Multi-Country Summer Travel: A Guide For First-time Solo Tourists From The UK

Schengen Visa and Area

If you intend to visit multiple places, you want to research which country gives more visa longevity period and multiple entries. For me, I applied for my visa through France because I learned they often grant 30 days to 6 months. Costs included insurance, return tickets, visa processing fees, and accommodation reservations. When planning your trip, look at a map of Europe to identify nearby cities. For example, Dusseldorf in Germany was centrally located to the places I wanted to visit. From the map, it is closeby to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands (around 4 hours by bus).?

Quality vs. Quantity & Multi-Countries vs. Multi-Cities in a Country

Consider your stress limit, budget, how many annual leave days, and how many cities you can realistically visit. I had been working out and was ready for the challenge, but it’s essential to know your limits. Also, bear in mind that tourism is sometimes walking around from place to place, so this can be particularly stressful for some people who are not used to that kind of endeavor. Also, decide whether to explore multiple countries or multiple cities within one country. Each offers different experiences: broad but shallow where you see many countries but have little knowledge of things or deep and localized where you spend time in lots of cities in the country to gain more knowledge of the locals.?

Data Roaming vs. EU SIM

A UK SIM card typically roams at around ￡2 per day in Schengen areas. I had blocked roaming on my SIM and ended up buying an EU SIM for about €40, which didn't work in Geneva. This was a poor decision, and I had to rely on a friend’s SIM.

FlixBus vs Train vs Flight

Flixbus is renowned for being affordable. Most of my travels (3-6 hours) were done with Flix bus and cost generally less than ￡30. However, coming back, I had to use the train as the return bus Flixbus was much too early. In some other instances, using the flight might be better especially if you booked ahead: faster and helps you save time so you could start your tours as soon as possible. One thing to note when traveling across countries with Flixbus is to carry your international passport along as the bus driver would not allow you and immigration control will scan it at the border before gaining access.?

Hostel vs. Hotel or Airbnb

Choose based on your budget, comfort, and taste. Your choice will depend on how many days you plan to stay in each location. Also, each offers its unique benefits, for me, I wanted to make new friends and speak with new people and the hostel offered that flexibility. You can use Booking dot com, Expedia, and Hostel World to decide on these three.

UK Bank Cards and Service Charge

Your UK bank card will work in the EU, but you will incur small charges for each transaction due to currency conversion from GBP to Euros. However, these are usually less than ￡1 so they might be nothing to worry about. If you had a friend in the EU who could give you their cards to use, you could fund it and then use it thereby cutting off that cost.?

Day Ticket vs. Pay-As-You-Go

Some countries like Luxembourg offer free transportation with buses. So, if in a country that charges, you want to decide whether to buy tickets or rather walk around from one tourist place to another. While in Geneva, I bought a day ticket for around 7-9 CHF but I did not have to use it as I walked around the city except in leaving home and coming back. In Belgium, I bought a € 8-day ticket but did not use it because most places were within walking distance. The same with Amsterdam, all the places I visited were within walking distance. Evaluate the necessity based on the city layout and distances between attractions.

ChatGPT vs Google

I used ChatGPT to find tourist spots and plan my itinerary, including walking distances and routes. This helped streamline my navigation and maximize my time. One of the prompts I used revolved around: tell me 15 tourist attractions in Amsterdam, free or paid with approximate costs, and within walking distance by minutes from the city center in a tabular form. Also, I could say: I am currently at XYZ, list the other attractions close to this place in ascending order of walking distance in tabular form. Once I see the names, I go to Google (map) to check the images if I like them and then the actual walking distance.?

Paid Attractions vs. Free Ones

Evaluate the worth of paid attractions. Some experiences are worth the cost, while others can be enjoyed for free. I loved most of the paid ship cruises in Paris, Dusseldorf, and Amsterdam.

Annual Leave, Weather Forecast, and Flight Tickets

Book your leave early to plan effectively. I took 7 days, starting from? Thursday and Friday to get a four-day weekend. Also, check the weather forecast to plan your day. Even in summer, the weather can be unpredictable, so prepare for rain or gloomy conditions. Lastly, book flights early, as summer travel can be expensive. Be aware of possible cancellations and plan accordingly, as I experienced with Ryanair which cost me more with EasyJet.

Language Barrier, Google Map Live View, and Google Translate

Not everyone speaks English, so be prepared to ask for help and navigate language differences. These tools can help with navigation and translation, especially in non-English-speaking countries. For example, by taking a picture of a text written in German, I can see the meaning in English and move on. Where I need to navigate somewhere, I use the Google Map Live View and it leads me. While there are some little inefficiencies, they help reduce the number of times of asking for help altogether.

Sun Protection and Health

Use sunscreen to protect against sunburn during the summer. Watch your health by managing your diet, and stress levels, and carrying any necessary medications.

Charging Port and Power Bank

Carry a power bank if your phone battery drains quickly. An EU adapter is necessary for charging your devices, as their sockets differ from the UK’s.

Tripod Stand vs. Asking Strangers for Photos

A tripod with a remote is useful for solo travelers to take good pictures. Asking strangers is also an option, but their photography skills may vary.

Taking Pictures vs. Experience Immersion

Balance taking pictures with enjoying the moment. Capture memories but don’t let photography detract from the experience.

Fight All at Once vs. Bit by Bit

Decide if you want to take an extended trip to see many places at once or spread your travels out over several shorter trips.

Vacation Savings Account

Consider setting up a separate savings account with a direct debit to save for vacations gradually, easing the financial burden.

These tips should help make your solo travel or first-time tourist experience in Europe smoother and more enjoyable.