Traveling in Europe can be fun, exciting and educational. There is so much to see and do one must take the time to plan the trip well. There are a number of travelling tips to take into consideration when traveling through Europe. It begins with planning your trip, but includes communication, transportation, money and even when and where to eat and sleep. These travelling tips are designed to help you get more out of your European travel.
Deciding when to travel to Europe is important. Summer is the peak travel season for most of Europe. There are lots of festivals and you will have large crowds to either enjoy it with or contend with depending on your perspective. It’s also the most expensive time to travel there. September to November is slightly off-season. Travel and lodging prices are lower and there are fewer tourists. Local business owners will be more eager to please. With Off season travel, between November and March, prices are a lot lower but the weather if often bad. September through November generally offers the best travel values.
An itinerary helps you map out the places you want to visit and for how long. It helps make sure you are in the right cities during festivals and in the warm cities when it’s getting cold. List a few ‘must see’ sites and when you want to be there. Schedule day trips to the quiet countryside in between wild nights. Plan your trip to go in a logical sequence, from West to East or North to South. Don’t overschedule. You’ll have less fun if you’re always in a rush.
Flights within Europe can be cheap and convenient. Consider using them. Buying tickets which let you fly into one city and out of another can help get you to the key places on your itinerary easier. Taking trains for moderate distance travel allows you to sleep and still see some of the European countryside. Night trains and overnight boats allow you to use travel time to sleep and arrive at your destination well rested and ready.
Lodgings are important. Consider a hotel room in a base city. Leaving most of your luggage there makes traveling simpler. Staying in a small hotel, a B&B or a chain hotel can save a significant amount of money. The more people in a room the less it will cost. A quad sleeps 4 people fairly comfortably for about $100 a night. Reserve rooms well in advance when traveling to popular cities during peak season. It can assure you a good room at a fair price in a decent location.
Eating in Europe can be a gastronomic adventure. Each country has unique dishes made from local ingredients and prepared in ways refined over many centuries. Looking for inexpensive places to eat? Consider dining at a university cafeteria. Regular restaurants often have tourist menus featuring a variety of dishes for one moderate price. Stay away from the drinks. They can double your bill. Eating where the locals eat is another way you can save money. Shop at a local market and create a meal. Point at the produce you want. Touching the produce is considered rude.
Communicating with the locals can be a challenge. Many understand very little English. Speak slowly. Use simple words. Don’t use American slang or contractions. Grab a good phrase book and learn how to ask for commonly needed information. Write some of the phrases in a notebook in the native language. You can show this to people with whom you are trying to communicate. Use commonly understood international words. Do not be afraid to use gestures to indicate what you want. Learn some of the commonly used gestures. Knowing how and when to use them can make a big difference and make communication easier.
Knowing which form of payment to use is vital. For most of Europe, Euros are the way to go. If the country you will be in does not use Euros, get some local money. It will save hassles and you will get more for your money. Use your debit card and not your credit card to get money from ATMs. You will pay less in fees. Many US credit cards don’t work in Europe. Consider getting a chip and pay card pre-loaded with Euros. Cash is the preferred way to pay. It makes it easier for you and the merchant.