I went to Italy for the first time and left with 5 big regrets

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author stands in front of a castle in Italy on a cloudy day
The reporter spent six days in Italy. She visited Venice, Rome, and Milan.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I regret spending 2 weeks in Europe traveling to 6 different places. Next time, I'm choosing quality over quantity.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author stands in front of the Colosseum in Rome
Business Insider's reporter took a two-week backpacking trip through six cities in four European countries.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent 2 nights in a tiny home hotel in Germany. 7 things surprised me about the 2-story, 100-square-foot house.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of the author standing in front of a cylindrical home and sitting inside the home looking up a ladder
The author enjoys her stay in the European tiny home.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I backpacked across Europe for the first time, and 10 things surprised me about the 2-week adventure

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author stands with a backpack on in front of a train in Italy
The reporter backpacked through Europe for the first time in 2022.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I backpacked across Europe for 2 weeks. Booking Airbnbs in small towns to save money was the most unexpected highlight of my trip.

Tech Insider : Travel
A composite image. Left: A tree-covered mountain with green grass meadows, houses, and a body of water below. There are clouds just below the tip of the mountain.

I bunked with 3 strangers in a shared cabin on an overnight train in Europe. It was bumpy, cramped, and I wouldn't do it again.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
A blue train with a red stripe stopped at a platform at night
Business Insider's reporter took a Nightjet train from Venice, Italy, to Vienna, Austria.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I backpacked across Europe for 2 weeks and slept on trains and in budget Airbnbs. 10 things surprised me about this type of travel.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Two images: Left: A sunlit field with homes in front of a mountain. Right: The author in her backpack stands smiling on a train platform on the right with people boarding a white and red train on the left
Business Insider's reporter took a one-week solo backpacking trip in Berlin and Vienna, sleeping in budget Airbnbs and shared train cabins.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I paid $560 for a 7-day Eurail pass to country hop by train in Europe. I took 8 rides between 6 cities and it was so much better than flying.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
The author traveled around Europe by train and preferred it to flying.
The author traveled around Europe with a Eurail pass.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Disappointing photos show what it's really like to backpack across Europe

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Left:  young smiling backpacker checking city map on smartphone with downtown buildings behind here. Right: The author in a black backpack walks next to a train with other travelers around her
Business Insider's reporter expected an Instagram-like backpacking adventure in Europe, but the reality was much less glamorous.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent $1,000 to have a room to myself on a 30-hour Amtrak ride. It was the best experience I've had on an overnight train in the US.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
The author relaxes in an Amtrak bedroom traveling from Miami to NYC.
The author relaxes in an Amtrak bedroom traveling from Miami to NYC.

Joey Hadden/Insider

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