gear

Once you've made the decision to travel, it can be so easy to fall into information overload and go out there and just buy every little travel gadget known to man.  Don't fall into that trap.

Do your research and you'll find that you won't need most travel gadgets out there.  In fact, the rule of thumb is to pack only half of what you think you need for your trip.

Related Posts
Ask a backpacker
Trip planning made easy
The Euro Trip Kit is a great way to start planning your trip.
Inside you'll find a travel journal, adventure passport, language cards and a bunch of other great things to get you excited for your euro trip.
Inside The Kit

Book It!

The time is here!  You've saved up, planned your trip and bought the gear - now it's time to book everything.  Here's some helpful advice when it comes to booking a trip.

1) Do It Yourself

It's always cheaper (and more satisfying) to do things yourself.  With all the information you need being available online, there's no reason to involve a middle man like a travel agent or tour group.  Also, by booking yourself, you have the freedom to plan your trip the way you want and not have to follow someone else's itinerary.

2) Booking Your Flight

There are a handful of flight search engines like Kayak and Skyscanner that scour the web for all flight options and the best deals available.  Once you've found the flight you want, head to their official website to book it yourself online.

3) Booking Your Hostel

There are also a handful of hostel booking sites like HostelWorld and Booking.  These sites have all the hostels listed with all their information including photo galleries and customer ratings.  Look for hostels that are rated over 9.0.

4) Get Travel Insurance

It's hard to fork out money for something that seems unnecessary.  However, getting travel insurance is a small price to pay for piece of mind.  If something bad does happen like a robbery or illness, your trip won't be financially devastated.

Related Posts

Be Safe

A common worry for first time travelers is whether it's safe to travel in a foreign land - especially on their own.

Even though your mom's coworker's brother had a bad experience, traveling in Europe is completely safe.  Whether you're traveling with friends or as a solo female, you'll find it's safe to travel in European cities as long as you're smart about it.

Just be aware of your surroundings and don't put yourself in stupid situations (ie. walking down an alley drunk late at night) and you'll be fine.

Related Posts

Tips And Tricks

Here's a tip for first time travelers - you're gonna make mistakes and it will cost you time and money.  So, with that in mind, don't sweat the small stuff.  We've all missed flights, been ripped off by taxi drivers and bought the wrong tickets.

What you can do, though, is read travel blogs and learn from other's mistakes so you're a step ahead.  Also, it can't hurt to get the Euro Trip Kit as it has some great travel tips inside.  Sorry for the blatant ad but it's true!

Related Posts
• 
Ask a backpacker
Ask a backpacker
Questions about backpacking?  Our Facebook group is filled with backpackers just like you.
Ask questions, get advice, share some stories, and maybe even meet a travel buddy.  Come hang out with us.

Where To Next?

London
Budapest
Barcelona
Prague

More Europe

How To Backpack Europe For Only $30 A Day
Backpacking Europe: Everything You Need To Know
Beware The Schengen Agreement
9 Euro Trip Itineraries
Be Inspired
Travel Inspiration
Follow us on Facebook.  Our page is filled with travel tips and inspiration.
Get inspired for your next trip with backpack photos, videos, stories and memes.