Another major blunder is not memorizing a dozen basic words and phrases because you assume everyone speaks a bit of English. Even though this is generally true, greeting a shop owner, bartender, waiter, etc. in their language before asking if they speak English is almost always appreciated. "Hello, good morning, thank you, please, excuse me, how much?, how do you say?, yes, no, check please, delicious, cheers, beautiful, have a nice day, goodbye"...a little goes a long way. Great video as usual Mark.
It's funny you mentioned Ryan Air, in Malaga airport I saw a Ryan Air poster that advertised cheap flights from Malaga to London Prestwick airport, Prestwick airport is just outside Glasgow in Scotland (300 miles from London), it later turned out that Ryan Air got a HUGE fine from the Spanish government, imagine if you got in a taxi outside Prestwick and said Oxford Street please
I quite agree about booking as near the centre as possible.......I'm off to Florence next Spring and am booking an apartment right in the centre. Saves on transport, you can make your own meals, have a bathroom break and put your feet up mid day. All very important for an old lady.
I learned the overpacking thing the hard way the first time I went to Oslo. The bus from the airport dropped me off at the city center, and I knew my hotel was only a couple blocks away, but got a little disoriented, and because I was determined to find it myself and not ask directions (also dumb), I dragged those heavy bags all over downtown Oslo for about an hour before I found my hotel. In addition, they were having an unusual heat wave and it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was wearing cold-weather clothes. :( By the next time I went a few years later, I wore easy-to-add-or-remove layers, and carried only ONE lightweight backpack with only essentials in it. SO much easier!
I just stumbled on this video and there are great tips here. I was an overpacker. After getting charged for overweight luggage, I was reformed. I take less clothes and will wash in the sink. I also made the blunder of not staying closer to the centre of the city - that was in London. I swore never again. I'm going to Europe this September and made sure to book hotels closer to the city centre/main railway. I also agree with the poster who said that one should take the time to learn a few words and survival phrases in the language of the country you're going to visit. I can also personally attest to how well you are treated when you can say Hello/Excuse me/Please/etc.
Your first item made me laugh so much. We do cram too much to see every single time we travel. But the best part is this : we are the kind of people to spend five days in just /one/ city. There is so much to see in every city, it's just crazy to try and visit one "country" each day.
I always stay outside of the center. Not super far, but usually suburbs where the residents live. I make sure my hotel or airbnb is next to the metro. I find if your next to the metro it really doesn't matter, especially in cities like Paris. I stayed in the Boulogne-Billancourt area and was well connected to Versailles by a short bus ride. It actually feels overwhelming in the center. It's easier to find places with kitchens to cook and save money, you can pack a lunch. Local restaurants are also usually cheaper. You are right that you are less likely to come home, unless it's to spruce up for an evening show, but that is fine for me. Maybe when I have kids or am 60+ I'll need that. As of now I'm fine with an 8 hour day. I started travel that way, because I traveled in college and stayed with my friends who were foreign exchange students when they returned home, so maybe I'm just used to it. I feel less like a tourist and I think it encourages you to interact with the residents more and see places other than the sights.
Hey - as a Brit who used to fly fairly frequently between Edinburgh and Stansted (EasyJet - it's cool!) it's WELL worth checking out coach services like National Express - they can often be cheaper than the train, you're guaranteed a seat and they link outlying airports like Stansted with London. (They're also really great for travelling cross-country if you don't want to hire a car and deal with driving on the left, British roundabouts and other things you might not be so familiar with.)
Excellent video, can't say I disagree with the points you make. Given my own travel experiences throughout my life, I can confirm that all of these points require at least some degree of attention. I particularly agree with the "Don't pack unnecessary stuff" rule. A good trick to overcome the temptation to bring useless equipment with you is taking a smaller backpack (or other smaller piece of luggage).
So true! "Seeing" a country to many travelers is just running through town from the airport to the hotel, hurrying past a few of the big tourist sites, on to the next city. I would rather visit with the locals for a few hours, eat where they eat, see their homes if possible, experience their culture. You may "see" a country, but did you take the time to really experience it, did you spend any time with people that live there. Great video Mark.
gaz riley Actually, London Luton Airport can probably boast the fastest link (besides London City of course) but it's a low cost airport and only useful if you're travelling from Europe.
Very good advice with caveat for #1 that you should adjust pace of travel & amount of time spent in transit (planes, trains, in cars, etc) to your own taste. I happen to love to travel at a fast pace and come back from my travels completely exhausted by spending quite a bit of time each day or overnight (5-8 hours) in transit then start sightseeing immediately.
To me another blunder is people just trying to see the main sights and nothing else. Americans in France ? That's gonna be Paris, Mont Saint Michel, Nice and the Riviera, the Normandy beaches, and that's it. I live in the Alps, what do foreign tourist go see in the Alps ? Only Annecy and Chamonix. It's depressing. Try and see something else. Brittany is amazing, and not too crowded in summer, in the Alps go check the Vercors, the Queyras, the Ecrins. Real wild mountains, away from big ski resorts. Cities ? Don't forget Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg. Try stuff people avoid like Tours, or Troyes. Also, they tend to go see the most crowded places at the most crowded times. Why summer ? Let's get something over with: France's beaches are NOT that good. The Atlantic from Bordeaux to Biarritz is just white sand and pines, nothing else. It's boring. Sure Dune de Pyla and bassin d'Arcachon are gorgeous, but it's full of expensive properties belonging to celebrities, it's not wild. The riviera ? It's crowded, it's dirty, the best bit is probably Camargue and it's not real beaches. As for the North around Baie de Somme it's very cold, and Brittany/Normandy see too much rain all the time. They're beautiful to walk around. If you want to swim, camp in the sand, there are better countries for that. Australia, New Zealand, even the US. Cape Cod beats any French beach, I'm telling you. So just because everyone goes there doesn't mean it's great. The best French beaches are in Corsica, but it's very expensive. On TripAdvisor forum you basically NEVER see people asking about Corsica, I don't know why.
