Travel Guide Secrets to Europe “The Travel Guide Secrets to Europe

Transcription

Travel Guide Secrets to Europe
“The Travel Guide Secrets to Europe
You Are Not Suppose To Know”
By:
Tom Ellerbe
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© Tom Ellerbe-All Rights Reserved
www.travelguidesecretseurope.com
Limit of Liability/ Disclaimer of Warranty:
The authors and publisher of this book and the accompanying materials have used their best efforts in
preparing this program. The authors and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the
accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this program. They disclaim any
warranties (expressed or implied”, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The authors and
publisher shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other damages. As always, the advice of a competent
legal, tax, accounting or other professional should be sought.
This manual contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any
unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………..2
About the Author ……………………………………………………………………6
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………. 7
Planning the Trip……………………………………………………………………8
Travel Guides………………….………………………………………………..10
Welcome to Travel Reservations……………………………………………12
Manage Reward Programs…………………………………………………. 14
Online Search & Travel Services……………………………………………15
Bargain fares for seniors and students……………………………………16
Seat Guru………………………………………………………………………..17
Check my Trip…………………………………………………………………..18
VIP Lounge Access…………………………………………………………….19
Hotel Reservations …………………………………………………………….19
Home Exchange………………………………………………………. ……… 20
Holiday Cottages……………………………………………………………….21
Bed and Breakfasts……………………………………………………………22
Hostels……………………………………………………………………………22
Trains……………………………………………………………………………..25
Cruises……………………………………………………………………………26
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Rental Cars………………………………………………………………………27
Sightseeing Passes…………………………………………………………….31
How to prepare for Trip………………………………………………………….32
Travel Workbook……………………………………………………………….32
Language & Communications……………………………………………….33
Metric System…………………………………………………………………..35
Dressing for Europe…………………………………………………………...38
International Weather…………………………………………………………40
Where to Buy Travel Stuff…………………………………………………….42
Travelling with Electronics…………………………………………………..43
Cell phones………………………………………………………………………45
Computers & Internet Cafes…………………………………………………47
Cameras and Photography…………………………………………………..48
Coffee in the Morning………………………………………………………….50
Baggage and Luggage………………………………………………………..51
Carry-on Luggage……………………………………………………………...52
Packing Secrets………………………………………………………………. 53
Carry on Stuff……………………………………………………………………54
Check it or Carry on……………………………………………………………56
Health and Medications………………………………………………………58
Coping with Jet Lag……………………………………………………………59
Where to Pick a Flower- Public restrooms………………………………..60
Laundry on the Road…………………………………………………………..61
Travel Snacks and Energy Bars…………………………………………….62
Home Land Security………………………………………………………………63
TSA (Transportation Security Administration)…………………………..64
How to travel Safe……………………………………………………………..65
Travel Insurance……………………………………………………………….65
Passport and US Customs………………………………………………….. 66
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Execute Your Travel Plan………………………………………………………. .69
Your Money and Foreign Currency………………………………………..69
Tipping, shopping……………………………………………………………. 70
Connecting with Europe……………………………………………………..73
Airports………………………………………………………………………….75
Public Transportation………………………………………………………..76
GPS and Maps…………………………………………………………………77
Map of Europe…………………………………………………………………81
Summary………………………………………………………………………..82
Resource Index....................................................................................83
Online Travel Services...…………………………………………………….83
Large Hotel Groups…………………………………………………………..83
International Airlines…………………………………………………………85
Domestic Airlines……………………………………………………………..89
Airline Alliances, consolidators, Charter tour operators…………….89
Cruise Resources……………………………………………………………. 91
U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Europe………………………………92
“Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.”
-Syrus
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Hidden Travel Secrets
Cinque Terre Italy
“Find Paradise on Remote chunk of the Italian Riviera”
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About the Author
Normandy, France
Tom Ellerbe
•
International Travel Writer and consultant
•
Member of ITWPA ( International Travel Writers & Photographers
Alliance)
•
Member of PSA ( Photographic Society of America)
•
Worked as International Sales Manager for large Import
Company
•
Owner of Import Export company /Western and Eastern Europe
•
Traveled to Europe for business and pleasure for over 30 years
Mail: Ellerbe Associates
27068 La Paz Road #486
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 USA
Telephone: (949) 215-0903
Email: tom@travelguidesecretseurope.com
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Introduction
• How To Use Hot Secret Travel Tips
• So You Can Travel To Europe Like a Native
• And Make Your Trip The Most Intimate Ever
You are about to discover my Travel Secrets to Europe! These tips are
designed to provide a quick…. Condensed…. no-nonsense version that
will make your trip a success and allow you to feel like a native in the
country you are visiting. These techniques will benefit both business and
pleasure travelers.
“I will not advise you where to go, but how to go.”
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Planning the Trip
In 1977, I was hired by a building materials Importer. My first solo trip to
Europe took me to Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The European Euro was not launched until January 1999. I had to deal
with: Swedish Krona…Danish Krone…Germany Mark…Italian
Lira…Spanish Peseta. After 4 weeks in Europe, I landed in Los Angeles
with a pocket full of five different foreign currencies and some unpleasant
experiences.
I decided to study and create good travel plans for all of my future trips to
Europe. Over the years I have perfected the art of traveling. All my
International trips are now as easy or routine as taking a journey to Santa
Barbara, California.
Europe….Many Americans do not really understand or know The
Continent of Europe. It does not matter whether you pedal, fly or drive,
you’ll find a convenient and exciting way to see Europe.
One thing for sure, if this is your first trip to Europe, you will fall in love.
Europe has worked hard to make its territories and cities accessible to
everyone. In addition, they have devoted considerable time and resources
to ecology. If you would like to visit cities while riding a bicycle, you will
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find more of the major cities are renting bikes for hours or days, sometimes
even on a “help yourself” basis.
Modern tramways are now becoming popular in places that had stopped
using them.
Many large tourist areas are equipped with multilingual
audio-guides, so you can enjoy your visits to historical or cultural sites
without missing any details.
Many European hotels are following trends today such as offering internet
connections in rooms. European travel has changed over the past years
and is very friendly and enticing to foreign tourist.
Each country has its own influence based upon the historical backgrounds.
There is so much variety in architecture, cuisine, customs, music, dress,
dialect and language.
In the old days you could relax in your local travel agency while they
searched for the best deals.
Now, the internet is a great source of
information, but unless you have a system, this can be overwhelming. You
can spend many long hours and still not find the best deal.
Google “Travel Guides” you find over 120,000,000 results. There are
many billions of dollars spent each year in this industry alone. The vast
amount of information available can be very confusing.
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Your first major decision is trying to decide where to go. My efforts in
this EBook concentrate on European travel. It is impossible to cover the
entire world with general information.
You will become a real “Travel Expert” and enjoy spending your
“Hard Earned Money” on the Continent of Europe!
Travel Guides
Rick Steves’ Travel Guides are the very best money can buy. Rick has
been traveling to Europe for over 20 years and spends up to 4 months
every year updating and collecting new information.
The information provided will evaluate the most important activities and
sights in the European destination that you have chosen.
You can find current copies of Rick Steves’ books listed on Amazon and in
leading book stores.
Link to Amazon: Rick Steves' 2009
Several years ago while visiting London; we visited the Churchill Museum
and Cabinet War Rooms. What an outstanding experience, especially if
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you are a “history buff”. This is just one of many travel adventures that are
not seen by many tourists due to lack of available information.
The Cabinet War Rooms have created the first national museum dedicated
to Winston Churchill. The cutting edge technology and mixture of media
displays create an exciting historical journey of his “finest hour”.
The story begins on May 10, 1940 with Churchill’s appointment as Prime
Minister. The museum is divided into five chapters, spanning all 90 years
of Churchill’s life and events of the Second World War.
This was a fascinating walk through the underground headquarters of the
British High Command during WWII. Winston Churchill painted during
his quiet times in order to relax, and many of his outstanding oil paintings
were on display.
The Rick Steves’ travel guide will help you decide where to go and
“Travel Guide Secrets to Europe” will show you how to travel the most
efficient and effective way.
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Venice-Italy
Welcome to Travel Reservations
On any given flight, passengers in the same section of the plane are paying
a wide range of airfares, with some paying twice what others pay.
This depends on lots of variables, such as where you bought your ticket,
how far in advance you booked, and how you planned your route.
In the end, the price that you are paying for your seat has little to do with
how many miles you are flying.
Today you have much more information on travel at your fingertips than a
few years ago and this has put you as a traveler, in a better position than
ever before.
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But, finding the best travel deal is an “ever moving target”. Many of the
methods used years ago don’t work any more and this information must
constantly be updated.
The most important thing to remember with any travel booking is that
flexibility means savings. If you can move your travel dates, departure
times, and itinerary---even just a little---there will be a lot more fares open
to you.
Most airlines are very competitive on the same routes. The trick in getting
the best deals is not finding the best airline for the route, but finding the
specific times and routings that offer the lowest fare.
Some tips and advice to keep in mind
• Be as flexible as possible: Be willing to fly with any airline, on
any given day.
• Don’t wait until the last minute-plan ahead: Some Airlines
offer early bird discounts on reservations made up to three
months in advance.
• Consider flying to alternate airports: You can get cheaper
flights by flying to secondary or new airport hubs.
• Think about going during the “shoulder” season: This is the
period of time just before and just after the peak season. Aside
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from ski season, Easter, Saint Patrick’s Day-Ireland and
Oktoberfest, the shoulder season in Europe is April, May,
September and October.
• The week after Thanksgiving and New Years are dead
weeks but weather is also a factor. (You may save money but
might need an umbrella)
• Pick the off-season: Know the time of season that is offseason at your destination and this can save you money, not
only with airlines, but Hotels, cars and just about everything
else. The off-season in Europe is from November through
March.
• Check Foreign newspapers: The travel sections of foreign
newspapers advertise discount fares to just about anywhere in
the World. British newspapers are the most aggressive as
almost every major airline that goes to Europe from the US also
flies to London.
Note: Even if you do use a travel agency to book your reservations, these
same principles will help you and the agency, find savings for your trip.
Keep in mind that with the information in this EBook, you can easily do
this yourself.
