Europe Travel Tips
So you’re planning a trip to Europe! Yay! There’s a lot more to consider than flights and hotels. Here are some tips we hope will help save you some money and headaches while traveling abroad.
Where to stay: There is no shortage of options when it comes to the kind of rental you want to enjoy while you travel - houses, apartments, hotels, hostels, camping, Bed & Breakfasts, couch surfing, staying at a farm for free in exchange for work. If you can think it up, it exists already. The level of luxury you choose is up to you and your budget. But what about LOCATION? If you’re renting a car, then outside of the city, or at least outside of downtown, will be much more affordable and easier for parking. If you’ll be relying on public transit, then you’ll want to be close to a bus or metro line, or better yet right in the middle of the action. If you’ve already got a list of attractions you’re interested in (see Sightseeing below), then start mapping! Get them all flagged on your Google map and then search for lodging centrally located to your sightseeing sites. You don’t want to spend all of your time in transit!
Sightseeing: A simple internet search of “things to do in ____” can give you plenty of options of things for your family to experience. Don’t assume you have to do all the typical tourist things. What are you really interested in? What will your kids enjoy? Pick what works for your family. Not that into art? Maybe pick the one art museum most appealing and skip the rest. We enjoy cemeteries. That’s not something on most people’s itineraries, but for us it’s fun! There are castles, cathedrals, all kinds of interesting museums, parks, zoos, aquariums, amusement parks, boat rides, bike tours, and hiking trails. You didn’t travel all this way to be bored to death - do what makes you happy.
Once you’ve made a list of places you want to hit, visit each website and find out about opening hours, free days, family discounts, current exhibits, and if advance tickets are recommended. You can’t just show up to Sagrada Familia and hope to get in. Planning is super important, and can save you a lot of money and time. England and Scotland have a Heritage Pass that gives you big discounts on historical sites all over the country. We visited Stonehenge for free! Other countries may have something similar, too.
Try to balance each day with diversity. On our first family trip in England, we planned three museums in one day. That’s a lot of shuffling! By the end, our kids were miserable, which meant we were, too. Try to make sure everyone will enjoy at least one thing on the schedule each day, and leave plenty of time for fun, play, rest, and wandering! Our favorite places are off the beaten path. When our agenda is too full, we miss out on the magic of stumbling upon something inspiring. While road-tripping, we add extra hours into our “drive time” so when we pass by something cool, we can just pull over and check it out without feeling stressed about time. We’ve explored ruined castles, working wind mills, beautiful stained glass cathedrals, towns that bear our surnames, and enjoyed the world’s best gelato, all because we left time to explore.
Asking the locals is one of the very best things you can do while traveling! Have time to kill? Wanna know which neighborhood to walk around to see the best architecture? Best local cuisine? Nicest park? Coolest live music venue? Most people love to share what they like about their city - go ahead and ask around!
Cell coverage: Who's your provider? They can tell you how to select the proper settings. Sprint has a great international plan that was included with my service...they piggyback onto local providers. My iPhone maps have worked just fine, when I have service. Google Maps app is also super helpful. If your provider doesn’t have any options you love, no contract SIM cards are pretty cheap and easy to find in Europe, and can be put into any unlocked phone.
Wifi shouldn't be too hard to find...cafes, McDonald's, etc.
Packing: You can always spot the Americans by the size of their suitcases! I’m not sure if it’s because they’re afraid Europe won’t have what they need, or because they’re just not sure what to expect, but Americans are always lugging huge, cumbersome baggage. Try to keep it simple! Hotels provide basic amenities, just like in the States. Some AirBnB’s do not, however, but have no fear! A local grocery will have the necessities for reasonable prices if you find yourself needing something.
Check the weather forecast several days before your trip to make sure you’re prepared. Pack clothes that can mix and match and be worn more than once. Light layers are the best option for most of the year. Europeans do a lot of walking, so pack sensible shoes - sneakers or hiking boots, some sandals or slippers depending on your destination, and one extra pair of walking shoes in case your other ones get wet. Unless you’re attending a formal event while here, you shouldn’t need anything else.
