10 Ways to Save Money Backpacking Europe:

1. You really don’t need an international phone plan. In Europe almost every place you go will have WiFi and with iMessage and FaceTime you’ll have no problem connecting back to home. One worry we had was maps because we were doing a lot of walking and needed directions. We found though that even when not on WiFi your google maps should still pick up where you are so you can use it to get around.

2. Flix bus saved our wallets! If you want rides from country to country for under $20 it’s the way to go. If you can book in advance, be very organized, and be okay with long rides…I highly recommend!

3. If traveling with someone else, share meals! My boyfriend and I shared almost every meal for 2 months 😯 It sounds crazy but honestly think about how much food you waste when you get that huge pizza all for yourself. Get some bread for an appetizer, and share a plate of pasta! A beer will help you fill up as well! 😉

4. Walk walk walk! We did not take one taxi or Uber ever. Walking everywhere gives you a chance to explore and save quite a few Euros. When you can’t walk take the metro or a local bus system.

5. Bring a reusable water bottle. Most all restaurants will charge you for water. It might not seem like a lot but it adds up!

6. Get a travel credit card. The fees that you spend on transactions and taking money out of the atm really add up! If you have decent credit, Bank of America has a great Travel Rewards credit card you can swipe your way through Europe with and earn points for your next trip.

7. Book accommodation and transportation in advance. I know going with the flow is exciting but I have checked prices through my travels and they always go up as the date nears. Booking ahead keeps your trip costs lower and also takes away some stress while you’re there.

8. Be careful with tours. There are so many exciting tours and excursions to choose from while traveling but they are so pricey! I’d say do some research before and pick one that you really really want to do. Also make sure there isn’t a free way to see it, a lot of times you can still go without the “tour part of it.” Ask around for tips!

9. Accommodation. Hostels are usually very cheap and a great way to travel around the world. We’ve found though that when traveling with a partner air bnb is usually a better deal! We found many air bnbs in the city and split between two people were the same price as the hostels. Again, planning your travels prior to departure gives you the freedom to compare prices and find what’s best for you.

10. Make a mental decision to try your very best to be smart with your money while you travel. Also decide that you are going to enjoy yourself! Money is important and without enough of it your adventures would be limited, but don’t let money ruin a glass of wine you enjoy, a tour through an old cathedral, or a scoop of some yummy gelato. It’s all about having a good balance!

Ultimate Europe Backpacking list with links!

I have gotten some questions about how I live out of one backpack for 2 months or more so I thought I’d write a post about it!

First of all, I brought this backpack Gregory Mountain Products Jade 38 Liter Women’s Backpack, Dark Charcoal, Small
which was a bit too large for my backpacking trip. Mine would’ve been a good size if I brought camping or intense hiking gear, which I didn’t. I recommend the one that my boyfriend brought instead which is a Deuter ACT Trail 30, Black / GraniteThese still are supportive and are small enough that you can walk all day with them on. You need to decide which type of trip you are going on and how much stuff you need and want to carry around.

I will be honest I did not originally have the perfect packing list, which I found out a couple weeks into my trip. Here is my new and improved packing list!

1-3 months summer packing list to Europe for women:

✔️1 light weight rain jacket

✔️1 pair of light weight pants

✔️1 pair of jeans

✔️2 dresses

✔️1 loose fitting long sleeve

✔️2 rompers

✔️2 pairs of nice shorts

✔️1 pair of athletic shorts (comfortable enough you can wear to bed)
Nike Womens Dry Tempo Running Short (Small)Black
✔️1 skirt

✔️2 t-shirts

✔️4-5nice shirts (neutral colors)

✔️1 long sleeve

✔️1 light weight open sweater

✔️7 pairs of underwear

✔️2 bras

✔️2 sport bras

✔️1 swimsuit suit

✔️1 pair of hiking shoes (if hiking)
Oboz Women’s Bridger Bdry Hiking Boot,Rio Red,8 M US
✔️If you are not doing intense hiking get a comfotable pair of running or closed toe shoe.
✔️1 pair of comfortable sandals for everyday walking
Chaco Women’s ZX1 Classic Athletic Sandal, Braid Blue, 8 M US

Or…

Birkenstock Rio Birko-Flor Narrow Sandal – Women’s Black Birko Flor, 38.0

✔️2 pairs of either hiking or short socks FITS Light Hiker – Crew Socks, Black, XL

With the list above you can create many stylish outfits which I will show how to do in my next post!

1 small bag filled with:
✔️1 tube of mascara
✔️1 stick of eye liner
✔️1 lipgloss or chapstick
✔️1 small container of coverup
✔️1 container or bronzer and/or blush
✔️1 small eye shadow

My favorite type of makeup when traveling is Bare Minerals.

✔️1 tooth brush
✔️1 toothpaste
✔️1 container of floss
✔️1 razor Gillette Venus Women’s Swirl 5 Contour Blade Razor Refills, 4 Count

✔️1 deodorant

✔️1 small container of face lotion

✔️1 small container of leave in conditioner (if needed)

Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, 2.53 Ounce
✔️If staying in hostels…1 quick dry towel

(buy shampoo, conditioner, and sunscreen when you get there)

✔️1 pack of playing cards

✔️1 hat (unless you want to buy one there)

✔️1 pair of sunglasses

✔️1 travel blanket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LON78FQ/?tag=travelwhitsty-20

I brought a small backpack for during the day which I found was very useful. I would carry my money, phone, water, sunscreen, and other stuff almost every travel day! It was difficult when I went on a plane that only allowed one carry on, but I had enough room to actually fit my small backpack into my big one for cases like these. When I was walking for a long time with both backpacks I wore the smaller one in front and larger one in back. Here is my favorite one: Osprey Packs Daylite Backpack, Black

My number one recommendation is to leave room to buy souvenirs and other clothing! My second recommendation is to spend money on comfortable, supportive shoes! You will be doing so much walking it is very important.