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Manage Reward Programs
There is an interesting site where you can manage all your travel rewards
programs. You can swap, redeem or track miles and points balances in one
place. This is a free membership site where you can buy or exchange your
travel rewards…a great idea when you have multiple award programs!
Link to rewards site: points.com
Online Search &Travel Services
A web-based travel service is basically an online travel agency, where
you can book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages.
They can sell bookings on most airlines, hotels, and rental car agencies.
Here is a list of quality proven full service travel websites. I have listed
several travel sights that do offer excellent customer service and great
competitive prices with special savings. (A complete listing can be found
in the Resource Index page 82)
Links to Web-Based Travel Services
• Priceline: priceline.com
•
Vayama: vayama.com
• Economy Travel: economytravel.com
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• Travel Hero: travelhero.com
• Air France USA: airfrance.com
A Travel search engine is an Internet service that searches multiple airline
websites and even web-based travel services, looking for the best available
rate among hundreds of resources.
Travel search engines normally don’t sell tickets themselves, but route you
directly to the airline where you can book the reservations and purchase the
tickets. These are good places to do comparative shopping.
Bargain Fares for seniors and Students
If you are a senior citizen, a student, or under 26 years of age, you may
benefit from discount rates and special offers when you travel.
Senior citizens
Senior discounts were once a great way to cut the cost of an airline ticket.
But today, it seems that the seniors programs are either falling by the
wayside or not offering any particular advantage.
Youth programs
A child under the age of 12 may be eligible for discounted travel,
depending on the airline. If the child is traveling with an adult paying full
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fare, discounts can be 25% to 50%. Here is a couple of online youth travel
resources.
• Student Universe: studentuniverse.com
• STA Travel: statravel.com
Seat Guru
This is a great sight! You look up the name of the airline, and it will show
you the specific data on the make and model of the aircraft they are using
for this specific flight. You will find a wealth of information including
Number of seats in First, business and economy along with important data
on audio, video, AC power, food and infants.
Location of Galley and lavatories and emergency exit doors are also well
marked.
All Seats are Color Keyed
• Green color-good seat
• Green and yellow-good seat for some
• Yellow-Be aware
• Red-Poor Seat
Link to Seat Guru: seatguru.com
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Example: Lufthansa flies from Los Angeles, CA to Frankfurt, Germany.
Flight number LH457 is a Boeing 747-400.
• Go to Seat Guru: seatguru.com
• Find Lufthansa Airlines
• Find a Boeing 747-400
• Put your mouse on seats 56 D
• Notice this seat is color keyed red
Review: Seats 56, D, E, F, G may have limited recline due to the wall
behind and the proximity of the lavatories and the gallery may be
bothersome.
Now, book your flight and make your selection either directly with the
airline or online with full knowledge of the seats to avoid and the good
ones to select.
Check My Trip
This site is great! After your reservation is confirmed, you will find that
all your reservation data all has been posted to this independent website.
Check My Trip: checkmytrip.com
Put your reservation number and passenger last name in the boxes and the
following data is given: This data in updated as you make changes.
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• Booking Reservation number
• E-ticket or ticket numbers
• Confirmation number from Airline Company
• Details of your flight…departure and arrival time
• Details of when you should check in
• Flight notes and specifics (class, meals, seat selection)
• Destination information…weather at arrival airport
Just prior to your departure, you can download the latest data and
carry a printed copy with you. All important itemized details of your
flights are listed here in one place. This is a free service website!
Here is another great free website: www.tripit.com You can send all your
reservations and confirmations of air, auto and hotel and they will organize
for you and send a confirmation email for your records.
Vip Lounge Access
Priority Pass provides airport Vip Lounge access irrespective of which you
are flying with, what class you are traveling in, or whether you belong to a
lounge program. This is a membership website. If you do a lot of
traveling this site is work checking out. There is access to over 500 airport
VIP Lounges in 90 countries and over 275 cities.
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Priority Pass: prioritypass.com
Hotel Reservations
All the large hotel groups that are represented in Europe have connections
with Frequent Flyer programs. The following is a list of some of the better
hotel booking companies with outstanding prices and deals in Europe.
Links to Web-Based Hotel Travel Services
•
Priceline Europe: pricelineEurope.com
• Hotels.com: hotels.com
• Gtahotels: gtahotels.com
• Octopustravel: octopustravel.com
• Accorhotels: accorhotels.com
Home Exchange
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Home Exchange is the vacation alternative…. where you stay in my house
and I stay in yours.
There are two types of exchanges: Home exchange and Hospitality
exchange.
Home exchangers trade their homes, condominiums or apartments at a
time that is convenient to both parties, but these are not the only types of
accommodations that one gets to choose from. For example, one exchanger
traded his home for a 40-foot yacht. Another couple swapped their villa in
Italy for a RV in Oregon because they had always wanted to tour the U.S.
in true nomadic style. Often, home exchangers will include their
automobiles as part of the package.
Hospitality exchangers, on the other hand, host each other in their homes
at designated times. Your home exchange partners stay with you as guests
and then you go and stay with them as their guests. There is a social aspect
to this kind of exchange that some exchangers particularly enjoy.
Conceivably, you also get a built-in tour guide with this mode of exchange.
If the idea of home exchange is unfamiliar to you, or even a bit frightening,
rest assured -- there are 250,000+ successful home exchanges every year.
To learn more visit the following site.
Home exchange: homeexchange.com
Holiday Cottages
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Get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and back to nature. Find a
charming holiday villa country cottage in Europe. Accommodations range
from castles to country houses, farms to mills and from villas to chalets.
There are more than 6,000 holiday cottages in Belgium, France, Great
Britain, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal,
Germany, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Denmark and
Turkey.
There are stylish mansions and castles for family reunions, weekends with
friends and family, staff outings, wedding parties and other events from
couples to large groups.
(Note: click the following link and be sure to click to the English language
on the top right side of website as this is a Dutch powered website.)
HolidayCottages-EuroRelais: holidayCottages
Bed and Breakfasts
This is a good way to stretch the dollar….Many are found in smaller towns
and rural areas. You will find more cultural intimacy for much less money
than most hotel rooms. You may not have some of the hotel conveniences
but the extra charm and savings can make a good tradeoff. The following
website has good international data on Bed and Breakfasts.
International Bed and Breakfasts: bedandbreakfast.com
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Hostels
Hostels are inexpensive and cater to travelers of any age. They offer dorm
style accommodations and with cheap meals or kitchen facilities. You can
expect youth groups in the spring and crowds in the summer. The
following sight has excellent data on international Hostels.
International Hostels: hostelworld.com
There are some weird and interesting hostels around the world. Some are
located in old prisons, water pump stations and some in trees!
The large hotel groups are easy to communicate with and offer excellent
online reservations, but when contacting smaller hotels, I suggest sending
email or fax in very simple English language. It works better than calling,
especially if the person at the hotel does not understand English.
Tips for Making Reservations Direct With Smaller Hotels
When making Reservations to smaller hotels: Be sure to State exactly what
you are requesting. Type of room you are requesting (double 2 beds or
queen) arrival and departure dates, toilet and bath, Ocean view with
balcony if applicable.
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You need to be very specific in order to get the good rooms reserved
before your arrival. The choice of good rooms is always limited.
Suggested Fax or Email Hotel Reservation Form
To: (hotel)_________________________at (email/fax)______________________
From: ____________________________at (email/fax) ______________________
Today's date: (day/month/year) ____/____/____
Dear Hotel___________________________________,
Please make this reservation for me:
Name: ___________________________________
Total number of people: ____
Number of rooms: ____
Number of nights: ____
Arriving: (day/month/year) ____/____/____
My time of arrival (24-hour clock): _______
(I will telephone if I will be late)
Departing: (day/month/year) ____/____/____
Room(s): Single ____
With: Toilet ____
Double ____ Twin ____
Shower ____
Bath ____
Triple ____
Quad ____
Sink only ____
Special needs: View ____ Quiet ____ cheapest room ____ Ground Floor ____ Please email
or fax confirmation of my reservation, along with the type of room reserved and the price.
Please also inform me of your cancellation policy. After I hear from you, I will quickly send
my credit-card information as a deposit to hold the room. Thank you.
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
When you receive a response and the reservation is available, you will be
asked to furnish a credit card to confirm and reserve the first night.
I usually send this data via fax for security reasons. Most all European
hotels have email and fax numbers listed in the travel guides or on their
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websites. If English is not well understood, this is a better way to make
sure that your needs are well known.
Note: If you need to place a phone call to a European destination, please
refer to the world clock website and bookmark it. This site will not only
give you the correct time anywhere in the World but has a section on
international dialing for telephone calls. You can find all country and city
telephone codes listed on the left under other planning tools.
Time and Date: timeanddate.com
Let’s say you are trying to call the Hotel Santa Lucia in Venice, Italy from
Aliso Viejo, California USA. The phone number is listed as 39 41 715180.
•
•
•
•
•
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
International Call Prefix from the USA to Europe (011)
Country Code (39)
City Code area code (41)
Local Number (715180)
Dial Number (011 39 41 715180)
Note of caution: Sometimes you will see a 0 in front of the city code listed
on the hotel website or advertisement. This is for local calls within the
country and if you are calling from the USA you do not need the 0.
Trains
European trains have kept pace with technology without losing any of their
charm and romance. 21st Century travelers find it quick, easy, comfortable
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and even luxurious to travel over land by train to just about anywhere in
Europe.
Just a decade ago the Channel Tunnel – a marvel of modern engineering –
fulfilled the dream of a ground link between Britain and continental
Europe.
Today, the capital cities of Paris, London and Brussels are connected by
the sleek and swift Eurostar, which has raised the bar on rail travel.
Besides the high-speed trains, travelers will find many other kinds of
conventional trains to choose from that not only get you there but also
enrich your journey.
Public transportation is the fastest, most efficient and cost-effective way to
get around Europe.
Traveling by train in Europe is a quality experience. The system is well
organized and simple to use. For more than 60 years, Rail Europe has
been showing North Americans what Europeans have known all along: the
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best way to travel in Europe is on the train. I have always purchased my
rail passes, tickets and confirmed reservations direct through Rail Europe.