Don’t forget to bring a good outlet adapter! Outlets differ depending on the country you’re visiting, so make sure you get the right kind.
Ladies, I know skincare routines and makeup are important, but a good cleanser & moisturizer, your foundation, mascara, and lip gloss should be sufficient for your trip. You’re not filming a movie, you’re on an adventure! Relax!
Money: Credit/debit cards are widely accepted, but they need to be "Chip" cards, and you'll need to make sure and notify your bank that you're traveling. Also find out what they charge for international use, withdrawals, ATM, etc. Chase sapphire card works well for us and has no fees from Chase when making purchases and selecting to pay in Euros(or whatever local currency; some machines will ask.) The Sapphire also gives double points for all travel purchases. If you’re looking for a credit card with travel rewards, here’s an article from Money.com that compares some of the current best options. For cash withdrawals, there are the typical ATM fees from the issuing bank and from the bank owning the ATM, so check your bank’s policy regarding those. Our experience has been using our debit or credit card at the ATM is the cheapest route as far as getting a fair exchange rate and low fees when we need cash while traveling. Most bank charges are per withdrawal, so taking out as much as possible in one transaction can save on fees. You may also consider exchanging a few $ for € at your stateside bank before travel so you’ll have some cash for taxis & incidentals upon landing. That is easier and can carry a better rate than if you exchange at the airport. But if you have a Chip card that doesn't charge a bunch extra for the international use, then that is the best and easiest. You can just use the card at most places. ATMs are typically easy to find in the cities, but in the smaller towns you may need to ask around.
Tips:
"ATM" doesn't mean anything in Spain;) Try "cajero automático" when asking a local or searching via map app. It’s a good phrase to know in the local language of wherever you’re traveling to.
If you're trying to withdraw your max and the machine denies your card, lower your € amount to account for the exchange rate from $. Example: your card allows $400/day, the machine may only allow you €350.
If you've tried the same machine a few times and are denied, move on...it's probably just out of cash. The Spanish pace of life seems to include the machines. There's no urgency to refill them;)
Regarding bills/notes - if you're venturing outside of the main tourist areas, it can be difficult for establishments to make change from a €50, so break those bad boys up as often as you can.
Most public buses and taxis won't make change for bills larger than €10.
Exchange rate: "I DONT KNOW! GOOGLE IT!" Simply google "dollars to euros" to check it. So far it's ranged from .80-.96 while we've been here.
Make sure you’re getting the right currency for your destination. Not all countries in Europe use Euros.
Food: We love to strike a balance between making our own meals, and experiencing the local cuisine. As a large family, we almost exclusively stay in apartments or houses with full kitchens so we can cook dinner every night, but even in a hotel you can make the most of your budget. Most grocery stores in Europe have a bakery with plenty of yummy breakfast pastries to load up for the next morning. You’ll probably have enough space in your mini fridge for sandwich fixings and some milk and oranges juice, too. Don’t forget to pick up some plastic utensils and baggies for sandwich making, maybe some bowls if cereal is on the breakfast menu, and don’t forget the fruit and granola bars for snacks! Before heading out to see all the sights, load up the backpack you used as your flight carry-on, and you’re set for the day until you find the perfect dinner spot!
Bus/Metro/Bike/Train: It’s stupid how well connected Europe is! Sure, you can rent a car - that can be a lot of fun if you like driving stick (they have automatic, too, for a higher price), and want to cover a lot of ground. Parking can be a huge pain, and quite expensive, so keep that in mind. If you plan to stay in one area, then you likely only need public transit. Most cities have great apps for their bus and metro systems, and multi-use cards (in Spain they’re called Bono’s) where you can ride for a cheaper rate. There are also trains and long distance buses to just about anywhere. Netherlands has incredible bike rental companies (with apps) that make it super easy to grab a bike and go whenever you feel the urge. See what your destination city has to offer!
There’s so much more to share, but hopefully these basic tips can get you started on the right foot! Got any other tips we should mention? Let us know!
