I recently embarked on an unforgettable girls backpacking trip through Southern Europe, starting in Lisbon, Portugal, and following the coastline until we reached Sicily, Italy. This experience was an absolute dream, and I feel so grateful to have shared it with my closest friends.
The girlies <3
Now, one thing you should know about me—I have a passion for trip planning. I love the thrill of researching destinations, arranging accommodations, and organizing excursions while learning about the history and culture of the places we visit. However I’m not going to lie to you, this trip was a big one and it required a TON of planning. There were hours and hours of work and research behind all of this. At some times, it felt like a full-time job which is why I wanted to put together a blog series to help you out on your next adventure. It seems like a lot of work but trust me it is so rewarding and I couldn't be prouder of the girls and myself for putting this all together.
As always, trips like this teach us invaluable lessons, which is why I wanted to share our insights with you. This blog marks the beginning of a series since there simply isn't enough room here to cover all the details. In the coming weeks, I will delve into each country we visited, shed light on our selection process for destinations, and hopefully provide some valuable tips for planning your own European adventure. However, for now, let's start with the fundamentals. Here are 15 things you need to know before you travel to Southern Europe.
1) Book FlixBus For Bus Journeys and Omio For Trains
When it comes to travelling between cities in Europe, opting for either bus or train is undoubtedly the best choice. During our adventure, we extensively utilized FlixBus, and to be honest, they exceeded our expectations. The prices were incredibly affordable, with our lowest-priced bus ticket costing only $5.99 CAD. On some occasions, when the bus journey was around the same price as the train ride, we opted for the bus to save some money. FlixBus conveniently operates multiple bus stops in most cities, ensuring you can easily find a location that suits your needs. Their user-friendly app further enhanced the experience, providing all the necessary information about our journeys at our fingertips.
While the trains were also excellent, we found that they could sometimes be quite expensive. However, a convenient alternative is booking train tickets through the Omio app. We managed to secure high-speed train tickets at affordable prices, which was a game-changer. High-speed trains significantly reduced our travel time and they offered a higher level of comfort then the buses.
2) Use Splitwise to Split Costs
A friend recommended the app Splitwise to us and it was life-changing! This is an incredible and free app that helps you split your finances between you and other members of your travel party. Splitwise simplifies the process of splitting costs by allowing you to input expenses and automatically calculate each person's share. This eliminates the need for complicated calculations or awkward conversations about who owes what. Whether it's splitting accommodation, meals, transportation, or any other shared expenses, Splitwise keeps track of everything and provides a clear overview for everyone involved. You can also pick which currency for Splitwise to split in which was helpful because some of our bookings/expenses were in Euros and some in Canadian. We found it so easy and helpful so definitely download this for your next trip.
Download the Splitwise App you won't be sorry!
3) Buy a SIM Card Over Getting a Travel Plan
We bought SIM cards for our phones on this trip and it was great. For only €10 we got a SIM card with 25 GB of data and unlimited calls and texts. We could use these SIM cards all over Europe for 30 days. While the SIM cards could be a little glitchy at times, they got the job done and I definitely recommend choosing this route over paying for an overpriced plan with your current phone company.
4) Don’t Buy Your SIM Card in the Airport
When you first get off the plane you will see a long line for a phone company booth selling Europe SIM cards. Keep walking. These phone stores are literally all over Europe. These stores can include Orange, Vodafone, EE. Limited and more. In the airport, they charge you double the price and offer you fewer GB of data. We bought ours in a subway station for a way better deal. So just hold off while you first land, and grab your SIM card at a phone store outside of the airport.
We used Vodafone for our SIM card and it was great!
5) Research Best Neighbourhoods Before Booking Accommodations
When booking your stay in a city, make sure to do your research. I start by researching the best and safest areas in the city for tourists. There are a ton of travel websites, blogs and videos that can help you with that. Also, I will be releasing blogs soon with the areas we stayed in for all of the cities we visited! Then I look up the local attractions and find out which neighbourhood is closest to the spots I want to visit. Then when I go to book, I will type in the neighbourhood name into Booking.com, Airbnb, Hostel World or whatever booking site I'm using and find the place that’s right for me.
Research the area before you stay there! Trust me...
6) Prebook Your Tickets for Attractions
If there are sites you know you want to see, then you need to prebook your tickets. Many places have insanely long lines and are often more expensive at the gate. A lot of the time the attractions sell out in advance and you can’t buy them the day of. We showed up to a few destinations to find out the place was closed, no longer selling tickets or was much more expensive in person. Overall I highly recommend booking some of the attractions you know you want to see in advance.
Tickets for the Colosseum go on sale 30 days in advance and sell out almost immediately.
Book in advance!
7) Use a backpack over a suitcase
When travelling in Europe, opting for a backpack rather than a suitcase can offer several advantages. Your backpack provides greater mobility and flexibility, allowing you to navigate through crowded streets, public transportation, and uneven terrains more easily. We walked up a ton of staircases, on roads with no sidewalks, cobblestone paths and even beaches and trust me it is much easier with a backpack. Additionally, backpacks are more convenient for budget travel, especially if you plan to use public transportation or walk to your accommodations. Most backpacks meet the carry-on size requirements of airlines, saving you the hassle and expense of checking in luggage. They also encourage you to pack lighter, helping you prioritize essentials and avoid overpacking.
