Home to some of the world’s greatest cultures and civilizations, Europe is a diverse and amazing place to go for a honeymoon, vacation, or just because. Traveling to a far away land can be somewhat stressful, especially if you’ve never been there before. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be a challenge! Let’s take a look at five things to keep in mind before boarding that plane to Europe.
Make Sure You Have A Passport & That It’s Valid
Traveling out of the country means you need to have a valid passport. Many European countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months after your arrival date, otherwise they may not grant you entry.
Call Your Credit Card Company
If you plan on using your credit card during your travels (which we highly recommend, as cash can easily be stolen), make sure you let your credit card company know about your whereabouts. If you fail to call them before your departure, your card may suddenly be deactivated. This can happen because your credit card company has a security team standing by checking for questionable transactions. If they know you live in New York City and your card was just charged $500 in Paris, this will be a red flag to them. Let your credit card company know where you will be traveling to so they don’t automatically assume your card has been stolen.
Don’t Just Visit Popular Tourist Attractions
There are many sights to see in Europe, and you probably have a long list of places and activities to check off of your bucket list. Instead of planning your trip around the most popular attractions, we recommend splitting your time between the big attractions and the smaller ones. When you’ve got some downtime from visiting the popular tourist attractions, try to find some overlooked areas of Europe where you can immerse yourself in the culture. Ask locals where to find the best restaurants, theaters, and other fun venues so you can get an inside look at what it’s like to live there.
Keep Yourself Protected
If you’re like most people you probably pay for things like renter’s insurance, car insurance, and health insurance. These things are great to have when something unexpected happens, like a burglary, car accident, or illness. It’s nice to know that you’ll be taken care of in worst case scenarios, and traveling to Europe should be no different. Protect yourself and your belongings by speaking with your insurance carrier about coverage while you are traveling. If your provider doesn’t offer travel insurance, consider looking for one that does.
Bring Copies Of Your Travel Documents
If you already have a travel itinerary for your trip, make sure you bring multiple copies with you in case you lose the original or it becomes damaged. You may also want to give your flight and itinerary information to a close friend or family member so they know where you will be at all times.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe and flying out of the Denver International Airport, park your vehicle with ParkDIA. Check out our airport parking rates and options online today.
