i'm 46 now and have no choice but to rely on my full-time job so I can only have a vacation but I really really wish I did this Europe travel thing when I was younger and had no responsibility. Trust me take that European vacation and backpack early in life you won't have the opportunity later!!
Find the time! I am 52 and am just deciding to down spend on my normal life so that I can travel a lot! So far I have been to Central America and southern Europe
thank you for this!! i really enjoy traveling and exploring but have been holding off since i don’t have someone to go with. People always say that you should invest your money instead of going on vacations but i won’t get my youth back & it’ll only get harder to travel when i’m older
48 years old. Just about to backpack europe. Go Edmonton, Toronto, New York, London, Amsterdam, Munich, Rome, then I don't know after that, I have 3 more weeks after to get to Hamburg and can do what I want. Looking forward to great times and off season travel. I'm Canadian so the Europe winter is weak sauce to me. Thanx for the tips. Loved the video.
Thank you for such a wonderful and informative video, I really enjoyed it. I'm in Canada, but I'm planning on going to Spain in the future and walking the El Camino. Once that's done, I plan to spend my retirement (only 10 years away!), wandering around the world. I used to think I'd missed my chance to travel when I was young, but I know now that I was wrong; age is just a number. I hope you keep your adventurous spirit, and that you keep making great videos.
i found it cheapest to use hostels everywhere i went, and to focus on having one large meal per day as opposed to three. in different countries, breakfast is very small and either dinner or lunch is the main meal. americans eat a lot! (i am being completely serious here). obviously listen to your body. additionally I booked flights thru RyanAir and Vueling to keep costs down (you have to pack really light but it pays off!)
When traveling by train, the Netherlands is an exception. In the Netherlands you pay the same for the fast train (IC) and for the slow one (Sprinter or Stoptrein), because you pay for a trip from one city to another, not for the train you travel on. Also, no reservations are needed or even possible. And buying a ticket in advance will not save you any money - the price is always the same. Such a strange country ;-).
It is the same in Australia. Prices are always the same. The only reason you would even book in advance here, is to guarantee a seat on a regional train or bus for more popular destinations spots.
That's great to hear! I even found some discount when buying the train ticket. It’s always good to look out for deals that can make travel more affordable.
I just came back from Rome Italy. Some of the passes or tickets I bought that I hoped would save me money, I actually didn't need so I spent money on an attempt to save money and over all lost out. Next time I go I will just go with the flow. Of course this is only possible if you go in the Off season where things are available and not all booked in advance.
Can you send a written guide? My husband & I, both seniors (over 75) are leaving for Europe on 6/6, using the Eurail passes for 15 days. Thank you so much for your help!
thank you for this! I am planning on travelling quite soon, i'm from the UK and was thinking of flying somewhere first for a few days, getting a train to the next country over and staying there for a few days maybe for 4 or 5 countries and coming home again. I'd set off and do it again the next week or something, just to break it up because I want to make content while travelling - this will give me time to edit the videos from my travels and clear my SD cards. This way I won't have to invest in a laptop and more storage etc. Now I am planning on making a route around to see how I can save the most money. I didn't think of it like that before. At first I was going to treat it like mini holidays each time and fly to one country, fly home, fly to the next a few days later and fly home.. repeating that cycle but I realised it would cost A LOT.. I am going to watch some of your other vids for tips and especially the one about how much it really costs! Really appreicate you making these!
Sounds like an exciting travel plan! Just a heads up, I recently discovered some fantastic discounts on trainpal for travel, which could make your inter-country train journeys even more budget-friendly. Happy travels.
This is a great video Laura and exactly the kind of information I was looking for, going on my little solo European tour! Not only that, but I absolutely love your beautiful soft voice, so soothing and relaxing to listen to you! Thanks for making this great content! Lik'd and Sub'd for sure, please keep 'em coming!
I would also like to have time to start my travelling. Be safe when travelling alone. Don't forget to explore trainpal for some great discounts on European travel; it could be really helpful for your tour. Happy travels.
Sometimes it is ok to travel from 1 end of europe to the other as often flights are short and cheap. I flew from Tirana Albania to Barcelona Spain on Whiz air for example and it was very cheap. Im also checking out if it would be better flying from Spain to Germany instead of trying to spend hours on trains getting from one end of spain to the other end. Often i think its easier for me to see places flying from dublin then spending hours on transport across the country. So if ive been to Barcelona lots of times but want to get from there to Santiago - i think thats easier to do from a flight from Dublin to Santiago. And instead in Barcelona its quicker and cheaper to fly to Dresden Germany etc.
Indeed! But there are times when you want to try train travel if you have enough time and the price is right. I heard from my friend that great discounts are available on trainpal.
Hmm thank god you even have that Megabus. But how sad that there is no normal (with normal price) passenger nigth trains all the way from Toronto to Vancouver with 4 nights for example. Those trains are for elders who have tonns of gold in their pocket.. It is so autocentric and flight centric country. Amazing places but ridicilous prices.
One Tip: your can become a member of Intern. Youth Hostel Association ( in Germany "Jugendherberge", in Holland " StayOkay " Hostels ), its quite cheap and you have breakfast and sometimes dinner. Its also for people over 27 and for groups
europe is really expensive, so thanks for all your advice. also, i just found this app atm fee saver, maybe you already know it but its helped me a lot finding atm with the lowest fees... especially in europe
Thank you for all the wonderful tips! I've been planning on traveling to Europe from Canada for my first time and I'm a little anxious but these we're all great suggestions!
