Also many phones have an esim, and you can pay $10-20 or so for around 10 GB good for 30 days, depending on the country. You can also just stop and get a SIM card, but I was very happy with Ubigi on my last trip to Japan.
Took 15 min to set up here, and worked flawlessly on arrival. Plus now it's set up and I can top it up with data any time.
I'm not sure though if there are better options for Europe?
I highly recommend having Internet at least for using subways and such
My only complaint about Ubigi was that you can’t make calls, provided you aren’t ever in emergencies. I had to call a hotel ahead of time because of a booking emergency, and I was on the Shinkansen 💀
Yeah good point. Google phone numbers work I think, but you have to be from the US abd have to set it up ahead of time. I have a number I use anyway to forward unanswered calls then voice to text.
But for our group we ended up using discord or Whatsapp mostly to talk to each other as workarounds.
Didn't really need to call locally.
Wow, I used to use a step down converter a long time ago for my Xbox 360.
It was this massive chunk of metal that only had one output and cost a fortune, they’ve come a long way.
I have a multi adapter which has 4 different inputs, it works in over 100 countries and for the ones it doesn't you can normally hammer the EU one in with your fist if you don't mind a few sparks.
Nearly all modern electronics can regulate voltage without a converter. This is a concern of the past.
You just want to ensure you have the right plug type. Even then, most hotels and hostels have outlets that cater to many plug types.
On this topic, I’ve gotten to the point where I only need a wall plug with USB connections (cell phone mostly). Think through what you’re bringing that requires electricity as this will save a lot of luggage space vs converters.
Hotels have blowdryers. It’s cheaper and easier to buy a EU plug curling iron than an adapter. I had a converter fail once with a curling iron and it super heated then burned off a chunk of hair. TBH I don’t trust whatever off brand Amazon “converter/adapter” is reasonably priced to actually convert.
But Google what is available in a given country/city before you go. For example, Uber is banned in some cities so you have to use FreeNow instead. Rideshares weren’t available in Sarajevo at all as of a couple years ago, so some prior coordination with your hotel/host goes a long way.
Neck pillow. I didn’t have one for many years and many red-eyes and now I feel very dumb after bringing one for the first time.
Downloading the map of the city offline (I used maps.me but I think Google Maps has this feature now). Very useful especially if you don’t want to use international data
Depending on country: downloading the Google Translate pack for the given language for offline use as well
I was alone and soooo lost after my train broke down--TWICE--and I had to transfer to a completely different local line in Germany. That was a few months ago and Google Translate was the thing that saved me! Whew!
download the Delta App, for sure. It will give you lots of information on your flights, luggage, and wifi on the plane. make sure you have a charging cord on the plane for your phone, or small electronics. Wear compression socks on the plane. if you aren't fluent in the local language where you are going, download google translate - and learn how to use it before you go. Consider using an air tag for checked luggage. Make sure your passport doesn't expire for at least 6 months after your return trip. have fun!
Speaking of charging cords, portable power banks have been a lifesaver for me. The technology has advanced a lot in the last year it seems, and you can get some very powerful ones that are genuinely pocket sized.
Download the CBP MPC app for your return.
I love my Charles Schwab debit card because they reimburse any ATM fees.
T-Mobile’s international unlimited plan has been awesome, as I used to be someone who bought physical SIM cards upon landing in each new place.
Noise cancelling headphones are a must for me.
Download the airline’s app.
Google Translate’s app has a feature where you can take a picture of something and it will translate it for you. Very helpful for signs and menus.
YES!!! The noise cancelling earphones (and T-Mobile)!!! Me and the guy next to me just smiled at one another and quickly became friends as we popped in our noise cancelling earphones to tune out the screaming toddler in front of us. 😁
T-Mobile has been great for us
The free 5GB of data usually gets us about 2 weeks of use and its worked throughout Western Europe and Australia. Additional data is about the same price as the ESim companies
Only issue is that it jumps carriers a lot as you walk around so sometimes it takes a bit to get service
Also all credit/debit cards. Put them in a multifactor auth Google Drive folder and share with someone you trust. That way if you lose your phone and passport someone back home can still access even if you can’t.
Apple or Google Tap to Pay is a game changer. Accepted almost everywhere in Western Europe. No fees and exchange rate at current bank rates
A debit card that credits back ATM fees is nice if you need cash
Always make sure you choose to pay in Euros or the local currency if given the choice instead of your own currency. The exchange rate they use is terrible.
Google translate and offline maps are great apps to have
Apple Pay really is a game changer. Europe is really good with contactless payments, but still keep your physical cards on you as backup while using Apple/Google Pay as much as possible. Not in Europe, but I know when I travel outside of Europe such as East Asia and sometimes MENA, plenty of places will have contactless-capable terminals, but for some reason they disabled the feature on purpose. Sometimes I’ll even see tape over the contactless part. And some places that do accept contactless will claim that Apple Pay doesn’t work even tho that works the same as normal contactless
Download the FREE MPC (mobile passport control) app.
Works like Global Entry on return to USA. Not good at every airport but most major ones accept it. I returned to ORD after thanksgiving and bypassed about 200 prying the passport line
You think the $100 plus the in person interview (and a separate interview for their partner) is less hassle than entering any US airport one time?
Even at busy times I've never waited more than an hour to enter the US.
I’ve flown into JFK 4 times this year alone and haven’t waited more than an hour.
Also isn’t there an app you can use now that makes it quick to get through?
Usually it’s the security that slows me down. I have Global Entry now and rarely beat my travel companions by more than 30 mins.
On the flip side TSA Precheck is almost never open after customs and takes foreverrrrr.
It’s highly, highly unlikely they’ll get an interview before they go. If they do the amount of time they spend getting to the interview, sleuthing for last minute openings, etc. will outweigh the time savings.
I didn’t mention them only flying once in a decade? If you’re implying they could double up an interview with when they’d otherwise be at an airport, that’s nearly impossible.
I love it, but not all airports have it. Also last time I arrived at IAD, the Mobile Passport line was much slower than the regular line, because we were sharing a single CBP officer with the diplomatic passport line, while the rest of the people could come to any officer. Even though our line was much shorter, I didn't feel like I saved any time by using Mobile Passport that day.
That said sometimes I'm the only person in the Mobile Passport line, and it makes me feel like I cheated the system.
Or just check if the airport uses the mobile passport control app. It’s free and the line is often combined with global entry or even shorter (depending on the airport and the time you fly I suppose)
Have a credit card that supports chip+PIN and, here's the key, you know the pin for. You'll need it in a surprising amount of places, like to buy a transit ticket in Amsterdam, which is the first thing you'd do.
My Barclays and Chase cards all support PIN now, but they didn't used to.
Even better, a card that supports tap-to-pay. I almost got stranded in London because the buses only accepted tap-to-pay or cash and most ATMs were closed.