5 mistakes I made while traveling to Crete that you can learn from!

1. Rent a car if you can get your international license! The island is huge and really the only way of getting around is buying long bus rides. If we had a car we could’ve seen a lot more for less money.

2. Very touristy! Heraklion and Malia have tons of tourists and can get very crowded. Adam even called Crete the Mexico of the Mediterranean with Malia being Cancun (lol).

3. Stay in Chania the longest. It has more of a historical feel to it and is more authentic. We actually didn’t have anything booked in Chania until we got on the island and heard it was the best part so quickly made reservations. I honestly would’ve taken Malia out of our itinerary and stayed in Chania longer.

4. If visiting other islands, book your ferry tickets ahead of time. We waited until the last minute and ended up paying more than we planned for 😦

5. Just eat Gyros for every meal! When I first got to the island some of the Gyro places looked like fast food restaurants and I was not interested. As a vegetarian I also was afraid of the meat they have turning on that big machine right in front of you lol. Once Adam made me try one I fell in love. I got vegetarian ones with grilled cheese or just all veggies…Gyros are one of my new favorite foods and I should’ve tried them right away! They also are like $3 each 🙌🏻

5 ways to save money while in Switzerland

Switzerland is the most expensive country to travel to in Europe, as a Swiss man once told me when I asked if the butter was free, “It is nearly impossible to find anything for free in Switzerland miss.” Here are some tips to travel on a budget in the land of peace:

1. If staying for longer than 5 days get a Swiss Railway Pass. To get to any hikes you will need to take buses, trains, and possibly cable cars which are insanely expensive without a pass.

2. If you don’t get a Swiss Rail pass book your train tickets before hand online if traveling around Switzerland. There are supersaver tickets you can find when booking early that will definitely save you some cash.

3. Really test yourself and your strength and ditch the cable cars. Many people take the cable car to the top of the mountain and then hike down. On all of the hikes we went on we hiked up and down. This saves you $50 and you get to feel the satisfaction of making it to the top, I promise the view will be 10 times better after the climb.

4. Grocery shop!! Going out to eat is so expensive here. I can’t tell you how nice it was to come back to our warm cabin after a strenuous day of hiking and cook a homemade meal. We also packed a picnic everyday for breakfast and lunch while hiking, it was so much fun!

5. Stay at an air bnb. I recommend this all the time because they are so great! There are a bunch that are way cheaper than the hotels you’ll find right in town. Plus air bnbs normally have a kitchen for cooking and other amenities like a washer and dryer that will save you money.

No matter how much you spend every penny will be worth it. Switzerland is a magnificent, beautiful country with so much to offer and experience!

First Steps in Planning!


I am smiling because Adam Kuborn and I are done planning for Europe! The first steps we took are below:

1. Choose the cities you want to travel to. Even if you want to “go with the flow”, you definitely need to have a path in mind. A travel trick I found was using this map which has lines connecting major cities. Even if you don’t use the trains it still is helpful to see cities that are relatively well connected to the rest of the continent.

2. Transportation. This was one of the most difficult parts of planning for us……Eurorails, buses, taxis, flights, boats….so many options to choose from! I would recommend booking long distance transportation prior to departure to save on money…I will post soon about what I think is the cheapest and best way to get around Europe based on the type of traveling YOU are doing!

3. Set a budget. If you start planning and pay for way too pricey of hostels in the beginning you won’t have enough for the end of your trip! Stick to your price limits and your bank account will stay happy (: I like using a chart on google docs to plan this out and calculate my totals.

I have traveled many times but this is the first time I have gone longer than a month so this planning is a little new to me! I will post throughout my travels on what went well and what I recommend, but also the mistakes I made so you can learn from them!

5 Tips on Packing Light for any Adventure


“I would gladly live out of a backpack if it meant I could see the world.”

Travel tip: PACK LIGHT! I think that having the least amount of luggage is a way to maximize every travel experience. You do not have luggage to carry around and because of that you have more freedom! I know that every adventure is different and sometimes it is necessary to pack more than just the essentials but for most trips here are five tips:

1. Pack neutral colors that match everything. You do not need a new outfit for everyday you can switch shirts with different pants!

2. You truly do not need 5 pairs of shoes, you need 2 at most..make sure they are comfortable!

3. Wear your largest clothing when you are traveling to and from your destination..sweatpants, sweatshirt, and large shoes. This will save room in your bag!

4. Buy small containers at Walgreens for all of your liquids. Carrying huge shampoo and lotion bottles is not a good idea.

5. Buy a fanny pack. They are back in style and are a very practical yet chic look! I go everywhere with mine…. I recommend a light waterproof one. I only put my money, passport, and my phone in it. This makes your essentials accessible, safe, & saves room in your bag! Once when I was on a kayaking trip with my boyfriend in California our kayaks flipped and we had our phones, wallets, and keys with us…Luckily they were all in my fanny pack and everything ended up safe (thank goodness!).

Whenever I travel I only bring a backpack and always have everything I need…trust me!

I will be posting packing lists for specific trips in the near future!