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Browse posts…
The State of the Trip: 2025 Edition
(5 minute read)
Tripologiste’s 2025 debrief turns a year of toilets, ethics, and pastries into a practical manifesto: the best Europe trips are well sequenced, paced for your nervous system, and funded with intention. Get the lessons, the 2026 travel checklist, and the “leave room for one beautiful mistake” rule.
How Far in Advance to Book Europe: Flights, Trains, Hotels & Activities
7 minute read)
Booking Europe is less about rules and more about sequence. This guide shows the “hard things first” cadence, when to lock flights and bases, when trains and timed entries drop, and a copy-paste countdown that keeps room for strikes, heat, and spontaneity.
Trip Planner vs. Travel Agent—And When to Use Each
(5 minute read)
Confused about trip planners versus travel agents? This guide breaks down who designs the strategy, who books the inventory, and why incentives matter. Learn when a flat-fee planner is best for multi-city Europe, when an agent shines, and how to combine both.
10 Rookie Travel Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them Like a Pro)
(6 minute read)
Even seasoned travelers make rookie mistakes. This list catches the common ones before they cost you time, money, or sanity, from overpacking and tight connections to bad SIM plans, restaurant traps, and ignoring local rules. Steal these simple fixes and travel like you have done it forever.
When to Go Where: A Month-by-Month Guide to Europe
(3 minute read)
Europe rewards timing. This month-by-month guide matches destinations to the best weather, crowd levels, and seasonal events, so you can chase shoulder-season bargains, summer coastlines, autumn harvests, and winter markets with confidence. Choose where to go based on the calendar, not clichés.
Tripologiste’s Training Guide For French Train Travel
(8 minute read)
Want to glide across France like a local? This practical French train playbook demystifies TGV vs TER, OUIGO deals, rail passes, seat reservations, and ticket validation. Get connection buffers, luggage and snack tips, plus tools like Trainline so your rail day feels effortless.
Why We No Longer Trust TripAdvisor or Yelp for Travel Reviews
(6 minute read)
TripAdvisor and Yelp once felt indispensable. Now they are flooded with fake reviews, opaque algorithms, and pay-to-play incentives that punish small businesses and mislead travelers. Learn why we stopped trusting them, how to vet recommendations, and which sources we use instead.
New Travel Documentation Requirements for the UK and EU
(4 minute read)
New border tech is here. The UK now requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation for many visa free visitors, and it can take minutes, not days. Next, the EU’s EES biometrics and ETIAS pre approval are coming. Deadlines, fees, and what to do now.
Love at First Site: Alternatives to Airbnb
(5 minute read)
Airbnb fatigue is real. This guide rounds up smarter places to stay, from Fairbnb and home exchanges to housesitting, boutique hotels, B&Bs, and modern hostels. Learn which option fits your values and budget, plus why booking direct can save money and headaches.
Why We Broke Up With Airbnb
(7 minute read)
Airbnb once felt like the antidote to hotels. Now it often means surprise fees, cleaning chores, inconsistent quality, and an impact on housing and neighborhoods. This piece breaks down the hidden costs, trust issues, and ethical tradeoffs, and why we stopped recommending it.