Plan the Trip | Travel Hacks Archive

What to Pack in Your Daypack: Packing List for the beach

If you’ve been following Travel Like Local for a while, you probably already know that I prefer to travel as light as possible. But besides my small carry-on backpack, there’s one item I wouldn’t want to travel without anymore: my foldable daypack. Here’s my go-to packing list for a day at the beach. → I personally use and recommend all products mentioned in this article→ My small backpack on Amazon* During my road trip through northern Spain, this small backpack was truly in use almost every single day. It’s easy to pack into your suitcase or attach to your carry-on backpack, and it holds much more than you would expect. Often, I would simply walk to the beach with my small daypack, grab a coffee at a café right by the sea, and spend hours watching the surfers. Honestly, that day was already pretty close to perfect. But as it often happens when travelling, things don’t always go according to plan. After maybe two hours, a friend suddenly had the brilliant idea: “Come on, I’ll teach you how to surf now!” Of course, right away. And of course, nobody wanted to walk 40 minutes back to the van just to grab a few small things. It was exactly in moments like these that I was always glad I had my daypack fully packed and ready to go. My foldable 15-litre SKYSPER daypack* actually holds a surprising amount of stuff. For me, it’s the perfect companion for day trips, beach days, or short hikes. The best part is that I don’t have to unpack my entire carry-on backpack every time I want to head out. I can simply leave it at my accommodation and take only what I really need. Beach Packing List – What I Always Bring Let’s start with the obvious essentials. What exactly do I actually pack in my daypack every time? Towels: A Beach Towel Is a Must in Your Daypack Of course, a large beach towel is an absolute essential. I actually bought mine spontaneously from a beach towel seller by the sea at some point during my travels. I do own a smaller, thinner towel as well, but honestly: whenever I have enough space in my backpack, I simply enjoy using a classic, large beach towel much more. I also always carry a microfibre towel (Gipfelsport) with me. It dries incredibly quickly and is perfect for drying off after a swim or taking a quick shower somewhere while travelling. Cap, Bikini and Swim Shorts – Obvious, Yet Easy to Forget A bikini and a cap are also always part of my daypack essentials. You might be thinking: “Well, obviously!” But trust me, when you’re packing for a trip, you can think of everything — and somehow the most obvious things are the ones you end up leaving at home. Travel Book or Holiday Read? One thing that should never be missing on any trip is a good book. Reading with the sound of the waves in the background and a view of the ocean is simply one of my favorite holiday memories. I’m currently reading the travelogue Die geilste Lücke im Lebenslauf by Nick Martin. If you’re planning a round-the-world trip or have ever thought about going on one, please read this book before you do. I was shocked, laughed out loud, and even found myself relating to some of the situations. Currently the book is sadly only in german available. Bottle Opener and Camping Cups And because a cold drink on the beach is simply part of the experience, I often throw a beer into my backpack – or, if I’m traveling with friends, a bottle of white wine. But what should definitely not be missing? A small waiter’s corkscrew and my foldable camping cups from Decathlon*. Oh God, I really love these cups. They weigh next to nothing, take up hardly any space, and are just incredibly practical when traveling. (Pssst… I sometimes even stuff the foldable cups into my little handbag. xD) Power Bank, Travel Adapter and Car Charger This little detail is surprisingly easy to forget when packing. And yet, your phone is constantly in use when traveling: taking photos, using Google Maps, quickly translating something, or checking the next bus connection. With the screen brightness turned all the way up, the battery often dies much faster than expected. Unfortunately, I’m speaking from personal experience. Once, I ended up somewhere in the evening with a completely dead phone and had to find my accommodation in the dark. Not exactly my favorite travel moment. Since then, I never leave the house without a small power bank* and a travel adapter. If you’re traveling by car, a car charger can also come in handy. My UGREEN car charger can even charge laptops, so if needed, you can even join a Zoom call from the car. 😉 The Emergency Toiletry Bag My ultralight toiletry bag from Decathlon has also become a permanent travel companion. It weighs just 43 grams, can be hung up, and has three small compartments. Inside, I keep all the essentials: a hairbrush, soap, lip balm, a little face cream, hair ties, wet wipes, and a bar of soap. Perfect for freshening up spontaneously while on the road (or finally finding a warm shower after surfing). My Beach Packing List So you don’t forget anything, here’s my complete beach packing list: Since I started traveling this way, I never have to unpack my entire carry-on backpack just for a day at the beach or a spontaneous surf lesson. I simply grab my daypack and I’m ready to go within seconds. That’s why, for me, it’s one of the most practical travel gadgets out there. *Note: This is an affiliate link that I recommend because I genuinely like the product. It doesn’t cost you anything extra to use the link, and there are no disadvantages for you. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I receive a small commission

Europe Travels, Hungary, Plan the Trip | Travel Hacks, Travel Gadgets, Travel with Train | Bus | Airplane

