As I travel, I'm learning all sorts of things I wish I had known before I left, and forming some opinions about how best to enjoy life on the road. I thought I'd share some with you all (these stem from a backpacking through Europe experience, so are accordingly applicable):
Pack way less than you think you need. Enough clothes for 3 days is enough clothes for 3 months. Remember that you have to haul it all around with you.
Unless you are one of those rare people who doesn't sweat and never manages to get dirty, don't pack white clothes.
If you are planning on washing your own clothes, take a sink stopper - or be prepared to pay outrageous sums of money to use a washing machine.
Don't drink a lot of water and 3 cups of coffee first thing in the morning when you're in a city that charges € 1 to use the bathroom.
Be open minded. Try not to have specific expectations. Go with the flow. You'll be much happier.
If you're a girl thinking of traveling alone for the first time, let me tell you - it's not as big a deal as you might think. Just do it.
Often, if you need to pay to use a bathroom, you also need to grab toilet paper in advance.
When buying produce in grocery stores you often have to weigh it yourself unless it's packaged. If you see a number next to the labels, look around for a scale - put in the appropriate number, and it will print a price sticker for you.
Walk. Take a comfortable pair of shoes, and walk whenever possible. It's the best way to get to know a city, and it will allow you to eat delicious local food and drink beer without needing to buy new clothes.
Bring a student ID if you have one. Even if you're not a student, an old card will still work quite often - I've gotten great discounts at hostels and museums with my (expired) ID.
If you're into museums, it's worth looking at hours etc. ahead of time - many have free entry one or more days of the week or after a certain time, and some multi-museum passes (especially the one in Berlin) are really worth it, particularly when combined with a student discount.
While you're walking, stay out of the bike lane. There are lanes for a reason. It's just better for everyone.
Unless you're really pressed for time, don't take night trains. Train travel is a pleasure, and looking out the window in the daytime affords beautiful views and a good look at what goes in-between cities.
If you love to read, take one book and trade it out at book exchanges in hostels. It's a great way to keep your packing light and potentially discover something great you didn't know about before (I read my first Salman Rushdie novel as a result of a book exchange).
Avoid wearing obviously brand-name clothing (especially guys) as in some countries or cities certain brands are akin to gang signs or sandwich boards reading "I'm a hooligan". This goes for sports brands and the fancier stuff - check out what happened with Burberry in the UK.
A few thoughts about hostels:
The variety of hostels out there is huge, so it's really important to know what you're looking for and to be careful when booking. In my opinion, there are two broad hostel categories: small and personal, or large and commercial. If what you're interested is a cheap version of a hotel, go for the large-scale hostels. If you want more of a community backpacker feel, definitely aim for smaller places.
I am personally a fan of the small hostels. 30 beds or less, with a good common room, kitchen, and nice staff.
In my opinion, where you stay is just as important as what you see and what you eat while traveling, because it has the potential to introduce you to some amazing people and a lot of fun you may not otherwise have had. Some personal hostel recommendations I have are: Poet's Corner in Olomouc, Czech Republic; Ginger Monkey in Ždiar, Slovakia; and Elephant's Castle in Trenčin, Slovakia. The beautiful thing about finding one great hostel is that you start hearing about others from your fellow guests and from the staff. I take these recommendations seriously, and I haven't been disappointed yet.
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