Visit Europe!

If you plan to cross the Atlantic Ocean, there are a few tips that can help you before starting your first Europe vacation.

First of all, you need to understand and be fully aware during your trip that Europe is very different from the United States in every possible way. Even in the UK.

In consequence traveling through Europe is also completely different than traveling to any American city.

Transport

Even if you can afford it, you should never rent a car to move around any city. There is completely lack of space, there is no place to park and driving directions in most European cities are not as straightforward as we are used to know.

Public transportation in most major cities is very affordable and easy to use. It is the most used method of transportation for everybody either tourists or locals. If you do not like public transportation, you can always hire a cab.

The countryside is very nice all over Europe, and driving conditions differ from what I described above. Traveling from one city to another with a rented car, will allow you to stop in incredible and nice towns where you will discover very nice things almost in anyone, if you can afford the time.

I rented a car once in the French Riviera to travel from Nice to Monaco, very nice, but I did it for a couple of days, returned it and continued my trip.

However, roads are very narrow and dangerous, so be extremely careful. Trains are the most used transport all over Europe to go from one city to another. They are cheap, safe and reliable.

Safety

Most European cities are safe, at least in the tourist areas. However, pick pockets are all around Europe looking for tourists. Take extremely care about them. Split your money, hide it very well and be careful when taking money out because they will notice where do you hide it.

Do not leave bags or purses unattended or hanging from restaurant chairs. If you use a back pack, do not carry money or passports within it. I personally saw once, how they cut the bottom of a back pack with a knife to steal a passport.

I always use a special pocket which hangs from my neck and goes under the underwear shirt. This shirt has to be inside your pants to avoid any falling in case the string is cut.

Money should never be taken out from that bag in public and you should carry the money that you will use for each day somewhere else, therefore if you loose that part, you won’t regret it very much, or at least you won’t be broke.

Traveler’s checks are sometimes difficult to change in Europe. Therefore if you prefer to take them, consider some time to change them in a bank, as they are not widely accepted everywhere as in the US.

When eating, check menu prices before sitting. Most restaurants display their menus at the entrance. If the menu is not displayed, avoid going into that restaurant or at least ask for a menu with prices before ordering anything.

There are some places in Europe, where they charge you differently according to the place you sit in the restaurant.

City Guides

Carefully plan your days and get city guides for every place you will visit. You can get them on the Internet or printed in any bookstore. Time is very valuable as there is always more to see than time available.

The Euros have made life easier for tourism and now you don’t need to change money in every country as it used to be, but there are still some countries like UK, that do not use Euros yet.

There are hundreds of money exchange stations all over Europe in every city, train station or major attraction, but be careful about the exchange rate. Always ask local people for the best place to change money. Or do your own research writing down the exchange rate in every place you see near your hotel.

Exchange your money before going anywhere. Usually the exchange stations near tourist attractions have very bad exchange rate.

Do not forget to exchange back the money you won’t use anymore or that can’t be used in countries you will visit next, as some currencies are difficult to change once you leave Europe. Also, remember that coins are not changed, so get rid of them before leaving the country.

These above are some general tips and information, to make your travel nicer. You will always need to research further and carefully plan your trip to get the most out of it, and you can find thousands of sites with additional resources.

The best time to travel is in the holidays, right? Not if you want to make big savings on your traveling costs it’s not. If you travel in off peak (or low season) periods, or even in the shoulder season, you’ll find traveling costs a lot less.

Where are you traveling? Do you know the peak travel times for this destination? Summer and spring, no matter where you are, are generally considered the peak seasons to travel, unless you are a winter sports enthusiast. In that case, ski resorts will be having their peak season in winter. And what hemisphere are you thinking of visiting? The seasons differ depending on whether you are north or south. For example, the North America summer months are June, July, August but in Australia the summer months are December, January and February. You will need to research your destination to find out the low season times to visit.

First of all, what type of savings can you expect to make if you travel in the off-peak season?

1. Air fares are much cheaper. There are less people wanting to fly so air carriers drop their prices to attract customers. Take advantage of these great savings. If you are traveling in the high season, see if you can book a flight mid-week. These flights are generally cheaper too.

