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Note: Italicized notations by the author.
' ' ' ' ' '
It rains. Be prepared.
Totes Titanium Auto-Open/Close Umbrella
Weather protection is important. This is a great lightweight water repellent windbreaker.
The Stormbreaker
by Turfer Sport
Turfer Women's Featherweight Jacket
Look sharp and be comfortable.
Three Dots Women's Longsleeve Turtleneck Tee
Jones New York Womens Shawl Collar Rain Jacket
Clarks Women's Wave.Run Slip-On
Tilley Endurables TH9 Women's Hemp Hat
I wore one similar to this on my early spring trip to London and Dublin.
Lamb Leather Bomber Jacket - Brown
This is my "standard" shirt for most of the year in Europe.
Men's Combed Cotton Euro Design Ski Turtleneck
My favorite T-shirt/undershirt has a pocket for securely carrying passport, cash, and credit cards.
Turfer Tagless ComfortSoft T-Shirt with Pocket
Wool Blend Ivy Cap
For leg comfort on the plane.
Arriva Travel-Tec Travel Legwear with Smart Compression Technology
To relax and sleep on the plane.
Organic Valerian Root 515mg - 100 - Capsule
Rolling luggage sure beats lugging a pack on your back.
Delsey Luggage Helium Fusion Light 21 Inches Expandable Carryon
Day luggage for your walkabout.
Samsonite Lightweight 17" Tote Bag
A rugged travel combo.
McKleinUSA Buckingham Tech-Lite Ballistic Nylon Executive Travel Combo
Wear a money belt under your shirt to protect your passport and valuables, especially if you are staying in hostels or dorms.
Victorinox Deluxe Concealed Security Belt
An RFID blocking wallet protects your passport and credit cards from identity theft in public places.
Travelon RFID Blocking Passport Case
This portable combo door stopper and alarm will give you additional security in your hotel room.
GE 50246 Smart Home
Door Stop Alarm
This carry-on liquids kit meets TSA airline rules.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Custom Travel Bottle Kit
Walk on cork for all day comfort.
Birkenstock Bali Sandal
Just as comfortable as tennies but look great.
Men's Riva
Comfortech Slip-on
by Florsheim
Make sure that your electrical appliances are 110-220 dual voltage so they will work in Europe.
Note:
These appliances require a plug adapter(s), NOT a converter, for the countries you are visiting.
Vagabond Compact Styler
Conair's Dual-Voltage Ionic Hair Dryer
Conair Flat Iron 2" Ceramic Straightener
Dual Voltage
Travel Hair Setter
Dual Voltage
Remington H-1015
SteamFast SF-717 Home-and-Away Mini Steam Iron (dual voltage)
Braun Series 1 150 Men's Shaver with Automatic Worldwide Voltage Adjustment
For light sleepers here is an international "white noise" machine. Includes a Continental
plug adapter.
Marsona TSCi-330 White Noise Travel Sound Conditioner For both USA and International Use
This CPAP machine is specified for 110-240 dual voltage. All you need is a plug adapter to use this in Europe
RemRest Tier 3 CPAP Machine by Evo Medical
For coffee or tea in your room, without waiting or paying for room service.
Lewis N. Clark Immersion Heater 120/240V
Be on time. Trains and planes don't wait.
Casio Men's G-Shock Ana-Digi Chronograph Sport Watch
Casio Baby-G Ladies Watch
You will need one or more of these plug adapters for your appliances and chargers.
For details on electricity in Europe see chapter 11,
Electricity in Europe: Travel Voltage Fundamentals
Plug Adapter (doubler)
Universal to Continental Europe "Europlug."
4.0 mm prongs
SIMRAN PLUG ADAPTER
Adapts grounded USA plugs to European "Shucko" plug.
4.8 mm prongs
This is a universal plug adapter for the UK and Ireland.
Grounded Adaptor Plug for Britain and Ireland
The holes of many Italian outlets are too small for the Schucko plug. One of these will probably fit.
If you have the Europlug (above) you do not need this plug.
Italy Adapter Plug B
Ungrounded
4.0 mm prongs
Plug Adapter for Italy
Universal to Grounded 3 pin
To use this with American plugs you'll also need the USA to Continental Europe adapter.
Grounded Adapter
Europe to Switzerland
For charging the batteries of more than one gizmo at a time use this 250 volt universal
power strip. It comes with a grounded Continental plug.
Surge Protector
Power Strip
6 Universal Outlets
220/240 Volt 50/60Hz
To use the surge strip in Britain and Ireland you will need one of these plug adapters.
Grounded Adapter
Europe to
Britain and Ireland
To use the surge strip in Italy you will probably need this plug adapter.
Grounded Adapter
Europe to Italy
Here is a smaller power surge strip with three universal outlets. It is wired with an American grounded plug so it needs a plug adapter for the countries you are visiting.
SM-60 Universal 3 Outlet Power Strip / Surge Protector for Worldwide Travel. 110V-250V with Overload Protection.
This ungrounded plug adapter will get you plugged in just about anywhere.
All-in-One Travel Power Plug Adapter for US, UK, EU, AU.
This transformer rated for 200 watts will power many of your appliances if they are only rated for 120 volts.
Transformer - 200 Watt Non Grounded Heavy Duty
OK, this is the elephant. If you are moving over and taking your electric saw, planer, drill, etc. I recommend it.
Transformer - 1000 Watt Non Grounded Heavy Duty
Absolutely the best battery for digital cameras which use AA batteries.
Energizer
AA Lithium Batteries
4 Pack
Rechargeable batteries are expensive but pay for themselves over and over.
This charger is good for worldwide voltage and comes with 4 pre-charged batteries.
It requires a plug adapter for the countries you are visiting.
Sanyo Eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargable Batteries
w/ Worldwide Charger
This kit includes a pair of rechargeable batteries with a USB powered charger.
SANYO NEW 1500 eneloop 2-AA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries
w/ USB Charger
Wash in your room basin and save time, trouble, and money.
Woolite Laundry Soap
20 packs, ¼ oz. each
Inflatable clothes hangars help with drip dry clothes washed in your room.
Inflatable Travel & Laundry Hangers Set Of 4 by Whitney Design
Keep your stuff organized.
Luggage Packing Cubes
eBags 3pc Set
Samsonite Space Saver Bags for Travel
The two gallon size is excellent for packing your clothes, but it is hard to find in Europe.
