By the time you read this, I’ll be impatiently waiting in line at immigration in London, clutching the passport I’m so excited to put back into play after four and a half months stateside. This trip kind of crept up on me, and while I’ve dropped hints about where I’m headed I haven’t given you a proper travel plans update since my rough sketch of how I imagined 2014 would shake out. You guys know that Europe is far from my usual playground, but somehow this summer just kind of… happened. Now that things are finalized, here’s where I’ll be hanging.
First Stop: England
With so many close friends having returned or relocated to London, I swing through any and every chance I get. In the past I’ve confessed that it’s not my favorite city, but I’m surprised by how pumped I am for my third visit. My week here will basically be one non-stop sleepover party with my various girlfriends, with frequent supply runs for Rekorderlig cider and bacon butties from Gregg’s (don’t judge).
Next Up: Malta
Within minutes of Anders accepting his dive instructor position in Malta I was online looking up flights. I purposely have kept my itinerary loose to be able to take advantage of any time off Anders might have (which sadly at the moment is looking like a whopping total of zero days) and haven’t had much time to crack open my guidebook. But lack of planning aside, I am seriously looking forward to a week of Mediterranean sun and exploring a brand new country that I quite frankly didn’t know existed this time last year. (Um, hey, European geography is hard.)
Party Pit Stop: Belgium
Ah, Belgium, the country that launched this whole crazy trip (crazy in the sense that my bank account is laughing at me in a really manically cruel way right now just thinking about it). As soon as I saw one of the infamous Tomorrowland aftermovies, I knew there was no way I could continue through life without attending this wild festival out in the middle of nowhere Belgium. Landing tickets to one of the most lusted-after music events in the world was no easy feat, but I’ll save that story for rave o’clock. In the meantime, go watch that aftermovie. Seriously.
In addition to the four days my partner in crime Heather and I will be spending in Boom — actual town name — for the festival, I’ll be spending four nights based in Brussels experiencing some of the best Belgium has to offer with unique accommodation (a Pantone-inspired hotel, anyone?) and Viator tours exploringΒ Brussel’s gourmet chocolate making scene and the quaint city of Bruges. This will be another new country for me — this one I totally knew about, though, I swear.
Last But Not Least: Greece
I have been itching to return to Greece ever since I cruised through with my momma in 2011 and got a hint firsthand of what all the fuss is about. So when Heather realized she could swing another week of travel post-Tomorrowland, we used Skyscanner’s Everywhere Search and discovered super cheap flights to Athens, and we were sold. We’ll spend the week doing the live-like-a-stylish-local thing with apartment rentals with Hara’s Houses in Santorini and Flipkey in Athens. I think it goes without saying that my heart almost explodes with happiness thinking about this.
After bidding goodbye to my temporary travel buddy I’ll be taking off on what to me is a serious adventure — attempting group travel. I rarely if ever travel in groups (basically just when it’s necessary, like in the Amazon or on the Inca Trail), and I admit I’m nervous about how this independent traveler will take to not being in charge all the time. But you know what? When Heather and I were trying to figure out the ferry schedules, and when I was trying to look into affordable accommodation for a solo traveler in peak season, my brain almost short circuited in protest. It felt pretty darn good to hand the reigns over to Contiki for their Greek Island Hopping itinerary and to Viator for their short but sweet jauntΒ to the cliff top monasteries of Meteora. All in all, I feel like a pretty lucky girl to be heading to Greece for such a luxurious amount of time.
And Beyond: Back to Southeast Asia
After 6.5 weeks in Europe, the CFO of Alex in Wanderland has put her foot down and demanded a return to a more affordable destination. Oh, hey, what do you know! The CFO is me. So from Greece I’ll be flying onward to Thailand, with a 24 hour layover in Bahrain en route. (Note to self: figure out what the heck to do in Bahrain.) Once in Southeast Asia I plan to spend about three months settled down somewhere living the good life and catching my breath after a super fast-paced summer. I think it will be the perfect way to wind down and balance out the year.