You can get prices, rail passes, rail/drive packages, book sleepers and all
necessary information about rail travel. Be sure to check out the “rail
pass” and look at the savings versus buying train tickets. The site is easy to
use and navigate. The schedules are accurate and kept up to date.
Rail Europe: raileurope.com
Cruises
There are many nice options to take advantage of when arriving in Europe.
You can add a cruise to a famous destination. Cruise Direct has been in
business for a long time and has a great reputation for cheap price
packages…. for all the cruise lines and destinations in Europe. Take a
Look at their site and view the European Cruise deals.
Cruise Direct: cruisedirect.com
Rental Cars
If you plan to rent or lease a car in Europe I recommend that you get an
International drivers License. This is available from a (AAA auto club
office) for a small fee.
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In Some countries like Italy, you are not able to rent without the
International Drivers license. This is very easy to get if you have a current
drivers license.
Link to AAA Travel website: InternationalDrivingPermit
Cars work best for three or more traveling together and when you are
packing lots of baggage. This is also the best way to see the countryside.
I highly recommend Auto Europe (rental brokers). This company is
located in Portland Maine and they will find the best discounted rentals
worldwide and have outstanding customer service 24/7.
They reserve a car for you and set up a very efficient voucher system that
holds the car for you. The website is very easy to use and their insurance
recommendations are clear and absolute. Also be sure to check with your
credit card company for their insurance coverage program.
When booking you pay a percentage of the price (50% - 100% - depends
on the country where you are picking up the car) and the rest is charged
either when you pick up the car or drop it off.
Don't worry about this pre-payment; you can cancel your reservation and
get a full refund or return your car early and be refunded the unused days.
If you have booked with AutoEurope and you have any problems with
your car, call the toll free number they provide and they deal with it for
you.
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This company has an excellent reputation and is very customer service
oriented. They provide a great deal of business to the rental agencies and
this gives them the clout to deal with problems on your behalf.
You must use a credit card and not an ATM card. The credit card must be
the same name as the actual driver. If there are additional drivers, there is
an extra charge.
Auto Europe: autoeurope.com
Auto Europe
Fax: (207) 842-2222
Reservations: 1 800-223-5555
39 Commercial Street
P.O. Box 7006
Portland, Maine 04112-7006
Phone: (207) 842-2000
Fax: (207) 842-2222
Reservations: 1 800-223-5555
Europe takes alcohol limits for drivers very seriously. These restrictions
are aimed at reminding travelers to drink responsibly. The bottom line is
the same as in the U.S. “Don’t Drink and Drive”!
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Europe’s Blood Alcohol Concentration limit for drivers generally ranges
from 0.02 to 0.08. Expect zero tolerance in Croatia, the Czech Republic,
Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
Gas or “petro” is one area which travelers will immediately understand
why Europeans favor smaller compact cars with manual transmissions, the
cost of fuel and the small medieval narrow alleys in Europe favor compact
cars.
Gas costs in Europe range from $8.00 to $10.00 dollars per gallon. Before
you hit the road, ask the car rental personnel to familiarize you with the car.
I mention this as the rental agencies are always very busy and like to just
hand you the keys and paperwork and let you figure things out. These are
foreign cars and the systems are different than what we are use to in the
USA.
If you do have car damage or involved in an accident, follow all the
procedures given to you. A good idea also is to take photos of any damage
to your or the other car. Insurance and liability varies from country to
country. The European roads are filled with visitors from all countries.
Make sure you understand the alarm system (so you don’t lock yourself
out). Become familiar with the type of “petro” or gasoline your car needs
and what is the local “petro” called at the service station.
In France diesel is called “gazole” or gas-oil, leaded petrol (super) and
unleaded (sans plomb). Filling up the tank is called “faire le plein”.
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Some additional tips for renting and driving in Europe: Auto pick up and
returns from Airports is very similar to the USA but train stations are much
more of a challenge as rental agencies are not always located at the train
stations, but a short distance away.
Take printed copies of GoogleMaps for airport and train pickups and
return locations.
Be familiar with the local road signs. You can Google road signs or
symbols: Italy, France, United Kingdom or other destinations. Study these
and take a copy with you when you travel by car.
You just need to know the basics so you can travel within the law and not
get lost. Your first time on the motorway is not the place to learn.
I would suggest that you purchase a Tourist and Motoring Atlas for the
Countries that you will be driving through. maps.com is a great online
website that carries over 25,000 maps and related products and have
everything you need for international travel.
Maps Dot Com: maps.com
When you use the toll roads in Europe, be sure to become familiar with the
exit signs and the toll stations and how to pay. They do take credit cards in
most countries and you need to know which lane to be in.
In a 50 mile run, you might have 10 toll stops. Keep plenty of Euros in
change as tolls can add up. Make sure you are prepared.
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Sightseeing Passes
Save on sightseeing with the London and Paris pass. This is a sightseeing
card that gives holder free entry to over 55 sights in London and 60 in
Paris. You can visit as many attractions as you want…avoid waiting in
lines with the fast track entry… save 100’s of dollars on entrance fees.
The passes can be ordered online and delivered to you prior to your
departure to Europe. If you are visiting London and or Paris, this card
makes lots of sense for all the right reasons.
London Pass: londonpass.com
Paris Pass: parispass.com
The British Heritage pass enables free entry to nearly 600 attractions
around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including
Stonehenge, Edinburgh Castle, the Roman Baths, Shakespeare’s Birthplace
and more….
.
British Heritage Pass: britishheritagepass.com
How to Prepare for Trip
Travel Workbook
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A well organized workbook in a binder will save you lots of headaches.
You also want to keep in mind the size, weight and bulk of this notebook.
(The lighter the better)
Workbook Contents
• Calendar- Complete travel schedule on cover of notebook.
• Flight- Airline confirmations and airport info & maps
• Auto- Vouchers and Confirmations, insurance paperwork
• Document Section- International Drivers License etc.
• Maps and Road Signs- Google maps and printed road signs
• Train- Rail passes and schedules
• Metro Subway- Information and maps
• Hotel and Restaurant Data- Confirmations and information
• Miscellaneous- Cell phone, ATM, charts and copies of documents
•
Map Holder Case- A three week trip could have 10-15 maps
Language & Communications
If you want to learn the basics of a foreign language, I would suggest
RosettaStone. These courses are offered on Amazon at great prices.
Link to Amazon: RosettaStoneLanguages
This is a fun and efficient way to understand and learn a new language.
33
You do not need to learn the native language to survive, but it is good to
know at least some common phrases. I personally studied French and
Italian using RosettaStone and had great results.
You will get friendly smiles when you attempt the pleasantries. It does not
matter that you do not pronounce the words correctly but the fact that you
try is the main point that is most appreciated by the Europeans. Americans
have a bad habit of not ever trying to speak foreign languages.
The major towns in the tourist trade areas speak some English but in the
smaller non-tourist towns, the native language is more common. Book
stores also carry small pocket dictionaries for most of the most common
foreign languages.
Main Languages by Country
Austria – German
Belgium – Dutch, French and German
Britain – English
Bulgaria – Bulgarian
Croatia – Croatian
Cyprus – Greek, Turkish, English
Czech Republic – Czech
Denmark – Danish
Estonia – Estonian
Finland – Finnish and Swedish
France – French
Germany – German
Greece – Greek
34
Holland – Dutch
Hungary – Hungarian
Iceland – Icelandic
Ireland – English
Italy – Italian
Latvia – Latvian
Lithuania – Lithuanian
Luxembourg – French, German, Luxembourgish
Malta – Maltese and English
Monaco – French
Norway – Norwegian
Poland – Polish
Portugal – Portuguese
Romania – Romanian
Slovakia – Slovak
Slovenia – Slovene
Spain – Spanish
Sweden – Swedish
Switzerland – German, French and Italian
Turkey – Turkish
Ukraine – Ukrainian
Ask the concierge or desk manager at your hotel to write directions in the
local language on the back of the hotel’s business card or stationery. This
will insure that you will be able to find your way back to the hotel
Tip: Speak English in a slow, clear manner. Use very simple English
words and phrases and try not to use any slang. This will make your
English language much easier for the Europeans to understand.
Metric System
35
Measurements are what keep us all sane. From small to large scale
calibrations, we rely on a variety of measurements every time we make a
purchase, eat a meal, or simply get in our car and drive.
The U.S. is one of the few countries that have not embraced the metric
system for everyday use, even though it has been part of our school
curriculum since the 1960’s.
This conversion, from our system of feet, pounds, quarts, etc. to the metric
system of meters, grams and liters, is probably the single most important
inconsistency that we are constantly faced with.
Europe uses the metric system and you need to be able to know how to
convert everything from the metric system to what we understand in our
weights and measures tables.
Note: A quick formula to change kilometers to miles: Cut the
kilometers in half and add 10 percent of the original (120 km= 60 + 12 =
72 miles).
The following charts will help you make these conversions and I suggest
you make copies and include in your travel workbook. I have also listed a
metric conversion calculator for those who like to invest in new “tech toys”.
Metric Conversion Chart
by Gabriel
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This is a convenient little chart I picked up somewhere. Simply follow the chart and it's simple to
convert from one measurement to the other.
When you know:
Multiply by:
To find:
inches
25
millimeters
feet
30
centimeters
yards
0.9
meters
miles
1.6
kilometers
centimeters
0.393
inches
meters
1.1
yards
kilometers
0.6
miles
ounces
28
grams
pounds
0.45
kilograms
short tons
0.9
metric tons
grams
0.035
ounces
kilograms
2.2
pounds
metric tons
1.1
short tons
fluid ounces
30
milliliters
pints, US
0.47
liters
pints, Imp.
.568
liters
quarts, US
0.95
liters
quarts, Imp.
1.137
liters
gallons, US
3.8
liters
gallons, Imp.
4.546
liters
milliliters
0.034
fluid ounce
liters
2.1
pints, US
liters
1.76
pints, Imp.
liters
1.06
quarts, US
liters
0.88
quarts, Imp.
liters
0.26
gallons, US
liters
0.22
gallons, Imp.
