Things I learned from a month backpacking through Europe:

–  Learn basics of the language (“hi”, “bye”, “thank you”, “sorry”, “how much?”, “bill please”) & general etiquette of the culture (e.g. tipping, how to handle yourself in crowds, what the driving culture is like if you rent a car)

–  Download the language on google translate for offline translation

–  Download offline maps for easy city navigation

–  Download transportation apps depending on location [Citymapper, Rome2Rio, Moovit, GoEuro, Maps.me (shows water fountain locations)]

–  use seat61.com for transportation guidelines in English (gives very detailed instructions on how to get anywhere in Europe by train or bus with multiple options)

–  Download taxi or ride-sharing app for the area if available (may be expensive, but is a life-saver if you find yourself in a sticky situation and need convenient transportation)

–  Long-term travel (4+ weeks): buy SIM card for 5G data (~40 euros for the SIM + data package)

–  bring small reusable bags to be used for groceries, dirty laundry, souvenirs, etc.

–  bring charging pack/battery pack to recharge your phone if it dies

–  instagram is a great platform for staying connected with the friends you make on the trip (even if you don’t use the app, I highly recommend creating an acct to stay connected w friends you meet for future travels/travel ideas)

– hang in the lounge at the hostel!! I’ve met a few people who are disappointed in the lack of community they’ve experienced on their solo travel trip, but they just sit in their room all day. Force yourself to come out of your shell and meet others in the lounge. You’ll get a sense for life in different countries and hopefully be inspired for more travels or life aspirations

 

Primary Apps I Used:

– Instagram, FB Chat, Whatsapp, Couchsurf (keeping in touch)

– Navigation: Moovit, Citymapper, or Google maps for more micro navigation/transportation, GoEuro, Rome2Rio, Skiplagged, Skyscanner, and Hopper for macro trip planning and options for next destinations, and Hostelworld + Hotels.com for lodging,

– Google Trips (allows you to scope out the touristy–and non-touristy–things to do in any given area and has offline capability for use off of wife)

– google sheets + maps for planning

– Google Translate (download the language for offline use)

– NordVPN (great for protecting sensitive information when using public wifi)