Where, How, & When To Travel?
When we plan to travel, the first challenge we all face is the question of Where, When and How. Answering these questions can be as straightforward as Europe or as confusing as ‘I don’t know”, but the answers cover three areas:
- First, we need to decide the countries that excite us and then determine the places in those countries we want to see, which will be restricted by the time we have available and our budget.
- Second, we must determine the best way to travel and our overnight choices. These will depend on our budget but will also be influenced by which options would be acceptable and possible.
- Third, we must decide which time of year to travel, which will vary depending on the area we are visiting and what we want to see or experience. Other considerations would be cost implications and crowd density.
We want to help you answer these questions by listing options and sharing our recommendations for planning the ultimate travel adventure.
Getting LUCKY with an Adventure
Weather you have a good idea of your preferences or are open to anything, you can increase your ‘luck’ by starting to plan now for an epic adventure.
The best definition of luck is when “preparation meets opportunity,” so when you start planning, you open yourself to the opportunity and information that you might otherwise have missed. You will subconsciously and consciously start to make the trip a reality when you start to prepare.
You will move closer to reality and then be ready to capitalize when an opportunity presents itself.
In our experience, the best way to start planning for an epic adventure is by collecting all the places you want to see on your own Google Map.
Check out the Planning Phase section on this website to get started.
Where To?
When it comes to selecting the perfect travel destination, Europe undoubtedly stands out as the ultimate choice!
It is perfect for travellers seeking diverse experiences, rich history, and stunning landscapes.
Its wealth of historical, cultural, and natural attractions, coupled with its ease of travel and culinary delights, make it a must-visit for anyone seeking a truly enriching and memorable travel experience
Why Europe?
Europe is a land of continuous contrasts, where ancient tradition clashes with modern progress, and the old is fiercely protected while the new is embraced. It’s a treasure trove of ancient and medieval history, with more to see, touch, and explore than anywhere else in the world.
The continent is home to some of the world’s most incredible architecture, and each country boasts a unique personality waiting to be discovered.
What makes Europe even more fascinating is its people’s varied cultures, beliefs, and aspirations, each country and region offering a distinctly European yet simultaneously unique and different experience.
Iconic Cities
The obvious starting point when planning a European trip would be iconic cities like Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, Berlin, and Prague. These places stir the imagination and emotions. Our dream of seeing them is regularly reinforced by the movies we watch that highlight them and make them larger-than-life.
While these cities are undoubtedly popular for a reason, it’s essential to be aware of the potential downsides, starting with overtourism. Even though tourism has economic benefits, it brings overcrowding and congestion, noise and disruption, and long-term residents are often priced out of their neighbourhoods, resulting in an anti-tourist attitude.
In addition, the multicultural nature of the major cities, where diverse cultures often blend and evolve, can sometimes dilute a region’s authentic culture, preventing people from experiencing and interacting with the fullness of each culture.
Our experiences during our first two trips to Paris convinced us that the French were unfriendly, anti-English, and rude. When we travelled to other areas of France, we quickly realised that this perception was more about Parisians than all French people.
Europe is so much more than its Iconic Cities!
Because of Europe’s rich tapestry of cultures, architecture, and landscapes, it is a paradise for travellers. From snow-capped mountain ranges to sunny beaches, from awe-inspiring natural landscapes to incredible architectural marvels, and from diverse languages and cuisine to many unique festivals and ancient traditions, each country and region offers its unique perspective, enriching your travel experience. The unique experiences waiting outside the iconic cities will inspire and excite any adventurous traveller.
This is not surprising when you cram about 600 million people, 24 main languages, and a vast and complex history spanning over 4,000 years into 35 countries covering an area smaller than the USA or Australia. This means you don’t have to travel far to find tons to explore, learn, and discover in this fascinating area!
Off the Beaten Path
So, to experience and interact with the different cultures, local traditions, everyday life, and unique customs that make each European region special, you need to travel outside of major cities, where there are unlimited possibilities for authentic encounters with everything that Europe has to offer.
The more you venture off the heavily beaten tourist path, the more you will experience the true cultural spirit, the essence of a place that the excess tourism of iconic cities has not suppressed.
This is the best way to escape the crowds, discover hidden gems, and immerse yourself in the actual local culture.
Continent of Contrasts
Another great thing about Europe is that the distances between sights and towns are relatively short, particularly if you have your own transport and more so if you take your accommodation with you in a motorhome.
This means that it is easy to experience multiple cultures in one trip. During our first motorhome trip around Europe, we drove 4,855 km (3,016 mi) and visited seven different countries, each with its own unique culture and identity. Despite their proximity, shared history and common historical influences, there are broad cultural differences.
