Heading to Europe most of next year... What do I need to know?

CryssieJade on 25/10/2016 - 22:46
Last edited 26/10/2016 - 08:17

Disclaimer: I have been backpacking/travelling fairly consistently for the past 10 years. Not looking for 'first timers' advice :p

Hi all, I'm taking a year out of my life to finally embark on a trip that I have dreamed about for the last 6 years - Western Europe, UK, Morocco and then off to Norway for some volunteering.

What are some housekeeping rules I need to know while I am there - particularly financial ones?

I have a Citibank card which I got for my trip to Japan, do the same rules apply for this in Europe? Or do I need to apply for a different fee-free card?

Any particular things I should pack in my backpack that I will need but may not have thought of?

What are my best options (other than free wifi) for staying connected while I am there? I will be spending around a week in each of 10 countries while in Europe, so I'm not looking for something country specific until Norway, where I will stay for a few months.

Any and all advice appreciated, cheers
(also appreciated are travel tips for places to see!!)

Travel

Comments

  • OzBozo on 25/10/2016 - 22:48
    +5

    Discarded pizza boxes are an inexpensive source of cheese

  • bargainslut on 25/10/2016 - 22:56
    +3

    Norway is a lovely country and the people are super friendly. If you like alcohol you will find it very expensive! Duty free to the maximum limit.

    The UK and western Europe is easy to get around and pretty cheap, the trains are an excellent option. I especially liked Germany, the people are so friendly, watch out for the saunas, quite an eye opener!

    Iv'e been to north Africa a couple of times but not Morocco. I hear the food markets are exceptional though.

    The best thing to do is keep your items safe, carry valuables in the front pockets and sleep with money/cards and passport if your in a dorm.

    Have fun, sounds awesome!

    • CryssieJade on 25/10/2016 - 23:15

      The reason I'll be volunteering in Norway is because it's such an expensive country…I want to stay for free as long as I can!! I don't drink very much, so I think I'll stay one step ahead there :p Are the saunas in Germany nude ones? Because I've been to many onsen in Japan, so I think I'll be fine. Thank for the tips!!

      • bargainslut on 25/10/2016 - 23:29
        +1

        Looks like you have it all sussed, yes they are nude, great fun:)

  • retiredfeline on 25/10/2016 - 23:25
    +2

    Citibank card will be fine in Europe.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2016 - 23:38
    +1

    Remember to carry spare change cause you can get charged for using the public toilets (not always though)… Otherwise there are a few which also accepted cards. From what I remember from our trip to Venice, it was 1.80 euros which is ridiculous, most other places won't be more than a euro so be aware :)

    Edit: Or just go to a restaurant/café and order something cheap and use theirs :)

    • CryssieJade on 26/10/2016 - 00:14
      +1

      Great to know…might stop drinking water like a fish, too :p (I'll be in western Europe winter/spring)

  • dm01 on 26/10/2016 - 00:44
    +1

    Which countries in W. Europe are you going to?

    While public transport tends to be pretty good in places like Germany, France etc., it's also relatively expensive. Ride sharing is a cheap and popular way to travel around, and a great way to network with other travellers and locals alike. I've caught rides within Germany, and also to Switzerland, Luxembourg, Poland, and Czech Republic - all great experiences and much cheaper than taking the train or most busses.

    • CryssieJade on 26/10/2016 - 08:04

      Hate to bring this up (I shouldn't have to), but being a solo female traveller makes me very wary of ride sharing, probably won't be doing that

      • dm01 on 26/10/2016 - 10:20
        +2

        Ridesharing is like eBay, Couchsurfing, or AirBNB, in that drivers have a profile, rating, feedback from each person they've previously carried etc.

        There are plenty of female drivers out there - I caught a ride from Paris to Luxembourg once, driven a 50+ y.o. woman going to visit her grandson. She had myself and a French girl as passengers to help offset the price of fuel and chatted all the way about life in Europe which was really interesting. To have made that journey on public transport that particular day, I think I would have been up for 60 or 70 Euro, and had to muck around with changing trains or busses during the journey. Instead I paid 26 Euro, was dropped straight to my destination in Lux., arrived at a comparable time, and learned a lot on the way!

        To us Australian's it might seem like an unusual, risky way to travel, but it's all the norm in Europe, and is quite safe. Take a look at blablacar.co.uk before you completely dismiss the idea.

        • kctt on 26/10/2016 - 11:27
          +1

          Sounds like great fun but requires flexible schedule to use ride sharing service.

        • CryssieJade on 26/10/2016 - 15:41

          That does put a new perspective on things, thank you :)
          Might consider it after all, as I have a very flexible schedule (or lack thereof)

  • hymio on 26/10/2016 - 01:50
    +1

    Citibank was fine for me all over Europe! I also made sure to scan all my cards and documents (Passport, ID cards, bank cards, etc.) to somewhere safe online in case I lost them or needed a digital copy. I also compiled a physical folder of Important Things (including policy details for travel insurance) for my family to keep in case I needed any information whilst overseas. I withdrew money mostly but also exchanged a bit in the currency for the first country I visited!

