Deciding what to take with you when you travel have always been one of your main challenges – and that frustration is why I eventually created my own detailed packing list for travel essentials I want to share with you.
The most important things a woman should pack when traveling are her intuition and Diva Cup
Women on the Road’s Ultimate Long-Term Travel Packing List for Women
Documents & Bags
Passport + extra photocopy of the front page of your passport
Additional photo ID (such as a driver’s license, student ID) debit and/or credit cards
Estonia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is a developed country with an advanced, high-income economy and part of the European Union and in 2011 was ranked among the fastest-growing in the EU. As a part of the Union, the country accepts the Euro. Even not so well known the country is pretty tech-savvy. Some of the most known companies started in this country are Skype, Hotmail, Transferwise, Veriff and others.
The best time to visit this Baltic country is late spring or summer when the weather is good enough to allow you to explore the cities by combining some great outdoors. Traveling to Estonia is perfect for all types of outdoor lovers.
Summers are short – from around mid-June to late August, but even then you can experience showers and chilly nights. It is recommended to pack a waterproof jacket and warm sweater alongside your T-shirts.
The first snowfalls usually can be expected around mid-November.
The reasons to visit Estonia are countless. But before you book your trip to Estonia, here a few things you may want to know:
Currency
The euro is the official currency of Estonia, which is a member of the European Union. ATMs are available throughout the country and credit cards are widely accepted, but you can expect to pay with cash or pay with your phone, most of the time. Half of all point of sale transactions in Estonia were done with cash in 2016, according to the European Central Banks in comparison to the rest of the EU where on average, 75% of POS transactions were made with cash.
Technology in Estonia
Estonia is one of the top tech countries in Europe. You’ll have WiFi pretty much everywhere you go. Internet access is widely available throughout the country. Based on Estonian World Estonia is ranked 15th in world fastest internet speed. The electrical outlet is standard as the rest of Europe, so you can use your European adapter.
Language
The official language of Estonia is Estonian, a Uralic language which is related to Finnish. It is unrelated to the bordering Russian and Latvian languages, both of which are Indo-European.
Prices
Estonia is still a budget travel destination in Europe. The prices in Tallinn have increased in the past couple of years, but still affordable.
Safety
Estonia is pretty safe to travel to. Its crime rates are mostly low, but of course in bigger cities and the capital city of Tallinn, you have to be more cautious about areas to avoid pickpockets, or other types of assault.
Cuisine
The traditional cuisine of Estonia uses meat and potatoes varieties. There are a lot of soups, seafood, of course, meat. Estonian food is heavily influenced by its nearby neighbors. Many types of food are close to Russian. Kohuke is a great Estonian snack. It is a milk-curd sweet covered with chocolate.
The most typical foods in Estonia are black bread, pork, and potatoes. Estonians are proud of their beer and vodka.
Transportation
Estonia is a small country and it is, therefore, very easy to get around. The majority of the travel throughout the country is by bus. However, some of the islands require a car in order to fully explore them.
Reccomendations: Travel Insurance – Don’t forget about getting travel insurance when you are traveling since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Visas – Many countries do not need a visa in order to enter Estonia, for any stays shorter than 90 days. If it is longer than that, you might need to acquire a visa. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you plan on return. You can always check your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com
If you have your own tips on what not do, when you visit Estonia, please share them in the comment below. I would love to hear about your experience.
Want to learn more about sustainable travel? Check our other posts.
With its scenic countryside, relaxed villages and handsome cities, the Dutch offer travelers a fabulous contrast between traditional and modern, rustic and stylish. In the Netherlands, you’ll find exciting but laid-back cities, cobblestones, and culture, with stunning architecture and some of Europe’s best galleries and museums. The best way to experience the Netherlands is to meet up with the people and share some of the amazing things they do.
With its strikingly lovely canals, bicycle-happy locals, and cheery flower markets, it’s no surprise that Amsterdam attracts so many visitors year after year, but there is way more besides Amsterdam.
Here is a list of 7 other wonderful Dutch cities and towns to consider visiting.
Photo credit: Antony McCallum / wikimedia
Haarlem
Haarlem is a city, located just 27 minutes by train outside of Amsterdam in the northwest Netherlands. Once a major North Sea trading port surrounded by a defensive wall, it retains its medieval character of cobblestone streets and gabled houses.
Over 1000 years old, this smaller city is beautiful and offers visitors a less-touristy and less-crowded experience.
