5 Tips for Traveling to Europe
As excited as I was for my first trip across the ocean, I was pretty nervous as well. For a neurotic person, there is a lot to worry about when it comes to multi-week travel and oceanic flights. Having now gone through it, I wanted to offer my own travel tips.
Get comfortable.
No matter how awesome your trip is going to be, it will still be taxing. First of all, you’re going to be spending the better part of the day traveling. Whether sitting in an airport or on a crowded plane, you’re going to feel spent. Minimize that as much as possible. Wear comfortable clothing. I highly recommend breathable, moisture-wicking clothing. My flight to Portugal was almost 24 hours from airport to airport (only 8.5 hours actual flight time) and my clothing felt more or less fresh the whole time. I purchased performance polos from Fresh Clean Threads. Can’t recommend them enough.
Also, check your bag. Use an Apple Airtag or equivalent device to track it. Keep your most important things (medication, passport, money, etc) in a smaller carry-on. Speaking of which…
2. Don’t overpack.
Lunatics like myself are always paranoid we’re going to forget something we might need, so we overpack and end up regretting it. Here’s the reality. Unless you’re going to a desert island, you can always buy an extra tshirt wherever you’re going.
Lay out everything you want to bring. Concentrate on things you absolutely must have, such as your passport and medication. Then start whittling down things you really don’t need. Then things you can probably do without. Then do another once over. Use pants that can be worn more than once and with different looks. And if you’re on an especially long trip. remember that laundromats exist in Europe. Use them. It will be less stressful than carrying around excessive weight on your trip.
Also, don’t buy clamshell luggage. It looks cool, but doesn’t use space efficiently. I use a Travel Pro expandable carry-on.
3. Don’t wait until the last minute.
If you need a passport, get on it immediately. Check to see if you will need a travel/ business visa to enter the country you’re going to and look to see if they have any special rules for entry. Also, if you want to use cash, it will take time to get foreign currency to your bank. Yes, common currency like Euros usually arrives quickly, but why take the chance?
Also, check to see if there are any new rules with your airlines, especially when it comes to carry-ons and banned items.
4. Ingratiate yourself to the locals.
I’m fairly patriotic, but the “ugly American” stereotype exists for a reason. When you’re visiting a foreign country, remember that you are a guest and be respectful of their culture. You are not in the United States, so don’t act like you are or assume you can behave however you want.
In fact, if you are respectful of the locals, you are more likely to have a better trip. Yes, most tourist cultures speak English as it is language of commerce. But if you learn a few words in the local tongue, it shows them that you’re trying. For our time in Portugal, I learned how to say “good day” and “thank you” in Portuguese. The locals appreciated me unintentionally butchering their language. Of course I realized very quickly I should have learned a bit more. For one thing, the words “please help me, I’m lost” would have been very useful.
5. Make a Phone plan.
You’re going to need your phone and ready internet access. You’re in another country and you don’t know your way around. So you basically have three options. Option one: purchase an e-sim that will connect your phone to local carriers. Two: your cell phone carrier may have travel options for you to purchase. If you use this one, make sure you haven’t turned off internet roaming in your phone’s settings. Don’t ask me how I know. Your last option would be to purchase a burner phone once you’re in Europe. That will probably be the most expensive choice.
6. Bonus Tip.
This doesn’t apply to everyone. As I get older, I’ve become more susceptible to motion sickness. It doesn’t happen often, but plane turbulence can get very nasty. Take some dramamine before each flight. It can be a life saver. Also bear in mind the instructions as to how long it lasts.
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