I have managed to learn quite a bit about travelling in Europe after two trips over there in the last 6 years and thought I’d share my tips with you (I know a few of you have planned trips over there, so I hope this helps)! 

• Be prepared to pay to use the toilet. We paid as much as $1.50 Australian to use bathrooms that weren’t necessarily clean or had seats attached. It is what it is.
• Take a phrasebook for every language you may need. The locals always appreciate tourists trying to speak their language rather than speaking slowly and loudly in English (that’s just irritating). This will also ensure you are able to communicate when you’re in a tough situation. The Lonely Planet phrasebooks are great (and small).
• Pack clothing that dries quickly. You don’t want to be lugging damp clothing around with you and it also means that you won’t have to fork out (and wait) for the dryer at the laundromat (if you can find one). Use towel rails, chairs and hangers to dry.
• Check in online for flights. Why wouldn’t you? If you are travelling with carry on, it means that you go straight to the gate. With luggage there is often a separate (faster) queue for bag drop. Avoid early wake up calls and stress – you can also sometimes avoid having your bags weighed.
• Photocopy your passport. This is Travel 101. I misplaced my passport on a trip to Bali last year and the scanned copy I had emailed to myself was invaluable. Luckily I found it again but it makes the process of gaining a temporary one faster and easier. Email a copy to yourself and perhaps a parent or friend.
• Book all your accommodation before you leave. I’m talking to the rest of the Sagittarians out there who would love to hop on a plane and find a hotel/hostel on a whim. I know we love to be spontaneous, but train station benches aren’t comfortable.
  

  Photos by moi

   

• Change your body clock and eating patterns. Shops and museums don’t usually open before 10.00am, sometimes later (Paris, I’m looking at you). In Spain and Italy it is common to start eating dinner at 9.00pm – some touristy restaurants will open for 6 or 7.00pm but the local places with the best authentic food will keep your stomach waiting.
• Stop converting currency. I know it’s hard but you need to start thinking of prices in the local currency rather than your own dollar. Most things are more expensive over in Europe (compared to Australia or New Zealand) – London more horrifying than most. Check your bank balance regularly though.
• If you’re taking your mobile phone… check with your provider that you have global roaming enabled and check the call/text prices (usually available on the provider’s website). Shut off data roaming. Using the internet on your phone without wifi will cost a fortune – updating your Twitter account isn’t worth eating 2 minute noodles for dinner for the next 6 months!
• Buy really small gifts for people (if any at all). You don’t want to be lugging around huge souvenirs the entire trip. Perhaps consider buying gifts in your final destination. I bought little food samples and set up a small tasting session for my workmates.
• Take containers with you. Little empty bottles are perfect – you’ll thank me when you’re trying to save space and need a container for your washing powder, shampoo etc.
• Don’t promise to send postcards. You won’t.
• If you want to see ‘tourist attractions’… be prepared to wait in a long line (particularly in peak season) and pay quite a bit.
• If that tourist attraction is a religious building… ensure that you are wearing a top with sleeves and a high neck and either a long skirt or pants.
• Be prepared to eat bread. A lot of it. And pastry.
• Do not wear high heels on cobble stone roads. Self explanatory.
• Triple check your hotel/hostel room before you check out. Do not leave your international power adaptor and phone charger behind like we did.
• Look for interesting tours if that’s your thing. We had a ride in a Mini Cooper around London, bicycles in Nice, bus tour of Rome and noticed a few segway tours in a number of countries. There are often unique themed tours on offer such as ghost or mystery, art and architecture.
• Don’t expect things to be like they are at home. Sometimes hot chocolates are thick without milk, hamburgers don’t come with buns, shops close at strange times (in Spain some close between 1.30 and 4.00pm) and cheese tastes unlike any you’ve had before. You’re there to enjoy the differences not complain about them.
• ENJOY YOURSELF!

Do you have any other tips for readers travelling to Europe?