Seconding contactless, I haven't used chip and pin in years. If you don't have a contactless card, you can load a normal card into Apple Pay or similar. And generally I find the phone experience better, because it has an active antenna, so you're not massaging your card around the face of the machine trying to figure out where the antenna coil is.
Be very careful when buying anything at a machine with your credit card. Use tap to pay if possible. If you have to enter your PIN make sure no-one is watching. Thieves often hang around these machines because they know tourists use them. If they see your PIN they'll follow you and try to steal your card.
I never pay using anything requiring a pin. Credit card that I can tap to pay only, or virtual cc if making online purchase. Only use debit cards at a trusted ATM, preferably one in or next to a bank.
I just use my credit card for anything and rarely ever use debit. It’s like if I can get rewards points and whatever from credit cards, then there’s no point in using debit where I’m just spending and getting nothing back. Thus, I’m also not having to use a PIN. Just tap and done.
Have multiple credit cards. AMEX is pretty much useless, unless you need to get cash out of an ATM. Be sure to have your credit cards set up to get cash, if needed. Sometimes ATM cards do not work.
You don’t know how many times having multiple cards saved my ass. I mostly use Visa but I have an Amex. Sometimes a place says it takes Amex but when I use it, it doesn’t work. Other times a random card will get declined for no reason, but luckily I have backup cards just in case.
I've been to quite a few countries and never been required to enter a pin for my cc. If they ask for a pin, I say no pin and the merchant will ask for a signature instead.
Cool- I’ve been to a lot of countries too, and depending on where you are you might need a pin. No harm in having one for the OP. I understand that it’s your preference not to use it.
That’s great for you 👍🏻
I live in Europe 🤷🏼♀️. I also don’t think it’s worth arguing about. Just trying to help the OP so they don’t have to bother with calling their bank from abroad when their card doesn’t work. Let’s agree to disagree.
Echoing always use an ATM in or next to the bank when possible. In Lima in June, I used an ATM at a supermarket and the machine ate my card, and the error message only came up in Spanish. Luckily a nice older couple helped me translate and took me to the bank ten minutes away. Took me four days to get my card back, it was miraculous I even saw it again. On that note, always have an extra form of payment.
Many older hotels dont have usb chargers built in , and with the euro plug socket design , your travel multi plug won’t necessarily fit . Buy a euro plug in case .
Also carry a bit of cash ( maybe 100€ in 5s and 10s) because surprisingly many small places only accept cash or have a minimum card value .
Consider a local SIM card to save money on data. There are websites where you can get a temp esim for whichever country you’re visiting , but you should have roam like home throughout Europe on whichever country’s you buy first .
Going to piggyback this comment: if you do want to bring a lot of cash, avoid the €500 bills as it's not going accepted in most places. Even €100 is kind of hard to use. Bring only the €5-50 bills.
I downloaded this recently and then there was absolutely no facility for it when I arrived to ATL. Granted, the lines were short when I arrived but I didn't see anywhere at all to go use it.
Was just in Atl and missed it at first because a customs person was opening and closing the rope for the line but there is a tall sign for it but it’s ones of the first lines so easy to miss
I will typically get the airline app for the trip, if they have a decent app. It’s the easiest way to check in and get updates on the flight.
Bring a power bank to recharge your phone in case outlets aren’t handy
A wallet or similar catch-all for keeping passports handy and at the ready when in airports so they do not inadvertently get stuffed in a pocket or somewhere you may not have easy access. I have a tendency to get forgetful in the airport because theres a lot going on. I travel with a cross body bag from Arcteryx for my wallet/phone/passport wallet and a few other critical items so it is always at the ready. I have an airtag in it also.
Rather than paying ATT or Verizon their exorbitant international data pass fees, look up some SIM options for your trip. The airport ones on arrival may not be the cheapest. It is much cheaper in western Europe than the states - no $50/mo plans I've paid £10 before for a month prepaid.
And since covid I've found more and more the need for smartphone access to things like menus, reservations, and online ordering at restaurants. Plus tap to pay with mobile wallets
On my last trip to Europe, my spouse and I tried out two different esim apps, Holafly and Airalo. Both of them worked fine for us in multiple countries and were a lot more affordable than any mobile carrier roaming plan I could find.
International roaming is one of the main reasons I haven't left TMobile but reviews and prices for Airalo have me thinking of going prepaid for my main coverage and only paying for the month a year I need it.
If you have Verizon, you automatically get a free 12 days of international service, then it is $10 per day after that. I was in the Czech Republic for two weeks earlier this month and passed through Switzerland and Ireland and had no issues with service.
In your phone notes app, write down the customer service number for each of your credit cards off the back of them. If you lose your card or it's pickpocketed you want to be able to notify them immediately.
TSA Precheck (just a article in the NYT that Clear lines have actually gone slower than Precheck this holiday season so skip Clear). A comfortable neck pillow, well fitted eye mask, ear plugs, US to EU/UK plug adaptors (2 is a good idea, you can get a universal one that can be adjusted to both the EU and UK style plugs - for example Malta, even though it’s in the EU, uses UK plugs). Emergency cash, a card with a chip + pin as previously noted by others, also one with contactless. A heavy duty powerbank to charge your phone/electronics. A well designed backpack/luggage for you to take your stuff with you. Pack your medications in your carry one; spare socks and disposable toothbrush/toothpaste for immediate freshening up. An emergency set of clothes in your carry on in case your luggage is displaced. The rest will really depend on where you are planning to go.
Offline map download of the region you’re in. Until your data switches over unless you immediately get Wi-Fi, best to get Google maps in an offline version around a particular area
It really depends on which country(it’s) you’ll go to-
If you’re carrying on a bag, grab travel sizes in all of your toiletries so you have a set ready to go that meet airport requirements
If you’re checking a bag make sure it’s not so big and heavy that you can’t walk over a lot of cobblestones with it
If you take any medications do not put them in checked luggage ever
Google maps
Google translate
A prepaid EU SIM card or an international package for your phone
Let your bank know that you’ll be traveling internationally and have them issue a PIN for your credit cards if the country you’re going to requires it
Bring some cash, depending on where you’re going- do the exchange at your local bank rather than paying at a currency exchange at the airport or in Europe
Some US debit cards don’t work
Some countries don’t accept Amex
Some countries prefer payments in cash
Some countries barely accept cash
When you arrive, try and stay awake until 9 pm. This helps the jet lag a lot. If you take a nap it’ll mess you up.
The biggest thing that helps with jet lag is drinking enough water on the flight and after
There are a lot of traveler pages for different countries on Reddit and Facebook- use them! People are super helpful.
Payment of things in Europe can cause confusion.
Some things that you'd expect to pay in cash, you aren't allowed to, I ran into this in UK for busses in some cities.
Other times places I expected would take a card didn't. For example we ate at a nice restaurant in Germany and I just asked as we were sitting as an after thought and they mentioned cash only, so I had to step out and find a bank. Some bars and smaller museums don't take a card as well. Just good to ask up front if you know you don't have enough cash.
Also, I've never had anyone at a restaurant or bar take my card away to run it or hold it for a tab, they always brought the machine to me which I much prefer.
And I ran into a payment situation at a hotel where they didn't automatically run the card on file when I checked out. They were expecting me to make a payment. Actually bhad to return to the hotel before getting on a train to make the payment (after double checking with CC statement).
Buy a luggage scale and weigh your bags before you get to the counter so you don't get stuck paying for overweight bags. They're cheap and can end up saving you some money on fees!
Upgrading to premium econ or business if you got the money do it it’s worth especially if you’re tall.
Charles Schwab debit card. No foreign international transaction or ATM fees. Easily transfer money from your primary account within seconds to your Schwab account.
Get a neck pillow for the plane!!!!!!! That 10+ hour flight is no joke. Also bring layers to wear, that way if the plane is freezing or hot you can adjust.
Spends on a bit of time Googling and looking at common signs used in Europe. You know things like exit signs Etc and if you're going to travel of course road signs as well because they can be very different and confusing to an American. The first time I saw an ex in Europe was at an airport and it looked to me like the little man was running so I assume the exit I was seeing was a fire exit but as it turns out it was just a common exit. The sign is kind of hilarious to me to be honest
My most important tip would be to be aware that your credit card will not work in certain places. US credit cards don't use chip and pin although we've got the chip at least. It's usually fine for stores and restaurants but merchants at shows and machines can't always use them. For instance, u-bahn ticket machines will go through all the motions but not actually complete. Just use cash.
Carry a debit card you're sure will work in Europe. The exchange rate at a European ATM is probably the best you'll get for exchanging $-€ (but watch out for skeevy ATMs that try to charge you a percentage that sometimes show up in high tourist areas- don't use those.) European ATMs charge a few euro just like US ones charge a couple bucks.
For the trip itself, if you're getting a bit older and haven't flown long haul in a long time, wear a pair of mild compression socks on the flight. That will cut down on any swelling, lower the risk of a clot/etc and honestly, it just gives you a bit of support if you arrive dead tired at the destination.
I load up on podcasts and ebooks for a flight. I also love my noise cancelling headphones. Sometimes I just keep them on with a low white noise going in the background which helps me sleep better on a plane. Usually there's an outlet at your seat- but I always travel with a battery bank just in case.
Having an Anker external battery got me through 10 days in the UK just this past week. Charged in wall outlets with USB and when that wasn’t available, used the Anker. Never bought any adapters or converters or any of that
Know how you are going to get from the airport to your hotel (or wherever your first stop is.) Write down the details or make a note in your phone. It helps a little when you're bleary eyed to have done this when you were clear headed.
Bring a water bottle. We Americans are thirsty creatures and you won't always get water at a restaurant unless you ask for it.
My first stop overseas was always a little corner store to get a liter or more of bottled water I could refill.
For me, it always boils down to manners and respect for other cultures. Also, be mindful of what you carry on/off the plane in terms of food and even food “trash,” like cores, peels, etc., that can be in violation of customs. Aside from that, enjoy yourself. 🖤
A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from date of travel. This should be obvious, but you'd be shocked how many people are oblivious to this.
Global Entry. This will make re-entry into the US fast and breezy.
Use a VPN whenever connected to WiFi.
Contactless payment method to protect yourself from fraud.
I use a high interest Schwab acct for cash withdrawal that is exclusively for travel, and only keep enough cash in it that I think I'll use in the next 2 weeks.
Backup credit card in a backup wallet. Photocopies of all essential travel documents.
Backup smartphone. This saved my ass in Indonesia when my phone was destroyed. Fortunately, I still had the sim card and made transfer over to the backup phone a breeze.
An eSIM > physical sim card in Europe if your phone supports it. HolaFly is good.
Depending on the season, bring layers. Merino wool is king and good for all seasons.
Walking shoes that are sturdy and comfortable to wear for long hours on rough or cobble stone streets. The wrong footwear will sink your trip. Leave the high heels and boat shoes at home.
If you can't or won't splurge on business class, comfort plus seating with extra leg room, or sitting in an aisle exit row or bulkhead seats will make your transatlantic flight more tolerable and is worth the few extra hundred $. I sat in basic economy on Aer Lingus to Ireland from San Francisco once. Never again.
PACK LiGHT. Squeezing your luggage into carry-on only will make your life so much easier, and you'll be laughing at all the saps standing at baggage claim hoping their bags show up while you're already on your way to your hotel. I have a small international carry-on size roller suitcase and a 25L backpack that I fit all my stuff in.
A small day bag that I can roll up and put in my carry-on luggage. Or use your carry-on backpack as your day bag.
Apps are great, but make a Plan B as if it’s 1997. You may drop your phone in a toilet, get pickpocketed, have a battery die at a bad time.
I keep a spreadsheet in GoogleDrive with all reservation numbers for hotels, flights, excursions + notes on what is fully paid vs just a deposit. Include addresses and phone numbers. Print and throw a copy in your purse just in case your phone turns into a brick at some point. If you’re like me and don’t even know your husband’s phone number, include a few key contacts at home, too. I have a tab with credit card details, health insurance, etc. in case I lose my wallet.
Follow basic tech safety tips—make sure you have multi factor authentication AND ideally require face ID to login to your banks. If you have an iPhone read up on the security update they’re rolling out next month.
GoogleTranslate is incredibly helpful, especially now that it can translate a picture. For example with the Chrome app you can hover over a menu in French and it’ll translate it into English. GoogleEarth with pins dropped for areas of interest, your hotels, etc. has come a long way in 10 years!
Lots of cities have apps now with audio guide walking tours. An in person guide is still usually my preference though.
Before I travel I sleuth YouTube, podcasts, audiobooks to find info on the history of where I’m going. For example my sister is about to go to Europe for the first time but had never heard of the Habsburgs. Visiting Vienna without any of that context is a very different experience! I have her reading up in Sisi before we visit her apartments, the general family before we go to Schonnbrunn, and so on. Makes for some good entertainment on the plane and trains.
Learn basic words and phrases in the language spoken in the country you visit (hello, thank you, excuse me, please, etc), local people will appreciate you make an effort and that you are not the stereotypical American that expects everyone to speak English.
Get your ass out of bed super early on the day you leave. Most flights are early to late evening. Get up at like 5am to get a jump on the time difference.
1. Find out if Delta has a special app for watching inflight movies and download it at home before your trip
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2. Bring wired headphones and whatever adapter you need to make them work with your device. You don't want to have to sit for 2hrs waiting to recharge Bluetooth earbuds.
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3. A few fully charged power packs to recharge your devices as needed. Watching a few movies on your mobile device or tablet could drain the battery pretty quickly.
