The Martlet

I always travel to Europe alone.

It may sound anti-social and boring, but I believe that solitary traveling is the best (or perhaps the only) way to fully enjoy a trip – especially to Europe.

When I first started traveling, I went from being completely lost and immature (think bleached-blonde hair and heavy makeup), to being confident, independent and a little more mature (think wearing the same clothes for days at a time, and eating nothing but cheap food from markets). All it took was a backpack, a few Euros and an open mind.

Starting points

Never travel with any expectations or with an itinerary. Go with the flow. That way, you can expect the unexpected, meet more people and be a traveler – not a tourist.

The most important rule of thumb: ditch that guidebook, throw away the map and at least pretend to be a local. This allows you to discover hidden spots that would otherwise remain hidden to you.

Lose the fear

Don’t worry about getting lost. In Venice, it’s basically impossible to get lost – it is an island. And Europe is perfect for wandering around in, with the endless cobblestone streets, signs in foreign languages, beautiful architecture, ancient fountains and history

permeating everything.

Wander aimlessly

Europe has the most amazing transportation service, including elements like the Eurail pass, which allows travelers unlimited transportation on trains.

All you have to do is hop on, and before you know it, you’ll be in an inevitably gorgeous part of the continent. In fact, it may be impossible for any part of Europe to be ugly. Even Naples in the midst of a garbage strike was beautiful.

Respect the “pass”

A Eurail pass is the single most important thing to carry in a wallet through Europe. It will become a safety blanket. No hostel booked? No problem. Just sleep on an overnight train from Florence to Nice.

Perhaps surprisingly, it is not uncomfortable, sweaty or dirty. And nothing beats waking up in a bumping train to the gorgeous view of blue water and tall mountains.

A Eurail pass is also ideal for any budgeter wanting to cover immense ground in Europe. The continent is exploding with cities and towns that are so close to one another that it makes everything accessible.

Pack light

It is not necessary to pack anything more than two pairs of pants and three cotton tee’s max. Just hand-wash your clothes in the hostel sink when they eventually drip with grime.

It is okay to smell in a hostel – you’ll fit right in. Hostels will likely be the cheapest accommodation you can get. Though the lowest of lows may be sleeping in a dorm with 17 other people, and needing to share one shower.

Yes, you can travel “vegan”

Being vegan in Germany with schnitzels and sausages everywhere, it seemed almost essential for me to pass on food.

Luckily, there is hope for the lonely vegan traveler in Europe: markets. Nürnberg, for example, bustles with huts of everything from fresh fruit and veggies to falafel pitas.

Find your source, and avoid starving.

Bargain

Food isn’t the only thing you have to budget for. Sometimes, a traveler must sacrifice money-snatching amusements, such as museums, or skipping the picture with fake gladiators in front of the Coliseum. Avoid restaurants when possible. Instead, eat from markets. Better yet, join the locals and avoid the tourist traps. Never take a taxi; walk.

In Rome, I walked everywhere; I took a train to Cortona, Italy (it’s a walled medieval town on a hill, and I decided to walk the two miles to the town instead of pay for the bus). If you have to enter museums, only go into the ones with free admission. Some museums in London even offer free entrance for students. Remember, Europe is one big free museum, so don’t pay unnecessarily.

Take your time

I took a year off school, worked full-time in retail and saved enough money to travel through Europe. I met amazing people, went amazing places, and only traveled during the low season. Not only is that when everything is cheaper, but there are

less tourists.

I had the entire Greek island of Naxos to myself for my birthday. We all need to escape. We all (even slightly) crave a teensy bit of romance, beauty and living history. Europe is perfect for that. And it is possible for us students to experience that! Just be willing to get lost, learn lessons and live with only one change of clothes.