TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TRAVELING IN EUROPE

If you plan to travel to Europe, then you will make yourself aware of some important information that can make your time in Europe more enjoyable and easier to manage. Having the right knowledge can save you from certain traps that may hinder your travel. When exploring the European continent, keep the following 10 things in mind.

ENGLISH ISN’T ALWAYS SO WIDELY SPOKEN

It is true that in many large cities in France, the Netherlands and many other Western European countries, you will find many people who speak English fluently, but if you go further east, it may be difficult to find people who speak English. In cities in countries such as Russia and Ukraine, English is not always widely spoken. If you plan to visit Istanbul and other parts of the European part of Turkey, you may also notice that there are not many English speakers.

TIPPING IS USUALLY STILL EXPECTED

Some Americans mistakenly believe that the remuneration for dining out in European restaurants is included in the bill, but this is not always the case. Just like in the United States, servers in most parts of Europe rely heavily on tips as part of their salary, so you will want to spend more money when paying your bills to show your appreciation for the good service. However, you may find that some restaurants do include a tip in the final bill, and you may want to carefully review the details on the bill or ask the server to find this information.

TRAVEL BOOKS MAKE GREAT ACCESSORIES

If you want to fly to different cities in Europe or travel by train, please bring some good travel books that can help you stay entertained and stay informed during the journey. Many of the best travel books feature fictional or true stories, introducing trips to exciting or exotic places. You can also find travel books that provide useful information that can make traveling around Europe easier. Temptation Experience If you travel alone and have a book on hand to refer to your location, it can greatly help you find places to visit and make fewer tourists.

TRAINS ARE USUALLY ON TIME

One of the best aspects of traveling by train through Europe is that it is well known that trains in most countries run consistently and on time, but there are disadvantages. Unlike flights that are usually delayed, you can usually not expect the train to remain waiting at the station after the scheduled departure time. If you are late and hope to still catch the train, this may cause you to panic even more. It is best to allow yourself enough time to arrive at the train station as early as possible, so as not to risk missing the train.

ALARM CLOCKS AREN’T NORMALLY IN HOTEL ROOMS

Unlike the United States, most European hotel rooms do not have alarm clocks. If you use a mobile device to tell the time and set an alarm, then this is not a problem for you. However, some people are outdated and like to use an alarm clock. They will find that there is no clock in their room, which will disappoint them.

VISA AND PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS MAY VARY

Depending on where you plan to travel in Europe, you may need to comply with other visa and passport regulations when going to different countries/regions. As explained by the Consular Bureau of the US Department of State, countries in the Schengen area generally do not have separate passport requirements, and US citizens can visit without a visa. As we all know, Russia and other former Soviet Union countries require entry and exit visas and generally have stricter passport requirements.

HOSTELS AREN’T JUST FOR THE YOUNG

Some people mistakenly think that hotels only accept students and other young people who want to travel across Europe cheaply, but this is not the case. It is true that some hotels are only suitable for young people, but many other hotels welcome travelers of all ages. Staying in one of these accommodations is a great way to save money, but you should be aware that you may have to share rooms and bathrooms with other guests.

BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS

Pickpocketing is very popular in some parts of Europe, so you should always know where your money and important documents are always in order to reduce the possibility of theft. Paris, Barcelona and Rome are the major cities for pickpocket crime in Europe. One of the best ways to make cash, credit cards and ID cards more difficult to steal is to tie a money belt under your clothes. Keeping your money and other important items in separate places can at least prevent you from incurring all losses when something is stolen.

LOOK FOR FREE ATTRACTIONS

You may be surprised to find that some of the biggest attractions in Europe are free to the public, or free on certain days. As we all know, the Louvre in Paris offers free admission on the first Sunday of certain months of the year. Tower Bridge in London can be strolled without paying, and it is one of the best architectural masterpieces in Britain. Other free attractions include Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, Budapest’s Fisherman’s Bastion and Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat.

AVOID THE SUMMER CROWDS

Like many other places in the world, Europe usually attracts large numbers of tourists during the summer. Summer is also a time of year when higher entrance fees are charged for certain attractions. If you want to avoid the crowds in summer, you can visit Europe in autumn, when the weather in many parts of the European continent is still pleasant. Spring is also a good season. It may be one of the most romantic times of the year. You can visit cities such as Paris and Rome.

Following the right advice can make your trip to Europe more worthwhile. If you know how to travel correctly, you can save a lot of trouble when traveling from one country to another.

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