High speed trains can be cheaper than local trains if you book well in advance. Local trains often have the same price regardless of when you book, but long distance trains often have cheaper tickets when you book well in advance. This is the case in Germany and Sweden for example. Also if you are staying mostly in Eastern Europe I would not receoomend using an Interrail/Eurail pass. The prices of train tickets in Eastern Europe is usually so low, even if you buy upfront, that regular tickets will always be cheaper than an inter rail pass.
Thank you Laura for such an informative video! I am planning a 6 week tour for my husband and I to Europe (in the off-season) and love your tips. We won't be backpacking around BUT your tips are great for staying within budget and giving me ideas on where we can save. i like u
I've just discovered you today, and I'm really enjoying your videos. Do you have a packing list for packing light with layers when you have no idea how changeable the weather may be?
This was so helpful! In 2 weeks I'm about to start backpacking for a couple months. What month is a good time to explore Ireland and where should I go if I am on a budget (40 euros per day) ?
Awww thank is so exciting! Hope you have the best time. Ireland is a really expensive country, I'm not sure if you would get by on €40 a day if I am being honest. Hostel dorms would be around €35/€55 euro a night depending on what city you are in. Sorry, I wish I could give advice on how to visit Ireland on a budget. The best time of year to visit in my opinion is the shoulder seasons, I LOVE March in Ireland, just avoid the week of Saint Patricks Day if you want to keep costs low. Or, September is great far less busy but the weather is usually decent for Irish standards 🤣
@Point 3: I've checked the link and for Austria there's a little mistake. Cheap rooms in Austria are called "Pension" (don't get confused, that's also the name for the pension in the english meaning). This are roomes mostley in (traditional) Restaurants and are (more or less) what you mean with Hostel. So if you want to stay really cheap, search for a "Pension" instad of "Hostel" 😉
Thank you so much for making these videos. I would like to know about accommodations. At what point you make them? You get off the train and start searching on an APP? Or you have already pre-booked it? Do you like to see it before you book it? Thank you.
Don't forgot hichhiking and long bicycle traveling! Btw when talking about "countries" countries are not just capital or bigger cities. Eastern Europe capitals are also actually expensive when you compare the other cities which are not in travel magazines. For example Czech republic and Poland are not that "eastern Europe" as they were 15yrs ago and they are cheap only if you know where you visit. Also in nature I recommend to go some other than just popular "instagram or Netflix" places. When you just zoom Google Maps to somewhere, you can find amazing and nice places which are sometimes empty! Also places where they have shitty transportation network, they are good places with hospitable locals. Areas (in continental Europe) where people know better English, that is a red flag zone! The best areas are when you really have to survive! :) If some country or some part of some country do not use latin letters it is one of the best tourist buffers also! Learning slavic languages it helps you so much. More you know languages, easier and cheaper you travel. Btw. Some times some companies (yes even popular ones) sell ferry tickets/bus/airlpane tickets in very bad price when you use English in their websites. Good example when my American friend visited Finland he took ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn. Price was 60€
Great video! Thank you so much! Can you pls or someone tell me where you went boating which you mentioned in minute 12:01, I hear Havar but can’t seem to find anything related. Thanks!
If you go off-season in the spring or fall, keep the seasons in mind. Europe has a wide range of climates. In the spring, travel from south to north to follow the sun. In the fall, go north to south. I did Europe in the fall with a three-month Eurail pass and found myself moving south to stay ahead of the frost. In Greece, I took a flight to Israel to sit out the winter on a kibbutz. Then I returned to the States via Paris and London.
Great advice but honestly Europe is not expensive. My flights to france were $50 more per person round trip than florida and hotel was about same cost as hotel in Los Angeles and its in middle of Paris a 1/4 mile form the Effiel tower.
I think saying something is not expensive is all relative to an individual person income and cost of living. For me, Europe is expensive and I’ll be forever grateful that I had the opportunity to travel the continent for the price and length of time I did. I had some incredible experiences ones I would not have be able to have if it wasn’t for doing things ‘cheaply’.
@@Live.Adventure.Travel I dont know your metric then but when it costs me the same here or there for same product I dont see expense. In fact currently the Euro and dollar are equal. But keep using a made up metric that has no facts to it to justify calling europe expensive.
@@ironpig701 Not everywhere in the world is America. And I'm Irish, our average salaries are at a minimum 3 times less than the states yet our cost of living is relatively the same. So, yes, travelling around mainland Europe for me was expensive. I saved up for 2 years to be able to afford it and luckily I am able to work remotely, otherwise, I would not have been able to travel as long as I did. And I come from what would be considered a wealthy country so I know there are others in the world who would find Europe more expensive than I do. Please be considerate everyone, it's unfortunate but we don't all have the same level of privilege. And that's coming from someone who is entirely grateful for the level of privilege I do have.
@@ironpig701 Wow, imagine the privilege.This is not about Europe being more expensive than the US. She is a Europian travelling through other Europian countries and giving saving tips to anyone who wants to do it with a small budget. You are looking at things only through the eyes of a wealthy US American. Many people in your own country don't have enough money to take a trip to Florida and many save years to take one budget holiday to their dream destination. These tips may not mean anything to you but would mean a lot to someone who just doesn't have the level of income that you have. People from poorer countries than the US also want to travel and may not have the budget that you have.
Travis. I think (think) this website is aimed at backpackers. You are correct, Europe is not that expensive if you do your homework before you travel. And much depends on the time of year too. Autumn/Winter is far less expensive than high season. I am Irish btw, but have lived and worked in Europe most of my life. I might add I have never backpacked in my life, just would not be my thing. And I am not being "inconsiderate" when I say this! Look, if someone can't afford it, don't do it.
hi ❤ love your blog, although the menu doesn’t work for some reason on my mobile. do you think you could do a post on your itinerary in your 4 month trip and which methods of travel you used to go about form place to place ?
quick question! if i’m a foreigner and traveling for 71 days a little over 2 months through the UK and europe during peak season (may 30- aug 8) and im a middle budget type of backpacker not too boujee but not too cheap. how much do you think it will cost for those days? or how much money do you think i should go out there with?
