First Time in Europe : Everything You Need to know before you Goto Europe

Charters, Courier Flights, and Other Options
Charters, Courier Flights, and Other Options During your search for a seat you may hear rumors, or see ads, for incredible deals based on courier flights or charters. Beware. In the travel industry, as elsewhere, there is no free lunch. Courier flights match travelers who want to go somewhere with companies...

Sleeping bag
Sleeping bag Obviously, a sleeping bag is mandatory if you are camping, and nice to have if sleeping indoors in rural areas and cool climates, as central heating has not made it to much of Europe's countryside. A sleeping bag is only necessary if you will be spending time in the...

Five thrills for outdoor enthusiasts
Five thrills for outdoor enthusiasts 1. Hiking down Samarian Gorge, Crete. At 18km in length, the Samarian Gorge is the largest in Europe, descending dramatically from the Omalos plateau. The walk down the gorge takes between four and seven hours, depending on how fit you feel and how much scenery...

Direct Telephone Services
Direct Telephone Services For those with AT&T, Sprint, and MCIWorldCom credit cards, all of these companies offer direct dial services that can be used to phone home to the States or Canada. Those without cards can use these services to call collect....

Cash
Cash Money talks, in no uncertain terms, with no accent, in the local language, everywhere in the world. Always keep at least some of this wonderful stuff on hand. Generations of travelers have been frightened into thinking that carrying cash while traveling is something evil by years of American Express commercials....

Bathroom kit
Bathroom kit Avoid "travel size" bathroom amenities, as they will run out and you will just have to buy more in Europe. An exception to this are small cans of shaving cream or gel, which hold a surprising amount. Just tape the lids on tight, or you may be in for...

Creative transportation
Creative transportation If your train pass has run out or if you want to conserve one, or you never had one, you might want to consider one of the following ways of getting around. Ride-sharing Ride-sharing is highly recommended if you have more time than money, and is always worth an inquiry, unless...

Rock Bottom Budgets
Rock Bottom Budgets If you are reading this and it seems that Europe is beyond your reach, take heart. A two-month trip with train pass is not mandatory. Below I have set out a one-month ultra-budget trip. This trip will require some major creativity on your part, especially in arranging transportation...

Bed and Breakfasts
Bed and Breakfasts There are more bed and breakfasts in Britain and Ireland than you can imagine - they're everywhere. Unlike the States and Canada, where B&Bs have certain snob appeal and can cost a fortune, the USD 30 B&B is alive and well in rural Britain. This can make rural...

Youth Hostel membership cards
Youth Hostel membership cards Youth Hostel membership can be obtained along the way, but why not buy a card before you go and get one tiny worry off your mind?They're available from student travel offices or direct from the national organizations themselves (see box below). If possible, get a card, add...

When in Roma
When in Roma When in the station or using a timetable, remember that some European cities are spelled differently in English than in their native languages. A friend of mine, a professor at UC Berkeley no less, was once astounded to find that no trains went to "Florence" (Duh, Steve). A...

Other essential gear
Other essential gear There are any number of other things you should probably have with you, and to save your having to rack your brains for them all, I've included a list of the most likely items here....

If you Think you can do it cheaper
If you Think you can do it cheaper I'm sure there's some go-cheap commando out there who claims to have been traveling since 1995 on less than the USD 1810/USD 2010 I mention above. If you have done that, or know how to live on less than, say, USD 30 a...

Compass
Compass Absolutely essential for long-distance walkers, a compass is also surprisingly useful in large cities. Unless you have a gyroscope in your head, it is very easy to come out of a subway station disoriented, or to set lost in the maze of streets found in some old cities. A quick...

ATM cards
ATM cards One of the most beautiful short train journeys in the world is the Flam railway in Norway, which winds off a main rail line down a canyon to the tiny town of Flam, which sits at the head of one of the most majestic fjords in Norway. After rattling...

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