European Travel Tips

Here are some survival and/or cost-saving tips for traveling in Europe.

PLANNING

It is important to plan ahead so you not only know how much money you need, but also so you don't make any last minute and possibly more expensive purchases. Six to eighteen months is a good time frame, though airlines will typically not let you look at tickets more than 11 months or so ahead. Not giving yourself enough time may result in over spending or not being able to find good lodging choices. Also, some things you may want to visit and/or experience may require timed bookings. You also want to know days and hours of operation so you don't show up when something is closed. If you have a church on your to-do list, you must plan around mass times as some churches will not allow visitors and/or photography during a service. And yes, they can easily identify you as a tourist.

LODGING

There are a variety of web sites you can use to find lodging. Hotels . com is a good choice as often you can cancel your reservation (though be sure to read the fine print for each hotel). Don't forget to consider European lodging web sites as well. Don't be afraid to look into apartments as often these are not that much more expensive and you can often cut down on food costs since you have access to a kitchen. I know most are not anxious to prepare their own food on a vacation. I'll be addressing that more later.

A very cheap option is a hostel, but if you are traveling with children or looking for a romantic get-away, I wouldn't recommend it. The up side to a hostel is they have some of the best locations - even better than swanky, expensive hotels. One other positive is they often include breakfast. There are several down sides to hostels, which is why I wouldn't do it again (we stayed in one for two nights this summer). You have to keep in mind that the clientele will be made up primarily of college-aged students and 20 somethings from any country in the world. If you want to re-live your dorm days it's a perfect choice. Honestly we probably annoyed everyone else more than they annoyed us (little boys go to bed and get up early, after all).

There are three things to look out for when finding lodging: air conditioning, cleaning costs, and bathrooms.

American hotel chains in Europe will normally have air conditioning, but there are many hotels that do not. If this is of great concern to you, be sure to confirm this. It is not standard, as we expect in the States. One remedy for no air conditioning is to purchase a small fan once you reach your destination.

Be sure to read the fine print, particularly if you are booking an apartment. Some will add on a cleaning fee and this can be quite high. If the site does not mention this, be sure to ask before booking.

Lastly, be sure the bathroom is private. Also, private does not always mean in-room. Call or write if you are not sure. If you don't mind walking down the hall to your bathroom, that is fine, but it can be a rude surprise if you are not expecting it. (Can you tell this has happened to us?)

BATHROOMS

You might be chuckling to yourself with this one, but I guarantee you will not be laughing when you've paid several dollars in one day just to pee (yes, I wrote that). This may seem obvious, but if you see a free bathroom GO! Remember when your mom told you to try even if you thought you didn't need to go? Your mom was thinking of Europe without even realizing it.

For those times when you have to pay, be prepared with change. You may want to get some money changed at the front desk of your hotel or at concierge. If it is a Euro country, the charge will probably be 50 cents.

Some creative bathroom ideas:

Buy drinks. If there are four of you and each couple purchases a drink at a restaurant you can all go to the bathroom for about the same price and the benefit is you also have something to drink.

Find McD's. Fast food locations often have their bathrooms locked. Before buying anything, walk inside to see how their system works. If there is a key pad next to the door, that means you have to purchase something and use the code found on the bottom of your receipt. If there is a turn-style type contraption, you pay the money, then you grab the receipt it spits out. This is worth the money you paid and can be used towards a food or drink purchase. Again, if four of you go to the bathroom, you could use the receipts to buy two Euro sundaes. You've just gotten yourself a bathroom and a cool treat.

Read the signs. Some bathrooms allow children to "go" for free, though in high tourist locations this often is not the case. Of course that doesn't help the adults, but at least the kids are taken care of!

Find Joe. Similar to the drink idea, you will be able to use the restroom with any coffee drink or product purchase. (On a side note, Star*bucks has great collectible mugs of major cities and countries.) If you're already planning to get a latte, plan it around your need for a bathroom.

Down under. Some subways (and I use "some" loosely b/c I've only noticed these in Vienna) have free bathrooms in the subways. Of course you must remember they are free and probably well loved by all. Guys are definitely at an advantage here and one reason I'm thankful to have boys.  I would be prepared with toilet paper or a Kleenex and probably hand sanitizer as well. I wouldn't count on it to be well stocked.

The road less traveled. This summer we visited an area that had a cluster of caves. The main ticket/restaurant area bathroom and the main cave bathroom both charged an entrance fee. After paying several Euros for five people to use the bathrooms, we discovered that the bathrooms by the smaller caves were free. Incidentally they were also newer and cleaner than the ones with the attendants. Sometimes you just have to get off the beaten path.

Malls and shopping centers. These bathrooms are normally free, so you may be able to run in to a shopping center, use the bathroom, and hop back in your car. Again, be prepared for supplies to be missing.

Gas up. If you need to gas up your car this is also a good place to stop. Don't assume the bathrooms are free otherwise. If they're not, just get the attendant's attention and point to your car (assuming you can't communicate verbally) and they can push a button to let you through the turn style.


