Single Woman on a Budget - Travel Tips 2 - Travel Bags.

When I was younger I used to take lots of possessions with me when travelling and travel with more expensive airlines such as Lufthansa or Ryanair. Now I am older I find I don't miss material possessions and I travel with budget airlines such as Jet2, Ryanair or Easyjet. 

With budget airlines you can only take one under the seat bag. In my whole life I have never been fined for taking a bag too big. 

I recommend always carefully reading the dimensions of the size of the bag with the airline before you travel. As I have moved a lot in my life and I used to work in television I am used to carrying a tape measure with me to measure my clothes sizes and to measure furniture. 

Below is a black bag I bought a few years back when travelling from Edinburgh to Poitiers. I bought this from Sainsburys and it was not very expensive. You can fit a few nights change of clothes and a smaller device to work with ie- a tablet. 

As it's black I would put a keychain or tie or something on it so it's easy distinguishable when at the airport as others may have the same bag. 

I bought the below bag from Amazon in 2024. for my 2024 new years eve trip. If you work remotely then this is excellent because it has a padded section at the back for a laptop.  

It also has space for drink bottles at the sides. This bag is like a tardis and I absolutely love it!

Dimensions change all the time for airline travel bags so do not trust what your friends say and always check the airline directly :) 

For my Cousin :)

My uncle died last year, whenever I feel sad about  the state about the state of the world, I think of my cousin Louise, she died in a car crash at 18 with her boyfriend in 1993. I was aged two at the time so I never met her but I have been told I am a lot like her, bubbly and full of life. 

My living was living in D.C. at the time and we unfortunately were unable to attend her funeral.

With Trump back in power, in a world where you can be anything, BE KIND

Rest in Peace, Louise :)

DAY 6 - 5/1/25 A Chill Day Turns Complicated! Thank you Easyjet!

 The following day I have mostly a chill day and extend my booking at the hostel

Unfortunately things take a turn for the worst when I hear news that my flight may be cancelled due to the weather.

I head to the airport anyway.

My flight was supposed to be at 9:25PM and it is eventually cancelled. I am waiting in the line with people for over 4 hours until after midnight. 

 

Easyjet only say they can put me on another Easyjet flight later in the week, which means I would have to finance multiple days in Prague alone. It is very stressful and I have broken one of my own travel rules booking a late flight back.

I go around the hotels close to airport but unfortunately due to the weather they are all booked up

I end up going back to central Prague, I spend the night in Prague. 

On the 6th I take the Flixbus back to Berlin, changing in Dresden and then arriving back in Berlin on the evening of the 6th.

On the plus side my view from the Flixbus is gorgeous!

Below - A train display at Dresden station

I then sweet talk them at the airport into getting onto an earlier flight and spend the night in Amsterdam staying at an ibis close to the airport. I would really recommend ibis for affordable travel. Below is the bus timetable to get from the ibis to the airport. 

 

I then land back in Edinburgh on Tuesday 7th January 2025, 2 days later than planned. 

I will film a video on how this was a very stressful experience and how I don't think Easyjet handled the situation well.

Easyjet did eventually refund me the cost of the flight I was supposed to take and some expenses after I filled out their expenses form online to be fair. However at the time it was a very stressful situation to be in at the time alone as a single woman in  a city late at night when you don't speak the language!

That's a wrap on my trip to Christmas trip to Berlin and Prague

Next I will be writing about my European adventure where I went to three countries over 8 nights to celebrate my 34th birthday!

DAY 5 - 4/1/25 Ice Museum, Sightseeing, a Meetup at Global Bookstore Cafe and more fun with the Locals :)

 The following day I do a bit more sightseeing.

At the recommendation of a friend I go to Ice Magic, the Ice Museum. It is really more for children and not really my cup of tea. It's expensive for what it is but I take lots of photos

 

I take some more photos. It is very snowy.

I then have to go to the Jizenky Tickets Infocentrum to pick up some more tickets. Sometimes when you travel it's hard to know what kind of ticket is more affordable and realistic to get. 

 

That evening I go to a meetup at The Global Bookstore and cafe; Globe Bookstore and Café – Prague's Largest English Bookstore

It is part bookshop part cafe. I really like this location and the ambience, although I have mostly given up reading these days. 

I really like the location but there is not really anyone I get on with so I head on to a pub with some locals to enjoy the rest of the night.

 

Me at the bar below!