best walking shoes european travel image
RainDog
I will be visiting Italy, Germany and Austria in a few weeks. I've never traveled outside of the US and I could not be more excited.
Answer
Learn some words in German so you will be perceived as polite. English is commonly spoken. They will know more of your language than you know of theirs.
Sidewalks are very uneven all over Europe. so walking can be difficult. But everyone walks. Most European cities are "walking cities." Athletic shoes are a giveaway that you are American. Wear leather shoes, and dress more smartly than Americans usually do. Like Sunday best--everyday.
Take a sturdy water bottle so you can fill it up at every opportunity. Purchased bottled water can get expensive. And soft drinks are more expensive than beer. Really. Learn what stores, department stores, the locals go to, then do so yourself. Cheaper.
Food is very cheap in the USA. No where else in the world is the food as cheap and plentiful as it is here. There will be plenty of food, of course, but you will pay much more for it.
Take plenty of money. Your own bank can change currency for you. Yes, you will have to pay the fee to change the currency. And again when you change it back. Use a money belt.
Photocopy your passport photo page and be sure to carry that in a safe place, such as your money belt.
Call your credit card companies and tell them your itinerary so that they will allow charges to your card; otherwise they will not allow charges that are not your usual pattern. Do not use a debit card on the trip.
Change the memory card in your camera every couple of days just in case it gets lost or stolen.
Be prepared for terrible jet lag, worse upon your return. Not much works to help this. So forget what you have read. OK to try it, though.
See Rick Steves' travel site for answers to many travel questions.
Learn some words in German so you will be perceived as polite. English is commonly spoken. They will know more of your language than you know of theirs.
Sidewalks are very uneven all over Europe. so walking can be difficult. But everyone walks. Most European cities are "walking cities." Athletic shoes are a giveaway that you are American. Wear leather shoes, and dress more smartly than Americans usually do. Like Sunday best--everyday.
Take a sturdy water bottle so you can fill it up at every opportunity. Purchased bottled water can get expensive. And soft drinks are more expensive than beer. Really. Learn what stores, department stores, the locals go to, then do so yourself. Cheaper.
Food is very cheap in the USA. No where else in the world is the food as cheap and plentiful as it is here. There will be plenty of food, of course, but you will pay much more for it.
Take plenty of money. Your own bank can change currency for you. Yes, you will have to pay the fee to change the currency. And again when you change it back. Use a money belt.
Photocopy your passport photo page and be sure to carry that in a safe place, such as your money belt.
Call your credit card companies and tell them your itinerary so that they will allow charges to your card; otherwise they will not allow charges that are not your usual pattern. Do not use a debit card on the trip.
Change the memory card in your camera every couple of days just in case it gets lost or stolen.
Be prepared for terrible jet lag, worse upon your return. Not much works to help this. So forget what you have read. OK to try it, though.
See Rick Steves' travel site for answers to many travel questions.
I want to know the best time and info on traveling to Europe?
johnsons84
What are the best months to travel to Europe, would june july or august be good? Is it best to stay in Hostels and save money? I am a student wanting to see Europe, most as I can... How long do I need to be there to see a vast majority of the best parts? What are some must see sites and cities? How much money should one bring (estimate) and any other tid bits of info could really go a long way..
Thanks for your time and answers to all.
Answer
May, June and September will not be as crowded, and cheaper, as July and August are the height of the tourist season when most of the Europeans also go on holiday.
The rest of the year is also very well possible, the cheapest fares are likely between the mid January and April, and maybe October-November.
At this time you will need about â¬75 per day, ($US 100) when you stay in hostels and do your own cooking, this will allow you some money for sightseeing and drinking and to pay for your train tickets when here.
You can do it a little cheaper if you do not spend much money on being a tourist, also when you go to the countries that have been communist in the past.
An other way to save money is not to stay in hostels but to stay in peoples homes, you can get contact through couch surfing sites:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/
http://www.hospitalityclub.org/
I have never done it, but people who travel that way say they really enjoy it.