    The ticketing officers in Prague get paid on commission or something so they're very intense about ticket checking. Always buy a ticket and make sure it's to the correct one! I was checked by an officer literally 10 minutes after arriving in Prague and hopping on a train (they target tourists). Prague itself is beautiful and cheap! Mucha, the artist, is from Prague and they're very proud of him there!

    I'd also recommend Krakow, and a tour of Auschwitz if you're up for it. Try some Zapiekanka, oscypek cheese (grilled, with cranberry sauce if you can find it!) and pierogi! I had some odd beer in Krakow which was hot and had some jam in it and it was strangely addictive. This brand's strawberry water was really really good: http://www.naleczowianka.pl/en!.

    I also visited and loved Vienna aka "Wien" (schnitzels, apple strudel, Wiener sausages!) and Budapest (deli meats so gooood)! I had to catch a taxi in Budapest and it was a lot cheaper than in Australia - if you're lost and can't figure out how to get to your destination, it might be an option.

    There's Winter/Christmas markets everywhere around Europe during that time, and it's a great way to try lots of different foods in one place. It tends to be a a bit pricier though, of course. I moved around quite a bit so I didn't buy things and spend most of my money on food.

    Send postcards to yourself! One of my favourite "souvenirs" were the postcards I sent to myself when I was travelling. It takes you back to the moment you wrote them and it's like receiving mail ~from the past~!

    I wish I'd spent less time at art galleries, museums and castles, etc. They're awesome but there's so many that they all kind of blend into one after a while. Buy or borrow a guide book for Europe - it's a great way to get an overview of the continent and to figure out where you want to visit/any major sights. They've also got hand tips on when major attractions are closed and when galleries have free entry, how much sights will cost to visit, different ways in/out of a country.

    If you're staying in hostels buy a good padlock. Comfy thongs/sandals for chilling around the hostel. A neck pillow and headphones for plane/train trips. Wet wipes, tissues. Keep passport and tickets in a waterproof bag! I would invest in a microSD card with heaps of storage for photos - you're more likely to have your phone out for sudden photos! If you're anything like me, your phone is your life - always make sure you have the info on it backed up so even if you lose it, you'll have access to important things you need.

    Bring some nice Aussie souvenirs! It's nice to have them on hand when you meet other travellers and locals. Those little clippy koalas are great and if you have a host family, etc. you could splurge on Tim Tams or Australian honey and stuff.

    Make friends with people you meet! Go out with them for meals! If they're from another European country, meet up with them if you visit their country! Back your photos up to google drive as often as possible, and upload your photos to Facebook in albums by country. It's a nice and easy way to look back on places you've visited! If you don't have facebook, get it!

    London is amazing. Hands down favourite city!

    Hope some of this rambling helps!

    • CryssieJade on 26/10/2016 - 08:10

      Haha, thank you!! Reading your reply was very cute…it was as though it was coming from myself from the past (I have been travelling pretty much consistently for the last 10 years, I'm not new to this game :p)

      I send a postcard home from every city I have ever visited (including the tons of Australia I've been to/lived in), and have filled a LOT of boxes with them!!

      I have taken a lot on board of your country specific stuff, so thank you!! And excellent advice about the art galleries…in all of Europe, I was considering a fair few, but there were only about 3 or 4 true stand outs. I'll stick to those!!

  • Ryanek on 26/10/2016 - 07:41
    +2

    Don't worry if you get in trouble in Norway, they have some of the best prisons in the world.

    • CryssieJade on 26/10/2016 - 08:32
      +1

      I needed this, thank you

  • slow on 26/10/2016 - 08:14
    +1

    Travel light. If you need anything else you can get it there.

    Don't have your plans too set in stone, go with the flow, changing plans based on people you meet, and ending up in unexpected place is part of the experience. (That's how I met my wife, by going somewhere I had no intention of visiting just because some great people I met were going there)

    • CryssieJade on 26/10/2016 - 08:32

      Definitely. I have my first week planned, and my volunteering dates, but nothing else :)

  • Stewardo on 26/10/2016 - 08:20
    +1

    SIM card from three mobile U.K. Purchased thru datago works great for data roaming with what's app. Do You need a backpack? Are you going to cities or climbing mountains, hard shell with wheels is much better for travel

    • CryssieJade on 26/10/2016 - 08:27
      +1

      Thanks for that!! Definitely backpack, mine is 55L. When I first started travelling, I had a suitcase for 3 years. Never again!!

      • ItsMeAgro on 26/10/2016 - 11:29

        Costco has some pretty sweet hardshell Samsonite wheely suitcases. Rolls really smoothly.

  • neyo on 26/10/2016 - 10:36
    -3

    Claims to be a frequent traveller not requesting first timer advice.. asks all the noob questions

    • CryssieJade on 26/10/2016 - 15:44

      Have never travelled to Europe.
      Any true frequent traveller will know that different countries = different needs.

    • dm01 on 26/10/2016 - 17:25
      +3

      Claims to be Jdicky…is actually Adick.

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