Why are you singling out Americans like foreigners don't do the same thing in the US when they come here. Because I can assure you, as someone who lives in a popular city, tourists do the same thing.
These type of tips is why this channel is so brilliant. No hacky, wannabe travel guide pretension but instead, practical as hell. And to anyone thinking about traveling to Europe, DO NOT TRAVEL ON RYAN AIR... or any absurdly cheap airline. Those are airlines that college students use to fly around and party up, it is not for tourists looking to have a nice vacation.
Thanks sinister. We try to be helpful for everybody traveling. We flat out refuse some airlines because of some the fees and insane stuff they charge you for. I had that giro a thing happen to me with Ryanair and I was not happy to say the least. All the best to you on your travels!
Great great advice!! I followed all of these on my recent trip to Prague-Vienna- Bratislava-Budapest. The only one I could not follow: I was traveling with my son after his semester studying in Prague. We traveled with all his stuff in one huge suitcase. (it was less of a hassle to fly it all back in a huge suitcase then to mail it back through the post office). We traveled by train to those cities. It was a little difficult (especially the train station in Budapest!!). But we did it and had a great trip!!!
As for another tip here in the Netherlands, in a lot of restaurants you can order a carafe, which is just a bottle of water, but it's usually tap water, so it's not chilled, but it doesn't cost anything. They always ask you to order a 'normal' drink first, to cover those expenses, but that's it.
Seven countries in ten days??? That's nuts! Going to Paris in May...want to see some of the main places but mostly strolling around the 5th arrondisment and Seine banks and picnic in several parks and eat a lot of food from the markets.
Amazing video Wolter! I made some of these blunders in the past, but now I can say that I travel smart. Recently I went to Europe end enjoyed London and Amsterdã for 13 days and it was amazing! I had time to enjoy the local culture and really experience these amazing locations. Kisses from Brazil!
Use packing cubes and watch a TON of videos on packing light. I've watched probably about 20--yes, 20! I've done carry-on for years. No lost luggage, ever!!! It can be done!!
Staying outside the city center can work very well. Last time I went to Venice I stayed in Padua and saved a ton of money on accommodation. Fast frequent trains to Venice plus Padova is itself a nice town and everything is of course, far cheaper than Venice.
About nr 7: First I started flying with only hand luggage because of luggage fees. Now I find it practical. Because it makes me pack light and be critical for what I do take with be. It is also very nice having less weight carrying. It makes me be more critical if what I buy and saves time at the airport.
1) We are doing 6 countries in 38 days, so I think we are defiantly giving enough time to see the culture. I also made sure to give one day of travel between each city, for example; I have Paris marked down from May 23-31. The 23rd and 31st are travel days, and the 24th to the 30th are days to see the city. 2) Were not using airlines at all, except from Canada to Europe and back. I hate flying I rather avoid it as much as possible. So I'm good with the trains. Were getting Rail Passes and I already did Point-to-point comparison and for us its just better to go with the passes . 3) Defiantly staying walking distance or close enough to take public transit. 4) I think I've researched way too much, I've learned so much I think I could ace a Europe geography test. Don't know if that is a bad thing or not... 5) I always look at prices, kind of second nature to me. 6) I actually wasn't even considering that when I was looking at tickets. Defiantly going to look at that. I already know that I'm going to have 2 stops by plane. 7) We decided to do carry on luggage only, Ive lost luggage before and I don't want to end up in Europe with our stuff missing. By doing this we also are forced to pack light because of restrictions.
I remember when i went to crete in Greece and i looked at the menu at a "super quality" resturaunt... The prices were from 30 euro to 200 euro per meal. And the thing of overpacking was something i was very far away from xD All i had was some spare clothes and swimming gear
Dead right about outlying airports - Ryanair is notorious for this. Frankfurt Hahn is much closer to Trier, or even Luxembourg ( a different country!) than Frankfurt.
Jeans is a big one with me. 2 pair tops. Jeans are pretty heavy and bulky. They are designed to be worn often and consecutively. They can go many many days without being washed. Take few jeans, even only one pair if possible. I usually pack at a 3 day interval. Meaning every 3rd day I am out of clothes and do laundry. Doesn't matter if I am traveling for 2 weeks or 5 days.
How do you feel about people taking overly-guided tours? All of my friends want me to save up for a trip with them, but they have it in their mind to use a service that arranges all the locations and transport and puts you int a bigger group. Beyond just wanting to be the master of my own time I imagine these services are a good bit more expensive than the sum of their parts.
OMG, I'm 17 from Italy I'm not a proper traveler yet, but I don't do those things when I travel. What stupid mistake, I can't believe people actually don't do research and stuff!!
Yup, definitely go to Lisbon and Sintra! Those are a must also swing by Cascais or Mafra its cool there too. The north (Porto) and south (Algarve region) are awesome as well.
I can't stress enough about having a short layover in airports. Last summer my mum and I had a 40 minute layover and our plane was over an hour late. Needless to say, we missed our flight and ended up staying over 24 hours. Our phones were dead because we left our chargers in our suitcase, we stunk, couldn't brush our teeth, and got no sleep.
Having been in Europe many times I already know must of those. But you are so interesting I watch your videos anyway. I tend to pack lighter and lighter and cram less in each travel. First time in Europe I visited 4 country. Now not only I limited myself to one country but usually only one region of the country for each trip and I travel only with my cabin luggage no matter how long my trip is.