2 gal. clear plastic bags
ZipLoc by SC Johnson
Much stronger than duct tape and doesn't leave that gummy residue.
Strapping Tape
1" x 60 yards
3M Company #8957-1
The essential timetable and handbook for rail travelers.
European Rail Timetable
Summer 2011
Thomas Cook
A comprehensive guide to 3,000 hotels and restaurants in 44 major cities throughout Europe.
Main Cities of Europe 2011
Michelin Guide
This will come in very handy once in a while.
Swiss Army
LED Flashlight
Bring home the memories.
Olympus FE360 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Dual Zoom (Silver)
This is the camera that I use,
Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
with this amazing lens,
![Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens](http://enjoy-europe.com/images/B000BY52NU.jpg)
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens
and this filter.
HOYA 72mm Circularizing Polarizing Filter
More camera options.
Canon Rebel XTi 10.1MP
Digital SLR Camera with
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Olympus Evolt E500 8MP
Digital SLR with
14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5
Zuiko Lenses
35mm SLR Camera
Deluxe Kit with 28-90mm Lens
Canon EOS Rebel 2000 Silver Date
Sony DCR-DVD108 DVD
Handycam Camcorder
with 40x Optical Zoom
This is one of the handiest camera accessories I own.
CLAMP-POD
Adorama SMALL 4001
For leg comfort on the plane.
Arriva Travel-Tec Travel Legwear with Smart Compression Technology
Block the light and noise while flying.
Bucky Shades Sleep Mask
With Earplugs
Certainly a better pillow than the corporate issue on the plane.
Bucky Fuzzy Wuzzy U Pillow With Snap & Go
Kindle
Amazon's
Wireless Reading Device
|
|
Chapter 2
of
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
Internet edition. Without photos.
A page from
enjoy-europe.com
with
John Bermont
Everybody's life is on a budget.
STAYING ON A BUDGET
Making a travel budget is relatively easy. Staying on one is the real challenge.
It's like being on a diet.
Budget vs. Expense
A budget is the amount you plan to spend. An expense is the amount you
actually spent.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide information on getting the cost data
together so that you can make your budget. In other words, make an estimate of your
expenses for the trip. Later in the book you will learn many ways to save money
compared to the first-cut estimates you will make now. Since it is a natural human
tendency to spend more than is planned, make sure that you have the finances to cover
your budget. If you have a surplus in the last week of your trip you will certainly find a
way to take care of that "problem."
Even if you feel that you don't need to budget, the exercise will be
enlightening. When you're traveling, money is always flowing and it helps to know just
how much. Keep an eye on your funds to prevent rip-offs. Declare a victory when you
score good bargains which you can brag about at home, whether it's a humble tea pot
or a new Porsche.
Cash Draw System
There are a number of ways to put your budget into practice. One method I
have found very effective is to go on a twice weekly cash draw system. Every Monday and Friday
morning, say, go to an ATM and get the cash that will carry you through to your next "pay day." If you're
running out before you get that far just starve or stop shopping until your pay day.
That may be unpleasant but it will save you from the jam I saw
others fall into. They failed to monitor cash flow and found themselves with the
inevitable unpleasant surprise — an empty wallet. Waiting for money from home is
certainly the worst way to spend time in Europe.
To use the cash draw system effectively you must use your credit cards sparingly or not at
all. I use my credit cards for hotel bills, sometimes. It is easy to let the credit run but
then you have a potentially crushing bill when
you get home. That's OK if you pay it off immediately but if you're paying the "minimum due"
the banks will hit you with usurious interest rates next month. Just don't do it.
Another draw back to using credit cards is the higher cost. Credit cards typically charge a
"foreign transaction fee" of around 3%. Some credit cards show this as a separate line item on
your statement but others just jumble it in with the exchange conversion rate. American Express
jumbles it in. US Bank Visa card shows it as a separate line item. Neither my credit union
Visa card or my Capital One Visa card charges a foreign transaction fee.
To be sure, most American banks charge a fee when you draw cash at the ATM of another bank, and the
other bank typically charges a fee on top of that. Most credit unions do not charge a fee so that is
the preferred way to bank. Also, no bank that I have encountered in Europe charges a fee to draw
money from your home town American bank. The exchange rate is the best you can get, the interbank
rate.
To minimize the bottom line — use an ATM card from a credit union and pay in local
cash when in Europe. Get a credit union or Capital One credit card for your big expenses.
Always carry a few hundred bucks in reserve. Don't touch it except for an emergency.
MAKING YOUR BUDGET
How much does it really cost to travel in Europe? Are you put off by travel
agents quoting you hotel rates of $300 per night, or are you enraptured by reports of
$5 dollars a day, room, meals, and transport included? Both are true. In fact the
extremes are further apart than this. Those who have the finances can spend any amount. Those
who have limited financial means can try to beg or pick grapes to earn traveling
money, though you will have a hard time at it. With luck and beyond, you can
theoretically live off the land and keep going forever, or until you must have a real
hamburger again. If you are the super adventuring sort and have an empty wallet, read Ed
Buryn's book
Vagabonding In Europe And North Africa. He did it by thumb and by
sleeping in barns, in addition to more conventional travel by VW bus in the early
1970s. Ed Buryn's book is a classic for adventure travel.
Most of us have limited funds and limited time, though, and do not want to just
survive just to be in Europe. The following sections will enable you to make a budget
to suit your own personal travel plans and standard of living. Your lifestyle, rather
than where you are, is the major determinant of your expenses.
There are a few dozen categories of expenses you will encounter on a trip to
Europe. A general list is presented below.
The first three items are the essentials and the things you think about first. But
the sum of the thirty or so miscellaneous items can easily exceed any one of the big
three, or even the sum of the three if you insist on spending and spending.
Now let's look at the nitty gritty of putting your budget together. Remember,
this does not need to be extremely accurate, and in fact you should budget a little high
just to be safe.
The Big Three
- Lodging
- Food
- Transportation
Thirty (or so) Miscellaneous Items
- Guidebooks
- Maps
- Souvenirs
- Medicine
- Gifts
- Toilet tips
- Guitar case donations
- Fees
- Cleaning
- Money changing
- Film
- Guided tours
- Museums, theaters, shows
- Bus, tram, and metro tickets
- Taxis
- Bike rental
- Film processing
- Telephone calls
- Internet time
- Smokes
- Entertainment
- Drinks
- Postage
- Toothpaste
- Postcards
- Soap
- Haircuts
- Taxes
- New shoes
- New clothes
- Casino losses
- Pickpocket losses
- Whatever else
Here are the sources of information to help you set up your own budget. This
covers the big three — lodging, food, and transportation.
