First of all check out our Summer Specials and last minute Savings
If there is a special event, restaurant or museum exhibit you wish, book it now. Europeans are raring to travel; so far a 14% increase. A Vermeer exhibit in Amsterdam was sold out months in advance. A revival of Guys and Dolls in London same situation. I am not a believer of Skip the Line tickets; seems elitist. If the ticket relates to your dreams, then go ahead.
Covid 19 is gone but you should still obtain travel insurance. Masks are gone; bring one anyway. Who wants to sit next to a sneezing coughing passenger on an 8 hour flight? Again Medicare does not work overseas.
Carry on essentials: you don’t have to overload your carry on. Consider bringing spare panties, tee shirt, medicine. Wear your most comfy shoes. A few simple items, are enough for a day or two. Hotels often pitch in with amenities / quick laundry. If delayed, most luggage is returned quickly. Oddly it is a relief to have only what is on your back.
Global warming might or might not effect your trip. Bring a water bottle or reuse the one you bought already filled. You find more European bottles are squishy and not so durable; all to do with lighter or degradable plastic. If you are out of water, don’t be shy about asking in a bar or restaurant. Vendors will usually be nice about helping if you, in turn, are nice. PS cutlery will probably be bamboo or a type of paper. You must bring your own bags for shopping or pay again.
Be careful about falling and tripping. If you carry less stuff, you are sturdier. Recently, I had to run for a last minute train. Getting 2 suitcases onto the down escalator was a nightmare and stupidly dangerous. The alternative to the train was waiting for the next, asking for help, taking an expensive taxi. Falling down a escalator was a bad choice even compared to the $$ taxi. The key is don’t panic like I did.
Europeans are more casual than ever. Theater goers come in jeans. Fancy restaurants do not expect dresses. Less packing for you.
Patience is king (or queen)? Staff is still new and often young. Since the pandemic, this is the first year hotels and tourist related vendors have been busy. The room you booked might have minor issues; perhaps few stayed there in the past 2 years. My approach to needing the “engineer” is two fold: Ask for another room. Second: Ask for another room.
As usual drum into your head that things are different in other countries. Cars might have right-of-way not pedestrians: cross the street with locals. A waiter might not split a dish with a friend; in Europe sharing is not common. Accept full payment and move on. Bread and butter might be an extra cost? Bottled water might be poured before you can say “tap please”. Pay and move on. Your beloved Amex card might be refused ( increasingly so). Cash also not accepted, even for small items? Live and learn. Adapt or, as with the dodo bird, disappear.
Forgot to say Be a good ambassador. Yes I binge wanted the Diplomat on Netflix. Travel Tips from Award Winning tour company: The Women’s Travel Group. Contact us here for last minute Summer trips including a $975 savings on Italy and Switzerland.