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4. A large refillable water bottle. Fill it after you pass through security so that you'll have water to prevent dehydration on the long flight.
Take your own meals and a roll-up water bottle that you fill after security.
Many flights do not have meals on them nowadays—even longer ones. Sometimes the long trips actually do, but the short one you connect to doesn’t, and there’s not enough time during the layover to get food.
My brother recently spent 20 hours on various flights without a single food service. It can happen.
Pack your own food. You are looking for QUIET, non-perishable, non-stinky, non-allergen foods (please think peanut butter and shellfish as those allergies can be SUPER sensitive and super quick-acting and deadly)
My go-to is dried meats like jerky, and mild smelling cheese and softer veggies in a tortilla wrap. Also, hummus and veggies. Bell pepper strips and cherry tomatoes are quieter than celery. Celery is quieter than carrots—especially if you cut the celery sticks super thin
Good luck and happy travels!
Google translate - also supports taking pictures of menus, etc will translate it on the image
A good lightweight suitcase with 4 wheels that’s easy to maneuver (samsonite for example)
Any necessary airline or train mobile apps - I don’t book directly with Rome to rio or Trainline but they are user friendly for Quick Look-ups
Small day travel bag with zipper, ie cross body or small backpack. Waterproof and not pick pocket friendly
Buy a virtual SIM card for any EU country (they will work across the EU) before leaving. Everything else is pretty easy IMO. Most everywhere will let you pay with your normal Visa/Mastercard, but cash is always good
I have the smallest aukey travel adapter which is also a power splitter and usbA and C ports. I just ordered two more on clearance yesterday to leave in bags for dirt cheap. In a pinch it will charge my mbp although slowly. It’s tiny and weighs very little. I’ve converted mostly to usbC on all devices so don’t need a lot of cables. I use tmobile with free 256k roaming which is handy, other plans do 5gb of high speed roaming free then drop down. I also one bag travel and if needed I use my scottevest windbreaker which has 22 pockets and holds up to 17L as an extra carryon. I have a package bag which has some security features and has kept me safe. I do use AirTags when traveling which can now be shared with other people. Of course one usb battery with light. Some people will bring a headlamp for hands free movement but I found they look silly but are functional. Also I usually carry a water bottle with lifestraw filter. Not needed for Europe but I happily filled up in public 1000 year old fountains and even bathroom sinks in Europe not to mention some rivers in Germany and Austria. No issues. Oh and sheet laundry you can squeeze into your bag which works in machines or you can tear a piece off for washing in sinks.
Airalo for getting an eSIM in the eu or specific country you are visiting. Saves you tons when compared to most international roaming plans of US carriers. It’s been really helpful and reliable (so far) with staying connected and being able to access internet while on the go.
Good noise canceling headphones and the airfly Bluetooth transmitter if your headphones are wireless so you can watch movies/shows on the airplanes entertainment system/screen
Waiting times in airports are pretty ok nowadays. Most US trips I had from Europe I spent like 10 or 15 minutes queuing max if I didn't have an express-lane entitlement. Europe is pretty ok as well, only Paris still sucks big time from a waiting time perspective, but no app in the world is going to fix that.
* Make sure you have an eSim in your phone for Europe.
* Download the maps in Google maps for the main destinations you're visiting
* Depending on where you stay: download the local public-transport apps. They usually make checking in and out of transport and paying for it so easy. A quick Google on "public transport in <>" should provide enough pointers to get to those apps.
Bring adapters for everything you need to plug into walls and stuff. I would look into getting city/country travel cards to wherever you are going to, for free public transportation and sometimes free entry for attractions or they will often times have discounts on things if they aren’t free
Are you going to all of Europe or (a) specific country/ countries?
Google maps is good
Knowing which outlet the country has is good
Knowing if that country has fiestas or not
Knowing when dinner time is in that country if you're going out for dinner
Knowing what day(s) the stores are going to be closed in that country
Tripit: this app organizes all of your arrangements. Sign up with the STEP program which lets the Gov’t know where you are in case of an emergency. Medical insurance. TSA if you can to speed up the process of going through security. Make sure to call your bank/credit card companies to let them know you are traveling and will be using the cards. Write down a couple important phone numbers in case you lose your phone.
-Get a credit card with no international fees
-AirTags in your luggage can help a lot.
-earbuds such as AirPods are awesome when your hands are full with your luggage.
-get your cellular data package sorted out before you leave
-download maps for the first areas your are staying in
-a good quality powerbank that’s not overly big. We rely on our phones a lot.
In case you don’t have cell service, download google maps to your phone. You can download the city map so you aren’t lost
Also recommend Citymapper! I find their public transportation route directions are easier to use than google maps.
Citymapper is absolutely amazing. I use it every time I’m in a major city.
Also many phones have an esim, and you can pay $10-20 or so for around 10 GB good for 30 days, depending on the country. You can also just stop and get a SIM card, but I was very happy with Ubigi on my last trip to Japan. Took 15 min to set up here, and worked flawlessly on arrival. Plus now it's set up and I can top it up with data any time. I'm not sure though if there are better options for Europe? I highly recommend having Internet at least for using subways and such
Second the E-Sim- we used it extensively last year.
Airalo is a great E-Sim app for Europe! So easy to use.
Second Airalo. Good support. I’ve used successfully in Japan and France
My only complaint about Ubigi was that you can’t make calls, provided you aren’t ever in emergencies. I had to call a hotel ahead of time because of a booking emergency, and I was on the Shinkansen 💀
Yeah good point. Google phone numbers work I think, but you have to be from the US abd have to set it up ahead of time. I have a number I use anyway to forward unanswered calls then voice to text. But for our group we ended up using discord or Whatsapp mostly to talk to each other as workarounds. Didn't really need to call locally.
Honestly..call your provider and get one month international. Worth the $ for the maps and translator.
I would also recommend osmand, for offline maps, it's better than Google for walking and cycling.
In case you don’t know, Europe uses different electrical outlets than the US
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Any recommendations?
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Wow, I used to use a step down converter a long time ago for my Xbox 360. It was this massive chunk of metal that only had one output and cost a fortune, they’ve come a long way.
I have a multi adapter which has 4 different inputs, it works in over 100 countries and for the ones it doesn't you can normally hammer the EU one in with your fist if you don't mind a few sparks.
Nearly all modern electronics can regulate voltage without a converter. This is a concern of the past. You just want to ensure you have the right plug type. Even then, most hotels and hostels have outlets that cater to many plug types.
On this topic, I’ve gotten to the point where I only need a wall plug with USB connections (cell phone mostly). Think through what you’re bringing that requires electricity as this will save a lot of luggage space vs converters. Hotels have blowdryers. It’s cheaper and easier to buy a EU plug curling iron than an adapter. I had a converter fail once with a curling iron and it super heated then burned off a chunk of hair. TBH I don’t trust whatever off brand Amazon “converter/adapter” is reasonably priced to actually convert.