Otherwise hostels are a good cheap choice, camping, while possible is not as easy when you travel by bus or train.
In July and August most hostels fill up 100% and you might have to book ahead or find other places to stay.
But even then the hostels out of town near the Capital cities still have some space, most of the time so be flexible.
How long you need?
Many Europeans spend all their holidays in their lifetime in Europe and I never heard anybody claim that he has been everywhere.
In a month you can get an impression of Europe, in but a longer time will be better.
Do not try to rush from highlight to highlight but take your time to really get to know a country. Spend a week in its capital city, but also a few days in a smaller town and a village, visiting National parks is almost always good.
Many countries will need more than 2 weeks to see them properly (only small states like Luxembourg or Monaco you can do in that time,)
but it will stay in your memory.
If you have one month do not try to really see more than 3 countries, in 2 months 6 to 8.
And pack light.
Bring as little as you can get away with. In summer that is one pair of jeans, 2 shorts, (or 2 jeans) a handful of T-shirts, a sweater, a jacket and underwear for a week or two.
Shoes you can walk in all day everyday, and a second pair to change into at night and for emergencies, or only bathroom use.
And bring enough socks too.
You will need to do laundry, but whatever you bring you will always have to do laundry.
Keep space in your pack for a couple of new T-shirts, (great souvenirs and very useful,) and save on washing a few days.
Just before setting off you should get the newest version of a good guidebook, I prefer the Lonely Planet series, but as said, right now would be a good time to get a couple of travel guides from the library or a secondhand bookshop.
And read the older questions here, there is a lot of information already, as questions like this come up often. I think that only in this hour 3 questions have been posted that might be of help to you.
May, June and September will not be as crowded, and cheaper, as July and August are the height of the tourist season when most of the Europeans also go on holiday.
The rest of the year is also very well possible, the cheapest fares are likely between the mid January and April, and maybe October-November.
At this time you will need about â¬75 per day, ($US 100) when you stay in hostels and do your own cooking, this will allow you some money for sightseeing and drinking and to pay for your train tickets when here.
You can do it a little cheaper if you do not spend much money on being a tourist, also when you go to the countries that have been communist in the past.
An other way to save money is not to stay in hostels but to stay in peoples homes, you can get contact through couch surfing sites:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/
http://www.hospitalityclub.org/
I have never done it, but people who travel that way say they really enjoy it.
Otherwise hostels are a good cheap choice, camping, while possible is not as easy when you travel by bus or train.
In July and August most hostels fill up 100% and you might have to book ahead or find other places to stay.
But even then the hostels out of town near the Capital cities still have some space, most of the time so be flexible.
How long you need?
Many Europeans spend all their holidays in their lifetime in Europe and I never heard anybody claim that he has been everywhere.
In a month you can get an impression of Europe, in but a longer time will be better.
Do not try to rush from highlight to highlight but take your time to really get to know a country. Spend a week in its capital city, but also a few days in a smaller town and a village, visiting National parks is almost always good.
Many countries will need more than 2 weeks to see them properly (only small states like Luxembourg or Monaco you can do in that time,)
but it will stay in your memory.
If you have one month do not try to really see more than 3 countries, in 2 months 6 to 8.
And pack light.
Bring as little as you can get away with. In summer that is one pair of jeans, 2 shorts, (or 2 jeans) a handful of T-shirts, a sweater, a jacket and underwear for a week or two.
Shoes you can walk in all day everyday, and a second pair to change into at night and for emergencies, or only bathroom use.
And bring enough socks too.
You will need to do laundry, but whatever you bring you will always have to do laundry.
Keep space in your pack for a couple of new T-shirts, (great souvenirs and very useful,) and save on washing a few days.
Just before setting off you should get the newest version of a good guidebook, I prefer the Lonely Planet series, but as said, right now would be a good time to get a couple of travel guides from the library or a secondhand bookshop.
And read the older questions here, there is a lot of information already, as questions like this come up often. I think that only in this hour 3 questions have been posted that might be of help to you.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Title Post: What advice would you offer an American traveling in Europe for the first time?
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment