Europe is one incredibly awesome continent to tour! It is an excellent choice for planning your traveling adventures. There are so many exciting places to see and activities to enjoy. When planning your trip, you might encounter some challenges; that is why you need to know certain things about Europe to make planning your trip less stressful.
8 Must-knows When Travelling to Europe
1. The Best Time to Travel to Europe
The key things your travel to Europe is dependent on are the season, your financial capacity, and the things you would love to do while you’re away. In my opinion, the best time to make your Europe trip is between April and mid-June or between September and October. In these periods, the prices are lower, the weather is lovely, and the crowd is less.
If you go during summer (June-August), there would be many people to deal with, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to deal with that many people. A large number of people result from most European countries being warm in this season.
Going in winter would be cheaper, but are you sure you want to deal with the extreme cold? If you can handle the cold and would like to ski, this season might just be the perfect time for you.
2. Weather and Climate in Europe
Knowing the climate and weather conditions of whatever part of Europe you’re going to is essential, especially if it’s your first time. They have a significant influence on your decision. The climate zones in Europe differ, and the weather conditions in these zones might be different.
Nordic countries are colder than other parts of Europe, but they become warm and are more pleasurable in summer. Countries like Portugal, Croatia, and Italy are ideal places during summer. They are also popular choices. For summer, the popular places to visit are Iceland, Denmark, and Norway. This doesn’t mean you can’t go to these places any other time; I’m just saying these places are best enjoyed in the stated seasons.
3. Visa Information to Visit Europe
Which country are you going to? Which passport do you have? These are some questions you should ask yourself when planning your trip to Europe. Some areas in Europe require different visas to access them. Most of continental Europe makes up the Schengen zone. This zone comprises 26 countries that permit free movement between them once you’re within the zone. It is not the same as the European Union.
Without a visa, passports such as the Canadian, Australian, and American, amongst others, can keep you in the Schengen zone for about 90 days. This means if you possess any of such passports, you can go to the Schengen zone without a visa and spend a few weeks. It is vital to go through the visa limitations for your passport with your country’s embassy before carrying your traveling bags. However, if you need a visa for the Schengen Zone, you need to apply beforehand.
4. European Currencies
There are 50 recognized European countries with 28 different currencies. Of the 28 of them, Euro is the most commonly used currency, and it is used in countries like France, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands.
5. Paying and Tipping in Europe
If your debit cards permit international transactions, you can withdraw money from a local ATM once you are in Europe. Or you can decide to get money beforehand. It is different for every country when using cash, credit cards, or debit cards. Some countries accept cash, while others are strict about not taking physical money. In tourist centers, bigger shops, and restaurants, credit cards are usually accepted.
Unlike in North America, tipping is optional in Europe. If you feel the need to, you can tip when you get good service in places like a restaurant, a bar, a cafe, or a hotel. You may also tip a taxi driver when you are offered excellent service. Depending on the quality of the service and the sum price for the service, how much you tip varies. A 5-10% tip would do.
6. Online casinos based in Europe
Suppose you are a fan of online casino gaming; it will interest you to know that all European casinos are monitored and controlled by the top online gaming authorities. Just in case you’re searching for the best online casino based in Europe, these are the top sites to game with:
- Betway Casino
- 888Casino
- Party Casino
- PlayAmo Casino
- Jackpot City Casino
- Betfair
- BGO Casino
- King Billy
- BitStarz
These listed operators are committed to giving enticing bonus offers. They also provide suitable iGaming titles available on mobile devices and desktops.
7. Renting And Driving a Car in Europe
Having a car for transportation within Europe gives you the advantage of exploring certain places that you might not be able to explore if you use public transport.
While driving might be cooler than using public transport, you need to consider certain things before deciding to drive yourself around. Would you feel comfortable and confident driving in an unfamiliar location? Are you familiar with the driving culture or mentality of the locals? Do you understand their road signs? If your answers are “yes,” driving would be seamless for you.
As for renting a car, ensure you confirm if your license from home is needed to rent a car. Or check to see if you would be needing an international driver’s license along with it.
8. Communicating With Locals in Europe
Being a tourist in Europe is all fun until you face some language or cultural barrier. It is not news that several languages are spoken within Europe as each country has its official language. While you may not learn these languages, it is advisable to learn some words or phrases in the native language of whichever country you find yourself in. You should also make “hello,” “thank you,” and “please” part of your vocabulary.
Using Google Translate or apps like Duolingo would save you whenever you need to be rescued from “language barrier.”
Conclusion
Knowing this information should help you feel less overwhelmed planning your trip to Europe. I hope you have fun and have the best memories while you’re there.