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So, about those euros…
Let’s start with the good news! All those one-way flights from New York to Santorini cost me less than $1,000. I snagged New York to London for $415, London to Malta for $137, Malta to Brussels for $186, and Brussels to Athens for $206 — including all baggage fees. And while the flight to London does admittedly involve an inconveniently long layover in Iceland, all the rest are direct and on decent airlines. On top of that, I snagged a totally free flight from Athens to Santorini — worth $134 — thanks to my Capital One Purchase Eraser. So in total, I’m hitting four countries in Europe in peak season for a total of $943.
How did I do it? Well, I booked almost five months ahead, which of course sacrifices some flexibility. Yet it’s really your best bet for scoring a deal — according to an article I gleefully ripped out of Travel and Leisure magazine, The Airlines Reporting Corporation found that the lowest summer fares to Europe are offered a full 31 weeks before departure.
I also went a little off the rails with Excel. I knew loosely where I wanted to go but I was pretty flexible on the order of my itinerary and the exact travel dates. So I made a spreadsheet of my itinerary options and I used Kayak and Skyscanner to check those various routes for basically all of July. I noted the routes that only ran direct a few times a week and the dates that were significantly cheaper than others. I was careful to check the airline’s policies on baggage and add those fees into my Excel as well. Then I just let the numbers decide. London was by far the cheapest entry point into Europe so I made that my first stop by default. From there I built my itinerary around the lowest fares I could find. Boom. Itinerary built and flights booked (we’ll just skip over all the tears and hand wringing in the middle.)
Yet while everyone keeps telling me what a killer deal I got, I am still bracing myself for the most expensive months of my travels ever, thanks to a lot of airtime and a seriously pricey festival ticket. While I am lucky to be working from the road and taking advantage of both personal and professional connections throughout this trip, there’s still little chance I won’t end up dipping into my savings. It’s peak season. In Europe. I’m trying to embrace that fact now and remind myself that I’ve been working and saving up hard for this, so that it won’t nag at me along the way and I can just enjoy the indulgence.
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So now that you know where I’m headed and what I’m up to, I want to hear from you! Is there a ouzo bar I must know about in Oia? A beach I can’t miss near BuΔ‘ibba? A first timer festival tip I have to hear? Has anyone had any fabulous group travel experiences they want to reassure me with? Bring on the heavily solicited travel advice — I’m so looking forward to reading it in the comments. And hey — let me know what you all are up to this summer too!
I still have some US travel stories to share (including my heart-filled return to Hawaii!) before I start posting about my current European odyssey, but you can always follow along in real time on Facebook and Instagram! I can’t wait to share this new adventure with you.
Let’s do this! Summer in Europe, here I come…
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Image of Malta via National Geographic and edited by me, image of Tomorrowland via Tattoo Donkey, image of Brussels via Flickr and edited by me, and image of Meteora via Achtypis and edited by me. My trips with Contiki and Viator and my stays with Hostelworld, Hara’s Houses and Flipkey are being provided in exchange for media coverage. As always, you will receive my honest opinions regardless of who is footing the bill.
Sounds like a blast! I’ll be spending 2 weeks in Greece in about a month and I’m so excited. I’ll be staying at a hostel with some grat reviews in Oia. Totally stoked bc I’ve heard that’s the best part of Santorini. I’ve done group travel before but not with contiki, as I haven’t heard much good about them. I did mine with EF college tours and had a blast on both. It was the first time traveling on my own so it was a nice intro to central america and europe. It’s also nice to not have to plan put every aspect of a trip.
Seriously! I’m a full time independent traveler so obviously I have the confidence and knowledge to travel on my own BUT I’m also a full time independent traveler, which means I get so burnt out on planning and logistics. Definitely looking forward to getting to check into a hotel that I haven’t researched to death, agonized over booking, and done a cost comparison for!
I am so jealous of this travel schedule! You’re going to have such an amazing time! A little indulgence won’t kill you, and you’ll make some great memories, as per usual. π
My travel plans this summer include a trip to Montreal/Quebec City (never been) and Charlotte, NC (never been), so I’m looking forward to exploring both and writing up some more in-depth travel posts! (esp with info from TBS)
I can’t believe it’s already July!
