I agree, plus summer in europe is the best time omg, summer in italy is beautiful (little bias maybe because i grew up there) but yeah definetely visit Rome, i went in june and let me tell you it was the best damm city i visited, the smells and mood in those ancient historical streets is out of this world.
One trip, one week, one BIG city. 10 days to 14, add one other big city (London/Paris) and don't expect to see it all. This will allow you to hit some highlights and linger over lunch. Eat your big meal for lunch, or assemble a picnic from a local grocery. Dinners are substantially pricier, so plan to eat a lighter portion in the evening. Lots of restaurants in Paris do take-away and we dined splendidly on the balcony back in our room.
I've read a lot and heard a lot about not traveling through the entire continent. I live in the American continent, so traveling so many times to explore an specific area it's really expensive specially for the flights. I think that the majority of people who go backpacking through the entire continent are the young people who don't have so much money to go to Europe every vacation. I include myself. I don't think it is wrong to try to visit cities as much as we can. If we just focused on one we may not be able to visit other ones ever again. So we have to take the chance when going for the first time :) Just my humble opinion.
+Yoa Cervantes I know what you mean but when I backpacked through Europe on a budget I still wish I had went to less places because there were a few spots I wanted to explore more of but we didn't have time to.
I think you could end up spending more money by travelling to many cities rather than flights. You can easily find roundtrip flights from America to Europe from 700$. Sometimes less depending on time. Trains and travel within Europe isn't always cheap, especially trains.
You can try winter as well! Not the best weather but travel and stay is usually cheaper in Winter. Plus how awesome would it be starting a new year in a different country xD
Hi Jess. I really appreciate all the work you do in providing us with information on London & Europe. Came in handy on my last trip in June 2018. Will be going again in 3 months.
Instead of Dublin, Ireland has some really nice towns like Galway, Cork and Kerry to visit. In the UK I really like Bath, Edinburgh and Cornwall. Munich in Germany, Davos in Switzerland, Nice and Bordeaux in France, Florence and Venice in Italy and Algarve in Portugal were a few of my non-capital city favourites.
Great video with great tips. Thanks. I have a slight disagreement about planning. My philosophy is plan a lot, but don't be tied to it. That way, you never get stuck without something to do, but you can always veer off the plan to be spontaneous. :)
Thank you! I see what you mean, but are you talking about not necessarily booking things? That's where the flexibility and spontaneity goes out the window because you're stuck to those bookings. But I agree on the stuff that isn't booked, you can totally plan but also be ready to adjust if you so choose!
Last year took my first trip to Europe and went to Ireland. I figured they speak English and I could not get too lost, it is an island. What I have told people after my trip is to ask the folks at the front desk where the locals go for food and drink. If you are on a tour and there is a bit of time as you are waiting to get back on the bus, chat with the bus driver, as they likely really know the area. Have structured time, but allow for unstructured time - like a combo laundry day and chillax time. This year I am off to the Cote d'Azur for about 3 weeks. I start of in Marseille, then will visit a friend in Cannes for 2 weeks and my friend is looking forward to my notes and pictures of Marseille and the surrounding areas, as they have never been. I will eventually fly out from Nice. Also, the internet is your friend. For example, using the internet, you can find specialized airport shuttle buses that run into various cities, at various locations, which may be close to your hotel, which is cheaper than a cab, or train. Or find your place on a map, zoom in a bit, then use the map functions to find, restaurants, bars, food stores, etc, and then click n those locations for web sites, hours, etc. Also handy to find where bus stops, subway stops and train stations are relative to where you will be. Or where the nearest laundromat is located. For me, whether travelling domestically or internationally, I try to avoid chain restaurants. The exception is that in Europe I do want to go to a McDonalds just to see the different menu items. Lastly, I always have a notebook (a regular spiral bound paper one) handy so I can write things down, like what I did on a particular day, what I saw, what I ate. Why? Well, I am a bit of an idiot and if I do not write it down, I will forget, or get thing wrong. Bonus, you make notes of places to go back to, or write down the web site of a product(s) - especially if they ship internationally. A bonus for me was surfing the web and finding that the Museum of the French Foreign Legion is a short (20 minutes) train ride from Marseille, then about a mile walk to the museum. Perfect! Hit that in the morning then relax in Marseille in the afternoon. For the record, I travel solo and family groups always seem willing to look out for the nice, polite, solo traveler. Like the evening myself, a couple from Houston, a couple from Australia, and the Irish tour guide killed off a bottle of Bushmill's coming back by train from Galway to Dublin.
Good suggestions! I've been to Rome, Northern Italy twice and Lugano, Switzerland twice the last week of May and the first two of June. I'm so glad we went at that time of the year before the crowds and the heat arrived and that we did, just like you say, a few days in each city and day trips instead of trying to visit many countries in just 2-3 weeks. This year I was tempted to do a couple of other countries in August but after watching this I think I'll just postpone it to the first two weeks of November. I hope it's not too cold in Germany, which is one of the countries we want to visit this time. Northern Italy is a must for any trip we make to Europe ( I just love that area). Any suggestions?
This video is so informative! I'm traveling from April-June through the UK, then Amsterdam, then Vienna, Rome, beaches, Barcelona, Seville, Lisbon, Paris. Also interested in Istanbul and Greece, the Alps and San Sebastián, Spain. What is a nice pace for 3 months of travel? I was thinking 3 nights per destination. Then every 3 weeks- stop in a place for a week. What do you think? Where would you stop for a week if you were a beach loving musician girl traveling solo on a shoestring? I love your videos! Keep up the good work 😀
+Tough Love Hi! Sounds like you're going to have an AWESOME trip! At minimum 3 nights per city/town is good, but if you can leave yourself a lot of flexibility, then you can choose your favourite places to stay for longer than that. For example, I have a feeling you'll really like San Sebastian, so you'll most likely want to hang there for a while. I think you might like Barcelona and Seville too. Have you thought about Croatia? It's absolutely gorgeous there, and lots of beaches.
I agree about waiting around in airports, catch the train you don't have arrive 2 hours before the flight no problem claiming bags just turn up and go. There are tickets you can advance that give you 4 days unlimited train travel in Europe. You stay in one place until you decide to move on and use a day on your ticket. The station are nearer town centre and you can see the country during the trip.
