Looking for the ultimate “Traveling to Europe checklist”? Look no further! Here are all the steps to plan a stress-free trip and enjoy your European vacation without a migraine!
After dreaming about it for years, are you finally traveling Europe soon? I am so excited for you! After growing up there, I can tell you, you are going to love it! Europe is such a diverse and beautiful continent. No matter what you are into, you will find it there!
Whether you are going to Europe for the first time or not, this European travel checklist will be very handy for you to prepare for your trip without worries!
If you wonder, “What documents do I need for traveling to Europe?” or “What are the things to know when traveling to Europe for the first time?” keep reading! Soon, you will be on point about what to do before international travel! I can’t wait to make your life easier with this article!
This blog post is all about sharing with you my Traveling to Europe checklist so you can plan your trip stress-free!
TRAVELING TO EUROPE CHECKLIST
WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED FOR TRAVELLING TO EUROPE
Planning a trip abroad can be stressful and a real nightmare if you are not organized or used to it. If you are going to Europe for the first time or just need a little help, here is what you should start with to make sure everything is in order for your upcoming international travel!
PASSPORT OR ID
The very first thing to do, even before booking your flight or train ticket, is to check whether you require a passport to travel to your destination or if you can visit with just your ID.
Next, check the validity of your passport or ID. If your passport expires within six months of your return date, you need to renew it. Keep in mind that depending on the season, it can take up to two months to get a new passport.
IDs work differently. For example, in France, your ID is considered valid up to 10 years after the expiration date. Weird, I know… So just check with your local authorities and make sure you won’t have any trouble on the day you leave for Europe!
Good news for you… If you are a European citizen, you can freely travel between different countries in Europe and won’t need more than your national ID!
VISA
I am not an expert on visa procedures, so I will keep this brief.
Don’t forget to check whether you need to apply for a visa to enter Europe. Most countries can enter the continent as tourists for up to 90 days, but some cannot. So, just check this out and make sure to complete all the necessary paperwork before traveling Europe.
PLANE, TRAIN, OR BUS TICKET
Now that you are sure your identification papers are in order, it is time to purchase your ticket to Europe. There isn’t a right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your means of transportation.
It will mainly depend on where you are leaving from, the prices, the duration of the journey, etc. My go-to websites for comparing plane, train, or bus tickets for European travel are the following:
- Plane: Google Flights, then head to the company’s website to see if you can get a better deal.
- Bus: Flixbus.
- Train: Ouigo for France and Spain, or Trainline for all European train tickets.
Be careful, though, if you are flying. Some countries will ask to see your return ticket before letting you board the plane. Check this before your departure date. Better safe than sorry!
TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE
Subscribing to travel health insurance is not mandatory to enter Europe, but it might be a good idea. After all, you never know what could happen.
Some credit cards come with travel insurance included, so start by checking this out before looking into private travel health insurance for traveling to Europe. If your credit card doesn’t offer this, and you want to purchase private insurance, I highly recommend Chapka Assurance. Check out their website to see what kind of packages they offer.
More good news for European citizens: if you get your European Health Insurance Card, you will be able to access public healthcare in another EU/EEA state for free or at a reduced rate. Once again, you never know what could happen, so get your card and start traveling Europe stress-free
mONEY RELATED MATTERS WHEN TRAVELING EUROPE
Money issues while traveling might be my biggest fear! What’s more stressful than traveling and realizing you don’t have enough money to pay for your accommodation or that your card has been blocked for some reason?
Thinking about how you are going to pay while traveling in Europe and considering potential money-related problems is a must. That’s why it has to be added to your Traveling to Europe Checklist!
CASH OR CARD?
This is a tricky one. Most places in Western Europe will accept credit or debit cards. I grew up in France, and until I moved to Ecuador, I never carried cash. However, if you are visiting Eastern Europe, you might want to get some cash, as small shops and local restaurants might not accept cards.
Another advantage of carrying some cash is that you can keep track of what you are spending. With contactless payments, it has become way too easy to make purchases and overspend.
In the end, it will mostly depend on your bank back home. If it charges you high fees every time you make a purchase with your card, it might be better to withdraw a large amount of money, so you only pay the fees once. Leave the cash you don’t need in a safe place in your accommodation. Some hotels even have lockers to keep your belongings secure at all times.
LETTING YOUR BANK KNOW YOU ARE GOING ON AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP
To avoid the previously mentioned problems, it’s best to inform your bank that you are going on an international trip.
Firstly, by doing so, they won’t block your card if they see transactions being made thousands of kilometers away from home. It happened to me before, and believe me, it wasn’t fun…
Secondly, you’ll be able to discuss fees and potential packages they can offer you for making payments and withdrawing cash during your international travels.
