First Time in Europe : Everything You Need to know before you Goto Europe
Sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balmSunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm One 4oz bottle of factor fifteen sunscreen or better should be enough unless you plan on spending a lot of time at the beach. As with any other liquids, keep them in sealed plastic bags with the caps taped on until needed. Trust me on this one....
Budgeting
Budgeting Budgeting is a touchy subject. Some people are going to have more money and/or different standards than others, some people are going to get lucky and find a great deal, while others may not. Also, everyone has an optimum point where they feel the trade-off between saving money and spending...
First-aid Kit
First-aid Kit I'm always surprised at how much I use my first-aid kit, and how useful it proves to other people. If nothing else, it will save you the time and expense of buying a whole box of Band-Aids when you only need one. Above all, you should realize that it...
Four Oh My God moments in Europe
Four "Oh My God" moments in Europe These are some personal favorites; sights that, when you see them, will leave you with no doubt whatsoever that (1) you are in Europe,and (2) you are seeing something that is totally different from what you normally see in everyday life. 1, Westminster, London. (This...
Getting Around
Getting Around So here you are, in Europe at last. I hope that this chap-ter includes all you need to know to get around easily. You have a major ally in doing so - the local tourist authority. Most European cities and countries benefit greatly from the tourist trade, and they...
Accommodations
Accommodations Most travelers automatically think of hostels when they think of budget accommodations. Hostels usually are the cheapest and best way to go if you're on a tight budget, but there are exceptions, especially if you are traveling in a couple or a group. Two or more people can often find...
Seven worthwhile spots you might overlook
Seven worthwhile spots you might overlook 1. El Escorial, a monastery and palace about an hour outside Madrid. The tombs of Spanish royalty and nobility alone are worth the trip out, and the building itself is quite impressive. It is filled with art treasures, of course. 2. The Cathedral at...
Planning Your Trip
Planning Your Trip Calvin Coolidge (the 30th President of the United States) once said that if you look up the road and see ten troubles coming toward you, nine of them are going to run off the road before they get to you. That's the attitude to have in planning and...
Finally one last request
Finally one last request The trip that gave birth to the original First-Time Europe began more than seven years ago. I've been back to Europe eight or ten times since then, including a six-month period when I lived in Italy. Looking back, and after reviewing this book, the advice that rings...
Basics Instructions
Visas Visas are pretty much extinct in Western Europe but are still alive and kicking in Eastern Europe. This could change by the time you are reading this, but don't count on it. Regardless, get any visas that you need early. Most visas, though not all, are issued while you wait...
New Zealand Passports
New Zealand Passports Along with a consenting witness - who will need to sign the backs of photographs and be available to answer questions from the government over the phone - Kiwis will need the following to get a passport: proof of citizenship, proof of identity, two identical photos, application fees,...
Four Fantasy Islands
Four Fantasy Islands 1. The Lofotens, Norway. Way, way, way, up north by the Arctic Circle, off the coast of Norway, are the Lofotens, a magical land ot twenty-hour days, wild blueberries, and fresh cod in the Unfortunately it's a rain-soaked, freezing nightmare of fog and cold in the winter. However,...
Clothes and Accessories
Clothes and Accessories I've said it before and I may as well say it again here - try to keep your clothes to an absolute minimum. This is where most people lose the battle against excess weight. Remember also that all of your clothes are going to get some hard use. One...
First Steps
First Steps The first step is to figure out where you want to fly out of and where you want to start out in Europe. For Americans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Boston, and New York, either JFK or Newark, will usually be cheapest, especially JFK/Newark. It may...
Kids and Snatch Thieves
Kids and Snatch Thieves I have heard more first-hand stories of robbery by gangs of kids, often gypsies, than any other type of crime. The tactic is simple: five or six small children run up to you, shouting and waving newspapers or pieces of cardboard. As they swarm around and distract...
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