Good point with the landing ime on planes. When I landed in Schipol this year it was raining and they weren't letting planes depart. Sat on the tarmac for about 2 hrs after a 9 hr flight. Was not much fun. Good thing at least it was the final stop and wasnt late for anything
Great tips! I really agree with the first one. When I found myself alone in Paris for three days last year, instead of rushing around trying to cram in all the sights & despite it being my only time ever there, I spent 2 of the 3 days in the Louvre. I don't regret it one bit and I certainly don't feel like I missed anything! Travelling at an, um..."leisurely pace" σ(^_^;) ..you're still seeing something new every second, but you have the time to soak it all in and really enjoy/appreciate the places you're visiting. I didn't have time to plan ahead and look for tips&tricks before hand because I was just kinda...there. But on the first day I learned I could use my passport as a ticket & I spotted the side entrances and the one leading in from that mall, which meant no queueing on the second day, so that was handy. Good to keep your eyes peeled for things like that. Especially if you've not had time to plan ahead, or have no internet and stuff.
I have another blunder for you.... I prefer to travel by car and just got back from northern Italy and France, but I believe I screwed up in Milan as we stayed in an area where it was within the (Limited Travel Zone) LTZ (I thought my rented apartment was outside this area) until I looked closer at a map when I got back home. I didnt know my traffic signage and now I am waiting quite possibly for a 1 or multiple fines. AND I dont know whats worse getting a fine(s) or waiting for them.
I’ve been to Vienna and Prague this week, and the first point already showed. I had three days in Vienna alone, and I got to experience some of it, but it didn’t feel as genuine as it could’ve been…
The last time I was looking at statistics about train travel the trains in most of Europe were still more often on time than the trains in the US. For example trains in the Netherlands is the second most often on time after only Japan.
Wow I never do research when I go on holidays. I went to Barcelona in May and had no idea they were number one for pick pockets in the world thankfully, I did not get robbed.
18 - going on my first solo planned trip with friends next year ! These videos are so helpful . :) France and Belgium ( Paris primarily ) . I've done a ton of research but the only thing I'm lacking is restaurant recommendations in between eating food from the market . Any must go places that aren't $$$ that I should know about ?
If I may suggest- always keep your contacts (email addresses and phone numbers) of your friends and relatives written on a sheet of paper. Also write down addresses and phone number of your High Commission/Embassies. Who knows if you loose your phone/tablet? In addition, I suggest to take print out of your hotel/airline ticket booking as well. AND CARRY ALL THESE IN YOUR CARRY ON BAG.
You need 3 pairs of shoes: two for walking around (one for walking, one for when the first pair chafes / gets soaked / falls apart), and one fancy pair for going to the opera / other fancy event.
Current plans are for: A week in Paris _[& Flanders if in April, for an ANZAC day commemoration]_ , Followed by: A week in the South East of England _[checking out a number of Cathedrals/ Castles/Museums]_ , Then: A week's break on a *narrow boat* , And finally: A week in Edinburgh _[If in August for the Tattoo]_ . (Either end, depending on the time of year, might be substituted with a week in Ireland)
You got stung on the train fare from the airport to London and didn't follow your own advise. If you pre-booked your ticket online it would have been a lot cheaper. Also there are many comfortable coaches from the airport to London which would also be cheap. It sounds like you bought the train ticket on the day of arrival which is a no,no
Ryan sharlotte I agree there are loads of coaches from stansted to London for 10-15 pounds which I think is cheap enough. You can even include the bus ticket when you're booking your flight but maybe you couldn't or there weren't as many options when this video was first posted.
Regarding not doing our research, I remember talking with a friend maybe 40 years ago, and she said she and her husband were going to Mexico. She had, however, no idea where it was located, and couldn't remember the name of the place. She'd gone into a travel agency, and asked where the hot places were for that year, and picked one, and hadn't even had the curiosity to locate it on a map. I'm sure my mouth fell open like Wile E. Coyote.
It 's easy not to overpack if you are going somewhere where the climate is predictable but you need a wide range for all weathers in the UK or other parts of northern Europe.
Hey Wolter. Could you comment a little more about the bennies of staying w/ a family as opposed to residing in a Hotel or a Hostile? Also, learning-or attempting to learn- a few words in the language of the countries that you plan to visit BEFORE landing in them? i.e.; "Where's the Water Closet?" - - ""Oh [-"Beep!-]. I've lost my passport!"". Thanks Couz, KEEP 'EM COMING!**.
I saw a family probably from the us a few years ago in rome. we ate lasagna, pasta and a lot of good things. they try to order "French Fries". But those Italian People never heard this word. I think if you want "Fries", oder Pommes Frites (say. Pom Frit).
About research: know when places are open. Is the place closed one day a week? Is the attraction open only in the summer? Does the old building close early in the afternoon because it does not have electric light? Don't find out these things at the entrance.
On the rip of not staying in far out towns. That is something I disagree with. I can understand if you are a first-time traveler, and you want to see the tourist stuff, but I sometimes love staying in the small non-touristy towns and villages and walking around. For example, staying in Lucca over Firenze . There is not Uffizi there, but if you saw it, staying in the small local villages can be just, and sometimes more joyess.
woltersworld HEY HEY! I watch you on Trip Smart through my Roku. I didn't know you had a RUclips. SUBSCRIBED! Keep up the great work, you're AWESOME! ~Stephanie
The last time I flew I looked online at the airports terminal maps. Then I planned my rout accordingly. Especially if they change the gate number. I flew from Vegas to Reno once and I left 4 hrs ahead of time (thankfully). The security line was really long when I arrived. Having a carry-on bag helped out so much 0 time spent in line checking bag's. Made sure that I was ready to go through. I have a cheap pair of flop sandels on and after I am through I put my sneakers on. Even had an hour to kill after I went through the security check. Every few minutes I check on my phone for any changes. I have an app of whatever the plane I am flying on for example: American Airlines. I even checked the weather for the place I am flying to or through. I even check it so I can plan accordingly what I am going pack. Always expect delays be it mechanical or weather. I even bring a book and some snacks. Ask a Gate atendent if you don't know what is going on with your flight or if you're in the right place. (know where the bathrooms are) it also helps to know if the place your staying at has shampoo and conditioner etc.