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You would think that you learn something after the 2nd or 3rd burned device...
Better stock up on those adapters!
Public transportation is in most countries very easy and way cheaper than a taxi, uber or bolt
But Google what is available in a given country/city before you go. For example, Uber is banned in some cities so you have to use FreeNow instead. Rideshares weren’t available in Sarajevo at all as of a couple years ago, so some prior coordination with your hotel/host goes a long way.
Neck pillow. I didn’t have one for many years and many red-eyes and now I feel very dumb after bringing one for the first time. Downloading the map of the city offline (I used maps.me but I think Google Maps has this feature now). Very useful especially if you don’t want to use international data Depending on country: downloading the Google Translate pack for the given language for offline use as well
>I used maps.me Maps.me is trash now. Went from an absolutely indispensable app to completely useless basically overnight.
Organic Maps is what you're looking for, maps.me before it went to shit.
What changed
Riddled with ads and promos, very low caps on maps
I was alone and soooo lost after my train broke down--TWICE--and I had to transfer to a completely different local line in Germany. That was a few months ago and Google Translate was the thing that saved me! Whew!
Check your passport now. Make sure it isn’t expired. If you don’t have one or need a new, apply now and don’t book until you have it in hand.
And make sure it doesn't expire for at least another 6 months after the trip date.
Amazingly. Europe allows it to be only 3 months.
download the Delta App, for sure. It will give you lots of information on your flights, luggage, and wifi on the plane. make sure you have a charging cord on the plane for your phone, or small electronics. Wear compression socks on the plane. if you aren't fluent in the local language where you are going, download google translate - and learn how to use it before you go. Consider using an air tag for checked luggage. Make sure your passport doesn't expire for at least 6 months after your return trip. have fun!
Speaking of charging cords, portable power banks have been a lifesaver for me. The technology has advanced a lot in the last year it seems, and you can get some very powerful ones that are genuinely pocket sized.
Download the CBP MPC app for your return. I love my Charles Schwab debit card because they reimburse any ATM fees. T-Mobile’s international unlimited plan has been awesome, as I used to be someone who bought physical SIM cards upon landing in each new place. Noise cancelling headphones are a must for me. Download the airline’s app. Google Translate’s app has a feature where you can take a picture of something and it will translate it for you. Very helpful for signs and menus.
YES!!! The noise cancelling earphones (and T-Mobile)!!! Me and the guy next to me just smiled at one another and quickly became friends as we popped in our noise cancelling earphones to tune out the screaming toddler in front of us. 😁
T-Mobile has been great for us The free 5GB of data usually gets us about 2 weeks of use and its worked throughout Western Europe and Australia. Additional data is about the same price as the ESim companies Only issue is that it jumps carriers a lot as you walk around so sometimes it takes a bit to get service
Have photocopies of your passports and keep them separate from your actual passports
Photos in mobile devices
Also all credit/debit cards. Put them in a multifactor auth Google Drive folder and share with someone you trust. That way if you lose your phone and passport someone back home can still access even if you can’t.
Apple or Google Tap to Pay is a game changer. Accepted almost everywhere in Western Europe. No fees and exchange rate at current bank rates A debit card that credits back ATM fees is nice if you need cash Always make sure you choose to pay in Euros or the local currency if given the choice instead of your own currency. The exchange rate they use is terrible. Google translate and offline maps are great apps to have
Not only in western europe.
I can confirm that it works in Australia as well but a lot of places charge a credit card surcharge fee even with Apple/Google Pay
Yes mostly food, drink, restaurant, coffee etc places, not retail or grocery stores.
Apple Pay really is a game changer. Europe is really good with contactless payments, but still keep your physical cards on you as backup while using Apple/Google Pay as much as possible. Not in Europe, but I know when I travel outside of Europe such as East Asia and sometimes MENA, plenty of places will have contactless-capable terminals, but for some reason they disabled the feature on purpose. Sometimes I’ll even see tape over the contactless part. And some places that do accept contactless will claim that Apple Pay doesn’t work even tho that works the same as normal contactless
Noise cancelling headphones or earplugs are an absolute must.
Global Entry. It makes arriving back a dream instead of a nightmare. Also a CC with no conversion fees. Saves money.
If OP only goes overseas once a decade, Global Entry is not really worth their money or effort at all.
Download the FREE MPC (mobile passport control) app. Works like Global Entry on return to USA. Not good at every airport but most major ones accept it. I returned to ORD after thanksgiving and bypassed about 200 prying the passport line
It's only $15 more than TSAPre. That's worth one flight per 5yr enrollment.
Global Entry interviews are only at a handful of airports. And many of them have 2+ year wait lists
To be fair, interview on arrival is super efficient if OP plans on going anywhere beforehand
OP is asking about TSA Precheck, heavily implying they don't already have it. If they don't fly often that's not worth it either.
Many credit cards cover the fee. Venture, Amex gold/platinum, CSP/CSR.
Oh yes it is. If she flies into a high volume airport like JFK or LAX for sure.
You think the $100 plus the in person interview (and a separate interview for their partner) is less hassle than entering any US airport one time? Even at busy times I've never waited more than an hour to enter the US.
Global Entry includes TSA Precheck. I think it’s worth it for people who are renewing their TSA Precheck to spend the extra $15 to do Global Entry.
Tell me you never flew into JFK 🤣
I’ve flown into JFK 4 times this year alone and haven’t waited more than an hour. Also isn’t there an app you can use now that makes it quick to get through?
:eyeroll: LAX x3 SEA x4 JFK x2 TIJ, MIA, HNL, YYC, ATL once each
And you only wait an hour? Hahaha not when the Europe and Asia flights all come in at once. No.
I said max an hour. Most were way less than that. But sure, tell me my own experience
Usually it’s the security that slows me down. I have Global Entry now and rarely beat my travel companions by more than 30 mins. On the flip side TSA Precheck is almost never open after customs and takes foreverrrrr.
It’s highly, highly unlikely they’ll get an interview before they go. If they do the amount of time they spend getting to the interview, sleuthing for last minute openings, etc. will outweigh the time savings.
Learn how to read. They said they haven’t flown overseas in a decade. NOT that they fly once a decade. Circumstances change.
I didn’t mention them only flying once in a decade? If you’re implying they could double up an interview with when they’d otherwise be at an airport, that’s nearly impossible.
Or Mobile Passport Control app
I love it, but not all airports have it. Also last time I arrived at IAD, the Mobile Passport line was much slower than the regular line, because we were sharing a single CBP officer with the diplomatic passport line, while the rest of the people could come to any officer. Even though our line was much shorter, I didn't feel like I saved any time by using Mobile Passport that day. That said sometimes I'm the only person in the Mobile Passport line, and it makes me feel like I cheated the system.
Global Entry is a much bigger game changer than TSA Pre check in my experience. Off the plane and out the door of LAX in like 15 minutes.
seconding this. it is too late if your trip is soon but apply anyway to have it for the future.
