Tips From Fellow Backpacker Katie

Katie from Morristown, TN, shares some insight about traveling. Katie spent the majority of her time in Europe exploring Germany, but also traveled to various other cities on the continent. Katie states:

Here are some things I wish I had known before my trip…

Packing: This is hard for girls to grasp, but it’s okay if you wear the same clothes every week. This is especially true in Germany. In fact, it is the norm there, and you will fit right in. Also, don't plan to do any clothes shopping abroad. It is much more expensive than the U.S. You will be paying more for the exact items. Exceptions would perhaps be “fashion” capitals like Milan and other Italian cities. Save your money for cooler things.

Budgeting: I personally found it hard to budget ahead of time, especially since I had never been to Europe and had no concept of how much things cost over there, never mind the exchange rates. I will say this: do everything you can ahead of time to save money. There is nothing worse than being in a fabulous city and having to decide between two choices because you can't afford to do both. Also, figure out what you want to splurge on and what you are willing to save money on.

Traveling in general: Plan things out but be willing to be spontaneous. It is good to have a list of a few places you want to see in a particular place, but some of my favorite experiences have been those which were unplanned. Befriend a native speaker if you know you are going to be in a particular city for a while. My friends and I befriended some Germans who were able to tell us about concerts and last-minute discounts on trips that weren’t listed online.

Traveling in groups versus traveling alone: I prefer traveling in groups. I like being able to share experiences with other people, especially people I like. Two of my best friends became my best friends because of the time we spent together. They saw me at my best and worst and likewise. Just keep this in mind: your feelings for someone may change after you spend several weeks with them 24/7. Hopefully you will like them more and not less. Also, if there is something you are dying to see, make it a priority. I went to Amsterdam with a group of friends. I really wanted to visit the Van Gogh Museum, but they were not so interested. At first I felt bad ditching them to go to the museum. They went on a paddle-boat ride instead, so everyone was happy. Win-win situation.

Food and drink: Döners have a lot of fat in them. You should try it once—they are delicious. I also ate a lot of German chocolate and Haribo gummi bears (also very calorie-heavy). You have to know what to splurge on, both money-wise and food-wise. Would I eat all those doner kabobs and chocolates again? Yes!! Oh, and I can’t forget the beer. Another thing I love about Germany: You can go to the train station or any convenience store and pick up a beer or Jaeger and just walk around with it. No big deal.

Small towns versus big cities: I was fortunate to spend time in both. I think it is good to mix up a long trip with small and big cities. Small towns are more relaxing and give you a chance to wind down after a few crazy nights in a big city. Just be mindful that stores and restaurants tend to shut down early in the small towns, so plan accordingly. Another thing you should consider is visiting both “modern” cities and “historic” cities. For example, Berlin has very modern architecture (but with a history) that was totally different from other cities with older architecture.