To be honest, it’s so hard to say without knowing what countries you intend to visit. But I do have a video on how much I spent. I dive into, where I went, my spending habits and things I would do differently. I also advise a general spending for each type of backpacker: ua-cam.com/video/7-Tr4WdrGEI/v-deo.html
Personally I wouldn’t stay in Hostels in Dublin or Limerick city ….. it’s scary stuff ..they are always full and with …a lot of homeless, drug addicted people, and ladies plying their trade ……. Not safe in my opinion …..
great videos thanks so much - heading to europe and planning to stay in hostels - only thing is i have a suitcase - medium sized - would it fit in the lockers in hostels do you reckon or is it back packs all the way?
Listen!!. Exploring new countries is such a rewarding experience! For first-time travelers, I'd recommend considering destinations that offer a mix of cultural richness and natural beauty. Personally, I've been fortunate to travel to over 10 countries thanks to careful budgeting and smart investments.I wasnt financial free until my 40’s and I’m still in my 40’s, bought my second house already, earn on a monthly through passive income and got 2 out of 5 goals, just hope it encourages someone that it doesn’t matter if you don’t have any of them right now, you can start TODAY regardless your age INVEST and change your future...
Alright, speaking in general terms, investing requires a good amount of knowledge. That's why it's essential to have a solid support system like a financial counselor, especially when picking out assets. I've been working with Regina Louise Collaro, who is an investment advisor at a registered wealth management company. I can't recommend her enough; my financial journey has been fantastic thanks to her. She's quite well-known for her services, and she helped me achieve financial stability through investments. Now, I benefit from her passive income strategies every month. So, I'd strongly suggest finding a reliable investment advisor for yourself..
Regina Louise Collaro is based in the United States and can work with anybody wherever they stay. If you would like more information on reaching her, you can conduct a search online.
personally, I'm blessed and realizing I'm not the only one working with Regina Louise Collaro. I will consider myself lucky. I've been able to feed and make a living through her advice and great work. For such a person as Regina, I owe her gratitude, support and endless prayers as it is not easy to gain access to such a competent and reliable adviser. Who isn't just wise but has all it takes to handle an investment and is good at what she does..
What about eSIMs? I got an app and it seemed to work in London, but then I wasn’t able to make calls. Not sure what I did wrong but it did look promising at first.
Thank you so much Laura. Am planning a trip to a few European countries in the coming years and this video helped so much. Hope you had a great time overall in Europe and can't wait to see more of your videos!
Travel Europe tips from a European (my own self) that lives in and travelles Europe constantly: 1. Take the night trains and sleep in the top bed with your luggage close to you. You’ll sleep well 2. Visit more than Greece, Italy and Paris. These are beautiful places, but you can’t say you visited Europe if this is all you saw. Choose different countries in different part of Europe (nordic, mediteraneean, eastern, balkanic, western and central) 3. Don’t go in all the major cities or capitals. Choose wisely what you visit in each country as for example in a lot of countries the capital is not the most beautiful city to visit and you’ll make a wrong opinion by visiting just that. 4. In Greece you go in the summer and that’s it + you rent a boat and drive it around without boat permit needed
Thank you Laura for such an informative video! I am planning a 6 week tour for my husband and I to Europe (in the off-season) and love your tips. We won't be backpacking around BUT your tips are great for staying within budget and giving me ideas on where we can save. Can't wait to watch more of your videos.
Hi I will be traveling to europe alone for 9 days. I will start with vienna or budapest or end vice versa. I want to visit 9 countries in 9 days suggest me travel itinerary so i don't visit some countries twice and on a budget
So, I went on a night train from Rome to Vienna. Stayed 2 days in Vienna and then got the train from Vienna to Krakow 😊 Although I will say my route was a bit strange cause I was originally meant to go pre summer and was travelling that way for weather reasons. I went in the summer months in the end and never changed my plans 😊
I traveled Europe mostly by train with an occasional bus and plane. Trains are much less cramped than buses. That is particularly important on long trips like Poland to Rome. Also, if you don't want to see anything in between, check out budget travel airlines such as Ryan Air. Quicker, so you save on the cost of food.
What would you guys in the comments recommend as nature/landscape/outside city zones across europe? My best friend and I will be travelling budget in November from NZ
I have never paid more for a sim card in the airport and I purchase it there every time, because i need to get on my phone basically right away. you technically aren't paying anything for the sim itself, you're just paying for the data. if you're paying money for a sim card you're definitely getting ripped off but i've never seen that.
Thank you for all the tips! Can you do a video on using the buses and trains in Rome to get to day trips? I am petrified of getting on the wrong train and not understanding the systems in place.😊
Bridget. Rome is extremely easy to get around. The underground is very simple. If you get on a wrong train, then get off at the next stop and take a train back to where you got on!
Hi Laura, did you check your backpack in? Flying from Toronto to Lisbon with Tap Air to start my journey and really want to avoid checking my backpack in (Osprey Rook 50L) but it seems to be bigger than the carry-on requirements. Thanks!
@@ultraalvafa4962 I ended up returning that backpack and going with the porter 46 from Osprey. It is the maximum height allowed for carry-on, so it’ll save me a lot of money and stress.