LODGING
Before doing a search for hotel prices take a look at my chapter 14,
Hotels, Hostels, B&Bs, and Private Homes:
Sleep Options for Travel in Europe
. Sleeping quarters in Europe are rarely anything like motels in the USA.
Chapter 14 will introduce you to the many European varieties.
There are many sources of prices for hotel rooms and other accommodations.
The sources readily available to you are:
- Internet sites
- Individual hotels
- City tourist offices
- Michelin Red Guides
- Official national tourist offices
- Travel agents
- Budget travel guides
These sources are arranged in order of decreasing reliability. There are
exceptions, as there must be in any such generalization.
Internet Booking Sites
The internet is full of web sites offering best or cheapest or both hotel rates. Do
a Google seach with the name of the city and the word hotel. For lower cost rooms
use B&B or hostel in place of hotel.
Your search will turn up booking agents and many individual properties. How do you know which
to choose? For a starter you can read the reviews as published by tripadvisor.com. It is a good idea
to go deeper and get a map location, especially in the major cities. You don't want to be too far
out of town and/or too far away from public transportation.
Individual Hotels
The best source is the hotel itself. Check the rates as posted on their web sites. Note that
rates are sometimes seasonal. You'll need to have definite dates in mind. For some hotels
you need to go through the reservation process in order to get a price. At this stage of your
research that is not a good idea. Some hotels will charge your credit card as soon as you
confirm on the internet. Also many hotel web sites are written primarily in the local lingo.
Navigating the site and getting what you want can be a problem unless you know the language.
It is better to phone if you want an immediate response. Most hotels have
someone on duty who speaks English. They have published rate cards and/or a board in the lobby
with prices of singles, doubles, and with or without shower and/or toilet.
You can use a fax to confirm a reservation, but
most hotels will not respond to fax inquiries because of the expense of international phone rates.
Determine whether a bath/shower, toilet, taxes, "service charges," and
breakfast is included in the price or is extra. If you are planning to drive ask if they
have on-site parking and if it is included in the price of the room. Parking is usually an
extra cost option at hotels in major cities. Street parking is usually free but can be
difficult to find. In some cities street parking is restricted to residents and special
permit holders. Florence, Italy and some other cities even prohibit you from driving in certain parts
of the city. Cameras record all motion and you will get a notice of a whoopping big fine mailed to
you some months later. Road side motels usually have plenty of free parking. If you use a
"discount" hotel internet booking service to find a hotel it would be a good idea to call
the hotel before making your reservation. You are paying for the service, and the hotel
often has a better rate. You can also negotiate a better deal. See chapter 14,
Hotels, Hostels, B&Bs, and Private Homes:
Sleep Options for Travel in Europe for details.
City Tourist Office
Another source of room price information is the tourist office in the city
you are planning to visit. You may obtain detailed hotel lists describing services,
facilities, and prices by writing directly to the local city tourist office. Allow yourself
weeks for a reply. If you receive last year's listed prices, adjust them for inflation and
exchange rate changes to come up with a budget figure. Do not expect a firm price
until your cash is in the hands of the hotel operator. Also ask the tourist office for
information about the city and its surroundings. You will probably receive a 2 pound
package of information, and they pay the postage.
An alternate to writing is to seek
out the web site of the city or region you plan to visit. Use a search engine and just
enter the city name. You will have more hits than you would expect. To save time click
City Tourist Offices in Europe.
Official city tourist offices in many cities of Europe are linked. This is part of my
on-site
TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES.
Michelin
The Michelin Red Guides published by the Michelin Tire Company in France
are an outstanding source of hotel price information. Red Guides are available for
most of the countries of Europe and regions of France. There is also a small guide to the
major cities of Europe, ideal for business travelers. The country guides are in the language of
the country but they use icons extensively and have an English language guide to using the books.
Major virtues of Michelin Red Guides are that the directories are comprehensive. They
cover everything from one star to five star facilities in virtually every city
and village. The Red Guides are no longer so readily available from American book retailers.
It is easier to find what you need at Amazon.com. E.g. see
Michelin
Main Cities of Europe 2011. These are updated yearly with the new editions
available in April or May. They actually have this year's prices.
Hostelling International
For hostel price information contact Hostelling International. The American branch is called HI-USA
and is also known as the American Youth Hostels. You can be any age to join and enjoy cheap and
friendly accommodations throughout the world.
Their website is Hostelling International. HI requires
membership and a photo I.D. in order to stay in any of their facilities.
Note that a hostel is not a hotel — it is more like a bunkhouse. There are many hostels
in Europe which are independent of this organization.
National Tourist Offices, NTOs
Another good source of hotel price information is the official national tourist
office for the country you are planning to visit. Each European country maintains a
tourist office in New York City and/or a consulate in Washington. Some have offices in
other major American cities. Every NTO also has a web site. A listing of all URLs is in
the
TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES
at
National Tourist Offices.
Travel Agents
You can get confirmed prices (and reservations) at your travel agent. You
must be well-heeled or on an expense account to find this practical since a travel agent
will provide this service only if you are going to stay in the world class hotels. These hotels
pay a commission to the travel agent for the booking service. Generally this means a hotel at a
minimum of $300 per nose per sundown.
Budget Guidebooks
Lastly, use one of the budget guidebooks. All too often the cheap hotel prices
are either completely bogus, out of date, or for only a few rooms which are perpetually
booked. Additionally, if you do get a room in a hotel mentioned in one of these books,
you will find the place full of Californians, Texans, and New Yorkers. You went to
Europe for that?
Prices in many publications are out of date before they are printed because of
the long lead time between field research, if any, and publication date. Some of the
travel books with a big date on the cover are published in the previous summer to take
advantage of the Christmas buying season. Well known books dated 2011 were in the
bookstores in August 2010. If you are using these in the following summer you have
stale information.
There are very few guidebooks which I have found reliable and relatively free
of errors. Chapter 10,
Europe Guide Books and Maps, has brief reviews of many of the current crop.
