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by Matt Kepnes

Four hidden European destinations

August 3, 2010 in England, Greece, Poland, The Netherlands

I’ve been traveling to Europe for the last four years; it’s my summer ritual. Everyone is out in the cafes, there are lots of concerts, the weather is great, and there are tons of travelers around. Even if it’s just for a few weeks, I always come here in the summer.

One of the greatest things about Europe is the thousands of potential destinations. There are so many cities, towns, parks, and islands to see that it would take a lifetime to try to see all of Europe. But while everyone goes to Paris or London or Rome, they miss the tiny destinations that hold just as much charm but are often overlooked. Here are four destinations you might have overlooked or not heard of but are worth a visit:

Krakow

This spot in Poland is a popular destination for the few people that make it out of Western Europe, which sadly few people ever do. Krakow has traditionally been one of the leading centers of Polish academic, cultural and artistic life. It has a sad side of history too – during World War II, the Jewish population was moved into the Krakow Ghetto.

Krakow is a medieval city with beautiful architecture, great information about the holocaust, and a vibrant atmosphere. From coffeehouses to jazz clubs, Krakow has a sophisticated nightlife – but not too sophisticated as people go out until the break of dawn. In 1978, UNESCO placed Krakow on the list of World Heritage Sites.

Utrecht

Utrecht park, Utrecht, NetherlandsJust south of Amsterdam, Utrecht is a miniature version of the capital but without the crowds. Utrecht’s city center features many historic buildings and structures, and is host to Utrecht University, the largest university of the Netherlands. After Amsterdam, it has the most cultural events in the country. You’ll find beautiful canals, ancient churches, great green space, and lovely town squares.

The city is a big university town and as such as very youthful and vibrant feel to it. Hardly anyone ever visits here despite it just being 30 minutes from Amsterdam. If you thought Amsterdam had too many people, come here and relax – you’ll get the same level of beauty but without the crowds that often spoil it.

Paros

Paros is considered as one of the most beautiful islands of the Cyclades. During the summer, everyone heads to the Greek islands. The warm weather fills up these islands with pasty people looking to get rid of their winter whiteness and get an amazing tan. But even though there are hundreds of islands to choose from, people seem to get stuck on Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos, or Ios, so these islands become expensive and overpriced. Paros doesn’t.

Paros is an island in the Cyclades that remains quiet even during the high season. There are no crazy clubs or bars and most people skip over it. But you shouldn’t. There are great fishing villages here, good seafood, and good sailing trips can be taken from the island.

Cornwall

Cornwall, EnglandCornwall’s culture, spectacular landscape, and mild climate make it a popular tourist destination, especially during the summer. When people come to visit England, they tend to stick to London. But the best part of England is outside of London, and Cornwall is one of the highlights of a trip to the country. Located on the west side of England, Cornwall is filled with rolling hills, easy hiking trails, beautiful lakes, and tiny towns with friendly locals. It’s my favorite place in all of England and I highly recommend it.

There are a million destinations in Europe but often people just focus on the most popular cities. Learning about the places we visit is more than just visiting the hot destinations, it’s about going someplace different. Variety is the spice of life and variety gives you more understanding of where you go.

So, next time you’re in Europe, try out one of these places and get a better sense of the places you visit by exploring the unexplored.

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by Matt Kepnes

How to Find the Right Hostel

February 18, 2009 in Travel

Finding a cheap place to stay is important to an ardent traveler – no one wants to spend all their money on expensive hotels when they’re on a shoestring budget, and hostels are usually the cheapest option. Hostels are also important to travelers because they are a good place to meet other travelers. Common rooms, kitchens, and dorms are some of the easiest places to make friends and meet travel companions.

Hostels provide a lot of things for a traveler: social interaction, a place to stay, a kitchen, and a lot of travel information (from guests and staff). They are an important part of a backpacker’s journey and it is important to pick a hostel that best suits you, so you get the most out of each hostel and don’t have a bad experience.

