Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Night trains are a decent way to travel long distances without missing a travel day. This also
eliminates the need to pay for a hostel bed. It might not be very comfortable, but you can sleep
in a normal seat. For an extra fee, you can get a bed in a sleeper car—although you'll be shar-
ing a room with a few strangers. Either way, don't expect to sleep like a baby.
STEP ELEVEN—Reevaluate your route with transportation costs included.
Now that
you have a better idea of the costs of transportation, look back at your budget and make sure
you're still on track. If transportation expenses are eating too much into your budget, you may
consider altering the itinerary (or cutting back elsewhere).
Consider staying in fewer locations for a longer amount of time if your transportation costs
are too high. Not only does this allow you to get to know each location better, it also gives you
a chance to take daytrips to nearby areas. For example, the Château de Versailles, Château de
Fontainebleau, Giverny, and Reims are less than an hour's train ride from Paris.
STEP TWELVE—Tweak and finalize.
Go back through your itinerary until you've de-
cided on a fairly finalized travel plan. I find it helpful to write out the finalized itinerary on a
calendar because it's a good way to visualize the entire journey.
STEP THIRTEEN—Realize your itinerary is flexible.
One of the beautiful things about
traveling through Europe is the freedom to change your plans as you wish. During my first
trip, I wanted to see only big cities, but after about two weeks I needed a change of pace—so I
hopped a train to a small Swiss mountain town for a few days.
The purpose of putting some thought into your itinerary isn't to lock yourself into a rigid
schedule. The goal is to give your travel plans some structure and for you to be aware of all the
possible travel options. It should help you best utilize your precious time abroad so you don't
make any expensive travel mistakes.
Additional Itinerary Planning Advice
Start in an easy country.
Traveling to a foreign country can be intimidating—especially if you
don't speak the local language. If you're a little apprehensive, consider starting in an English-
speaking destination. London is a great place to fly into. Not only is London a world-class city,
but it is also one of the cheapest places to fly into, and it has vast connections to the rest of
Europe.
Eastern Europe and Southern Europe are cheaper.
If you're on a tight budget, consider
spending less time in pricy Western Europe and more in Eastern and Southern Europe. Popu-
lar Eastern cities like Prague, Berlin, Krakow, and Budapest are still a bargain when compared
to their Western counterparts—but their prices are slowly creeping up as more travelers dis-
cover their charms.