Really good list, especially packing too much! Also, not taking GOOD walking shoes. I see so many women hobbling along at the end of the day because they tried to look cute instead of being ready to walk. Americans don't realize how much walking they will do in Europe.
I done blunder #2 but the out of town airport was near a family member's house, so I was able to stay with them before heading to my destination. Looking back, if I didn't have that, I would just pay more for the flight to take me straight there.
in italy they have two menus. one for italians, one for tourists. (and some have a third for germans and americans). if you do speak a little bit italian (and i mean more than "una pizza per favore) then you eat way cheaper in italy. also, and that is really official, in a bar (in italy that means a café/bistro), you pay less if you get order and get your stuff yourself from the bar while you pay more if you are waited on.
I've looked, there are no tricks to that one. Only way to skip/avoid that is to schedule your flight so that you arrive at night and can sleep right away. And if time differences make it difficult, take it as far as skipping sleep the night before.
Rick Steves recommends a way to get through jet leg, is to get out and explore the city as soon as you arrive. So say you arrive early afternoon, don't go to your hostel/hotel and sleep. Walk it off basically.
We do have a video on jet lag for kids which is very similar to jet lag for adults or at least what you should do. I will do an adult jet lag video on our next trip.
Purchase 2 packets of “No Jet Lag” pills (1 for trip; 1 for back home). Soak in Epsom salts. Take Magnesium 200-250 mg. Apply Verbena cream under nose, on eye lids, behind ears, on pulses. Schedule a Swedish massage before & after arrival. Wear ear plugs. Book a quiet place to sleep.
Very wise video indeed. I gotta say though, flying to Girona is awesome for Salvador Dali fans, as its very close to Figueres, his home and home to the best Dali museum
The worst thing about the totally inconvenient fight times is that the hotels allow you to check in after 15.00. So someone who arrives at 10.00 needs to wait 5 hours until they can leave their luggage and relax. Then they bitch about how inflexible the hotel was that they arrived at 7.00 and they couldn't check in!! Come on!!!
Ad 3) Check the central hotels thoroughly. Most of them would be way overpriced but you may be surprised how often it's possible to find a nice room just outside the main attractions (like facing the Vatican Wall or across the street from Louvre - my experiences) for a great price, sometimes even cheaper than on the outskirts. True story, in Rome I paid quarter less than my coworker at the same time, for the same time period and in a hotel with the same quality level (A/C, B&B, free WiFi, sat TV). Well, he got much larger room but I didn't have to spend 45 minutes getting to the city center every day. And he thought he got a good deal because he was searching quite a lot in the outskirts. But in the outskirts only.
the one I see is people don't ask for advice from the locals and they act like "spot the tourist.". As for taxi's don't be afraid to ask hotels, bars and restaurants to book you one I've honestly never been coned by this rule but travel develops a sixth sense of who to trust
Terravision from Stansted to Victoria one way is 6 pounds.....compared to the railway which goes to Liverpool Street this is good value. Suggest advance booking....
Regarding #1, my motto has long been "No matter where I go, I could have gone some place else. No matter what I do, I could have done something else. No matter what I see, I could have seen something else. No matter who I meet, I could have met somebody else."
I’ve seen several travel warnings about pickpockets in Barcelona, but I spent a week there recently and never for one second did I feel vulnerable. Have your wits about you, sure, but don’t be scared off by warnings that make amazing cities seem far more dangerous than they really are.
Another travel advisor said, “no one has ever said next time I’ll pack more.”
Another major blunder is not memorizing a dozen basic words and phrases because you assume everyone speaks a bit of English. Even though this is generally true, greeting a shop owner, bartender, waiter, etc. in their language before asking if they speak English is almost always appreciated. "Hello, good morning, thank you, please, excuse me, how much?, how do you say?, yes, no, check please, delicious, cheers, beautiful, have a nice day, goodbye"...a little goes a long way.
Great video as usual Mark.
Thank you for the continued support tosh!
Or you can speak into a Google Translate app, it would translate on the fly. You will need internet connection though.
I use an app that translates while connected but then stores everything for audio replay when not. Pretty slick.
Tosh T. What app is that? There are so many out there....too many to download and try them all. I'd like to know for future reference.....
Except in Amsterdam because lots of shopkeepers and service staff don't speak Dutch. Yes, it's true.
It's funny you mentioned Ryan Air, in Malaga airport I saw a Ryan Air poster that advertised cheap flights from Malaga to London Prestwick airport, Prestwick airport is just outside Glasgow in Scotland (300 miles from London), it later turned out that Ryan Air got a HUGE fine from the Spanish government, imagine if you got in a taxi outside Prestwick and said Oxford Street please
A real scam
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1510045/Prestwick-Ryanairs-airport-for-London.html
This my first time traveling to Europe you can't ever imagine how your channel helped me !
I quite agree about booking as near the centre as possible.......I'm off to Florence next Spring and am booking an apartment right in the centre. Saves on transport, you can make your own meals, have a bathroom break and put your feet up mid day. All very important for an old lady.
I learned the overpacking thing the hard way the first time I went to Oslo. The bus from the airport dropped me off at the city center, and I knew my hotel was only a couple blocks away, but got a little disoriented, and because I was determined to find it myself and not ask directions (also dumb), I dragged those heavy bags all over downtown Oslo for about an hour before I found my hotel. In addition, they were having an unusual heat wave and it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was wearing cold-weather clothes. :( By the next time I went a few years later, I wore easy-to-add-or-remove layers, and carried only ONE lightweight backpack with only essentials in it. SO much easier!
I just stumbled on this video and there are great tips here. I was an overpacker. After getting charged for overweight luggage, I was reformed. I take less clothes and will wash in the sink. I also made the blunder of not staying closer to the centre of the city - that was in London. I swore never again. I'm going to Europe this September and made sure to book hotels closer to the city centre/main railway. I also agree with the poster who said that one should take the time to learn a few words and survival phrases in the language of the country you're going to visit. I can also personally attest to how well you are treated when you can say Hello/Excuse me/Please/etc.
