If you’ve never traveled abroad to Europe it can be a bit daunting and overwhelming. Traveling abroad can be quite different from the US, however, once you get the hang of things it’s a breeze. Europe is not only culturally different it also has so many beautiful countries that are all unique and have their own quirks and charm.
As someone who has now been to Europe several times, and even moved to Europe from the USA I’m excited to share my list of everything I wish I knew before I came to Europe for the first time!
So, let’s dive in!
1. Ask For Tap Water at Restaurants
In the US if you ask for water at a restaurant it always comes free. However, in most European countries, if you ask for water you will be given a bottle of water for a few euros. If you want fancy water or sparkling water and don’t mind paying for it then by all means order a bottle of water! However, if you want free water always ask if they have tap water.
Also, if you ask for tap water don’t be surprised if they say they don’t have it or that they don’t normally provide it but will give you a glass on this one occasion. Some restaurants don’t offer tap water for free and require you to purchase a bottle of water. This isn’t consistent within cities or countries but can vary from restaurant to restaurant, so don’t be caught off guard if this happens.
2. No Public Bathrooms
When you’re out and about exploring on your trip, keep in mind that there are usually no public bathrooms. My rule of thumb as a lady with a small bladder is I just go anytime there is a bathroom. If you’re at a museum, restaurant, or another paid attraction there should be a bathroom for you to use. If you’re out and about walking around the city, it’ll be hard to find a bathroom to use, so plan ahead!
Also, if you’re able to, it might be helpful to carry with you a few coins of the local currency for if you do find a public bathroom in a park or somewhere. Usually, the public bathrooms require a small amount of money to enter them and they are almost always cash-based.
3. Always Select the Local Currency When Using Credit Cards/ATMs
Often when you are using a credit card abroad you will be prompted to select to pay in the local currency of the country you are in or in USD if you’re using an American credit card. Always select the local currency!
It is usually your first instinct to want to select the currency your credit card is in, however, the credit card company will usually charge you an additional fee to convert your payment into USD. If you select the local currency it doesn’t change anything about your payment, it still gets converted, but you can usually avoid any additional fees.
The same thing goes for if you withdraw money from an ATM, always select the local currency! It can seem counterintuitive to select the local currency when you bank in USD, but by selecting USD the ATM will usually charge an additional withdrawal fee which you can avoid just be selecting the currency of the country you are in!
4. Tell Your Credit Card Company/Bank You Are Traveling Abroad
Speaking about credit cards and banking. Make sure you call your credit card company and your bank and let them know that you are traveling to Europe. This will help avoid them locking your card for being used abroad, they may suspect it’s fraud. So, to avoid any issues make sure to give them a heads-up!
5. Check Your Credit Card For Foreign Transaction Fees
Also, before you travel, double-check if your credit cards charge foreign transaction fees. By doing this you can avoid using your credit cards that charge this fee and use the ones that don’t. Also, I have found majority of places in Europe don’t take American Express credit cards so if you use American Express it might be best to just leave it at home.
6. Book Tours
One thing that I didn’t do on my first trip to Europe that I do now is book tours! I love to explore on my own but have really loved taking tours in a new city and learning a lot about the history and other fun facts about where I’m visiting. There are a ton of different tours to choose from on GetYourGuide and I think it really adds to your experience when you travel!
7. Don’t Forget a Plug Adapter
One travel item that can be easy to forget is a travel plug adapter. However, if you don’t have one then you may have to buy a new phone charger at your destination. As you are probably aware, the outlets are different in different countries. Even the UK and Italy use different plugs. So, make sure to travel with a universal plug adapter so you can charge and use your electronics.
8. Check Your Passport Expiration Date
If you already have a passport make sure a few months before you go on your trip or when you are booking your trip to Europe that your passport does not expire within 6 months of the return date of your trip.
I would check the specific requirements with the countries you plan to visit as every country is different but you don’t want to be in a situation where you can’t board your flight because your passport expires too soon. So make sure to check this before you go and give yourself enough time to renew your passport if needed.