Wow! So much valuable information! Thank you for sharing this with us, really helped me plan and organise my interrail trip for May and June! Leaving in 14 days, so nervous and getting a bit stressed... 😅frantically ordering the last few things, getting my interrail 2-month global pass, and pre-working so I can be fully immersed without worrying about work for 6 weeks. This is exactly what I was looking for! I do have a question: when I get the interrail pass, which countries need seat reservations and which ones don't? Because I've learned different things and would reserve seats for long distances, but I think some countries it's mandatory? I'm covering France, Italy, and Greece, and potentially Croatia with my best friend. Also, is Greece good with trains? I'm looking to combine interrail with flixbus like you suggested, but greece obviously has a lot of ferry transport too... what's the best way to do that? Any tips on that are really appreciated! Thank so much 🥰 Hannah
nah dont expect the banks to give you anything for cheap, specially not cash.. its cheaper not to use cash, if i was to use cash from a bank then my cradit card from coinbase or other places simuler cheaper.. using fiat money and banks is deffently not allways the best thing to do, when you travel far under 10% of our trading in my country is done with cash, you are going to ask for something noone uses. and then it becomes very expensive to service people, thats why all the small banks are closing in eu dont expect to find a bank unless you are in a very big city in eu and many of them wont open the door if you dont call first
This is so helpful! I've also watched your unpacking and budget videos. I've learned so much! One thing I do have a question about is how you kept your things safe. Were there lockers in the hostels to put your pack in or did you bring all your things with you when you went out on your daily adventures? Again, these videos are so wonderful and they're making me excited for my own trip! I can't wait to see where you go next!
YAY, I am so glad the videos are helpful. Thanks so much for watching them I really appreciate it. I may actually make a video on hostel safety/must knows as a lot people are asking the same type of questions. So, I would normally check on hostelworld/bookings.com to see if there where lockers in the hostel before I booked. On one occasion, there wasn't and then in another hostel the locker was basically broken so provided no security. In this scenario, personally, I just locked my bag and hoped for the best. Maybe not the best advice though. I also took out insurance for all my valuables before leaving for my trip. I brought my passport out and about with me, as well as my camera and drone but at night there wasn't much I could do but have faith that the people in my room where nice. If you don't like the idea of locking your things in your bag then I would recommend messaging the hostel before hand to see if there is lockers available or if you could store valuables in the reception area with the staff. But honestly, 99.9% of hostel will have secure lockers in the dorms. Hope you have the most amazing time on your trip. If you have anymore questions let me know 💛
@@Live.Adventure.Travel Thank you so much for responding!! I would love to see that video. I wouldn't have thought that only some hostels have lockers. I'm definitely going to bring locks and try my best with keeping my valuables safe. That's one of my bigger worries about my trip. Again, thank you, I've been doing a lot of research and your recommendations have really helped!
When I travell and stay in hostels, I usually take all my valuables with me everywhere and I sleep with them in my bed. That's why I don't own a big, heavy laptop but a notebook that weights about 1kg that I can carry with me wherever in my little backpack. It's easier and safer that way.
Hostels are not just for youth any more. They accept people of all ages. Another way to save money that she mentioned is to take night trains. You save time and money. Just find an overnight train between two cities you want to visit.
Joseph. Depends where the hostels are. Many are not salubrious. You can find inexpensive small hotels everywhere. To get a sampling, get on the net, pick a location and see what is on offer. It will give you an idea.
If you want to see how much I spent on my 4 month European backpacking trip I have a detailed blog post here: liveadventuretravel.com/backpacking-europe-cost/
i'm 46 now and have no choice but to rely on my full-time job so I can only have a vacation but I really really wish I did this Europe travel thing when I was younger and had no responsibility. Trust me take that European vacation and backpack early in life you won't have the opportunity later!!
Find the time! I am 52 and am just deciding to down spend on my normal life so that I can travel a lot! So far I have been to Central America and southern Europe
thank you for this!! i really enjoy traveling and exploring but have been holding off since i don’t have someone to go with. People always say that you should invest your money instead of going on vacations but i won’t get my youth back & it’ll only get harder to travel when i’m older
46 IS THE NEW 36! WE ARE OF SAME AGE!
48 years old. Just about to backpack europe. Go Edmonton, Toronto, New York, London, Amsterdam, Munich, Rome, then I don't know after that, I have 3 more weeks after to get to Hamburg and can do what I want. Looking forward to great times and off season travel. I'm Canadian so the Europe winter is weak sauce to me. Thanx for the tips. Loved the video.
Thank you for such a wonderful and informative video, I really enjoyed it.
I'm in Canada, but I'm planning on going to Spain in the future and walking the El Camino. Once that's done, I plan to spend my retirement (only 10 years away!), wandering around the world. I used to think I'd missed my chance to travel when I was young, but I know now that I was wrong; age is just a number.
I hope you keep your adventurous spirit, and that you keep making great videos.
Great video. When I've thought about Croatia previously, I never thought: "beautiful waterfalls." Thanks for that bonus lesson.
The walking tours are where it's at!! They are amazing!
i found it cheapest to use hostels everywhere i went, and to focus on having one large meal per day as opposed to three. in different countries, breakfast is very small and either dinner or lunch is the main meal. americans eat a lot! (i am being completely serious here). obviously listen to your body. additionally I booked flights thru RyanAir and Vueling to keep costs down (you have to pack really light but it pays off!)
When traveling by train, the Netherlands is an exception. In the Netherlands you pay the same for the fast train (IC) and for the slow one (Sprinter or Stoptrein), because you pay for a trip from one city to another, not for the train you travel on. Also, no reservations are needed or even possible. And buying a ticket in advance will not save you any money - the price is always the same. Such a strange country ;-).
It is the same in Australia. Prices are always the same. The only reason you would even book in advance here, is to guarantee a seat on a regional train or bus for more popular destinations spots.
