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Advance planning will save
you time and money; make a short list of places you
want
to see and activities you hope to undertake. Do a little research with this
site
and its links to the sites of individual countries.
Apply for a passport if you don’t have one. The process is not difficult.
Details are found in the Planning Your Trip section for U.S. passports.
Determine how much—or how little—you want to spend. Many Americans are
surprised
how affordable Europe is today. Remember that the dollar has been buying 25
to 35
percent more in euro-zone counties this year than when the euro was
inaugurated in 1999.
See The Dollar and the Euro.
When you know where you want to go, how much time you have and how much you
can
spend, consult with an experienced travel agent, especially if it’s your
first
international trip. He or she can speed your planning, give you good ideas,
and
book your entire vacation.
Consider buying travel packages for ease of purchase and to save money.
These
range from basic air-car-hotel packages for independent travelers to group
tours
and cruises.
Don’t worry about language. English is widely spoken far beyond Britain and
Ireland.
On much of the Continent it is the most widely spoken second language; most
people
working in tourism will speak English.
Families with young children will find a warm welcome in Europe. For ideas,
see
Travel with Children. |
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