9. Don’t Bring a Blow Dryer/ Be Careful About Electronics
As someone who has blown a few hotel fuses and killed an electronic while traveling in Europe, take it from me, it’s not worth bringing. Almost every hotel I’ve stayed in has had a blow dryer so I would save the suitcase space and not bring one.
If you insist on bringing any electronics other than a phone, laptop, or iPad, something like a white noise machine or blow dryer, make sure you bring a travel surge protector. The odds of this happening are slim but I have blown the fuse in my hotel room twice. Once with a blow dryer and once with a white noise machine, and the white noise machine never turned on again after that.
10. Check If You Need a Visa or ETIA
Some countries, like the UK, require you to have a travel visa in order to enter the country, even if you just have a layover. It’s not very expensive but you do need to apply for it before your trip. So, before you travel, make sure you check if you need to have a travel visa or ETIA.
11. Bring Comfortable Walking Shoes
The rumors about how much walking people tend to do when visiting Europe are true. Because a lot of European cities are pretty walkable, it’s easy to opt to choose this as an option to easily get around for free.
So, make sure you bring your comfiest walking shoes such as a pair of sneakers. The first time I went to Europe I also got a lot of really bad blisters from breaking in my walking sandals, so I would also recommend bringing bandaids just in case your shoes end up not being as comfortable as you are expecting.
12. Eat/Drink Outside of Touristy Areas
A lot of popular travel destinations in Europe will have one or two main streets for tourists. You’ll know it’s a tourist area by all of the people, souvenir shops, and usually a lot of restaurants.
The restaurants and bars in these areas are usually not very good and are usually quite expensive. It can be tempting because it’s easy and convenient, however, it’s usually not worth it. Even walking a few blocks away from this area you usually can find better food and it’s usually at a lower price.
13. Don’t Use Currency Exchange Services
You’ll usually see in airports or in super touristy areas currency exchange businesses. This is where you can exchange your USD for the local currency. A lot even will let you use a debit card and then pay you in cash. I would avoid these like the plague if possible. The usually charge a very high fee to convert your currency.
Sometimes, you have to use them if there is no other option and you’re at an airport without an ATM and you have to hire a taxi that only takes cash. However, this is rare and I’ve only run into this in Morocco not in Europe.
So, if possible, don’t use these services although it may be tempting and seem convenient. They always charge a pretty high fee to convert your money. If you need cash you would be much better off using an ATM, preferably not in an airport if possible to avoid extra fees. When using an ATM also don’t forget to select the local currency and not USD to avoid additional unnecessary fees!
14. Bring Layers & Pack Light
When you’re traveling to Europe it can be very easy to pack things just in case. Especially if you are traveling to different countries where the weather can vary. This is a mistake I made the first time I traveled abroad and I brought way too much.
One way to avoid this is to pack layers. By packing layers, you can mix and match to create new outfits, but also be prepared for most types of weather.
15. Don’t Go To Too Many Countries
One mistake I see a lot of people make on their first trip to Europe is trying to fit too many countries into too short of a trip. It can be really tempting to want to see as much as possible while you are abroad. Especially because the flight is so long and it’s not cheap to fly to Europe.
However, you need to keep in mind if you go to too many countries you will be spending a lot of your time traveling to those countries and wasting vacation days on travel. Also, it’s really nice to spend time in the city you’re visiting to really enjoy where you’re at.
It can be tempting to treat your European vacation like a checklist but make sure you aren’t going to spend the majority of your trip physically traveling to a new destination and you are leaving time to relax and explore.
16. Check Your Cell Phone Plan
Before you travel to Europe, make sure to check what your cell phone plan includes or charges for using your phone abroad. This includes texting, calling, and using data. You might have to purchase an additional plan from your carrier while you’re in Europe to avoid really high costs to use your phone.
17. Look Up Tipping Culture Where You Go
It’s a known fact that tipping in Europe is not common. However, in some countries, it is polite to tip your server at a restaurant a few euros after your dinner. Or, if you take a guided tour it’s polite to tip your tour guide.