Very good to know !! Wow ! 👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
@@CelticJewelAustralia ,not Austria !? Wow ! 👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
I worked in the bratislava hostel you mentioned during the summer. Nice to read your review!
I simply adore you , i am just planing my 1st backpack travel solo ...
That's great to hear! I even found some discount when buying the train ticket. It’s always good to look out for deals that can make travel more affordable.
thank you!!! for all these awesome tips :)
I just came back from Rome Italy. Some of the passes or tickets I bought that I hoped would save me money, I actually didn't need so I spent money on an attempt to save money and over all lost out. Next time I go I will just go with the flow. Of course this is only possible if you go in the Off season where things are available and not all booked in advance.
Can you send a written guide? My husband & I, both seniors (over 75) are leaving for Europe on 6/6, using the Eurail passes for 15 days. Thank you so much for your help!
Thank you for this video - very clear and simple instructions tip - appreciated!
Thinking of going in September/October from Australia. Might go to the east first and then evaluate my budget 1/2-2/3 through and then go to the west.
that sounds like a smart first step :)
Thanks for making this video, will really help us save more money, which can then be re-invested in traveling.
Very good tips - thank you
Great video, very informative! Thank you :)
thank you for this! I am planning on travelling quite soon, i'm from the UK and was thinking of flying somewhere first for a few days, getting a train to the next country over and staying there for a few days maybe for 4 or 5 countries and coming home again. I'd set off and do it again the next week or something, just to break it up because I want to make content while travelling - this will give me time to edit the videos from my travels and clear my SD cards. This way I won't have to invest in a laptop and more storage etc.
Now I am planning on making a route around to see how I can save the most money. I didn't think of it like that before. At first I was going to treat it like mini holidays each time and fly to one country, fly home, fly to the next a few days later and fly home.. repeating that cycle but I realised it would cost A LOT..
I am going to watch some of your other vids for tips and especially the one about how much it really costs! Really appreicate you making these!
Sounds like an exciting travel plan! Just a heads up, I recently discovered some fantastic discounts on trainpal for travel, which could make your inter-country train journeys even more budget-friendly. Happy travels.
This is a great video Laura and exactly the kind of information I was looking for, going on my little solo European tour! Not only that, but I absolutely love your beautiful soft voice, so soothing and relaxing to listen to you! Thanks for making this great content! Lik'd and Sub'd for sure, please keep 'em coming!
I would also like to have time to start my travelling. Be safe when travelling alone. Don't forget to explore trainpal for some great discounts on European travel; it could be really helpful for your tour. Happy travels.
Good video. Thanks for sharing
A lot of good, coomon sense advice... and nicely presented.
Glad you think so!
Your stuff is SO helpful!
Sometimes it is ok to travel from 1 end of europe to the other as often flights are short and cheap. I flew from Tirana Albania to Barcelona Spain on Whiz air for example and it was very cheap. Im also checking out if it would be better flying from Spain to Germany instead of trying to spend hours on trains getting from one end of spain to the other end. Often i think its easier for me to see places flying from dublin then spending hours on transport across the country. So if ive been to Barcelona lots of times but want to get from there to Santiago - i think thats easier to do from a flight from Dublin to Santiago. And instead in Barcelona its quicker and cheaper to fly to Dresden Germany etc.
Indeed! But there are times when you want to try train travel if you have enough time and the price is right. I heard from my friend that great discounts are available on trainpal.
Thank you for creating such helpfull video 😊
If you think travelling around Europe is expensive, try travelling in Canada. We are getting ripped off compared to Europe
Cheaper for me to travel to Paris then to Montreal from Toronto. Canada makes no sense
Yeah depending on every country... Moldova is not same price as France which is not the same price as Norway or Switzerland !
SAME Here Would love to explore more of Canada but its not as accessible
Hmm thank god you even have that Megabus. But how sad that there is no normal (with normal price) passenger nigth trains all the way from Toronto to Vancouver with 4 nights for example. Those trains are for elders who have tonns of gold in their pocket.. It is so autocentric and flight centric country. Amazing places but ridicilous prices.
One Tip: your can become a member of Intern. Youth Hostel Association ( in Germany "Jugendherberge", in Holland " StayOkay " Hostels ), its quite cheap and you have breakfast and sometimes dinner. Its also for people over 27 and for groups
What a simple and easy explanation ! Thank you !
Im in the midst of planning a 3 month Europe trip and so glad ive stumbled across your page! So many awesome tips and tricks. Thank you!
Oh yaya so glad it helps. Hope you have the best time on your trip!
Thank you for the info n tips 🙏 🌻
europe is really expensive, so thanks for all your advice. also, i just found this app atm fee saver, maybe you already know it but its helped me a lot finding atm with the lowest fees... especially in europe
I subscribed because you are Irish. I live in Ireland and I love Irish people❤
Thank you soo much, Laura! This was such an insightful list of advice!!!
Awww I’m so glad it helpful 💛 Hope you have a great trip!
Thank you for all the wonderful tips! I've been planning on traveling to Europe from Canada for my first time and I'm a little anxious but these we're all great suggestions!
Lots of good information in here ! Thank you !
Great tips! Thanks Laura.
Really good tips!! :)
These are great traveling tips indeed! Thanks for sharing!❤
That's great. Thanks for telling us!
No prob hopefully it will help a little 😊
High speed trains can be cheaper than local trains if you book well in advance. Local trains often have the same price regardless of when you book, but long distance trains often have cheaper tickets when you book well in advance. This is the case in Germany and Sweden for example. Also if you are staying mostly in Eastern Europe I would not receoomend using an Interrail/Eurail pass. The prices of train tickets in Eastern Europe is usually so low, even if you buy upfront, that regular tickets will always be cheaper than an inter rail pass.
