Planning A Trip To Europe

Europe offers some fantastic cities, towns, villages, attractions and places to visit both in the Summer and Winter but if you intend planning a trip to Europe, whether it is a holiday with family, backpacking or business, there are several things that you might want to get in place before travel. Obviously there are many different factors you need to take into consideration when planning a trip to Europe and these can certainly be determined from which country you are traveling from and where you will be traveling to!

Europe is a very large area and is made up of a large number of different countries. Each of these countries have their own laws and regulations and some have different regulations that may restrict your movements throughout Europe. This can then slow down your trip and it is therefore best to have everything in place before you travel.

Many people like to have a schedule in place before they leave for their trip, whilst others find they prefer to ‘play it by ear’ and simply make up their schedule once they set off. Both these choices are common and both have advantages and disadvantages but it really is personal preference as to which one you choose. However, whichever one you choose, there are several things you need to have in place before you set out on your trip to Europe. Having these simple things in place before you travel, will allow you to have peace of mind and will also ensure your safety and in the process, save you time and money.

Planning Your Intinerary

If you do choose to plan an Itinerary before you go it can prove beneficial to work out which countries you want to see, what towns and cities you wish to visit and how long you need to stay in each one.

Ask Yourself:

How much do you want to see and explore each country?

Do you want to visit several towns and cities in a couple of countries and spend a longer time in each city or do you simply just want to visit a larger number of countries throughout Europe briefly to see what each of the countries are like and to experience the different cultures and cuisines.

Not only will this help you decide whether you need to just visit a couple of countries or whether you need to visit more, it will also help you establish how much money you will need to cover the cost of your travel.

One of the most time consuming aspects of your trip to Europe will be travel and navigating your way around each city. Doing a little research before travel about the local transport systems in each country will certain lt help save you time, stress and money.

Establish Your Own Budget Before Planning A Trip To Europe

Establishing your own budget may sound an obvious point to make but this can determine, where you go, how many places you can visit and also how long the duration of your trip will be.

The reason why establishing your budget before travel can be a good exercise, is because you may find that your budget actually allows you to do more than you first expected. If you have a budget set and then start planning a trip to Europe around that budget by pre-booking things in advance, you will know how far that budget will stretch and what it allows you to do. However, if you do not budget and simply ‘Pay As You Go’ on your trip, you could find you run out of money very quickly or end up spending much more than
you had hoped n certain items or services!

Obviously, there will always be unexpected costs that could occur but you should always factor these in by keeping a little spare money aside for those eventualities and any unforeseen circumstance, should they arise.

Why You Should Always Book In Advance Where Possible When Planning A Trip To Europe

Remember, most things are cheaper when booked in advance. If you turn up at the airport, hotel, ferry port, car hire company, train station, coach depot or tour company and asked to book with them on the day, you will pay a much higher price than if you were to book in advance. This is because you are then a ‘captive market’ who is needing the service ‘Now’. This makes you very vulnerable and will also give you very little bargaining power with very little chance of receiving any deals. If you book in advance, the companies now that you have several other options available to you and they will be wanting your custom, so they will be more eager to offer you the best deals to encourage you to book with them rather than go elsewhere and book with their competitors. It is also a case of supply and demand and the earlier you book, the prices will be lower and as
more people book and reduce availability, the price increases. So, when planning a trip to Europe, the best policy is always book in advance where possible.

When you book in advance, it reduces the risk of disappointment. Booking such things as car hire, accommodation and transfers in advance allows you to actually book the
car, room or transfer of your choice as you will have a large selection to choose from. Turning up on the day does not offer this guarantee and generally, if you simply turn up on the day, you will have to take what you are given!

Also, booking in advance will help you establish you own budget. As a result of you paying less, you will probably find that your budget will stretch further and that you will have more money spare to allow you to do other things or visit more places than you first originally thought possible.

Another big bonus of booking in advance is obviously that it reduces the amount of money you will need to carry on your person when you are traveling. Carrying large amounts of money is not recommended and if you can reduce the need to carry money, then this is a good thing.

What Can Be Booked In Advance When Planning A Trip To Europe – The Simple Steps

There are several things that you can pre-book in advance and the most common services and ones that are recommended to be booked in advance are:

Airport Parking – Car Hire – Coach Transfers – Hotels – Insurance – Rail Travel – Tours – Taxis – Flights

Step 1:

Flights: Obviously, your initial flight to your first destination in Europe should be booked in advance. Flights should always be booked in advance as this will save you money, time and will also be a good way to stick to your schedule. Using one of the flight comparision websites will help you find the best deals for your chosen destination. If you would like to find the best deals of flights to Europe, please click on the link: Flights To Europe.

Step 2:

Transportation Throughout Europe: Once you have reached your first destination, you will need to decide which form of transport you would like to use to get yourself to and from the airport and then which form of transport would be the best to link you with your additional chosen destinations in Europe on your trip.

Chosing which form of transport you choose will depend on your budget and there are several options available to you.

The cheapest option is normally to use the local public transport networks that operate to and from the airport and if you choose this option, you will need to do a little research into what is available at each airport.

A popular choice with many travellers is to pre-book their transfers and if you would prefer to book your airport transfer in advance, the following list will provide you with the information you need to book your transfer from the airport.

Car Hire

Coach Transfer

Airport Shuttle

Taxis

If youare wishing to travel through the many different countries and cities in Europe, once again you have several choices. There are many low budget airlines that now operate throughout Europe and these all service the major cities. However, although these airlines are cheap, you will be required pay for any additional luggage other than your free hand luggage allowance of 10kg. This means that if you are travelling with several bags, it can prove to be quite expensive.

One of the really popular forms of transport people use to make their way across Europe is the train. Europe has a very extensive rail network that connects passengers with the many major towns and cities in a large number of countries. This is a very cost effective way to travel through Europe because you are not restricted with your luggage and you can purchase several different tickets that are valid for a set period and for a large number of countries throughout Europe.

European Rail Travel

Essential Steps When Planning A Trip To Europe

Documentation

Firstly, it is a good idea to establish which countries you want to visit and then ensure you have the correct documentation to enter those countries. It may be that you only intend visiting one country and you may not require any further documentation other than your valid passport but it is always a good idea to check prior to travel. If you intend visiting many different countries throughout Europe which involves crossing borders, then it is essential you ensure you have all the correct documentation you need to gain
entry to those countries.

Obviously, you will need your passport to gain entry to most countries throughout Europe and it is a necessity that you hold a valid (in date) passport.

Please Note: Some countries may require your passport to be valid for 3 – 6 months after the date you enter or leave that country. So you will need to ensure that your passport does not expire within that period of time.

For example: If you are traveling in March and you enter the country in March and your passport is due to expire in July that same year and they required a 6 month validity after entry to that country, you would not be allowed entry. Yes, although you would hold a valid passport to travel until it expires in July, some countries only allow you entry if your passport is valid for a certain length of time after entry. It is always advisable to check prior to traveling.

If you are unsure about whether or not you will require any additional documentation for a specific country you wish to visit or if you just want to check you have the correct documentation, the following link will help you find the relevant travel advice by country:

Travel Advice By Country to help you with planning a trip to Europe.