Travel Tip : Seek the Unexpected

No matter where you travel, there will be specific things that you just have to do in that location. Visit the famous museums, take that classic picture. But I encourage you to stray off that over-beaten path and do something funny, different, or a little crazy. Plan these adventures or stumble upon them. But regardless, making them happen is worth it.

Escape Games: 

When I was planning my trip to Krakow, I scoured tripadvisor.com to find interesting activities. This is when I learned about escape games, and led to one of my favorite experiences of the trip. All we did was sign up for an appointment, we showed up at our assigned time, the friendly receptionist locked us in a room, and we had an hour to solve puzzles to escape. 

It sounds a little freaky, but it is so fun, and is a trendy activity in many popular European locations. Usually the cost is around $20-$30 per person, but varies based on the popularity of the location, and how involved the set-up is.

Haunted Houses:

Before I moved to Europe, I had never been in a haunted house. After I left, I had been in two. While they are rarely historical, haunted houses are an excellent way to bond with friends and let loose.

When in London, we were looking for the London Bridge Experience (which we thought was a museum). When we arrived, it was a haunted house, and though we were confused, we were all down for the adventure. It ended up being so much fun! Not only was it a good break in our day of sight-seeing, but it was also informative and created an awesome memory.

In Cork around Halloween, a group of friends went to the local haunted house (The Nightmare Realm) for a short adventure. Again, we had a blast, and it was a great way to experience something that local students enjoy. It also gave us some of my favorite pictures from my entire trip.

Scary/Ghost Tours:

These tours are surprisingly popular in Europe, and I went on one in Edinburgh and Krakow. They provide an exciting alternative to a normal walking tour, and show you a different (if not fictional) aspect of the city. These tours are an awesome way for you to learn about the city but also avoid getting bored. They tend to include very eclectic individuals and let you experience in a new way.

Wax Museums:

I had never been to a wax museum before visiting London, but they are actually really fun to visit and can be found in many major European cities. It is a fun way to get a lot of exciting pictures, have a good time goofing off with friends, and learning about the history of a place in a creative way. Madame Tussaud’s locations are common as well as other more local museums.

So next time you travel, do something funny! Do something weird, and memorable. Because it just may be your favorite part of the trip.

Until Next Time,

The Opinionated Lassie 

How to plan a weekend trip in Europe:

(This post was originally written for my college's study abroad blog and is being republished here)

When planning a short trip in Europe, the most important thing to do is research. While every potential city and activity sounds exciting, reading and outlining a trip will help you make the most of your time and money! Following are steps and websites that will help maximize shorts trips within Europe and tips from my personal experiences.

1) Look at your calendar and establish what dates are good for you to travel. These may include long weekends, days that you may not have school, or even just days that you think it would be nice to get away.

2) Find out what location is affordable during the days you want to travel.

www.ryanair.com

Ryanair is an Irish airline known for its cheap flights and the bright yellow seats on their planes. They offer a variety of inexpensive flights throughout continental Europe, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. When flying with Ryanair it is important that you read the fine print carefully to avoid unnecessary fees. Traveling with a backpack and no checked luggage is the best way to save money. Additionally, they have you print your own ticket before you get to the airport. Ryanair keeps costs low by flying into minor airports and departing at strange times. But if the flights fit your schedule then they can be a real bargain!

www.easyjet.com

Easyjet is, in many respects, the British equivalent of Ryanair. They are know for affordable flights and, once again, traveling with only a backpack is the best way to save money. If Ryanair does not have any flights that look interesting, Easyjet would be another great airline to check with!

www.skyscanner.com

This is a great website that compares many destinations, airlines, and times to find you the best deal on travel. This is a great place to start and is also very helpful if you have a specific location that you want to go to!

Recommendation: If you do find a great flight on a website that compares multiple airlines, write down the flight information and then buy the ticket directly from the airline. This is the best way to make sure that the deal is legitimate and that all of the information about the airport and specifications are up-to-date and true.

3) Once you have selected your destination, you need to start looking into where you will stay. Depending on the popularity of the city you are headed to, affordable lodging may be readily available or fill up very fast. Looking into your options as soon as possible is the best way to assure affordable and nice accommodation.

Hostels.com

Hostelworld.com

These are two comparable websites that compare different hostels by city and location. Hostels are by far the most affordable way to travel in Europe but may be an adjustment to the novice American traveller. Hostels usually have multiple people sleeping in a single room and include common areas and occasionally kitchens. There is often little privacy in these rooms and it is important to pack lightly and not bring anything expensive with you. Even though they may be intimidating, hostels are a great way to meet fellow travelers and like-minded individuals. The desk attendants are generally very knowledgeable and can help guide you to the best possible stay in their city. Hostels.com and Hostelworld.com both rate hostels by a variety of factors - a nice feature if you know nothing about the city you are heading to. Reading reviews and looking at pictures usually gives you an idea of the quality of the accommodation. Remember, since you will spend the vast majority of your time outside of your accommodation, location is usually the most important factor and can have a huge impact on your trip.

Airbnb.com

If you do not want to stay in a hostel, Airbnb may be a great option for you! This website lets you make an account and find individuals who are renting their homes or apartments out to people that are visiting their city. It helps you feel like you are living in that city for a few nights and lets you experience what life in that city would be like. This option gives you much more privacy and all of the amenities of a full apartment. As with hostels, location is most important, but for those wanting to avoid hostels, this may be something to look into.

Kayak.com

Travelocity.com

On the off chance that hostels are full or really expensive, checking on discount hotels is worth a try. Special deals may come up on sites like Travelocity.com or Kayak.com, especially if you buy it at the last minute.

4) Some people like having no plan when they travel, others have an itemized itinerary - I suggest finding a happy medium. Even if you like to go with the flow, doing some research about your destination helps guarantee that you don’t miss anything too crucial and can make the most out of a short time.

Tripadvisor.com

Trip Advisor is an excellent resource to find stereotypical stops and fun activities that are off the beaten path. This is a great way to research restaurants, find reviews of hotels and hostels, and many different activities and tours. Tours are a great way to get an educational look at your destination, and free walking tours are really common in Europe and are worth checking out. There is also an option to plan your trip on Tripadvisor.com and to mark all destinations on a map for reference.

Tips:

-This may sound crazy, but escape games are common in Europe and are really fun! They usually fill up fast but they are sure to leave a great impression and a fun memory of your travels.

-Depending on how much you want to pack in, day passes can be a good way to save money. These can be found in cities with large tourist industry and are usually packages that include most of the famous landmarks.

-Bike tours are super fun, especially in cities where biking is popular (like Amsterdam or Copenhagen). They let you cover a lot of ground and feel like a local!

-Do the stereotypical stuff (but also some random stuff)! You will regret not getting a red telephone booth picture in London, or an Eiffel tower picture in Paris, but the best stories often come from things that you just happen into and the random people you meet along the way.

-Have fun and be nice to your travel buddy! Traveling brings out the best and worst in people. Everybody wants to have a good time, but take care of your friends and be patient during stressful situations!

 Yours,

The Opinionated Lassie