AB's guide to surviving a European Summer

AB's Guide to Surviving a European Summer

 

As most of you know, I've recently arrived home from my Europe trip! It was incredible. I learnt so much about travel, culture, food, and about myself... it was just such an amazing experience. My sister and I visited London, Prague, Venice, Rome and Paris! We spent a week in each city and there aren't words for how wonderful it was. I wasn't able to blog as much as I would have liked (due to internet and iPad issues) but I did have a great time. :)

Here are a few tips, based on my adventures, about how to experience your European adventure to the MAX!

#1. When in Italy eat GELATO at least 3 times a day! -When you're in the bigger cities, like Rome and Venice, gelato is never very far away. It's delicious, it's inexpensive, and it will cool you down on a hot summer's day. There's really no down-side (as long as you're willing to accept a bit of a holiday belly). There are also heaps of lactose free options (luckily for me).

#2. Buy yourself some suitable SANDALS - They may not be extremely fashionable, but if you can sacrifice a little pride, it will change your whole experience. You'll most probably be doing a lot of walking, and Europe in the summer can get HOT! When we were in Prague the lowest it got was 32 degrees C (and that was at 2am in the morning!). So a pair of good quality, open walking shoes will save you and make your trip so much more comfortable.

#3. Make the most of every moment - Don't rush! Try to enjoy every little thing, (even the getting lost and the language barriers). Take your time and savor every meal, every building, every experience. Don't spend your time rushing around trying to fit in as many tourist attractions as possible, because they'll just become a blur. Quality over Quantity (IMHO)

#4. Use AirBnB - This is a traveling tip for anywhere in the world, not just exclusively Europe. AirBnB is a website where people rent out their rooms/apartments/houses, for travelers. Kia and I used it for almost all of our trip, and there were some great apartments. Alot of the apartments were equally as expensive as hotels (but often cheaper), but have the added benefit of a kitchen, bathroom, living room etc. We would pay just as much as you would pay for a single room and a shared bathroom in a Hostel, but we got a whole apartment. I'm definitely a BIG fan of AirBnB!!

#5. Explore - It's a good idea to reserve some "unorganized time", where you can just explore. You don't need every moment planned down to a T. Eat adventurously too, even if you have a food intolerance. I'm lactose and gluten intolerant, but I found that there were plenty of options if you keep and open mind and are willing to try new things. 

Be adventurous, wander, discover! Be safe, but be bold.


I hope you got something out of this and that these tips are helpful to you in your future travels.
Until next time...

AB :)