German Culture
German culture is precise, specific, disciplined, punctual, and has strong traditional values. Its ancient and medieval architecture has been meticulously restored inside and out. Germany has a prominent classical music heritage and an appreciation for traditional folk music and dance. It is renowned for its Christmas Markets. Its cuisine is generally focused on meat, bread, and beer.
Spanish Culture
Spanish culture is relaxed, casual, expressive and under no pressure, with a strong family focus. Their historical sites have a breathtaking Moorish Islamic influence, often starkly contrasting with Catholic architecture, while Gaudi’s creations are otherworldly. Their passion is best expressed in Flamenco Music and Dance, characterised by intense passion and energy. Spain is famous for its vibrant, unique, and spiritual festivals. Their cuisine is known for its tapas, paella, and seafood, and they focus on social eating.
Romanian Culture
Romanian culture is expressive, emotional, and traditional. It is known for its welcoming nature and warm hospitality despite its strong history of resilience and adaptability. Family is highly valued, as is close-knit relationships and respect for elders. They have unique churches, castles and towns that differ greatly from central Europe. They are deeply rooted in folk traditions, with vibrant music, dance, and handicrafts. Folklore is rich in mythology, with stories of dragons and vampires. Their cuisine can be described as hearty and flavourful, with a meat focus, using polenta and sour-flavoured side dishes.
Conclusion
Europe is a continent of endless possibilities, and the key to a successful trip is to be open-minded, curious, and flexible. Whether you’re interested in culture, the outdoors, or simply looking for new experiences, Europe has something for everyone.
So start planning now and let your curiosity lead you on the journey of a lifetime to fully embrace Europe’s diversity.
How To?
Tour Package
This is the canned option. Those who want the convenience of minimal to no planning with all transport and accommodation are automatically taken care of while having an experienced person close by.
This would be a better-than-nothing option which still gives a small taste of Europe
There are a number of negatives we would highlight, which are the reasons we have never considered this as an option for ourselves:
- Splash and Dash – tend to be brief visits to a limited number of places.
- Fossil Tour – tends to appeal more to the elderly, though there are some youth-focused options.
- Weakest Link – you generally move as fast as your slowest member more often than not.
- Mixed Bag – different unknown personalities forced together for an extended period is often a recipe for conflict and a source of irritation that could easily sour the trip.
- Money Pit – expensive to begin with and includes limited meals, attractions and activities. This means there are many additional hidden and unforeseen costs.
This is often the choice of first-time travellers who are uncertain of their ability to do it themselves, don’t want the responsibility of it all, don’t want to go into the unknown by themselves or are not willing to put the effort into planning.
In our opinion this is the worst option, but as mentioned before better than nothing.
Backpacking and Touring
This would be the budget option and will be an amazing adventure.
The Backpacking option would generally be the domain of the younger ones (in years or heart) with the Touring option for those older folk who are keen on better accommodation and transport.
There is a lot of freedom to go wherever you want to and comes with built-in flexibility. In this digital age, it’s much easier with the exponential growth of the ‘Sharing Economy’ which is a peer-to-peer economic system where people connect with others to trade goods and services.
Accommodation Perspective
There are 4 main budget options, that can be Mixed and Matched:
The Camping thing
Using camp sites which are available everywhere and also the option of wild camping which is legal and encouraged in some countries but illegal in others. There are also sharing apps like Welcome To My Garden.
The Hostel thing
This is a popular type of accommodation for backpacking/budget travellers and although there is often limited privacy, for many the low cost and thriving social scene more than make up for the negatives.
They are available everywhere as evidenced by Hostel World.
The Apartment Rental thing
This is the best middle ground between Hostels and Hotels where you can rent a room, couch, or whole apartment and would include B&B options.
The best known is Airbnb, but there are others like Home Stay and Vrbo
The Sharing Economy thing
There are numerous different sharing options that can have a cost implications but give many different options and experiences like Couch Surfing, Be Welcome and Trusted Housesitters.
There are even meal-sharing sites that connect you with locals, like Eat With, Traveling Spoon and With Locals
Transport Perspective
There are 3 options that can also be Mixed and Matched:
Travel by Bus
Taking intercity buses is one of the cheapest ways to get around Europe but it is not as comfortable, convenient, scenic or as quick as the other options.
There is also the option of overnight trips which will offset the cost of one night’s accommodation.
Flixbus is generally the cheapest bus option.
Travel by Train
Trains in Europe are convenient, comfortable, scenic and mostly stress-free. Europe has an excellent rail network that is one of the best in the world. Shorter trips are reasonably priced but longer trips, overnight trips and high-speed trips can be very expensive.
Each country has their own network and there are rail passes available that cover most of Europe like Eurail.
Travel by Ride Share
This is a service that matches up people who have extra space in their car with passengers who are going to the same places.
The driver determines the price and the idea is to share the travel costs. This can be more expensive than other options but is usually faster and it can be more interesting travelling with a local.