Lovely video very helpful
Very informative ❤
Great advice, thanks
Glad it helps 😊
Thank you Laura for such an informative video! I am planning a 6 week tour for my husband and I to Europe (in the off-season) and love your tips. We won't be backpacking around BUT your tips are great for staying within budget and giving me ideas on where we can save.
i like u
Awww yay glad they help! Hope you have the best time on your trip 💛
great video
I love your tip about the free tour guides. But where do you find them?
Pretty much informative Laura 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you glad it was helpful 😊
I've just discovered you today, and I'm really enjoying your videos. Do you have a packing list for packing light with layers when you have no idea how changeable the weather may be?
Thanks,
Great tips!☺
No probs at all!
your videos are so helpful and insightful! thankyou
Awww I am so glad they are helpful 💛
Such creative ideas 💡 🤩
Omg I needed this!! Planning a big trip soon! 🎉
Oh YAY! Have the best time on your trip!
This was so helpful! In 2 weeks I'm about to start backpacking for a couple months. What month is a good time to explore Ireland and where should I go if I am on a budget (40 euros per day) ?
Awww thank is so exciting! Hope you have the best time. Ireland is a really expensive country, I'm not sure if you would get by on €40 a day if I am being honest. Hostel dorms would be around €35/€55 euro a night depending on what city you are in. Sorry, I wish I could give advice on how to visit Ireland on a budget. The best time of year to visit in my opinion is the shoulder seasons, I LOVE March in Ireland, just avoid the week of Saint Patricks Day if you want to keep costs low. Or, September is great far less busy but the weather is usually decent for Irish standards 🤣
super nice video! thank you :)
No prob! Glad it helps
so helpful! thank youuu
No problem at all 😊
m~rthis is best view! 🤩
@Point 3: I've checked the link and for Austria there's a little mistake. Cheap rooms in Austria are called "Pension" (don't get confused, that's also the name for the pension in the english meaning). This are roomes mostley in (traditional) Restaurants and are (more or less) what you mean with Hostel. So if you want to stay really cheap, search for a "Pension" instad of "Hostel" 😉
Great tips! :)
Thanks Jane 💛
Thank you so much for making these videos. I would like to know about accommodations. At what point you make them? You get off the train and start searching on an APP? Or you have already pre-booked it? Do you like to see it before you book it? Thank you.
great job
Don't forgot hichhiking and long bicycle traveling! Btw when talking about "countries" countries are not just capital or bigger cities. Eastern Europe capitals are also actually expensive when you compare the other cities which are not in travel magazines. For example Czech republic and Poland are not that "eastern Europe" as they were 15yrs ago and they are cheap only if you know where you visit. Also in nature I recommend to go some other than just popular "instagram or Netflix" places. When you just zoom Google Maps to somewhere, you can find amazing and nice places which are sometimes empty! Also places where they have shitty transportation network, they are good places with hospitable locals. Areas (in continental Europe) where people know better English, that is a red flag zone! The best areas are when you really have to survive! :) If some country or some part of some country do not use latin letters it is one of the best tourist buffers also! Learning slavic languages it helps you so much. More you know languages, easier and cheaper you travel.
Btw. Some times some companies (yes even popular ones) sell ferry tickets/bus/airlpane tickets in very bad price when you use English in their websites. Good example when my American friend visited Finland he took ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn. Price was 60€
Great video! Thank you so much! Can you pls or someone tell me where you went boating which you mentioned in minute 12:01, I hear Havar but can’t seem to find anything related. Thanks!
If you go off-season in the spring or fall, keep the seasons in mind. Europe has a wide range of climates. In the spring, travel from south to north to follow the sun. In the fall, go north to south. I did Europe in the fall with a three-month Eurail pass and found myself moving south to stay ahead of the frost. In Greece, I took a flight to Israel to sit out the winter on a kibbutz. Then I returned to the States via Paris and London.
amazing
Great advice but honestly Europe is not expensive. My flights to france were $50 more per person round trip than florida and hotel was about same cost as hotel in Los Angeles and its in middle of Paris a 1/4 mile form the Effiel tower.
I think saying something is not expensive is all relative to an individual person income and cost of living. For me, Europe is expensive and I’ll be forever grateful that I had the opportunity to travel the continent for the price and length of time I did. I had some incredible experiences ones I would not have be able to have if it wasn’t for doing things ‘cheaply’.
@@Live.Adventure.Travel I dont know your metric then but when it costs me the same here or there for same product I dont see expense. In fact currently the Euro and dollar are equal. But keep using a made up metric that has no facts to it to justify calling europe expensive.
@@ironpig701 Not everywhere in the world is America. And I'm Irish, our average salaries are at a minimum 3 times less than the states yet our cost of living is relatively the same. So, yes, travelling around mainland Europe for me was expensive. I saved up for 2 years to be able to afford it and luckily I am able to work remotely, otherwise, I would not have been able to travel as long as I did. And I come from what would be considered a wealthy country so I know there are others in the world who would find Europe more expensive than I do. Please be considerate everyone, it's unfortunate but we don't all have the same level of privilege. And that's coming from someone who is entirely grateful for the level of privilege I do have.
@@ironpig701 Wow, imagine the privilege.This is not about Europe being more expensive than the US. She is a Europian travelling through other Europian countries and giving saving tips to anyone who wants to do it with a small budget. You are looking at things only through the eyes of a wealthy US American. Many people in your own country don't have enough money to take a trip to Florida and many save years to take one budget holiday to their dream destination. These tips may not mean anything to you but would mean a lot to someone who just doesn't have the level of income that you have. People from poorer countries than the US also want to travel and may not have the budget that you have.
