TAKING A TRIP TO EUROPE? Here are some VERY helpful hits that will save you money and help you avoid trouble/conflicts/embarrassment/headaches, and even injuries.
TAKING A TRIP TO EUROPE? Here are some VERY helpful hits that will save you money and help you avoid trouble/conflicts/embarrassment/headaches, and even injuries.
I moved from USA to Switzerland in 1998 and have traveled to most of European countries since.
PART I
( I will post PART II in the next couple of days)
RESEARCH. Thanks to the internet, anyone can now do research on any subject. So, take some time to research the places you will be visiting.
(*) I highly recommend installing a navigation app on your mobile device/cell phone to get directions and find places such as hotels, restaurants, train station, etc. I also highly recommend downloading the offline maps for such app so you can use it even when not connected to the internet; (I personally use Google Maps and I have downloaded the offline maps of many European countries for it). For the offline maps, you will need a whole lot of storage on your mobile device; if you don't have it, you will do yourself a great favor investing a few dollars and get an SD card of 64 GB; BUT 128 GB would of course be much better, and it costs just a little more than the 64 GB card (buy it online); you will have much more storage for all those photos and videos you will be taking.
The following subjects will be discussed in this article, in the order of importance:
• MONEY
• INTERNET/WIFI
• COMMUNICATION
• HOTELS
• PUBLIC TRANSPORT
• EATING
• WALKING/CYCLING
• MISCELLANEOUS
1 - MONEY
Please avoid those money exchange kiosks/booths which are located in airports and main streets in major European cities because they have a horrible exchange rate and you may lose 10%, 15%, even 20% of your money if you exchange your currency with them. I am really amazed how many people still use them.
Please be aware that NOT all countries of the EU (European Union) use the Euro (look it up on the internet), and Switzerland is NOT in the EU, and they use the Swiss Franc -- CHF or SFr.
Your best bet is to use your credit card to pay for things. of course you will need some cash for small purchases; I recommend you use your ATM (bank card) to withdraw local currency cash from cash ATM's which are available all over -- airports, train stations, city streets, shopping malls, etc, and most cases they do not charge a fee, or a very small fee. But, don't make a lot of small withdrawals since your own bank will charge you a few dollars for each one (for out-of-the-country withdrawal). If you have your own currency and want to exchange it for the local currency, you can do so at airport train station counter where you get a much better rate than the money exchange kiosks/booths, but not as good as taking out cash with your ATM (bank card) from cash ATM's. If the airport has no train station money exchange service, then you can use the one at the main train station (also called "Central Station") in the city. Most major European cities have ONE main train station, and several other minor ones. Only the main station has money exchange service.
If, at the end of your trip, YOU still have local currency left, you get the best exchange rate if you exchange it in the European country from which you are departing, Again, you can do so at the main train station in the city, or the airport train station counter. if you have just a little left, then you can use it to buy something at the duty free shops.
2 - INTERNET/WIFI
Roaming is very expensive here in Europe. The vast majority of airports, hotels, and main train stations in major European cities offer free WIFI. Also, many cafes, shopping malls,and casinos do so as well. So, you may want to connect when you arrive at the airport to do what you need online. In some cities, I found free WIFI even in the city center, out on the streets; check to see if that is the case in THE city which you are visiting.
If you are staying for a few weeks and do need internet often, you can buy a pre-paid SIM card with data included; please research this issue for the countries you will be visiting. Of course you can do that research in your hotel after you arrive, if your hotels offers free WIFI.
3 - COMMUNICATION
People/businesses in most major European cities can communicate in English, in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe; but I did find it difficult to communicate in English in Italy, especially in small towns, but also in major cities.
4 - HOTELS
First, I like to point out a very important fact: unlike in the USA, downtown (City Center) in European cities is were things happen -- bars, restaurants, partying, night clubs, cafes, luxury shops, etc. The farther away from the city center, the less exciting, interesting, fun things are found.
Hotels in Western Europe are generally much more expensive than in North America. Free WIFI is very common even in budget hotels, BUT a private bathroom and air-conditioning are NOT! If you need such "luxury" as private bathroom and air-conditioning, then before you make your reservations, it is very important you make sure that your room has a private bathroom and air-conditioning . You may find a hotel which is in a good location, has nice rooms, has very good comments/recommendations from guests, and offers rooms for a great price, but if you select a room in that same hotel which has a private bathroom, the price jumps by a massive amount -- $100 to $150 per night MORE than the rooms with "Shared Bathroom".
AMSTERDAM. I found that hotels in Amsterdam are ridiculously and insanely expensive, especially in the summer. Except for the newer 3-star hotels and up, the old town (city center) hotels -- built many centuries ago -- have rooms which are extremely small with tiny single/twin beds, have no air-conditioning or own bathrooms, and buildings have no elevators (lifts), but insanely steep spiral stairs. If you rent a car, you will most likely have to find your own parking garage as MOST hotels have no parking, especially the one in the city center, and be prepared to pay $20 to $30 per night for parking, whether in a parking garage, or at the hotel parking garage if it does have one.
If you insist on having the US type hotel comfort in Amsterdam, be prepared to pay some serious money, say, for a 3-star hotel for ONE person, $150 and up per night in winter; $220 and up per night in summer. For a 4-star hotel, add about $100 per night to the prices of a 3-star hotel. There is a premium of $20 to $50 for each additional person per night per room.
In Central and Eastern Europe, the story is quite different; prices are massively lower than Western Europe, and even the USA & Canada, for hotels, restaurant dining, transport, etc.
Although, you need to be VERY careful in Eastern Europe for rip offs, especially when it comes to taxis; drivers may "take you for a ride" -- make sure you know the price BEFORE you get into the taxi, or demand the use of the taxi meter. I usually plot my trip on my Google map (which shows me the shortest route AND the distance) and show it to the taxi driver and ask how that trip would cost. If you are a man, or a group of men, the taxi drivers will most likely offer to take you to a "great"/"cheap"/"no entry charge" strip joint. JUST SAY "NO, THANK YOU". Trust me, you will be very very sorry if you take such offer!
MORE ON THIS SUBJECT IN THE "MISCELLANEOUS" SECTION.
Second, and final, part of this article coming in the next couple of days.