How To Go On A ‘Eurotrip’ Almost As Successful as Scotty’s
In the midst of the summer, we’re all itching for a vacation.
If we can’t take a physical vacation of our own, we might throw on an old summer flick, and nothing is more emblematic of the summer than 2004’s Eurotrip. Following the vibe of American Pie with high school sex and romance, punk-pop music, and awkward teenage moments, it has also become synonymous with Lustra’s song, “Scotty Doesn’t Know.”
The film follows Scotty Thomas (Scott Mechlowicz) as seeks out his German pen pal, Mieke Schmidt (Jessica Boehrs) after a traumatic breakup with his high school sweetheart. He flies to London with his friend, Cooper (Jacob Pitts), and they embark on a Eurotrip upon bumping into their friends, fraternal twins Jenny (Michelle Trachtenberg) and Jamie (Travis Wester). He eventually gets to Mieke and confesses his love—everyone gets their happy ending, which in reality, is seemingly impossible. But it’s still possible to have a semi-crazy time and go on your own legendary Eurotrip this summer with these top tips.
1. Travel with your best friend.
Pick your best friend and make sure to travel as a duo—it’s the most fun way to do it! But the best travel advice when traveling with a buddy is to also allow each other space and the freedom to do different things if you have different interests. If one person wants to go out and the other doesn’t, just do what you want to do! Being besties means supporting the other’s wants and needs, and most of the time, when traveling as a duo, it makes the trip more affordable per person and easier to branch out and talk to new potential friends.
2. Start in a big city like London or Paris.
When you take your first leap to Europe, it’s best to start in a big city with a lot of infrastructure so that it’s easy to get around to your next destination. While Paris is well-connected by air and land, London has incredibly cheap flights to most cities throughout Europe, which makes it a perfect first stop. While the big cities aren’t cheap themselves, they have a ton to offer tourists by way of attractions and opportunities to meet other people.
London is a melting pot of different cultures, one of the most diverse cities where anyone can find their place. Every neighborhood and area of London has its own personality, from local vibes to hipster to posh. Paris is a haven for romantics and artists, people who want to revel in visual art while appreciating the attitude and grunginess of a big city. Whatever you may be looking to achieve on your Eurotrip, starting in a big city with some familiar capitalism and well-connected transit allows you to explore options for your next steps and dip into foreign culture.
3. Be open to making new friends through more local events.
The best part of traveling is when you meet people you would’ve never met otherwise, hearing stories and learning about cultures from a new perspective. Staying in hostels, going to intimate events like open mics or local band gigs, and participating in small tours or classes is a great way to meet other like-minded people.
In Nice, I went on a free walking tour and made friends with a group of students like myself I spent the rest of the weekend with. In Budapest, I stayed in the same hostel every time I visited because of how social and outgoing the staff and other guests were. In Berlin, I went to local English comedy nights and made friends with the comedians. No matter where in Europe you’re going, connecting with the locals is a great way to find more secrets of the city and unique things to do.
In Eurotrip, Scotty befriends a Mancunian football hooligan played by former footballer Vinnie Jones, and in doing so, he gets himself one step closer to Mieke and one more ally when he needs it. By being open to making new friends, you never know what wild experiences might befall your own Eurotrip, and who you might meet. You could end up at a party with a famous comedian or meet the love of your life on a pub crawl.
4. Explore uncharted territories.
One of the scariest and most surprising bits of Eurotrip is when the gang ends up in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. But it also leads to some of the most story-worthy antics and allows the group to see a different side and culture of Europe than they would’ve otherwise. While hitchhiking isn’t as popular as it used to be thanks to smartphones and more transit options, apps like BlaBlaCar can give you the hitchhiking experience with a bit more safety. The app connects you with drivers going near or on your route, in which you’d just pay for gas or other travel expenses, so you can get to know someone on a more affordable European road trip.
In doing so, you may also have the opportunity to visit towns and cities far less traveled. Head to a lakeside town in Italy or a small beachside area on the coast of Spain; go to a quaint and beautiful city in Romania or Latvia and immerse yourself in new cuisine, traditions, and recreational activities. Opening yourself up to new and less popular places is the perfect way to go on a Eurotrip just as unique as Scotty’s.
5. Make memories with unconventional photos and journal entries.
The most important part of an iconic Eurotrip is remembering it! In the film, Jamie takes photos throughout their trip with his expensive camera, but remembering to take photos on a smartphone is something. However, we recommend printing off photos after the trip, making a scrapbook, or even journaling with memorable keepsakes to appreciate every unique experience.
Did you meet your soulmate in a coffee shop in Amsterdam but not get his number? Write about and commemorate with a photo. Did you get your Lizzie McGuire moment in Rome, accompanying an Italian man on his Vespa? Perhaps this is the time to finally take that Kodak or Polaroid camera out for a spin, record videos of adventurous experiences on a GoPro, or simply write the personal essay you’ve always been meaning to start.
You might not end up with a foreign romantic pen pal as your college roommate like Scotty and Mieke, or finally get together with your longtime high school crush like Cooper and Jenny, or get your dream job at a European travel guide like Jamie. But you will still have the Eurotrip of your life with stories of legend that transcend time and space. And if you discover a brand-new iconic pop-punk song on the way? Then you’ve definitely nailed it.