I think you're talking about Eurail passes Liam, right? I talk about those in my Europe Transportation Options video: th-cam.com/video/0nljmrloXG0/w-d-xo.html I do prefer train travel as well!
Love the tips - especially the ones about travel buddies and solo travel. The first time I went to Europe, I went during January. No regrets! The lines were virtually non-existent, and the weather wasn't even that bad!! Heading back in summer, so it'll be interesting to see the difference x
Good advice on not trying to cover too much ground. Went to Italy with family last summer and visited four cities in about 8 days. I think I could have spent the entire time in Rome -- the most interesting city I've experienced in my life thus far! Our two days were amazing, but I left feeling like there was so much I DIDN'T get to see. Hope to make a longer trip in the future.
Woah, that's lots! I totally agree, cities like Rome need weeks to fully explore! I hope you get to have a longer visit there soon too :) Thanks for watching Kelly!
Hey! So glad i found this video! My friends and I are planning a Europe trip over the summer, and from your video i heard it wasn t agood idea, but we have no other choice since this is for our grad/senior trip. We are planning to visit Rome, Venice, Turin, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, and Marseille in 21 days. Yes this is going to be a little too short to truly visit everything but we just wanted to get and experience. My questions are: how long do you think in each of the cities we should stay? also for transportation we were thinking of using interail.. do you know much about it? or if it is worth it? Thanks
Hi Sarah! Follow my 3day/2 night minimum rule as I mentioned in the video. Also, I have some more videos that will help you with your Europe trip planning here: th-cam.com/play/PL6u96nZN-L_ZXVeh4NTp6ewYdC8jZjhnJ.html
These is very good advice. I want to live spontaneously and travel sustainably. Money is definitely an issue, so I'll be sure not to go nuts visiting all the expensive places all at once. I can't wait to travel vlog this all!
Slow travel when you live in London easy. Would like to see how you go with slow travel when you have to get to Europe from Australia up to 30+ hours door to door.
oh man I should have watched it before preparing my trip. Have done all the things opposite planned my trip in summers planned my trip in major cities .. haha liked and subscribed
I am Czech, but in general if you want to have calm vacations during summer, visit not so popular spots.... And also visiting central and Eastern Europe is a good experience.... Not so crowded like Netherlands, Belgium (except Prague, Budapest etc.). But to travel through all countries properly would need months...... Even I have not been to probably half of the EU countries yet......maybe more...
Think out the box on where you stay, for example my mate from St Louis stays out of London and travels into the city by train what he saves on hotel costs pays for his train fare and beers.
Awesome, so glad to hear it! Good luck with your planning, and make sure you watch the rest of the videos in my Europe Trip Planning series: th-cam.com/play/PL6u96nZN-L_ZXVeh4NTp6ewYdC8jZjhnJ.html
First trip coming up in May and my travel buddy and I are planning the free walking tours that are offered in every city for a few hours the first day. Leaving all days after that to roam around with at least a general idea of the area. And as these tours are all just "show up here"/no reservation tours, we can change our mind at any time.
I'd interrail through various cities and take pictures of landmarks (I enjoy riding trains and filling up my instagram account) - most interested in modern architecture so I'd enjoy being in places like La Defence in Paris, Northern Quarter in Brussels, Frankfurt Innenstadt (went there once during a 4 hour layover), Rotterdam Centraal, Zuidas in Amsterdam, Donau Stadt in Vienna, etc. and of course, there's the food! Not gonna bother following advice #2 as you can see, so I can spend as little money as possible on top of the Interrail pass and still visit all the cities I want (besides, the train journeys would be part of the experience and I am a train enthusiast) - thinking of doing Brussels - Rotterdam - Amsterdam - Dusseldorf - Cologne - Frankfurt - Berlin - Prague - Vienna - Innsbruck/Munich (which one do you recommend?) - Zurich - Basel - Bern - Geneva - Lyon - Paris and then back to London, all in a week - how insane do I sound on a scale of 1 to 10?
I know your post is 7 months ago, but if I could ask: Do you know if there are groups/clubs/organizations of 'solo travelers'? I want to travel on my own, but I would like to have some camaraderie with one, or just a few others, but NOT a group tour arrangement. If there is some info you can offer, I would appreciate it. Or any suggestions
I can soooooo relate with #6. The travel buddy. More on expectation on the night life. Hahahaha. It's like, usually, I'm a stay at home person but hey! we're in other country, why don't we try the nightlife they have, right? Hahahaha.
I'm thinking about traveling to London and Paris for about 2-3 weeks in January and I wanted to add another city/country for about 3-4 days, but I'm not sure where to go. I'm considering Germany since I've never been, but I can't think of any other places. Where do would you suggest?
Remember that in January days will be short, dark and cold. Just over 2 hours west of London is CARDIFF, the capital city of Wales: the "City of Charm". Often overlooked by these travel-suggestion sites.
Great quick info! Looking to take a 7-8 day trip to Europe with my girlfriend in early September. She is a flight attendant, so that helps with those travel costs from the US. We were thinking two cities, in two countries on the Mediterranean. Our initial thoughts were someplace in France and Italy. Maybe Nice for a few days, then Porto Fino? Looking for similar ideas and some advice if you have any!
If I go to Europe and don’t visit Paris, Rome ( and the other popular places as you mentioned ) it will not be a Europe trip. Your other pointers are on point. 👍
Hey, Preferably a detailed video of the expensive separately, like how much did housing cost in each city, cost Food in each city, cost of other activities and cost of transportation from places. Did you take trains, buses, ferries or plane, which were cheaper or overall more desirable. itinerary, As much detail as possible. Would really appreciate it.
To be honest, that will be tough! Every possible city you may visit in Europe will be vastly different. You can find a lot of that info on Google though :)
Great videos! I am planning a trip for Christmas holidays. Where would you recommend. We want some cultural exposure as well as we would like to party 😀 Thank you!
I must go on summer...cause I have a festival in June :( which I can't miss cause I already got my ticket and looks so fun... But otherwise I would rather visit in autumn or spring
Hi! I'm planning on visiting Europe next year for 5 weeks in June-July (I know it's not ideal to visit at this time but it's the only time I can go) I'm planning on going to: Paris > Rome > Venice > Athens > Santorini > Zurich > Dubrovnik and possibly day trips to Florence/Tuscany and Mykonos. Do you think this is a good amount of places to visit for 5 weeks? Thank you!