One of my best friends just got back from Charlotte and she LOVED it! I’ve never been but it is high on my list of US cities. Enjoy, and I agree — July really crept up on us!
If you fancy a side trip to Ireland, pop on over!
Wish I could take you up on that, Fiona! There just never is enough time π
Let’s call it an open invite for whenever I am in Ireland!
Hi Alex,
Check out the London street food scene. I love it.
I love all the open air markets in London! I think Borough Market is the one with all the food, if I remember correctly? Yum!
It sounds like you’ve got an exciting few months ahead!! Looking forward to keeping up with the stories and so happy that you and Anders get to reunite soon <3
We are excited too! I’m pretty bummed he won’t have a day off when I’m there, but I’m definitely planning on hopping onto the dive boat so we can spend some time together during the day as well π
Ah, I’m sad you’re so busy in London. Would’ve loved to grab a drink! Enjoy this city. Hopefully the nice summer weather will stick around this week.
I’ll be in Santorini later this month and if I find anything amazing (besides the general amazingness of Greece) I will let you know! Can’t wait to read about your summer in Europe.
Definitely let me know if you find anything in Santorini! And I’ve had a few requests now for a London reader meetup which I would love to fit in if possible… would you be free Sunday morning? Will have to check with my hosts but I might have some time then!
Yeah, I should be around Sunday morning! Let me know if you plan something.
You’ll love Malta! It’s been conquered by man civilizations, has a cool castle, great diving, and has ruins older than Stonehenge there! I did my honeymoon there years ago, and would love to go back!
Yay! I’m glad to hear that. I will have a rental car so I’m looking forward to doing a bit of exploring!
$943 for those flights sounds like a really good deal. And that apartment rental in Santorini looks amazing!
Do you know where you are going to live when you head back to Thailand?
Koh Tao π I might go up and do a month in Pai, too!
Hey. Just stumbled upon your blog. How can you stay in Thailand for a few months? Do you need to have a visa? Thanks.
Hey Kee! I always get multiple entry tourist visas before I arrive and extend them for 90 days each. I’d check with your local consulate for the current rules for your nationality — good luck!
As usual after reading this my first thought was, when I grow up I want to be one of my children
DITTO
Retire and join me! π Now accepting applications!
Right now I can’t even get a return flight to Canada from Roatan for $943, so I think you did pretty damn well π
Suuuuuuuuuper excited to follow along with you… and also looking forward to seeing where you end up in Thailand, cause this fall is potentially looking at me ending up there!
That’s exciting! Where are you thinking of basing up?
I LOVE when you write about your flight tricks. Thank you!!! I’ll be going to Southeast Asia next summer and am looking for flights right now…sigh…US to Asia is one pricey flight.
It is indeed! My flight from Athens to Bangkok was nothing to brag about… $648, ouch! The upside is I get to go to a new country for 24 hours, yay! And I was able to book my flight back to the US for the holidays using miles, so I only paid $65 in fees for that one. Phew!
Hey Alex, sounds amazing. Brugge its just amazing picture-perfect and Malta has got a Unesco Heritage city center, really quaint. Diving isnt bad too, but dont hold your breath after Indonesian seas…you need to head to the Red Sea (literally next door) if you want to have an incredible dive time (I guess thats another trip as you will not want to leave!). Pity you arent coming to Barcelona or Ibiza this time…spanish wine and tapas on me if you change your mind! So looking forward your SE Asia time, I cant get enough of that part of the world and your adventures there. I will be around there October to December too…
Have an amazing time in Europe, I will read you daily!
Pilar
Barcelona is high on my list, so someday I will take you up on that offer! And who knows, I might end up in Ibiza again someday too π Thank you for coming along for the ride! π
Sounds fun! We were planning to do summer in Europe but a once in a lifetime, too good to be true opportunity came up to spend a few months in the Galapagos islands. Now it looks like Europe will be happening in winter, we’ll just have to stay south and take advantage of the non-peak season. I look forward to your tips π
That does not sounds like too bad of a trade off, girl! I am a bit sad I missed the Galapagos on this trip but not too broken up as I know I’ll get there someday.