You rock! Thank you. Never try to see too much! Read everything you can about where you are visiting.
Your first item made me laugh so much. We do cram too much to see every single time we travel. But the best part is this : we are the kind of people to spend five days in just /one/ city. There is so much to see in every city, it's just crazy to try and visit one "country" each day.
I always stay outside of the center. Not super far, but usually suburbs where the residents live. I make sure my hotel or airbnb is next to the metro. I find if your next to the metro it really doesn't matter, especially in cities like Paris. I stayed in the Boulogne-Billancourt area and was well connected to Versailles by a short bus ride. It actually feels overwhelming in the center. It's easier to find places with kitchens to cook and save money, you can pack a lunch. Local restaurants are also usually cheaper.
You are right that you are less likely to come home, unless it's to spruce up for an evening show, but that is fine for me. Maybe when I have kids or am 60+ I'll need that. As of now I'm fine with an 8 hour day.
I started travel that way, because I traveled in college and stayed with my friends who were foreign exchange students when they returned home, so maybe I'm just used to it. I feel less like a tourist and I think it encourages you to interact with the residents more and see places other than the sights.
Hey - as a Brit who used to fly fairly frequently between Edinburgh and Stansted (EasyJet - it's cool!) it's WELL worth checking out coach services like National Express - they can often be cheaper than the train, you're guaranteed a seat and they link outlying airports like Stansted with London. (They're also really great for travelling cross-country if you don't want to hire a car and deal with driving on the left, British roundabouts and other things you might not be so familiar with.)
The 7 blunders of the world :)
Excellent video, can't say I disagree with the points you make. Given my own travel experiences throughout my life, I can confirm that all of these points require at least some degree of attention. I particularly agree with the "Don't pack unnecessary stuff" rule. A good trick to overcome the temptation to bring useless equipment with you is taking a smaller backpack (or other smaller piece of luggage).
Exactly, the smaller backpack or suitcase forces you to think smart and light. Thanks for watching!
Your videos are so informative please keep them coming. You also have a beautiful family.
myhomevideos2011 thank you! I appreciate the kind words. all the best on your travels!
pack like youre going away for a week not a month, do laundry! you would be doing it at home anyway!
***** true! I should have added that one. good add Jessie!
I agree 100% with #1! I don't understand why some people travel just for the sake of seeing the country.
So true! "Seeing" a country to many travelers is just running through town from the airport to the hotel, hurrying past a few of the big tourist sites, on to the next city. I would rather visit with the locals for a few hours, eat where they eat, see their homes if possible, experience their culture. You may "see" a country, but did you take the time to really experience it, did you spend any time with people that live there. Great video Mark.
Also Chicago is known, nicknamed "the Windy City" and your plane could be delayed and make you late for another connection.
Heathrow is not in the centre but does have the Tube train link - Fastest way into London
gaz riley Actually, London Luton Airport can probably boast the fastest link (besides London City of course) but it's a low cost airport and only useful if you're travelling from Europe.
Chris Dowling what are you considering centre? Because going to St Pancras, Luton takes longer than Heathrow
This video saved me so much money mark! Thanks, my family made these blunders but after watching this video my family agrees! Thanks again :)
I’ve honestly never made any of these mistakes, thanks for stroking my ego :)
When i went for a vacation in Egypt i was the only one who had not packed too much
Very good advice with caveat for #1 that you should adjust pace of travel & amount of time spent in transit (planes, trains, in cars, etc) to your own taste. I happen to love to travel at a fast pace and come back from my travels completely exhausted by spending quite a bit of time each day or overnight (5-8 hours) in transit then start sightseeing immediately.
To me another blunder is people just trying to see the main sights and nothing else. Americans in France ? That's gonna be Paris, Mont Saint Michel, Nice and the Riviera, the Normandy beaches, and that's it. I live in the Alps, what do foreign tourist go see in the Alps ? Only Annecy and Chamonix. It's depressing. Try and see something else. Brittany is amazing, and not too crowded in summer, in the Alps go check the Vercors, the Queyras, the Ecrins. Real wild mountains, away from big ski resorts. Cities ? Don't forget Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg. Try stuff people avoid like Tours, or Troyes. Also, they tend to go see the most crowded places at the most crowded times. Why summer ? Let's get something over with: France's beaches are NOT that good. The Atlantic from Bordeaux to Biarritz is just white sand and pines, nothing else. It's boring. Sure Dune de Pyla and bassin d'Arcachon are gorgeous, but it's full of expensive properties belonging to celebrities, it's not wild. The riviera ? It's crowded, it's dirty, the best bit is probably Camargue and it's not real beaches. As for the North around Baie de Somme it's very cold, and Brittany/Normandy see too much rain all the time. They're beautiful to walk around. If you want to swim, camp in the sand, there are better countries for that. Australia, New Zealand, even the US. Cape Cod beats any French beach, I'm telling you. So just because everyone goes there doesn't mean it's great. The best French beaches are in Corsica, but it's very expensive. On TripAdvisor forum you basically NEVER see people asking about Corsica, I don't know why.
I agree. Traveling is more than just sightseeing (and eating).
You can add Toulouse to that list of interesting French cities. Furthermore, it's a worthwhile stopover on your way to Madrid or Barcelona.
Why are you singling out Americans like foreigners don't do the same thing in the US when they come here. Because I can assure you, as someone who lives in a popular city, tourists do the same thing.
Nice to see that I am doing things right when travelling :)
Oh my gosh , I have personally make 3 of the blunders on your list ! You will save people money, energy and time with these tips
These type of tips is why this channel is so brilliant. No hacky, wannabe travel guide pretension but instead, practical as hell.
