Plug configurations vary from country to
country: If you don't have the right adapter, your hotel may be able to
provide you with one.
On Arrival
It's not a bad idea to arrive with a small amount of foreign currency for
the first country you visit for taxis, tips, etc.
However, with very few exceptions, you will be able, upon arrival, to
exchange dollars or traveler's checks for local currency at airport exchange
bureaus, which open early and stay open late.
Money
First, use credit cards whenever possible. Credit-card exchange rates are
the most favorable.
When exchanging dollars and traveler's checks for local currency, banks
generally offer better rates and/or lower transaction fees than do exchange
bureaus. Hotels will also exchange currency, but usually at less favorable
rates.
To get the best rates, plan your exchanges ahead. In cases of sudden need,
it's often better to pay a little extra at an exchange bureau than to spend
valuable time searching for a better rate at a bank.
The Dollar and the Euro
The euro zone comprises Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Holland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.
Beyond the euro zone:
Three European Union nations have so far declined to adopt the euro: Britain
(pound), Denmark (krone) and Sweden (krona).
All those nations outside the EU, including Switzerland, Norway and Iceland;
and the Eastern European countries, continue to maintain their own
currencies.
With the EU's recent approval of expansion eastward, the 10 new member
nations could be eligible to join the euro (depending on their ability to
meet economic guidelines). These include Poland, the Czech Republic,
Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia; Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; and Cyprus
and Malta.
ATM's
ATMs accepting U.S. bank debit and credit cards are available in many cities
in most countries, usually with English-language instructions. Withdrawals
from a checking or savings account, or cash advances against a credit card
are dispensed in local currency.
You can save in two ways: the wholesale exchange rate (up to 5 percent
better) applies; and you avoid transaction fees charged by exchange bureaus
and banks. (Your home bank's ATM fee does apply, as will credit-card
cash-advance fees. A local ATM usage fee may also apply.) A four-digit
numeric PIN is standard for most European ATMs. Check with your issuing bank
to make sure your PIN will work in Europe.
Travel Info
Tourist Information
When you arrive at an airport or railway station, you should seek out the
'i' sign for Information. You'll also find it in major squares. (In Holland,
look for "V V V" signs.)
The 'i' sign usually indicates an office of the local tourist bureau, which
generally will provide excellent services. Here you will get street and
transit maps, basic brochures on the city sights, an up-to-date calendar of
what's happening, and advice on restaurants and hotels. Talk to the people;
they'll give you good leads. In many cities (not just the large ones), the
local tourist offices can arrange accommodations for you on the spot.
Hotel Concierge
A major benefit of hotels is the concierge, usually an expert on the city
you are visiting. He or she can make recommendations and reservations, place
calls in the local language, and advise on tipping and other customs.
Dining Out
For the best buys, and a good way to meet people, seek out typical eating
establishments, such as tavernas, pubs, bistros, tascas and trattorias -
neighborhood restaurants patronized by the local citizens. Here is where you
will generally find the best food of the region at the most reasonable
prices. Also try the leading beverage of the region - wine or beer, or a
local specialty.
Many countries have economical fixed-price tourist menus, offered by
restaurants displaying the appropriate sign.
Tipping
In many countries, particularly on the Continent, hotel and restaurant bills
include a service charge; any additional tipping is usually at the
discretion of the visitor, generally small change but no more than 5
percent.
When service is not included in the restaurant bill, as is usually the case
in Britain, a tip of 10 to 15 percent is customary.
Taxi drivers are usually tipped 10 to 15 percent. A tip of at least $1 is
suggested per bag for porters and bellmen, for a doorman hailing a taxi, per
night for the maid, for the parking attendant, for the cloakroom attendant
and per day for the tour guide or the driver.
Note: In Iceland, there is no tipping at all.
Shopping
Whether it's making a once-in-a-lifetime purchase at a famous store or
hunting for bargains at an open-air market, shopping in Europe is not only
fun but often provides insights into a city's history and culture.
You'll be a savvier shopper abroad if you research the various specialties
offered in the countries you will visit.
Stores in some Mediterranean countries close for two hours or more during
midday or close in the afternoon some days of the week.
VAT Refunds
Most European countries levy value-added taxes (VAT), a form of sales tax
that can run up to 25 percent of the total price. It is included in the
purchase price of an item, not added on at the cash register, and so is
virtually undetectable.
In most countries, foreign visitors may be able to receive a refund of the
tax. Always ask at the store, which can also tell you what the country's
minimum-purchase requirements are for a refund.
Usually, you fill out a form at the store, showing your passport. Upon
leaving the country, you submit all forms to customs for approval. (They may
ask to see the goods, so have them handy.) In some instances, you can get
the refund before departure; otherwise, it will come by mail.
If you are visiting two or more countries within the European Union, you
submit forms only on departure from the last EU country.
VAT rates and refund procedures vary from country to country. For
individuals, VAT refunds generally are available on goods only, not
services.
Look It Up
When you've decided which country or countries you wish to visit, contact
the national tourist office(s) for free up-to-the-minute news, maps and
information. Go to a library or bookstore for regional and special-interest
guides as well as videos. The more you know, the easier it will be to make
up your own "must see,do" list.
Passports
Passports are required of U.S. citizens visiting Europe.
First-time applicants 13 and over must fill out an application form (see
below) and appear in person at a U.S. Passport Agency office, or at a
designated courthouse or post office. Bring your birth certificate or proof
of citizenship, a photo identification and two recent identical "head shot"
photos, 2" x 2". Children ages 13 to 17 must appear with a parent. If you
are applying for a child under 13, the child need not appear.
