In the last 12 months, I’ve lived in Vienna, a wonderful central city in Europe. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit 19 cities across 10 countries. Coming from Australia, the idea that you can catch a 3 hour train and be in a different country is a very foreign concept. This last year has been full of challenges, but I’ve learned 10 things about travel that I wish I knew from the very beginning.
Pace yourself.
When exploring a new city, it’s exciting to Google all the nearby attractions and make a long list of everything you want to see: Museums, shows, landmarks, nature, restaurants, galleries, and religious architecture. If you cram too much in your schedule, you might feel too exhausted to enjoy everything. Plan rest afternoons, sleep-ins, and easy activities among the more active things.
Pack Light.
I say this as someone who brought not one, but two guitars with me overseas. We also carried 2 x 23kg suitcases. It’s hard to know what you’ll need when you’re gone for a year, but it turns out it’s not that much. It’s very tricky to drag around a combined 80kg of equipment, bags, and luggage, especially on regional trains. Ditch the massive suitcases. Next time, we’re purposefully choosing smaller sized bags (but maybe keep the guitars)…
Factor in the “travel tax”.
There will always be an inevitable surprise expense. We thought we were smart, choosing a cheaper midnight flight to Milan to save money, only to arrive after the airport bus services had stopped. We had to cough up 150 euros just for an Uber to get us to our Airbnb. Not a nice experience when you’re also busting for the loo at 1am, stranded in a field, and don’t speak the language. Yikes!
I also made some other costly mistakes: I decided to book a flight with a “cheap” online travel agency, and accidentally chose the calendar date a month earlier than intended. I spent five hours trying to change the date, calling the airline, begging the AI chatbot, and being met with a “no changes, no refund” policy. It still sucks to think about that 300+ euros I’ll never get back. Always factor in that something won’t go to plan, and budget accordingly. We call it the “Travel Tax”.
Ask the locals for help.
They know far more about their town than Google’s AI overview. It’s also good practice trying a new language, and you’ll get insider knowledge. There are at least a dozen times someone helped me with directions, or recommended a fantastic experience. It’s worth doing a walking tour of the city you’re in to learn more about its history and context. Just be careful about scams and strangers asking for money.
Book hotels for the short-term, and Airbnbs for the long-term.
Sometimes access to an airport, train station or city centre means it makes more sense to book a hotel, especially if you’re only there for a night or two. Many hotels include a free breakfast, and they have room service, which is great if you’re at a conference all day. I personally love the liminal aesthetics and the clean, classy feel of a good hotel.
If you’re staying somewhere for more than 2 nights, it can be worth booking an Airbnb for a kitchen so you don’t have to buy every meal out. It can feel more like “holiday mode” when you have a bit more time and space. You might also want to wash your clothes or cook some lasagne from scratch, which is harder to do in a hotel.
Give yourself a couple more days than you think you’ll need.
This is a continuation of pacing yourself. Do you have a 3 day itinerary in a city? See if you can stretch your stay to 5 days. You’ll have time to see more and rest. You can also have a later night out without worrying about checking out early the next morning. It’s worth it!
Carry cash, snacks, water, sunscreen, and hand sanitiser.
Not everywhere accepts card payments, so carry the local currency. Sometimes your only dinner option is the cash-only kebab place that’s still open at 11pm.
Europe seems to hate people using the toilet for free, so carry some coins when out and about. Stay hydrated, sun, and street smart. Bonus: Check the Google Maps reviews of ATMs and beware of hidden fees.
Get the Wise app, or a similar international financial platform.
With the Wise banking app you can transfer your Aussie dollars into other currencies with very low fees. Did you forget to change your euros to korunas when passing through Czechia? No stress, watercress.
Book all planes in one trip with one single airline.
More on the travel tax: If anything is delayed or cancelled, the same airline will reschedule your flight and it’s their responsibility. If you try and save money by going with multiple airlines, it’s not their problem when someone else messes up. Being cheap will come back to bite you.
Don’t skimp on the enjoyable things.
I used to be extremely frugal on everything. I still habitually look at the cheapest items on a menu first. But you’re travelling to enjoy yourself, right? If you’re on a tight budget, get local knowledge of the affordable food places. It’s okay to buy the steak sometimes, if it’s within your means. Make the trip special. It can be better to cut back on the bigger expenses by choosing a simpler accommodation like a hostel, so that you have a bit more leftover to spend on food and experiences.
Just figure out what is important for you, and what you will remember. For me, I have an uncanny ability to remember places by the meals I ate years ago, so I don’t mind if I spend an extra 6 euros on an unforgettable tiramisu.
These are the things I wish I knew about travel from the beginning. While it’s fun and exciting to see so many new places, I’m also very content and excited to return back to reality in Canberra, Australia.
Caspian Scott 