October 3, 2007
What Everybody Ought To Know About Taking A Holiday In Europe
A Few Tips
If you are planning on taking a holiday in Europe, one of the first things you are going to have to do is decide on a hotel and make reservations. It is important to book far ahead of time, as early as you can before your trip, so that you can be sure to get the specific reservations that you want.
It is a good idea to get specific directions to the hotel, and print out a good, clear map if possible. As long as you can get to the hotel quickly and without too much hassle, you can do the rest of your planning from there. The important thing is to make sure that you can drop off your bags and take a moment to rest after your long flight.
If you have any specific events you want to go to, or places you want to see, then it is a good idea to make a list, and try to fit things together in an organized way to ensure that you do not have to do any more rushing around than required.
This does not mean that you have to plan your European holiday down to the last detail; because of course you want some spontaneity. However, being planned and prepared is really going to save you grace in the end.
Train travel is one part of your journey that bears some planning – trains are a very popular form of transport in Europe, and it is wise to pick up time tables and learn the locations of train stations as soon as possible. Many countries in Europe have irregular train schedules, so do not think you can just turn up to the train station and hop on a train within a few minutes, you could have several hours to wait. A little research before your journey can save you a lot of time any money.
Working Out a Budget
Make sure you know exactly how much you have available to spend before you leave. Work out how much your accommodation and transport will cost you, then try to stick to a limit per day for entertainment, food, etc. Anything you don't spend can be carried forward, so during the last few days of your trip, if you have lots left over, you can buy those extra souvenirs, or go to that restaurant you didn't think you would be able to afford.
It may seem like planning is boring, and it is true that you don't need to be totally rigid about any plans you make, it is a holiday after all. That said, a little thought at the start of the trip will reduce the chances of any nasty surprises, and will save you time and stress, meaning in the long run you should have more fun.
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Comments
October 5, 2007
Andy said:
Nice tips. One thing about currency though - not everywhere uses the Euro - Sweden and Denmark, for example, still use their own currency - SEK and DKKs - you can use SEK in Denmark, and DKK in Sweden, since they border on each other, but often the exchange rate you get is a rip off.
Many travel guides will advise you not to worry about having the right currency for both countries, if, for example, you are staying in Sweden for a week and only taking a day trip to Denmark. Don't follow this, unless you're rich! It's much cheaper to take a little of both currencies just in case!
I'm not sure how common this is for other places within Europe, but thought it was worth highlighting.