FOOD
In Europe, you will find few American restaurant choices and many more that
will be completely new to you. The feature common to almost all food in western
Europe is that it will cost more than it does at home. You can budget for it. In eastern
Europe, the prices are far more reasonable.
The Big Mac Index
American fast food places have invaded Europe. At one street intersection in London three
of the corners were occupied by BK, KFC, and McDs. I never eat in these places, at home or abroad.
If you do patronize them the prices may be higher than what you are used to paying in the USA.
Use the
Big Mac Index to get an idea of what it will cost you as of January 2010. But remember that currency
exchange rates are in constant flux. It looks like you should brown bag it if
you are going to Norway. Prices of everything in Oslo are way up there with the Big Mac.
For information on the "Euro Area," where the prices are
reported at 135% of the American prices, see my page at
Euro and Other Currencies: Exchange Rates for Travel in Europe.
If you are going to visit major cities I believe that the BMI underestimates
the true costs.
Michelin Red Guides
Very convenient sources of good dining cost information are the annual
Michelin Red Guides. These books (discussed above and elsewhere herein) select
some restaurants, give them ratings, and state minimum and maximum dinner prices.
Restaurants in all price ranges and in virtually every city are covered.
Restaurant Web Sites
Many restaurants are now posting their menus on the Internet. For example here is the
multi-lingual offering of
The Café Luxembourg, my favorite lunch spot in
Amsterdam. This place was designed to look like one of the really old cafés but it
is a relative newcomer. In the 1970s this location housed the official German Tourist Office.
Budget Guidebooks
Even though prices for meals as given by the popular guidebooks are more
reliable than their data on hotel prices, take them lightly. Whatever research that is
done for these annually "updated" books is 12 months old before you are likely to buy
them. It is probable that a few restaurants will have closed, moved, changed owners,
or simply changed menus by the time you get there. If prices are given in a publication,
make adjustments for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations since the year before the
copyright date of the book. The better books wisely do not state prices but simply
indicate low, moderate, or high prices. See my review of guidebooks in chapter 10,
Europe Guide Books and Maps.
Extras
When you are using these or other sources for food price information, always
remember that the listed prices do not include the price of drinks, coffee, or desserts.
The author simply used the fixed price menu for the main meal as the cost of eating.
In all of the Scandinavian countries, two beers with dinner can double the cost of a
meal. Almost everywhere, one or two mixed drinks can do the same thing. In many
countries, a soft drink costs more than a glass of beer or wine. Spain, Portugal,
Italy, and Greece all have good quality inexpensive table wine, a nice complement to
the good and relatively low-cost meals, compared to northern Europe.
Coffee generally costs the equivalent of three dollars or more for the European
half cup, with no free seconds, not to mention thirds or a pot on the table. I think it is worth it
compared to the thin black water poured at most restaurants in the USA. In eastern
Europe, local beers and spirits are inexpensive, with the quality varying from superb to
unmentionable.
The good news in Europe is that all posted menu prices include value
added tax (sales tax) and virtually all include a service charge (tip). Sometimes the bill
looks strange because they have broken out the tax and tip and show them as separate
line items. Darn accountants are everywhere just to confuse us.
Italian restaurants have an unwritten expense — the pane e coperto charge. This
means bread and cover, cover as in table cloth. It is about $5 and is added to all bills.
You don't know it until you finish your meal and see the bill.
If you see service 15% non-compris
on your French menu it means that 15% will be added to your bill. That's the tip,
though it will not insure promptness.
Economy Tips
Even if you don't have to do it to stay within your budget, picnic occasionally.
Time savings can also be substantial. Simply visit any market or grocery store to buy
bread, cold meats, fish, cheese, yogurt, fruit, and a bottle of wine. Hot roasted chicken
is available in some super markets. On days when you picnic your food bill can
be kept under $20 per person. Outdoor farmer's markets generally have the lowest priced
groceries. Peel or wash the fruit and veggies to clean off the insecticides, herbicides,
and fertilizer. You can eat in your room or on a park bench or on the train.
In walking about I get thirsty and I do need to stop and sit now and then. The convenient
place to kill both birds is at a cafe, preferably an outdoor cafe so I can see the local world
walk by. This is expensive, easily $5 to $10 per sitting. You can save money by standing at the
bar inside. You can save more by buying your beverage in a market and finding a park bench.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting there, getting around in Europe, and getting back will cost a lot.
I have divided the cost of transportation into air travel and ground travel. Ground travel includes
trains, city buses, international buses, and international ferries.
Flying to Europe
Getting there and getting back can be wrapped up quickly. Get on your keyboard and check out
my page
Discount Air Travel. I suggest using the link to Kayak, a search engine. Put in your dates and places
where indicated and within a couple of minutes you'll get a bag full of possibilities,
the lowest cost being on top. Then go to my page
Airlines for Travel to Europe to find direct links to all the airlines crossing the Atlantic.
Click the preferred airlines, fill in your dates and places again, and get the details.
But don't use the lowest price for your budget unless you buy it immediately.
These prices can vaporize in minutes. Before you actually buy
a ticket, see chapter 4,
Flying to Europe: Travel Starts at the Airport to learn how to save
significantly on the cost of your flight.
Many experienced travelers are complaining on the travel forums this year about the high prices for
flying to Europe in the summer and
wondering (as of March 2011) when they are going to come down. People have been getting so used to
paying $500 to $600 for a trans-Atlantic flight since the catatrosphe of 9/11 that they are shocked
to see the fares well over $1,000 this year. They have SMS, short memory syndrome. Before 9/11 the lowest
standard summer fare to Europe was in the $1,500 range, and up. The airlines have learned how to manage
capacity in the "new economy" and the fares will probably stay way up there. The only way to save is to
fly off season, January to April.
If you have enough frequent flyer miles with one of the international
airlines or their partner you can budget close to zero for your airfare. Reserve early for summer travel
and beware of blackout dates and premium flying dates. Many airlines raise the
required FF miles from 50,000 to 100,000+ for flights to Europe between mid June and
mid September. You will be asked to pay the September 11 security fee for all flights.
Be aware of extras that the airlines are now charging, especially for luggage. Read all the small
print on the airline web site. You can easily be nicked for $100 at the gate if your bags
are too many or too heavy. If you check in on line you get a discount with some airlines.
