OPINION: 'I went interrailing across Europe last summer- don't make these big mistakes'

I went on a three week interrailing trip across six countries in Europe, here are my tips and advice for travel enthusiasts who want to broaden their horizons this summer!

I went from having only visited Spain a handful of times, to visiting Venice and Florence in Italy, Budapest in Hungary, Zagreb in Croatia, Vienna in Austria, Cannes in France and Lake Bled in Slovenia.

First things first, you will need to download the Rail Planner app where you can purchase an interrailing pass which you will need when travelling from country to country, and then book a flight to your first destination and a flight home from your final destination.

Dos and don'ts of interrailing:

1: Pack light: Remember you can always buy clothes on your travels!

I'd recommend no more than a 10kg suitcase and a small enough back pack. Also make sure to pack a comfy pair of shoes.

I made the silly decision of packing a very full 20kg suitcase as well as a school bag! By the end of the three week trip, the four wheels of my suitcase were just about falling off! No one warned me about the amount of stairs I would come face to face with!

I did not need half of the stuff I brought, and with the gorgeous clothing stores around cities in Europe, I was actually sad I had no room to purchase some new clothes. So trust me, you don't need 20 different outfits!

Trying to lift my 20kg suitcase around every two to three days from country to country, was not the brightest idea I've ever had and it did put a bit of a downer on the trip overall.

2: Don't go to Zagreb: One place I don't recommend visiting is Zagreb in Croatia. Sadly, we allocated four days of the trip there and there wasn't a lot to do. If we could plan it again we would go to Split in Croatia instead, as Zagreb was definitely not the lively holiday spot we had wanted. The only thing close by was a local zoo, so you can imagine why it wasn't our favourite spot.

3: Be organised: It's a good idea to have your trip well planned out in advance. You will need to book seats on trains and time journeys from each country in advance, especially during peak summer months. I'd also have a rough plan of what activities you will be doing each day as well and create a budget to spend everyday.

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4: Be money smart: Travelling for a long period of time can be expensive. We saved money by cooking our own meals from time-to-time to save splurging on expensive dinners. Walk instead of uber, budget meals and drinks and keep your money in a safe and organised place, are also things you should do save money.

5: Be careful when you 'tap' on public transport: A tip is to carry your actual bank card to tap on buses and trams, as your service on your phone could go at any time. This happened to me and I was fined €40 on a bus. Even though I paid with my phone, it didn't show up for the inspector because my service was very slow! I'd be careful with this and even go to the driver beforehand for proof of purchase.

Must visit/must dos: Venice was a spot I'd definitely recommend stopping by on your travels, simply because it's such a beautiful city [and I love Italian food!] Taking a gondola down the Grand Canal during a sunny evening should be on everyone's booking list.

• The highlight for me was definitely Budapest because there was so much to do and see. I very much recommend the outdoor baths. The place we went to was called 'Széchenyi Spa'. It only costs around 30 euro and you could spend the whole day there. There's pools of all sizes and temperatures, with jacuzzis, ice baths, indoor pools and outdoor pools it was the perfect place to cool off and relax. 

• The Tiki bar in Budapest is also a must for those looking for a fun cocktail bar, with all sorts of interactive cocktails and Tiki style interior design, it's definitely a place I will never forget.

• Cannes in France is also a beautiful spot to visit, except it is on the more expensive side. I'd recommend coming here for the beautiful beaches and local pastry cafés to get an authentic chocolate croissant!
• Lake Bled is a must visit as well, we got to take a paddle boat out onto the lake and jump in and have a swim as well. It is a beautiful location for people who love peace and quiet and the outdoors. 

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Hostels: In terms of hostels, personally they weren't for me. They are good however for people solo travelling as a way to meet new friends and are lot cheaper than booking hotels or B&B's. We booked two hostels, one hostel in particular I was in a separate area to the rest of my friends which is the risk you take when booking with a group of people. 

Some useful items to bring interrailing: I'd recommend bringing a deck of cards, band-aids, a book or a Kindle, sunglasses, a small mirror, a power-bank, a bag for dirty laundry, a swim suit, and a hoodie or jacket.