Metric Units
100 grams
1 kilogram
1 liter
1 centimeter
1 meter
1 kilometer
American Units
3.53 ounces
2.20 pounds
1.07 quart
0.39 inches
1.09 yards
0.62 miles
American Units
1 ounce
1 pound
1 gallon
1 inch
1 foot
Metric Units
28.35 g
453.59 grams
3.79 liters
2.54 centimeters
30.48 centimeters
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1 mile
1.61 kilometers
Miles Per Hour
20
30
40
50
60
70
Kilometers Per Hour
32.2
48.3
64.4
80.5
96.6
112.7
Kilometers Per Hour
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
Miles Per Hour
18.6
24.8
31.0
37.2
43.4
49.6
55.8
62.0
68.2
74.4
For those of us who like to have electronic toys, I would suggest a Metric
Conversion Calculator.
Link Metric Calculator on Amazon: metricCalculator
Dressing for Europe
Politics, economics and international terror have changed our world.
38
You want to avoid looking like a typical American tourist. Wearing a
bright Hawaiian shirt with a camera hanging around your neck will
certainly attract or draw attention from pickpockets, thieves and other evils.
Try to blend in and look and act like a European. Do not wear bright
colors and the latest fashions. The clothes I wear in Europe are almost
never worn in the USA. Most Europeans dress in plain natural colors.
Use Basic pastel shirts tops and sweaters with black, brown, blue or grey.
Try not to stand out! When you use neutral colors it is easier to mix and
match your clothes and reduce the wardrobe that must take with you.
Many women are much better at working with colors, materials and most
clothing issues. Taking more clothes than necessary is always the issue
here. (This is also one of my great struggles when I prepare to travel).
Find light weight and loose fitting garments and travel with comfortable
shoes. Americans tend to dress very casual. Do not wear tennis or athletic
shoes unless you are hiking.
You should always be in the mindset of packing and traveling light. Most
clothing stores sell all types of garments made with lightweight, moisture
absorbent “Microfiber” materials. These items will also dry quickly
overnight when you do laundry.
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Invest in shoes that are comfortable but can be used for both casual and
dress. Make sure they have rubber soles and some traction for the wet
climates in Europe. Do not wear shoes with leather soles.
Many of the areas that you will travel in Europe have cobble stone streets
that have been around for hundreds and thousands of years. These
walkways have lots of character but are difficult to walk on for periods of
time. I suggest shoes with very thick soles. You will feel the sharp points
of the cobblestone streets if you wear soft or thin soled shoes. Here is
where you need to make the decision to feel good not look good! You can
do both if you shop right. The choice of comfortable walking shoes will be
one of the most important decisions you can make. You will find that you
will do lots of walking in Europe. If you are not in shape or prepared, it
will be a real challenge. The following websites carry excellent models of
comfortable shoes for your European trip. These companies specialize in
comfort shoes and have some great designs and styles for men and women.
• The Walking Company: walkingcompany.com
• SoftMoc Internet Shoes: softmocinternetshoes.com
• Comfort Shoe Shop: comfortshoeshop.com
Hats and Caps
I purchase my European style hats online and have three or four that I
travel with. I do not wear “baseball” caps in Europe.
European hats for men on Amazon: ItalianLinenIvyCaps
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European hats for men and women: www.hartfordyork.com
International Weather
Always be aware of the time of year you travel and be prepared for the
right temperatures and climate changes. Dress in layers with light sweaters
and tops and be able to adapt to variations in the weather.
Make sure you carry an umbrella, light raincoat with removable liner and
an extra sweater in the fall and spring. The weather can be unpredictable.
Northern Europe – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden –
have a temperate, pleasant climate. Above the Arctic Circle, winter can be
crisp and cold.
In the southern part of the region, winter is generally mild with average
temperatures about 32° Fahrenheit, leaving summers comfortable as
temperatures seldom reach the 80s.
The Midnight Sun in summer is visible 24 hours a day in the northernmost
regions of these countries.
The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) can be observed in the sky over the
most Northern parts of the world nearest the Arctic Circle from September
through March.
Central and Eastern Europe – Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia,
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Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine – enjoy moderate cool summers with
temperatures hovering in the high 70s and cold, cloudy, humid winters.
This area enjoys four distinct seasons including mountain snowfall and
moderate to warm summers.
Western Europe – Belgium, Britain, France, Holland, Ireland and
Luxembourg – experiences mild maritime winters with cold snaps more
towards the east and heavier rainfall in the west. Summers are moderate
and cooler as you move north.
Southern and Mediterranean Europe – Croatia, Cyprus, southern France,
Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, Spain and Turkey – bask in
sunshine during most of the year. The winters tend to be mild while
summers are hot and dry (much like southern California), with some rain
in autumn and spring.
European countries measure temperature in Celsius (Centigrade) rather
than Fahrenheit. A quick way to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: Double the
temperature in Celsius and add 30 to this number.
Example: 20°C = 40+ 30 = about 70°F
You can expect lighter crowds in late spring or fall as the weather is
generally good but can be erratic. In the summer you have reliable weather
but crowds and long lines develop at tourist sights. European weather can
change quickly and often.
A good international weather site: weatherreports.com
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Where to Buy Travel Stuff
International travel is becoming more popular as “Baby Boomers” with
discretionary money, retire and expand the travel industry.
The tourism market is over a trillion dollar a year industry. There are over
22,650 magazines published in the U.S. each year and 645 are devoted just
to travel and tourism.
Travel products are being marketed in most department stores, athletic and
discount stores. Target and Wal-Mart now have large travel sections for
their products. Toiletries in the (TSA approved size of 3 ounces or less)
can be found in most grocery and Drugstores.
The following sites have an extensive line of travel accessories that can be
purchased on line. Click on the following sites and go to the “Travel
Accessories” section.
Irv’s Luggage Travel Accessories: Irv'sTravel-Accessories.com
Luggageguru Travel Accessories:
travelaccessories.com
Natural Travel Bath and Body Bars: lush.com
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Minimus specializes in individual travel sizes for many categories such as
food, coffee, cream, personal care, pharmacy, care kits, domestics and
much more. The major TV networks have all featured this site.
Minimus.biz: minimus.biz
Traveling with Electronics
Just as every country has its own culture, language and currency, each
country has its own solution to electrical and phone line access.
The two important considerations when you use electrical appliances in
Europe are socket shape and voltage. This means you need a converter and
adapter plugs.
Many of the new appliances have dual voltage use and a converter is not
necessary. Most electrical equipment is labeled with its range of voltage,
but you will still need an adapter plug for the European wall sockets.
The reason for the concern is that electrical voltage in Europe is much
higher than it is in the U.S., usually 220 V at 50 Hz, or twice the power
used back home where it is 110 V at 60 Hz.
The exceptions in Europe are Britain, Northern Ireland, Malta and Cyprus,
which are 240 V at 50 Hz. You can purchase a kit of adapters that are
labeled to work in all European countries.
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You can purchase these electronic products at….travel stores….department
stores….airport….office supply stores….or upon arrival in Europe.
You may be traveling with many various electrical appliances. You will
need to make sure you have enough converters and adapters as you might
be charging some of these items at the same time.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Electric shavers
Curling irons
Hair dryers
Cell phone chargers
Hot water devices
Camera chargers
Laptops
Often in hotel rooms, there will be only one power outlet, so a double
adapter is handy. An extension cord is a good idea when you want to do
some laptop work and they do not have an outlet near the desk in the hotel
room.
Make sure you have the correct international telephone jack for your laptop.
You will find many electrical appliances such as travel irons, hair dryers,
steamers, adaptors, converters etc. can be found in the travel accessories
section of Lugggeguru and Irv’s luggage.
luggageguru: travelaccessories.com
Irv’s Luggage: Irv'sTravel-Accessories
45
Cell Phones
There are good reasons to carry a cell phone, so you can stay in touch with
other travelers during the day and with friends and family back home.
Some accommodations do not have telephones (hostels, apartment rentals).
Traveling with a cell phone can be very cost-efficient.
You need to do good research and see what your best options are.
You should contact your cell phone provider to learn how you can use your
cell phone in Europe. You may need an additional international chip or
card.
You might need to subscribe to a supplemental international service option
with your cell phone company. You will pay very large amounts for
roaming charges if you are not using the right process or system. Europe
has excellent facilities and good range and coverage for cell phones.
The most cost Effective way to stay in touch when travelling abroad is
the “Mobal World Phone”.
The MobalWorldPhone works in 150 countries, and has no monthly fees.
It has been recommended by the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, INC
and the Washington Post. If you are planning to go overseas, it works out
cheaper to buy the $49 Mobal World Phone that requires no monthly fee or
46
recurring charges and it is much cheaper than renting an international cell
phone or buying a sim card.
You get your own international cell phone and number for life….it does
not matter where in the world you are…your friends, family and colleagues
always dial the same number to reach you. This is some of the best world
wide coverage. To learn more, see Mobal website:
Mobal GSM World Phone: MobalWorldPhone
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that
little extra.”
Computers & Internet Cafes
Cyber and Internet cafés have taken Europe by storm in university towns
and the larger cities. You will be able to keep in contact via the internet all
across Europe.
Some Libraries and universities offer free Internet access to the public.
Hotels may have a computer station in the lobby, but it is rarely free.
47
Before you leave home, be sure you have an e-mail account that you can
access on the road. Consider setting up a free, universal account.
If you bring your laptop, be sure to bring the plug and telephone adapters
as well as a converter. Europe has free Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
and wireless hotspots can be found in many hotels, restaurants, bookstores
and public squares. Dell computer has a list of technical requirements and
components for international use of laptops in Europe and on the aircraft.
If you are in the market for a new lightweight laptop, you can also check
out their specials and large selection of equipment.
Dell Computer International: ComputerInternationalRequirements
Dell Laptops: DellXPSLaptops
Free ISP Websites:
www.nopayweb.com
www.ezilon.com
Cameras and photography
Digital photography makes our picture taking process much easier. You
can carry a small point and shoot camera or a complex SLR with multiple
lenses and take over 500-1000 photos in a few weeks. You need to be
organized and prepared.
• Take extra maximum capacity SD or Flash cards
• You can download photos daily to your laptop
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• Carry reporter type backpack
• Get Insurance rider for your camera
The camera, extra lenses, Battery charger, CD’s, cables and cords add a lot
of weight and bulk to your travel pack. For safety, take your camera and
equipment on board as carry-on luggage.
