In my last post I talked about how it felt like when I came back from this amazing holiday and why I started to journal my trips. I had an immense feeling of the ‘holiday blues’ to the point where it felt like a bit of a loss or grievance. I’m sure there’s many of you out there that resonate in some way so do let me know by commenting or messaging! I always love to hear from you 🙂
In this post I list 14 regrets and learnings from this Europe holiday in 2023. I think it’s important to kind of debrief after any experience to learn from it and what you’d do differently. I hope by sharing it here, they can give you some tips on how to make your travels that little bit more special. Let me know which one you appreciated the most and if you have had the same regrets from previous holidays!
Some of my key learnings in no particular order
- Always make an active effort to speak the local language.
Tip for next time: Once you step out of England forget the English language. I wish I made a bit more of an effort to speak the local language and ask for things in the local language of the places that I was in.
I mean I learnt the basic phrases like Hello, Please, Thank you but it was quite clear to me that I spoke English much more than I’d wished. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. English, especially in Europe, is somewhat of a universal language. Everyone speaks it, everyone understands it. That’s why it’s so easy to go back to speaking it because it doesn’t cause any difficulty.
But this prevents you from at the least causing people to smile as you try to speak. I did make somewhat of an effort but with my hearing it was difficult to pronounce some specific words. But I still tried which caused some laughs and smiles.
I dread when people come into a restaurant or the airport and the first question they ask is “Do you speak English?”. In my head I’m sorry but I just think you fucking bastard! Who the fuck do you think you are? Speak the local language always where possible!
- Google Maps is a great tool but I think I became too reliant on it.
It was absolutely terrible in Monaco just because Monaco has roads on top of roads. And Google maps doesn’t work in 3D. There’s a simple solution for that: don’t use it. It’s much better to use an actual map and also ask for directions from locals, who believe me they will help you.
I regret being so reliant on all this tech rather than just asking people. Asking people is so underrated. It helps you to really get places faster and also build some new friendships sometimes.
One key learning point also is to be willing to get lost. You just need to have this mindset otherwise you’ll just end up stressing or staying in the same place. So eventually I just learnt the phrase “Fuck it, let’s go!”
- Going on from the previous regret, even if you’re lost, even if you’re gonna miss the train or bus back. When you talk to people, for the love of God, smile!
Just ask them courteously but please just smile. It just helps things so much and it relieves the stress on your soul. Ok yeah you will be stressed and anxious about finding your way back. But listen, is it going to kill you? Probably not so just enjoy the experience of being lost.
And when you speak to people for help or directions just smile. In return they will smile at you and joke with you and really help you more than just “directions” or “go down here and turn left”. Smiling is so important and it has amazing benefits at very little cost.
- One of my biggest mistakes on holiday was not taking proper footwear.
As I write this I have massive blisters at the bottom of both my feet. And this is because I used my ordinary trainers on holiday. This was a grave mistake.
The reason being is that in Ancient cities like Rome and natural wonders in Croatia and the steps and hills in Monaco you will need hiking boots that provide sufficient support for these long treks with bumpy and rocky areas.
Despite this I still managed to walk about 12-15km a day. So whatever you do just enjoy yourself but take proper clothing/footwear.
- Spend, spend, Spend!
Rome is expensive and so is France. But you know what, you might not come back here or if so you might not be back for a while. So don’t worry too much about money.
Obviously, don’t bankrupt yourself but don’t worry about keeping to a very strict budget. I absolutely hate that I’m like this and it’s something I really struggle to get out of. FYI with Rome, a lot of the attractions like the Pantheon and Colosseum are free to enter on the first Sunday of every month. But beware of long queues!
When you get to and around these places, whilst looking around you will see loads of things you may wish to spend money on. This may be a meal, a drink or a souvenir. Spend your money even though these things may be overpriced. But you know what, you won’t have this experience again and you may not get the chance to buy this souvenir again.
I remember I was in the Vatican and the gift shop had this sort of Snow Globe for 15EUR which at the time I thought was really expensive. It was however very nice and looking back on it I wish I’d bought it.
At the time I thought you know what there might be a stall outside selling this cheaper. But there wasn’t.
So a key learning for me is: Use Spot rates not futures contracts.
In financial markets we always talk about using spot rates as this provides certainty because it’s the actual market price you pay now. With Futures contracts you are hedging yourself against something which may or may not happen in the future in the hope that you will benefit somewhat. But don’t use futures contracts.
Spend on souvenirs/experiences now with what you see in front of you. Grasp that opportunity as you may not get it back.
- Another key insight that I learnt was that in actuality, some prices for some experiences or attractions are more expensive online than at the door on the day.
For example with the Pantheon a ticket was 12EUR online but on the door I paid 5EUR.
