What I Learnt From Traveling Europe on the Cheap
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from travel, especially when experiencing all that Europe’s cultural hubs have to offer. From finding local hot spots and cheap airport lounges to recognising the prevalence of homelessness and finding great advice from fellow travelers, here are a few of the lessons that I learnt from my European travels.
Farming can be fun
One of the ways that I managed to make some extra penies on my travels around Europe was by taking up some farming jobs here and there. Meeting the mean streets of Berlin and experiencing the iconic and poverty stricken streets of Paris would not have been possible without having taken these jobs! It was a great way to help finance my travels, but i also learnt a lot from the experience:
One of the best ways to experience Europe on the cheap is by being a local, not a tourist. Head to the cheap pubs and supermarkets and you will start looking a lot more like a local than the travelers eating out. This is also a great thing to do when you are staying in one place for a longer period of time or planning to revisit in the future. By making friends with the locals you will be able meet back up with them when you visit again!
Farming can be fun
One of the ways that I managed to make some extra penies on my travels around Europe was by taking up some farming jobs here and there. Meeting the mean streets of Berlin and experiencing the iconic and poverty stricken streets of Paris would not have been possible without having taken these jobs! It was a great way to help finance my travels, but i also learnt a lot from the experience:
- Pay was low: One of the most valuable lessons that I learned from farming on my travels around Europe was that low scale farming really is a low money earner. You really need to pull your weight for not vary much in this job, so make sure you are committed to making money while traveling!
- Farming is hard: Farming is not an easy job. Though most of the time i was just fruit picking or pruning, it was tough work. This is especially true in any bad weather conditions!
- Meeting new people: Farming abroad is a popular way to top up your funds, and that means that plenty of other travelers are doing it too. This means that it is a great way to meet new people.
- Getting a cultural taste:Working in the rural areas of a country ca really give you a taste of the culture that you are experiencing. You’ll learn new phrases and see a side to the culture that you wouldn't get as a city centre tourist!
One of the best ways to experience Europe on the cheap is by being a local, not a tourist. Head to the cheap pubs and supermarkets and you will start looking a lot more like a local than the travelers eating out. This is also a great thing to do when you are staying in one place for a longer period of time or planning to revisit in the future. By making friends with the locals you will be able meet back up with them when you visit again!
Meeting friends in strange places
Sometimes you end up meeting people in the strangest places. While traveling on the cheap round Europe it was common to end up is shabby hostels or on friends of friends couches. This was a great (if not slightly odd) way to meet new people. Eating on the street rather than in fancy restaurants was another way that I met people. People tend to talk to other people on benches in places like Barcelona and Berlin.
Homelessness is everywhere
One of the things that doesnt show up in any of the photos is the homelessness that is prevalent throughout Europe. In all of my travels you could see poverty and social issues everywhere. This was a big thing for travelers to learn and is considerably humbling in its own right. From Paris and London to Berlin and Helsinki, homelessness is everywhere.
Finding great airport deals from other travellers
Another great lesson that you can learn from traveling europe is that asking your fellow hostel inhabitants if they have any money saving tips is key! I found a great place to find cheap parking deals at airports from one traveller, and which market stalls to barter at from another. Asking other travellers how they travel on the cheap is a great way to learn some new hints and tips!
The big hostel crunch
Staying in hostels is obviously one of the best ways to travel Europe on a budget. But the thing with hostels is that they can be unsanitary and germ ridden. Colds and illnesses spread around them quickly. Being in a room with ten beds where people are sick sometimes just isn't the best place to be. If you do come down with a cold then it is always worth having some back up money so that you can book yourself into a hotel. Staying in your own hotel room with a personal bathroom is all the luxury that you need when you are feeling under the weather. It is definitely worth being prepared for the big hostel crunch.
There are an infinite amount of lessons that you can learn from travelling around Europe. These are just a few of the most prevalent that I learned. So try your hand at farming, become a local, meet new people and be prepared for the homelessness. Plus you can get advice from other travellers about booking air tickets instantly online and always having a hostel backup plan! I hope that these lessons help you on your next European trip!
Sometimes you end up meeting people in the strangest places. While traveling on the cheap round Europe it was common to end up is shabby hostels or on friends of friends couches. This was a great (if not slightly odd) way to meet new people. Eating on the street rather than in fancy restaurants was another way that I met people. People tend to talk to other people on benches in places like Barcelona and Berlin.
Homelessness is everywhere
One of the things that doesnt show up in any of the photos is the homelessness that is prevalent throughout Europe. In all of my travels you could see poverty and social issues everywhere. This was a big thing for travelers to learn and is considerably humbling in its own right. From Paris and London to Berlin and Helsinki, homelessness is everywhere.
Finding great airport deals from other travellers
Another great lesson that you can learn from traveling europe is that asking your fellow hostel inhabitants if they have any money saving tips is key! I found a great place to find cheap parking deals at airports from one traveller, and which market stalls to barter at from another. Asking other travellers how they travel on the cheap is a great way to learn some new hints and tips!
The big hostel crunch
Staying in hostels is obviously one of the best ways to travel Europe on a budget. But the thing with hostels is that they can be unsanitary and germ ridden. Colds and illnesses spread around them quickly. Being in a room with ten beds where people are sick sometimes just isn't the best place to be. If you do come down with a cold then it is always worth having some back up money so that you can book yourself into a hotel. Staying in your own hotel room with a personal bathroom is all the luxury that you need when you are feeling under the weather. It is definitely worth being prepared for the big hostel crunch.
There are an infinite amount of lessons that you can learn from travelling around Europe. These are just a few of the most prevalent that I learned. So try your hand at farming, become a local, meet new people and be prepared for the homelessness. Plus you can get advice from other travellers about booking air tickets instantly online and always having a hostel backup plan! I hope that these lessons help you on your next European trip!
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