My #DiscoverEU adventure in 8 countries

Hello young traveller! My name is Florian, I'm from Alsace and I'm currently studying in Lille, France. Last year, I won a #DiscoverEU pass after participating in a competition organised by the European Commission. I learned about this contest by chance on social networks and I can already tell you something: it's a unique opportunity! I'll explain you how I  went about organising my trip, why I went alone with my backpack, and finally how much it cost me. So if you are also interested in this contest, my testimony should interest you!

I left for 15 days between the end of July and the beginning of August to discover Europe by train. All in all, I visited 13 cities in 8 different countries (yes it's a lot in a short time, but it was totally worth it). So I went to Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, San Marino and Switzerland for a total of 2,895 kilometres on 29 different trains. You're wondering how I managed to organise myself to do so much in so little time? Well, you don't have to be an expert in organisation to do it! Choose 
your destinations according to what you like (city or nature, mountain or beach, etc.), and then check out the different transport options on the Rail Planner app. All you have to do is to book the accommodation and you're done! I personally preferred a route oriented towards nature and beautiful landscapes because that's what I prefer. Moreover, I also chose to travel only on free trains (for which I didn't need to pay extra for a reservation), because I had read stories that recommended it. Even if the travel times are often longer, the scenery and overall experience is that much more authentic in my opinion. As well as saving you a lot of money, you'll pass through some beautiful places (as the TGV usually pass through very flat and unremarkable places)!

As you may have read at the beginning, I did indeed go alone for this experience: that's probably what made it so memorable. This trip was my first solo travel experience, which means that I was not used to travelling like this at all. Although it can be scary during the organisation and preparations, you'll find that once you're on the road it's 100% fun and independent. You get up at the time you want, you visit what you want, you eat where you want, and above all, you meet a lot more people than if you were travelling in a group (because when you are alone you are necessarily more open to meeting new people)! However, choosing to travel alone can also present some difficulties once you are on the road. If you are afraid of loneliness or lack of interaction if you are shy or reserved, it is true that you won't have your friends with you to support you when you have slumps (which also happened to me and will happen to everyone). Nevertheless, it's an adventure that allows you to discover yourself personally, and above all to gain a lot of autonomy for your future life!

Last but not least, one of the most common questions when planning such a trip is: how much does it cost? To be honest, I quickly realised that this opportunity was unique. So I wanted to make the most of it, without necessarily restricting myself on every activity etc. Overall, the budget needed will depend on a lot of different factors like:

• the season of your trip (tourist or not?)
• the countries visited (Eastern countries are cheaper than Northern countries)
• the quality of the accommodation (youth hostel or hotel)
• the monuments visited and or activities...

I personally went during the tourist season but I went to countries with a relatively low cost of living. 
This allowed me to achieve a lot on a relatively "small" budget. Indeed, I went to restaurants in each country to taste the local specialities, I was able to visit a lot of places in the different cities where I went, etc.

In total, my #DiscoverEU trip cost me 710€ for 14 days of travel, divided equally between the cost of accommodation (365€) and the rest (restaurants, museums, etc). As mentioned, this amount varies greatly depending on your adventure and especially the length of your trip. So even if you only have a few hundred euros to spare don't miss this opportunity and create your own adventure!

In conclusion, #DiscoverEU is what you need if you want to have an incredible adventure through Europe, alone or with friends. Worried that you won't be able to organise your trip? Think of it as a challenge? Consider it a challenge and check out the Internet, you'll find hundreds of stories to give you all the advice you need!

Whether it is from a human or personal point of view, you will come out of this trip with a ton of memories that you will be able to tell your family and friends. Don't be afraid and go for your 
#DiscoverEU adventure!

If you want to have a look at what my #DiscoverEU experience looked like, check out this video!

 

Updated on Tuesday, 14/02/2023