You cannot carry everything with you at all times. When you want an
evening out and you leave your camera and gear in the hotel room, there
are some new security products that will protect your expensive equipment
You may have a large investment and this security makes good sense.
Security Protection: pac-safeTravelSecurity
This is a simple high tensile wire cage that you can place over a bag to
secure it and lock it onto a pipe or bed frame. This can give you some
“peace of mind”.
All camera gear and laptop can fit into backpack or equivalent. There are
many options with backpacks, slings, rolling packs and day packs. This
company has an excellent line for women and men.
Luggageguru: luggagegurubackpacks
I keep my pack with me when I am travelling from place to place. The
pack is just small enough to take on board planes as hand luggage. (There
49
is also extra storage for other carry on items) It does not look like a
camera bag making it less attractive to would-be thieves.
If you are taking substantial equipment, make sure it is properly insured.
Your current homeowner's policy may cover you or it may be necessary to
purchase a “rider”. If your equipment is stolen, be sure to report it to the
police and get a copy of the police report.
Make sure your policy covers "full replacement cost", as cameras,
depreciate fast. Make a list of all the serial numbers and itemized list of
the cost of all your equipment. This data will be valuable when making a
police report in the event of theft or questioned in Customs.
List your laptop and any other expensive electronics that you are taking
with you. No matter how well you think you know your camera, bring
your user manual! You can also download manual to your laptop.
Coffee in the Morning
Europeans live on a different time table than most of us. Many larger
hotels in the big cities do offer coffee machines in the rooms but finding
coffee in smaller hotels is more difficult. You will have to struggle to wait
for coffee if you are an early riser in most European hotels.
I like to travel with a compact coffee maker that will also make hot water
for tea, hot chocolate and soup. Space and weight is always a factor but
50
these are good choice as they are small, rugged and compact. The size of
the Brisk Travel Coffee Maker is approximately ( 6.5”x3.5”x2.5”)
Travel Coffee Maker on Amazon: BriskTravelCoffeeMaker
Travel Coffee Maker at Luggageguru: VoltageCoffeeMaker
Makes 8 0z of brewed coffee or hot water in minutes. Compact, easy setup
and tear down and works on dual voltage 120 or 240 VAC.
The other option is to take a beverage heater device in cup and use freeze
dried coffee packets.
I never travel without my coffee machine and it fits well in carry-on
luggage due to its shape. I need coffee first thing in the morning and a
coffee shop is usually hard to find early AM in Europe.
Baggage and Luggage
One of the most difficult tasks before each trip is trying to “travel light”. I
have purchased many different makes and models of luggage over the
years. Suitcases should be only as large and as heavy as you can carry
yourself. You will not have to depend upon others for help, and most
important, your back will thank you.
Here are some companies that I recommend as they have a very large
selection of quality luggage at competitive prices. They have been in the
51
business for a long time and are some of the largest suppliers of luggage in
the World, as you will see from vast selections on these websites.
Luggageguru: luggageguru.com
Irv’s Luggage: irvsluggage.com
Designer Luggage: luggageguy.com
Packing Cubes
I use packing cubes on all my trips. I did not think I would like them but
they are easy to use and are compatible with my luggage. In many small
European hotels, there is almost no furniture or storage capacity and these
clever packing tools give you many options and do save space. They can
work for you like a portable storage chest.
Luggageguru Packing Systems: packingsystems
Irv’s Luggage Packing Systems: IrvsPackingSystems
Carry on luggage
52
You need to check with your airline to see what the baggage requirements
are for checked and carry-on. The information varies between airlines and
destination countries.
The requirements also change from time to time, so be sure to check again
just prior to your flight. If your flight originates in the USA, you need to
check with TSA (Transportation Security Administration) to find out what
items you can bring on board and what items need to be purchased in the
secured areas of the airports.
• Most airlines list their baggage requirements online.
• TSA Carry on information: TSAcarryon
• Additional data on baggage is found in Homeland Security section
TSATravelers
Packing Secrets
Roll or bundle wrap garments to minimize wrinkles and maximize space.
Put tissue paper in rolled or folded garments to further minimize wrinkling.
Make sure you color coordinate your wardrobe by mixing and
matching tops and bottoms from a single color palette. You can dress up
53
or down with accessories. A well tailored jacket or blazer can be versatile
for men and women.
Wear your heaviest shoes or boots en route, pack the lighter pairs. Save
valuable space by stuffing socks and other flexible items inside the packed
shoes; Be sure to use shoes bags.
Use reseal-able plastic bags to pack electronic devices and other items
that you can separate and label.
Don’t pack to capacity! In all my years of travel, I use the 75% rule.
Your carry on or checked baggage should never be more than 75% full, so
you’ll have room for items you acquired on your trip.
When filling out baggage tags, a phone number and/ or an email address
should suffice. Indicating your home address advertises that you’re not
there. Be sure to post this information inside the bag in case the tag is lost.
Use only TSA-approved locks on checked baggage. Do not put anything
of value in your checked baggage. TSA screens every passenger’s
baggage before it is placed on an airplane. The technology allows them to
electronically screen bags. There are times when it is necessary to
physically inspect a piece of luggage. TSA has worked with companies to
develop locks that can be opened by security officers using universal
“master” keys so locks do not have to be cut. Locks are available at
airports and travel accessory stores. The packaging on the locks indicates
whether they can be opened by the TSA.
TSA Approved Travel Locks : travelLocks
54
It is important to have everything on board you will need to be comfortable
on a 7 to 12 hour flight to Europe. You are dealing with high altitudes, dry
air, thirst, jet lag and other challenges. Take one day change of clothes or
under garments in case your luggage is lost. (Of course this never
happens!)
Make sure you check the TSA website for the size of containers and
amount of liquids you can carry aboard and what you can and cannot take
in your carry one luggage. TSACarryonLiquids
Carry on stuff
Mini reading lights
Reading Material
Small magnifying glass
Spare eye glasses
Mini electric shaver
Calculator/Address Book
Silk money pouch
Credit /ATM cards
Passport
Travel receipts and confirmations
Travel workbook
Money (US dollar and Euros)
Change of clothes
travel pillow, eye shades, ear plugs
Note pad and pen
Camera, laptop and gear
Slippers
International drivers’ license
Light jacket
Umbrella
Travel watch (2-time zones)
Bottle water from secure area
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
55
Mouthwash
hand sanitizer/hand lotion
Jewelry
Mini first aid kit
Expanding utility bag
Aspirin/ sinus pills
Visine
Copies of all important documents
Deodorant
Cosmetics & Hygiene products
Comb and brush
Chap Stick
Breathe mints/Rolaids
Prescription medications
Diarrhea & Laxative pills
Travel Snacks
Extra items to pack in checked baggage
Compass
Screwdrivers
Cable lock (Luggage on train)
Pac-Safe Travel Security device
Breakfast/snack bars
Mini clothes line
Manicure set
Small day pack
Duct tape
Insect repellent
Adapters, converters
Cell phone charge
Camera charger
AA & AAA batteries
Extension cords
Travel coffee pot or cup heater
Travel coffee
Travel coffee condiments
Tea
Dried soup
Instant oatmeal
Salt and pepper
56
Picnic supplies
Wine and can opener
Plastic utensils
Sewing kit
Binoculars
Luggage locks
Sunscreen
Hand soap & laundry soap
Votive candles
Copies of all documents
Minimus.biz: TravelSizeMedications
Check it or Carry on
The airlines are adding fees for checked baggage and the Transportation
Security Administration places greater limits on carry-on and checked bags.
Air travelers must think before they pack for a trip, no matter the
destination or duration.
Check it
• Gives you flexibility. You do not have to haul the bags through
lengthy and crowded concourses or have to keep an eye on it in
airport restaurants or restrooms. Always check your airline baggage
restrictions and TSA carry on data. Also, make sure travel locks are
TSA approved.
57
• It saves time. You do not have to find overhead bin space which is
always a premium on an international flight. You can also pack a
few more things that you would have not taken with you.
Carry on
• Gives you varied flexibility. If the flight is canceled or delayed,
you can move fast. You can rebook on another flight and not have
to worry about the luggage ending up someplace that you are not.
• Saves time in other ways. You do not have to wait in check-in
lines at the beginning of a flight or at baggage claim at the end. This
means you are carrying less stuff and spending less time packing and
unpacking.
• Peace of mind. You never have to worry about the airline losing
your luggage
Conclusion: I prefer to travel only with carry on luggage. This is always a
big challenge to “travel light” and I have to eliminate items that I would
have normally taken in my checked luggage. With the problems today in
international airport security, this works best for me. You do have to plan
and sacrifice but it can work! There are many varied opinions on this.
58
Health and Medications
Medications and pharmacies are widely available throughout Europe but it
would be better if you fill your prescriptions before you leave.
Take your prescription medicine in its original packaging in your carry-on
luggage and a copy of your prescription in case you need to replenish
while you are traveling or show list to customs officers.
You should consult with your doctor prior to your departure to discuss any
health concerns. Americans entering Europe generally do not need
immunizations.
Check your health insurance policy to be sure you are covered while
traveling abroad, and take a copy of your ID card before leaving.
Alternatively, you may consider purchasing travel insurance.
Travel Guard: TravelGuardMedicalInsurance
Tap water in Europe is generally safe to drink but your body is not
accustomed to the local bacteria. It is better to drink bottled or filtered
water. Most Europeans drink bottled water!
It is useful to carry basic over-the-counter remedies such as charcoal caps,
ginger for minor travel irritations. There are over the counter and
prescription patches for motion sickness.
59
Coping with Jet Lag
There is a lot of controversy over jet lag and travel. There are many
remedies and suggestions to calm this problem. You might feel like “the
devils of hell” for several days after you arrive from a long flight.
Among the most common advice is to "reset" your sleep patterns by going
to bed early a few nights before you leave.
Get plenty of rest before you leave on your trip. Sleep as much as you can
on the plane, and walk and stretch when awake. Switch your watch to the
local time in Europe as soon as you board the plane.
Drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages while
in flight. Upon arrival in a new time zone, have a light meal at the
appropriate local hour and perhaps a brief stroll afterward. I enjoy a glass
of wine on the plane, so avoiding alcohol is not one of my things.
After arriving at your destination, stay up and go to bed at normal time and
resist the temptation to go to bed early or take a nap. Keep the first day or
two on a light schedule and try to relax. Soon you will be raring to go!
Where to Pick a Flower
(Public Restrooms)
“Finding a public restroom in Europe can sometimes be a real challenge.”
60
By Riana Lagarde
Imagine the era of the early 1800's, picturesque chateau Versailles,
refined, elegant ladies of the court who had to um, tinkle, would proffer
a polite phrase to let their ladies in waiting know –
"I am going to go pick a flower". Rustles of dresses would hasten to the
said lady to assist her in "picking a flower". They would go to a private
spot in the garden and form a circle around their lady (much like a
wagon circle) whilst she squatted in a special pot for that purpose.
What do the French do now when they want to "pick a flower"? Well,
they wait until they get home. That is what my French husband told me.
The French hold it. Period! They also don't drink water throughout the
day and are generally a very parched group.Since living in Paris for 2
years, I have broken every water/toilet rule: carrying my own bottle of
Evian and taking huge gulps while envious Franco-phones gasp on
metros, streets and rues.
I have used the toilets of friends that I was visiting (this is a big French
non-non) and I have done my duty outside of my own four walls. The
fact is that I always have to pee, and this is why I am writing these words
of advice, "Where to pick a flower in Paris".
Picking a Flower: publicToilets
Laundry on the road
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Laundry is a necessary evil of traveling. You cannot take enough clothes
to last until you return and sending out your cleaning is not always
available. There are limitations on finding laundry machines in some small
towns.
You need to be prepared to do some laundry at night in your room. An
extra large zip lock type bag can work as a mini washing machine with
water and detergent, close zip and shake vigorously.
You can also use the flat rubber sink stopper in the basin or lavatory. The
mini clothesline and light weight micro fiber materials you brought will
dry easily over night. The mini clips and clothes pins come in handy now.
I schedule my laundry when I am staying in one area for several days so I
have drying time. I keep my clothes to a minimum and have to do this
chore every 4 or 5 days as I usually stay in Europe for 3 to 4 weeks. I can
go for almost one week before I have to wash any underwear.
I recommend the following site to purchase travel size portions of laundry
soap and related products.
Minimus: Soaps&TravelProducts
Travel Snacks and Energy Bars
Carry energy bars and other snacks in your day travel pack as you wander
around. Energy bars can be placed into 5 categories. You do not always
have time to stop and eat. You try to stay on schedules and these energy
bars will keep you fit and moving.
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Name
Calories Fat
Sat
Fat
Calcium Fiber Pro Carb
Pria
110
3
2.5
30%
<1
5
17
PowerBar Original
Performance
230
2
0.5
30%
3
10
45
Met-RX Protein Plus
290
4
3
70%
3
32
31
Natural Vitality's New You
170
3
1.5
37%
3
10
26
Odwalla Bar
240
5
1
25%
3
16
31
EAS Results for Women
190
6
2
30%
4
11
28
Cliff Bar
240
4
1
25%
5
10
41
Power Bar Protein Plus
290
5
2.5
40%
1
24
38
Kashi Go Lean
280
5
3
2%
7
14
47
Met-Rx
320
2.5
0.5
70%
0
27
48
Genisoy
230
4.5
3
25%
2
14
33
Promax
290
6
3.5
20%
1
20
38
Balance
200
6
3.5
10%
<1
14
22
Luna
180
4
3
35%
2
10
26
Mojo
200
7
0.5
6%
2
9
25
Diabetic's Choice
240
10
4.5
15%
<1
20
3
Pure Protein
260
4.5
3.5
80
1
31
27
Zone Perfect
210
7
3.5
4%
2
14
24
Vitamins:
While it's true that you don't have to get your vitamins from energy bars,
they can offer you nutrition that you would otherwise not get from foods.
Most have 25-100% of the Daily Value of several vitamins and minerals.
Fiber:
Choosing a bar that's high in fiber can be difficult. But if we're watching
our weight, fiber is a big bar bonus, since it keeps us full, without
contributing excess calories.
63
Homeland Security
Terrorism is not a new consideration for Americans heading to Europe. In
the 1970s, we worried about Italy's Red Brigades, Basque separatists, and
the Irish Republican Army.
In the '90s, we feared widespread retaliation for the first round of
American bombs dropped on Baghdad. Then there were threats to
Americans by Muslim extremists. Now there's potential fallout from the
war in Iraq.
For these reasons, it makes good sense to not run around looking like an
American Tourist.
TSA (Transportation Security Administration)
Travelers may carry through security checkpoints, travel-size toiletries (3
ounces or less) that fit comfortably in a quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top
bag.
After clearing security, travelers can now bring beverages and other items
purchased in the secure boarding area on-board the aircraft. See the
following TSA website: What to expect at the airport.
TSA Airport data
Read the complete list from the TSA (USA).
64
Read the CarryOnLuggageUnitedKingdom (UK)
This PDF file tells you exactly which items can be brought on board if
flying from a United Kingdom airport.
NOTE: You must remove your shoes when going through security in the
USA. shoeScreenProcess.
Prior to your flight, check with your airline and the government (TSA)
websites to see if there are any changes to the current restrictions.
How to Travel Safe
Travel Warnings are issued to describe long-term, prolonged conditions
that make a country dangerous or unstable.
A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to
assist American citizens is difficult due to the closure of an embassy or
consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.
The travel intelligence gives country specific data, travel warnings and
travel alerts.
Most of the travel warnings are centered on the hot spots in the Mid East
and Africa and some in Eastern and Western Europe. Important warning
links:
65
U.S. Dept of State: StateDepartmentWarnings
Travel Insurance
There are many variations to comprehensive travel insurance programs
which include per-trip and annual plans, coverage for trip cancellation, trip
interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, baggage loss and more! Travel
Guard is one of the companies that I recommend with a 24/7-customer
service and World Service Center.
Travel Guard: travelguard.com
Passports and U.S. Customs
In order to travel to and within Europe, all U.S. citizens, including infants,
require a valid U.S. passport.
The best time to apply for passports is between September and December
when agencies are less busy; apply several months prior to your departure.
If you are applying for the first time or you need your passport urgently,
you will have to make an appointment to appear in person at a U.S.
Passport Agency office, a courthouse or a post office authorized to process
passports.
To make an appointment, call the State Department's automated National
Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778. For urgent renewals, you
66
may be required to bring proof of your trip such as an airline confirmation
number and expect to pay an increased expedite fee.
U.S. Dept of State Passports: StateDeptPassportInformation
Travel visas are not required for holders of U.S. passports on short-term
visits (less than 90 days) by any member countries of the European Travel
Commission with the exception of Turkey.
For Turkey, a visa is available upon entry or in advance through the
Consular Office of the Turkish Embassy in the U.S.
U.S. Embassies in Europe listed on page 93 of Resource Index
List of European Travel Commission Countries
Austria, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Macedonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece,
Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San
Marino, Serbia, Slovak, Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, Ukraine.
Further information is available on the individual countries’ tourism
website or you can check with the country’s embassy in the U.S. before
leaving.
67
Customs Regulations
Bringing back a luggage-full of goodies is one of the great pleasures of
visiting Europe, but it pays to be aware of any customs requirements upon
your return.
The U.S. Customs regulations Department has strict rules and regulations
and these vary from country to country. Follow these guidelines to make
sure you can actually bring home the items you purchase.
Prior to your departure, you may want to register certain items you take
abroad with you such as laptops, cameras or watches, so that when
returning home you will not be subject to a duty on them. Registration can
be done with Customs at the international airport from which you are
departing.
U.S. Customs offers this advice: “If you’re bringing it back with you, and
you didn’t have it when you left, and its total value is more than your
exemption, it is subject to duty.”
On your return flight back to the USA, you will be asked to fill out form
I-94 detailing the value of your purchases. Visitors who have been abroad
at least 48 hours and have not made a claim for exemption in the past 30
days can return home with up to $800 per person in purchases without
paying any duty.
A flat rate of 10 percent will be charged on the next $1,000 worth of
purchases. After that, the levies vary according to the article.
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If you do owe duty, it is payable upon your arrival in the U.S. in cash (U.S.
currency only) or by personal check in the exact amount, drawn on a U.S.
bank, made payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Some limits
on certain items are very specific.
Food items can be the trickiest items to bring home unless they include
baked goods, sweets or chocolates, which are simple to import. Avoid
bringing home meats, fruits or vegetables, and, while dairy items such as
milk, yogurt and hard cheese are allowed, soft cheeses such as Brie and
ricotta are not.
For additional information: USCustomsInformation
Execute Your Travel Plan
Your Money and Foreign Currency
Various forms of money are accepted throughout Europe, including local
currency, credit cards and limited traveler’s checks. International ATM’s
and banking cooperation have made Travelers checks almost obsolete.
You can easily get Euros from the many ATM’s across the European
countries. U.S. dollars can be converted at most banks. The Euro has been
very strong in the last few years and it is the currency of most European
Countries.
69
I suggest carrying a mixture of the following monetary solutions: US
dollars, Euros, credit and ATM cards. Contact the International
department of your local bank and find the process to buy Euros for your
trip.
There are also several good money conversion companies with good rates.
Bookmark the following link as it will give you up to date world currency
rates for over 164 countries. You can also purchase International currency
online.
Oanda Foreign Money: oanda.com
Before you leave the U.S., be sure your bankcards work with European
ATMs, as they usually need a Plus, Cirrus, Visa, MasterCard or Euro Card
logo on them. Check to see if you’re Personal Identification Number or
PIN can be accessed abroad.
Most European ATM keyboards have numbers only, so if you’re PIN
contains letters, take note of the numerical equivalents. In Europe, ATM
cards normally require a 4 to 6 digit PIN. Some European ATM machines
do not have numbers or letters on their keyboards.
Bank of America has an international department online where you can
find a list of International banks and ATM machines. Advise the bank and
your credit card companies that you will be out of the country using your
ATM and credit cards.