And to anyone thinking about traveling to Europe, DO NOT TRAVEL ON RYAN AIR... or any absurdly cheap airline. Those are airlines that college students use to fly around and party up, it is not for tourists looking to have a nice vacation.
Thanks sinister. We try to be helpful for everybody traveling. We flat out refuse some airlines because of some the fees and insane stuff they charge you for. I had that giro a thing happen to me with Ryanair and I was not happy to say the least. All the best to you on your travels!
I wish I have had your videos a few years ago. Best wishes from Argentina and keep on making these videos!
Thanks again WoltersWorld for some helpful advice.
Spot on with all these warnings! I learned most of them years ago through trial & error.
Great great advice!! I followed all of these on my recent trip to Prague-Vienna- Bratislava-Budapest. The only one I could not follow: I was traveling with my son after his semester studying in Prague. We traveled with all his stuff in one huge suitcase. (it was less of a hassle to fly it all back in a huge suitcase then to mail it back through the post office). We traveled by train to those cities. It was a little difficult (especially the train station in Budapest!!). But we did it and had a great trip!!!
As for another tip here in the Netherlands, in a lot of restaurants you can order a carafe, which is just a bottle of water, but it's usually tap water, so it's not chilled, but it doesn't cost anything. They always ask you to order a 'normal' drink first, to cover those expenses, but that's it.
Seven countries in ten days??? That's nuts! Going to Paris in May...want to see some of the main places but mostly strolling around the 5th arrondisment and Seine banks and picnic in several parks and eat a lot of food from the markets.
sleeping bags may be for camping. many young people sleep in tents. on festivals for egzample there are special places for hundreds of tents.
Amazing video Wolter! I made some of these blunders in the past, but now I can say that I travel smart. Recently I went to Europe end enjoyed London and Amsterdã for 13 days and it was amazing! I had time to enjoy the local culture and really experience these amazing locations. Kisses from Brazil!
Daenerys Awesome! Abracos!
I love the first picture! lol But I am loving your videos. Very informative
Great advice, another superb video!
Regards,
TGV
Ps. Love the Persols! Dapper.
Thanks! My 3 year old punched me 2 days ago and broke them :)
Again, thanks so much for all the ideas. You have a beautiful family.
I have a tendency to overpack... Oh yes, I hate myself for that.
Use packing cubes and watch a TON of videos on packing light. I've watched probably about 20--yes, 20! I've done carry-on for years. No lost luggage, ever!!! It can be done!!
You could of got the nation express coach from stansted to London would of been so much cheaper. Great videos by the way
Staying outside the city center can work very well. Last time I went to Venice I stayed in Padua and saved a ton of money on accommodation. Fast frequent trains to Venice plus Padova is itself a nice town and everything is of course, far cheaper than Venice.
About nr 7: First I started flying with only hand luggage because of luggage fees. Now I find it practical. Because it makes me pack light and be critical for what I do take with be. It is also very nice having less weight carrying. It makes me be more critical if what I buy and saves time at the airport.
1) We are doing 6 countries in 38 days, so I think we are defiantly giving enough time to see the culture. I also made sure to give one day of travel between each city,
for example; I have Paris marked down from May 23-31. The 23rd and 31st are travel days, and the 24th to the 30th are days to see the city.
2) Were not using airlines at all, except from Canada to Europe and back. I hate flying I rather avoid it as much as possible. So I'm good with the trains. Were getting Rail Passes and I already did Point-to-point comparison and for us its just better to go with the passes
.
3) Defiantly staying walking distance or close enough to take public transit.
4) I think I've researched way too much, I've learned so much I think I could ace a Europe geography test. Don't know if that is a bad thing or not...
5) I always look at prices, kind of second nature to me.
6) I actually wasn't even considering that when I was looking at tickets. Defiantly going to look at that. I already know that I'm going to have 2 stops by plane.
7) We decided to do carry on luggage only, Ive lost luggage before and I don't want to end up in Europe with our stuff missing. By doing this we also are forced to pack light because of restrictions.
You are definitely ready to rock and roll :) have a great trip!
Defiantly?
I remember when i went to crete in Greece and i looked at the menu at a "super quality" resturaunt... The prices were from 30 euro to 200 euro per meal. And the thing of overpacking was something i was very far away from xD All i had was some spare clothes and swimming gear
Good info - especially about connection time between flights!
Dead right about outlying airports - Ryanair is notorious for this. Frankfurt Hahn is much closer to Trier, or even Luxembourg ( a different country!) than Frankfurt.
Thanks for another great video!
Jeans is a big one with me. 2 pair tops. Jeans are pretty heavy and bulky. They are designed to be worn often and consecutively. They can go many many days without being washed. Take few jeans, even only one pair if possible. I usually pack at a 3 day interval. Meaning every 3rd day I am out of clothes and do laundry. Doesn't matter if I am traveling for 2 weeks or 5 days.
I started watching your videos before I went to China back in October 2014 and I've been three times since 🙈 your videos are great :)!
How do you feel about people taking overly-guided tours? All of my friends want me to save up for a trip with them, but they have it in their mind to use a service that arranges all the locations and transport and puts you int a bigger group. Beyond just wanting to be the master of my own time I imagine these services are a good bit more expensive than the sum of their parts.
OMG, I'm 17 from Italy I'm not a proper traveler yet, but I don't do those things when I travel. What stupid mistake, I can't believe people actually don't do research and stuff!!
Italy seems like a great destination. I'm 17 as well from Portugal, would love to go there whenever i can
Hahaha I think the same about Portugal, can't wait to see it this summer!
Yup, definitely go to Lisbon and Sintra! Those are a must also swing by Cascais or Mafra its cool there too. The north (Porto) and south (Algarve region) are awesome as well.
Research is a fun part of travel! I love the planning!