Hi Angela! Not sure if you heard me say that you should spend at least 3 days in each place-- I call it my 2-night rule! Have a look at my Europe Trip Planning playlist, it's perfect for you :) th-cam.com/play/PL6u96nZN-L_ZXVeh4NTp6ewYdC8jZjhnJ.html
the only reason I wanted to visit Paris is because I wanted to see the Palace of Versaille. I realize it's not technically in Paris but whatever. And also, some people HAVE to visit in the Summer...so yeah.
Question about your tip #7... Have you traveled solo (to Europe) as a female and how did you like it, and would you recommend? I went to Spain 13 years ago (not as a solo traveler) in the middle of the summer, when tourism wasn't as big as it is now.. And and looking to go back as a solo traveler (but with a tour group) or just sola with no tour group, and eat, book some tours there, take the hugh speed train.. Etc... What are your thoughts
Your very informative ! I hope you don't mind me asking questions, we just starting planning our trip to London and Paris , we want to get the most out of our trip without being so rigged with our plans🚄
Don't book a boring hotel?.... The only thing I'm doing there is showering and sleeping. I don't care if it's boring, as long as it's comfortable. I'd rather spend my money on doing things than a hipster airbnb.
Any tips on safe ways to meet people in London while traveling alone? Would love to find people to try restaurants and explore with when I come this summer.
In winter is a great time to travel to lower european areas like Italy and Spain becasue in most areas it will be 15-20 degrees celcius and in some areas over 20 so it wont be that cold
Glad u made this video...and that tip about traveling alone is so true! Also abt finding the best travel buddy...spot on! You mentioned that JanFeb months the crowds wud be non-existent and the prices wud be phenomenal... Didn't get the 'phenomenal' part ;) Does it mean that the cost during these seasons wud be lower? Than say AprMay or even September?
Is early September a good time to travel to Europe assuming that we plan to cover Paris, London, Amsterdam and Switzerland? What are your recommendations for August last week travel?
I have never been to Europe nor my daughters12 and16). Summer time is the only time where my daughters can travel as their school schedule during the year are quite busy and my husband can schedule his vacations days around summer. We are planning on Paris and Germany. Any tips on how to travel between the two and what attraction can we buy online in advance to not wait in line for hours? Thanks.
Thanks for the great advice in this video! I have a 17 day trip to Europe planned for October flying in and out of Berlin. Trying to come up with which cities to visit (besides Berlin). Suggestions for an itinerary?
People travel across Europe in a short period (such as Contiki) because money is a limiting factor and they're trying to get a taste and a feel of as many countries and cultures as possible (FYI conversion rates aren't always great if you're not from USA you know). if money wasn't an issue for anyone, id find it hard to find someone who wouldn't take an eternity seeing every corner of the continent.
+Ross Murray Yes I'm aware of all of that. I did the same when I went backpacking but I wish I had slowed it down and taken more time in less places. Exhaustion wouldn't have kicked in like it did and I would have gotten to explore each place better. And it doesn't all have to been seen on one trip, multiple visits can be taken over the years.
Hi Brooke, just like at home, Paris can have unseasonably hot or cold days, which I think is what Paris is having right now... are you going there soon? I just recommend checking the forecast a couple of days before you go and trying to pack according to that, with some extra layers so you can put things on or take them off as needed!
Great tips! I am planning on visiting Spain, and Italy on November , but i am worried it would be too rainy.... How is Europe during the month of November?
we are a family of 4 adults including my parents and a brother. we are planning a 15 days more or less trip to europe from India. What places would you suggest and also whats better;staying in a hotel or an AirBnb?
Is it worth to visit Europe in November? Will it be able to withstand the cold during November? We are planning to travel from India so suggest us regarding the weather in November
What tips can you give for traveling to London in late November? We would love to see any place that is "done up" for Christmas. We are two 40 somethings with our 16 yr old daughter.
Hi Stacey, not all of the Christmas stuff will be up yet but some will-- for an idea of what to do in London for Christmas, watch this video: th-cam.com/video/yEHVUY9ZWjs/w-d-xo.html
i love your video!!! it's so useful!!! i'm planning to go to London on early December. How is the weather over there? will it be very crowded on this time being?
Hi Agnes, thanks for watching! It will be cold here so be sure to have a heavy jacket, but the nice thing is that it won't be so crowded, especially during the week!
Thank you so much for posting very useful information. I just have a couple of questions, I am currently deployed in a mission in Africa and can go for around 15 days (less taking into consideration my traveling days), so I want to do a Euro trip. My ideals places to visit were London, Amsterdam, Paris, Switzerland and if possible Italy, depending on the time an money, by train. Which of these countries would you recommend having in mind that Amsterdam is a must for me? Also, I have august and January available to do so, would you recommend January?
Hi Chris! I can't really answer this for you as it's completely up to your tastes, travel style, budget etc. In case you want to talk through all of this and you need some help with the planning, I do offer Travel Planning Consultations: loveandlondon.com/london-trip-planning-consultations/
Thank for your awesome videos. I am going to Oslo this December for a summit. If I have seven extra days after the summit how should I plan my trip? As in, what are the places I should go to inside or outside Norway
hey, i like how you explain stuff, im interested in taking a trip to eastern europe, especially greece, is it safe? whats the best way to get around?, and still see alot of stuff
I plan on going to London at the end of March for like 2 weeks . I’m just waiting on to get approved on tickets the main reason of why I’m going (Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium) What’s weather like around that time ?
Great video and tips, but forgive me I am going to U.K. and Germany in two weeks for summer. Suggesting to not travel everywhere, and stay in one place for at least three days is wise advice.
My boyfriend and I are travelling to europe and doing a contiki together...We chose "high energy" because we prefer the overall vibe compared to "discovery" but we have heard that there is a chance that we may not get to sleep together because they try to keep girls and guys seperately... If you have been on one of these with your boyfriend or seen other couples, how did it pan out? Thankyou xx
Hi, I was planning to visit Europe with my partner in mid to late March 2018 for about 15-20 days. I was thinking Spain and a few more countries to pair with. We like perfect weather to a lil chilly, but not too cold. Not hot for sure. We like to party at night, and also take in breathtaking views if possible. We don't like crowded places, unless it's an EDM concert. :P Which cities do you recommend we visit?
