Tips on Starting to Travel: Expat Explore

Disclaimer: The below are not affiliate links. The products and services mentioned are from personal experience and of my own opinion. Be sure to always do your own research before making a purchase. I write this post in the hope that we will all be able to travel soon.

The First Step to Traveling: Where to Begin?

"One small step for man one giant leap for mankind". Neil Armstrong put it best. True this isn’t Space Travel but you’re anxious to get started on exploring the world. Taking a giant leap into expanding your mind, and life, and hopefully igniting a passion to explore our planet.

Europe

I’m a complete advocate for Europe and would always encourage it as your first step into the world of travel. I am pretty biased, as this is the one continent I’ve explored the most. Therefore, it’s easy to say that from my experience, but I am sure some may disagree with me.

Depending on where you are in the world the initial flight may be costly. However, traveling in Europe is affordable and easily accessible with a wide range of transport; this is quite an exciting point for South Africans as our public transport is questionable and still very much developing.

Somewhere in Switzerland: A photo taken by my boyfriend, Lloyd Armstrong.

Expat Explore

I started with a company called Expat Explore. I can compare it to Contiki and Bus About. However, it has less focus on partying, no hostels, and no restrictions on age. The company was in fact founded by South Africans, Carl Cronje, and Jakes Maritz. They have tours and packages that can take you all over the world. From the USA, Canada, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and all the way to Asia. (So pretty much everywhere).

By the age of 22, I had been to New York, Chicago, and various cities within the United Kingdom. I had a few bucket list countries in my head and I found that most of them were in Europe (Paris, Rome, Venice, Greece, Amsterdam, Switzerland). My boyfriend and I decided we needed to do some serious traveling before stepping into the workforce, whatever that is. I was working as an au pair during my first year out of University.

My boyfriend was working at a startup tech company, he did some IT thing that I have no place in trying to explain. Our salaries were pretty sad, but we saved money each month. Not only did we decide to take a trip around Europe but we also spent a year living and working in Durham, England, where some of my family were based.

Europe Escape

With the many countries listed above, it was pretty hard to decide on destinations. Having limited experience traveling we decided that an organised trip hitting all the big highlights would be a major benefit. Consequently leading to less stress while having space to fully immerse ourselves.

We went with the Europe Escape package: 12 days, 8 countries, hotel accommodation (with ensuites), breakfast, 6 dinners, and transport between all countries. At the time, in 2017, this package was a little over R16 000. For what is included, it was affordable and reasonable. The price has unfortunately increased, however, we did go in the middle of winter. We felt brave, and this may have influenced the price.

The Reality

I can't deny that these types of trips are fast-paced, they can be pretty exhausting. You are sometimes only spending one night in a city. You are up at 6 am the next morning in a coach for a few hours until arriving at your next destination. Then you're off the bus, exploring museums, and famous landmarks, having dinner and trying to soak up everything you can. Just typing that was tiring. Despite these small cons, it is totally worth it. Sometimes you have to suck up the early mornings, I am not a morning person, to explore and expand your life's experiences.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa and a random lady. The photo was taken by yours truly.

What I also loved about this tour is that I got a little taste of everything and experienced many cultures. I was able to note places I wanted to come back to and experience further and we did this.

I couldn't recommend a trip like this more, with experienced tour guides and drivers you are getting a once-off experience. Additionally, I couldn't recommend Europe more, the history, culture, and food are intoxicating. Within such a small continent you feel as though you are stepping into a different world with each country. You are able to drive short distances and create an extensive itinerary, scratching off more bucket list destinations.

How?

We were lucky to be able to live and work in England. The job allowed us to work and travel as we pleased (well to an extent). It was a zero-hour contract (get paid when we work, don't get paid when we don't work: simple). We would work for a month or 2 and then travel to the next spot for 2 weeks, a week, or even a long weekend.

If you are keen to explore Berlin, I have some advice on the best way to do it here. You can keep an eye out for all my other travel experiences too. Ultimately, I hope to ignite your passion to explore.

I wouldn't say doing an extensive trip around Europe is a little step. However, Europe is only one small continent and a great place to spark the passion to travel. My bucket list of countries is continuously growing and I have gained some amazing confidence when traveling. I do not always choose a jam-packed tour every time I want to travel. Rather, I take 12 days for 2 or 3 countries rather than 8. The Europe Escape tour was a great first step into the possibilities of where travel can take you. So start researching and get those fingers trigger-happy to make the life-changing purchase.