I can't stress enough about having a short layover in airports. Last summer my mum and I had a 40 minute layover and our plane was over an hour late. Needless to say, we missed our flight and ended up staying over 24 hours. Our phones were dead because we left our chargers in our suitcase, we stunk, couldn't brush our teeth, and got no sleep.
Having been in Europe many times I already know must of those. But you are so interesting I watch your videos anyway. I tend to pack lighter and lighter and cram less in each travel. First time in Europe I visited 4 country. Now not only I limited myself to one country but usually only one region of the country for each trip and I travel only with my cabin luggage no matter how long my trip is.
Thank you so very much, we are planning a trip to to Europe in late June and your videos are very helpful
19 pairs of shoes? Maybe Imelda Marcos...
Great tips and real advice
Good point with the landing ime on planes. When I landed in Schipol this year it was raining and they weren't letting planes depart. Sat on the tarmac for about 2 hrs after a 9 hr flight. Was not much fun. Good thing at least it was the final stop and wasnt late for anything
Great tips! I really agree with the first one. When I found myself alone in Paris for three days last year, instead of rushing around trying to cram in all the sights & despite it being my only time ever there, I spent 2 of the 3 days in the Louvre. I don't regret it one bit and I certainly don't feel like I missed anything! Travelling at an, um..."leisurely pace" σ(^_^;) ..you're still seeing something new every second, but you have the time to soak it all in and really enjoy/appreciate the places you're visiting.
I didn't have time to plan ahead and look for tips&tricks before hand because I was just kinda...there. But on the first day I learned I could use my passport as a ticket & I spotted the side entrances and the one leading in from that mall, which meant no queueing on the second day, so that was handy. Good to keep your eyes peeled for things like that. Especially if you've not had time to plan ahead, or have no internet and stuff.
I have another blunder for you.... I prefer to travel by car and just got back from northern Italy and France, but I believe I screwed up in Milan as we stayed in an area where it was within the (Limited Travel Zone) LTZ (I thought my rented apartment was outside this area) until I looked closer at a map when I got back home. I didnt know my traffic signage and now I am waiting quite possibly for a 1 or multiple fines. AND I dont know whats worse getting a fine(s) or waiting for them.
I’ve been to Vienna and Prague this week, and the first point already showed. I had three days in Vienna alone, and I got to experience some of it, but it didn’t feel as genuine as it could’ve been…
our hostel in Paris was out by the canals, 30 minute subway ride to get to the centre haha
Hey, Marc (or Wolter, haha). When are you going to visit Bulgaria? It is so underrated and deserves to be seen, man.
Great Tips. Thank you so much.
The last time I was looking at statistics about train travel the trains in most of Europe were still more often on time than the trains in the US. For example trains in the Netherlands is the second most often on time after only Japan.
Italy, in 1936, beat them all...
for the entire year, EVERY train *throughout Italy* was on time...
both departing and arriving!
Wow I never do research when I go on holidays. I went to Barcelona in May and had no idea they were number one for pick pockets in the world thankfully, I did not get robbed.
18 - going on my first solo planned trip with friends next year ! These videos are so helpful . :) France and Belgium ( Paris primarily ) . I've done a ton of research but the only thing I'm lacking is restaurant recommendations in between eating food from the market . Any must go places that aren't $$$ that I should know about ?
You will discover places just fine. Don't worry :) eat and enjoy
If I may suggest- always keep your contacts (email addresses and phone numbers) of your friends and relatives written on a sheet of paper. Also write down addresses and phone number of your High Commission/Embassies. Who knows if you loose your phone/tablet? In addition, I suggest to take print out of your hotel/airline ticket booking as well. AND CARRY ALL THESE IN YOUR CARRY ON BAG.
You need 3 pairs of shoes: two for walking around (one for walking, one for when the first pair chafes / gets soaked / falls apart), and one fancy pair for going to the opera / other fancy event.
Current plans are for:
A week in Paris _[& Flanders if in April, for an ANZAC day commemoration]_ ,
Followed by:
A week in the South East of England _[checking out a number of Cathedrals/ Castles/Museums]_ ,
Then:
A week's break on a *narrow boat* ,
And finally:
A week in Edinburgh _[If in August for the Tattoo]_ .
(Either end, depending on the time of year, might be substituted with a week in Ireland)
You got stung on the train fare from the airport to London and didn't follow your own advise. If you pre-booked your ticket online it would have been a lot cheaper. Also there are many comfortable coaches from the airport to London which would also be cheap. It sounds like you bought the train ticket on the day of arrival which is a no,no
Ryan sharlotte I agree there are loads of coaches from stansted to London for 10-15 pounds which I think is cheap enough. You can even include the bus ticket when you're booking your flight but maybe you couldn't or there weren't as many options when this video was first posted.
ahhh man, I love your videos!
IAmPloch thank you ploch :)
Actually working at the airport as a ground crew we normally tell them when you’re allowed out plus your on there 10 to 15 minutes after you land
The video thumbnail alone deserves a thumbs up 😃👍🏽
Regarding not doing our research, I remember talking with a friend maybe 40 years ago, and she said she and her husband were going to Mexico. She had, however, no idea where it was located, and couldn't remember the name of the place. She'd gone into a travel agency, and asked where the hot places were for that year, and picked one, and hadn't even had the curiosity to locate it on a map. I'm sure my mouth fell open like Wile E. Coyote.
It 's easy not to overpack if you are going somewhere where the climate is predictable but you need a wide range for all weathers in the UK or other parts of northern Europe.
PS If I am going to E.g.Spain in summer I take a suitcase half the size of one I take if I stay here in the UK!
Hey Wolter. Could you comment a little more about the bennies of staying w/ a family as opposed to residing in a Hotel or a Hostile? Also, learning-or attempting to learn- a few words in the language of the countries that you plan to visit BEFORE landing in them? i.e.; "Where's the Water Closet?" - - ""Oh [-"Beep!-]. I've lost my passport!"". Thanks Couz, KEEP 'EM COMING!**.
