12/18/2018

The first-timer's guide to traveling in Europe

Have you always dreamed of traveling to Europe? Are you getting ready to book the trip of a lifetime? The romantic idea of visiting 20+ countries in a month is enough to spark wanderlust in the most inexperienced of travelers. But for someone who has never traveled to Europe before the thought of planning the transportation for such a trip can be daunting, leaving want-to-be travelers baffled with where to start. There's no need to worry. We've created a list of the best ways to travel around Europe so that you to have to!

It's time to choose where you want to go! Use Hostelsclub.com and stay in one of our many hostels, hotels and B&Bs on your great European adventure!

Here are the best, and easiest, means of transportation to get you from point point A to point B on your first European adventure.

1 - Take a train

Photo Credits: @teresa_caroto on @interraileu

If it's your first time in Europe and you're looking looking to see as many countries as possible, a Eurail Pass is the way to go! A Eurail Pass is a singular train ticket which enables its users' flexible train travel to over 40,000 destinations in 28 countries!

The type of Eurail Pass you choose dictates where and when you can travel. The Global Pass, which is the cheapest Eurail Pass available, allows its users' an allocated number of travel days over a given period of time. For example, the shortest Global Pass available allows for three days of travel within a one month period, while the longest Global Pass takes place over a 3 month period and enables an unlimited number of travel days. On the travel days indicated, pass holders can travel on as many trains as they would like until midnight. With Global Passes available from €168 you really get your value for money.

Another Eurail Pass to consider is the One Country Pass, which lets its users' to have 8 flexible days of travel within one month in the same country, the perfect solution for the traveler looking to authentically experience the lifestyle and depth of a single culture.

It's important to know that Eurail shouldn't be confused with its sister company Interrail, which is only available to European citizens and residents. Anyone who is a citizen or resident of a country outside of Europe should purchase a Eurail pass.

Alternatively, for the traveler who has chosen another means of transportation for their European adventure but still needs access to the railway, Trainline.eu is the perfect search engine to find the cheapest train fares in any mainland European country, while Trainline.com should be used to search for train tickets within the UK.

2 - Take the bus

Photo Credits: @flixbus_Instagram

If train hopping sounds too complicated or confusing for your first trip to Europe, taking the bus is an excellent, stress-free alternative.

Have you ever used Megabus, the U.S based bus company that boasts ticket fares from as little as $1? We'd like to introduce you to Megabus's European cousin Flixbus, the bus service that takes over for Megabus across the pond.

Flixbus is perfect for adventurers who want to see Europe on a budget. Travel between countries for as little as €5 and you can easily check off all of the stops on your bucket list.

For the first-time traveler who is looking for a stress-free journey, Flixbus is the way to go. All buses are equipped with comfortable seating, toilets, free wifi and plug sockets for charging up your devices en route.

Better yet, Flixbus offers a range of student discounts, such as the 10% Discount for passengers with a Student Beans account and the ISIC Discount for students with a valid International Student Identity Card. With deals like these, budgeting for transportation will be the last thing on your mind.

Another excellent bus service to consider is Eurolines. Eurolines is the preferable service for explorers looking to travel to Eastern European countries such as Latvia and Lithuania or for easy transportation within France, where the service has over 170 internal routes. Click here to see the full list of Eurolines destinations!

Eurolines also offers some excellent discounts. After producing an ISIC card or a student ID card, Eurolines customers can expect a 20% discount on their first journey and a 10% discount on all subsequent bookings.

3 - Take a plane

Photo Credits: @simo_spotter_Instagram on @ryanair_Instagram

Who says air fare has to leave you penniless? With Ireland-based budget airline Ryanair, flying is sometimes your cheapest transportation option!

For anyone who comes from the U.S or Canada, the high cost of flying is enough to make you shudder. But one thing that people traveling to Europe for the first time don't realize is that budget airlines are sometimes cheaper than taking the bus or the train.

When traveling with Ryanair it is not uncommon to pay a jaw-dropping €10 to €20 for a one-way international flight ticket. What's more, the cost of baggage is also reasonably priced. Ryaniar's Baggage Policies allow flyers to pack two small cabin bags from €6 or one 10 KG (22 LBS) checked a bag from €10. It should be noted, however, that all Ryaniar Baggage Policies should be checked before departure and followed accordingly. Failure to do so may result in some pretty hefty fines... For travelers looking to save money on baggage when traveling with Ryanair, check out our 30 Day Hand Luggage Packing List to help you utilise space in a small bag.

In addition to Ryanair's already low prices, the company makes continuous efforts to help its customers' save money. The airline frequently holds 24 hour flash sales, seasonal seat sales and discounts on return flight tickets which are accessible on the Ryanair website or via email alert after creating a Ryanair account. Smart buyers who take advantage of these discounts can purchase tickets reduced down to €5!

Sign up for an account on the Ryanair website or download the Ryanair app to keep up to date with the latest deals.

4 - Take a boat

Photo Credits: @fredericlecann_Instagram on @brittanyferries_Instagram

The idea of taking a boat for one leg of your European journey may sound a little strange to someone who has never been to Europe before, but what you may not realize is that taking a ferry is a cost-effective way to travel short journeys between European countries.

In particular, using a ferry to cross the English Channel from the UK to mainland Europe is the lesser known, low-cost alternative to taking the Eurostar. Booking network Direct Ferries is the perfect site to use if you are looking to take a ferry from the UK to mainland Europe. Users can compare prices between popular ferry lines such as P&O Ferries, Brittany Ferries and DFDS Seaways in order to find the cheapest deals. Popular routes booked through Direct Ferries include services from Dover to Dunkirk or Calais and from Hull to Zeebrugge or Rotterdam.

Direct Ferries is not only reserved for travel between the UK and mainland Europe. Explore their Ferries in Europe page to see a variety of different ferry routes, including routes to Greece, Croatia and Sicily, if you are looking for alternatives to air travel.

5 - If all else fails... rent a car

Photo Credits: @thewaltonadventure_Instagram on @autoeuropecarrentals_Instagram

Despite what you may think, renting a car is an excellent option for traveling in Europe. Although first-timers may be apprehensive about driving in a different country, driving is one of the easiest and cost-effective ways to explore Europe.

If you are looking to travel in the Schengen Area , driving is perhaps the easiest way to reach your destination. Drivers in the Schengen Area can forget about the hassle of waiting in traffic at international borders because there are no international borders in the Schengen Area, enabling free movement between countries.

Another driving concern of first-time travelers is about what side of the road they are expected to drive on. Don't let this put you off renting a car. The only countries that drive on the left hand side are the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), Cyprus and Malta. All other European countries drive on the right hand side.

Car rental companies such as Auto Europe and Sixt allow its customers' to pick up their car in one European country and to drop it off in another, with prices depending on the route of your trip. This is an excellent way to enable a flexible trip that is not dictated by bus or train timetables.

It is worth noting, however, that if you choose to drop off your car in a different location to where you picked it up, many companies will incur an additional charge. You should also be aware that drivers under the age of 25 may not be allowed to rent a car with certain rental companies or may be subject to a larger deposit.

Now that you know how to travel around Europe it's time to choose where you want to go! Use Hostelsclub.com and stay in one of our many hostels, hotels and B&Bs on your great European adventure!