Eurotrippin’

You have a few months off this summer before heading back to lectures but money is too tight for a trip to Asia or Australia, so why not go backpacking around Europe?  You won’t need tonnes of cash because getting there is remarkably cheap.  You can either fly with a low-cost carrier then travel by bus or if you’re in a group, consider ‘road tripping’.  You can get across to France cheaply on the ferry or using the Eurotunnel then you’re free to roam from hostel to campsite.

Here are a few things not to miss on any trip to Europe.

Spend a week surfing in Hossegor, near Bordeaux on the French border with Spain.  The scenery is stunning and the beaches boast some of the best surfing in Europe.  There are plenty of hostels and campsites in the area and more surf schools than you can shake a surfboard at.

For another board sport that is more commonly enjoyed in winter, head to the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in Austria for some summer snowboarding.  There is a board park at around 3000 meters above sea levels are local rippers use this pretty much all year round.  Just beware of the panda-eyed goggle tan that is the curse of summer boarding.

Head north to the land of the Vikings for midsummer, the longest day of the year.  In Sweden midsummer is a big deal and is a national holiday.  Being so far north, the night is pretty short and so the parties are even longer.  A good place to go is Gotland, and island off the east coast which throws some of the best parties in the country.

Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, the small town of Buñol near Valencia in Spain hosts La Tomatina, a giant tomato fight where thousands of people cram the streets to pummel each other with tomatoes.  The event is followed by a massive, town-wide fiesta and a chance to dance with the locals instead of hurling tomatoes at them.

Finally, don’t just rely on your European Health Card to get you out of difficulty if you have an accident.  Get yourself the proper insurance.  As a backpacker you are probably going to be doing more than just your run of the mill sunbathing activities so getting the right insurance for your level of activity is essential.

About the Author

etravelinsurance.co.uk offer specific backpacker insurance policies designed to make sure everything is covered on your trip. Backpackers travel insurance should always be taken out before travelling.