Monday, October 31, 2011

Dressing the Part – Clothing In Europe



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European fashion is different than American fashion in a variety of ways, so it’s important to take note of the differences their color, the amount of clothes they have, and the style in which they wear their clothes. Even though bright colors are often in fashion in the United States, while you’re in Europe wearing bright colors will make you stick out as American. In Europe, the predominant colors are black, grey and brown.

In addition, while Americans often have closets full of clothes and a different shirt for every day of the week, Europeans have a limited number of tops and bottoms that they often mix and match. This will be a benefit to you as you will need to pack light if you plan on doing lots of travelling. Even better, it is not uncommon for Europeans to wear the same clothes multiple days in a row (given of course that they are not specifically dirty or smelly). The bottom line is that you shouldn’t feel self conscious if in the name of packing light you have to wear the same clothes over and over again, just consider yourself more European.


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As far as shoes go, it is very important to leave the tennis shoes at home. A good pair of hiking boots will come in handy if you plan on doing any intense hiking/climbing, but if you only plan on walking around then a pair of black, rubber soled shoes should be fine.

Whenever the weather gets colder, the key to staying warm is layering. Tights are definitely a good thing to keep around. Not only can you wear them under skirts, you can wear them under pants as well. Scarfs are another essential for cold weather and are worn by both men and women alike. The warmest way to wear a scarf is to fold it in half, place it around your neck and put the two loose ends through the hole created by folding the scarf in half. Between tights, scarfs, and a good pair of warm socks, you should be able to brace any cold weather you encounter.

Come to Europe prepared for a little bit of rain. It’s good to have a pair of “wellies” (rain boots) and an umbrella or a raincoat especially if you travel in areas like England, the Netherlands, and parts of Italy that are right next to the coast.

Remember if you have any questions, feel free to email me at europeforstudents@ymail.com or comment below!

Happy Travels!


Julie

Monday, October 24, 2011

Staying in Hostels

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Most often if you’re staying in hostels you will have to either carry all of your luggage on your back or store it in their luggage room. While some luggage rooms are highly regulated, others allow you to come and go as you please. Luggage rooms are most often unlocked closets stuffed to the top with other backpacks and duffel bags, so unless you plan on locking your bag, it is not as safe and secure as you might be used to with a hotel. Some hostels will have lockers that you can use. These lockers will most likely not come with locks, so either bring your own, or see if the hostel has locks to rent out. If you do choose to bring your own lock, while the typical 30-number locks (see right) are probably the safest, you may have to suffice for a suitcase lock in the interest of weight on your back.

When you’re staying in your hostel, you are at a prime risk for being robbed. Most likely you will have your passport, wallet, a cell phone, and money with you when you travel, all of which can be stolen while you sleep. Locks may prevent someone from getting into your backpack but it may not necessarily stop them from taking your backpack altogether. For the most part, other hostel guests will respect your stuff, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Suggestions for where to put your valuables include putting your passport around your neck, putting your wallet either in your pillow or in your jeans pocket (but only if you plan on sleeping in your jeans), and even sleeping with your backpack like you would sleep holding a teddy bear (it is suggested that you still lock your backpack when doing this).

Wall Art in a Hostel [Credit: Julie Wagner]
As mentioned earlier, if you’re staying in a hostel backpacking through Europe, you’re most likely carrying everything on your back. While you may be tempted to bring a full sized towel along with soap and shampoo, carrying all that extra weight will get old after a week or two. Instead of bringing a full sized towel, bring a hand towel. It will be much lighter and get the job done (for the most part). If you have the money, feel free to buy a new travel sized shampoo and body wash whenever you run out, however, if money is tight, remember that hostels will have hand soap for free, and although rather unpleasant, they also get the job done.

Happy Travels!


Julie

Monday, October 17, 2011

How to Book Your Hostel

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Most likely, when travelling you will be staying in a hostel. Hostels are less luxurious versions of hotels. Much  like summer camps, you will most likely be in a room with bunk beds and have community showers and toilets. Most hostels cost around 20 euros a night on the weekends, but can be more or less expensive depending on how far ahead you book, the day of the week you plan on staying at the hostel, how many people you plan on sharing your room with, and whether or not you wish to have a single sex room.

Your best bet is to book your hostel more than two weeks in advance, especially if you are staying on high demand nights. Saturdays are the most high demand nights, and thus the most expensive night to sleep anywhere, followed by Friday and Sunday; however depending on your length of stay in Europe, this factor may be out of your control.

You will share your room with 3 – 15 other people. The smaller rooms fitting four people are often referred to as “private rooms” and are more expensive, but a good idea if you have large valuable items, such as laptops or SLR cameras. The last option you can having regarding the price of your hostel is if your room is single sex or unisex, with single sex being more expensive.