Do you have any advice on working holidays in Europe during the summer? Wanting to find one for 2-3 months somewhere, preferably where English is one of the main languages! Thanks! :)
Hm... not loads. If you have a passport that allows you to work then I'd do some research to find jobs with holiday companies that need seasonal workers (although they usually need them for like 4 months)
hi, i'm a bit late but whatever. so my mom and i want to go to europe. we found this pretty good deal where you pay like $1.4k each person and you go on a tour to like 4 countries within 2 weeks. the tour thing provides all the hotels, each and every meal, all the transportation (except the flight to the first city which in this case is london), each site/thing we would visit, really everything except if you want to buy something for yourself. is this a good deal?
I love the videos. I am going to visit all the cities you mentioned. Do you have a list of cities that I can visit that are close to Paris, London and Rome. Thanks
+Edward Wanambwa Hi Edward, thanks for watching! Sounds like you have a great trip planned. It would depend on what you want to see/do and for how long. Try Googling "Day Trip from (City)" to get some ideas to start you off. For London, you could try Brighton, Oxford, Windsor, but there are lots more!
Hey, I am planning to go in January & February (I love winter) spending 3 - 4 weeks in mainland Europe - Spain, Germany definitely with France an option (in between so most well?). Big question is however, is 3 weeks in England too long?
Hi Simran, England is huge, there's lots of cities and towns to visit, that people who live in England all of their lives don't manage to get to, so, no :)
Hi, I am planning to do a Euro trip towards the end of December. But I am completely lost as there are too many places and so many things to do. Could you please help me plan?
My friend and I want to go backpacking in Europe but the only time we can is over the summer starting late June. We would like to see some of the touristy attractions but don't want to spend too much money, so how do we still get a real feel for the countries while saving money and not missing out?
In my opinion I’d go for the snow in Feb, so for example I’m travelling to Interlaken in Switzerland from my home in England in Feb, incredible place that look like a postcard. I’d also recommend Amsterdam, Turin, Lucerne, Freiburg, Strasbourg & Bergen.
I want to plan a solo euro trip this year in September for 6 days. I wanted to do London, Paris, Brussels and possibly Amsterdam, traveling mostly by euro train. Any suggestions?
puneet dave depends where you’re going, Northern & Eastern Europe will be very mild (UK, Scandinavia etc.), likely 10-15 degrees celcius or lower. Where as the Southern European nations, especially those closest to the Med, will likely be 18 degrees C to mid 20’s degrees C, maybe even higher at some points in the very southern parts of Italy, Spain & Portugal.
Going to Europe for 3 weeks in August.. if i go other months i can only go for one week. I kno u said it's expensive in the summer....would u go for one week in the spring or 3 weeks in the summer?
Who is going to travel all that way and not see Paris and Rome! No way!
Lol up to you, it's your trip!
I agree, plus summer in europe is the best time omg, summer in italy is beautiful (little bias maybe because i grew up there) but yeah definetely visit Rome, i went in june and let me tell you it was the best damm city i visited, the smells and mood in those ancient historical streets is out of this world.
One trip, one week, one BIG city. 10 days to 14, add one other big city (London/Paris) and don't expect to see it all. This will allow you to hit some highlights and linger over lunch. Eat your big meal for lunch, or assemble a picnic from a local grocery. Dinners are substantially pricier, so plan to eat a lighter portion in the evening. Lots of restaurants in Paris do take-away and we dined splendidly on the balcony back in our room.
+Mick Garrett Thanks Mick.
I've read a lot and heard a lot about not traveling through the entire continent. I live in the American continent, so traveling so many times to explore an specific area it's really expensive specially for the flights. I think that the majority of people who go backpacking through the entire continent are the young people who don't have so much money to go to Europe every vacation. I include myself. I don't think it is wrong to try to visit cities as much as we can. If we just focused on one we may not be able to visit other ones ever again. So we have to take the chance when going for the first time :)
Just my humble opinion.
+Yoa Cervantes I know what you mean but when I backpacked through Europe on a budget I still wish I had went to less places because there were a few spots I wanted to explore more of but we didn't have time to.
I think you could end up spending more money by travelling to many cities rather than flights. You can easily find roundtrip flights from America to Europe from 700$. Sometimes less depending on time. Trains and travel within Europe isn't always cheap, especially trains.
I made the same mistake when going down and up the US west coast. I spent less than one day in any place and spent most of the time driving.
Summer is the only time I can go because of school.
That's ok!
I'm going in July it's the only time I can take off of work
You can try winter as well! Not the best weather but travel and stay is usually cheaper in Winter. Plus how awesome would it be starting a new year in a different country xD
Hi Jess. I really appreciate all the work you do in providing us with information on London & Europe. Came in handy on my last trip in June 2018. Will be going again in 3 months.
Aw thank you so much Francis@
Instead of Dublin, Ireland has some really nice towns like Galway, Cork and Kerry to visit. In the UK I really like Bath, Edinburgh and Cornwall. Munich in Germany, Davos in Switzerland, Nice and Bordeaux in France, Florence and Venice in Italy and Algarve in Portugal were a few of my non-capital city favourites.
Great video with great tips. Thanks. I have a slight disagreement about planning. My philosophy is plan a lot, but don't be tied to it. That way, you never get stuck without something to do, but you can always veer off the plan to be spontaneous. :)
Thank you! I see what you mean, but are you talking about not necessarily booking things? That's where the flexibility and spontaneity goes out the window because you're stuck to those bookings. But I agree on the stuff that isn't booked, you can totally plan but also be ready to adjust if you so choose!
@@loveandlondon but if you don't book in advance it is going to be more expensive...
Yeah, wish I could avoid going during the summer, hah. Yay schedules.
+Chiara Farina hehe, yeah not everyone can do it-- are you a teacher? At least you'll have insanely good weather!