You’re going to Bruges?! Ever since I saw the movie “In Bruges” I’ve always wanted to go there! It’s definitely a dark comedy so if you’re into those types of movies I highly recommend it! Your itinerary sounds incredible. I wish I had some sort of fabulous suggestions for you, but my only experience with the places you’re visiting is spending the night in Heathrow. Well, I can’t wait to read about your summer adventures. And I’m especially interested to hear about what you think of group travel. Happy and safe travels π
I just added it to my “Movies to Watch” list on my phone! Thank you for the suggestion! Really looking forward to exploring Europe a bit more, as it’s not my usual haunt…
In Bruges is a brilliant movie with a very Irish sense of humour. If you liked it, check out Black Books, an English TV series.
Yaaaaaay, Belgium!
You know if you’d like to meet up, I’m totally game.
Hope you’ll like it here:)
Do you plan on spending a full four days in Brussels?
No, one of the days I’ll be going on the Bruges trip I linked to π On another I’ll be touring Brussels and doing the chocolate class, and the third day I will probably work and do some supply gathering for Tomorrowland. I’d love to meet up if you’re around — shoot me an email!
Woops, missed the link somehow:D
Will definitely shoot you a mail, but it seems like you’ll be pretty busy already:)
Sounds like a fun trip. Just came back from a mini Europe trip(UK,Holland,Belgium,Germany and Austria) and been to Belgium (Brussels) where I had best fries π double fried ! Place for Godiva chocolates and actually u can see them making.
keep us posted with your adventure an have fun!
Thanks Rajesh! I am looking forward to all the fries, chocolates and waffles I can get my hands on!
killer summer plans, alex! while london isn’t my favorite european city either, i say there’s nothing like a beautiful summer’s day in england, nursing a pint in a beer garden or sharing a bottle of wine in the park. so let’s hope the weather cooperates! not sure what part of town you’re staying in but cool things are happening in hackney wick & one of my favorite chillout spots is primrose hill with a diy picnic cobbled together from nearby markets.
can’t WAIT to read about your adventures.
ps — really enjoyed your interview on the daily travel podcast. it was kind of a trippy experience hearing your voice after exclusively reading & seeing you all this time. for the record, it’s a great speaking voice & i thought you handled the interview eloquently & with poise!
Confession, I actually haven’t listened to it. I just can’t stand the sound of my own voice recorded! But you have just inspired me to give it a listen….
So jealous. My bestie hit tomorrowland last year and said it was hands down AMAZING!! Greece also just sounds wonderful! So check out adventerous Kate blog for Malta. Her fiancΓ© is Maltese- if that is a word. She has lots of tips on the country cos she loves it and he has all the local hints. Enjoy Alex. Can’t wait to read about it all ps. Done three contiki tours and loved them all- no planning and lots of mates to meet party and chill with!
Yes, I did read through her posts when I booked my flights! And I’m glad to hear you had a great time with Contiki, seems like a great way for solo travelers to link up.
Ohhhh, I’m envious about this European adventure of yours, and I can’t wait to live vicariously. Also, as always, you provided some really great travel tips, so thank you!!
What’s in store for me this summer is a great mix of domestic and international fun. First, a trip back to my hometown for my __th High School reunion (ahem! let’s not focus on the number!). Next, the annual pilgrimage – Burning Man. As a many-times “repeat offender” (I say that in jest), I love the prep as much as the event itself, and I gleefully look forward to it. Finally, a yoga retreat on a remote island in Mexico! What a beautiful, restorative respite that will be, especially post Burning Man.
Un buen viaje, amiga! I anxiously anticipate your updates! π
Wow, that sounds like a FABULOUS summer! All three trips sound special in their own ways. Next summer I will be back in Black Rock City if all goes according to plan, and a yoga retreat is so high on my list for someday! Enjoy it all x
My sister and I have been looking at doing that Contiki trip in Greece for AGES. Excited to read about it on your site!
