How to Plan for a European Vacation

Getting the chance to travel abroad for an extended period of time is a great opportunity. Planning for a long vacation to Europe can be challenging, especially if you have never traveled the area before.

Though planning a trip abroad can feel daunting, here are a few tips to getting started:

One of the first things to get done is to apply for a passport, or to get a renewal if yours has expired. Additionally, if yours is about to expire, it is a wise idea to get it renewed. Many customs officials are quick to refuse you entry into another country if your passport is close to its expiration date.

Traveling for an extended period of time leaves your home empty and vulnerable to break-ins or other unexpected issues. A few months ahead of time, look into finding a house sitter to keep an eye on your property, or consider investing in a Dallas home security system from ADT. You can rest easy during your trip that your valuables back home are safe and sound.

Vacations can add up quickly. From the air fare to hotels to tourist attractions to food, traveling can ring up a pretty hefty bill. In order to cut costs, look into using frequent flyer miles to cover all or most of your flight, and consider using websites like Airbnb to find less expensive places to stay.

Additionally, if you have a small budget, consider keeping your European tour to a few countries. While it can be tempting to spend time in as many countries as possible, it will be less expensive to narrow down your trip to just a few countries.

Spend a great deal of time researching websites, guide books, and friends or family members who may have spent time abroad. Researching will not only help you get a feel for the area, it will also help you narrow down your itinerary. Knowing beforehand what sites to see, what areas to avoid, and what off-the-beaten-path activities to find can ease the stress during your trip, making you more relaxed and able to enjoy your vacation.

Many tourist attractions are closed during off-peak times, or have irregular hours. While traveling to Europe during the off season is less expensive than traveling during the peak season, it is important to research what attractions will be open to you. For instance, most French citizens travel south in August. Though August is a prime time for many Americans to travel since it is in the summer, there could potentially be many closed attractions in France. Though it will be less crowded when traveling through Paris, there might not be as many tourist areas open.

One of the most important tasks to do before leaving is to download travel apps. European travel maps and train schedules can be extremely confusing, thus having the right apps to help you out will be well-worth the cost of extra data expenses.

Being thoroughly prepared will help your traveling experience go much more smoothly.

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