There’s hardly a person who doesn’t want to travel to Europe and has it on their trip wish list. It is an incredible mix of cultures, languages, and stunning scenery. You’ll undoubtedly have many questions about how things work. However, long-distance travel can be stressful. That is why quite a few things should be planned when you’re still at home for a hassle-free trip.
Some nations demand that you arrange a visa prior to traveling
Checking whether you require a visa to visit a nation is essential before you embark on your long journey. It’s best to do your homework before you travel to Europe in order to avoid a variety of problems. You might be able to get a visa at the border or you might not need one at all, according to your citizenship and the country you’re visiting. However, obtaining a visa for several European nations can be a laborious process that might take more than a month to arrange so plan accordingly.
Check the official currency
Make sure to check what’s the currency in the countries you will travel to. Not every nation in Europe accepts the Euro, only 19 of the 51 European nations.
Plan your spending
Budget planning is crucial when traveling long distances. Calculate projected costs such as airfare, local transportation, hotel, meals, sightseeing, and entertainment in addition to other expenses like taxes, insurance, and the like.
As you investigate nations having low taxes, your financial situation may have an impact on your choice of destination if you want to save some money. If you choose Eastern Europe, taxes in Montenegro are among the lowest in the whole of Europe, which makes this attractive Mediterranean country an excellent place to visit, even settle down or start a business someday.
Have enough cash with you
Many businesses and restaurants only accept cash in local currency. Remember to do research before you travel to Europe such as the fees at ATMs if you need to withdraw money from one. Furthermore, in most of Europe, you must use coins to enter public restrooms, so always have some spare change with you.
Have a multi-country power adaptor at hand
Europe as a whole uses one type of power adaptor, whereas the UK uses another. Many tourists who don’t live in the EU are surprised by this. Try a multi-country adaptor if you want to avoid fiddling with several adaptors. It will fit in your luggage easily and efficiently.
Get familiar with the Schengen Region
26 nations in Europe make up the Schengen Area. You don’t have to go past border control to enter or exit these nations because they have free movement for travelers. The Schengen Area may just require one visa for certain nationalities, which would make travel quite simple. Others can enter the region without a visa at all, but they can only stay there for a limited period of time. Before you depart, be sure to confirm with your government what the Schengen Area’s rules and regulations are.
Look up public holidays and festivals before you go
You will not want to come to a completely packed city without being aware that a huge festival or public holiday is underway. Or visit the Vatican Museums on religious holidays and assume they will be open. Before you leave, look up important dates and holidays in the nation or city you intend to visit.
Late dinner is a thing in Europe
In countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy, most residents have dinner late, as late as 10 pm. As people prefer to wake up later, especially in the winter, attractions often open in the middle of the morning. Double-check the hours of operation and schedule your day properly to avoid being hungry and miserable while exploring famous landmarks.
Don’t forget about the metric system
Get ready to hear the temperature for the day in Celsius rather than Fahrenheit, measure the distance between cities in kilometers rather than miles, and weigh food in grams and kilograms rather than pounds. Look it up and see how it works because it might come in handy.
And finally
Exploring Europe is such an amazing experience! Avoid overplanning as there’s no way you can see everything in one take. Leave some room for enjoyment and being spontaneous.
