One of my best friends will be married in Italy this spring, and as part of her hair and makeup team, I woke up earlier this week and realized: Will our American hair dryer blow the fuse? (According to the answer from my midnight research session: as long as we bring a dual-voltage dryer.)
But from power adapters and voltage converters to currency and international driving permits, there are plenty of extra little things to consider when traveling to Europe for a vacation. No matter how many Rick Steves guidebooks you read or how much you’ve prepared for your trip to Europe, you’re sure to learn a thing or two through field experiences. (Speaking of the ground, a lot of it is pebbles, making it hard to roll your suitcase or walk in flip-flops; More below!）
Ahead of the busy summer travel season, here are 11 common mistakes to avoid when traveling to Europe.
1. Over-packaging
When I first visited the Amalfi Coast with my girlfriend, we spent the week shuttling between the cliffside towns of Positano, Capri and Ravello. We took public transport, booked taxis and took ferries, all of which dragged our carry-on luggage. Rolling down even the most compact carry-on luggage along cobblestone streets and narrow aisles is already a feat, and larger luggage can be especially tiresome. In many European towns, taxis can take you near the hotel, but some small streets are closed to traffic, so you also have to walk. Plus, you don’t want to drag bulky, full-size up and down stairs.
2. Forgot to bring a power adapter
After a long day of traveling, you arrive at your hotel and are ready to plug in your phone charger, only to find that it doesn’t fit into an outlet. The difference between European sockets and American sockets is that European sockets have two round prongs, except for the United Kingdom and Ireland, which have three pins arranged in a triangular arrangement. Put the power adapter on your packing list, and if you travel abroad a lot, choose a universal power adapter with multiple pin options so you can use it in the rest of the world. This is especially useful if you’re traveling throughout Europe but staying at London airports for longer periods. If you end up forgetting the adapter, you can usually borrow one from the hotel front desk or find one at a local store.
3. Do not carry cash
You’re used to using Apple Pay by swiping a credit card or tapping your phone. But if you want a scoop of ice cream or an espresso from a small café, it’s best to have some euros on hand, as many places don’t accept credit cards. Even the larger restaurants and bars (especially throughout Germany) usually accept cash only.
4. Don’t have coins on hand
You also need to make sure you have some small-denomination banknotes in your wallet, as there are attendants at train stations and many public baths in large cities throughout Europe and require a small fee (usually less than euros or pounds).
5. Let the ATM exchange your withdrawal
Nate Hake, founder and CEO of travel website Travel Lemming, says it’s convenient to withdraw some euros from an ATM as soon as you land, but it usually costs around 4 to 9 percent to do so. He said there was a reduction in currency exchange at ATMs. If you travel a lot, he recommends buying an ATM card that can refund ATM fees worldwide, such as a Schwab Investing Checking account. Or, as long as you plan ahead enough, you can exchange money at a bank or credit union – this exchange route is often the cheapest.
6. Expect air conditioning in the hotel
One of my favorite feelings when traveling is returning to my hotel room after a long day in the heat and enjoying the air conditioning at full power. But many hotels in Europe don’t have air conditioning, or even if they do, can’t turn on the air conditioning as we are used to in the United States. If air conditioning is a must-have when you’re traveling, check with your hotel first to see if they have indoor air conditioning. Hotel chains, especially those with a lot of presence in North America, may be equipped with air conditioning – but it’s still a good idea to check them out.
7. Book the wrong type of rental car
When my boyfriend and I were looking for rental car options in Menorca, a small island of Balearic east of mainland Spain, I was surprised to find out how cheap these options were. But when we dig deeper, most of the good deals are for manual cars, and I haven’t driven a cane in decades. Choosing an automatic transmission will be a little more expensive, but if you are more comfortable to drive, then it is worth it.
Please also note that some rental cars are very small and hardly have any trunk space, so make sure the car you book will comfortably accommodate you and your luggage.
One final point about renting a car: European car rental companies usually hold a large amount of money on your credit card, so be prepared to wait for an authorization of €900 to €2,000 when you rent a car.
8. Forgot to get an International Driver’s Permit
If you are planning to rent a car in a European country, getting a $20 AAA International Driver’s License (IDP) will make the whole process go smoothly. Whether you really need one varies from country to country; However, some rental companies will ask for an IDP before handing over the keys to you. According to AAA, some countries such as Hungary do not recognize state-issued driving licenses, but accept IDPs.
An IDP can also meet Spain’s requirement to translate driving documents into Spanish because this document translates your information into 10 languages, including Spanish.
9. Book a hotel outside of the city center
While you may save some money by choosing this route, booking a hotel outside the city centers of Europe’s most popular cities like Paris, London, and Rome can require a lot of extra travel time and hassle, especially if you have kids at Cassie Tetro, a certified travel expert and itinerary designer who helps families plan their European vacation.
10. Take taxis everywhere
On a group trip to Florence, Italy, a friend took a taxi to the city center while I took the train. Due to the traffic congestion in the city, it was actually much faster to take the train, not to mention that I saved the equivalent of $20 dollars. Please note that when you take a train in a European country, you will need to validate your ticket – in most cases the ticket is valid for four hours.
11. There is no room for souvenirs
Kate Bossany, a travel expert at Throne and Vine who specializes in travel planning in South Tyrol and the Dolomites, says another mistake people make when traveling to Europe is forgetting that they might buy a bottle of wine or olive oil and want to take it home. Instead of stressing that your bottle will crack in your luggage, she recommends buying some lightweight wine cases that are leak-proof and lined with foam cushioning.