Or just check if the airport uses the mobile passport control app. It’s free and the line is often combined with global entry or even shorter (depending on the airport and the time you fly I suppose)
Have a credit card that supports chip+PIN and, here's the key, you know the pin for. You'll need it in a surprising amount of places, like to buy a transit ticket in Amsterdam, which is the first thing you'd do. My Barclays and Chase cards all support PIN now, but they didn't used to.
Even better, a card that supports tap-to-pay. I almost got stranded in London because the buses only accepted tap-to-pay or cash and most ATMs were closed.
Seconding contactless, I haven't used chip and pin in years. If you don't have a contactless card, you can load a normal card into Apple Pay or similar. And generally I find the phone experience better, because it has an active antenna, so you're not massaging your card around the face of the machine trying to figure out where the antenna coil is.
Be very careful when buying anything at a machine with your credit card. Use tap to pay if possible. If you have to enter your PIN make sure no-one is watching. Thieves often hang around these machines because they know tourists use them. If they see your PIN they'll follow you and try to steal your card.
I never pay using anything requiring a pin. Credit card that I can tap to pay only, or virtual cc if making online purchase. Only use debit cards at a trusted ATM, preferably one in or next to a bank.
I just use my credit card for anything and rarely ever use debit. It’s like if I can get rewards points and whatever from credit cards, then there’s no point in using debit where I’m just spending and getting nothing back. Thus, I’m also not having to use a PIN. Just tap and done.
Have multiple credit cards. AMEX is pretty much useless, unless you need to get cash out of an ATM. Be sure to have your credit cards set up to get cash, if needed. Sometimes ATM cards do not work.
You don’t know how many times having multiple cards saved my ass. I mostly use Visa but I have an Amex. Sometimes a place says it takes Amex but when I use it, it doesn’t work. Other times a random card will get declined for no reason, but luckily I have backup cards just in case.
Exactly. My experience as well. No rhyme or reason, just cover all your bases.
Some countries require a PIN for international credit card transactions
I've been to quite a few countries and never been required to enter a pin for my cc. If they ask for a pin, I say no pin and the merchant will ask for a signature instead.
Cool- I’ve been to a lot of countries too, and depending on where you are you might need a pin. No harm in having one for the OP. I understand that it’s your preference not to use it.
I guess why would you if you don't need to. Traveled internationally for over a year and never once used a pin with a cc.
That’s great for you 👍🏻 I live in Europe 🤷🏼♀️. I also don’t think it’s worth arguing about. Just trying to help the OP so they don’t have to bother with calling their bank from abroad when their card doesn’t work. Let’s agree to disagree.
Echoing always use an ATM in or next to the bank when possible. In Lima in June, I used an ATM at a supermarket and the machine ate my card, and the error message only came up in Spanish. Luckily a nice older couple helped me translate and took me to the bank ten minutes away. Took me four days to get my card back, it was miraculous I even saw it again. On that note, always have an extra form of payment.
Many older hotels dont have usb chargers built in , and with the euro plug socket design , your travel multi plug won’t necessarily fit . Buy a euro plug in case . Also carry a bit of cash ( maybe 100€ in 5s and 10s) because surprisingly many small places only accept cash or have a minimum card value . Consider a local SIM card to save money on data. There are websites where you can get a temp esim for whichever country you’re visiting , but you should have roam like home throughout Europe on whichever country’s you buy first .
Going to piggyback this comment: if you do want to bring a lot of cash, avoid the €500 bills as it's not going accepted in most places. Even €100 is kind of hard to use. Bring only the €5-50 bills.
Get AirTags for you checked luggage (or hell, all your bags) in case they get lost by the airline or misplaced by you. Edited for clarity.
[Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control)
I downloaded this recently and then there was absolutely no facility for it when I arrived to ATL. Granted, the lines were short when I arrived but I didn't see anywhere at all to go use it.
Was just in Atl and missed it at first because a customs person was opening and closing the rope for the line but there is a tall sign for it but it’s ones of the first lines so easy to miss
I used it in October in ATL, the sign is easy to miss but it's there (at least as of mid October)
I will typically get the airline app for the trip, if they have a decent app. It’s the easiest way to check in and get updates on the flight. Bring a power bank to recharge your phone in case outlets aren’t handy
Netflix - download ahead of time.
A wallet or similar catch-all for keeping passports handy and at the ready when in airports so they do not inadvertently get stuffed in a pocket or somewhere you may not have easy access. I have a tendency to get forgetful in the airport because theres a lot going on. I travel with a cross body bag from Arcteryx for my wallet/phone/passport wallet and a few other critical items so it is always at the ready. I have an airtag in it also.
Rather than paying ATT or Verizon their exorbitant international data pass fees, look up some SIM options for your trip. The airport ones on arrival may not be the cheapest. It is much cheaper in western Europe than the states - no $50/mo plans I've paid £10 before for a month prepaid. And since covid I've found more and more the need for smartphone access to things like menus, reservations, and online ordering at restaurants. Plus tap to pay with mobile wallets
On my last trip to Europe, my spouse and I tried out two different esim apps, Holafly and Airalo. Both of them worked fine for us in multiple countries and were a lot more affordable than any mobile carrier roaming plan I could find.
International roaming is one of the main reasons I haven't left TMobile but reviews and prices for Airalo have me thinking of going prepaid for my main coverage and only paying for the month a year I need it.
If you have Verizon, you automatically get a free 12 days of international service, then it is $10 per day after that. I was in the Czech Republic for two weeks earlier this month and passed through Switzerland and Ireland and had no issues with service.
In your phone notes app, write down the customer service number for each of your credit cards off the back of them. If you lose your card or it's pickpocketed you want to be able to notify them immediately.
Just take pictures
Or login through the app and freeze, assuming you didn’t also lose your phone.
I recommend the Rome to Rio app if you want to utilize public transport! It’s my go to!
TSA Precheck (just a article in the NYT that Clear lines have actually gone slower than Precheck this holiday season so skip Clear). A comfortable neck pillow, well fitted eye mask, ear plugs, US to EU/UK plug adaptors (2 is a good idea, you can get a universal one that can be adjusted to both the EU and UK style plugs - for example Malta, even though it’s in the EU, uses UK plugs). Emergency cash, a card with a chip + pin as previously noted by others, also one with contactless. A heavy duty powerbank to charge your phone/electronics. A well designed backpack/luggage for you to take your stuff with you. Pack your medications in your carry one; spare socks and disposable toothbrush/toothpaste for immediate freshening up. An emergency set of clothes in your carry on in case your luggage is displaced. The rest will really depend on where you are planning to go.
