Europe has always been one of the best places to travel. The continent houses more than 40 countries, which creates a vast diversity of cultures, interesting places, and interesting people. At the same time, European countries have always been known for taking matters seriously and imposing rather strict but reasonable rules regarding traveling. With the rise of the coronavirus pandemic, European countries were some of the first ones to enact almost complete lockdown and to start the development of the vaccine immediately. Now that it has recovered from the consequences of the pandemic, traveling to Europe has become much easier than it was just a year ago. Still, there are certain things you should remember while traveling to Europe regardless of whether there is an active lockdown or not.
Traveling to the Old World
Despite Europe being known as the Old World, the EU countries appear to be extremely civilized nowadays. The continent tends to accommodate visitors very well and provide all modern services available. You won’t be having trouble thinking about how to find the most suitable translation app for travelling because European developers have already developed and perfected most of them. And even if you choose to rent a budget apartment or hotel room, be ready to have the service no worse than in lux accommodations. All that being said, Europe is certainly worth traveling to. At the same time, to get all the best things European countries have to offer, you must follow certain rules and orders.
Gearing 5 Essential Things for Traveling to Europe
Europe is known for its rather strict customs, so if you’re traveling not within the European Union or, at least, the European continent, be ready for extra checks and possible lines. At the same time, it’s a good idea to always have all your essential documents with you. Here are a few more life hacks that can turn your European experience into a wonderful and unforgettable journey of your dreams.
-
- Pack light. As it was already mentioned, Europe is the place where you can find all the comforts of this world. This means that you should not worry about getting some basic things there like utilities, consumable supplies, and clothes. So, don’t pack too many things in your bags, you won’t be able to carry them on the way back. Have only the most essential things with yourself, either those for personal use or the ones you know you can’t buy in Europe.
- Stash some local currency. This point actually applies to any country that accepts currency different from that accepted in your country. Even though most transactions in the European Union are made with the use of a credit card or bank transfer, you’ll still need some cash. Always having it at hand is more than just a reasonable idea. Especially considering the next point, as well as the fact that there’s only one currency valid for most European countries.
- Try not to use ATMs. European fees can be very high at times, and ATM fees are some of those that exemplify this. So, unless you own a card of a European bank, do stash some euros or refrain from using the ATMs. You’ll save a lot. And if you’re wondering where you can get some local banknotes, there’s no need to go far. Just use the currency exchange and be aware of the currency exchange rates, as this opens up the ability to budget since the fees here are usually much lower.
- Check Visa requirements. Just as with the currency, most European countries require one Visa called Schengen. Depending on your country of origin, it might not be required, though. Checking whether this is valid or not is still a worthy venture.
- Keep your documents to yourself. It has been mentioned earlier, but it’s still important to highlight it separately. European customs and law enforcement might be quite strict regarding your identity and the documents that confirm it. So, many recommend not only having all the right documents near you, but also using good translation websites to translate them for your trip. It might take some effort, but it pays off very well, granting you the best journey you may think of.
Exploring the Horizons of Civilization
Being a cradle for most Western civilizations and cultures, Europe is a wonderful place to visit. The diversity of sights, food, and people you’ll get is worth all the possible effort you might need to make. It might seem hard at first, but after you’ll dig just a bit into it, you’ll find that it’s not harder than driving a bicycle. So, pack your bags, grab your coat, and double-check everything you might need to take with you. The journey of your life is waiting for you.
Bio: The expertise of Elizabeth Baldridge is nothing but peculiarly multifaceted. She writes about everything that comes to her mind, and most of those things she has experienced at some point in her life. That makes every article written by Elizabeth so vivid and relatable.
Read More:
What to do on a city break in Lisbon