Also, good luck with the euro as it’s been murdering me this past month. And kudos for the crazy cheap flightsβwe started monitoring US to Europe airfare last August and while Scott and I paid for ours with (a ridiculous number of) miles, my parents’ tickets each cost about $1800… =/
Yikes girl! Ugh flights kill me. I am so happy about what I paid for all of these, though I’m sure the figure would be much higher had I had to get myself back to the US in late August (flying from Athens to Bangkok at that time was no great score, either.) I’ve been assured that Malta and Brussels are both affordable but the $50 dorm rooms I saw in Belgium don’t exactly inspire confidence.
We stayed at the Pantone! Hope you like it. There’s a great bar across the park and if you continue up that street, a great butcher with cheap sandwiches!
Awesome Meghan, thanks for the recommendation! As an art school graduate I figured I just couldn’t stay anywhere else. Just checked out your Brussels post, fun!
I definitely recommend renting an ATV to explore Santorini. And I definitely don’t recommend trying your hand at the Murphy’s shot challenge ten minutes before boarding an outbound ferry.
If Anders doesn’t have Maltese friends or hasn’t had the chance to explore enough to load you down with recs and you’d like to meet up with an bubbly, energetic, and friendly Maltese HR worker who loves her country in a humble, yet evident way, e-mail me. She just wrapped up a traveling stint in SE Asia, and I think she would be thrilled share recommendations regardless of whether you can meet up.
Bon Voyage!
Ha! I will keep those in mind for Santorini. An ATV sounds fun! As for Malta I am pretty lucky to have three friends there separate from Anders, two are locals I met traveling and one is a fellow videographer from Thailand — score! However when I start thinking about Malta later this week I might take you up on that — can never have too many friends.
Of course you have friends in Malta–that’s awesome! I’m already stoked for your Malta posts, and the Tomorrowland ones. I hope you have/are already having an awesome time in Europe π
Can’t wait to read some more adventures, although you left me shocked when you didn’t know Malta!
Admittedly, I know of some fairly obscure locations (yes, picture me with an atlas memorizing capital cities as a child), however this was never one of them…
Apparently the harbour is a wonderful dive for wrecks (I guess thank WWII and the siege for that), although I’m not sure how often the water is clear.
I think I had heard of Malta but I’m not sure I knew for sure it was its own country and I DEFINITELY could not have pointed it out on a map. Not to sound flip but Europe has never been a source of massive travel lust or interest for me so while I used to stare at maps and memorize every country in Brazil, I would seriously have a hard time placing Poland. And while Americans are hardly known for our collective geography, I’ve gotten the same reaction about Malta from a lot of my friends — “What is that?“
Yay so exciting! All I would say is make sure you visit Richmond when you are in London. I lived there for a year on a houseboat and it is one of my favourite places in the world – more a beautiful village than a suburb of London and so much history including centuries old pubs and what is left of the Royal Palace that Queen Elizabeth I died in. Read more about it here https://bit.ly/1kwMeQF
Wow that looks like a beautiful area Katie, and I love the idea of living on a houseboat! I’m off to look up how far away I am from it π
So excited for you, Alex! And excited for us as well for getting to read the amazing stories to come. I just spent a week in Santorini, and after months traveling through the Middle East and the Balkans the prices nearly killed me, but now I’ve made my escape to cheaper Thailand for a few months of recovery so I’m feeling better. Great minds, yo!
Nice one! Athens to Bangkok was one route I could NOT find a deal on, no matter how hard I tried. Coughed up $648 for it, ouch! But at least I get to swing through Bahrain…
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You will LOVE Malta- because it is so beautiful and fabulous and (luckily) surprisingly cheap considering it is an island. Check out blue lagoon for sure- you cannot miss it!!! Stunning is all I can say. Extremely jealous you got a tomorrowland ticket! I am living in Amsterdam right now and would love to just train over there for it. It will be amazing. When in brussels check out Pierre Marcolini. As a kind of chocolate snob- that is one of my current favorite chocolatiers in the world. So I wouldn’t miss that experience. The shop also gives out a ton of free samples! If you are a fan of belgian beer, the Sandeman’s New Europe group does a great beer tour in Brussels, its run by one of my good friends! Best of luck and enjoy everything!!!
