If I Could Do it Again "Backpacking" Europe...

Starting my first post going waaaaay back to my very first international trip in 2017. My very first trip that kicked off my travel bug was my "backpacking" trip to Europe. I say it in quotes because I did technically travel with a backpack... but it was only 2 weeks of country hopping. I spent the spring of 2017 planning every place my mom and I would travel to and everything we would do once we got there. Fresh off a break up I was set out for a new experience...

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If I could do it again.....

I'd probably loose the backpack and use a suitcase. The backpack did not make for an easy time of getting clothes in and out whenever I needed something and got kind of heavy at times! I even remember a time in Paris running to get onto a metro, my mom's backpack got stuck ON HER BACK in the doors when they closed. Some guys had to pry the doors open to get her out. Needless to say we were both a little embarrassed...

(Here is said backpack in Switzerland, 2017)

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If I could do it again...

I would definitely fly from country to county. Well...at least some of the longer distances like Brussels to Berlin, Berlin to Munich, Munich to Switzerland. I decided to save some $$$ and travel using Flix Bus. Don't get me wrong, it was cheap and it was easy.. but... being so affordable and convenient made it that way for EVERYONE..and I mean everyone.. even the smelly homeless people. I'm not throwing any shade towards smelly homeless people but it made for an uncomfortable 8 hour bus ride when someone sitting next to you smells like absolute garbage. SORRRRY!

(8 hour smelly bus ride from Berlin to Munich)

Here is the link for Flix Bus if you want to check it out! Definitely, would recommend for short distance travels in Europe!

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If I could do it again...

I would totally go on more group tours. It took until our 2nd to last destination on our trip to do a group beer tour and let me tell you it did not disappoint. Since it was just my mom and I we kept to ourselves at first and I was hesitant to brach out since I was with my mom.... (sorry, no offense mom!!) We decided to book a beer tour in Munich and ended up meeting a bunch of kids my age from all over the world, that I still follow on Instagram today! It took me a little to step out of my box but once I did it was definitely worth it.

Since it was back in 2017 I do not remember the tour group that I went on. However, I think once I was there I was just able to google beer tours and book it from my phone that day. The tour guide also took us around parts of the city that we would not have otherwise seen or known the history about.

(kids from all over the world that I met on the beer tour in Munich, Germany)