You’ve made your travel plans, your itinerary is set, but before heading to the airport take the time to prepare yourself both physically and mentally. Getting in the right frame of mind and being physically fit play a big role in determining the kind of trip you will experience.
It’s hard balancing your excitement with your worries. All the planning in the world can’t completely prepare you for what you might experience. The thrill of traveling across the Atlantic Ocean and stepping into a country you’ve heard about all your life is an adrenalin pumping experience. Conversely, unplanned deviations, your flight getting canceled, a train delay, a hotel that doesn’t have your booking, or worse, getting pick pocketed, can contribute to energy robbing stress.
Unexpected itinerary changes are upsetting, but they don’t have to ruin your trip. Having an open mind and being flexible go a long way in making the best out of a difficult situation. Also, there are tools in your traveler’s toolbox you should always have at the ready. The following three were helpful for our trip.
- A Smart phone.
The Mona Lisa at the Louvre
Having a smart phone turned out to be more essential than I realized. I was a reluctant convert, but I’m glad I did. It’s unbelievable all the information a smart phone can provide the traveler. With a smart phone you can stay on top of the latest flight information, check on or change your hotel reservations, find out museum times and even locate yourself via gps.
For example, the SSB Mobile app was indispensable for helping us with train travel in Switzerland. It made planning our travel between Swiss destinations simple. Not only does it give up-to-date departure times, but also how crowded the train might be and what platform for boarding. Make sure to bring your charger and proper electrical adapter.
I use Google’s Project Fi as a cell phone provider. After making a couple of setting changes before leaving, the Project Fi service worked seamlessly while traveling throughout Europe. Another plus, there was no additional fees for data or texting, and calling back to the States was only twenty cents a minute.
- Travel information offices
Even with a smart phone it’s still nice to be able to talk with someone in person. Fortunately, most European destinations have handy, well-located travel information offices (TI). Every TI office we used on our recent trip had helpful, insightful staff. They did a great job helping plan our sightseeing day. Also, TIs often offer reduced rates on local tours and museum entrance fees. Look for their location under the red i sign.
- Locals and fellow travelers
I’d rather pull out my teeth than ask someone for help. But don’t be like me; ask a fellow traveler or local if you need guidance. Believe it or not, the world is filled with friendly and helpful people. For example, on my first trip to Europe, I was with a group in London trying to find our way to Wimbledon for a day of watching tennis. We weren’t sure if we were on the right tube line and didn’t know what stop to get off. A man in a business suit overheard our conversation and in short order filled us in on everything we needed to know. We got on the right train and off at the right stop and had a fantastic day experiencing Wimbledon.
Wimbledon
Knowing help is readily available if things go awry is a major step in getting in the right frame of mind before leaving. But also take the time to get yourself in reasonable physical shape too. Join a health club, go for daily walks and buy a good pair of walking shoes. It’s amazing how much walking you’ll end up doing. From the train station to your hotel, a hike in the English countryside, traversing the slopes of the Alps, going to Europe requires a lot of walking. There is a lot to fun things to see in Europe and even more if you are willing to walk.
Hiking from town to town in the Cotswolds
Next time I’ll share a few thoughts on why a trip to Europe is a winning proposition for the creative, inquisitive person.
Great tips. Looks like you had a wonderful trip. I’ve seen the Mona Lisa (with a crowd of tourists in front of it 🙂 ) but I’d love to see the Alps–that top picture is gorgeous!
Thanks Marcia,
That picture was taken near Murren in the Bernard Oberland. Switzerland was fantastic!!
I must look into Google’s Project Fi – when we travel to the US, we’re always looking for ways to communicate without breaking the bank. Gorgeous pictures!
The Project Fi service was a great find. I would say it worked flawlessly while my son and I traversed around Europe.