I’m not a beer drinker but I will TOTALLY check out that chocolate. And the Blue Lagoon! I heard it is insanely crowded in the summer but I’ll try to elbow my way in π
I’m definitely living vicariously through your blog!! I look forward to reading about your adventures, London is a city I’m glad to not be going back to any time soon, but the rest sounds intriguing.
Makes me want to escape office life again!!
Maybe the resulting posts will convince you π Thanks for coming along for the ride!
woohoo europe!! how fun! If you go to corfu you MUST meet my friend Mariketty. She has a restaurant in Goa and her father has one on Corfu. They are party people lol- SO Much fun! you did get a killer deal on those flights. Is it bad I’ve never even used excel? I’m such an amateur. Have fun!!
Sadly Corfu is not on the itinerary — another time! In the meantime, you’ve got to use Excel. I LOVE going crazy with my budgets on it!3
Wow, Alex that sounds like a summer with countless new experiences. I wish you all the best and so much fun! I look forward to reading about your adventures.
I will spend the summer here in Germany (my home country) with some trips in my local area and will then head to Latin America for the rest of the year. I cannot wait. You already helped me a lot with my Ecuador travel plans with your posts as this is my first stop. Thanks for that!!
I absolutely love to hear that, Stef! You are going to love Latin America. Enjoy the summer at home! It’s the best place to be when the weather is nice π
Insanely jealous that you’re going to Tomorrowland! Have a blast.
Thanks Kristin! It has been such a difficult thing to plan for based on the lack of useful info out there — I can’t wait to write some information-packed posts about the experience.
Have fun Alex! I hope you enjoy Malta more than we did π
Of course this set me off on a mission to find a post on your site explaining your dislike π Sounds like it was mostly a heat issue? I hope so, because I’m actually incredibly high functioning in disgustingly high temperatures. It’s the cold that turns me into a monster!
Super exciting and jam-packed summer ahead for you Alex! Malta has been on my “must visit ASAP” list for some time so I look forward to seeing your synopsis and snaps in due course. My boyfriend and I went to Brussels earlier this year and it was lovely, we took that Viator tour to Bruges and Ghent too!
While you are in Belgium you must try one of the ubiquitous fruit beers…now hear me out…prior to this trip I avoided beer in all guises at all costs but these fruity concoctions are actually very tasty. Just like fruity Rekorderlig transforms cider into something palatable the folks in Belgium work wonders to make beer tasty to those with uber girly taste buds!
That is so cool that you went on the same tour! Did you enjoy it? Any hints? π And you have absolutely convinced me to give the fruit beers a try — seriously.
Have a great trip, Alex! I’m excited to hear about your trip to Greece and how you’ll find group travel. I’m sure you’ll have fun π
Thanks Miriam! I am just excited to go back to Greece with an iPhone and Instagram the living daylights out of it! (Priorities, I know.)
Can’t wait. Love your pictures!
I’m floating around Europe. Maybe we’ll cross paths again. I’d love to see you!
Emailing you immediately!
Sounds like an amazing time!
I lived in Brussels for a year, just leaving last summer. If you have time, check out Ghent and Antwerp, both very different cities but are great to spend the day wandering around. Antwerp is only about an hour’s train ride away from Brussels, also has great shopping. In Brussels, be sure to check out the neighborhood, St. Catherine. Very charming with lots of antique shops and great second hand designer stores. Also, if you are in Brussels on a Sunday, be sure to check out the market at Midi station! Huge and can spend hours there. Be sure to try the stand with the Turkish wraps, there will probably be a big line and fresh made wraps with olives, fresh cheese, honey and pickled veg. Amazing. Careful with your purse, keep is close and closed…
Have fun!!
Ghent will be part of my Bruges day, yay! I am hoping to check out Antwerp but it will depend on my workload that week :/ Thank you so much for all the tips and ideas — I truly appreciate it!
Do you have an amount of time you try to be away before returning to the US? I noticed you’ve done about 6 months away the last few times which seems like the perfect amount. I’d be interested in a post about your train of thought when planning all of this and what your limits are on being away.