Travis. I think (think) this website is aimed at backpackers. You are correct, Europe is not that expensive if you do your homework before you travel. And much depends on the time of year too. Autumn/Winter is far less expensive than high season. I am Irish btw, but have lived and worked in Europe most of my life. I might add I have never backpacked in my life, just would not be my thing. And I am not being "inconsiderate" when I say this! Look, if someone can't afford it, don't do it.
So helpful thank you for sharing heheheh xxx
So glad it helps. Thanks for watching 😊
Hello madam, my heart also wants to go to Europe
Thanks for the tips ONE question is globle euro pass easy to use
I heard BlaBlaCar is great app but it’s more for hitchhiking, you hitch a ride with people to somewhere and usually pay a small contribution
hi ❤ love your blog, although the menu doesn’t work for some reason on my mobile. do you think you could do a post on your itinerary in your 4 month trip and which methods of travel you used to go about form place to place ?
quick question!
if i’m a foreigner and traveling for 71 days a little over 2 months through the UK and europe during peak season (may 30- aug 8) and im a middle budget type of backpacker not too boujee but not too cheap.
how much do you think it will cost for those days? or how much money do you think i should go out there with?
To be honest, it’s so hard to say without knowing what countries you intend to visit. But I do have a video on how much I spent. I dive into, where I went, my spending habits and things I would do differently. I also advise a general spending for each type of backpacker: ua-cam.com/video/7-Tr4WdrGEI/v-deo.html
Quick Answer Aniyah. As much money as you can get together! You do not want to find yourself stranded for lack of money either. Is there
Fantastic info. Can u suggest hostels in Limerick. Thank you
Personally I wouldn’t stay in Hostels in Dublin or Limerick city ….. it’s scary stuff ..they are always full and with …a lot of homeless, drug addicted people, and ladies plying their trade ……. Not safe in my opinion …..
Thelca. I second what Mary said. Awful places ugh!
@@MillieonaVespa Thank you very much
What was the Czech national park at 12m10s in your video? I have been to Plitvice and it was just superb!!!
great videos thanks so much - heading to europe and planning to stay in hostels - only thing is i have a suitcase - medium sized - would it fit in the lockers in hostels do you reckon or is it back packs all the way?
How do i know if the trainride i want to take, is covered by my interrail-pas?
Thank you for the informative video :)
Listen!!. Exploring new countries is such a rewarding experience! For first-time travelers, I'd recommend considering destinations that offer a mix of cultural richness and natural beauty. Personally, I've been fortunate to travel to over 10 countries thanks to careful budgeting and smart investments.I wasnt financial free until my 40’s and I’m still in my 40’s, bought my second house already, earn on a monthly through passive income and got 2 out of 5 goals, just hope it encourages someone that it doesn’t matter if you don’t have any of them right now, you can start TODAY regardless your age INVEST and change your future...
Alright, speaking in general terms, investing requires a good amount of knowledge. That's why it's essential to have a solid support system like a financial counselor, especially when picking out assets. I've been working with Regina Louise Collaro, who is an investment advisor at a registered wealth management company. I can't recommend her enough; my financial journey has been fantastic thanks to her. She's quite well-known for her services, and she helped me achieve financial stability through investments. Now, I benefit from her passive income strategies every month. So, I'd strongly suggest finding a reliable investment advisor for yourself..
Regina Louise Collaro is based in the United States and can work with anybody wherever they stay. If you would like more information on reaching her, you can conduct a search online.
personally, I'm blessed and realizing I'm not the only one working with Regina Louise Collaro. I will consider myself lucky. I've been able to feed and make a living through her advice and great work. For such a person as Regina, I owe her gratitude, support and endless prayers as it is not easy to gain access to such a competent and reliable adviser. Who isn't just wise but has all it takes to handle an investment and is good at what she does..
Fooking deekhead scammers
Omg tip; Switzerland; has their own plugs haha don’t be me and spend 20 euro on one - buy it first😢
where do you book the free tours?
What about eSIMs? I got an app and it seemed to work in London, but then I wasn’t able to make calls. Not sure what I did wrong but it did look promising at first.
Thank you so much Laura. Am planning a trip to a few European countries in the coming years and this video helped so much. Hope you had a great time overall in Europe and can't wait to see more of your videos!
Travel Europe tips from a European (my own self) that lives in and travelles Europe constantly:
1. Take the night trains and sleep in the top bed with your luggage close to you. You’ll sleep well
2. Visit more than Greece, Italy and Paris. These are beautiful places, but you can’t say you visited Europe if this is all you saw. Choose different countries in different part of Europe (nordic, mediteraneean, eastern, balkanic, western and central)
3. Don’t go in all the major cities or capitals. Choose wisely what you visit in each country as for example in a lot of countries the capital is not the most beautiful city to visit and you’ll make a wrong opinion by visiting just that.
4. In Greece you go in the summer and that’s it + you rent a boat and drive it around without boat permit needed
Which place was with the lake? I heard sakepani but I couldn't find it on the internet.
Thank you Laura for such an informative video! I am planning a 6 week tour for my husband and I to Europe (in the off-season) and love your tips. We won't be backpacking around BUT your tips are great for staying within budget and giving me ideas on where we can save. Can't wait to watch more of your videos.
What's the name of the village/city u stayed in France? Thx :)
Hi I will be traveling to europe alone for 9 days. I will start with vienna or budapest or end vice versa. I want to visit 9 countries in 9 days suggest me travel itinerary so i don't visit some countries twice and on a budget
What’s the best way for Poland to Rome? Thru eurail or bus?
