Travelling

Hey guys,

So this post is going to be a little bit different from my others as it is not really an update on what I have done last week or my 100 Happy Days. I thought I would talk a little about travel. I think its something we all want to do if not now then some day. We all get the travel bug at one point. Recently I have been looking at going to a few different places both for a couple days and for almost a month. I have also been watching a show called “Departure” which has inspired me to see more. Through looking into these different trips I have learned quite a lot.

The first thing I have learnt is that even though everybody says travel in Europe is fairly cheap once you are in Europe it is not. I guess it is cheaper than flying in North America but it still adds up. I am planning 3 different trips right now and all are in Europe but because I do not have a job right now I am left trying to budget my money as best I can. The way I am going about budgeting is probably not the best way to but it was the first thing I thought of and I am still looking into budgeting in a better way. For now I am just not going to buy anything unless I truly need it, like food and my utilities. As I look through different destinations I have found that it is sometimes cheaper to purchase your flight and hotel together though an airline rather than pay for a plane ticket then still need to look for accommodations. I have also learned that although the train seems like a cheaper option it isn’t always. The one truly important thing I have learnt is to SAVE!!!

The next thing I have learnt is to always always clear your cookies. Whether you are just glancing at different locations or have your heart set on somewhere you are always going to check the prices before you book. The more you look at a location or a plane ticket you want the higher the prices are going to go. All airline websites are like that and even websites like SkyScanner do that as well. You can look as much as you want but unless you clear your cookies after you look then next time the prices will be higher.

I have also learnt the importance of a plan. If you want to go anywhere it is probably best to look into activities before you go. Some places you can go and just wing it and others you may need to book in advance. For instance if you want to go to Alhambra in Spain you most definitely need to book that in advance as the lines are huge and they only let so many people in. It is also important to plan not only your activities but your transportation. In my case I am not able to rent a car so I need to plan ahead for when I arrive in a new place. I will be needing a shuttle or a taxi to get to my hotel or hostel or where ever I choose to stay. I will also be needing to book a taxi ahead of time to get me from my house to the airport. If like me you are unable to rent a car then you also want to plan ahead and book a hotel that is near city centre so that you don’t have to take a cab in and out of the city every time you go out. It is also nice to look into the city before hand to look into what you would like to do there whether it need booking or not. For instance maybe there are some hidden gems in the city that you would never have found out otherwise.

Lastly I have found out you can’t plan everything. As much as I would love to have a 100% concrete plan that I stick to there is no way that is possible. Sometimes you just need to let go and wing it and have fun. You can’t always guarantee that everything will go according to plan and as much as you plan and research you also need to allow some leeway.

I’m sure as I continue to look into and book my different trips I will be learning many more tips and tricks when it comes to travelling. If you want to know more about what I learn when planning trips as well as going on them then let me know. I will defiantly tell you about my trips as I go on them and will post pictures.

If you have any other suggestions about travelling around Europe please let me know as they will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Ashley xx.