This will depend on your bank. I’m not a banker, so I can’t provide specific answers about how much they would charge you or the details of the packages. But this is what I’ve learned from experience! Sometimes, it’s better to subscribe to a $15 package to avoid transaction fees while abroad than to wait and see how much they will charge you for each transaction.
Another great option? Get an international card. I opened a Wise bank account, and it’s truly the best and easiest way to manage money while abroad. No hidden fees, no problems whatsoever… Just check out their website and see if you are eligible to get one of their cards!
BUDGETING FOR YOUR EUROPEAN TRIP
This is not mandatory, but it’s always best to know how much money you have for traveling Europe and how you’re going to spend it.
I firmly believe that the more prepared you are, the less stress you’ll have on your vacation. So take some time to think about your budget. Look at accommodation prices, food and grocery costs, activities you’d like to do, local transportation, etc.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: MY BEST BUDGET TIPS FOR VISITING EUROPE!
PLANNING MY ITINERARY
If you’re going to Europe for the first time, I’m pretty sure you already have a list of all the things you want to do and see during your trip! And even if you’ve been there already, you probably haven’t seen everything you were dreaming of the first time… So now it’s time to plan a quick itinerary to make sure you make the most of your European vacation!
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
First things first, decide whether you’re going on a road trip and visiting multiple European cities or if you want to stay in the same area for the entire duration of your vacation and discover it in depth!
Once again, there’s no right or wrong choice—it’s up to you and what you want to do in Europe.
Now that you know, make a list of the things you’re dying to see or do and quickly plan an itinerary to make sure you can fit them all into your European trip!
You don’t have to plan everything to the minute… Vacations are meant to be relaxing, and if you have to stick to a strict schedule, it might take some enjoyment away. However, check the opening hours and days of the attractions you want to visit, whether you have to book them in advance, and the cost of each to see if they fit into your budget… Just do a quick research to make sure you won’t have any surprises while traveling Europe!
TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS
If you’re planning a road trip around Europe, you might want to check the transportation options between your different destinations. Whether you’re flying, taking a bus or a train, renting a car, etc., just check the cost and the duration of the journey.
This way, you will avoid any stressful surprises while traveling!
Quick tip: Book your transportation as early as you can! Chances are, the prices won’t go down, especially if you’re traveling Europe during peak season. And you don’t want to have to redo your entire itinerary because all the tickets are sold out!
PACKING FOR MY VACATION IN EUROPE
Now that you know what to do before international travel, the real fun begins! It’s time to pack your bag, or at least to think about packing it.
For the longest time, I’ve been a last-minute packer… And to be completely honest, I still am sometimes. But thanks to my packing checklist and a few other tricks, I’m much more efficient, and packing for a trip has become a stress-free thing to do!
Keep reading to know my number one secret for packing efficiently before an international travel!
CAPSULE WARDROBE
This is the best packing tip ever! And I’m not kidding… It will literally revolutionize the way you pack for vacation. Whether you’re traveling to Europe or anywhere else in the world, think capsule wardrobe!
But you might ask, what exactly is a capsule wardrobe? Well, it’s actually quite simple. Here’s the general idea:
When preparing for your next trip, focus not on specific clothing pieces, but on maximizing the number of outfits you can create with the fewest items. Keep in mind that you’ll likely have the opportunity to wash your clothes during your stay!
The simplest way to achieve this? Opt for neutral items. A pair of jeans, a basic pair of shorts, and perhaps a colorful pair of trousers that can be paired with any plain, colorful top…
It’s all about packing the minimum number of items that can create the most stylish outfits for your European vacation.
PACKING CHECKLIST
Now that you know how to efficiently pack your clothes for traveling in Europe, you have to think about all the other things that need to be packed: hygiene products, computer, chargers, camera, first aid kit, identification documents, and the list goes on and on…
It can be a nightmare, and you can easily forget something along the way. But don’t worry, I have the solution to your problem right here!
Introducing my Packing Checklist!
Once you start using it, there’s no going back! It makes everything so much simpler, and for stress-free organization, there’s nothing better! Save it and use it for your next packing session—you’re going to love it!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: MY TOP 5 TRAVEL TIPS FOR PACKING LIKE A PRO
PLANNING THE LAST DETAILS BEFORE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
You’re almost there!
Now that you have the answers to your questions, such as “What documents do I need for travelling to Europe?” or “What to do before international travel?“, it’s time to provide you with the thing you’ve been waiting for most…
MY TRAVELING TO EUROPE CHECKLIST!
Print it out and use it to plan the perfect and stress-free vacation to Europe! And don’t forget—it can be used for any international or domestic travel!