Currently, the best option in Europe is BlaBlaCar which has a strong presence across most of Europe.
Touring Perspective
From a touring point of view, there are 4 options
Bicycle Touring
This is can can be done in a specific area and across a country or between different countries. There are many multi-day guided or self-guided options available and is an excellent slow-burn way to experience the culture.
Europe is very bike-friendly and has a massive bike path network in towns, cities and across countries that are of a high standard.
Taking your own bike over is easily doable, but there are numerous bike hiring opportunities for all bike types including the popular e-bikes.
EuroVelo is a great resource.
Rental Car Touring
This is more expensive than the previous options but much more convenient and flexible. Always be aware of any hidden costs.
Some rental companies in some countries might insist on an International License so either confirm in advance or take one with anyway.
Parking is a major problem across Europe, particularly in popular places, ranging from difficult to almost impossible and can be expensive.
Accommodation that includes parking is ideal otherwise there are numerous paid parking options. When only visiting cities park outside and use public transport to get in.
Rental Motorcycle Touring
A definite possibility but there is limited availability and can be costly. There are guided tours available and this would make a great add-on to a trip.
This option would be particularly appealing with the great roads, mountains and coastline in Europe.
You need an unrestricted motorcycle endorsement (usually added to a regular driver’s license) and an international driver’s license.
Rental Motorhome Touring
This is a very popular option among Europeans. Motorhome rental stations are not as prolific as car options but they are available in all cities and tend to be more on the outskirts of the cities.
There is an abundance of Motorhome information and infrastructure across Europe including parking, sleeping and servicing areas which are often free or with minimal cost. It is possible to park overnight for free almost everywhere.
Being completely self-contained in accommodation, transport and food means that you have total freedom to express your own Travel Personality.
Conclusion
There are many different options that can be mixed and matched to accommodate any scenario. We have had the opportunity to experience different options when travelling Europe. The Backpacking thing sleeping in Hotels and travelling by train and bus as well as the car hire thing using Airbnb accommodation. But in all respects our discovery of the Motorhome option was revolutionary.
In our opinion, the Motorhome is definitely the best all-round option when it comes to cost-effectiveness, complete flexibility and total convenience. This is the reason we have been able to afford multiple trips and in the process seen as much as we have.
We would not travel around Europe any other way and we will make every effort to convince you of this and help you every step of the way.
Adventure awaits!
Are you willing to grab it with both hands?
When To?
Timing can be Everything
Europe is a very popular destination that can get very crowded and very expensive. There are a number of things to consider such as: when Europeans are on holiday; when the rest of the world tends to visit, what the weather implications are and most importantly what your own time of year restrictions are.
Across Europe, there are three main seasons.
Peak Season – Summer (June, July & August)
The most popular months are when the weather is warm in the north to very hot in the south and the days are long.
This is also when Europe is on holiday and when the whole world seems to invade the area. The Crowds everywhere are unbearable, prices are sky-high, access to attractions is challenging and accommodation is hard to find. You have to compete for just about everything.
You will have to book everything well in advance to be certain of availability. This ties you to a schedule that is fixed and you are without wriggle room, freedom to change, flexibility to adjust for unforeseen circumstances or just to linger longer.
Better than nothing but avoid this season if you can!
Low Season - Winter (November to March)
Similar problem to summer when visiting Christmas market cities and ski resort towns. In these areas, there will be higher prices and larger crowds but outside of them, it’s less crowded and more affordable than the other seasons.
The weather varies from freezing and wet in the north to cool and wet in the south.
Exploring the more northern areas is limited to a more indoor focus. While main indoor attractions should be open, others might not be and outdoor exploring is limited.
In the more southern areas this time of year is cool and generally pleasant, so a good option.
This is the second best all-round option!
Shoulder Season – Spring (Apr to May) & Autumn (Sep & Oct)
This is the sweet spot time of year with the best balance in weather, crowds, affordability and access. Particularly if you want to do a trip that covers both the northern and southern countries of Europe.
During shoulder season there is generally a minimal need to make bookings far in advance which means:
- You have much less chance of missing bookings and losing money when delayed.
- The itinerary can easily be adjusted to include new discoveries, like an unplanned town, market or festival.
- If you have major delays, you can easily change plans to see priority places while cutting optional ones.
- The more flexibility you have the more you can fine-tune your virtual planning with real-world adjustments.
- You can spend more time at places that are much better than expected or conversely spend less time at places that don’t meet your expectations.
Our Conclusion
If we had to choose the best overall month to travel anywhere in Europe it would be in May. Warm in the north but not too hot in the south, nature in full blossom, minimal crowds and freedom to explore and adapt.
Talk to us
Have any questions?
We are always open to talk about your planning, trip or challenges and how we can help you!