I’ve spent hours looking for the perfect hostel and the truth is there is no such thing. A good hostel can be bad if it has bad people in it and a bad hostel can be the best one of your life if it is filled with amazing people. You can never know for sure. It’s the people that matter.

dorm-bunk-beds-hostel-squareThe best way to find something close to “the perfect hostel” is to first know what you want, and then to do some research to find something close to your dreams. If you don’t research, you will most likely turn up at a hostel you don’t like. It’s important to know what you want in terms of the size of hostel, the atmosphere, the type of traveler who uses the hostel, the facilities and the location.

Size

Hostels vary in size from a couple of rooms in someone’s house to huge purpose-built complexes. Do you want to meet dozens of people or have a cozy experience with just three or four others?

Type of traveler

Hostels are generally for younger travelers. They work well for people looking to connect, party, and (sometimes) hook up – not always in that order. Hostels have a party reputation for good reason since a lot of young backpackers like to explore new cultures through bars and beer.

That’s not for everyone but that doesn’t mean you won’t find a quiet hostel. While many hostels are for young and party-oriented travelers, there are many hostels that cater to families, quieter travelers, and older travelers. The best example is Hostelling International. This big hostel chain caters mainly to large groups, families, and older travelers. The hostel tends to be quieter and usually has strict rules on noise and partying.

Atmosphere

Another thing to look for besides age of the guests is atmosphere. Each hostel has its own personality. Some are tame, others are wild, some are geared towards Germans and others towards Swedes. (It is true – I’ve seen it!) Some hostels are good for long-term stays and others mainly cater to people who only stay for one night.

Facilities and location

Don’t forget the basics. Check that your hostel is in a convenient location for you, and check that this location isn’t the most dangerous or down-trodden part of the city. And bear in mind that not all hostels have a kitchen or other facilities, so check that the hostel you’re thinking of choosing has the features you require.

Ask other travelers

Go on the web and read hostel reviews on booking sites.

The best way to find information about hostels is by going on the web and reading hostel reviews on booking sites. The reviews will give you a good idea about the type of hostel, who goes there, and for what reason. But you can also get good advice from other travelers.

Good hostels can build up a reputation and become world famous, such as the The Flying Pig in Amsterdam or Base in Melbourne. These reputations are carried overseas and spread by other travelers. So if you’re heading somewhere and you meet someone who’s just been there, pick their brains about their hostel — it could be the best advice you get. Best of all, it’s current.

Remember, no matter what the hostel looks like, or what facilities it has, the experience you have is about the people. Find a hostel with good people in it and you will find the right hostel for you.

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by Matt Kepnes

Pack light: a six-step program

January 28, 2009 in Packing For Travel

There’s an old adage that when you travel you should pack half as much as you need but take double the money. After traveling around the world twice, I couldn’t agree more with that statement. It’s important to pack light on your trip. Packing light helps you avoid fees on airlines, saves space, makes it easier to get around.

Novice travelers plan for everything. They can’t predict what will happen, so they pack to cover every eventuality; they leave for a two-week holiday with a huge suitcase filled with half their wardrobe. But how much of the stuff in that suitcase actually gets used? Half? Less than half? You’ve seen those people in the airports, weighed down by their belongings — maybe you’ve even been one. If you’ve been in that situation, you’ve probably regretted taking so much with you in the first place. However, the secret to travel is packing light.

When I travel, all my belongings fit into two bags: a tiny daypack and a larger backpack or duffel bag. I have traveled for over a year without ever needing anything more. In fact, I often find I still take too much! When friends come to visit me, I am amazed at how much they packed and they are amazed at how little I packed. They always ask me my secret to packing light.

My secret to packing light

  • First, create of list of everything you think you might need. Write it all down, everything and anything. Clothes, toiletries, electronics, and everything in between. This packing list usually ends up pretty long. But that’s okay, we’ll get it down quickly.
  • Next, look at your list and think about it in relation to your destination. If you are going to the islands, do you really need pants or jeans? If you are going to Paris in the summer, do you really need to pack long-sleeve shirts? You should be able to trim your packing list a bit by eliminating those items that don’t really have anything to do with your destination.
  • Why are you taking so much?

