Backpack in Asia

what do you mean by “backpacking across Europe?” Are you really going to walk? If not, I highly recommend the Eurail pass which is a train pass valid in most EU countries.

Also, make sure every single thing you take with you can fit inside ONE bag. This will make travel much easier and help you keep track of everything.

Get off the beaten track and away from all the popular tourist attractions – this will help you save money, and also really experience the true culture of a country.

Talk to people – find some locals who are friendly (usually in a pub) and just talk with them. You can learn a lot this way, and may even find someone who would be willing to let you stay the night or give you a tour the next day.

Go to www.couchsurfing.com – here you can find places to stay for free. People open up their couches for people who are traveling to sleep on, which equals free accommodations. It is safe, and people must be ‘verified’ to make sure they aren’t unsafe.

Being safe – get one of those money belts. They may have been given a bad name from movies like Euro Trip, but they really are about the best thing you can get. Passport, money, travel documents….if your bag gets stolen, these are the things you really NEED….so keep them ON you at all times.

Don’t exchange money – put all your money into a bank account and use an ATM card. ATM’s are abundant in Europe, and using them gives you the exact exchange rate at that moment, and doesn’t incur any fees that you would have to pay otherwise.