We all have always dreamt of a nice Euro trip which includes good stays, mesmerizing locations and the best cuisines the all of Europe offers us. What if I tell you that all this is possible if we plan our Euro trip with a little effort, perseverance and patience. By the word patience, I mean well in advance. To start with I would be dividing my blog into the following headings:
A. The Planning
B. Travel needs/must
C. Pre- travel checks
D. How to enjoy while being in EU?
E. Return leg back home.
The Planning: There is an old saying which says " We don't plan to fail but we fail to plan". If one needs to go on a Euro trip, A GOOD PLAN would go a long way in making the trip successful. Now what do I mean by a good plan? To start with, we all know that the best time to visit Europe is during the summer months of June to September. This is the time when the sun is high, the beaches are warm and the weather is sunny. So, if for example Sonu wishes to travel in September 23, he needs to start planning at least 12 months in advance to make his Euro trip a memorable one. Why this 12 months window? Read on the following points:
- The flight tickets if booked 12 months in advance would always be cheaper. Saving on flight tickets can actually help in planning a good trip. Also if planned well via flights which offer layovers( provided one is ok with it) the price can further be reduced. Take a note from the screenshot attached below where I have mentioned the travel dates as of August 2023. If for example we choose to enter Europe via Paris, the return tickets would be under 60k for direct non stop flights( return included). Cheap isn't it? One can get much cheaper options than the screenshot if they plan via layover/connecting flights. The below is a reference guide.
- The next comes your stay. As for the 03 Euro trips I have completed( one can see my blog for more details), I can say firmly that a good stay would always ease your trip. In this regard one needs to keep 02 important things in mind. First thing would be same as the ticket booking one that is, to book your stay WELL IN ADVANCE. This would help save you a lot of money which you can utilise while you enjoy Europe.
- Secondly, try to book a hotel ( at least 10 to 12 months in advance) near to the iconic sites or in the city centre of the particular city. This way one can save up on the commuting cost as most of the travel can be done on foot plus if your hotel is offering only complimentary breakfast then you can munch on from various nearby food joints as your hotel would be in the city centre. This way you can save on money by avoiding the high hotel dining charges😄
- The next step is your Visa planning. With the onset of COVID, a lot of restrictions were imposed by lot of countries but they are slowly being waived off. As for traveling to Europe one needs to apply for a schengen visa. Now what and how to apply for a schengen visa has been very clearly explained in my blog. One can go through it. For any more reading regarding Schengen visa one can visit
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/deu/apply-visa
-Once you are done with your Schengen Visa, it's time to check upon the things which are important. Clothes as per weather, your style quotient, Travel cards, insurance etc etc. Remember to have a mini first aid kit with some medication for fever/ nausea just as a precautionary measure. Do remember to have an extra phone with you while you are travelling, just in case, I hope you'll understand what I mean. Always try to confirm your travel plan from the arriving airport to your place of stay. Though all the cities in Europe have well equipped maps and direction signs in English, a confirmed plan would help you save time and reach hotel early.
- As per me, I have always loved choosing Paris as my arriving city in the EU. The reasons are, the visa is fast( I got it in 1 day🥰🥰), Paris offers very good connectivity via train to Belgium and Netherlands. So if you are a first time visitor, arrive at Paris, enjoy the Siene and Eiffel and hop on a train to Brussels which is 02 hours away. You can visit Antwerp, Gant and thereafter take a train to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The connectivity I tell you, is just so awesome. Schiphol airport at Amsterdam offers direct connectivity to almost all major EU cities. If booked in advance, one can get very cheap rates. I personally took a flight to Prague from Amsterdam which costed me 2500 INR( ticket was booked 8 months in advance).
-There are lots of cautionary measures which one should take while roaming around in the EU. One such measure is near the Eiffel tower which I have covered in my blogs here. Also, never carry all your money in cash form when outside your hotel. Better to have minimum cash and jewellery on you while being outside. Always ensure that the cards which you are using for paying are being used in front of you and be cautious about the CVV. We all are aware about what had happened with Mr Annu Kapoor while he was in Paris. Am not saying that it happens regularly but its always good to be vigilant.
- One should plan and confirm the tickets to all the major tourist attractions one wishes to visit, well in advance to avoid being in huge queues. Like for eg, the visit to 2nd floor of Eiffel. You all can see in the screenshot below that I had booked it online and I got the ticket on my email. This way I avoided the que at the Eiffel. I had booked it 2 months in advance. If visiting London, it's good to have an Oyster card. It really helps in daily commuting. One can visit the official sites of the particular tourist attraction and purchase online tickets. Britaintravelshop.co.uk is one site wherein you can purchase all the tickets to all major attractions in the UK.
- While you enjoy the scenic atmosphere, always be cautious about the people and surroundings. Never ever and I mean it, sign on any paper which young kids or old people would get to you. It's always part of a scam. Its better to just avoid them politely and move on. After all we havent gone so far to fight elections and become an MP🤣🤣.
- Always keep your Passport and the important documents in the locker or your room. Ensure it is locked at all times. Its always good to carry a color xerox of your passport( relevant pages which includes the Visa) and also the same in your phone. If at all anyone from the authority ever asks, you can always show the same on your phone. If the same is not acceptable to them, just politely tell them your hotel phone number and ask them to confirm from there.
- If traveling solo, always tell your loved ones about all your places of stay. Have the number of the embassy/consulate saved in your phone. It really helps when things go negative. I have personally never stayed in any hostels in Europe so I wont comment on the stay it offers, but always remember to never get into any kind of altercation with anyone for what so ever the reason may be. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU AREN'T IN INDIA and act accordingly.
I would like to summarise by saying that if one plans the trip well in advance with all bookings confirmed, the trip becomes a memorable one. I have tried to pen down the travel tips as per my experience. I am sure there is a lot to add on. Would love to hear from you all.
One last thing. While you do all the above as mentioned by me, DO NOT FORGET TO POSE😄😄🥰🥰.
Thanks for reading.
Tc.
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