How to do a Euro trip when you are young and broke

Author: Vera Allue/ Editor: Kamran Aliyev

Twenty countries, 30 cities, 40 trains, and countless days of travelling — this was the outcome of my voyage across Europe at the age of 18. 

The blooming of my travel interest

I grew up watching my father create travel guides, classify his photographs, search world recipes, and translate documents into multiple languages. Every morning on the way to school, my dad would start conversations about world cultures. When I came back from school, I would sit at the table with my parents and talk about world cuisines. From Neapolitan pizza and Peruvian ceviche to Turkish ice cream and Hungarian goulash – my taste buds were curious to try it all! Little did I know that these conversations I would engage in at such a young age would shape my aspirations years later. 

Coming from a multicultural background, being both Spanish and Peruvian, I was raised between two countries. When I was 15 years old, I moved permanently to Spain. I was now a step closer to all the places my dad would talk about as I was growing up. During my last year of high school, I found out about Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges through a school presentation I attended. I had always thought travel opportunities would only be accessible to adults. As soon as I got home, I started following as many Instagram pages as I could that featured Erasmus+ Youth Exchange opportunities. I was very much surprised when I read that some projects would accept 13-year-old individuals. Plus, the duration of such exchanges could perfectly fit into my holidays, ranging from a week to three. This is how I started my travelling journey around Europe, visiting Kraków, Málaga, and Leipzig at the age of 17.

Confused after graduation

I graduated from high school without a clear idea of what I wanted to do. Should I stay in Spain or move somewhere else? Should I pursue my childhood dream of becoming a scientist or did I want to explore other career paths? I felt puzzled and pressured. I knew making such a decision in a mentally confused state was not the best idea. So, I decided a gap year would be my path for the following months before I made up my mind. I remember spending one night on my phone before going to sleep and coming across an Instagram post mentioning “Discover EU”. I was certainly tired, but not tired enough when it came to travelling. I pulled a partial all-nighter that day, investigating what this programme was about. Travelling around Europe, free train passes, and flexibility to choose routes — it all seemed like a fantasy. I quickly noticed that I met all the eligibility requirements to apply: belonging to the right age group, being a citizen of an EU member state, and completing a short online application form.

I completed all the required steps from my end. I just had to wait for an email revealing the outcome of my application. The wait was nerve-wracking. Meanwhile, I looked at more Erasmus+ opportunities for young people that would expose me to the cultural diversity of Europe through places and people. I completed a few applications for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), a programme a friend I had met at a Youth Exchange had told me about. I volunteered with an international team for two weeks and two months. I stayed in Romania, Poland, Italy, Greece, and Finland, promoting cultural exchange at youth summer camps, organising a festival to encourage participation in the EU elections, and taking part in restoration activities at youth centres. 

My Interrail journey

One day, while I was in Sicily completing my ESC volunteering, I came across the great news in my email inbox: I had been selected for one of the approximately 35,500 travel passes given out during the period I applied. I was caught off guard by the results, and so was my dad. I soon found out that Spain was among the countries that have the largest  number of applicants, alongside Germany, Italy, Türkiye, and Poland. 

My dad immediately offered to help me plan the itinerary. I had so many ideas for places and routes I wanted to take, and so did he. I started by creating a list of each country I wanted to visit. From there, I drew a route that would connect them all by train. The result? An intricate juxtaposition of lines that even I, as the creator, would get lost while checking out. My dad looked at my route, which included 20 countries, 30 cities and 40 trains and called me crazy. I thought I was crazy, too, but my adventurous spirit and curiosity to explore beyond borders kept me sane. My school bag and my curiosity kicked off my European voyage.  

I started my journey in London, followed by the Eurostar train to Brussels. Once in Brussels, my itinerary became slightly confusing. If I could recommend Discover EU and Interrail to any young person, one of the main reasons would be the flexibility. Once I arrived in Brussels, I decided on a whim that I also wanted to visit Ghent and Bruges too. Because Discover EU works with a mobile app where you simply press a button and activate your pass, changing plans is never an issue. As a result, the initial itinerary I had planned out was not identical to the route I ended up following across Northern and Central Europe. 

From hearing Danish in the Tivoli gardens to using my French skills in Paris during the Olympics, the cultural, linguistic, and social diversity I experienced during my journey is still unbelievable to me today. Crossing borders, creating long-lasting memories with friends, and growing my cultural awareness were the key takeaways. Funnily enough, I have to confess I fell asleep once on a train in Belgium and woke up in France. Sometimes, you cannot plan it all and have to let things go with the flow. 

You can also participate!

If this story has resonated with you, you are in the right place to learn how to make your dreams a reality. If you are a young individual living in Europe, you should definitely check out these links I used when planning all my trips:

• Erasmus+ Youth Exchange: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-individuals/youth-exchanges
• European Solidarity Corps: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity_en
• Discover EU: https://youth.europa.eu/discovereu_en; https://youth.europa.eu/discovereu/factsheets_en

My travel experience around Europe has also prompted me to explore other continents. With pretty much the whole of Europe crossed off my bucket list, I am now living in North America, soon will be going to East Asia, and who knows where to next. My pro tip? It only takes one application to start your journey as a traveller. So, go for it!