70
Write down all the phone numbers and card data so you can cancel in case
of theft or loss.
I normally order Euros from my bank to last me for the first week or two
and do not have to use the ATM’s. AAA Auto club has a program where
you can purchase foreign Euros at many of their national locations.
AAA Travel Services: AAATravel
Tipping and Shopping
There is no universal rule for tipping that covers all situations in all the
countries…..The short answer is to tip what you feel comfortable giving
whether in a cab, restaurant or hotel. If you stay at a swanky hotel or dine
in a posh restaurant, you can always check with the concierge.
Here are some general guidelines that might be helpful.
Tour guides, are tipped anywhere from a few dollars a day to $10,
depending on how long the tour is, drivers are generally tipped from $1 to
$5 per day. In some countries, public restroom attendants expect an
undisclosed amount of change: Be prepared to carry some euro change.
Restaurants, service charges range between 10 and 15 percent and are
often included in the bill; if the service was exceptional, you may opt to
leave something extra behind.
Hotel bills list service charges, in which case you should not feel obliged
to leave more. Give porters who carry your bags to the room from $1 to $2
71
per bag. The same holds true for a doorman hailing a cab for you.
Additionally, some people leave $1-2 a night at the end of their stay for the
chambermaid.
Depending on the country, taxi drivers may have lower expectations, but
10 percent is a good round number to work with, especially if they assist
you with bags.
Shopping
Shopping can be a cultural experience, whether it is a famous big-city
department store, or a small lace-making shop or grocery market.
Because every country has a reputation for particular products, do a little
research before you leave so you know what a bargain is?
Take advantage of your trip to load up on gifts for celebrations or the
holidays – remember to choose lightweight, easy-to-pack items. This is
why you need to pack an empty extra large expandable utility travel bag.
Chocolates from Belgium and Switzerland, leather from Spain, lingerie
from France, wines from Italy, wooden Christmas ornaments from
Germany or lace from Cyprus – Do some research in the countries you will
visit.
Check the local tourist offices or information centers for the locations and
times for market and produce events in the cities and villages. Most hotels
will have this information.
72
This is a great place to find bargains and fresh produce items. These are
free activities and can be a great cultural experience.
You can check the duty-free shops at the airports, on international ferries
or at some train stations.
These items are not usually sold at the best prices, but if time is short, then
this could be your last chance to purchase that wallet or scarf before
boarding the plane.
Remember that clothing and shoe sizes vary between Europe and the U.S.,
so be sure to try things on before buying.
Connecting with Europe
In May of 2007 we stayed in Paris for one week in an Apartment located at
30 Rue Cler. Open-air produce stands are stretched along this street six
days a week.
The cobblestone pedestrian street extends for several blocks and as you
step out each morning the busy market greets you with the “aroma of fresh
baked baguettes”.
This is really “French”, as you have many boulangeries (bakeries) to
choose from. Small cafes are found along this 3 block historical area. The
famous Eiffel Tower and Seine River are located within blocks of Rue Cler.
You are also within 5 minutes from the Ecole Militaire metro station.
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This sleepy neighborhood is not ideal for the night owls, but there are a
few notable exceptions. Café du Marché and La Terrassi du 7ème.
There are also many hotel options located in and around “Rue Cler”.
French Café
The Connected Traveler
• Be a thoughtful American
• Seek out European styles of living
• Want to learn by trying new things
• Accept and try to understand differences
• Be observant and sensitive
• Maintain humility and don’t flash your affluences
• Be positive and optimistic at all times
74
• Make a effort to bridge the language barrier
“Go as a guest….Act like one…..and you’ll be treated like
one!”
“You Reap What You Sow”
Airports
European airports have made large investments in security systems and
technology to make their terminals efficient and tourist friendly.
Many European airports are sleek, well designed and filled with top-of-theline shops and cafes.
Be sure to arrive at least two to three hours prior to your flight to Europe
and before any intra-Europe flights.
75
Additional security checks and gate changes can cost you extra time at
large International airports.
Keep your passport and another form of picture identification such as a
driving license in a safe easy to get to holding device.
Don’t’ forget to keep copies of your passport and other important
documents in your possession at all times in case the original gets lost.
After a long 10 or 12 hour flight in another time zone, you land at a very
large international airport and need to make a lot of decisions concerning:
• Flight connections
• Food and meals
• Ground transportation
• Phone confirmations
I always have terminal maps of the all the airports that I will be visiting.
The following link will allow you to find any international airport in the
World.
You can look up major airports in Europe and get all the up to date
information direct from their site including terminal maps that you can
become familiar with before your arrive. This will take some of the
confusing challenges out of your arrival experience.
International Airport Information: InternationalAirports
76
Public Transportation
Public transportation is the fastest, most efficient, cost-effective way to get
around Europe.
European buses and trains tend to be reliable, punctual and very
inexpensive. Large cities have complex transport systems and smaller
towns and villages have bus networks.
You can download metro (underground) maps of the major cities in Europe.
This is an excellent way to pre-plan and be familiar with the system you
will be using. You can also find a copy of the metro map at the stations.
If you plan to travel extensively in the city you are visiting, check with the
local tourist office about purchasing a daily or multi-day pass so that you
do not have to stop each time to buy another ticket. Public transportation in
many (but not all) European countries operates on the honor system.
You can download metro (underground) maps of the major cities in Europe.
This is an excellent way to plan and be familiar with the system you will
be using.
International Rail and Metros: RailUndergroundEurope
GPS and Maps
What is GPS? The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation and
precise-positioning tool. The system was developed by the Department of
Defense in 1973.
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GPS was originally designed to assist soldiers and military vehicles, planes,
and ships in accurately determining their locations world-wide. Today, the
uses of GPS have extended to include both the commercial and scientific
worlds.
Commercially, GPS is used as a navigation and positioning tool in
airplanes, boats, cars, and for almost all outdoor recreational activities such
as hiking, fishing, and kayaking.
Most auto rental agencies in Europe offer GPS with their rental package
and I highly recommend this.
They are available in English and since streets and roads are not well
marked in most cities in Europe, this is an excellent idea.
You can also purchase your own portable GPS device loaded with
International software and maps that you can use not only in the USA, but
also in Europe.
Consumer Reports gives good ratings to these three companies:
Garmin GPS: GarminGPS.com
TomTom GPS: TomTomGPS.com
Megellan GPS: MegellanGPS.com
Tiger GPS: TigerGPS.com
78
Maps
With modern technology today you can go to Google and find an address
anywhere in the World.
Many foreign hotels in small villages and towns cannot be found on any
maps but you can locate these on Google. My travel workbook always has
copies of many of these maps.
Google Maps: googlemaps.com
The European version of MapQuest or Rand McNally viamichelin is
produced by the Michelin Company in France.
If you do not use a GPS I
recommend that you try using “Viamichelin” for driving instructions.
Driving Instructions in Europe: viamichelin
• Directions in U.S. system
• Lists and costs of all toll roads
• Detailed distance and time charts
• Important travel information
79
On one of my trips to Europe, I downloaded and printed my driving trip
instructions from Paris to Honsfleur, France. I used the “ViaMichelin”
driving program without any other maps.
My driving instructions started in Paris at the Rer Gare de Lyon train
station, where we picked up our rental car from EuropCar.
The information indicated that the trip would take about 2 hours and was
209 km and the total cost for tolls would be 30.03 Euros.
I was given the instructions to take me to A-13 which is the road to
Honfluer.
This is an excellent program to use and it is free. The results were
excellent and very accurate. The information is very helpful, especially
when you do not have a command of the foreign language.
ViaMichelin link: viamichelin
Purchasing Maps
The largest map store in the world (Maps.com) has over 25,000 map
related products of (Atlases, folded street maps, and travel maps). You
will find country, continent, province and city maps from all international
World and European locations.
80
Europe
•
•
•
•
•
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Northern Europe
Southern Europe
Central Europe
Maps.com:
Maps.com
81
82
Rue Cler - Paris
Summary
These are the Travel Guide Secrets necessary to help you have an
exciting and successful trip to your favorite destination in Europe!
“Relax and go with the flow! Travel like a local”
Ciao, and have a great trip!
Tom
83
Resource Index
Online Travel Services
Best fares
www.bestfares.com
Expedia
www.expedia.com
Kayak
www.kayak.com
Mobissimo
www.mobissimo.com
Orbitz
www.orbitz.com
Sherman’s Travel
www.shermanstravel.com
SideStep
www.sidestep.com
Travelaxe
www.travelaxe.com
Travelocity
www.travelocity.com
TravelWeb
www.travelweb.com
Travelzoo
www.travelzoo.com
Large Hotel Groups
Best Western
www.bestwestern.com
Hilton
www.hilton.com
Le Meridien
www.starwoodhotels.com
Mandarin Oriental
www.mandarinoriental.com
Marriott
www.marriott.com
Movenpick
www.movenpick-hotels.com
84
Sheraton
www.sheraton.com
Novi
www.novihotel.com
Holiday Inn
www.holidayinn.com
Radisson
www.radisson.com
More Foreign Groups
Accor
www.accorhotels.com
Apex
www.apexhotels.co.uk
Choice Hotels
www.choicehotels.com
InterContinental
www.ichotelsgroup.com
Kempinski
www.kempinski.com
Jolly
www.jollyhotels.it
Melia
www.solmelia.com
Minotels
www.minotels.com
Romantik
www.romantikhotels.com
85
International Airlines
Aer Lingus
Ireland
800-223-6537
Argentina
800-333-0276
Mexico
800- 237-6639
Venezuela
888-912-8466
Canada
888-247-2262
China
800-982-8802
Europe
888-238-7672
France
800-237-2747
Indi
800-223-7776
Jamaica
800-523-5585
New Zealand
800-262-1234
www.aerlingus.com
Aerolineas Argentinas
www.aerolineas.com.ar
Aero Mexico
www.aeromexico.com
Aero postal
www.aeropostal.com
Air Canada
www.aircanada.com
Air China
www.airchina.com
Air Europa
www.aireuropa.com
Air France
www.airfrance.com
Air India
www.airindia.com
Air Jamaica
www.airjamaica.com
Air New Zealand
www.airnewzealand.com
86
Alitalia
Italy
800-223-5730
Colombia
800-284-2622
UK
800-247-9297
China
800-233-2742
Germany
800-524-6975
Panama
800-359-2672
www.alitalia.com
Avianca
www.aviaca.com
British Airways
www.britishairways.com
Cathay Pacific Airways
www.cathaypacific.com
Condor
www.condor.com
Copa Airlines
www.copaair.com
EasyJet
UK
www.easyjet.com
El Al Israel Airlines
Israel
800-223-6700
Finland
800-950-5000
www.elal.com
Finnair
www.finnair.com
GOL
Brazil
www.voegol.com.br/INT/
Iberia
Spain
800-772-4642
www.iberia.com
87
Icelandair
Iceland
800-223-5500
www.icelandair.com
Indian Airlines
India
www.indianairlines.com
Japan.jal.com
Japan
800-525-3663
KLM
Netherlands
800-374-7747
Korea
800-438-5000
Lan Airlines
Chile
800-735-5526
Lloyd Aereo Boliviano
Bolivia
800-327-3098
Germany
800-399-5838
Mexico
800-531-7921
Australia
800-227-4500
www.klm.com
Korean Air
www.koreanair.com
www.labairlines.com
Lufthansa
www.lufthansa.com
Mexicana
www.mexicana.com
Quantas Airways
www.quantas.com
Ryanair
Ireland
www.ryanair.com
SAS
Sweden
800-221-2350
Switzerland
877-359-7947
www.sad.se
Swiss Int. Airlines
88
www.swiss.com
TACA Airlines
Central America
800-535-8780
Brazil
800-235-9826
www.taca.com
TAM-Brazilian Airlines
www.tamairlines.com
TAME
Ecuador/Galapagos
www.tame.com.ec
TAP
Portugal
800-221-7370
Thailand
800-426-5204
Turkey
800-874-8875
Brazil
800-862-8621
UK
800-862-8621
www.flytap.com
Thai Airways Int.
