So, you finally did it; you're taking a vacation to Europe. While you might be bouncing in your seat with excitement, contemplating all the places you'll go and the things you'll see, it's important to remember an old proverb; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That's particularly important when you're packing and planning, because the more problems you prevent, the fewer issues you'll have to deal with once you're a stranger in a strange land.
6 Travel Hacks to Make Your Trip to Europe as Stress-Free as Possible
Hack #1: Make A List, Check it Twice
How many times have you said, "eh, I'll remember that," and then forgotten? That's not a huge deal when you're over at a friend's house on the other side of town, but when you're thousands of miles from home it's another issue entirely. So look at your itinerary, and ask yourself what you need to have. Then, when you're packing, check the items off one by one. It's tedious, but it ensures you won't forget anything you need.
Hack #2: Chargers, Cables, and Converters
We all know to pack our chargers before we head off on a trip. Those of us who have a little extra savvy will even use some bread twist-ties to keep our charger cables wrapped, and store them in a convenient sunglasses case to prevent tangles. But something we don't always think about is whether our chargers will work with European plugs. Always check to make sure you don't need a converter at your destination before you leave, because that's a cost you'll need to figure into your travel plans.
Hack #3: Make Dummy Copies of All Your Documentation
If you're going to another country, it's important for you to have back-ups for your back-ups when it comes to your documentation. Everything from your passport, to your ID, to your hotel reservations should be emailed to a secure account so you can access them no matter what happens. Saving the scanned images directly onto your phone can also be helpful, in the event something happens to your physical copies, and you can't get online.
Hack #4: Check The Address of The Embassy
An embassy is sort of like an insurance policy; you hope you won't need it, but if you do, it pays to know about it. So make sure you bookmark it, along with the tours you're planning to take, and all the other sights you want to see while you're overseas. Just in case something goes wrong, and you need a helping hand.
Hack #5: Call Your Bank
While you've probably bored your friends and family to tears about your vacation plans, most of us forget to notify our banks and credit card companies that we're heading overseas. That can lead to problems, because if your bank sees you making charges from Paris, when you live in Chicago, it's likely they'll shut down your cards as a security precaution. So prevent minor panics by making a phone call, and letting your money men know you're going out of the country, and that it's still you using your cards.
Hack #6: Use ATMs Instead of Money Changers
One of the details that often escapes us, especially if we don't carry a lot of cash, is that we need to have local currency when we travel abroad. You can go to a money changer, who will convert your cash for a fee. Or you can hit up an ATM, which will usually charge you a much smaller fee, and still give you local money.
These are just a few, simple tips that will make your time in Europe that much easier. For other great tips and tricks, simply contact us today!