Travel Within Europe
Getting around once you're there is a more difficult budgeting problem. The
two best means of travel are car and train. Air travel within Europe is wrong unless
you are in a hurry. It is expensive and all you see are the interiors of the same planes
and the tops of the same clouds that we have at home. However, quite a number of budget airlines
have sprung up and are giving the trains a run for their money. Unfortunately the budget
airlines have extremely tight restrictions on luggage and usually operate from out of the way
airports.
Trains
My favorite train ticket over the past 30 years has been a EurailPass.
The principle of Eurailpass is to allow the holder unlimited travel on virtually
all the trains and on some ferries. These passes allow you to ride the rails anywhere in
22 countries of continental Europe plus Ireland and Northern Ireland. Great Britain
is not included in Eurailpass, but it issues similar passes for England, Scotland, and Wales at comparable
prices. Also, French, German, Dutch, and many other national railroads issue passes
for unlimited travel within their country for slightly less than the cost of Eurailpass.
Passes are available for periods of 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months,
and three months. Seniors over 60 get a discount, couples get a discouont, children under
12 pay half price, and those under four
travel free. The Eurailpass Youth is available to those who are 25 and younger, allowing travel
second class at a lower cost. Other options
include Eurail Selectpass and Eurailpass Flexi, both with restrictive features but at a
lower cost than regular Eurailpass. For example, Flexi can give you 10 or 15 days of
travel in a two month period. That works out pretty good if you want to hang out in
Rome for a week and not feel like you are wasting your assets with a full continuous Rail Pass.
For detailed information on riding the rails in Europe see the four sections of chapter 17,
Trains in Europe.
Rental Car
The cost of auto travel is variable galore. You can rent one, buy one, or bring
your own. In any case, you are in one way or another paying for gas, oil, maintenance,
depreciation, insurance, parking, tolls, tickets, and taxes. Ouch.
For the purposes of budgeting, auto rental prices will be discussed in this
section. But before venturing out on the streets, roads, and parking lots of Europe I recommend that
you read my chapter 18,
Driving in Europe. It might save your life.
Information on shipping your car over is given in chapter 22,
Moving to Europe. It's easy.
Rental car prices are available from Hertz, Avis, National, Budget, and
specialized agencies with offices in the United States, e.g. Foremost Euro Car.
See my page at
Auto Rental in Europe for URL addresses of many companies renting cars in Europe.
Many companies do not rent to young people. The lower age limit may be 21,
25, or 30, depending on their policies. Some also have an upper age limit.
Daily rates for just basic transportation for two people are high, and rates for a
luxury Mercedes or BMW will be astronomical. Savings can be had by shopping
around so don't sign up for the first offer you see. Rates vary from country to country
for each rental company, and different equivalent models are available in each price
category. Take note in the brochures of the rather outrageous drop charges. It pays to
travel in a circle and return the car to the office where you picked it up.
Weekly unlimited mileage (kilometers over there) rates can save you bundles if
you are scooting around a lot. Camper vans are available in a few places.
Determine if insurance and taxes are included in the quoted rates. These can
possibly exceed the rental rate of small cars. You will also have some tolls to pay on
expressways in France and Italy. A fee for the privilege of driving on expressways is
charged as you enter Switzerland, Austria,
and some other countries. An annual sticker
is placed on your windshield, but you must
pay even if you are just driving through for
the day unless the car already has a valid
sticker. Gasoline is not included in rental
prices. Benzin, petrol, essence, or some
other local name for gasoline costs around
three times as much as in the USA.
To estimate the cost of driving, a
fairly definite itinerary is needed. I've driven
all over Europe, east and west. The only
way that it can be recommended is if two or
more share the expenses and the work.
With three in the car you are approximately
at the break even point with the cost of rail
passes. You have more freedom of movement with an auto, but you give up much of
the experience of Europe that train travelers enjoy.
You are better off paying with a credit card in order to avoid leaving a large
cash deposit. The rental company may put a huge debit on your card as you rent it to make
sure they are covered if you damage it so bring an extra credit card.
And make sure you have a valid drivers license and an International
Driving Permit, IDP. True, you are usually able to rent a car without the IDP but it
would be better to have an IDP considering its nominal cost. The police in some countries
ask for it and in others they seem to not know what they are looking at when you hand
it to them.
OTHER COSTS
Thirty (Or So) Miscellaneous Items
The cost of all the other items in the expense list depends on your personal
habits. Budget as closely as you can for the Three Basic Biggies — lodging, food, and
transportation — and then add 30% to cover everything else. If you don't allow for all
those nickel and dime items, you will have an uncomfortable time and/or have to come
home early.
Pre-Trip Expenses
There will probably be expenses in preparing for your journey. You may need a
new suitcase, 220/110 volt electric devices, a passport, etc. Costs of these items are not
included here since only you know what you need to purchase, and you can readily get
the prices of most items at your local department store. See chapter 6,
Your Packing List for Europe:
A Short List of Travel Accessories
for a suggested list. Remember that you can buy
toiletries in Europe so you don't need to bother loading up for the duration of your trip.
EUROPE ON WHAT! PER DAY
That is all the theory. Now let's get down to business. Show me the green.
Here are the details of two recent trips.
Britain and Ireland, April and May 2009
Weather-wise spring is the most pleasant time to travel in Europe. The grass is green and
the blooms are out. There are few travelers because most schools are still in session, so
getting an economical room is relatively easy. Still, nothing is really cheap.
My trip included 6 days in London and 2 days each in Cardiff, Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow,
Edinburgh, and York. I also had a one overnight in-transit stay in Wexford, Ireland.
My cost analysis for this trip is presented in Table 2-1. The British pound was worth $1.47 to $1.50
during this time. The euro, used in Ireland, was worth about $1.30.
Table 2-1
Travel Cost Analysis, Britain and Ireland 2009
|
21 days, April and May
|
Daily
|
Total
|
Notes
|
|
Room
|
$53.51
|
$1,123.73
|
1.
|
|
Food
|
$43.12
|
$905.51
|
2.
|
|
Transportation, air
|
$23.75
|
$498.77
|
3.
|
|
Transportation, ground
|
$50.45
|
$1,059.54
|
4.
|
|
Thirty Miscellaneous Items
|
$50.74
|
$1,065.57
|
5.
|
|
TOTAL
|
$221.58
|
$4,653.12
|
6.
|
NOTES to Table 2-1:
1.) My economy rooms in London were a 2 star hotel near Paddington for my first and last nights.