Great question! Yeah, my last three international trips have been around that length. Ideally I like being home for a bit of time in the summer and a bit of time around the holidays (though I have missed Christmas at home twice) and so that guides a lot of my decisions. Also, I factor in major events like weddings, graduations, etc. that it’s important for me to be home for and I kind of fit in my international travel between those things. The longest I was ever away was ten months, which actually was great since many of my family and friends visited me during that stretch. Otherwise I don’t think I’d enjoy being away from them for such a long amount of time.
Sounds like an epic summer, you’ll have a blast.
Thanks Ayngelina! It’s already kicked off to a great start π
Ummm I’M DOING CONTIKI GREEK ISLAND HOPPER THIS SUMMER TOO! I was thinking about canceling it because my travel buddy unexpectedly isn’t able to go anymore, but how cool would that be if we were on the same trip!?
And don’t be worried, this will be my 3rd Contiki and I’ve loved every single one of them. The people you meet are amazing and the “tour guides” do such a great job of showing the sights but giving you the freedom to go off on your own too. I’ve been on a month long one where we went throughout Western Europe which was more structured and we were on a schedule and I stuck with the group most of the time, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Then I went on an “easypace” one where I island hopped in Croatia and it was so laid back and relaxing, and I loved BOTH.
What departure date are you leaving on for Greek Island Hopping!? It would be awesome if we were on the same tour! Cheers π
Oh and P.S. Not sure how I’ve never heard of skyscanner but using that just scored me such a reduced price on my flight to Thailand next spring! THANK YOU!
Awesome! My mom made me promise to be more coy about my exact itinerary dates (because, moms) so I’m emailing you my departure date π I’m SO glad to hear such a ringing endorsement of Contiki. And YAY for Skyscanner!
I know it sounds a lot cooler but you don’t pronounce the town ‘boom’ as in like an explosion kind of boom (if that makes sense)
You pronounce the ‘oo’ more like the ‘o’ in ‘over’ but just say it more like ooover. That’s the right way to pronounce the oo in boom! It actually means ‘tree’ in English.
I have no other (easier) way to explain it haha. And if you allready knew, just pretend I didn’t say anything..
Enjoy your summer in Europe! Fingers crossed it won’t be a rainy one this year!
Ha, thank you for the heads up Nicole, I did not know! Although butchering other languages is one of my specialties, so I would not have been surprised!
The likelihood of planning a trip 31 weeks in advance makes us smile. We generally have the idea of a trip we’re taking, and buy the flight tickets less than a month (or week!) before departure, and book the first 2 nights at a hotel a night or two before. Ha! Your itinerary sounds, well, planned. Hope we can see you in SE Asia!
As fun and spontaneous as that sounds, I would never be able to afford a one way ticket to London bought a week before departure π They are about triple the price! Also, crashing and meeting up with friends definitely requires a bit more advance notice. Luckily I get to mix it up — I have absolutely nothing planned for my three months back in SEA!
London has never been my favorite city, but last time I was there, it was amazing — because of the people. π Your European adventure sounds absolutely amazing!! I wish I was there with you. But, I totally get to see you in Thailand!!! YAY!!
That’s what makes London special for me too π Nothing like having locals to show you around!
Looks like a wonderful trip! π
Thanks Stacey! It’s off to a great start!
In Belgium you must try some ‘speculoos spread’, I’ve just discovered it in the Netherlands and apparently its a Belgian speciality. Seriously, it’s like crack in a jar!
Looking forward to reading about your adventure!
Ummmmm I will be searching that out IMMEDIATELY upon arrival. I like anything I can eat out of a jar with a spoon that I’m not supposed to π Thanks for the tip!
