a woman sitting on the floor with her suitcase, about to embark on her Euro Summer trip.

Faraday Gamble-Gittings

The term “Euro Summer” might sound slightly nonsensical, but the hashtag has over 325 million views on TikTok. Everyone is preparing for warm months spent drinking Aperol Spritz, wearing linen trousers, and experiencing the bustling culture of foreign cities. 

Solo Travel

Hand in hand with the beloved Euro Summer is the phenomenon of solo travelling.

Going it alone has its perks. There are no schedules to sync up, no compromising where you go, and no test of friendships or relationships. But the idea of holidaying and travelling alone can inspire unease in those with even the steeliest of nerves.

Maddi, the solo adventurer behind the Instagram blog She Who Explores knows this fear all too well: “The biggest issue with solo travelling is Fear – fear of the unknown and stepping outside their comfort zone.”

She explained: “The best way to combat this is to remind yourself that no one grows in their comfort zones!”

But travelling has ups and downs, whether you are with someone, a group of friends or simply yourself.

Hacking your ‘Euro Summer’

As an avid solo traveller, and partaker in the “Euro Summer” trend, I have tips to share. This advice has been accumulated through experience, it won’t appear in aesthetic mood boards or rosy montages found under hashtags on social media.

Although I was tempted to gate-keep this hack, my best advice for traversing the world is housesitting. The notion of housesitting is simple: a homeowner and or pet owner needs someone to look after their house and or pets will seek out a sitter. Enter the solo traveller, who will offer to look after said home or pet while the homeowner is away. Sometimes, the sitter will be paid for this work or get to stay for free in exchange.

One of the cats I looked after for a housesitting assignment. Image courtesy of Faraday Gamble-Gittngs

These assignments range from caring for a pet cat in the Netherlands for a week to spending three months on a farm in Nicaragua. The possibilities are endless and available all year round, allowing those on a budget to explore the world more easily.

Specialist sites connect homeowners with sitters across the globe, vetting and approving both parties to ensure a safe and practical experience.

Furthermore, housesitting offers a much more practical accommodation than a hostel, which can be unsafe for solo female travellers and without the amenities a house has to offer. Usually, the housesitter can use the entire house, including a fridge, freezer, washing machine, television, and bed. In some cases, the owner may lend a bike or car too.

Housesitting, in my opinion, is the perfect way to travel. It can offer a real home away from home, as well as the occasional furry companion!

The Luggage Question

After booking a holiday comes the packing. One of the most divisive debates within the travel community is the eternal question: suitcase or backpack?

Suitcase bashing is unavoidable when using social media for travel inspiration, but I believe it is unwarranted. The best option out of the two luggage types is whatever works best for you. As someone with no upper body strength, I prefer a suitcase and have seen many other travellers use them too!

“Aside from physical comfort, a suitcase is more secure than a backpack.”

However, I suggest researching the area you’re staying in to check if it is suitcase friendly before putting all your eggs in one basket. Every place I have travelled has been incredibly accommodating to my luggage, including Milan, Budapest, and Rijeka.

Aside from physical comfort, a suitcase is more secure than a backpack. I always opt for this peace of mind, even if dragging one through the centre of a small Swiss village was a tad embarrassing.

Taking Your Wardrobe With You

Although solo travelling is about stepping outside your comfort zone, don’t apply this to packing for your travels! My best advice is to pack what you feel best in. If you don’t wear an item of clothing at home, you’re unlikely to wear it whilst travelling, and it will be a waste of space.

Develop a colour scheme or style for the wardrobe you take away with you. There’s no point taking three bright pink corset tops if the rest of your clothes are earth-toned and casual. A useful rule of thumb is to ensure each item of clothing goes with at least six of the bottoms you have packed and over half of your shoes. This way, you can create a cohesive and interchangeable holiday wardrobe, with the widest variety of outfit options.

The beach in Rijeka, Croatia. Image courtesy of Faraday Gamble-Gittings.

Don’t fall victim to the aesthetic mood boards and pack guides on social media. These are not always practical and your clothing needs will be very personal. If you are an avid skirt wearer, there’s no point packing three pairs of linen trousers because you’ve seen them splashed across ‘Euro Summer’ TikTok.

As well as a different style, you’ll also have different destinations and plans than those showing their packed cases online. You may be an avid sightseer and need to make sure your outfits are suitable for any religious sites (such as the Duomo in Milan or the Sacré-Cœur in Paris). On the other hand, a beach dweller will want more swimwear than clothes in her luggage. Your plans should be one of the main factors in what you choose to pack.

When You Arrive

Upon arriving in a new place, I’m a strong advocate for using Citymapper over Google Maps. The former will give you far more travel options and can tell you which public transport route to use.

“Travel, especially solo travel, can be stressful enough on its own without the threat of burnout.”

The travel content we consume tends to show fun outings, parties, sightseeing and delicious food. But there is nothing wrong with taking down days. Even the most extroverted individuals need a break. Pushing yourself to sightsee or socialise every minute of every day will do far more harm than good. Travel, especially solo travel, can be stressful enough on its own without the threat of burnout.

Respecting Local Cultures

My final tip revolves around culture. Whilst covering up and respecting the religion of a place is important, I’m talking about the working culture.

Many places in Europe close all their supermarkets on Sunday, and their restaurants in the afternoon, and celebrate national holidays we may not be aware of. Take a moment to familiarise yourself with these differences before you travel, so you can plan accordingly and don’t get caught out.

I speak from experience when I say these small changes can have a big impact. On a trip to Germany, I was left without food for two days when I found that I couldn’t buy any groceries on a Sunday and the supermarkets would not reopen until Tuesday, due to a national holiday.

Matthias Church in Budapest. Image courtesy of Faraday Gamble-Gittings

Of course, the most important advice for travelling is to enjoy yourself, stay safe, and let the experience be yours.

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Featured image courtesy of Resi Kling on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

I am a fashion writer and stylist. I love anything travel and have an obsession with Hummus. I have written for Fashion North, Luxe magazine, Sunderland Vibe and the Telegraph.

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