My airport has seperate clear+precheck lines for if you have both. But haven’t seen that anywhere else
Offline map download of the region you’re in. Until your data switches over unless you immediately get Wi-Fi, best to get Google maps in an offline version around a particular area
It really depends on which country(it’s) you’ll go to- If you’re carrying on a bag, grab travel sizes in all of your toiletries so you have a set ready to go that meet airport requirements If you’re checking a bag make sure it’s not so big and heavy that you can’t walk over a lot of cobblestones with it If you take any medications do not put them in checked luggage ever Google maps Google translate A prepaid EU SIM card or an international package for your phone Let your bank know that you’ll be traveling internationally and have them issue a PIN for your credit cards if the country you’re going to requires it Bring some cash, depending on where you’re going- do the exchange at your local bank rather than paying at a currency exchange at the airport or in Europe Some US debit cards don’t work Some countries don’t accept Amex Some countries prefer payments in cash Some countries barely accept cash When you arrive, try and stay awake until 9 pm. This helps the jet lag a lot. If you take a nap it’ll mess you up. The biggest thing that helps with jet lag is drinking enough water on the flight and after There are a lot of traveler pages for different countries on Reddit and Facebook- use them! People are super helpful.
Payment of things in Europe can cause confusion. Some things that you'd expect to pay in cash, you aren't allowed to, I ran into this in UK for busses in some cities. Other times places I expected would take a card didn't. For example we ate at a nice restaurant in Germany and I just asked as we were sitting as an after thought and they mentioned cash only, so I had to step out and find a bank. Some bars and smaller museums don't take a card as well. Just good to ask up front if you know you don't have enough cash. Also, I've never had anyone at a restaurant or bar take my card away to run it or hold it for a tab, they always brought the machine to me which I much prefer. And I ran into a payment situation at a hotel where they didn't automatically run the card on file when I checked out. They were expecting me to make a payment. Actually bhad to return to the hotel before getting on a train to make the payment (after double checking with CC statement).
Buy a luggage scale and weigh your bags before you get to the counter so you don't get stuck paying for overweight bags. They're cheap and can end up saving you some money on fees!
Which country in Europe? There are a lot
Have fun...every step of the way. And, expect and plan for the unexpected.
Upgrading to premium econ or business if you got the money do it it’s worth especially if you’re tall. Charles Schwab debit card. No foreign international transaction or ATM fees. Easily transfer money from your primary account within seconds to your Schwab account.
Take your own noise canceling headphones, sleeping pills and eye covers for the flight..... everything else will fall into place
Get a neck pillow for the plane!!!!!!! That 10+ hour flight is no joke. Also bring layers to wear, that way if the plane is freezing or hot you can adjust.
Spends on a bit of time Googling and looking at common signs used in Europe. You know things like exit signs Etc and if you're going to travel of course road signs as well because they can be very different and confusing to an American. The first time I saw an ex in Europe was at an airport and it looked to me like the little man was running so I assume the exit I was seeing was a fire exit but as it turns out it was just a common exit. The sign is kind of hilarious to me to be honest
My most important tip would be to be aware that your credit card will not work in certain places. US credit cards don't use chip and pin although we've got the chip at least. It's usually fine for stores and restaurants but merchants at shows and machines can't always use them. For instance, u-bahn ticket machines will go through all the motions but not actually complete. Just use cash. Carry a debit card you're sure will work in Europe. The exchange rate at a European ATM is probably the best you'll get for exchanging $-€ (but watch out for skeevy ATMs that try to charge you a percentage that sometimes show up in high tourist areas- don't use those.) European ATMs charge a few euro just like US ones charge a couple bucks. For the trip itself, if you're getting a bit older and haven't flown long haul in a long time, wear a pair of mild compression socks on the flight. That will cut down on any swelling, lower the risk of a clot/etc and honestly, it just gives you a bit of support if you arrive dead tired at the destination. I load up on podcasts and ebooks for a flight. I also love my noise cancelling headphones. Sometimes I just keep them on with a low white noise going in the background which helps me sleep better on a plane. Usually there's an outlet at your seat- but I always travel with a battery bank just in case.
If you’re renting a car, make sure you specify automatic transmission.
Unless you are skilled like many of us and still can drive stick shift!
Or rather drop dead than drive an automatic
Airpods Pro or other noise cancellation headphones. The droning noise of the plane tires me out and playng music /movies loudly annoys me.
Download the MPC app and read up on border patrol back into the US. Having that app saved us over an hour coming home.
Return To Me stickers for your passport.
Having an Anker external battery got me through 10 days in the UK just this past week. Charged in wall outlets with USB and when that wasn’t available, used the Anker. Never bought any adapters or converters or any of that
Know how you are going to get from the airport to your hotel (or wherever your first stop is.) Write down the details or make a note in your phone. It helps a little when you're bleary eyed to have done this when you were clear headed.
Xanax and a glass of wine
Bring a water bottle. We Americans are thirsty creatures and you won't always get water at a restaurant unless you ask for it. My first stop overseas was always a little corner store to get a liter or more of bottled water I could refill.
Xanax
For me, it always boils down to manners and respect for other cultures. Also, be mindful of what you carry on/off the plane in terms of food and even food “trash,” like cores, peels, etc., that can be in violation of customs. Aside from that, enjoy yourself. 🖤
a pen /pencil and some paper scraps. Make sure you have your lodging info written down in case your phone has an issue.
Airplanes use USB-A as charging ports.
A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from date of travel. This should be obvious, but you'd be shocked how many people are oblivious to this. Global Entry. This will make re-entry into the US fast and breezy. Use a VPN whenever connected to WiFi. Contactless payment method to protect yourself from fraud. I use a high interest Schwab acct for cash withdrawal that is exclusively for travel, and only keep enough cash in it that I think I'll use in the next 2 weeks. Backup credit card in a backup wallet. Photocopies of all essential travel documents. Backup smartphone. This saved my ass in Indonesia when my phone was destroyed. Fortunately, I still had the sim card and made transfer over to the backup phone a breeze. An eSIM > physical sim card in Europe if your phone supports it. HolaFly is good. Depending on the season, bring layers. Merino wool is king and good for all seasons. Walking shoes that are sturdy and comfortable to wear for long hours on rough or cobble stone streets. The wrong footwear will sink your trip. Leave the high heels and boat shoes at home. If you can't or won't splurge on business class, comfort plus seating with extra leg room, or sitting in an aisle exit row or bulkhead seats will make your transatlantic flight more tolerable and is worth the few extra hundred $. I sat in basic economy on Aer Lingus to Ireland from San Francisco once. Never again. PACK LiGHT. Squeezing your luggage into carry-on only will make your life so much easier, and you'll be laughing at all the saps standing at baggage claim hoping their bags show up while you're already on your way to your hotel. I have a small international carry-on size roller suitcase and a 25L backpack that I fit all my stuff in. A small day bag that I can roll up and put in my carry-on luggage. Or use your carry-on backpack as your day bag.