Train to Budapest – 10 € Ticket incl. Coffee

If you’re wondering about the best way to travel from Germany or Austria to Hungary, you’re certainly not alone. It’s a question I’ve been asked countless times over the past few years. As a car-free commuter who regularly traveled between Upper Austria and Budapest, as well as between Germany and Hungary, I’ve tried almost every train and bus connection available. ➜ These are the booking platforms I personally use: Omio*, ÖBB, MÁV and DB* ➜ In this guide, I mainly recommend direct train connections to Budapest. Eventually, I realized that taking a train to Budapest isn’t just one of the cheapest ways to travel to Hungary, it’s also the most relaxing and authentic. Instead of dealing with long airport security lines or traffic jams, you can sit back, enjoy the changing landscapes, and arrive right in the heart of the Hungarian capital. But which connection to Budapest is actually worth taking? How long is the journey? How much does a train ticket cost? And what practical tips should you know before boarding? Why Is the Train to Budapest Such a Great Experience? If you’re looking for an affordable, comfortable, and stress-free way to travel, it’s hard to beat the train. Hungary is exceptionally well connected to both Austria and Germany, making it one of the easiest countries in Central and Eastern Europe to reach by rail. (The only exceptions are my last-minute money-saving tricks later in the article.) A train journey to Budapest isn’t just about getting from A to B—it’s an experience in itself. I always enjoy watching the scenery slowly change as the train crosses into Hungary. Then there are the passengers you’ll meet along the way. Some of them are unforgettable, like the people who casually ask you to look after their fluffy dogs for a few minutes (more on that later). Once you arrive in Budapest, you’ll step directly into the city center at either Keleti Railway Station or the famous Nyugati Railway Station, designed by Gustave Eiffel—yes, the same engineer behind the Eiffel Tower. Practical comparison platforms such as Trainline and Omio make booking incredibly easy. If it’s your first time booking through Omio, you can even save up to €10. Budapest Train perfect for Coffee Lovers Since I spent several years commuting between Austria and Hungary, this is by far the route I’ve traveled most often. Most of the time, I take an ÖBB Sparschiene ticket to Vienna and continue from there on the Czech RegioJet to Budapest. In my opinion, it’s the cheapest option—and it even comes with complimentary Illy coffee. I’ve marked both stations below so you can quickly check whether the RegioJet service with the free coffee is available on your travel date. Classic Route – Vienna to Budapest Train with RegioJet Is RegioJet Worth It? Absolutely. The Czech railway company RegioJet doesn’t just offer some of the cheapest train tickets to Budapest—it also includes complimentary Illy coffee and bottled water with its standard ticket. The only downside is that RegioJet only operates this route twice a day. The good news is that you don’t need to install another app. These tickets are also available through Trainline and Omio. Every trip I’ve taken with RegioJet has left me with great memories. Sometimes the journey was completely relaxing, other times it turned into a little adventure. I almost always met interesting people along the way. Most passengers are young, open-minded, and friendly. And as I mentioned earlier, some of them are so trusting that they’ll happily ask a complete stranger to watch their adorable puppy while they grab a coffee. Running Late and no Ticket? Last Minute Trick If you’re the spontaneous type—or if you’re anything like me and occasionally forget to book your ticket until the last minute—don’t worry. You can still travel to Budapest without spending a fortune. Whenever direct Vienna to Budapest train tickets suddenly cost between €40 and €60, I use this simple trick: ➜ Buy a ticket only as far as Hegyeshalom (the Hungarian border station).➜ From Hegyeshalom, buy a separate Hungarian ticket through the MÁV website or app (usually around €11.50). Important: For this trick to work, you’ll need to change to another train in Hegyeshalom. Apparently, Hungarian Railways have a rule that I still don’t fully understand. If you stay on exactly the same train while using two separate tickets, the conductor may issue a hefty fine. One more piece of advice: don’t spend too much time asking the conductors why this rule exists. In my experience, it tends to make them rather grumpy. Linz to Budapest Train – Direct Connection If you’re traveling from Upper Austria, the Linz to Budapest train is another convenient option. This route is particularly practical because it is a direct connection and doesn’t require changing trains. Linz to Budapest Train I personally find this connection very comfortable. However, to get the best prices, you should try to book relatively early, ideally one to two months in advance. Graz to Budapest Train – What You Should Know Before Booking The Graz to Budapest train connection requires a little more attention when booking. Many search engines automatically suggest a route via Vienna, including a transfer in Vienna. However, there is also a direct connection available via Szentgotthárd, a small border town in Hungary. Graz to Budapest Train Also make sure you carefully check that you are actually booking a direct connection to Budapest. You really don’t want to accidentally end up somewhere in the middle of Hungary. Train services in rural areas are much less frequent, and at smaller stations, you can quite literally find yourself “in the middle of nowhere”. Another thing to consider: in rural Hungary, fewer people speak English. So if you don’t know any Hungarian, communication can become challenging. Traveling from Germany to Budapest by Train Germany is also extremely well connected to Budapest, whether you’re traveling from Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, or northern Germany. If you’re coming from further away, taking an overnight train can actually

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