Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your European Trip--Part 2
Feb 23 '00
YentaKvetch has done many pilgrimages to Europe of the budget variety. Assuming you will be doing a similar trip and will not have a luggage schlepper around at all times, she does have a few tips. Tips 1-9 can be found in Part 1 (http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-38E5-39598E5-38B477EF-prod1).
TIPS 10-20
10. Leave all your guidebooks at home. Yes, you heard this correctly. You will need them for future reference--especially if you plan on writing any epinions--and they are heavy to schlep. Instead simply xerox the pages you need. When you are done with the pages, toss 'em. You will need room in your bags for all the souvenir brochures you are going to pick up.
11. An occasional trip to the local post office to send things home may be a good idea. Yes, it's expensive (postage in Western Europe general being more expensive than that in the US), but you really have no choice. YentaKvetch is an inveterate collector of souvenir brochures--which have been of great assistance in writing epinions, by the way. When the pile gets too large, she goes to the post office and gets rid of them at the cheapest rate she can find. Post Offices in Europe are generally much better equipped with cartons and mailing envelopes for purchase than American post offices.
12. If you plan on buying posters, bring a mailing tube from home. These can be very difficult to find when you need them, and, if your posters are not properly stored, they will get damaged.
13. Pack all the prescription medicines--and nonprescription ones--that you think you might need. To be prepared for all eventualities, YentaKvetch never leaves home without suppositories and Immodium. Prescription medication should never be put in checked luggage.
14. Bring plenty of those little packages of tissues. When nature calls, you don't know where you are going to be, and many European bathrooms either charge for toilet paper or don't provide it all. Be prepared!
15. If you are going to a country where you don't speak the language, bring a phrase book. YentaKvetch has used "Rick Steves' "German Phrase Book" twice and loves it. In addition to the usual phrases, it has some silly ones as well. The silly phrases have provided some interesting exchanges when shared with some of the natives who did speak English. It also has a photo of a guy in funny Bavarian get up on the cover.
16. Traveler's cheques are passe in Western Europe. Yes, generally the best way to obtain local currency is to use your ATM card. ATM's can be found all over the place. You will not pay all the service charges (although you will most likely pay a fee charged by your bank). YentaKvetch's bank charges her $5 for each withdrawal, so she tends to withdraw large amounts to minimize the fees. European banks are forbidden from charging such fees.
You can also use the ATM's to withdraw money on your credit card, but that is, of course, more expensive.
Check with your bank--and be certain to have a 4 digit PIN number before you leave (letters will not work in Europe). If you are uncomfortable relying entirely on credit cards, take a small amount of traveler's cheques as a back up.
17. Bring a water bottle. There is nothing wrong with the water in Western Europe. YentaKvetch, whose tummy can be very tender at times, has never gotten sick from drinking the water--and that includes water from the public fountains in Rome. Nevertheless, you will see everyone schlepping bottled water. This is totally unnecessary. If you bring a water bottle you can simply refill it when you get the chance.
18. Keep a couple of copies of your passport in places separate from the real thing. Should your passport be stolen, it will be a lot easier to replace if you can help out the American Embassy with basic information.
19. Renew your passport as it expires. That way, you will not be running around in a big hurry to renew if a trip comes up with short notice. Never travel on a passport that has less than 6 months left before it expires. Some countries will not allow you in the country if there is less than 6 months left on your passport.
20. Label all luggage inside and out with your home address AND with your first address in Europe. If your luggage gets lost, you don't want the airline delivering it to your house in Kalamazoo. Leaving addresses inside the bags as well should ensure delivery if your outside tags come off.
YentaKvetch welcomes additions, corrections and general kvetching about this list. If there are good suggestions, she will be happy to add other suggestions to the list.
The most important thing is to enjoy your trip. After the first couple of days, you are going to trash that "must see" list anyway. You are on vacation. Take time off to just people watch. Wherever you go, the entire continent of Europe is a museum. You can not see it all in 3 weeks, 3 months, or even in a lifetime.
You will just have to keep coming back!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
YentaKvetch
|
|
Member: Lauren Kahn
Location: McLean, Virginia
Reviews written: 71
Trusted by: 98 members
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.