I also stayed at the Rosebery Hall dormitory of the London School of Economics for four nights.
The LSE is a really good deal, especially for London. In
Ireland and the other British cities I stayed in Bed & Breakfasts most nights. I traveled without
reservations, finding rooms on my own or with the aid of the city tourist office. B&Bs are reasonable,
compared to hotels, and the breakfasts are filling — eggs, potatoes, sausages, tomatoes, and
coffee/tea/chocolate plus juice and/or fruit. I did one night in a 3 star hotel in Wexford, Ireland.
Hotels are much cheaper in those smaller cities.
2.) When in London the best meal deals are in pubs. Pubs are ubiquitus. Menus are posted outside so
you know what is available and at what cost. Typically you order at the bar and then find a seat, if
possible. Shortly a bar man will bring your plate and your brew. I'll never order fish and chips
again in this life. In the smaller cities I would usually
eat at a small restaurant. I had some great fish chowder in Dublin. I would sometimes go to
an upscale hotel for a fine meal at lunch. The quality is good and the price is not nearly what it
would cost to have dinner in one of those places in the evening.
3.) My air ticket was a steal. I shopped a long time to find this. I flew Delta from MBS via
DTW and AMS (Amsterdam) to LHR (London Heathrow). Returning I went from LHR to AMS, then to MSP
(Minneapolis) and home to MBS. I could have left out AMS and MSP but the more direct flights were
significantly more expensive. An extra kicker is that I score more frequent flyer miles with
indirect flights. Note that the "daily" cost of air transportation is the ticket price divided by
21 days.
4.) Ground transportation included airport buses and the London Oyster Card for
unlimited bus transport. I should have bought the Oyster Card which included the Underground, known as
The Tube. Individual Tube tickets are bloody expensive. I also used a BritRail FlexiPass which
allowed me eight days of travel on British rails. Further costs included tickets on the ferries
between Britain and Ireland and bus and train tickets in Ireland.
5.) Miscellaneous costs included internet time, museum entries, city sightseeing tours,
café stops, books and maps, a camera memory chip, and the usual souvenirs and gifts.
6.) The total cost is fairly reasonable for a three week trip around the Islands. Surely
it can be done for less but that would require giving up some creature comforts.
Paris, December 2008
I went to Paris in December 2008 for 4 days. That is 4 days and 4 nights, not counting fly time
which is about half a day at each end. My costs are summarized in Table 2-2. Note that the
euro at that time was worth $1.27. It has bounced up and down since then. As of March 2011
the euro costs about $1.40 so my costs would be about 10% more, plus inflation in France.
For background on the euro, an interesting historical chart, and links to currency
exchange rate sites see my page at
Euro and Other Currencies.
Table 2-2
Travel Cost Analysis, Paris 2008
|
4 days, December
|
Daily
|
Total
|
Notes
|
|
Room
|
$85.29
|
$341.16
|
1.
|
|
Food
|
$84.01
|
$336.04
|
2.
|
|
Transportation, air
|
$179.70
|
$718.18
|
3.
|
|
Transportation, ground
|
$16.30
|
$65.18
|
4.
|
|
Thirty Miscellaneous Items
|
$86.29
|
$345.16
|
5.
|
|
TOTAL
|
$451.43
|
$1,805.72
|
6.
|
NOTES to Table 2-2:
1.) I consider myself a frugal traveler. My hotel was a small two star place in the 6th
Arrondisement near Gare Montparnasse. It was €61 per night plus €6 for breakfast.
I had stayed there many years before in the French franc days when it was about $10 per night.
But I knew I was in the right place because the other guests were Europeans, mostly Dutch.
Dutch people don't let a penny out of sight.
2.) I could have spent less on food, but heck, I was in Paris! After a couple nights of pretty good
dinners, but no Michelin $500 places for sure, I bought some bread, cheese, meat, salad, and wine and
made a picnic in my room. There is a very good group of small stores at Place Maubert a few
blocks from where I lived in the 1980s. There is also a farmer's market a few times a week.
3.) There is no way around paying for a plane ticket, except to use frequent flyer miles. I
could have done that but I am saving them up for a major spring-summer trip. The cost of air
tickets is much higher in the summer so the frequent flyer miles will be sweet. I got this fare after
diligent searching for weeks. It was round trip from MBS (Midland, Bay City, Saginaw, Michigan) to
CDG (Paris) with a change in DTW (Detroit). Note that the "daily" cost of air transportation
is the ticket price divided by 4 days.
4.) The ground transportation cost is mainly getting to and from airports plus a Paris Pass
for unlimited use of the Metro and buses. This is a good value compared to the cost of individual trip
tickets.
5.) So how the heck can I spend so much on "Thirty Miscellaneous Items?" The answer is that
about 2/3 of it was gifts and souvenirs. Most of the rest was in café stops.
A coffee or beer can cost €5 to €10
depending on what part of Paris you are in. That was about $6 to $12 when I was there. Ouch. On this trip
there were no expenses for museum entries. I've been there and done that. I walk the streets and
take in the atmosphere. There is only one Paris. By the way, museum entry in Paris is free for people under
26.
6.) The grand total looks rather formidable for a person of my limited means. I won't be going back to
Paris for a few years. Next time I'll spend my France time in the smaller cities where the costs
are more reasonable.
I have made several other trips from 2006 through 2008 to different countries. I'll be adding the
cost analysis for those in the near future.
CUTTING COSTS
Cost data can be divided between variable costs, i.e. so much per day while
you are traveling, and fixed costs, i.e. so much per trip to Europe. The fixed cost is
your plane fare and associated ground transport. Even this can be variable because
the fares for most airlines increase
dramatically when you stay for more than 30 days. Rail pass costs increase for longer term
passes, but not proportionally. The longer your pass is valid, the lower the per diem
cost. This goes for city transport costs also.
As is evident, except for very short trips the variable costs will be more than your fixed
costs. You will need to feed and house yourself daily, and you will be subject to
additional costs for ground transportation, entertainment, souvenirs, and other items.
The total costs should in truth be reduced by your cost of staying home.
Variable living costs you have at home will be eliminated and that money can be used to
partially offset the cost of your European expedition.
To get on a "low" budget, spend most of your time in southern
and eastern Europe. If you really want to save money and have an interesting time, go
on over to Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey, the Baltics, and other countries in the east.