You don’t always have to tip but it’s wise to look up what the culture is in the countries you are visiting so you’re prepared if you should tip or not. Also, I’ve seen restaurants near tourist areas that prompt you for a tip when paying when in that country no one usually tips, but they assume tourists (usually American tourists) won’t think twice about providing a tip. So, it’s good to know if it’s rude to decline the tip or if you should pay a lower tip if prompted. Most places in Europe don’t expect 20% like in the US, however, it’s good to look it up and be prepared for the countries you are visiting.
18. Download City Maps Offline on Google Maps
When you’re in a new city you’ll likely be using some sort of GPS app. My favorite is Google Maps. I have an iPhone and have found the default Apple GPS app the phone comes with is horrendous and difficult to follow for walking directions. So, I always use Google Maps and recommend it to anyone traveling to Europe.
One way to save data and avoid connection issues when using the app while you’re abroad is by downloading the map of the city before your trip so you can use the map offline.
19. Schedule Time to Chill
It can be really tempting to try and pack as much as you can into your trip, especially if it’s your first time in Europe. While it’s important to do what you want, I also would recommend you book some time into your day or week to just sit around and chill.
It can get pretty exhausting to explore new cities and do a ton of walking. Especially when your sleep schedule is a bit off.
Also, you are on vacation, you should also relax and recharge. So, avoid burning out and make sure you schedule some chill time into your travel plans.
20. Don’t Bring Nice Jewelry or Watches
As you know, pickpocketing is a thing that can happen anywhere, even in the USA. However, tourists are often targeted when abroad as they are usually unfamiliar with the city they are in and it can get crowded in the touristy areas.
So, one way to avoid being a target is by leaving your nice jewelry and watches at home. Even if you wear a fake wedding ring make sure it’s not too flashy as people might not realize it’s fake and still try to pickpocket or steal from you.
21. Download The Google Translate App
I love the google translate app. Even if you are going to a city where everyone speaks English this is still a good app to have on your phone.
You never know when this app might come in handy, you can speak or type into it to translate and you can also use your camera to translate the words on a sign or menu. If you’re planning to drive in Europe this is a must-have so you can read street signs as they are usually in the local language.
22. Don’t Be Afraid of Public Transportation
Taking the train or the subway can feel really daunting in a new country. I avoided taking it when we first went to Europe and the Ubers definitely added up. I don’t always opt for public transportation but if you want an easy and cheap way to get around the city or get to the airport then public transportation is usually a good option.
I recommend reading up on the public transportation of where you’re visiting so you can be prepared if you choose to use it and know if you need to do things like validate your ticket, etc. Also, Google Maps is usually pretty accurate if you want to take public transportation, just enter your destination and it usually will tell you how to get there/ what train or bus to take, etc.
23. Book Tickets and Reservations Ahead of Time
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to go to a specific museum, castle, or cathedral, and the tickets were fully booked out for the day and every day for the rest of the trip.
So, if there is anything you have on your list that you definitely want to do, I highly recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of time. A lot of attractions will have a limit on how many tickets they sell a day to avoid overcrowding so it’s easy to miss out, especially if you’re traveling during the busy season.
Also, make sure you make dinner reservations. My husband and I like to play it by ear when we travel, however, we have run into the issue of not being able to be seated at multiple resteraunts if we are traveling during the busy season and have found it difficult to find somewhere to eat. So, I also recommend booking a resteraunt reservation ahead of time for your trip!
24. Don’t Carry Your Passport With You
When you’re in Europe make sure that you aren’t carrying your passport around with you while you’re exploring during the day. Just in case your bag gets stolen or lost you don’t want to be without your passport, so it’s safer to leave it in your hotel room.
Also, it doesn’t hurt to take a few pictures of your passport just in case it does go missing or you need to have a record of your ID.
When I first went to Europe I carried my passport in a belt under my shirt which was completely unnecessary and it could have gotten wet or damaged. It’s best kept in your hotel room. Bonus points if your hotel room has a safe, just don’t forget it!
Wrapping Up
If it’s your first time traveling abroad to Europe it can be a bit daunting. However, it is also super rewarding and fun to explore new countries you’ve never been to! As someone who has now been to Europe several times, I hope you find this list useful of everything I wish I had known before I went to Europe the first time. Happy travels!
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