#allisonstravels

I had a few issues when packing for weekend trips because I didn’t really think about what to bring beforehand.

The best advice I can give is that you should bring a backpack. If you’re going to be flying a lot, then make sure to check the size limits for carry-ons. Most budget airlines (Ryanair especially) are pretty strict when it comes to bag size. You don’t have to worry as much if traveling by train, as long as you can find a place for it you should be fine.

Speaking from experience, do not travel with a rolling suitcase if you can help it. Some cities in Europe are known for their picturesque cobblestone streets. However, while they are beautiful to look at, they are a pain to wheel a suitcase over. I spent nearly an hour trying to find my hostel in Florence all while dragging my very heavy suitcase down an uneven cobblestone road. It was so bad that I had welts on my hands the next day.

I love items that can roll up or fit into other items. My main bag when traveling was a duffle bag that I wore like a backpack—not the most comfortable at times but it did the job. Inside the bag, other than my clothes, I kept a small backpack and winter coat, both of which rolled up nice and tight and fit in the bag without taking up too much space.

The type of clothing you bring really depends on the season and city. Always make sure to wear your heaviest items (boots, jeans, etc.) to save more space in the bag. Other items I always made sure to have were a sleep sack, towel, shower shoes, water bottle, extra socks, underwear and my camera.

Worst case scenario, you can always buy toiletries in the city you’re going. Sometimes it may even be smarter to do that in order to avoid your bags getting too heavy.

For me, there were always two defining characteristics for each city I went to: the sights and the food.

Food really defines a city and when you travel, you want to make sure to try all the local flavors. My rule when traveling is no American restaurants (I only broke it once but I don’t want to talk about it). That means tapas and sangria in Barcelona, pizza in Naples and pierogis in Krakow.

However, eating like a local can get a little pricey. Instead of sitting down at a restaurant where they charge extra fees for everything from water to whether you eat inside or outside, stop by a street vendor and take your food on the go.

Ordering to go allows you to stroll around the city while enjoying the food. Even though it might be a simpler meal than what you find in a restaurant, the flavors are still there.

Walking around, you will find a wide range of food options: the heavier Döner kebabs in Berlin (similar to a Greek gyro) or to the sweet cinnamon pastries of Prague called Trdelnik (don’t ask me how to pronounce it).

While in Munich I lived off the €1.20 bratwursts from the train station.

It also gives you more reasons to try different, more questionable menu items, like Arancini al Nero di Seppia (fried rice balls with squid ink).

My favorite, of course, was gelato. You can’t live in Rome without getting gelato at least once (a day)!

*For the best gelato in Rome, make sure to check out Come il Latte

Before we go any further, forget everything you think you know about hostels. Especially, if any of that information came from a certain horror film of the same name.

There’s a certain science to picking the perfect hostel. First, you need to evaluate your variables. What’s most important to you: value, location, safety, cleanliness, staff, etc. Then compare them to their ratings on the hostels website.

I made sure to only consider hostels with at least an 80 percent overall.

Location was my biggest priority. Make sure to check the map to see its location relative to the city center, but the closer you are to the main sights, the less money you will have to spend later on getting around the city.

Another consideration is room size. The biggest advantage to traveling in a group is getting a private room. When I went to Barcelona, my group was able to get two private rooms. While the price may seem high initially, once you split it up amongst everyone it’s a better deal in the end and also a lot safer.

I felt that a room with more people was ideal when traveling. My decision to always choose the largest available option was because of two reasons: it was the cheapest choice and it gave me an opportunity to get out of my shell and meet new people.

The most interesting hostel experience I had was when I traveled with a friend to Krakow, Poland, and we stayed in a 14-bed mixed room. The only factor you can’t account for ahead of time is the people, or in my case, the eight very loud Spaniards who started their night as I was ending mine.

In the end, it all worked out and was just another fun study abroad experience.

Make sure to check sites like HostelBookers or HostelWorld for the best rates.

One of the wonderful things about Europe is the ease of traveling. In less time than it takes you to travel across the US, you could have gone from England to Italy, and even had time to stop for a baguette in France along the way.

The most convenient and popular way to travel is by train. I spent a week working my way up from Rome to Berlin solely by train. They’re comfortable with scenic views and, especially if you get a Eurail pass, are extremely flexible to hop on last minute.

*Keep in mind that Eurail passes must be bought in advance. I didn’t know this and caused myself a lot of unnecessary stress.

For me, trains weren’t always the most feasible option. While Rome is amazing, its location relative to other European cities isn’t ideal. I found that traveling by plane was just as good, and sometimes even cheaper, than going by train.

If you’re planning on flying, make sure to book your tickets in advance. Checking Skyscanner became a daily ritual. In the end, you may have to forgo extra leg room and cut down on any unnecessary luggage. Though it will all work out, the flights are generally short and you don’t want to schlep around too many bags down those cobblestone streets anyway. (Trust me, I did it and it was awful.)  

You don’t have to break the bank to see the world; after all, I managed to get a flight from Krakow to Rome for only €18!

allisondeutch’s photostream on Flickr.

There’s nothing more beautiful than Rome at night.