Tips for those planning an independent trip

Packing up

The main rule of independent travel is to take no more things than your backpack can hold. It should be comfortable so that your back doesn’t fall off by the end of the trip.

If the trip is in summer and lasts no more than a week, you will need the following clothes and shoes:

three T-shirts;

a tank top (on you);

underwear and socks for the number of days of the trip;

a pair of jeans (another pair on you);

a light jacket;

light sneakers or sandals (not new!).

Advice for women: don’t take dresses, you’re not going to a ball! And avoid shoes with heels and thin straps – you will suffer. True, not for long – most likely, they won’t last until the end of the trip anyway.

Be sure to pack the following personal hygiene items in your backpack:

Toothbrush and toothpaste;

A small bottle of shampoo;

Wet wipes;

Keepers;

Deodorant;

A comb;

Hand sanitizer;

A small towel.

Your hostel will probably give you shampoo and a towel, but it’s always better to have your own.

As for cosmetics: choose something that doesn’t take a lot of time and effort to remove. Believe me, after 25 kilometers of walking around the city, you don’t want to spend another hour washing off your makeup. You want to fall asleep.

Buy yourself a fanny pack. It’s an indispensable thing! You can put all your documents and tickets, wallet, power bank, cigarettes and a lighter if you smoke. Plus, such a bag is always in plain sight, which reduces the likelihood of theft.

Advice for smokers: take cigarettes with you. It is known that abroad they usually cost a fortune. And by the way, to the question of where you can smoke in Europe. The answer is simple: where the locals smoke and there are no prohibiting signs.

No matter where and for how long you are going, ask yourself 20 times, do you really need what you are taking? Are you sure you will wear it at least once? Is it not available at the hotel? Is it possible to do without it? Because in 90% of cases, people fill half their backpack with unnecessary things.

It is better to leave some space in your bag. Why? Because from another country you will bring souvenirs for yourself and your friends, food, alcohol, etc.

If it so happens that the trip was not planned in advance, but you had to go – no big deal. Booking.com always has last minute deals with good discounts.

What to do if you have nowhere to spend the night? Let’s say there was no reservation, all the hostels were full, and it was already getting dark outside. It’s okay, it happens. Look for bars, clubs and other places that are open 24 hours. But you will get to know the city’s nightlife.