We’re Kicking off our Adventure in one of the Most Expensive Parts of Europe (but it’s Worth it)
Plus travelling with your best friend
Our latest journey through Europe is well underway. This month’s newsletter comes to you from a charming little pension in the countryside of the Czech Republic.
We waved goodbye to Prague a couple days ago and headed off for a blissful week of hiking in a little-known region called the Bohemian Paradise.
We were on the hunt for multi-day hikes and came across this hidden gem famous for its spectacular rock formations and well-preserved castles. Wish us good weather…apparently a week of rain is heading our way. 😂
Europe by train
Rain or shine, the Czech Republic is the first stop on our journey through central Europe. If you didn’t catch our recent livestream, this is our highly ambitious five-countries-in-four-months itinerary, which also includes Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
We’re travelling at what feels like lightning speed through the most expensive and touristy cities (Prague and Vienna) and then slowing down to our usual snail’s pace for the rest of the summer.
The best part is that we won’t have to step on another plane again until the end of the summer. It’s going to be trains all the way to Romania, our favourite way to travel (except for the part where we need to quickly haul two anxious dogs and two large suitcases on and off the train before it leaves the station).
Everything we know about travelling with dogs
After four years of full-time travel — that’s 15 countries, 35+ flights — I think we’ve gotten pretty good at navigating the world with our two dogs at our side.
Lately we’ve received so many questions about travelling with dogs that we realised we are well overdue for a video.
So here it is: our very best tips, recommendations and insights for packing up your suitcase and your dog and heading out for a life of adventure.
Our next stop is Vienna. If you’ve been, feel free to send your recommendations our way. And if you’re looking for the latest updates from our journey across Europe, you can check our Instagram Stories.
See you on the road!
Stephanie & Gillian
9 Comments
Michael Jensen
Safe travels! Hug, Prague for me!
Our Freedom Years
We gave Prague a quick hug, spent five days hiking through the Bohemian Paradise and suddenly find ourselves in Vienna!
RUBEN DIAZ
Wonderful! You two will have a great time in this part of Europe. My wife and I started late March in Prague, then Vienna and Budapest (after only one in beautiful Bratislava) and we are now in Romania where we will be two months! We are loving Romania (less tourists, low cost, easy leaving). Trains are a little slow but we don’t mind. You two gave my wife and I the last push to embrace the traveling slow lifestyle, many thanks!
Our Freedom Years
That’s wonderful — glad to hear that we were able to give you a tiny nudge towards the nomadic lifestyle! And it sounds like now we’re following in your footsteps as we tour central Europe (currently in Vienna). Do keep us posted on your highlights from Romania. We’ll be heading there in July for two months as well.
Anonymous
Our Freedom Years
Glad to be here! More soon as we made our way from Vienna to Bratislava and onward.
Haliday
We were in Vienna for the month of March last year. We had a lovely apartment three blocks from St. Stephen’s. Public transportation is terrific.
Our top recommendations are to take the tram and then walk up to the top of the city where the vineyards are. Amazing views, and a great hike with the dogs. Have a hotdog at ubiquitous hotdog stands. And don’t forget to check out the Klimt collection at the Belvedere museum.
The Viennese pastry tour with Wulfi via AirBnB Experiences is the best. We also took a side trip to Bratislava for a few days.
Bretzl in the Juden plaza is old fashioned authentic Viennese food. The Lippizanners are pricey but fun. Best just to go to the stables if you can.
It is a wonderful and walkable city.
Our Freedom Years
These are excellent suggestions – thank you! Unfortunately we’ve timed our arrival in Vienna for a full week of rain. But we’ll take our rain coats and umbrellas and do our best to see the sights.
Haliday
We were there in the snow. . . You can do it!