CLOTHING

The best way to be prepared (if your visit encompasses one of those in-between times) is to bring a coat and a fleece or sweatshirt. It's even better if one of them has a hood. Packing things that can layer and be mixed and/or matched is always smart. Wear the heaviest shoes and a pair of jeans on the plane. This will cut down on suitcase weight and space. Bring at least one pair of pants (even in summer) as it can get cool in higher elevations once it gets dark.

Unless you're staying in a home, be prepared to hand wash your clothing or pay to have them cleaned for you. Rarely will you find a hotel with coin or do-it-yourself laundry. If you rent an apartment it is possible, but again, not likely. You most definitely will not find a dryer as even finding these in homes is still a rarity in central Europe. You also won't find little sizes of laundry detergent in the store, so bring these with you. You can put your clothes in the bath tub, give them a good soak in the detergent, then wash them by hand. Things might be a little stiff for a while, but they will be clean!

TOILETRY ITEMS

I would suggest bringing any toiletry items you normally use. First, you may not find what you need and/or like or it may only be available in the pharmacy with limited hours (such as contact solution). Second, what you need may be very pricey here. Third, you don't want to be in dire need of something and not have it. There are no 24 hour pharmacies or urgent care clinics here. This is especially true for prescriptions and over the counter medicines. Think of the things you would want if you got the flu or a cold and bring some things with you. Even a small thermometer is a good idea as you won't find Fahrenheit in Europe! Ladies, bring your supplies - you will thank me! Some things are comparable, but many aren't. Your trip is not the time to experiment!

VALUABLES

You must carry your passport with you at all times. Having a good, small purse you can wear around your neck and over your shoulder is a very good idea for this. During one of our European experiences (before kids), I had a man try to grab my purse with both of our passports inside. The way I was wearing it was most likely the only thing that kept him from being successful and from further ruining our Eiffel Tower experience. Man purses are not uncommon here, so even the guys can join in on this one! If you'd rather not, a side pocket or pocket with a button is ideal. If not there, the front pocket is best. Never in the back! Scan your passport into your computer and make sure you have access to this image either on paper or at the very least, electronically. Do not keep this copy with your original. Be prepared to give your passport to the hotel upon check-in.

I would leave most valuables at home. Flashy or expensive jewelry will catch people's eyes, as will expensive electronics. While many in the States may be walking around with high-end phones and I-Pads, you won't see that as much here (in central Europe at least).

EMERGENCIES

Write an emergency contact in your passport. There is a place for this. You could also put this information in your wallet or purse or give it to the person with whom you are staying.

Leave your travel information with someone in the States. If there is a natural disaster they will know you are there much sooner than emergency response will.

Enroll in STEP - Smart Traveler Enrollment Program - with the State Department. Again, in case of a natural disaster or crisis in the country, this will let the government know you are there. Get over your Big Brother fears and tell them where you are.

Know where the closest embassy is located. In some countries you may have only one possibility. If your passport is misplaced, stolen, or damaged you will need to go there to get it replaced. If there is a natural disaster this would be a good place to go. Do not necessarily head there if there is unrest or a demonstration. Normally these occur around government buildings and/or embassies.

Keep some cash. Even if it is just enough to use a pay phone, pay for a taxi, or buy some food and drink, it is a good idea to have some cash on you at all times.

FOOD

As mentioned above, renting an apartment can sometimes be more fiscal than a hotel. Part of this is your ability to save money on food. Before you think this is the most insane idea ever (who wants to cook on vacation?), please read on. Breakfast is one of the easiest meals of the day and if you want to spend as many waking moments as possible on the streets and seeing the sites, you need nothing more than some milk, cereal, fruit, and maybe juice. Another way to save is on drinks, snacks, and even special treats. A quick trip to a grocery store will allow you to purchase reasonably priced items that you can keep cool and store for later. Another tip is to buy a few sandwich items and either carry your lunch with you or eat a quick sandwich after coming back at the end of the day. Doing all three of these things together can save you a considerable amount of money as you then only need to buy one nice meal at a restaurant each day and you can fill in the rest with the things you've purchased at the store.

Don't sit down. Before choosing a restaurant, look at their menu. Do not go in and sit down before you have done this. Even if they have a sign sporting great meal deals, ask to see a menu. Things may not always be as they seem (been there, done that, but thankfully before we ordered the drinks). If they advertise music, ask if it is free or if there will be a charge added to your bill.

In central Europe (and I know in the past this was true of western Europe as well) it is customary to tip only 10%. You either tell them what to add to your credit card when you pay or you pay in cash and give them extra. Do not just leave it on the table and walk away as we are accustomed to.

Ask. You may have to ask for the bill. European restaurants do not rush their patrons out the door. Also be prepared for things to run a little more slowly. Unlike American restaurants that have certain time amounts for things like greeting, getting drinks, etc. (Yes, a Chilis employee once shared these with me), European restaurants assume you have come to eat and spend time with your family and friends.

