Important Tips For Travelling To Europe

Setting off to Europe can be a blessing and a curse. While it is one of the easiest continents to explore, it is by no means a perfect place. Amid ancient ruins and delicious cuisine, simple things can go wrong that would make your trip memorable for the wrong reasons. So, here are a few important tips for travelling to Europe to help you avoid rookie mistakes. 

Whether it’s fantastic ways to save money, stay safe or integrate with the locals – this article has it all and more. Who knows, even those of you who are seasoned explorers of Europe might learn something new to improve your adventures! 

Ten Tips For Travelling To Europe

Avoid Settling For The First Restaurant You See

I get it. When you’re hungry, the last thing you want to do is walk around reading different menus. However, if you are within any city centre or close to famous landmarks, even walking 5 minutes away and into nearby alleys can save you a ton of money and in some cases, bring you better, more traditional food. 

Restaurants and cafes that line the city centres and tourist spots naturally cater for foreign crowds, which is not always a bad thing, but in capital cities and popular towns, you will end up paying more than you should on food and also miss out on local tastes.

Carry Some Cash

Perhaps this is because living in London has made cash payments nearly non-existent in my day-to-day life, so sometimes I still forget that many parts of Europe rely heavily on physical money. While cards are widely accepted, you often have to use coins and notes on buses (if you decide not to invest in a travel card), in souvenir shops and small businesses, so don’t forget to bring cash with you. Pre-planning for this also helps you avoid having to use local ATMs that often have extortionate withdrawal fees. 

Get Yourself A Multi-Currency Card Or One With Zero FX Fees And Remember Not Every European Country Uses Euros 

Over the years, multi-currency cards like Revolut and zero FX fee cards like Monzo have taken the world by storm, and getting your hands on one of these or something similar is one the best tips for travelling I can share. Don’t be one of those naïve travellers who doesn’t pay in the local currency and gets charged hefty FX fees. These cards are not only perfect for travelling around Europe but are a magical piece of plastic for anyone travelling around the world.

Double Check Your Phone Plan

Most mobile carriers offer international roaming with their plans but double-check this before you travel so you are not blindsided and stranded once you land in a new place. If you are travelling with a UK sim, remember that while most companies offer roaming within the EU zone at the cost of your regular plan, some have changed their regulations since Brexit. Also, double-check which countries are within the EU zone. 

Alternatively, the best tip for travelling to Europe is to get an eSIM. This will allow you to keep your original sim card in your phone so friend and family can contact you easily, but have the benefits of buying regional plans that work across the continent that can be far cheaper than roaming. 

Don’t Forget European Cities Are Full Of Scammers and Pickpockets 

For the most part European towns and cities are incredibly safe. There have been several instances where I have been shocked at how comfortable I felt walking around at midnight without a care in the world – but like anywhere else, there are exceptions to this rule. Hold tightly to your belongings when on crowded trains and busy streets to avoid losing precious items. 

Scammers are everywhere as well, and usually come in the form of young people asking for contributions to fake charities. There are also instances where they would ask you to sign a petition and then hassle you for money – something I witnessed often in Berlin. If you ever encounter these people, walk away quickly. 

Travel In The Off-Season 

I am a total sucker for off-season travel, and Europe is one of the best places to do this. With the unpredictable heatwaves and predictable large crowds, I like to avoid Europe in July and August and opt for travel during any other time of the year. Of course, I don’t completely disregard travelling during the peak season – I had a wonderful time exploring the French Riviera in July. But I had an even better time discovering the Algarve in January, the Black Forest in March, and Barcelona in April. Off-season travel makes Europe more affordable as well, so you can see and do more things. 

Ride The Trains

If you are engaging in multi-country travel, take advantage of how well-connected the continent is and use trains and buses to get from one place to another instead of flying. You save time and money and gain the blessing of beautiful views from the windows. 

Go Off The Beaten Path

Europe is filled with hidden gems, and its lovely to find yourself in beautiful places without crowds. While you have to explore the hihglights (after all, they are highlights for a reason), give yourself time to wander and uncover parts of the cities and towns that are untouched by tourism to get a better feel of the local lifestyle and beauty. The best way to do this is to ask locals for their recommendations of places to see!

If you are ready to splurge, look around Airbnb to find unique stays filled with incredible experiences. Who doesn’t want to stay in an igloo in Finland or in a barrel in Portugal?

Claim Your VAT Refund

This is one of those travel hacks few of us bother with but ask retailers for proper documentation, and if you have time at the airport, head over to the information desks to claim your VAT refund with the receipts. It’s a great feeling to leave a country with money rather than an empty bank account! 

Claim Your Compensation

When travelling during busy seasons, European travel becomes notorious for flight delays and airline strikes. If you become victim to this, these are instances where you can claim compensation. Typically, if your flight is delayed for more than 1 hour, you are entitled to food vouchers which can be used within the terminal, while delays of 3 hours entire you to financial compensation that can cover the cost of your flight!