    Now, let’s take a look at your medication list. Why are you taking so much? In this age of worry, people tend to pack every medicine known to man just in case. Let’s be realistic- do you ever use them? Can’t you buy them there? Go minimal. If you do get sick, you can always buy painkillers or diarrhoea medicine there. Take the bare essentials; pack one blister pack of pills rather than the whole box.

  • What about the toiletries you’re taking? Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, and shaving cream is all you need. If you are staying at a hotel, you don’t even need soap or shampoo since it is provided for you. You’re going on holiday, not to a corporate function so ditch the cosmetics and facial products.
  • Remember, you can buy things at your destination if you need them — so cross things like suntan lotion and bug spray off your list.
  • Now you’re well on the road to packing light; you’ve probably cut out half of the items on your list. The final step is to cut out another half. You are on holiday, relaxing. Stuff doesn’t get as dirty as you think; you can wear the same shorts a few days in a row. Take half as many clothes. Wear some longer, don’t wear any! You never wear everything you take and unless you spill something or sweat through your shirt, you can wear it for more than one day.

That’s it. That is the secret to packing light. Cut, cut, and cut until you get down to the most essential items. If you follow this advice, I guarantee you will pack light on your next trip, and the whole packing process will be much simpler.

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by Matt Kepnes

Five good reasons to take a gap year

December 17, 2008 in Travel

“I’m so jealous. I wish I could do what you are doing.” “I’d love to travel.” “You must have some secret.” These are just some of the responses I’ve had from people when I tell them that I’ve spent years traveling – as though there’s some big secret to taking time off and doing what you want. The big secret is that there is no secret. I, and others like me, simply made a decision to do something we wanted. You should do it too.

Society has our life planned out for us: school, work, home, children, retirement. That is the path we are supposed to follow. But that doesn’t lead to a lot of exploration – internal or external. As the world becomes more globalized, companies are looking for employees who speak foreign languages, understand other cultures, know how to use new online media, and are comfortable living outside their comfort zone.

You can learn some of these skills at school but there is no better way to learn them than by taking a break, getting some life experience, and traveling around the world. Taking a gap year will help teach you skills you can use in life or in a future job. However, if that isn’t enough of a reason to travel, here’s some more reasons to take a Gap Year:

It’s not expensive.

There are a million ways to save money while you’re traveling.

There is a false assumption that travel is expensive. But there are a million ways to save money while you’re traveling. There are plenty of ways to find cheap flights and cheap accommodation without sacrificing comfort. Stay at hostels, couch surf, eat locally, take trains, find local deals, and get discount cards. Travel is really cheap.

There’s a recession out there.

With the world economy in a tailspin and companies slashing jobs, there is a lot of economic uncertainty in the world. Avoid it all. Go travel. If you quit your job, sell your stuff and travel, you won’t have to worry about it. In fact, prices are dropping as the tourist industry tries harder to get people to go overseas. Come back when the economy is better. Let others worry while you have fun.

You meet a lot of people.

Not a day goes by where you don’t meet people from all over the world who are doing the same thing you are. You’ll meet locals who will take you around and open their homes and city to you. What more can you ask for in life than meeting wonderful people and creating a network of friends that encompasses the globe?

You learn about yourself.

Travel helps you figure out what makes you you and what you really like and dislike. Forced to fend for yourself, it is do or die. You have to adapt to your surroundings, meet other people, make your own decisions, and plan your life. These skills help you grow and will make you a much better, more confident person (and worker) when you go back into the “real world”.

You only live once.

Why are we here? I have no idea! But I do know that spending fifty years of your life inside an office might not be part of the plan. Taking a break from work, or a gap between school and work, allows you to explore the world and yourself, and have a bit of fun. It can recharge your batteries, put life in perspective, and help you sort out what you want; even if that is to sit in a cubicle for fifty years.

No one ever comes back from a gap year sorry they went. Some people never come back, others come back realizing what they wanted was at home all along. But importantly, everyone comes back different. Minds get opened. New things get tried. New perspectives are formed.

Moreover, employers are increasingly looking for people who have a global perspective and are comfortable dealing with other cultures and places. Think of your time away as another year in school or as an internship. Except that you make the curriculum, and it’s a lot more fun.

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