3 hour transit minimum for international.
2:30 for domestic
I saw a family probably from the us a few years ago in rome. we ate lasagna, pasta and a lot of good things. they try to order "French Fries". But those Italian People never heard this word. I think if you want "Fries", oder Pommes Frites (say. Pom Frit).
Greetings from Romania!
About research: know when places are open. Is the place closed one day a week? Is the attraction open only in the summer? Does the old building close early in the afternoon because it does not have electric light? Don't find out these things at the entrance.
On the rip of not staying in far out towns. That is something I disagree with. I can understand if you are a first-time traveler, and you want to see the tourist stuff, but I sometimes love staying in the small non-touristy towns and villages and walking around. For example, staying in Lucca over Firenze . There is not Uffizi there, but if you saw it, staying in the small local villages can be just, and sometimes more joyess.
woltersworld HEY HEY! I watch you on Trip Smart through my Roku. I didn't know you had a RUclips. SUBSCRIBED! Keep up the great work, you're AWESOME! ~Stephanie
I've never done any of these things (maybe Nr.7, but I am not a backpacker so it's not that much of a problem). Greetings from Vienna. ;)
The last time I flew I looked online at the airports terminal maps. Then I planned my rout accordingly. Especially if they change the gate number. I flew from Vegas to Reno once and I left 4 hrs ahead of time (thankfully). The security line was really long when I arrived. Having a carry-on bag helped out so much 0 time spent in line checking bag's. Made sure that I was ready to go through. I have a cheap pair of flop sandels on and after I am through I put my sneakers on. Even had an hour to kill after I went through the security check. Every few minutes I check on my phone for any changes. I have an app of whatever the plane I am flying on for example: American Airlines. I even checked the weather for the place I am flying to or through. I even check it so I can plan accordingly what I am going pack. Always expect delays be it mechanical or weather. I even bring a book and some snacks. Ask a Gate atendent if you don't know what is going on with your flight or if you're in the right place. (know where the bathrooms are) it also helps to know if the place your staying at has shampoo and conditioner etc.
why dont you have more subscribers? You really deserve more because your videos are awesome.
Really good list, especially packing too much! Also, not taking GOOD walking shoes. I see so many women hobbling along at the end of the day because they tried to look cute instead of being ready to walk. Americans don't realize how much walking they will do in Europe.
Thanks a lot! Funny guy with good advice!
I done blunder #2 but the out of town airport was near a family member's house, so I was able to stay with them before heading to my destination. Looking back, if I didn't have that, I would just pay more for the flight to take me straight there.
in italy they have two menus. one for italians, one for tourists. (and some have a third for germans and americans).
if you do speak a little bit italian (and i mean more than "una pizza per favore) then you eat way cheaper in italy.
also, and that is really official, in a bar (in italy that means a café/bistro), you pay less if you get order and get your stuff yourself from the bar while you pay more if you are waited on.
Thank you!
Love your videos!! :-) thanks for the great tips!
great video...could you please do a video on avoiding and overcoming jet lag.
I've looked, there are no tricks to that one. Only way to skip/avoid that is to schedule your flight so that you arrive at night and can sleep right away. And if time differences make it difficult, take it as far as skipping sleep the night before.
Rick Steves recommends a way to get through jet leg, is to get out and explore the city as soon as you arrive. So say you arrive early afternoon, don't go to your hostel/hotel and sleep. Walk it off basically.
We do have a video on jet lag for kids which is very similar to jet lag for adults or at least what you should do. I will do an adult jet lag video on our next trip.
THANKS MARK!
Purchase 2 packets of “No Jet Lag” pills (1 for trip; 1 for back home). Soak in Epsom salts. Take Magnesium 200-250 mg. Apply Verbena cream under nose, on eye lids, behind ears, on pulses. Schedule a Swedish massage before & after arrival. Wear ear plugs. Book a quiet place to sleep.
Very wise video indeed. I gotta say though, flying to Girona is awesome for Salvador Dali fans, as its very close to Figueres, his home and home to the best Dali museum
only Girona airport is operated by "Scum Air" = Ryanair, a no-no for me!
You forgot duck-lip selfies. haha
The worst thing about the totally inconvenient fight times is that the hotels allow you to check in after 15.00. So someone who arrives at 10.00 needs to wait 5 hours until they can leave their luggage and relax. Then they bitch about how inflexible the hotel was that they arrived at 7.00 and they couldn't check in!! Come on!!!
Ad 3) Check the central hotels thoroughly. Most of them would be way overpriced but you may be surprised how often it's possible to find a nice room just outside the main attractions (like facing the Vatican Wall or across the street from Louvre - my experiences) for a great price, sometimes even cheaper than on the outskirts. True story, in Rome I paid quarter less than my coworker at the same time, for the same time period and in a hotel with the same quality level (A/C, B&B, free WiFi, sat TV). Well, he got much larger room but I didn't have to spend 45 minutes getting to the city center every day. And he thought he got a good deal because he was searching quite a lot in the outskirts. But in the outskirts only.
the one I see is people don't ask for advice from the locals and they act like "spot the tourist.". As for taxi's don't be afraid to ask hotels, bars and restaurants to book you one I've honestly never been coned by this rule but travel develops a sixth sense of who to trust
Terravision from Stansted to Victoria one way is 6 pounds.....compared to the railway which goes to Liverpool Street this is good value. Suggest advance booking....
Regarding #1, my motto has long been "No matter where I go, I could have gone some place else. No matter what I do, I could have done something else. No matter what I see, I could have seen something else. No matter who I meet, I could have met somebody else."
I’ve seen several travel warnings about pickpockets in Barcelona, but I spent a week there recently and never for one second did I feel vulnerable. Have your wits about you, sure, but don’t be scared off by warnings that make amazing cities seem far more dangerous than they really are.