Travel recommendation and advise from my 20+ years traveling around the world.
Here’s the point at which you need to get your STUFF together. You’ve taken care of reservations, transportation, airline tickets and now you can start thinking of your luggage, camera, money, electrical adapters and travel insurance.
Travel Insurance
Here’s where you need to think about insurance. Is the stuff you’ll be carrying valuable? Might you need health care while in Europe?
Take stock of your medications and make note of their generic names; you might need to get more while in Europe and without the generic or scientific names written down somewhere you might not be able to get valuable medications in a timely manner.
Luggage
How’s your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? Can you carry it fully loaded? Is it black? (Believe me, everyone these days has black luggage. If you do, get yourself a brightly colored and easily recognizable tag.)
This is the time to take stock.
Camera
If you’ve bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase–don’t put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can’t figure the danged thing out.
Staying Connected
How will you communicate with family and friends? Are you bringing a computer? Cell Phone? What about all those power bricks you’re gonna need? And how do you connect them to Europe’s 220 volt 50 cycle lines?
Money – Euros and More
These days ATM machines make money exchange easy. Be aware that you need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs.
I always try to get some local currency for the place I’m starting from. You might try getting some at a currency exchange office in a major city near you or at the airport. You’ll take a minor hit on the exchange rate, but you can buy a coffee as soon as you land.
I do take a couple of traveler’s checks. Just in case.
Your Budget
Ok, so you’ve got everything pretty much in hand now. How much do you need per day in Europe? Well, it’s hard to say. If you have reserved all your lodging, you know what that costs. The same with your transportation. I’d leave about 25 Euros a day per person for entrance fees, incidentals, and local transportation. Food is a variable, and depends on where you’ll be eating. I find the cost of food to be pretty much the same as in the US. Wine is much cheaper.
Keeping Your Stuff Secure
Most travelers recommend a money belt or pouch worn under your clothing to protect your cash, credit cards and passport.
Don’t wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps. Those straps can be cut and the purse removed by a thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out: they’re good at what they do.
The Next Step in Vacation Planning
You’re almost set to go. Next, we’ll look at those last minute things you need to check. Then it’s bon voyage.
Before You Leave on Your First European Vacation – Final Checklist
