Things you need to know before travelling to Europe

For those of you who don’t believe in exploring a country by taking pre-planned tours and actually want to live the culture of Europe, here are few things that can help you.

VISA – Schengen visa covers the whole of Europe. You don’t have to take a separate visa for each country you plan to visit. You have to apply for the visa for the country you will land in or the country you intend spending maximum no of days in. France embassies in Mumbai processes visa the fastest.

TICKETS – The faster you book your tickets, the cheaper they will be. Don’t rush this one. Carefully select your airline and ensure that if you have a connecting flight, there is at least a gap of 3 hours between the two flights. Most airports in Europe have a lot to offer to in-transit passengers. So you won’t get bored.

ITINERARY – There is a lot available online to research. Make sure you have a brief idea about what you want to see in the countries you are travelling to before you travel. While you research for ‘must see’ places, also find out about the local cuisine, best places to eat, what to shop for, and do’s and don’ts of that country. Google Trip and Google Maps will be your best friend for your trip. So make sure you have the two apps downloaded in your phone. You can also preload all maps in your phone.

Some sites where you can research: Tripadvisor.com, lonelyplanet.com, cnntraveller.com, tripoto.com

MONEY – The local currency of Europe is Euro. Make sure you carry some cash with you. Ideally, if you have done all bookings prior to your trip you will need around 50 euros per person each day. Most banks also offer Forex card service. These cards are just like your debit cards, which are pre-loaded with cash and can be swiped anywhere. If you chose to swipe your International debit or credit card, you may be charged a fee of 3 – 4% per transaction. Be careful about the cash you carry. There are many pickpockets in Europe.

PASSPORT – This will be the most important thing that you will carry for your trip. Have your passport with you at all times. There will be situations where you will be asked to show your passport. Besides, in a foreign country, this is the only valid identity you will have. There are pouches available that you can carry your passport in.

LOCAL TRAVEL - The whole of Europe is connected via Euro Rail. However, these trains can be expensive unless booked months in advance. Flights are usually cheaper and also a faster mode of transport. You can check and compare all rates on goeuro.com and make an informed

decision.

LOCATIONS – Learn how to operate Google Maps and Google Trips. They will be your guiding light for your whole trip. People in Europe are extremely helpful when it comes to a lost tourist. However, most people do not understand English. At such times you can use Google Translate or find someone who does speak English. Besides the ‘must see’ places, make sure you ask your hotel receptionist/Airbnb host for rarely visited local places and special local food.

STAY – Every country in Europe offers hostels, hotels and Airbnb's. If you are a solo traveller, hostels are your best bet if pre-booked a few months in advance. Hotels are usually very expensive. Airbnb’s are cheap as well as offer you a stocked up kitchen where you can cook and eat the food you like and save some bucks. Airbnb also offers homes, which suit different pockets and taste.

WIFI/SIM CARD – Your local service provider will offer you many data and calling packs. If you are willing to live without data and calling for some time, you can also find local service providers in Europe giving good offers on data and calling cards. If you don't want a card, then most restaurants, malls, tourist attractions, cafes etc in Europe provide free wifi.