First-time independent travel
Backpacking Europe Alone for the First Time
A practical guide for first-time independent travelers.
Covers realistic routes, budgeting, buses and trains, hostels, safety, money, preparation, and handling plans that change — everything a first-time independent traveler needs to go in prepared.
Backpacking Europe Alone for the First Time
Fichtner Travels
Inside the guide
What's inside
Route planning
Build routes that make sense, choose the right season, and avoid trying to see too much.
Realistic budgets
Understand transportation, accommodation, everyday costs and the importance of keeping a reserve.
Safety & confidence
Stay aware and safe without approaching travel with fear.
Handling the unexpected
Prepare for delays, missed transportation, bad accommodation, lost belongings and changed plans.
Staying independent
Meet people, enjoy your own company and build confidence through experience.
Inside the guide
What the guide looks like
Each chapter is built around a specific decision you'll face — not a destination overview. Here's a sample of what's covered.
Route planning
How to build a flexible route that works with your budget and timeline — not against it.
Transport decisions
Rail pass or point-to-point? Bus or train? The guide walks through the real trade-offs.
Safety & scam awareness
Common scams, safety habits, and how to stay aware without being anxious.
The approach
Why this guide is different
Most travel content tells you where to go. This guide focuses on how to travel — the decisions, the trade-offs, and the practical realities that determine whether a trip feels freeing or overwhelming.
Kevin Fichtner first travelled and worked in Europe at 19 and returned numerous times independently throughout his twenties. His daughter later travelled through Europe on her own at 24, relying largely on buses to move from city to city.
Fichtner Travels grew from those experiences and from a simple idea: independent travel should feel adventurous. It doesn't have to feel unprepared.
"Preparation builds freedom."
This guide is built around real decisions, realistic budgets, personal safety and the confidence to handle what happens along the way.
In development
The guide is currently being written. Sign up to receive a single notification when it's available.
Get book updates