Last year took my first trip to Europe and went to Ireland. I figured they speak English and I could not get too lost, it is an island. What I have told people after my trip is to ask the folks at the front desk where the locals go for food and drink. If you are on a tour and there is a bit of time as you are waiting to get back on the bus, chat with the bus driver, as they likely really know the area. Have structured time, but allow for unstructured time - like a combo laundry day and chillax time.
This year I am off to the Cote d'Azur for about 3 weeks. I start of in Marseille, then will visit a friend in Cannes for 2 weeks and my friend is looking forward to my notes and pictures of Marseille and the surrounding areas, as they have never been. I will eventually fly out from Nice.
Also, the internet is your friend. For example, using the internet, you can find specialized airport shuttle buses that run into various cities, at various locations, which may be close to your hotel, which is cheaper than a cab, or train. Or find your place on a map, zoom in a bit, then use the map functions to find, restaurants, bars, food stores, etc, and then click n those locations for web sites, hours, etc. Also handy to find where bus stops, subway stops and train stations are relative to where you will be. Or where the nearest laundromat is located.
For me, whether travelling domestically or internationally, I try to avoid chain restaurants. The exception is that in Europe I do want to go to a McDonalds just to see the different menu items.
Lastly, I always have a notebook (a regular spiral bound paper one) handy so I can write things down, like what I did on a particular day, what I saw, what I ate. Why? Well, I am a bit of an idiot and if I do not write it down, I will forget, or get thing wrong. Bonus, you make notes of places to go back to, or write down the web site of a product(s) - especially if they ship internationally. A bonus for me was surfing the web and finding that the Museum of the French Foreign Legion is a short (20 minutes) train ride from Marseille, then about a mile walk to the museum. Perfect! Hit that in the morning then relax in Marseille in the afternoon.
For the record, I travel solo and family groups always seem willing to look out for the nice, polite, solo traveler. Like the evening myself, a couple from Houston, a couple from Australia, and the Irish tour guide killed off a bottle of Bushmill's coming back by train from Galway to Dublin.
Hey Jess! It was nice meeting you the other day - loving your videos :D x
+Joel & Lia Hi guys!! So good to meet/see you, thanks so much, hope to see you guys again soon!
Good suggestions! I've been to Rome, Northern Italy twice and Lugano, Switzerland twice the last week of May and the first two of June. I'm so glad we went at that time of the year before the crowds and the heat arrived and that we did, just like you say, a few days in each city and day trips instead of trying to visit many countries in just 2-3 weeks. This year I was tempted to do a couple of other countries in August but after watching this I think I'll just postpone it to the first two weeks of November. I hope it's not too cold in Germany, which is one of the countries we want to visit this time. Northern Italy is a must for any trip we make to Europe ( I just love that area). Any suggestions?
This video is so informative! I'm traveling from
April-June through the UK, then Amsterdam, then Vienna, Rome, beaches, Barcelona, Seville, Lisbon, Paris. Also interested in Istanbul and Greece, the Alps and San Sebastián, Spain. What is a nice pace for 3 months of travel? I was thinking 3 nights per destination. Then every 3 weeks- stop in a place for a week. What do you think? Where would you stop for a week if you were a beach loving musician girl traveling solo on a shoestring? I love your videos! Keep up the good work 😀
+Tough Love Hi! Sounds like you're going to have an AWESOME trip! At minimum 3 nights per city/town is good, but if you can leave yourself a lot of flexibility, then you can choose your favourite places to stay for longer than that. For example, I have a feeling you'll really like San Sebastian, so you'll most likely want to hang there for a while. I think you might like Barcelona and Seville too. Have you thought about Croatia? It's absolutely gorgeous there, and lots of beaches.
Also, this is my first time watching your video. Pretty impressive. I'm now a subscriber! :)
I agree about waiting around in airports, catch the train you don't have arrive 2 hours before the flight no problem claiming bags just turn up and go. There are tickets you can advance that give you 4 days unlimited train travel in Europe. You stay in one place until you decide to move on and use a day on your ticket. The station are nearer town centre and you can see the country during the trip.
I think you're talking about Eurail passes Liam, right? I talk about those in my Europe Transportation Options video: th-cam.com/video/0nljmrloXG0/w-d-xo.html I do prefer train travel as well!
Love the tips - especially the ones about travel buddies and solo travel.
The first time I went to Europe, I went during January. No regrets! The lines were virtually non-existent, and the weather wasn't even that bad!! Heading back in summer, so it'll be interesting to see the difference x
Non-existant lines is music to my ears!! Oo have a great time in the summer. There may be more people but you'll get the sunshine too :)
Thanks for putting some common sense into me! #2 😉
Good advice on not trying to cover too much ground. Went to Italy with family last summer and visited four cities in about 8 days. I think I could have spent the entire time in Rome -- the most interesting city I've experienced in my life thus far! Our two days were amazing, but I left feeling like there was so much I DIDN'T get to see. Hope to make a longer trip in the future.
Woah, that's lots! I totally agree, cities like Rome need weeks to fully explore! I hope you get to have a longer visit there soon too :) Thanks for watching Kelly!
I love it in the summer!!!!!!
My grandmother and grandfather live there I come to visit every summer...
+Teodora Yordanova Amazing!
i m planning a 8 - 12 month trip to Europe in 2019
Very informative!!..Thanks for sharing. :)
I am strong believer in checking out kitch. Take a gondola ride. Kiss the Blaney stone. Go for the kitch.
Hey! So glad i found this video! My friends and I are planning a Europe trip over the summer, and from your video i heard it wasn t agood idea, but we have no other choice since this is for our grad/senior trip. We are planning to visit Rome, Venice, Turin, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, and Marseille in 21 days. Yes this is going to be a little too short to truly visit everything but we just wanted to get and experience. My questions are: how long do you think in each of the cities we should stay? also for transportation we were thinking of using interail.. do you know much about it? or if it is worth it? Thanks
Hi Sarah! Follow my 3day/2 night minimum rule as I mentioned in the video. Also, I have some more videos that will help you with your Europe trip planning here: th-cam.com/play/PL6u96nZN-L_ZXVeh4NTp6ewYdC8jZjhnJ.html
These is very good advice. I want to live spontaneously and travel sustainably. Money is definitely an issue, so I'll be sure not to go nuts visiting all the expensive places all at once. I can't wait to travel vlog this all!