Another way we have saved money when we didn't have access to a kitchen was to book a hotel with free breakfast. We let the boys eat as much as they wanted, packed some snacks, drinks, and pb&j materials, and headed off for our day. With a good breakfast to start us all off and the picnic lunch, we only needed to pay for one meal each day. Just keep in mind that a European breakfast and an American breakfast can be quite different, though in tourist locations these establishments usually keep this in mind and cater to both appetites.

CHURCHES

Visiting churches is often a neat experience. The architecture is stunning and many hold the secrets of centuries of history. But before you enter, be prepared for a few things.

It may be free, it may not be. Be on the lookout for a sign as you enter. Some ask for a donation. If you feel you should, please donate, but keep in mind this is going into the church coffers. I once got confronted for not making a donation (a little odd that someone makes sure everyone "donates", isn't it?) and afterwards I got some looks that suggested I certainly should not assume Heaven is my post-death destination. If there is a charge we pay it, if it is free or donation only, we do not give.

Some allow photographs, some do not. Generally I wouldn't recommend taking pictures, but if there is no sign, you certainly can. If there is a sign, you will make someone very upset if you go against it. This fall we witnessed a one-sided discussion between a Bulgarian and an American. It wasn't pretty and since none of us knew Bulgarian, the words, "I'm sorry" sounded like "Blah, blah."

Men should take off their hats in a Catholic church. In a synagogue they should keep them on or get a hat from the person at the door. Ladies who do not have their shoulders covered (i.e. wearing a tank top) will need to get a shawl before entering a synagogue. This is also the case for the Vatican in Rome, though in this case I do not believe they provide any at the door.

CRIME

Probably the biggest threat you face while traveling in Europe is petty theft. If you rent a car, do not leave any evidence of cell phone chargers, Ipods, or a GPS when exiting the car. Put all chargers and cases away. Do not leave windows cracked - even if it is 100 degrees. Make sure all bags and luggage are in the trunk area or leave them at your hotel or residence. Some hotels will hold baggage for you even on the day you check out.

Do not allow yourself to be distracted by someone asking for directions or an unlicensed street vendor. This doesn't mean you have to run away in fear, but you should be aware of your surroundings and if anyone else approaches you while you are talking.

Decide what you will do ahead of time if someone asks you for money or tries to sell you an item. Often it is better to give a person food rather than money. If you do not want an item, say, "No, thank you" if you know how to say it in the correct language. If not, just keep walking and do not make eye contact. If someone is selling something legally (and some are), ask to see their license or badge and then make your purchase. One example here is that the government and sometimes the Catholic church hire unemployed people to sell magazines. We always ask for proof before we buy a magazine from them as you do not want to steal business from those who are truly trying to work. If someone tries to rip you off, stand your ground and demand your money back. We recently experienced this ourselves. A man was selling magazines at the Christmas market, so Jason asked him for identification. He provided it and Jason handed him the money. The man then told Jason he only had one magazine left and couldn't sell it. Jason stood there and requested his money back. We eventually got it. This legal worker was running a scam (still selling after the mags. were gone) and thus discouraging people from purchasing magazines from needy people in the future.

STREET PERFORMERS

One of the highlights of any trip to a large city is the street performers. Varied acts and varied ages make these people a delight to watch. Just keep a couple things in mind.

If you want a picture, you need to pay. Always. A Euro (or currency equal to a dollar) is a decent amount.

If you like the act, throw in some change. If we think an act is worthwhile, we will let the boys throw in some change. Our latest "donation" was to a group of 4 young men who were all playing wind instruments. They were quite good. Most likely they are college students trying to raise some extra funds and as I'm sure they could have been in a bar partying on a Saturday night rather than earning a living, it seemed like a good idea. I also think it's worth commending young men who have developed the skill of playing an instrument beyond a C scale.

One thing you shouldn't do - video tape. You might get away with it, but I wouldn't suggest it. Most do not like this as they don't want someone else "stealing" their act or being put on you*tube. You really can't blame them.

GO PUBLIC

Don't be afraid of public transportation. It is often cheaper than paying to park in the heart of the city and it's usually more convenient as well. Remember that public transportation is thought of much differently here and is used by all ages and walks of life.

SMELL THE ROSES

One of the reasons I love Europe is that there are so many beautiful buildings, statues, historical commemorations, and gardens. Take the time to enjoy them all. The world renowned sites are great, but sometimes a simple stroll allows you to get a taste for the culture, as well as see some less discovered sites. As we did this past summer in Austria, you may just happen upon a free police officer concert in the middle of a beautiful, flower-filled park.

RICK

As my husband has said, Rick Steves seems an unlikely candidate for upper class living based on his sole ability to write about his travels. But, that's exactly what he's done, lucky guy. His books are well worth the investment. He covers sites both big and small and can point you in the right direction as far as lodging and dining. He may just save you some money too.

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Europe has much to offer those who visit it. Many think it is out of their grasp financially, but with a little planning, research, and creativity, you may find it fits nicely into your budget. And of course there's nothing like saving some extra money to make a desire come true. Hopefully the things I've shared will help you enjoy your trip to the fullest.