Europe Vacation-A Month to Go

Early bird planners will enjoy working through the early stages of the vacation checklist (TRAVEL EUROPE VACATION CHECKLIST). But for those of us who enjoy last minute family trips, it’s never too late to swing into action for a European family holiday to remember. Cram in the necessary passport, ticket, medical and insurance checks then…

One month ahead

• Check out baggage allowances. At least one member of the family will be tempted to return with a heavy load of souvenirs so look up the charges for overweight baggage too. If you can’t afford it, take less initially or carry things you don’t mind leaving behind when you come home.
   
• Start checking out exchange rates for any foreign currency you need. You will probably get a better exchange rate for your money in the country you are visiting. Only carry enough for initial expenses when you first arrive.
   
• Carry paper money in small denominations. Taxis, restaurants, shops won’t –and in some countries can’t –change large notes. Another plus point is that if anyone tries to cheat you, you won’t lose so much.
   
• Make sure all the family tickets and papers are in order, that your vaccinations are up to date and that you have sorted out someone to visit your home and update you on everything going on in your absence.
   
• Make a minimum checklist of everything you will need on the journey. From the Internet download a map of your destination airport and transport to your first night’s accommodation. Transfer buses have been known not to turn up. Taxis can charge exorbitant rates for stranded travelers. Find a forum where you can ask the questions about emergencies and costs. Lurk about there reading the correspondence and gathering information on the possible downsides of your journey.
   
• Start learning useful words and phrases. What does it cost? Where is the pharmacy? Lots of useful language learning sites on the web with basic phrases for travelers and sound clips.

One week ahead:

• Check size and weight of personal baggage. Does it comply with airline requirements? Is it underweight to allow for those last minute additions that children consider vital to well being – that favorite toy, those worn out jeans.
   
• Check that everyone’s passports, tickets, insurances, travel itinerary, money are all in order and that you know where to find them when in panic mode.
   
• Check that your travel insurance meets your needs. Will it cover stolen property? Will you have to pay for medical attention then wait for it to be reimbursed? Will it pay for you to be brought home for treatment in case of emergency? The best deal is not necessarily the cheapest. It is the one that will cover any emergency.
   
• Book taxi to the airport, station or other departure point if necessary. Phone again the evening before to reconfirm the booking. You may also want to make a booking to be met on your return journey if you can’t arrange for family or friends at home to collect you.
   
• Buy snacks and plan children’s activities to while away the journey. It’s always expensive to buy food en route.
   
• Do you know what’s on the forbidden list if you’re traveling by air or what the regulations are for the country you’re visiting? Find out if you want an easy journey through Customs.

Last minute checklist

• Passport
• Tickets
• Insurances-–you can always do this at airports but it’s costly
• Euros—you can also do this at airports but again it’s costly
• Itinerary--maps to your initial destination. Unless you have booked in to a well-known hotel or holiday destination, these will save a lot of time and fractured explanations.

Traveling in Europe is exciting enough without causing any extra problems for yourself by lack of forward planning. Bon voyage!

Useful links

It’s hard to beat Travlang if you’re looking for an excellent resource for basic language learning or finding our how much foreign currency you get for your dollar.

For the language phrases, there is a box on the right of the page where you can input your native language and the language you with to learn. You can also scroll down and link to the flag of the country or countries you are visiting.
You'll find useful common travel phrases with sound clips and a fun quiz to test your knowledge.

The money exchange calculator can be found on the home page of the same site.

~Anne Duguid

Anne Duguid, a Scottish freelance lecturer and writer, loves traveling in Europe. A true believer in budget travel as the best way to learn about a country, its people and its culture, she's looking forward to finding you that dream holiday in Europe. Join her on the European Travel Forum.