Ever had a trip go completely off the rails—in the best way possible? Destinations got canceled, new places were improvised, and what I thought would be a perfectly planned Interrail trip turned into something much more spontaneous (despite me planning it for two whole years!). It only makes sense to kick off my travel blog by sharing this adventure.
Looking back, I wouldn’t have done it any differently. This trip changed the way I think about travel—I’m no longer about planning everything down to the minute. Instead, I’ve learned to let the cities guide me. Curious to see how my original plan stacked up against reality? Here’s a fun comparison of what I thought would happen vs. what actually did—a classic “Expectation vs Reality” of one of the best months of my life.
How My Friends Became a Plush Octopus
Originally, I planned to travel across Europe with a group of friends in the summer of 2020. (You can guess where this starts going wrong, right?) Yeah… 2020 was not the best year for a Eurotrip. So, we postponed it to 2021, thinking the pandemic would be a thing of the past by then.
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. My friends found more realistic plans than backpacking through Europe, and suddenly, I was left holding onto my dream solo. But honestly? After spending so much time alone in lockdown, the idea of traveling solo wasn’t scary anymore. I had gotten used to my own company—how bad could it be? (Apparently, some of my friends and family thought it was as dangerous as going to war—but that’s a story for another time).
The Original Plan
I didn’t plan too much, but I had a general idea. After all, if the pandemic taught me anything, it’s to not plan too far ahead. So here’s what I sorted out before I left:
- Interrail Pass
- Bus and flight to my first destination
- 2 nights in a hostel.
Note: If you are curious about Interrail passes and how they work, check out the official interrail website for more info.
The rest? I figured I’d wing it. I had a rough route in mind, but I was more than ready to change it as I went along. Best decision ever. Don’t get me wrong—the original itinerary wasn’t bad! In fact, it was a pretty solid plan that I’d still recommend. But fate had other ideas. Here’s the itinerary I thought I’d follow:
- 3 days in Vienna, Austria (with a day trip to Salzburg)
- 3 days in Prague, Czechia
- 4 days in Poland (1 day in Wroclaw, 3 in Krakow)
- 1 or 2 days in Bratislava, Slovakia
- 3 days in Budapest, Hungary (oh boy, did I miscalculate here…)
- 4 days in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- 9 days in Croatia (hopping between Zagreb, Split, Pula, and Dubrovnik)
Total: approximately 28-30 days
Why did I choose this route?
- Eastern Europe vibes: I wanted to explore Eastern Europe but, since it was my first solo trip, I wasn’t entirely comfortable going to places like Romania or Serbia just yet. These countries felt like a solid middle ground, where I’d feel safer. (Note: This is by no means saying those countries aren’t safe—I just wasn’t ready for the lesser-known routes at the time. But I totally am now!).
- Budget-friendly: Most of these spots are great for travelers on a budget, which was a huge factor for me.
- Suggestions from friends & blogs: A lot of this route was based on recommendations from people who had done Interrails before, or from travel blogs.
- Transport connections: Easy access via train and bus. The last thing I wanted was to get stuck somewhere during a pandemic with no way out.
The Reality
Now, if you look at my original route and compare it to what I actually did… you’d probably think it doesn’t make much sense. But trust me, it made sense for me in the moment. I stayed longer where I felt like staying, and cut out what didn’t feel right. I booked most of my hostels, trains, and buses less than 24 hours in advance—and guess what? I never ended up sleeping on the streets or walking across any borders on foot!
- 3 days in Vienna, Austria (with a day trip to Salzburg)
- 3 days in Krakow, Poland (I should’ve stayed longer!)
- 2 days in Prague, Czechia
- 6 days in Budapest, Hungary (literally double the original plan)
- 5 days in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- 5 days in Italy (1 day in Trieste, a morning in Padua, an afternoon and 2 nights in Venice, 1 day in Verona, and 1 night in Bologna)
Total: 24 days
I know, I changed a lot. Italy was a total surprise, but hey, it was an amazing one. Here’s a breakdown of why things shifted:
- Wroclaw got the chop: Honestly, it was just out of the way.
- Prague didn’t work out: Too many things went wrong, and I wasn’t enjoying myself. I left early, but I promise I’ll give it another shot someday!
- Budapest was a dream: Without a doubt, the best part of my trip. It was beautiful, lively, affordable—I could’ve stayed a whole month. I extended my stay as long as I could, which is why I skipped Bratislava. Next time, Bratislava!
- Ljubljana was just too fun to leave: It’s not the kind of place with endless tourist attractions, but the vibe was great, and I made some amazing friends.
- Italy was a total wild card: It all started with a spontaneous day trip to Trieste from Ljubljana. Croatia’s weather forecast was rain, hostels were expensive, and flights were a nightmare. Then I found a €20 flight from Bologna to Lisbon and thought, “Why not Italy?” It was the perfect way to end my trip.
To wrap it all up…
It was an incredible journey, and I can’t wait to share more details about each place I visited. I may not cover every destination I’ve ever been to, but I promise to write about the ones that made me the happiest (and the ones I still remember!).
If you’re curious about how to budget for a spontaneous trip like mine, or how to keep things flexible while traveling, drop me a comment on Instagram! I’d love to help you plan your next adventure.
USEFUL Links
- She Travelled The World (I took tons of inspiration and recommendations from here—fun fact, I met Courtney in Krakow!)
- The Savvy Backpacker (an absolute bible for budget travelers)
- Interrail Official Website (answers all your Interrail ticket questions and has great itinerary suggestions)
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