2. Accommodation is cheaper and more readily available. In high season it can be difficult to find a place to stay in popular tourist destinations and when you do find somewhere it can be up to twice as much as when traveling in the off peak.

3. Eating in restaurants can be cheaper too. Owners will be trying to attract patrons so see what sort of deals you can find when eating out.

There are some other positives to traveling in the off peak season, other than saving money. There are fewer tourists for one, so visiting any cultural sight will be much more enjoyable. You can get more of an idea of what a destination is really like without the thousands of extra people. Experiencing the true culture is a real bonus. Did you know that opera season is in full swing in Europe in winter? Or that winter in Australia is often the best time to visit places in the north when the humidity and heat are bearable. Or how about visiting the best holiday markets in Germany in December? Do some research to find out what your chosen destination can offer in off peak, ones that you won’t experience in high season travel times.

So what are the negatives of traveling in the off peak? Well there are a few, but if you plan well you can overcome most drawbacks. Off peak usually means traveling in colder weather and that also means less daylight hours. Pack wisely and remember to dress in layers for the cold weather. Some tourist places close earlier or do not open at all in the off peak, so check up before you go so you are not disappointed. You will also find that in some areas the public transport system does not run as often as in peak tourist season. Find out what options you have to get to places and don’t be caught out missing the last bus home in the middle of winter, in the middle of nowhere! Some hotels and museums close down for the winter to re-furbish and get ready for the next high season influx of tourists. You can gamble and bargain your way to a great accommodation deal once you get to your destination, but all your bartering skills will be of no use if the hotels are all closed. It’s best to check what’s open before you go.

If traveling in the off-peak doesn’t sound attractive to you, then you might like to try the shoulder season and still get some travel price reductions. The shoulder season is considered the period leading up to and away from the high season. Usually in this time you’ll get decent weather, less crowds and lower travel costs – not the great bargains you’ll get in off peak, but lower costs nonetheless.

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

One you can afford – seriously.

Look at how much you earn. What can you put aside for a trip? What are you prepared to sacrifice to make your trip a reality? Maybe you’ve been saving for a while and have a few thousand dollars in the bank. You do? Great. Well that’s your realistic budget. If you want to fly to Europe tomorrow and you only have ten dollars in the bank then you are not being realistic. But it might be enough to get you in to the local museum for a few hours escape.

When you are setting your budget, be practical. Everyone has different needs for their travel experience and if your travel plans include overseas flights, you will need to budget accordingly. Sure you can find great deals and get there cheaper than you might have expected, but make sure you have enough money in your budget to not only get you there but to travel around, find a place to sleep, oh and have enough money to be able to eat!

So how do you go about setting a budget? Following these steps might help:

1. Draw up a table with two columns.

2. Column A is for Expense Items. Column B is for Approximate Costs.

3. In column A write down all the things you can think of that will cost you money while traveling. These might include: air flights, car hire/fuel allowance, travel passes, sight-seeing tours, accommodation, food, insurance, immunizations, and souvenirs.

4. In column B write an estimate of how much you think these things will cost while on your trip. You can research your travel costs quite easily on the Internet. Food allowance might be a bit more difficult. If you are traveling alone, as a couple or in a family you will need to budget food costs accordingly.

5. Now add up the costs. This will give you an estimate of how much your trip will cost. Can you afford it? Yes – then this is a realistic budget for you. If not, then you may have to rethink your destination and the type of travel experience you want.

Remember that this table will only be an estimate of your travel costs. You must also budget for incidentals and prepare yourself for things to not go to plan. For example, have you got enough money in your budget to buy new clothes if your luggage goes missing? A realistic travel budget will have extra built in to it to cover emergencies. Setting yourself a budget of about sixty-five dollars a day, if traveling alone, is a reasonable amount. If you are traveling as a family or in a group, this number will be vastly different.

Also consider if you will be traveling and working. If this is the case, then you may not need as much to start with, just enough money to get you to your destination and a place to live while you look for work. (And enough money to buy you food until you begin earning a wage.)

Start making your travel plans with your budget in mind. Don’t exceed your budget, always keep a little in reserve so you can buy that fantastic Italian leather handbag or go jet-skiing in Hawaii if the desire takes you!

