Planning for the Big Trip...

So... a few of my friends are going on the big trip to Europe later this year and I thought it'll be good to start writing about my month-long grande évasion to help them with their planning. (Trust me, having tried to plan the itineraries of 10 cities ALONE, you'll need all the help you can get.)

First up, some general pointers:

Streets of Nørrebro / Copenhagen

#1. Train up, get fit and make sure you can walk for HOURS.

The big trip might be a once-in-a-lifetime thing for most of us so you will want to make the most of your trip... and not miss out by waking up late (SIGH) and resting excessively (SIGH). I'm immensely guilty of both and I really wonder how much I could have squeezed in if I was a more hardworking traveller. Travelling can get very, very tiring so be prepared for that!

Buckingham Palace / London

#2. Good footwear.

There'll be a lot of walking involved no matter where you go. Good shoes are a must!

#3. Plan ahead together.

While planning for the trip, it will be good to have at least 2 person slightly familiar with the sights. Having planned most of the itineraries alone, it brought unprecedented amount of stress when something goes wrong. Plan the itineraries together! Having someone to share this responsibility with will make you enjoy the whole planning a lot more. Undeniably, possibilities for clashes will arise but at the end of it you can share the glory of having planned (and conquered) Europe TOGETHER!!!

Vintage Paris Map

#4. Prepare lotsa maps!

The very first thing you should buy at every city is a good map. Choose maps with with clear indicators of the major sights. Also, look for maps which includes a separate subway map within. This will help your commute within big cities such as London and Paris tremendously! Maps can be great souvenirs of trip so don't just rely on maps on the iPhone and tablets. (Online maps are great but they can be unreliable and inaccurate sometimes.) Get physical ones!

#5. Check the weather! And bring warm clothes.

I decided to go head to Europe during Summer for frivolous reasons - like wearing sundress and having a lighter luggage. I thought it'll be nice and sunny and the skies blue but we encountered a freak summer. Instead of the nice, cooling 20+ degrees, it was perpetually 12-15 degrees up north and half the time and I felt so cold that I wore three layers of clothing and wore leggings inside my jeans. Check up on the CURRENT weather before you pack! Bring a few warm jackets. That's always useful!

#6. Book tickets for the major sights online.

Don't waste time queuing for the sights and book your tickets online instead! Summer in Europe is packed with tourists so don't get stuck in the queues! Having booked most of the tickets for the attractions online, we managed to a save lots of time in Rome (and snigger at people stuck in the long queues. yes I'm mean like that). There are no additional booking charges online so DO IT!!!

#7. Don't miss out on night admissions!

The sun doesn't set till 10 pm so do check for night admissions! Ultimate time-saver.

#8. It's okay to be lost.

I wished someone had told me that getting lost is part and parcel of travelling. It can be intimidating to be lost in a land surrounded by people speaking in a language you don't know. Now take a deep breath and chill. It happens. Don't get overly anxious and enjoy the process of finding your way around! 

#9. Last but not least, be really, really excited.

And do a little dance whenever you can!

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Flight:

Holidays in Europe are expensive principally due to the airfare. It's so hard to fork out SGD1500 for airfare! I know the pain, but psst, let me tell you a secret. I bought mine at SGD920 (all inclusive no less!). Ta-dah! *look of triumph* There's a common misconception that you should buy your tickets as early as possible to prevent the eventual heart attack that happens when airfares have risen beyond your budget. My advice would be this: book your tickets during the low-season, which is between March - May or September - December. Most airlines offer sale fares during this period so fret not! I flew Qatar Air, which is a much better airline than SQ imho. 

Accomodation:

Our apartment in Copenhagen! Dream home.

Definitely one of the highlights of the trip! Lotsa vintage furniture and funny Literature all over. THIS IS LOVE.

Unless you have a budget of 10k or more or am a room service junkie, there is no need to stay in a hotel. Opt for cheaper and much more interesting alternatives, such as hostels or local apartments! Hostels are a great way to meet traveller from other countries (or so I heard) and apartments allows you to live like a local (which I'm a total sucker for). Most apartments comes with a kitchen and a washing machine, which will help save you lotsa $$$! Preparing your own meals will definitely help reduce your expenditure and (reduce panic on getting cheated) while a washing machine allows you to bring less clothes! Win-win! 

French Toast prepared by my Amsterdam Host. :')

Bagels for Breakfast! It is here where I fell hopelessly in love with bagels. 

Throughout my trip, we mainly stayed in the apartments of locals who listed their apartments on airbnb.com. Kinda like renting a house for a few days or couch-surfing but with an actual room. Some of the houses we stayed in are so full of character and the owners are so nice! Our host in Amsterdam made breakfast-to-die for during our stay and we're eternally grateful for her hospitality.

and.... that's that. Hope this helps! 

Next up would be a guide to Rome!

Au revoir!

Tiffany