Turning a European dream into Reality?
Recently, a lot of people have been asking me quite some queries about Europe trip. The budget required, optimal time and also the places to shortlist in the time they have. To get the answer to all these queries, please continue reading :p
I am living in Germany for past one and a half year now. I am a student again, pursuing my Masters in Artificial intelligence here. But travel hasn't taken a back seat. I have still managed to visit around 13 countries juggling between my part-time job, research, studies, exams and of course COOKING.
Enough said about me, let's get back to the main point. About touring Europe.
1) Which Place do I visit?
Europe is beautiful whichever part it be. It has a varied landscape. Buildings to forests, Mountains to beaches, Bustling city life to quite and cosy getaways, Shiny and illustrious restaurants to tiny takeaways, Ancient history to modern day hustle bustle, Rich architecture to Instagram worthy places, Culture and Heritage to the best pubs in the world, it has everything.
What do you want to see, you decide.
We have all grown up seeing France, Netherlands, Itlay, Belgium, London in movies. Which is why these are the places which pop into our heads when somebody says Europe. But wait, there is more. There is Croatia(Thanks to Game of Thrones, We know it now), Belarus, Romania, Slovenia, Greece, Malta etc and they are all equally breathtaking if not popular.
You can go to places where the most famous movies were shot and recreate some of the classic poses or you can go to places which are as beautiful as a dream and indulge in the beauty still untouched by the movie cameras. Maybe you want to experience the art and culture of some place or maybe just get lost in the silent French lanes. The choice is always yours, nobody other than you can decide where you should go.
But I can still help you a tad bit in this. How? Read on.
2) How much will it cost me?
It costs a fortune like you thought. Yes, it does.
Or wait, does it?
No, Just kidding.
Europe is costly, no doubt. You need to save up a lot to afford Europe but it isn't really unaffordable. It all depends on making the right choices.
Again, It is your choice if you want to eat at a fine dine or experience the local food from the locals at smaller joints. If you prefer staying in 3 star over an Airbnb or a hostel. It is all about considering your bank balance and making right choices. How?
a) Plan early and book your tickets and room ahead of time. This way you have a large pool of options to choose from and also for cheaper.
b) Go to Airbnb/hostels. Airbnb and hostels are great places to stay as they are cheaper and you get to meet and connect with fellow travellers. I usually prefer Airbnb because I feel they are more convenient with regard to check-in/check-out and also gives you that at home feeling. Having a kitchen is a plus because you can cook your meal or at least make a quick coffee. Also, you get some insights about the city from the host.
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| Airbnb Room in Venice |
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| Airbnb room in Venice |
c)Public transport in Europe is easily accessible, convenient, punctual and very comfortable. Buses, trams, metros, trains and boats( like the Gondolas in Venice in the picture below), they have it all. Most of them are available 24 hours. Buy a day pass and you are sorted. If you have an international driving license car hire is also a great option.
d) Almost all the monuments can be visited for free on certain days. Check for the exact days before you visit a place. This way you save some bucks on the monument tickets.
e) Winter is generally considered off-season in Europe. It is apparently the time when the places are less crowded and everything is cheaper than summer. Planning your trip during this time of the year can reduce your overall expenditure. But I do not prefer winter over summer. Personal choice.
But I can still help you a tad bit in this. How? Read on.
3) How much time do I need to cover Europe?
This depends on the city and what kind of traveller are you and how you manage your time. For an average tourist, 2-3 days must be optimal for any place to tick off all the bucket list from that place. But of course, some cities need more time to savour them to the fullest.
But I can still help you a tad bit in this. How? Read on.
4) The best time to Visit Europe?
Like I told you earlier, I love summer. But that doesn't mean that summer is the best time to visit. Winter has its own charm with the Christmas markets all over and the lovely music to enhance an otherwise gloomy winter evening.
Spring brings in lots of flowers and Autumn shows how colourful it can be to let go. Every season is special and has its personal charm. But I still prefer summer because of the longer daylight.
Sunlight = Great pictures.
I prefer summer dresses and shoes over winter jackets and boots. Again a very personal choice.
But I can still help you a tad bit in this. How? Okay, I will tell you how.
In the coming weeks, I will be writing blog posts about the different places I have visited, my experiences there and all the tips needed to make the best out of your trip. You can read them and decide on what suits you the best.
Hop on for a mad mad journey.
Let's begin with Zaanse Schans.