Thanks for watching, good luck with the planning!
thank you thank you thank you! this is such a helpful video. booking my flight soon :D
+Julie Nguyen you're very welcome Julie!
So glad I found your channel! Going to Germany, Greece, and Italy in a month.
+Mica R amazing, have a great time!
Slow travel when you live in London easy. Would like to see how you go with slow travel when you have to get to Europe from Australia up to 30+ hours door to door.
oh man I should have watched it before preparing my trip.
Have done all the things opposite
planned my trip in summers
planned my trip in major cities ..
haha liked and subscribed
Lol don't worry! You will still have a great time :)
I am Czech, but in general if you want to have calm vacations during summer, visit not so popular spots.... And also visiting central and Eastern Europe is a good experience.... Not so crowded like Netherlands, Belgium (except Prague, Budapest etc.). But to travel through all countries properly would need months...... Even I have not been to probably half of the EU countries yet......maybe more...
Think out the box on where you stay, for example my mate from St Louis stays out of London and travels into the city by train what he saves on hotel costs pays for his train fare and beers.
+Johan Mahoney-Berg BEERS-- I like it. Great tip!
You can get hostels in the city for $15-20 per night
I'm trying to do a back packing trip from January to May and this helped me figure some things out thank you!!
Awesome, so glad to hear it! Good luck with your planning, and make sure you watch the rest of the videos in my Europe Trip Planning series: th-cam.com/play/PL6u96nZN-L_ZXVeh4NTp6ewYdC8jZjhnJ.html
First trip coming up in May and my travel buddy and I are planning the free walking tours that are offered in every city for a few hours the first day. Leaving all days after that to roam around with at least a general idea of the area. And as these tours are all just "show up here"/no reservation tours, we can change our mind at any time.
Great idea Krista!
Help! Planning to go from Italy to Spain.
Any idea what the weather is in May at Amsterdam, Spain and France?
thanks very helpful
Thank you for the link, I will check something similar for Paris . We are a family of four adults and I know meals can add up fast!
Thanks for watching Sandy :)
I'd interrail through various cities and take pictures of landmarks (I enjoy riding trains and filling up my instagram account) - most interested in modern architecture so I'd enjoy being in places like La Defence in Paris, Northern Quarter in Brussels, Frankfurt Innenstadt (went there once during a 4 hour layover), Rotterdam Centraal, Zuidas in Amsterdam, Donau Stadt in Vienna, etc. and of course, there's the food! Not gonna bother following advice #2 as you can see, so I can spend as little money as possible on top of the Interrail pass and still visit all the cities I want (besides, the train journeys would be part of the experience and I am a train enthusiast) - thinking of doing Brussels - Rotterdam - Amsterdam - Dusseldorf - Cologne - Frankfurt - Berlin - Prague - Vienna - Innsbruck/Munich (which one do you recommend?) - Zurich - Basel - Bern - Geneva - Lyon - Paris and then back to London, all in a week - how insane do I sound on a scale of 1 to 10?
15 days from London, where should I go? 🤷🏻♂️🤔
very helpful, thank you
Solo travel is the best!
I know your post is 7 months ago, but if I could ask: Do you know if there are groups/clubs/organizations of 'solo travelers'? I want to travel on my own, but I would like to have some camaraderie with one, or just a few others, but NOT a group tour arrangement. If there is some info you can offer, I would appreciate it.
Or any suggestions
thnx for telling these facts they really helped
You're very welcome!
total agree with all your advice!!
I can soooooo relate with #6. The travel buddy. More on expectation on the night life. Hahahaha. It's like, usually, I'm a stay at home person but hey! we're in other country, why don't we try the nightlife they have, right? Hahahaha.
Agree. IMO going to a foreign country as a tourist, then stay at home is lame and waste of your trip time!
I'm thinking about traveling to London and Paris for about 2-3 weeks in January and I wanted to add another city/country for about 3-4 days, but I'm not sure where to go. I'm considering Germany since I've never been, but I can't think of any other places. Where do would you suggest?
simplymaci STAY IN PARIS THE LONGEST TIME I went to to London and Paris for 1 week and there's much more to do in Paris
I would recommend either Berlin or Vienna! Both are lovely places to visit in the winter!
Amsterdam definitely! The city I loved the most in the whole europe. But could be pretty cold in January.
Remember that in January days will be short, dark and cold.
Just over 2 hours west of London is CARDIFF, the capital city of Wales: the "City of Charm". Often overlooked by these travel-suggestion sites.
I simply loved CARDIFF. I would love visiting Cardiff again.
Bologna is wonderful, highly recommended
Great quick info! Looking to take a 7-8 day trip to Europe with my girlfriend in early September. She is a flight attendant, so that helps with those travel costs from the US. We were thinking two cities, in two countries on the Mediterranean. Our initial thoughts were someplace in France and Italy. Maybe Nice for a few days, then Porto Fino? Looking for similar ideas and some advice if you have any!
If I go to Europe and don’t visit Paris, Rome ( and the other popular places as you mentioned ) it will not be a Europe trip.
Your other pointers are on point. 👍
There's sooooooo much more to Europe than just those cities! :D
Can you do a video about budget for europe. Please, I really wanna travel and get a good idea before I do.
Hey Ahmed, what specifically?
Hey, Preferably a detailed video of the expensive separately, like how much did housing cost in each city, cost Food in each city, cost of other activities and cost of transportation from places. Did you take trains, buses, ferries or plane, which were cheaper or overall more desirable. itinerary, As much detail as possible.
Would really appreciate it.
To be honest, that will be tough! Every possible city you may visit in Europe will be vastly different. You can find a lot of that info on Google though :)
Thanks, I'll do that.
Great videos! I am planning a trip for Christmas holidays. Where would you recommend. We want some cultural exposure as well as we would like to party 😀 Thank you!
I must go on summer...cause I have a festival in June :( which I can't miss cause I already got my ticket and looks so fun... But otherwise I would rather visit in autumn or spring
Hi! I'm planning on visiting Europe next year for 5 weeks in June-July (I know it's not ideal to visit at this time but it's the only time I can go)
I'm planning on going to: Paris > Rome > Venice > Athens > Santorini > Zurich > Dubrovnik and possibly day trips to Florence/Tuscany and Mykonos. Do you think this is a good amount of places to visit for 5 weeks? Thank you!
