10 Tips About Traveling to Europe – A Checklist Before You Go


Before starting the trip to Europe for experiencing the mouth-watering Wiener schnitzel from Austria and Ragu alla Bolognese from Italy and, the piazzas in Rome and, breathtaking Venice and Barcelona, an important traveling checklist is essential. Here come the ten important tips for an efficacious checklist:

1. Selecting the destinations:

This is an important task in order to ensure a stress-free trip to Europe. The traveler can select the destinations he wants to visit in relation to the factors such as weather, climatic conditions, budget, and security. The trip can then be planned and sorted accordingly.

2. Booking the airfare, local transportations, and accommodations:

This is another most important as well as expensive part of the trip, therefore it must be considered foremost. Booking beforehand also permits the flexibility with the dates and targeted deals. When the traveler has decided the places to be visited, then he has to book for the trip and make the earliest possible arrangements for the hotel in association to the budget. It requires a bit of research but it’s worth it. In addition to it, research should be conducted for the modes of transport in Europe for example bikes in Amsterdam, ferry in Greece and European rail. The rail options, routes, and prices can be examined for traveling within the country.

3. Medical Checkups:

Before visiting any country, the individual should go through the proper vaccinations and essential prescriptions. The medical insurance can also be taken.  

4. Checking out the documents:

It is imperative to check the expiration date of the valid passport and the requirements of the country. Moreover, the travel to European countries requires the valid visas which can be applied from the embassy of the country the individual is visiting.

5. Ensuring the security:

The traveler should try to register through the embassy of his own country in order to ensure his security. Furthermore, he must carry the copies of passport and all the other documents with him as well as on current email account to prove his citizenship, in case the passport gets lost or stolen.

6. Considering travel insurances:

There are many types of travel insurances which include flight cancellation, medical insurance, and flight cancellation insurance. After booking the airfare, hotels, and transportation, consider the time to buy insurance. There are various travel providers that sell insurance with the tour package. Before purchasing any type of insurance policy, the individual has to make sure that they read the terms and fine print in the policy. If one already has a medical insurance, then he should check out for its coverage.

7. Paying in local currency:

The individual should try to have local cash as places like trains do not accept credit cards. Moreover, look up the monetary conversion rate of the country before traveling. Many of the European countries such as Luxembourg and Belgium use Euros.

8. Contacting the credit card and cell phone companies:

It must be made sure that whether the credit card will particularly work in that country or not. Many European banks have almost completely shifted to the chip and PIN technology which is more secure. The individual is required to call the credit card companies and inform them of his travel because, in the case of adverse consequences, the card might get blocked.  He has to find out the fee that will be charged overseas on the usage of credit card.  The cell phone plan should also be checked upon.

9. Downloading appropriate apps:

The apps such as Google Maps and guidebooks can provide enough information about the place the person is visiting. On the other hand, the communication problem is reduced through Google Translate app. It offers a lot of facilities and 90 different languages. A research must also be conducted on the events in the country.

10. Luggage and packing:

The traveler has to look out for the flight details about the weight of luggage to avoid any incremental fee. The type of clothing must be in accordance with the weather of the particular country.  The person should try to pack light as it will make his travel experience easier. The countries have different voltage supplies i.e. 220-240 volts/50 Hertz standard and plug sizes, therefore it is important to carry a compatible charger adaptor with a power strip.

All the above factors need to be considered to have a carefree and safe trip to Europe. In addition to that, the checklist is required to be double checked before leaving out for flight.

About the Author:

Erica Cohen is a passionate writer, and blogger, loves to write on education, traveling, and writing. She generally writes about tips on Essay help, and education.