Traveling To Europe: What You Need To Know

europelodgePhoto credit: CC license by Vincent Lock

 

You’ve got your bags packed, your flights are booked, and you look dang good in your Passport photo. The only thing left to do is head off to Europe. With so much to do in and around Europe, you’re sure to have a great time. What you may not realize, however, is that there are many things you’ve probably overlooked.

As odd as it may sound, you need to bring along some Purex sheets for your laundry. There’s nothing worse than getting to your hotel only to discover that your clothes don’t smell anything like they did at home. You’re not going to be able to bring your own liquid detergent or spray bottle to refresh your clothes –darn airlines and their uppity rules — however, you can get away with bringing some Purex sheets.

Did you know that the wall outlets in Europe really are different from those in the U.S.? Because of this, you need to bring wall outlet adapters for all your electronic devices. If you plan on keeping your cell phone and laptop charged, you’re going to need adapters for those too.

Another important piece of information to keep in mind is that European flights tend to have different overhead bin requirements. Your carry-on bags can be no bigger than 45 cubic inches. When filling up your carry-on bags, make sure they’re going to fit in the overhead compartments. You don’t want to get to the airport only to find out that you have to pay additional baggage fees because your carry-on can’t be taken on the plane with you.

Are you planning on driving while in Europe? If so, you’re going to need a valid driver’s license to do so. Thankfully, if you have AAA membership, getting a European driving license is a piece of cake. For about $10 you will be well on your way to driving in Europe with no need for taking a driver’s test. If you don’t have AAA membership, you may want to consider getting it for at least the time being.

Lastly, you need to make sure that your cell phone service provider isn’t going to charge you an arm and a leg to make phone calls while you’re touring the lovely cities of Paris, Rome and Dublin. If you’re not currently on an international plan, most service providers will allow you to switch over while you’re visiting Europe; this can save you a ton of money.

Going to Europe is very exciting, but if you don’t take certain precautions, you’ll spend most of your vacation trying to deal with these hassles.

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