Hi Angela! Not sure if you heard me say that you should spend at least 3 days in each place-- I call it my 2-night rule! Have a look at my Europe Trip Planning playlist, it's perfect for you :) th-cam.com/play/PL6u96nZN-L_ZXVeh4NTp6ewYdC8jZjhnJ.html
Trains are AMAZING in Europe!
+Christopher Conger they are!
the only reason I wanted to visit Paris is because I wanted to see the Palace of Versaille. I realize it's not technically in Paris but whatever. And also, some people HAVE to visit in the Summer...so yeah.
+zombieinfection1999 yup!
Haha I'm seeing 17 countries in just over 2 months.. in the summer..
But thanks anyway! :D
WOAH.
Question about your tip #7... Have you traveled solo (to Europe) as a female and how did you like it, and would you recommend? I went to Spain 13 years ago (not as a solo traveler) in the middle of the summer, when tourism wasn't as big as it is now.. And and looking to go back as a solo traveler (but with a tour group) or just sola with no tour group, and eat, book some tours there, take the hugh speed train.. Etc... What are your thoughts
Totally go solo!
Your very informative ! I hope you don't mind me asking questions, we just starting planning our trip to London and Paris , we want to get the most out of our trip without being so rigged with our plans🚄
Of course, ask away and I'll answer what I can!
Don't book a boring hotel?.... The only thing I'm doing there is showering and sleeping. I don't care if it's boring, as long as it's comfortable. I'd rather spend my money on doing things than a hipster airbnb.
I did like this video, thinking about Berlin this year for Oktoberfest with possible 1 or 2 other stops along the way.
LA Prepper Octoberfest is in Munich.
Any tips on safe ways to meet people in London while traveling alone? Would love to find people to try restaurants and explore with when I come this summer.
Do group activities like a class or a walking tour :)
In winter is a great time to travel to lower european areas like Italy and Spain becasue in most areas it will be 15-20 degrees celcius and in some areas over 20 so it wont be that cold
Good tip!
Only in the extreme south of Italy.
Glad u made this video...and that tip about traveling alone is so true! Also abt finding the best travel buddy...spot on!
You mentioned that JanFeb months the crowds wud be non-existent and the prices wud be phenomenal... Didn't get the 'phenomenal' part ;)
Does it mean that the cost during these seasons wud be lower? Than say AprMay or even September?
Yup!
Is early September a good time to travel to Europe assuming that we plan to cover Paris, London, Amsterdam and Switzerland? What are your recommendations for August last week travel?
I'll travel to Paris and London during next summer! Oh my God!!!
Awesome!
Is March a good time to travel
Yes it is. The weather usually begins to start improving in March, but don't trust me on that.
nice information in your video.....
I have never been to Europe nor my daughters12 and16). Summer time is the only time where my daughters can travel as their school schedule during the year are quite busy and my husband can schedule his vacations days around summer. We are planning on Paris and Germany. Any tips on how to travel between the two and what attraction can we buy online in advance to not wait in line for hours? Thanks.
Thanks for the great advice in this video! I have a 17 day trip to Europe planned for October flying in and out of Berlin. Trying to come up with which cities to visit (besides Berlin). Suggestions for an itinerary?
I Like Krakow.
Hamburg and Dresden are great too.
That are my first ideas.
I wish to visit Central Europe preferably for a 2 week trip. What places should I visit? This is a limited budget trip with two of my friends.
People travel across Europe in a short period (such as Contiki) because money is a limiting factor and they're trying to get a taste and a feel of as many countries and cultures as possible (FYI conversion rates aren't always great if you're not from USA you know). if money wasn't an issue for anyone, id find it hard to find someone who wouldn't take an eternity seeing every corner of the continent.
+Ross Murray Yes I'm aware of all of that. I did the same when I went backpacking but I wish I had slowed it down and taken more time in less places. Exhaustion wouldn't have kicked in like it did and I would have gotten to explore each place better. And it doesn't all have to been seen on one trip, multiple visits can be taken over the years.
Of course I planned my trip in the summer lol. I leave to Paris next week and I'm doing Barcelona, Ibiza and Rome. Have you ever flown on Ryan air ?
Lol it's ok! You'll have GREAT weather so there you go. I've flown on RyanAir a bunch of times, yes! Enjoy your trip, you'll love all of those places.
Hi Brooke, just like at home, Paris can have unseasonably hot or cold days, which I think is what Paris is having right now... are you going there soon? I just recommend checking the forecast a couple of days before you go and trying to pack according to that, with some extra layers so you can put things on or take them off as needed!
Great tips! I am planning on visiting Spain, and Italy on November , but i am worried it would be too rainy.... How is Europe during the month of November?
we are a family of 4 adults including my parents and a brother. we are planning a 15 days more or less trip to europe from India. What places would you suggest and also whats better;staying in a hotel or an AirBnb?
nice..small..fast...informative vid!
+Imperial Fire thank you!! Thanks for watching!
Is it worth to visit Europe in November? Will it be able to withstand the cold during November? We are planning to travel from India so suggest us regarding the weather in November
Hard for me to say! Look up average temps for the cities you want to visit.
What tips can you give for traveling to London in late November? We would love to see any place that is "done up" for Christmas. We are two 40 somethings with our 16 yr old daughter.
Hi Stacey, not all of the Christmas stuff will be up yet but some will-- for an idea of what to do in London for Christmas, watch this video: th-cam.com/video/yEHVUY9ZWjs/w-d-xo.html
Love and London Thank you. I have watched several of your videos today and they are super helpful. I am definitely a new fan!
Yay, thanks Stacey!
What’s you take on traveling to Europe (Vienna, Prague, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Zurich ) in August ?
Will be a busy time but also nice hot weather :)
Love and London Any advice for hostel booking in the above mentioned places
i love your video!!! it's so useful!!! i'm planning to go to London on early December. How is the weather over there? will it be very crowded on this time being?
Hi Agnes, thanks for watching! It will be cold here so be sure to have a heavy jacket, but the nice thing is that it won't be so crowded, especially during the week!