Once you have made your decisions regarding the kind of room you want to stay in, you can book your hostel online, most often paying a 10% deposit fee and paying the rest when you arrive at the hostel. Depending on the hostel, the price may include breakfast.

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A great go-to place for booking your hostel is hostelworld.com. Hostelworld.com has no booking fee and includes a brief summary of each hostel accompanied by user ratings. Do not be alarmed by the fact that almost no place has above a 90% rating. Due to the fact that accommodations are so cheap, there will be sacrifices made, and each user has a different opinion on what comforts they are willing to sacrifice. A user’s rating will also be influenced by who is staying at the hostel at the time due to the fact that hostels provide accommodations for a wide range of people.

Remember if you have any questions, feel free to email me at europeforstudents@ymail.com. Check back next week for more information about staying in hostels!

Happy Travels!


Julie

Monday, October 10, 2011

Using the Rail System within a Country

The rail system is also useful when travelling within a country. Rail systems are more expensive than coaches, but you will also get to your destination faster, making up to a two hour difference depending on how large the country is. Some rail routes are straight through – meaning there will be stops along the way, but you do not have to get off the train. In order to get to other destinations, you might have to switch trains and even train companies.

A good website to check out for the best prices travelling by rail within the UK is raileasy.co.uk. A WORD OF WARNING: There WILL be a booking fee if you choose to book with this website. I would suggest rather you search rates with different train companies on the website and then book directly through the train site. Make sure to book your train ticket at least two weeks beforehand as train prices rise rapidly as the date of departure approaches.

[Credit: Laura Ekstrom]
Once again, it is suggested that you buy a railcard if you plan on travelling to more than three places within the country. Buying a railcard is valid no matter the train company you use. Although it is an upfront fee of 25 pounds, this will give you major discounts on your travel. One money saving tip is to bring your own passport size photo. If you choose get a passport photo at the rail station, there is a machine where you can take your picture for 5 pounds.

Once you purchase your train ticket, it is of utmost importance that you both write down your reference number, bring the credit card you booked the train ticket with you to the train station, and arrive at the station with enough time to spare. After purchasing your ticket online, you will need to pick your ticket up from the station you’ll be departing from or have it mailed to you. If you decide to pick up your ticket from the train station, you will see a ticket machine of which you will enter your reference number and the card you used to pay for the ticket to print out your ticket.

[Credit: Laura Ekstrom]
After you get your ticket, you’ll need to look at the screens to see which platform your train is departing from, much like an airport. The trains will not board more than 20 minutes before they depart, however it is still wise to get there at least 30 minutes early due to the multitude of factors that can go wrong, such as missing the bus to go to the train station or a long line at the ticket collecting machine. Note: The ticket machine lines will vary based on the time of day and the day of the week you go to the station, so prepare for the worst, but expect the best. You will usually be allowed to get onto the train about 10 minutes before departure, and then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

Check back next week for all about hostels! In the meantime, click the "Follow" button at the top left corner of the page to stay updated with tips on how to make the most of your trip abroad.

Happy Travels!


Julie

Monday, October 3, 2011

All About the Eurail

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Another easy way to travel from country to country is the Eurail. Eurail is a company that sells passes for rail systems all across Europe. This is most useful and cost efficient if you plan on travelling in more than two countries for more than one month. The Eurail pass does not work as well for most inner city transportation, such as busses or inner city trains.

The Eurorail has four passes to choose from. The first option is a one country pass for three to ten days. The second option is a two country pass for four to ten days. The third option is to get a select pass for three, four, or five countries and can be used from five to fifteen days. Lastly, for the most bang for your buck, choose the global pass for 22 countries and is good for fifteen days to three months. When you sign up for your Eurail pass, it will come with a free booklet that lists all the different train times, which is incredibly convenient, even time schedules will change occasionally.

The Eurail provides great flexibility when choosing your trains and is great for “on a whim” sort of travel, however, it is important to note that not all trains are free with the pass. Overnight trains still cost, although with the Eurail pass you can get up to a 75% discount. You can even get free upgrades to a cabin with a bed, but you will have to ask.

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Lastly, it’s very important to protect your Eurail pass. Insurance for your pass can be purchased for a small amount, especially considering how common pick pocketing in Europe is. The Eurail pass, in addition, is not very durable, so it is suggested that you protect it by either keeping it in a waterproof bag or wrapping it with tape. More information can be found out about the Eurail at http://www.eurail.com/home.

Remember if you have any questions, feel free to email me at europeforstudents@ymail.com and follow my blog to keep up with helpful hints on how to travel through Europe.

Happy Travels!


Julie