Greece was my favourite country when I did the Eurotrip thing 2 years ago. Athens was a bit of a bust. It is pretty run down now and has a ton of garbage and graffiti and lacked some charm (obviously just a personal opinion.) Besides the Akropolis, there wasn’t much to see or do in the city centre and I wouldn’t spend too long there. I also did Corfu, Ios, and Santorini. Corfu is an island closer to Italy, so it isn’t quite as close to the other islands, but is a lot more lush and green than the other islands. If you do go, stay at the Pink Palace, you may have already heard of it, its one of the biggest party hostels in Europe, it is very interesting. Santorini is outrageously beautiful (with the price tag to match). Ios was a party island. A lot of fun, I would recommend staying at the Far Out Beach Club Resort with options to camp as well. It is right on the beach and a serious blast.
I look forward to hearing about Europe from Alex in Wanderland, it is a bit off your usual trail! Enjoy!!!
I actually really liked Athens! I know that’s a rare opinion but I had a great 48 hours there a few years ago π However you have gotten me really excited about the fact that I’m staying at the Far Out Beach Club! I can’t wait! I am a little nervous about the price tag of spending a week total in Santorini but at least for most of it I’ll have a kitchen and try to eat some meals at home…
sounds like a wonderful trip. in London you should definitely check out the spitalfields market on saturday and try the delicious cupcakes from flavourtown bakery!
Ah, I went to Spitalfields Market on my last trip and loved it! But I am TOTALLY searching out this Flavourtown Bakery now — I love nothing if not a good cupcake!
Hi Alex
Malta is a lovely place. They love Brits because of the assistance they received in World War 2. I don’t know if USA were involved in that, but if they were, they will love yanks too.
So, so friendly, laid back & hospitable. Try the spag bog with rabbit, their national dish I think. It’s top drawer. But have a local advise where to eat to get the real deal.
There wasn’t any beaches when I was there but I believe there’s a man made one now in Bugibba or Valetta. I think my mates brother & wife have a dive place on Gozo, which is reportedly good. Must try it myself. Most importantly, the pubs are first class. It isn’t a very big island however, but if you go when they are having one of their Catholic celebrations, the processions and atmosphere is worth experiencing. There is also a very strong Knights Templar history there, so if you want to know about that, it’s the right place.
You’ll love the place but watch out for drunk drivers. Luckily you usually hear them before you see them, but be careful you don’t become a statistic.
Mark
Thanks for the tips and the warning, Mark! I have heard a lot of negative stories about Malta drivers which has me a bit nervous about my rental car!
I totally understand your stress about the high costs. I’m currently spending a month in Sweden and it seems that everything is so much more expensive than I thought it would be. (Granted, my money would go further if I could stop eating the candy! Ha!)
But it looks like you have a seriously incredible trip coming up and I look forward to reading about it!
Yeah, London almost brought me to tears a few times when I signed my receipts! Place is DAMN PRICEY. I’m sure Scandinavia is even worse!
Wow sounds fantastic! Being half Greek myself and have a friend who is from Santorini I totally recommend a lovely outdoor restaurant there called “Dolphin” near Red Beach. Absolutely beautiful views and fab location. Have fun! Xx
Thank you for the recommendation, Louise! Sounds awesome and I will definitely check it out!
This is going to be a summer to remember! I can’t wait to follow your adventures =)
Thanks Miss Angie! Can’t wait to follow in your footsteps in Greece!
BOO! No Berlin?! You’re missing out!
But Belgium is super cool – well Brussels is, at least. You just need to know how to find the cool spots
Don’t leave me hanging! HOW DO I FIND THE COOL SPOTS?! π Maybe it’s on your blog, I’m off to check…
Hi Alex! Just stumbled across your blog and am very much enjoying hopping around your site π I currently live in New York and just quit my job ( I’m an interior designer) to start living a more travel-friendly. free bird lifestyle. My first big trip is to SEA starting in October through the end of December. I’m a solo traveler as well with a blog in the works (oh, ambitious perfectionist writing hoop dreams!), hoping perhaps I’ll run into you when I finally make it to Thailand in October/November? Keep up the lovely content, and cheers to our potentially crossing paths π
Hey Stephanie! Exciting plans coming up it sounds like π If you’re interested in writing, you should check out the Koh Tao Writer’s Retreat happening in early October. I’ll be involved and it would be a great way to kick start your blog, and your trip!