I think because everyone thinks online is cheaper, they know this and bump up the price. So be very careful and I would kind of recommend you know what just pay at the door in local currency.
- Vatican Museums – I was really stupid as I only bought entry tickets to skip the line. But it is definitely worth paying extra for a guided tour.
The Vatican Museum has so much history and so much to see. It’s still worth visiting on your own and reading the exhibits but I think you’ll get more out of it hearing from an expert who knows about the artefacts in detail and can guide you through the museum. So definitely book a guided tour.
- I stayed in a hostel in Rome and also in Croatia. The Croatia hostel was superb which I’ll talk about later but with the Rome Hostel, it has really good facilities but I didn’t develop any social vibe with anyone.
There were other solo travellers: male and female. Confidence has always been a bit of a weak area for me but what I realised in places like that is that you have to really initiate conversations to get to know people.
This is especially true if you are a man and there’s solo female travellers. Not that you’re trying to chat anyone up, but just to have new conversations rather than being by yourself at dinner for example.
So just try to take the first step and say “hello, where have you come from?” It breaks the ice. Maybe also participate in any group activities if there are any.
- I am not really much of a drinker. But in Croatia I did have a few drinks every day with my new friends. And you know what, I really enjoyed this.
I know in my culture and religion alcohol is forbidden but I think it’s to stop people becoming very intoxicated. I never got drunk though but I did feel beer/wines and whisky did free and lift my spirits after a long day walking around. And it was a great way to bond and socialise with other people.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. It was a really enjoyable experience and given another social context I would be open to it.
- One initial weird experience for me when I arrived at Rome from Nice in France was that there were no passport or border control checks. I literally got off the plane and walked to the train station.
This is the benefit of the Schengen area. You are free to travel in the economic area of the EU for 90 days. The only checks were when I flew into France and then out of Croatia. But in between I was free to travel anywhere.
I mention this because at first I was worried I did something wrong but then multiple people confirmed that this is how it works because you already entered the Schengen area so there are no further checks if you travel within the area. You don’t actually need a passport!
(Please note that at the time of writing there was no Entry/Exit System (EES) within the EU. As of April 2026, across the area, there are now mandatory passport control checks at the border of each member state)
- In Rome, you must remember that some of the sites are sacred places. So be mindful as to how you conduct yourself in terms of clothing or taking photographs.
At St Peter’s Basilica as well as some other churches, it’s probably okay to wear 3 quarters but not shorts. And whilst they do have a dress code, I’ve seen some women who have worn skirts or have their shoulders showing. I’ve seen some women also walk barefoot inside the museum because of the heat.
So whilst they have a dress code, on really hot sunny days it may not be enforced too strictly but still remain respectful.
Also with photography as you will be entering sacred places, you may see signs that say no photos or videos. There may be no one to enforce this but as a matter of respect and courtesy please comply.
In the Roman Catacombs, you will find skeletons. People need to realise these aren’t fake, these are actual real persons who have since passed. Please treat them with the same respect as anyone living.
Don’t photograph them. You wouldn’t take photographs of someone else without their consent so why do it here? I am very strongly opinionated on this, these places are sacred and they must be treated with the utmost respect.
- Everytime I had a flight to make, I came into the airport really early. This was well in advance of the takeoff which meant I spent most of my mornings just waiting around. I think this is because I’m probably a bit over cautious but I do wonder if I had just woken up, gone to get breakfast, packed up everything else, it would’ve given me a bit more time just to enjoy being in the city a bit more for my last day.
Instead I woke up and was already in the mindset that I needed to make my way to the airport. Whilst this is ok, I think just relaxing a bit more and having breakfast before setting off would also be a great thing to do or a habit to keep.
- In all the cities and places I went to, I never used taxis even from the airport to the hostel or back when flying out.
I always use local transport like trams, trains or buses. This in my opinion enhances the experience a lot more. Spending money on taxis may be convenient and less stressful but it’s definitely more expensive and also in some way takes the joy out of experiencing the bloodstreams of the city.
Being able to experience and live like locals is just magical for me. I don’t need to be taken here or anywhere I can find my own way, I’ll make it work. So I will definitely keep this up.
- A great learning point and experience for me was to see people being really comfortable in their own skin.
And this is something I later developed myself. Obviously in the UK it’s probably a bit more colder than these countries I went to but seeing people just be happy and comfortable in their own skin in beachwear was really uplifting for me.
I am a demisexual/asexual, so I never attached this towards any sexual feelings or attractions. But just to see and feel the vibe from people from all walks of life to live like this with each other was an uplifting feeling and not something I am used to, but I felt comfortable with.
In my next post I get a bit more spiritual after I had a somewhat out of this world connection to being in the sea and the connection I felt with mother nature. Stay tuned and keep reading to share this amazing experience!