Get there before western economics ruins the bargains.
Hostels are a low cost room option. I have used these dormitory type accommodations
in a number of cities. See my page at
Hostels in Europe.
TIPPING
Some guidebooks have a special section telling you how much to tip the taxi
driver, bell captain, porters, waiter, theater ushers, ad infinitum. These advisories are
generally designed to waste your money. I've talked with some Dutch waiters who
gleefully told me about the extra 20% that American tourists leave on the table.
Most services for which you pay in Europe already include a 15% service
charge. The service charge goes to the person who personally provides the service, or
into a kitty to be shared by everyone on the staff. The service charge is the tip, but it is
obligatory. Listed prices on menus usually include this service charge, but when they
don't, the house always adds it to your bill. You may leave a few coins of the change,
round up by 1% to 3%, as a tip. In fact, often such amounts are not even returned
when change is due.
Regular Customer
One place where it is helpful to tip is in a café or bar if you are,
or are planning to be, a regular customer. This will help to insure promptness
on your subsequent visits, and they'll remember your name.
Toilets
In a few cases, most notably washrooms, tips are expected. There is invariably
someone in there or at the door who is responsible for keeping it clean. Don't be
surprised if you gentlemen notice a woman mopping the floor next to you as you use
the urinal.
Toilets almost everywhere, except on the trains, require or request a donation.
The usual approach is to have a saucer on a table outside the toilet. Sometimes the
requested amount is stated on a hand written sign, and sometimes the toilet attendant
is sitting there hovering over the saucer of coins. Donate whatever coin you see in the
saucer, equivalent to maybe a dime.
To Tip or Not To Tip
In cases when a service is provided without charge, use your judgment and
give what you think is appropriate.
Europeans are accustomed, for example, to tipping the hotel chamber maid,
something not done in America. You should leave a few coins on the pillow. In ritzy
hotels on the Riviera I have seen places where the hotel price does not include
"service" charges so 15% will be added to your bill. If you can afford $500 for the
room I guess you can afford another $75 for having your bed made.
Another appropriate tippee would be a table to table musician or group
playing and starving while they watch you eat. They also work on the streets and the
Metros and appreciate all the coins you toss in their open guitar case.
When driving in some countries, kids run out to the cars at stop lights with a
wash bottle and rag to do the windshield. Make sure they clean it, not just smear the
dirt around.
Keep some small bills and change in your pocket. Do not reach for your wallet
for those worthy of a gratuity. In all other cases save your money.
APPENDIX
Historical Cost Data
Back in the days when the title of a famous travel book boasted that the daily cost of travel
in Europe was about the price of a couple of hamburgers at home I kept detailed records
of my expenses. I only include this material
now because of the notes which explain the costs. The costs are out of date, but the notations are still of
value. You may want to compare your costs with mine 30 years ago, or with those of a British traveler 75
years ago. I have a book titled "Holland on £10." That was per week, back in 1936.
1980 at $115 per Day
For the three week trip I made in March 1980 through ten countries of northern Europe, I spent an
average of $115 per day. The cost analysis is shown in Table 2-3.
Table 2-3
1980 Travel Cost Analysis
|
Room, daily average
|
$23
|
Note 1.
|
|
Food, daily average
|
$18
|
Note 2.
|
|
Transportation
(daily pro rata)
|
$36
|
Note 3.
|
|
Sub Total
|
$77
|
|
|
Thirty Miscellaneous Items
|
$38
|
Note 4.
|
|
Daily TOTAL
|
$115
|
Note 5.
|
Table 2-4
1980 Transportation Costs
|
Air Fare (LA/Gatwick/LA on Laker Sky Train)
|
$438
|
|
Train/Boat (Gatwick/Oostende/Gatwick)
|
$80
|
|
Eurailpass (21 days in Western Europe)
|
$270
|
|
TOTAL transportation cost
|
$788
|
|
Averaged over 22 days, cost per day
|
$36
|
NOTES to Table 2-3:
1.) Room costs ranged from $10 to $40 per day for a single room equivalent to a two or three star
hotel in France. This average figure of $23 included sleeping "free" one or two nights a week on an overnight
train, in a seat, not a bunk. The minimum figure applies to smaller cities, and got me a small
single on the fourth floor, no
elevator, narrow stairways, no toilet or shower in the room, and maybe a breakfast. But it was clean, warm,
and comfortable nine times out of ten. The upper figure, $40, fetched a comfortable, well-plumbed double in
a major city.
2.) Food costs ranged from $5 to $50 depending on appetite and location, service and tax included.
My $18 average figure included some restaurants and some picnics. A rough estimate of prices in average
restaurants can be used to make up your budget. In countries like Germany, with all-you-can-eat breakfasts, I
could get by with a light lunch for about $3, and top off the day with dinner at $15 to $25. In countries like
France, where breakfast will barely open your eyes, a hearty lunch cost about $7, and a good dinner $12 to
$20. These costs included liberal quantities of house wine or beer, and coffee. Soft drinks and bottled water
cost about the same as locally fermented products.
3.) The transportation figure is based on a three-week trip consisting of: Laker Airways round trip
from Los Angeles to London; a train/boat round trip London to Oostende, Belgium; and a 21-day Eurailpass.
Sadly, Laker Airlines Skytrain went out of business on the day that the first edition of How To Europe came
off the press, February 5, 1982. Costs in March 1980 are shown in Table 2-4.
4.) Thirty miscellaneous items averaged out to $38 per day. You may wonder how in the world you
can spend that much on miscellaneous items. Somehow, I managed to do it. Look at the list in this chapter
again to get some idea of where all that money goes. One or two rolls of film a day can eat up pocket money
like a paper shredder.
5.) After summing it up, my frugal trip cost me $115 per day way back in 1980. Multiplying this
out, my 22 days cost $2,530. That includes everything, so don't compare that to the cost of a guided tour
until you crunch the numbers. Tour costs never include everything. And the famous book from Frommer
says, on page 2, that transportation is not included in his $5 a day. Let me get
this straight. A guy writes a travel book and does not include the cost of transportation in the ridiculous $5.
How does one actually do the traveling? Walk?
1984 at $98 per Day
From October 1983 through January 1984, I traveled for ten weeks through fourteen countries and
spent slightly less per day than I did in 1980. This was due largely to a stronger dollar and partly to the fact
that I spent half of the second trip in the Mediterranean countries where rooms and food can cost one-third as
much as in northern Europe. The cost analysis is shown in Table 2-5.