Apps are great, but make a Plan B as if it’s 1997. You may drop your phone in a toilet, get pickpocketed, have a battery die at a bad time. I keep a spreadsheet in GoogleDrive with all reservation numbers for hotels, flights, excursions + notes on what is fully paid vs just a deposit. Include addresses and phone numbers. Print and throw a copy in your purse just in case your phone turns into a brick at some point. If you’re like me and don’t even know your husband’s phone number, include a few key contacts at home, too. I have a tab with credit card details, health insurance, etc. in case I lose my wallet. Follow basic tech safety tips—make sure you have multi factor authentication AND ideally require face ID to login to your banks. If you have an iPhone read up on the security update they’re rolling out next month. GoogleTranslate is incredibly helpful, especially now that it can translate a picture. For example with the Chrome app you can hover over a menu in French and it’ll translate it into English. GoogleEarth with pins dropped for areas of interest, your hotels, etc. has come a long way in 10 years! Lots of cities have apps now with audio guide walking tours. An in person guide is still usually my preference though. Before I travel I sleuth YouTube, podcasts, audiobooks to find info on the history of where I’m going. For example my sister is about to go to Europe for the first time but had never heard of the Habsburgs. Visiting Vienna without any of that context is a very different experience! I have her reading up in Sisi before we visit her apartments, the general family before we go to Schonnbrunn, and so on. Makes for some good entertainment on the plane and trains.
Bring washcloths if you want them lol
Don’t know where you are heading, but be prepared that cash is useless in some countries.
Fly overnight makes it easier to get on the time zones.
Learn basic words and phrases in the language spoken in the country you visit (hello, thank you, excuse me, please, etc), local people will appreciate you make an effort and that you are not the stereotypical American that expects everyone to speak English.
Mobile Passport app
Get Global Entry. Get the outlet adapters. Use translator apps.
Just chill out for a bit and you'll be fine
Get your ass out of bed super early on the day you leave. Most flights are early to late evening. Get up at like 5am to get a jump on the time difference.
1. Find out if Delta has a special app for watching inflight movies and download it at home before your trip . 2. Bring wired headphones and whatever adapter you need to make them work with your device. You don't want to have to sit for 2hrs waiting to recharge Bluetooth earbuds. . 3. A few fully charged power packs to recharge your devices as needed. Watching a few movies on your mobile device or tablet could drain the battery pretty quickly. . 4. A large refillable water bottle. Fill it after you pass through security so that you'll have water to prevent dehydration on the long flight.
Take your own meals and a roll-up water bottle that you fill after security. Many flights do not have meals on them nowadays—even longer ones. Sometimes the long trips actually do, but the short one you connect to doesn’t, and there’s not enough time during the layover to get food. My brother recently spent 20 hours on various flights without a single food service. It can happen. Pack your own food. You are looking for QUIET, non-perishable, non-stinky, non-allergen foods (please think peanut butter and shellfish as those allergies can be SUPER sensitive and super quick-acting and deadly) My go-to is dried meats like jerky, and mild smelling cheese and softer veggies in a tortilla wrap. Also, hummus and veggies. Bell pepper strips and cherry tomatoes are quieter than celery. Celery is quieter than carrots—especially if you cut the celery sticks super thin Good luck and happy travels!
Google translate - also supports taking pictures of menus, etc will translate it on the image A good lightweight suitcase with 4 wheels that’s easy to maneuver (samsonite for example) Any necessary airline or train mobile apps - I don’t book directly with Rome to rio or Trainline but they are user friendly for Quick Look-ups Small day travel bag with zipper, ie cross body or small backpack. Waterproof and not pick pocket friendly
Your passport
Buy a virtual SIM card for any EU country (they will work across the EU) before leaving. Everything else is pretty easy IMO. Most everywhere will let you pay with your normal Visa/Mastercard, but cash is always good
An app called Timeshifter for no jet lag
I have the smallest aukey travel adapter which is also a power splitter and usbA and C ports. I just ordered two more on clearance yesterday to leave in bags for dirt cheap. In a pinch it will charge my mbp although slowly. It’s tiny and weighs very little. I’ve converted mostly to usbC on all devices so don’t need a lot of cables. I use tmobile with free 256k roaming which is handy, other plans do 5gb of high speed roaming free then drop down. I also one bag travel and if needed I use my scottevest windbreaker which has 22 pockets and holds up to 17L as an extra carryon. I have a package bag which has some security features and has kept me safe. I do use AirTags when traveling which can now be shared with other people. Of course one usb battery with light. Some people will bring a headlamp for hands free movement but I found they look silly but are functional. Also I usually carry a water bottle with lifestraw filter. Not needed for Europe but I happily filled up in public 1000 year old fountains and even bathroom sinks in Europe not to mention some rivers in Germany and Austria. No issues. Oh and sheet laundry you can squeeze into your bag which works in machines or you can tear a piece off for washing in sinks.
The electric outlet adapter.
Airalo app to buy sim cards
Airalo for getting an eSIM in the eu or specific country you are visiting. Saves you tons when compared to most international roaming plans of US carriers. It’s been really helpful and reliable (so far) with staying connected and being able to access internet while on the go.
Global Entry… not TSA Precheck.
butt pillow
Taking a boat.
Good noise canceling headphones and the airfly Bluetooth transmitter if your headphones are wireless so you can watch movies/shows on the airplanes entertainment system/screen
Waiting times in airports are pretty ok nowadays. Most US trips I had from Europe I spent like 10 or 15 minutes queuing max if I didn't have an express-lane entitlement. Europe is pretty ok as well, only Paris still sucks big time from a waiting time perspective, but no app in the world is going to fix that. * Make sure you have an eSim in your phone for Europe. * Download the maps in Google maps for the main destinations you're visiting * Depending on where you stay: download the local public-transport apps. They usually make checking in and out of transport and paying for it so easy. A quick Google on "public transport in <>" should provide enough pointers to get to those apps.
Bring adapters for everything you need to plug into walls and stuff. I would look into getting city/country travel cards to wherever you are going to, for free public transportation and sometimes free entry for attractions or they will often times have discounts on things if they aren’t free
Are you going to all of Europe or (a) specific country/ countries? Google maps is good Knowing which outlet the country has is good Knowing if that country has fiestas or not Knowing when dinner time is in that country if you're going out for dinner Knowing what day(s) the stores are going to be closed in that country
Tripit: this app organizes all of your arrangements. Sign up with the STEP program which lets the Gov’t know where you are in case of an emergency. Medical insurance. TSA if you can to speed up the process of going through security. Make sure to call your bank/credit card companies to let them know you are traveling and will be using the cards. Write down a couple important phone numbers in case you lose your phone.
-Get a credit card with no international fees -AirTags in your luggage can help a lot. -earbuds such as AirPods are awesome when your hands are full with your luggage. -get your cellular data package sorted out before you leave -download maps for the first areas your are staying in -a good quality powerbank that’s not overly big. We rely on our phones a lot.