Thank you so much for posting very useful information. I just have a couple of questions, I am currently deployed in a mission in Africa and can go for around 15 days (less taking into consideration my traveling days), so I want to do a Euro trip. My ideals places to visit were London, Amsterdam, Paris, Switzerland and if possible Italy, depending on the time an money, by train. Which of these countries would you recommend having in mind that Amsterdam is a must for me? Also, I have august and January available to do so, would you recommend January?
Hi Chris! I can't really answer this for you as it's completely up to your tastes, travel style, budget etc. In case you want to talk through all of this and you need some help with the planning, I do offer Travel Planning Consultations: loveandlondon.com/london-trip-planning-consultations/
Thank for your awesome videos. I am going to Oslo this December for a summit. If I have seven extra days after the summit how should I plan my trip? As in, what are the places I should go to inside or outside Norway
Hi Rafsan! This video will help you with that: th-cam.com/video/kbnKwtC9FMg/w-d-xo.html
Is February a good time to visit Europe? How much cold it will be there?
hey, i like how you explain stuff, im interested in taking a trip to eastern europe, especially greece, is it safe? whats the best way to get around?, and still see alot of stuff
Hey Rey! Here's all my videos that will help with this: th-cam.com/video/0GBZe5AJo3E/w-d-xo.html
thanks much dearest
Hei, can you suggest me which places in Europe would be worthy to visit in the month of February, specially for partying and chiiling out ?
I plan on going to London at the end of March for like 2 weeks . I’m just waiting on to get approved on tickets the main reason of why I’m going (Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium) What’s weather like around that time ?
Great video and tips, but forgive me I am going to U.K. and Germany in two weeks for summer. Suggesting to not travel everywhere, and stay in one place for at least three days is wise advice.
That's ok, you can still go in summer and at least you'll have nice weather!!
My boyfriend and I are travelling to europe and doing a contiki together...We chose "high energy" because we prefer the overall vibe compared to "discovery" but we have heard that there is a chance that we may not get to sleep together because they try to keep girls and guys seperately...
If you have been on one of these with your boyfriend or seen other couples, how did it pan out?
Thankyou xx
Hi Amy! I haven't been on one but I'm sure if you just shoot them an email they can clarify it for you. Good luck!
Hi, I was planning to visit Europe with my partner in mid to late March 2018 for about 15-20 days. I was thinking Spain and a few more countries to pair with. We like perfect weather to a lil chilly, but not too cold. Not hot for sure. We like to party at night, and also take in breathtaking views if possible. We don't like crowded places, unless it's an EDM concert. :P Which cities do you recommend we visit?
Hey Paraag! Lots of places in Spain would be good. Most places in Europe will be cold in March. Stay south.
Do you have any advice on working holidays in Europe during the summer? Wanting to find one for 2-3 months somewhere, preferably where English is one of the main languages! Thanks! :)
Hm... not loads. If you have a passport that allows you to work then I'd do some research to find jobs with holiday companies that need seasonal workers (although they usually need them for like 4 months)
I am from India and I am staying here in Bonn Germany and plan to explore Europe please help me how can I Plan better and safer and enjoy on my own...
Planning to visit Greece in the month of February. please suggest me weather i should visit this place or not.
hi, i'm a bit late but whatever. so my mom and i want to go to europe. we found this pretty good deal where you pay like $1.4k each person and you go on a tour to like 4 countries within 2 weeks. the tour thing provides all the hotels, each and every meal, all the transportation (except the flight to the first city which in this case is london), each site/thing we would visit, really everything except if you want to buy something for yourself. is this a good deal?
I love the videos. I am going to visit all the cities you mentioned. Do you have a list of cities that I can visit that are close to Paris, London and Rome. Thanks
+Edward Wanambwa Hi Edward, thanks for watching! Sounds like you have a great trip planned. It would depend on what you want to see/do and for how long. Try Googling "Day Trip from (City)" to get some ideas to start you off. For London, you could try Brighton, Oxford, Windsor, but there are lots more!
3 months would be enough? And definitely I’m traveling on my own.😋
Do you recommend traveling to Europe in the winter? I mean going to Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Winter travel has its perks-- cheap travel, less crowds.
Hey, I am planning to go in January & February (I love winter) spending 3 - 4 weeks in mainland Europe - Spain, Germany definitely with France an option (in between so most well?). Big question is however, is 3 weeks in England too long?
Hi Simran, England is huge, there's lots of cities and towns to visit, that people who live in England all of their lives don't manage to get to, so, no :)
My wife and I are planning to travel to Italy for at 10 days in October. What places would you recommend to visit with that time frame?
I mention a couple of places in this video: th-cam.com/video/thc5XXppaCI/w-d-xo.html
Hi,
I am planning to do a Euro trip towards the end of December. But I am completely lost as there are too many places and so many things to do. Could you please help me plan?
Hi Divya, I've got a video that will help you choose, have a watch! th-cam.com/video/kbnKwtC9FMg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you.
I am also and completely overwhelmed!
My friend and I want to go backpacking in Europe but the only time we can is over the summer starting late June. We would like to see some of the touristy attractions but don't want to spend too much money, so how do we still get a real feel for the countries while saving money and not missing out?
Hey Ophelia! Research free things to do in each city and don't do the "touristy attractions"-- they aren't "the real feel" and will cost money.
Which are the best places to visit in Europe in February ?
In my opinion I’d go for the snow in Feb, so for example I’m travelling to Interlaken in Switzerland from my home in England in Feb, incredible place that look like a postcard. I’d also recommend Amsterdam, Turin, Lucerne, Freiburg, Strasbourg & Bergen.
I want to plan a solo euro trip this year in September for 6 days. I wanted to do London, Paris, Brussels and possibly Amsterdam, traveling mostly by euro train. Any suggestions?
I have lots of London tips on this channel :)
How is weather in march for europe travel with 1.5 year old baby
puneet dave depends where you’re going, Northern & Eastern Europe will be very mild (UK, Scandinavia etc.), likely 10-15 degrees celcius or lower. Where as the Southern European nations, especially those closest to the Med, will likely be 18 degrees C to mid 20’s degrees C, maybe even higher at some points in the very southern parts of Italy, Spain & Portugal.
Going to Europe for 3 weeks in August.. if i go other months i can only go for one week. I kno u said it's expensive in the summer....would u go for one week in the spring or 3 weeks in the summer?