Haarlem is also a great place to take a canal boat cruise using one of the many offers for specialty cruises that take you outside the city by boat. Some of the city attractions are the 14th-century Town Hall, the magnificent St. Bavo’s Church, and the outstanding art collection inside the Frans Hals Museum, Corrie Ten Boom Museum.
If you want to see the Dutch countryside, visit the neighborhood of Zaanse Schans (30 minutes by car), where you’ll find authentic, typically-Dutch windmills and shops showcasing the traditional crafts
The Netherlands’ fourth-largest city, Utrecht was founded as a Roman fortress almost 2000 years ago! Its original Roman name, Trajectum ad Rhenum (Ford on the Rhine).
The city is just 20 minutes away by train and the trains depart quite frequently.
The Dom, the yards along the Oude Gracht, the Hoog Catharijne shopping center and the Neude are just a few famous places in Utrecht. The province of Utrecht is home to a number of nature preserves, castles and bustling cities. With the region having such a rich and long history, there are many old cities and ancient buildings to explore. The city of Utrecht features a historic center with an old cathedral tower that dates back to the Middle Ages.
The lush Botanical Gardens can be found very close to the Utrecht Science Park. The garden is home to lots of buzzing insects and hundreds of flowers and plants. The gardens are among the oldest university gardens in the Netherlands.
Photo credit: Rene Mensen/Flickr
The Hague
The Hague is a city on the North Sea coast of the western Netherlands. Its Gothic-style Binnenhof complex is the seat of the Dutch parliament, and 16th-century Noordeinde Palace is the king’s workplace.
The Hague hosted two international peace conferences in 1899 and 1907 – known as the Hague Conventions.
Organizations such as Europol, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism are all based in The Hague.
With 30 theatres and more than 40 museums to visit, The Hague is regarded as one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the Netherlands.
The Mauritshuis, an art museum that houses the Royal Cabinet of Paintings, houses the works of renowned artists such as Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt, while the Louwman Museum features the world’s largest collection of historic cars.
The modern seaside resort of Scheveningen is also a favorite holiday spot for locals and tourists.
No visit to the Netherlands is complete without a visit to this city. Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in Holland. The city has plenty to offer with its Churches, city walls, monumental merchant houses and big squares merge seamlessly with a comprehensive and varied range of shops.
You can find rich architecture here ranging from Roman excavations to the modern design of the Bonnefantenmuseum. The Sint-Servaasbrug is one of the most characteristic structures in Maastricht.
The city is home to 120.000 people and is known as a city of history, attractions, culture, local folklore and education.
Maastricht is also known as a city of indulgence and culinary highlights. The city’s celebration of Carnival is among the biggest and most festive in all of the Netherlands.
Delft
This is one of the most charming towns in all of The Netherlands and the town’s world-renown export – is known as the manufacturing base for Delftware, beautifully-crafted hand-painted blue-and-white pottery.
Delft enjoys a worldwide reputation due to its connection with Johannes Vermeer, Delft Blue earthenware and the Royal House.
This small university town offers canal tours, museums, markets and many pubs, walks along canals, churches, mansions and courtyards. Delft’s inner city is dominated by two big churches: the Oude Kerk or Old Church and the Nieuwe Kerk or New Church with its rich history and connection to the Royal Family. The churches are within easy walking distance of each other and can be visited on the same ticket.
The Dutch city of Leiden Holland (Leyden in Dutch) is a picturesque community located in the tulip-growing district in the Netherlands. Home to the oldest university in the country, Leiden features spectacular landmarks, interesting tourist attractions and a variety of museums.
In the seventeenth century, Leiden was one of the most important and richest cities in Holland.
Leiden also has its own Hortus Botanicus, an impressive university garden filled with plants from around the world. There are also several museums with great collections of art (De Lakenhal), history (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden), nature (Naturalis).
Gouda is a Dutch city south of Amsterdam in the province of South Holland. It’s known for its namesake cheese and seasonal cheese market, regularly held on the medieval Markt square.
The city itself is a wonderland of monumental architecture, from its 15th century Stadhuis (City Hall) to its cruciform Sint Janskerk. The city is located just 55 minutes from Amsterdam by train, historic Gouda is a great choice for travelers looking for a convenient, day-trip destination outside the capital.
A superlative church in so many ways, the late Gothic basilica Sint Janskerk is an icon of Gouda. Museum Gouda, located in the “Catharina Gasthuis,” is home to a large collection of paintings from the Barbizon and Hague schools of the 19th century.
Spend an hour or two walking through Gouda’s historic city center and learning about some of the city’s most interesting buildings.
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