Table 2-5
1983 Travel Cost Analysis
|
Room, daily average
|
$22.68
|
Note 6.
|
|
Food, daily average
|
$22.82
|
Note 7.
|
|
Transportation
(daily pro rata)
|
$19.40
|
Note 8.
|
|
Sub Total
|
$64.90
|
|
|
Thirty Miscellaneous Items
|
$33.30
|
|
|
Daily TOTAL
|
$98.20
|
Note 9.
|
Table 2-6
1983 Transportation Costs
|
Air Fare (LA to Düsseldorf on LTU)
|
$373
|
|
Air (Amsterdam to Los Angeles on KLM)
|
$444
|
|
Eurailpass (two months)
|
$560
|
|
TOTAL transportation cost
|
$1,377
|
|
Averaged over 71 days, cost per day
|
$19
|
NOTES to Table 2-5:
6.) Hotel prices for a three star single with toilet and tub (or shower) ranged from $35-$50
throughout Scandinavia to $7-$30 in Greece and Iberia. Single rooms ran from $20 to $40 in France,
Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, and Holland. Overall, I stayed in slightly better rooms on this trip
than I did in 1980, but thanks to the strong dollar, the average daily cost was almost identical.
7.) Dinner prices for the complete stuffing ranged from about $15-$30 in Scandinavia to $5-$20 in
Greece and Iberia. The high end prices in Greece included a floor show and live music. I don't think that I ate
any better on the 1983/84 trip, but my costs were significantly higher despite the fact that the dollar was
worth much more than in 1980 — 50% more in Germany to 100% more in Italy.
8.) The transportation figure is based on two one-way flights plus a two month Eurailpass. The
breakdown is shown in Table 2-6.
9.) Thus, at $98.20 per day my 71 day trip cost $6,972.
The importance of eating and sleeping in off-the-trail places can never be over emphasized. Front
row center always costs more because you get a better view. But when eating or sleeping what you see is
your plate or pillow. So get off the main boulevards for real value. And you will usually have a more
interesting time to boot. To help get costs under control in northern Europe, seek out Greek and Italian
restaurants. They generally offer the best value for low budget travelers, not to mention that it often tastes
better than local fare, especially in Britain but not so in France.
1986 at $36 per Day
My 1986 sortie was for five months and was spent mostly in Paris. I rented a small furnished
apartment on the left bank near Metro Maubert Mutualité for about $500 a month. I shopped for groceries at
the Place Maubert farmer's market and cooked most of my own meals. Getting over there was a bargain. I
flew Los Angeles to Amsterdam for $400 round trip after finding a short-lived special deal. Not only that,
KLM bumped me up to business class on both flights at no cost. April is a good month to cross the Atlantic
and May is a beautiful month to be in Paris. Amsterdam to and from Paris was on a purchased train ticket.
My Paris transportation costs were mainly for metro tickets though I lived close enough to the Alliance
Française that I preferred to walk to school, usually taking the short cut through the Jardine Luxembourg. I
stayed mainly in the city, with occasional day trips out to nearby villages.
Living like this is certainly one of the most economical ways to see Europe, albeit a small part but a
very good part. My costs were actually much less than if I had stayed home in Newport Beach.
1990-2000 at a Profit
I spent about half of the 1990s in Europe, but can't give much in the way of cost details that would
be relevant for travelers. For over 2 years we lived in Germany. The company I worked for provided a free
home, utilities, car, insurance, and maintenance. I had frequent fully paid business trips throughout Germany
and eastern Europe. We also enjoyed annual home leaves on the company coin. As mentioned later in the book,
taking a company-paid transfer has got to be one of the best ways to see Europe.
We made a one-month expedition to Istanbul in 1993 using the company car. Traveling through
southern and eastern Europe was inexpensive, to say the least. Those who want a low cost vacation, hie thee
south and to the former Evil Empire to spend about 1/3 of what you will spend in Germany and France.
A one-month Eurailpass journey in 1997 was also very low on cash expenditures. For that month, I
stayed mainly with family and friends in Italy, Austria, Germany, France, and Holland. I used hotels for only
five days that May, in Biarritz and Aix-en-Provence where I was one of the few early season visitors. You'll
have a hard time finding a room in these cities in July unless you book early. Make sure you read chapter 14,
Hotels, Hostels, B&Bs, and Private Homes:
Sleep Options for Travel in Europe, to learn how to get a discount every night in European hotels.
One of the ridiculous ways I wasted money, time, and calm nerves was to rent a car in Amsterdam
and make a round trip to Milan to pick up Stephanie in July 1998. I got caught in the herd going south
through France, got utterly lost in Switzerland on top of a 9,000 foot mountain on Saturday night at 2:00 am,
and lost myself twice again trying to get out of Milan and then around Antwerp. I spent about $1,000 renting
a midget of a vehicle, filling it with gas too often, and paying highway and tunnel tolls, meals on the road,
and a hotel on the way back north. I could have flown Stephanie to Amsterdam first class for less than that.
2002-2003
My three week trip to The Netherlands and Belgium in December and January was a particularly
low cost venture. I used frequent flyer miles for my air ticket and stayed with a good friend in Haarlem. I
looked in on 5 of the hotels in Haarlem to see about room rates. The lowest cost, even of those mentioned in
the budget guide books, was about $60 per night for a single with toilet and shower. The low cost rooms
measured about 6 feet by 9 feet and had a single bed. Dinner cost $40 for the two of us at our favorite budget
restaurant, including a bottle of wine and a couple shots of jenever. The average price of a 33 cl (11 oz) beer
was $2. Round trip train tickets to Amsterdam cost $6 and a round trip "Super Day Return" train to Brussels
cost about $35. My major expense category was film and processing, partial results of which you see
throughout the book in your hands.
NOTE TO READERS
I welcome questions and comments. If you have any concerns about your trip to
Europe that have not been covered well enough in this chapter do not hesitate to write and ask.
My email address is
johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com.
When you write please include as much detail as possible. There are about 50 countries in Europe.
It will help me answer if you mention the countries and/or cities you plan to visit.
I will reply in a day or two.
Don't forget to scroll through the Table of Contents below. The other 29 chapters of
HOW TO EUROPE
are also available, free to read on line. In addition, the Google search box below can locate specific subjects
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