www.thaiair.com
Turkish Airlines
www.thy.com
Varig
www.varig.com
Virgin Atlantic
www.virginatlantic.com
89
U.S. Domestic Airlines
Alaska Airlines
800-426-0333
www.alaskairlines.com
America West Airlines
800-235-9292
www.usairways.com
American Airlines
800-433-7300
www.aa.com
Continental Airlines
800-525-0280
www.continental.com
Delta Airlines
800-221-1212
www.delta.com
Frontier Airlines
800-432-1359
www.frontierairlines.com
JetBlue Airways
800-538-2583
www.jetblue.com
Northwest Airlines
800-225-2525
www.nwa.com
Southwest Airlines
800-435-9792
www.southwest.com
United Airlines
800-241-6522
www.united.com
US Airways
800-428-4322
www.usairways.com
Airline alliances
Sky Team: www.skyteam.com
Star Alliance: www.staralliance.com
Oneworld Alliance: www.oneworld.com
Airline Consolidators
Air Brokers: www.airbrokers.com
Air Consolidators: www.airconsolidators.com
AirfareStore.com: www.airfarestore.com
90
Airline Consolidator: www.airlineconsolidator.com
Travel Hub: www.travelhub.com
Charter and Tour Operators
Apple Vacations: www.applevacations.com
Affordable Tours: www.affordabletours.com
Flight Find: www.flightfind.co.uk
SITC: www.indiamart.com/sitctravel
TFI Tours: www.tfitours.com
Around-The-World bookings
Air Brokers: www.airbrokers.com
AirTreks.com: www.airtreks.com
Round The World Tickets: www.roundtheworldticket.com
Air Time Table.com: www.airtimetable.com
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Cruise Resources
Princess Cruises: www.princess.com
Royal Caribbean Cruises: www.RoyalCaribbean.com
Carnival Cruise Lines: www.carnival.com
Norwegian Cruise Line: www.ncl.com
Celebrity Cruises: www.cruisecritic.com
Holland America Line: www.hollandamerica.com
Yachts of Seabourn: www.seabourn.com
Cunard Cruise Lines: www.cunard.com
Disney Cruise Line: www.disneycruise.disney.go.com
World’s Leading Cruise Lines: www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com
Windstar Cruise Line: www.windstarcruises.com
Discovery Cruise Line: www.discoverycruiseline.com
Crystal Cruises: www.crystalcruises.com
American Cruise Lines: www.americancruiselines.com
Bahamas Cruise: www.imperialmajesty.com
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U.S. Embassies & Consulates in Europe
Where to go if you lose your passport!
Country
Address/Local
Telephone
Hours & websites
Austria
Parkring 12a
Mon–Fri 8:30–11:30
tel. 01/313-390
emergency services 8:30–17:00
fax 01/512-5835
www.usembassy.at
Regentlaan
Mon–Thu 13:30–16:30
27 Boulevard du Régent
Fri 9:00–noon
tel. 02-508-2111
www.usembassy.be
Vienna Embassy–
Consular Section
Belgium
Brussels
Consulate
fax 02-511-2725
BosniaAlipasina 43
Herzegovina
Sarajevo Embassy tel. 33/445-700
Croatia
Zagreb Embassy
Czech Republic
Prague Embassy
Mon–Thu 14:00–15:30
Fri 8:00–11:30
fax 33/659-722
http://sarajevo.usembassy.gov
2 Thomas Jefferson
Mon–Fri 8:00–noon & 13:30–
Street
15:00
tel. 1/661-2300
www.usembassy.hr
Tržiště 15
www.usembassy.cz
tel. 02-5702-2000
Denmark
Copenhagen
Embassy
Dag Hammarskjölds Allé www.usembassy.dk
24
tel. 33-417-100
fax 35-430-233
Estonia
Tallinn Consulate
Kentmanni 20
www.usemb.ee
tel. 668-8100
fax 668-8267
Finland
Helsinki Consulate Itäinen Puistotie 14B
tel. 09/6162-5701
France
Paris Consulate
www.usembassy.fi
4 avenue Gabriel
passports Mon–Fri 9:00–12:00
tel. 01-4312-2222
www.amb-usa.fr
93
fax 01-4296-2839
Germany
Berlin Embassy–
Consular Section
Clayallee, 170
Mon–Fri 14:00–16:00
tel. 030/832-9233
www.usembassy.de
fax 030/8305-1215
Gibraltar — No
U.S. Embassy or
Consulate
For passport problems,
contact U.S. Consulate
in Madrid, Spain
To call Madrid from
Gibraltar: 00 tel. 34 91
587-2200
fax 00 34 91 587-2303
Great Britain
London Embassy–
Consular Services
24 Grosvenor Square
Mon–Fri 8:30–12:30 & 14:00–
tel. 020/7499-9000
16:00
www.usembassy.org.uk
Greece
91 Vasilisis Sophias
Athens Embassy
Avenue
http://athens.usembassy.gov
tel. 210-721-2951
Hungary
Budapest
Embassy
Republic of
Ireland
Dublin Embassy
Szabadság tér 12
Mon–Thu 13:00–16:00
tel. 1/475-4164
Fri 9:00–noon & 13:00–16:00
http://hungary.usembassy.gov
42 Elgin Road
www.usembassy.ie
Ballsbridge
tel. 01/668-8777
fax 01/668-9946
Italy
Rome Embassy
via Vittorio Veneto
Citzen Services Mon–Fri 8:30–
119/A
12:30
tel. 064-6741
www.usembassy.it
fax 064-674-2244
Montenegro
Podgorica
Embassy
Ljubljanska bb
Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00
tel. 81/225-417
http://podgorica.usembassy.gov
94
Morocco
Casablanca
Consulate
8 Boulevard Moulay
Mon–Thu 8:30–9:30 & 13:30–
Youssef
15:00
tel. 22/267-151
http://casablanca.usconsulate.gov/
fax 22/204-127
Netherlands
Amsterdam
Consulate
Museumplein 19
Mon–Fri 8:30–11:30
tel. 020/575-5309
www.netherlands.usembassy.gov
fax 020/575-5330
Northern Ireland
Belfast Consulate
Danesfort House
Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00
223 Stranmills Road
tel. 028/9038-6100
fax 028/9068-1301
Norway
Oslo Consulate
Henrik Ibsens gate 48
Mon–Fri 9:00–12:00
tel. 2130-8787
www.usa.no
Poland
Krakow Consulate ulica Stolarska 9
tel. 124-245-100
Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00
http://poland.usembassy.gov
fax 124-245-103
Portugal
Lisbon Consulate
Avenida das Forças
Mon–Fri 8:30–noon & 13:30–
Armadas
14:00
tel. 217-702-122
www.american-embassy.pt
fax 217-272-354
Scotland
Edinburgh
Consulate
3 Regent Terrace
Tue & Thu 9:00–13:00
tel. 0131/556-8315
fax 0131/557-6023
Slovakia
Bratislava
Embassy
Hviezdoslavovo
Mon–Fri 8:00–11.45 & 14:00–
namestie 4
15:15
tel. 2/5443-0861
http://slovakia.usembassy.gov
tel. 2/5441-8861
Slovenia
Ljubljana
Embassy
Prešernova cesta 31
Mon–Fri 9:00–11:30 & 13:00–
tel. 1/200-5595
15:00
fax 1/200-5535
http://slovenia.usembassy.gov
95
Spain
Madrid Embassy
Calle Seranno 75
Mon–Fri 8:00–13:00
tel. 91-587-2240
www.embusa.es
fax 91-587-2243
Sweden
Stockholm
Consulate
Dag Hammarskjölds Väg walk-in Mon–Fri 9:00–11:00
31
by phone Mon–Fri 13:00–15:00
tel. 08/783-5300
www.usemb.se
fax 08/783-5480
Switzerland
Bern Embassy
Turkey
Istanbul
Consulate
Jubiläumsstrasse 95
walk-in Mon–Fri 9:00–11:30
tel. 031-357-7234
by phone Mon–Fri 14:00–17:00
fax 031-357-7280
http://bern.usembassy.gov
Kaplıcalar Mevkii Sokak
Mon–Thu 8:30–11:30 & 13:30–
2
15:00
tel. 212/335-9000
http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov
96
97

Travel Guide Secrets to Europe “The Travel Guide Secrets to Europe

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