I’ve mentioned this before,
I’m alright with the occasional pandering. That’s because my London Study
Abroad posts, specifically my tips and what to wear and the most viewed posts
on this blog. Why? Well, I like to think the tips are helpful! But, really there
aren’t many lists out there for people making the leap across the Pond.
Another important aspect of
studying abroad in Europe is of course TRAVEL! There are so many amazing places
to go and so little time and money to see them all. That’s why I’ve enlisted
the help of a few of the girls I lived with in London to help me out. Between
us we’ve been to nearly 20 countries in Europe (That’s including all four
separate countries in the UK.) This is the first post with a little help from Laura, Julie, Mary-Kate, and Beth.
Best cheap airlines:
Ryan Air
Wizz Air for Eastern Europe
Air BNB
Once in the lifetime travel:
Eurostar to Paris
Why? Because the view from
the window is incredible. The Eurostar, also known as the Chunnel, takes you
directly into the heart of the city, unlike the Paris airport which is over an
hour outside the city. The Eurostar isn’t cheap but it’s definitely worth it to
take from St. Pancreas to Paris. It also goes to Amsterdam.
Ferry to Ireland from London
Why? Beth says it was one of
the most fun things she did and you can also get very reasonable rates.
Best places to Stay:
 |
| Our Apartment in Prague with full kitchen, etc. |
Apartment Share- apartmentsapart.com, how we got an amazing apartment in Prague.
Hostels- just make sure if
they certified from a hostel website. Depending on what city you are visiting
they can vary from $15-$75 a night per person. Also, if you are traveling with
a group of 4-5, try to get a private room by booking all the beds together so
your personal items are more secure.
Favorite Blogs, Tips, and Websites:
Beth's favorite blog, The Londoner
Real London Reflections:
Tips from my travel buddies:
“Check out local places
like coffee shops and just hang out. It really allows you to be immersed in the
culture and see what the people around you are like!” -Laura
“I'm also a huge fan of
trains. Traveling by train is a
wonderful experience because you can see a lot of the countryside (or the town
or city) in a way you might be able to on a bus or a plane."- Mary-Kate
“One of my favorite things
to do in London was go to markets! All of them. Definitely just go to a museum
and after you finish, just get lost around the neighborhood. you're more likely to find a hidden gem
that way.”-Beth
“Getting lost can be the
perfect opportunity to find the best hidden gems (as long as you it is a safe
place of the city to get lost in...).
I also agree that Markets are the best thing - taste test your whole way
through and buy your favorite things!”- Mary-Kate
Favorite places to travel:
“Ireland is a country I
found, in particular, that it was really easy to talk to the locals and those
are the people that sometimes have the best advice. If for nothing else it is nice to just have another person
to talk to when traveling.” –Mary-Kate
“(We knew people who)
stayed in a hostel on a houseboat in the Amsterdam canal which sounds so cool,
I wish we did that.”- Julie
“For students, look for as
many deals as you can. We got into all the ruins and museums in Athens for free
with student IDs.”- Julie
Julie’s place specific
Advice:
Amsterdam:
“Definitely go to the Anne
Frank House (but try to go early to avoid the crowd). We went to the Van Gogh
museum, which was great.”
Brussels:
-Everything is expensive...
- We randomly went to the
European Union museum and I loved it, I wish we could've stayed longer. And it
was free!
Munich:
- Go to the BMW factory! I
have little to no interest in cars but it was really cool and cheap. You have
to call to get tickets, which is kind of weird but just Google it.
- We went to Dachau
concentration camp, which was very somber but fascinating
- Definitely go to a beer
hall
- Walk through Englisher
Garten. See if you can find the artificial wave where people surf, we watched for
like a half hour...
- I think in the summer you
can do stuff in the Olympic park
Berlin:
- there's all the usual
stuff, Berlin Wall, WWII memorial, Checkpoint Charlie. Don't go to the
checkpoint Charlie museum, not worth it
- The holocaust museum is great.
- We rented bikes and went
all the way to the 1936 Olympic stadium. If it's open do a tour.
- Get Black Forest cake!
It's the national dessert.
Come back soon for advice on Eastern Europe, Morocco, and more!
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