So you've decided you want to visit Europe? Great! Whether this will be your first trip, second, or "just another," you are bound for an incredible vacation! Even if you've traveled abroad before, planning an international trip can be overwhelming if you don't have a good plan. To help make your vacation as rewarding and enjoyable as possible, I've put together time table to help you organize everything you need to do!
8 to 6 Months Before Departure:
- Decide where you want to go
- Book your flight
- Make sure you have all the necessary documents to apply for a Passport
(click here for info on Passports)
- If you have a Passport make sure it does not expire within 6 months of when you will be abroad
(some European countries will not allow you entry if your Passport expires in less then 6 months from your date of arrival).
- Apply for your Passport
(renew if needed)
- Begin learning words and phases in the language of the country or countries you are visiting
6-4 Months Before Departure:
- Buy travel books for where you are visiting
(the "Top 10" books are good)
- Book your Hotel(s)
- Start thinking about cloths and shoes
(You will be doing a lot of walking in Europe so make sure you have great walking shoes. If you plan on eating at a lot of or just a few nice places, make sure you have cloths and shoes that are appropriate, but that you can also walk around in as you will not want to always return to the hotel to change)
- Keep learning the language of the country or countries you are visiting
4-2 Months Before Departure:
- Make sure you have your Passport
- Car, Train or Plane?
(If you are traveling to multiple cities, decide how you are going to do it)
Traveling by Plane
- Book any European flights if you did not already do so
(Doing this at an earlier time is fine)
Traveling by Car
- Book or know where you are renting a car or RV
Traveling by Train
- If traveling by train decide you you want to purchase a rail pass or purchase point-to-point tickets at the train station
- Book you rail pass if needed
- If you will be in once place for about a week or more, look into day trips
- Keep learning the language of the country or countries you are visiting
2-0 Months Before Departure:
- Arrange a folder or booklet for your trip
(Include ALL hotel, flight, train, car and anything else confirmation letters/emails. Have a list of all you hotels and their phone numbers. Have addresses and phones numbers of family and friends you may want to call or send postcards to. Include a copy of your passport. Have local emergency contact numbers i.e. embassies, directions for dialing police in your vacation country. Have some words and phrases you can keep studying and use in the places you are visiting. Include anything else you feel is important)
- Buy a power adaptor for shavers, cell phones, battery chargers
(these adapters can only handle small appliances like shavers, cell phones, camera battery chargers, ect. Make sure whatever you are plugging in can handle the higher volts that are used in Europe. It will say the volts the cord is made for on the plus- it needs to go above 200V.)
- If you want to use your cell phone, make sure it is GMS capable.
(You will need to contact you wireless provider is some case for them to turn this on. Roaming charges may apply, however, and can be expensive)
- Get travel insurance
- If you have a digital camera make sure you have enough storage for all your pictures
(you can upload pictures at Internet cafes and email them to yourself to free up more space on your camera)
- Make sure you have the right luggage
- Decide on how and arrange for how you are going to spend money in Europe
(Know what fees and exchange rate your credit cards will charge you for using them in Europe. Get any travelers checks and cash you want to exchange in Europe)
- Set some budgeting guidelines
- Have an idea of what you want to see in each place you visit, but leave some free time to just wander the streets
- Get any needed medications
- Call and notify your credit card companies if you will be using your credit card in Europe
- Give a close friend or relative your contact and hotel info
- Form a list of all the things you need to pack
(Pack light! You will be coming back with more then you left with--souvenirs! The airlines WILL make you throw things out if your luggage is over the weight limit)
- Pack
- GO!
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