So, I went on a night train from Rome to Vienna. Stayed 2 days in Vienna and then got the train from Vienna to Krakow 😊 Although I will say my route was a bit strange cause I was originally meant to go pre summer and was travelling that way for weather reasons. I went in the summer months in the end and never changed my plans 😊
@@Live.Adventure.Travel how was your experience as you were alone and also travelling at night time?😊
I traveled Europe mostly by train with an occasional bus and plane. Trains are much less cramped than buses. That is particularly important on long trips like Poland to Rome. Also, if you don't want to see anything in between, check out budget travel airlines such as Ryan Air. Quicker, so you save on the cost of food.
What would you guys in the comments recommend as nature/landscape/outside city zones across europe? My best friend and I will be travelling budget in November from NZ
Scandinavia probably. They actually call it the NZ of Europe
I have never paid more for a sim card in the airport and I purchase it there every time, because i need to get on my phone basically right away. you technically aren't paying anything for the sim itself, you're just paying for the data. if you're paying money for a sim card you're definitely getting ripped off but i've never seen that.
Great info new friend
Thank you for all the tips! Can you do a video on using the buses and trains in Rome to get to day trips? I am petrified of getting on the wrong train and not understanding the systems in place.😊
Bridget. Rome is extremely easy to get around. The underground is very simple. If you get on a wrong train, then get off at the next stop and take a train back to where you got on!
I’d provide more obvious advices for the next video 😃
Hi Laura, did you check your backpack in? Flying from Toronto to Lisbon with Tap Air to start my journey and really want to avoid checking my backpack in (Osprey Rook 50L) but it seems to be bigger than the carry-on requirements. Thanks!
Hey, Hi! I have the same question for a 40-45L, 🤔
@@ultraalvafa4962 I ended up returning that backpack and going with the porter 46 from Osprey. It is the maximum height allowed for carry-on, so it’ll save me a lot of money and stress.
@@PapaJenkinz Oh, thank you so much!! I'll do that too 🥰 Best,
What is the cheapest way to go from London to Brussels?
Wow! So much valuable information!
Thank you for sharing this with us, really helped me plan and organise my interrail trip for May and June! Leaving in 14 days, so nervous and getting a bit stressed... 😅frantically ordering the last few things, getting my interrail 2-month global pass, and pre-working so I can be fully immersed without worrying about work for 6 weeks. This is exactly what I was looking for!
I do have a question: when I get the interrail pass, which countries need seat reservations and which ones don't? Because I've learned different things and would reserve seats for long distances, but I think some countries it's mandatory? I'm covering France, Italy, and Greece, and potentially Croatia with my best friend. Also, is Greece good with trains? I'm looking to combine interrail with flixbus like you suggested, but greece obviously has a lot of ferry transport too... what's the best way to do that?
Any tips on that are really appreciated!
Thank so much 🥰
Hannah
Just go Balkans and enjoy. ☺️ Also People much More open and nice than In so called Western countries
Is the East really more expensive than the West?
nah dont expect the banks to give you anything for cheap, specially not cash..
its cheaper not to use cash, if i was to use cash from a bank then my cradit card from coinbase or other places simuler cheaper..
using fiat money and banks is deffently not allways the best thing to do, when you travel
far under 10% of our trading in my country is done with cash, you are going to ask for something noone uses.
and then it becomes very expensive to service people, thats why all the small banks are closing in eu
dont expect to find a bank unless you are in a very big city in eu
and many of them wont open the door if you dont call first
This is so helpful! I've also watched your unpacking and budget videos. I've learned so much! One thing I do have a question about is how you kept your things safe. Were there lockers in the hostels to put your pack in or did you bring all your things with you when you went out on your daily adventures? Again, these videos are so wonderful and they're making me excited for my own trip! I can't wait to see where you go next!
YAY, I am so glad the videos are helpful. Thanks so much for watching them I really appreciate it. I may actually make a video on hostel safety/must knows as a lot people are asking the same type of questions.
So, I would normally check on hostelworld/bookings.com to see if there where lockers in the hostel before I booked. On one occasion, there wasn't and then in another hostel the locker was basically broken so provided no security. In this scenario, personally, I just locked my bag and hoped for the best. Maybe not the best advice though. I also took out insurance for all my valuables before leaving for my trip. I brought my passport out and about with me, as well as my camera and drone but at night there wasn't much I could do but have faith that the people in my room where nice. If you don't like the idea of locking your things in your bag then I would recommend messaging the hostel before hand to see if there is lockers available or if you could store valuables in the reception area with the staff. But honestly, 99.9% of hostel will have secure lockers in the dorms.
Hope you have the most amazing time on your trip. If you have anymore questions let me know 💛
@@Live.Adventure.Travel Thank you so much for responding!! I would love to see that video. I wouldn't have thought that only some hostels have lockers. I'm definitely going to bring locks and try my best with keeping my valuables safe. That's one of my bigger worries about my trip. Again, thank you, I've been doing a lot of research and your recommendations have really helped!
When I travell and stay in hostels, I usually take all my valuables with me everywhere and I sleep with them in my bed. That's why I don't own a big, heavy laptop but a notebook that weights about 1kg that I can carry with me wherever in my little backpack. It's easier and safer that way.
So are they middle age people in hostels? i just want to do a 3 month tour and dont want to blow most of my money on hotels
Hostels are not just for youth any more. They accept people of all ages. Another way to save money that she mentioned is to take night trains. You save time and money. Just find an overnight train between two cities you want to visit.
@@Inkling777 thank you!!
Joseph. Depends where the hostels are. Many are not salubrious. You can find inexpensive small hotels everywhere. To get a sampling, get on the net, pick a location and see what is on offer. It will give you an idea.
@@doloresaquines1529 Thank you
If you want to see how much I spent on my 4 month European backpacking trip I have a detailed blog post here: liveadventuretravel.com/backpacking-europe-cost/