Top Travel Tips for Europe – Roaming Historian

Going to Europe is thrilling and exhilarating…and costly. When you get there, you want to be able to have the time of your life, immerse yourself in another culture, and have a great experience. To do this, planning is key. Here are my top travel tips for Europe so you can have a stress-free trip. Whether it’s your first trip to Europe or you’ve been there many times, I hope they help when planning your next European vacation.

Master the euro conversion game. Don’t listen to those who say to convert euro at a bank or auto club before going on a trip. Those places may say they will give you a good deal, but they don’t. Nor do the places at the airports. Get a bank account (Charles Schwab is a good one or try your local credit union) that has no foreign transaction fees and no currency exchange fees (look for both) so you can take money out of the ATM when you get to Europe for the best rate–the current “euro to dollar” exchange rate which fluctuates daily (xe.com is good to find current rates).

You may also want to get a credit card that also has no foreign transaction fees and no currency exchange fees, too. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a good card and has travel insurance benefits, but does have an annual fee. I find it’s worth the fee because of the other benefits ($50 hotel credit, travel insurance, generous rewards, etc.). There is a link below to learn more. My blog on the euro covers the situation thoroughly.

Let your credit card and debit card banks know you will be abroad so your cards work with no interruption. Nothing would be worse than getting to Europe and having your cards not work (and having to make an expensive international call) because the bank thought they were being used fraudulently and froze them for your safety.

Have your phone situation figured out. International phone plans can be outrageous. Nonetheless, you will probably want to get their international travel plan. For a free alternative, I use WhatsApp for my calls and texts, which runs on wi-fi or data. Many businesses in Europe use WhatsApp so you can call them without using your minutes on your phone, too. My blog explains the app better.

Bring the right electrical adapters. Most of Europe has the same adapter for a two-pronged outlet, but Great Britain has a three-pronged one. Make sure your electrical devices will convert to European voltage or leave them at home. Your lodging will provide a hair dryer so I wouldn’t bring…