Have you always wanted to go on a European tour? This continent is never short of fascinating places and experiences. Unfortunately, you probably have a few days or weeks to spend on vacation. But this shouldn’t stop you from having fun! The following are some useful tips for making the most out of your European travel.
1) Prepare your travel documents
Regardless of what country in Europe you want to visit, you need to have a valid passport. Getting a new passport can take 4 to 6 weeks, so make the necessary preparations well ahead of your target date. Also, check whether the country denies entry for passengers whose passports expire within 6 months. And if you want to rent a car in Europe, you need a valid driver’s license. Take note that an international driver’s license is sometimes required by car rental companies, so don’t forget to do your homework.
2) Choose your travel date
This decision largely revolves around the things you want to do in Europe. Do you only want to wander around museums or you plan on attending festivals? Your itinerary should be planned around unmovable dates. The music festival you’ve always wanted to go to probably happens once a year, so you can’t afford to miss the specific date. From there, you can plan the rest of your itinerary, ensuring that you get the most out of your limited time.
3) Set a budget
If you’re working with a small budget, your choices for travel dates and locations inevitably shrink. But you can still visit a lot of beautiful places in Europe for cheap. After figuring out how much money you can spend, try to book your flight well in advance, even if it means waiting a full year. Doing so helps you save a lot of money on travel expenses. Also, check different European routes so you can see what places you can stop by.
4) Fine-tune your list
By now, you should have a picture of what places you want to visit and how many days to spend in each location. But the planning doesn’t stop here. Refine your list to ensure that you have enough time and money to enjoy the different locations you plan on visiting. Aside from choosing what sights to include in your itinerary, don’t forget to factor in the things you absolutely want to do on your vacation.
5) Research how to travel between European cities
To maximize the time you spend in Europe, figure out how you can travel between nearby cities. It’s always tempting to pack your itinerary with a long list of popular cities, but don’t forget to consider your budget. Check all modes of transport including flights, buses, and trains. This entails quite a significant time investment, but your research will go a long way in ensuring that you visit as many cities in your limited time.
By following these tips, planning your European travel should be easier. Start planning as early as you can because it’s inevitable for changes in your priorities and budget to happen. A lot of work is involved, but doing the legwork right away saves a ton of time and frustration.
