In 2017, as a student, Lan Anh had the opportunity to study exchange at a university in Europe. During that time, she explored almost all the countries in the EU, from the ancient cities of Italy to the brilliant tulip fields in the Netherlands. However, there are still many countries that she has not had the chance to visit, especially the Nordic countries with their wild and mysterious beauty.
Journey to discover the world of Do Thi Lan Anh (28 years old, English teacher)
This winter, while exploring Egypt with two new friends, Lan Anh came up with the idea of returning to Europe in the summer. They decided to plan a 30-day trip together, to go as long as their visa allowed.
As a teacher, Lan Anh has a long summer vacation, so planning such a long trip is completely feasible. She spent a lot of time researching and planning a detailed itinerary, from booking flights and hotels to making a list of places she wanted to visit.
They decided to plan a 30-day trip together, to last the entire visa period.
European travel essentials at your fingertips
Lan Anh had prepared for this trip 6 months in advance. After getting the visa, she started to build a schedule. Because they chose the freestyle experience style, they only planned for the countries, cities and prominent destinations they wanted to explore in 30 days without detailing each specific point in the city, everything would depend on the actual situation and inspiration at that time, not following a target. After completing the schedule, she bought plane tickets, booked rooms and arranged transportation. Summer makes everything more expensive but thanks to booking long in advance, they got a good price.
Regarding luggage, Lan Anh prioritizes comfortable, cool outfits suitable for European summer. Her secret is to choose outfits that can be mixed and matched in a variety of ways to both save space in her suitcase and create many different styles. Of course, a magical mini iron is indispensable to rescue wrinkled clothes after a long journey.
Lan Anh has prepared for this trip since 6 months ago.
Financially, Lan Anh mainly uses payment cards because most places in Europe accept card swiping. However, she still changes some euros in case she needs cash, especially when buying bus and train tickets in some smaller cities.
Regarding documents, visas and passports are two indispensable “weapons”. Lan Anh saves all plane tickets, train tickets, and hotel booking confirmations on her phone for easy checking. In addition, travel insurance is extremely necessary, especially when traveling for a long time.
Freestyle experience style
Europe through my lens
The 34 days of the trip to Europe and Egypt left Lan Anh with deep impressions. There were times when she felt lost and scared when getting lost in a strange city, but there were also times when she felt extremely happy when sharing beautiful moments with new friends. This trip taught her a lot about perseverance, flexibility and the importance of slowing down to enjoy life.
The 34-day trip to Europe and Egypt left deep impressions on Lan Anh.
The journey to explore 8 European countries took Lan Anh to legendary destinations such as the magnificent Paris, ancient Rome, historic Athens and poetic lands such as Tuscany, Dolomites. From the bustling streets of Paris to the poetic beaches of Santorini, from the majestic mountains of Dolomites to the romantic canals of Venice, this journey was a series of memorable experiences. She enjoyed diverse cuisine, explored rich culture and enjoyed the wonderful natural beauty.
In the 30-day journey full of memories, perhaps the conquest of Tre Cime di Lavaredo was the most memorable challenge. After nearly 3 hours of climbing, the group of three people set foot in this area. The scene before their eyes was so majestic that they could not help but be overwhelmed. However, the joy was short-lived, as a sudden rain came, accompanied by thunder and hail. They had to cross forests and streams in harsh weather conditions, hoping to find shelter. The terrain was slippery and the rain was pouring, making them want to give up many times. But with determination, they tried their best to reach the starting point in time for the last bus. All three people were soaked and freezing, but everyone had a victorious smile on their faces. Luckily, no one got sick after this challenging trip.
The journey to explore 8 European countries brought Lan Anh to legendary destinations.
Lan Anh’s biggest concern when arriving in Europe was theft. As soon as she landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris), she was shocked when her luggage disappeared without a trace. However, she tried to stay calm and followed the instructions of the airport staff to report the loss of her luggage and request that it be delivered to a friend’s home address. Thanks to her travel insurance, she was supported to pay for necessary items while waiting for her luggage.
To ensure the safety of her luggage when traveling by public transport, Lan Anh equipped herself with a bicycle lock. This lock has become her “savior”, helping to firmly secure her suitcases together or to fixed points on the vehicle. In addition, she is also very careful when carrying her handbag, always keeping her crossbody bag in front and covering it carefully. Thanks to these measures, she can completely feel secure exploring Europe without having to worry about losing her belongings.
Lan Anh enjoyed diverse cuisine, explored rich culture and enjoyed the wonderful natural beauty.
Experience from A to Z of independent travel to Europe
A long trip to Europe will certainly be a memorable experience, but to make the trip a success, you need to prepare carefully. First, detailed planning is extremely important. Just a small mistake in the schedule can affect the entire trip. Second, you need to prepare a reasonable amount of money, especially when traveling in developed countries. The cost of living in Europe is quite high, so plan your spending reasonably to avoid the situation of "burning your pocket".
Third, health is a decisive factor for the success of the trip. You need to ensure that you are in good physical condition to adapt to changes in weather, time zones and travel intensity. Last but not least, choosing a travel companion also greatly affects the quality of the trip. A travel companion who has the same taste, knows how to share and create happy moments will make your trip more meaningful.
Some typical dishes