My niece with my backpack lol
8) Take a carryon, Don’t check a bag
Having gone on three different trips to Europe, each with varying luggage choices - a large suitcase, a small carry-on suitcase, and now a carry-on backpack - I can confidently say that the small backpack is the best option. The large suitcase is an immediate no from me lol. It is way too large, and I assure you that you simply don't need that much stuff. Similarly, while large backpacks may be suitable for trips lasting several months if your journey spans anywhere under five weeks, I highly recommend opting for a carry-on-sized backpack. Looking back on my backpacking trip in Ecuador, I realized that my large travel backpack was way too big and bulky, Honestly, you don't need as many things as you may think. Somehow on this trip, I managed to overpack yet again, as there were several dresses I never even wore. Remember, laundry facilities are readily available, it’s also more than okay to wear an outfit twice. Also in terms of liquids, you'll be surprised by how long your toiletries last. I had extra soap and shampoo when the trip was over. As mentioned earlier, the smaller backpack option also proves to be significantly more cost-effective. You also won’t have to wait in lines to check your bag, and you don’t take the risk that the airline could lose your luggage.
Our carryons were so convenient!
9) Hostels Aren’t Always The Most Affordable Option
Travel bloggers and Tik Tokers often portray hostels as the go-to, budget-friendly choice for backpacking adventures. However, based on my experience planning two European backpacking trips, I can say that hostels are not always the optimal option. Don't get me wrong, I personally love staying in hostels because of the opportunity to meet new people and immerse myself in the local culture. If it were solely up to me, I would always opt for hostels. Nonetheless, affordability can vary significantly. During this particular trip, we found that hostels were only the cheaper choice in big cities such as Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona. In other locations, we actually found that booking an apartment through platforms like booking.com proved to be cheaper. While you may miss out on the social experience offered by hostels, choosing an apartment can be a more cost-effective alternative. If your goal is to save money, I recommend comparing prices for hostels, hotels, and apartments in the area before making a decision.
10) Airbnb is also not Cheaper (Try Booking.com First!)
There is a common misconception that Airbnb accommodations are cheaper than hotels. While I agree that renting an apartment can be a more affordable option, it's important to note that this isn't always the case with Airbnb. In our experience, we primarily booked apartments through Booking.com, which offered a wider range of options and generally lower prices. We only used Airbnb for one stay in Nice, France, and booked another accommodation through Expedia in Sicily. Apart from those instances, Booking.com was our go-to platform. One of the great advantages of Booking.com is its rewarding loyalty program, where frequent bookings unlock bigger discounts. This allowed us to save a significant amount of money. Another advantage of Booking.com is the ability for customers to leave honest reviews, which played a crucial role in our decision-making process. We often relied on the input of previous guests, in addition to considering factors such as price and location. Unlike Airbnb, Booking.com provides the accommodation address before booking, enabling us to map out its proximity to attractions and destinations.
The view from one of our places on Booking.com!
11) Take Public Transit
Public Transit in Europe is typically inexpensive, efficient, and well-connected, making it easy to navigate and explore various destinations. Trains, buses, trams, and metros provide convenient access to major landmarks, attractions, and neighbourhoods, ensuring you can efficiently move around without the hassle of driving or navigating unfamiliar roads. Using public transportation also allows you to immerse yourself in the local culture, observe daily life, and interact with residents. We almost always took public transit and found it great in pretty much every city. Some places have a 3-5 day pass for transit, so if you plan on staying in one place and using public transit then definitely look into this. Overall, public transit in Europe offers convenience, sustainability, affordability, and an authentic travel experience.
12) Sometimes Uber is cheaper than Transit
For the first 10 days, there were four of us, and sometimes that made getting an Uber cheaper than transit. That was pretty awesome honestly because we were able to get to some destinations more quickly and with less of a hassle. However, when there were only 2 of us it definitely wasn’t cheaper. Also in some cities it’s really hard to get an Uber or the app just doesn’t exist, so just look into that before planning your route.
13) Save Your Cash for Public Transportation
Based on our experiences, the majority of restaurants, bars, and attractions in Europe accept both credit cards and cash as payment methods. In these situations, I preferred using my credit card and saving my cash specifically for transportation expenses. It's wise to keep cash on hand in case you find yourself in a situation where you need to rely on public transit. When using buses, it's better to have exact change because it can be a little awkward when the bus driver has to hold up the bus and traffic to get you change lol (this might have happened to us once or twice). However, when it comes to most metros and trains, credit card payments are widely accepted, providing an additional option for payment convenience.
14) Watch out for Pitpockets!
We were super fortunate on our trip and we didn’t run into any issues with theft. However, Europe is super bad for pickpockets and phone theft. Never leave your phone or wallet in your pockets or on a table. People can swipe it very easily. If you feel a place is a little too crowded just keep a hand on your purse or fanny pack. Having said that, we didn’t run into any issues. People say to use a fanny pack to keep your things safe but I used a purse for pretty much every meal. But don’t let the stress of theft ruin your trip! If you think too much about it you will drive yourself nuts, just keep an eye on your purse when you’re out and you will be fine.
Enjoy this throwback pic of me clenching onto my purse for dear life in Paris in 2017.
I like to think I'm a more confident traveler now lol...
15) Be Safe and Take Care of Each Other
The most important part about travelling is taking care of yourself and the members of your group. Make sure to always check in with yourself and your friends to make sure everyone is comfortable and enjoying themselves. Just remember to not sweat the small stuff, It’s okay to have some fun and let loose, you deserve it.
I hope you found this blog helpful, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions I’m always happy to help. As mentioned before I have some follow-up travel pieces that I am so excited to share with you so stay tuned for those in the coming weeks.
Thanks for reading everyone and safe travels!
Very grateful for these girls!
Comments