Quick answers to the things students ask most about budget travel and using Roamly.
Start with our "How to Plan Your First Trip" guide — it walks you through choosing a destination, setting a budget, booking flights and accommodation, and packing. Barcelona, Lisbon, Prague, and Paris are all great first-trip picks from the UK.
Read the guide →For a 3–5 day European city break, budget roughly £100–400 depending on the destination and how carefully you spend. Prague is the cheapest of our guides (~£58–83 for 3 days), while Paris and Amsterdam sit higher (~£200–350 for 3–4 days).
Read Budget Basics →If you hold a UK passport, you can visit EU/Schengen countries for up to 90 days without a visa. Just make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months beyond your travel dates. From 2026, you'll also need an ETIAS travel authorisation (£6, valid for 3 years) — check the official ETIAS site for the latest.
For short-haul European flights, the sweet spot is 4–8 weeks before departure. Flying midweek (Tuesday–Thursday) is almost always cheaper. Set price alerts on Skyscanner or Google Flights and wait for a dip.
Read our flights guide →Absolutely. You'll save £20–40 per flight on bag fees, skip the baggage carousel, and move faster. A 40L cabin backpack fits everything you need for a week if you pack smart.
See the packing list →Ryanair and easyJet cover most European routes and regularly offer fares under £30 one-way. Wizz Air is also worth checking for eastern and southern European destinations. Always compare on Skyscanner first, then check the airline's own app for any exclusive deals.
Yes — modern hostels in major European cities are generally very safe. Look for hostels with ratings above 8.0 on Hostelworld, use the lockers provided (bring your own padlock), and keep valuables locked away.
Read our hostel guide →Smaller dorms (4–6 beds) are quieter and more comfortable — worth the extra £3–5/night if you're a light sleeper. Larger dorms are cheaper and more social, but expect more noise and less privacy.
Of course. Budget hotels, Airbnbs, and even house-sitting are all options. But for solo travellers and first-timers, hostels are hard to beat — they're cheap, social, and usually in great locations.
Yes — all our destination guides, itineraries, and travel tips are completely free to read and use. No sign-up required.
Browse all 7 itineraries →We'd love that. Drop us a message via the contact page with the city you'd like to see covered, and we'll add it to our list.
Get in touch →We're actively adding new destinations, itineraries, and articles. Prague, Berlin, and Rome were our most recent additions. Follow along — more cities are coming soon.
Our downloadable guide covers packing lists, budget breakdowns, booking tips, and city highlights for our top destinations. Enter your email on the contact page and we'll send it to your inbox.
Download the guide →Monzo, Starling, and Revolut all offer fee-free spending abroad with no foreign transaction charges. Revolut also lets you hold euros directly, which can be handy. Set one up before your trip — it takes minutes.
Carry £20–30 worth of local currency as backup, but most places in western Europe accept card payments (even small cafés and market stalls). Your fee-free travel card will handle 95% of transactions.
Yes — always. A basic policy costs £10–20 for a short trip and covers medical emergencies, cancellations, and lost belongings. Some bank accounts (like Monzo Premium or Nationwide FlexPlus) include travel insurance — check yours before buying separately.