Most Passport Agency offices now serve only those departing within two weeks
and require that you make an appointment in advance. Others will be directed
to U.S. Post Offices and local courthouses that take passport applications.
Passport, visa and U.S. travel-advisory information is available from the
State Department's Consular Affairs site at
http://travel.state.gov. You can download passport application and
renewal forms, and locate the nearest Passport Agency, or designated post
office or courthouse.
You can also call the State Department's new automated National Passport
Information Center at 877-487-2778.
Visas
Visas are not required for American tourists on short-term visits by most
member countries of the European Travel Commission covered on this site. For
an up-to-date listing of visa requirements and detailed explanations
pertaining to visas, please refer to the
Foreign Entry Requirements website.
Weather Forecast
Although
most of Europe lies in latitudes more northerly than New York, warm Atlantic
currents act to moderate temperatures, even in Iceland.
The Alps can be used as a rough dividing line for the continent's climate. To the north, summers are mild, while winters can be cool and damp. To the south, from Portugal to Turkey, winters are mild and summers are hot (much like southern California), with rain most common in autumn and spring. As always, temperatures are cooler at higher altitudes. Take a raincoat or sweater, even in summer.
European countries measure temperature in Centigrade rather than Fahrenheit.
For five-day forecasts for any of 66 European cities, go to the Met Office, Britain's national weather service or check weather.com for more detailed forecasts.
You can also check U.S. newspapers for Europe weather information or call 900-WEATHER, a Weather Channel service that offers updated reports for 95 cents a minute.
Car & Rail
Most motorists rent a car. It is highly recommended that you
reserve rental cars in advance, before leaving the U.S. Check around for
good values, extra service and possible discounts and promotions, and you
can save a significant amount of money.
Another option is to consider buying a railpass. These can cover many countries or just a single country, but most must be purchased before you leave the U.S. Check Eurail.com for current details.
Packages that combine car rental with airfare, rail passes and/or hotel accommodations are another way to save.
Children
Families with children under 18 make up more than 15 percent of all U.S.
visitors. Here are some tips for traveling with children:
Pack light; bring only luggage that your family can carry.
Share storybooks set in Europe, such as We Live in Denmark by Ulla Andersen; Mystery at Loch Ness by Rosy Wandelmaier; Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork; The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett; William Tell by Nina Bawden; and A Roman Soldier by Giovanni Caselli.
Read these useful travel guides: Take Your Kids to Europe by Cynthia W. Harriman and Innocents Abroad by Valerie Wolf Deutsch and Laura Sutherland.
Discuss differences between America and the country you're visiting such as in money, post office boxes, police, and breakfast fare.
Bring a glue stick and a scrapbook in which to collect imprinted sugar wrappers, paper coasters, newspaper clippings, postcards, festival programs and the like.
Encourage older children to start a journal to record their travels and share them with their friends and teachers when they return.
Veer straight for the gift shop when visiting a museum. Then zero in on a few items that your youngster would find intriguing such as the baby bottles, and a voting machine from 400 B.C. in Athens' Agora Museum; the Magna Carta, Beatles memorabilia, handwritten copy of Alice in Wonderland and mummies of cats and dogs in London's British Museum.
Dream up a memorable trip-long activity, such as throwing coins in fountains, sampling strawberry ice cream.
Head to a church's accessible bell tower or organ loft first for a bird's-eye look that will lure youngsters into scrutinizing the main sanctuary.
Save money, not to mention sanity by picnicking for lunch.
Buy your child its own disposable camera.
Then let them take photos to their heart's desires: gargoyles, doorways, and
cats in windows... you name it.
Paperwork
Leave a copy of your itinerary, with phone numbers, at your home and/or
office.
Make a copy of the opening page of your passport with the number and date of
issue (this will speed the replacement process, if necessary). If you lose
your passport, report it to the local police and then take a copy of the
report to the U.S. consulate for a replacement, usually issued within 24
hours.
Record charge-card numbers (and phone numbers for reporting any loss of
cards). The same for traveler's checks and airline tickets. Leave a copy at
home.
Jet Lag
Although it's difficult to avoid, a few precautions are worth taking.
"Reset" your sleep patterns by going to bed early a few nights before you
leave. On the plane, sleep as much as you can, and walk and stretch when
awake. Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, and drink plenty of water
in flight. On arrival in a new time zone, take a short nap, have a light
meal at the appropriate local hour, and perhaps a brief stroll afterward.
Eat lightly for two or three days, keep the first day's itinerary relaxed
and allow about 24 hours to adjust.
Generally speaking, eastbound night flights are more fatiguing than return
flights to the U.S.
International Telephone Codes
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Heading Home
U.S. Customs
Visitors who have been abroad at least 48 hours, and have not made a claim
for exemption in the past 30 days, can now return home with $800 per person
in purchases without paying any duty. The limit was doubled from $400 as of
November 2002.
One liter of alcohol, and 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars (per resident 21
years or older) are allowed in duty-free.
Plants, fresh fruit, vegetables and meats from overseas are not allowed into
the U.S. Nor are products made from endangered animal or plant species.
The next $1,000 worth above the base sum is subject to a straight 10-percent
levy. After that, the levies vary according to the article. Articles at
least 100 years old and original works of art may be exempt.
Keep a complete record of your purchases (with receipts attached) and have
it accessible.
For complete details, see "Traveler Information / Know Before You Go" on the
U.S. Customs Service site,
www.customs.ustreas.gov.
Gifts From Abroad
A gift mailed from abroad, if less than $100 in value, is exempt from duty
if the same person does not receive more than $100 in gift shipments in a
single day. However, there is no limit on the number of persons to whom
gifts may be sent in a day, or on the number of days in which additional
gifts can be sent to the same person