Lessons Learned

Now that the jet lag has worn off - how did it go, what did we learn and what can we do better next time? Here is a data dump of things we learned in our first time backpacking in Europe.

Language – Pack a list of common phrases, particularly transportation (train station, gate, seat), common signs (open, closed, entrance, exit), destinations, food and drinks. Instead of printing, we saved a list to my phone so we could update it as needed.  Also, study with www.duolingo.com. I studied Spanish for years and Jason only a few months on Duolingo and he nailed it in Spain.

Toilets – If you don't have to pay to pee, you probably don't want to. The difference between a pay toilet and a public toilet is noticeable, to put it politely. We stopped for plenty of drinks just to use a restaurant bathroom.

Rain gear – Tote garbage bags or waterproof sacks to cover your packs. Thanks for that lesson, San Sebastian. We live in the desert so we did need some learning in this area. My waterproof, hooded jacket was perfect. We considered an umbrella but fortunately most of our hotels loaned them out.

Printing – Electronic tickets save a lot of time at the train station and museum kiosks. Ask the hotel first if they can help you print. Some may print a page or two for free. Otherwise we found most shops cost about 0.15 Euro per page. If we couldn’t spot one on the street, we searched on Yelp for printing and internet services.  

Transportation – You usually have to validate your ticket but it is not always clear how or when.  Also, it helps to know the name of the final stop of the bus or train you are boarding as that is often all that is listed.  Often the train number is the easiest piece of information to use to find your train. Read your tickets in advance – our tickets for Germany and Budapest were almost indecipherable in another language. Also, there may be no seat listed because it is open seating in some trains’ second class.  

Payment – Pay in cash. Our Charles Schwab debit card, with no international or ATM fees, was also excellent. My Chase Sapphire preferred credit card with a chip was only OK. Europe uses the chip-and-pin system; the Sapphire card is a chip and signature. Some machines wouldn't take it, and it confused some vendors, which meant in most countries we rarely bothered with it.

Laundry – We did small items by hand with a Tide packet or bar of soap. (Note: Girl undies dry faster than dudes'.)  Don't do pants or heavy shirts unless you have days to dry or heated drying rack. And the rumor is true, you will sniff your clothes and shrug off washing them much more than you’d like to admit.

Hotels/hostels – Unless you are staying at major hotels, read the fine print and call or email ahead of time. In Budapest, we would've been stranded had we not. While it was frustrating at first (since we didn’t have cell service), these types of places turned out to be our favorite.

Smartphone – You can buy phones or phone cards. We happened to have a Motorola Xprt that is unlocked for international service. Check with your carrier for phones with that capability. Theoretically we could have purchased an international SIM card or purchased an international plan from Sprint. However, we opted for wifi and Skype. The Skype app allows you to make phone calls for approximately 2 cents per minute (varies by country). This worked but we were occasionally stuck without access to the internet when we were out on the town and needed to look something up (i.e., happy hour).

Security – Wherever you are, just assume you will get mugged. This means separating money and cards and passports so if one bag gets stolen, not everything goes at once. I carry a small wallet in my front pocket clipped to my belt loop or clipped to a pocket I had sewn inside my jacket. Jason carries his wallet in his front pocket and just keeps his hand in his pocket in crowded/sketchy places. We always lock our passports and laptop in our packs or safe in the hotel. On trains or busses, we hook our bags together so if someone did try to snatch them, they have to snatch a clumsy 50-pound mass. 

Locks – These add a layer of security to deter thieves. Unfortunately our Kelty Redwing packs do not have lockable zippers and we had to manufacture our own. Jason did so using his quality chainmail skills. Our packs are now medieval meets backpacker chic.

Down time – We appreciate the idea of going off the grid, but with our inability to plan ahead, there is always down time when we huddle behind our laptop and smartphone screens. It takes a joint effort to Yelp, Tripadvisor and Google all at the same time. We just tried to do it during rainy days or at pubs. Research (and blogging) will eat up some of your time but consider that time to rest your feet.

Lastly, and most importantly: S--t happens. All of our best laid plans got messed up. Our debit card was late in the mail. My chip came off my credit card. Jason lost his allen wrench for his camera gun. I dropped my phone in a glass of water. Our train tickets did not arrive by email. Jason's camera bag is now tied and safety pinned together. I wore a hole through my Converses and our day bag. It rained every time we planned outdoorsy stuff. The list goes on . . .

Whatever happens, remember you are on vacation and you volunteered for the adventure. (i.e., no one will sympathize because XYZ happened while you were backpacking through Europe).  Things will go wrong, get lost and/or break.  Traveling is not always easy but in some ways that is part of its charm.  Remember that time you missed your ferry and got stuck in a weird little town in Wales?  It might be easy to get upset and frustrated but if you roll with it, you might find it is one of the most unique experiences of your trip.  You might also discover the best happy hour in Great Britain.

Next up? Photos, behind the scenes and the final tally on what this trip really cost.