So in two weeks time it will be our 50 day summer holiday and we'll be hitting the south of Europe, our tips includes madrid, Valencia, Barcelona (Spain), pairs, ( france) split (Croatia) Budapest (Hungary) Belgrade (Serbia) Ohrid ( Macedonia) and Corfu ( Greece) then we're going to +Creamfields Official the most amazing music festival and finally spending a week in London. So it's going to be pretty jam packed to say the least. After our Easter traveling I learned quite a bit about what to do and what to avoid so in light of the up coming trip I thought I'd write my top 10 budget travel tips.
1. Make a BUDGET before you leave
I didn't do this for Easter and I over spent in some countries and then had too scrimp later on and eat bread only for a couple of days. So make a plan of how much you can spend per city or country and stick to that, take into consideration the expensive of that place, paris for example will obviously require quite a bit more cash that Budapest. The Internet is your best friend here as you can google the price of just about anything. This may seem like a huge effort but it will be 100 percent necessary if you have limited funds and need to stick to what you have. Save money by shopping at +Lidle huizen and cheap supermarkets and don't eat at restaurants. Also don't spend money on public transport if possible don't be lazy - walk as much as possible, and this will give you the best view of the city you're in anyway.
2. Pack LIGHTLY
This is an absolute must and can cause huge problems to your aching back muscles when you are wondering around for hours looking for your hostel (trust me this will happen) when you pack firstly make sure you are taking a BACKPACK do not even consider a wheel suitcase as this will simply be a nightmare from start to finish. Invest in a good backpack and then think long and hard about what you essentially need. Think about the weather and how long you're going for and remember washing your own clothes is perfectly acceptable. Make a list of what you need, then try fit that into your back pack. It probably won't fit or will only just make it. In that case take everything out and basically half it, you don't need that fancy dress you've only ever worn twice or those shoes that aren't too comfy. You need to make sure that everything fits easily into your bag so packing is quick and easy also remember you WILL end up buying some clothes so allow space for that.
3. Find the right ACCOMMODATION
This is also very important as where you stay can make or break your experience of a city. If you're a young person on a budget youth hostels are definitely what you'll be looking at. Try +HostelBookers France or any hostelbookers for whatever country you're looking at. Read the reviews and decide what suits you. Look at things like the location and vibe of the hostel, like whether its more family or party orientated. Also check if it includes breakfast, kitchen facilities etc. accommodation can be super affordable if you spend time looking. Also party hostels can be lots of fun and you will meet great people. The bigger your room and hostel the less people you'll meet so consider that too if you're traveling alone or want to make lots of friends.
4. Get a good BACKPACK
While your holiday could be super low cost you need to invest some money into a really good comfortable backpack. This bag is going to become your companion and you don't want it breaking during your trip. I got mine on amazon as a birthday present it's a +Berghaus which is a brand you can't go wrong with. Mine has a daypack that zips onto the bag and was perfect for just taking with me on day trips. You will need a day pack and its something to consider when buying. Make sure it's light and if possible can zip open all round so you can reach items even if they are at the bottom of your bag. Look on ebay and amazon for good deals you're bound to find a quality backpack for a cheaper price.
5. Be RELAXED and spontaneous
Don't plan every minute of your holiday before hand, let most things happen by themselves. I would definitely pre book accommodation because the last thing you want to do is sleep in train stations and waste half your day knocking at hostels only to find out they are already booked or only have the most expensive rooms left. Pre booking lets you choose a place you like and will give you peace of mind but leave the rest to chance. Don't have too much of a full schedule you never know what opportunities will present themselves but don't leave your whole holiday up to chance. If you are a very organized person plan a basic itinerary to make sure you get everything in that you want to visit otherwise chat to the staff at your hostel and locals they will direct you to the cities best sights, clubs, hidden gems etc.