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

There was a time when pregnant women would avoid traveling altogether, but these days women don’t let pregnancy stop them from going abroad and having fun. Only you can decide whether the pros outweigh the cons when traveling while pregnant or with small children.

As a general rule, travel insurance policies will not cover a woman who is expecting delivery of a baby within 14 weeks of the expiration date of a single trip policy, or within 14 weeks of the return date of a trip for a multiple trip policy. As with most types of insurance, there will be an excess to pay in the event you have to make a claim.

Some travel insurance policies will cover children for free as long as they are accompanied by an adult who has paid for their insurance and they are all listed on the same policy. If a multi trip policy is purchased on an annual basis then children may be able to travel independently of the adults.

Medical disclosure is of great importance when purchasing travel insurance. You should be asked a set of question which might include:

Are you traveling against the advice of a doctor or medical specialist? Are you traveling abroad to obtain medical treatment?

Are you on a waiting list for a procedure?

Awaiting results of tests?

Do you have ongoing treatment for a condition?

Have you received a terminal prognosis?

They also need to know if you have ever been diagnosed with diseases such as cancer, heart or lung disease or high blood pressure. Note that disclosure also includes depression, anxiety and psychiatric illnesses. It is vital that you are totally honest otherwise any claims you may have to make could be invalidated. That’s the last thing you’ll need!

It’s a good idea to apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) well in advance of your travel to destinations in Europe. The application forms are available at your Post Office (if you still have one) or apply online or by phone. However, please be aware that the EHIC is not a substitute for purchasing travel insurance – it should be in addition!

If you think it’s a good idea to leave the pushchair at home, think again. A lightweight pushchair can be a life saver if there should be delays or problems. Most airlines will carry them for free and allow them to be used all the way through to boarding. Carry cots are not always allowed so it’s best to check ahead with the airline. Most airlines provide a sky cot if you book in advance. The bulkhead seats on the plane are the best choice if you have a baby or small children as there’s more space and you’ll have less impact on your neighboring passengers!

The need for travel items and accessories for babies and children has created a whole industry of specialist companies. You can pick up some useful tips from them and purchase items which will make traveling easier for everyone. A few good ideas are insect nets and sunshades for push chairs; extra absorbent nappies which are designed for night time and last longer on journeys (don’t forget nappy sacks). Sunburn and sun damage are very real dangers, especially so for children. Avoid this by keeping children out of the sun if possible, use high SPF sunscreens, SPF protective clothing and sun hats. Pick up some child-safe insect repellents too – many nasty diseases are contracted through insect stings and bites.

Once you get to your destination have you thought about how you’ll handle babysitting problems or find a way to get away on your own without the children? Many resorts have babysitting services, but after the awful experience of the McCann’s in Portugal and the still-unsolved mystery of their missing Madeleine, many parents will think twice about letting the children out of their sight at all.

You might consider purchasing a monitoring device to keep an eye on your sleeping kids via your mobile phone while you go down to the hotel restaurant to eat or have a drink.

One way to avoid losing toddlers is to fit them with a wrist band with your mobile phone number written on it. This could save a lot of time and heartache and reunite you with lost children quickly. How many times have you lost track of young children at the beach? It can be hard to locate them amongst the crowds. A small child is not going to be much help to a stranger or the authorities who are trying to identify the child by providing an address or phone number, so a wristband could be a huge help.

An internet search of related websites and forums for traveling with children will be helpful and provide you with useful information and tips from other parents. There are even companies that will ship baby supplies to your destination for you. If it seems an unnecessary expense, consider what you might have to pay to purchase those items once you reach your holiday destination.

There are a million things that can go wrong while traveling, but with a little forethought, research and preparation before you leave home you can avoid many problems. For instance, read up on your destination country and know ahead of time whether you need vaccinations, whether the water will be safe to drink, and which foods to avoid. If in doubt, don’t forget the basic rule: Peel it, Cook, it, Boil it, or Forget it!

Your priority is to keep yourselves and your children safe and enjoy your holiday – and avoid any need to have to make a claim on your travel insurance. So, is travel insurance necessary? It’s not a choice your children have to make so it’s up to you. If you purchase it you probably won’t need it – but would you want to take that chance?