Five Overlooked European Travel Mistakes

Seeing as how I'm still new to the blogging world, as well as the world of travel, I felt that a top 5 list would be a good way to start my first serious blog. Instead of the usual top five lists however, I thought I'd mix it a up a bit. We've all read countless articles on the top ten packing essentials for a european vacation, or the top ten must see destinations. And while I often agree that many of the top ten lists are correct, they often give little to no insight to new travelers. It doesn't take much experience to know that when you pack your carry on you should make sure that anything that might need to come out is at the top rather than the bottom of your bag. And any top five list could say Paris is a must see, don't miss London, or Rome is absolutely beautiful. But the truly useful lists are the ones that give ideas to a new traveler that are often overlooked or never even thought of. Ideas like checking the UNESCO World Heritage website to find places that are not only important to the culture you're exploring, but the world as a whole(Thats a freebee.) So hopefully this list is not only a top five list of mistakes, but a top five list of unique solutions that you may not have thought of.


1. MONEY

The first mistake that I want to start with is the idea that you need to take a lot of cash. Before I studied abroad, I did a lot of research to make sure I was prepared. Of course a big concern for a broke college kid like me was making sure I had money, without getting charged a lot in exchange fees. Website after website told me about how the best way was to take out a large sum of cash at once, this way the fee is a one time thing. Even with a single fee however, this can still be expensive. On top of that, many people do not feel comfortable carrying around large sums of money, or even leaving that kind of money in your hotel room. Turns out there's actually a much simpler solution, get a debit card. Now a lot of you are probably thinking that this would be more expensive. Getting hit with a fee every time you use your card will really start to add up. It turns out however, that many banks don't charge you for a withdraw. The main fee is usually charged by the ATM, which in Europe is often free. A little research about the banking practices before you go could help you avoid high fees as well as carrying around large sums of cash.

(Not exactly what I meant by no fees)

2. STAYING IN BIG CITIES

Everyone dreams of waking up in their hotel room, walking out onto the balcony, and in the not so distant distance seeing the Roman Colosseum or the Eiffel Tower. Sounds beautiful right? Well I hope your dream comes true, but if you're like I was and concerned with saving money wherever possible, this isn't a realistic plan. Still, it makes sense to at least stay in the same city right? Wrong. Europe is known for its amazing transportation system. Make sure you take advantage of it. You can save a lot of money by staying in a smaller town a few miles outside of the city. Enough in fact to make up for the money that you'll lose by taking the train everyday. This idea might not be for everyone, but I think the money that you save makes it worth it. Beyond that, staying in a smaller city allows you to truly get a feel for the local culture. There might not be a huge difference between New York, London, and Paris, but there is a big difference between Paris, France and Amiens, France.

(Amien Cathedral)

(Notre Dame)

3. SEEING THE SIGHTS

(Wait, the line starts where?)

Now some of you probably read that header and thought, "How can seeing the sights possibly be a mistake?" Let me explain. Too many people a trip to Berlin without the Berlin Wall is a wasted to trip. I mean, who goes to Pisa and doesn't see the leaning tower right? I'm not disagreeing with those people by any means. Make sure that you see those famous landmarks you've always dreamed about, but don't miss out on the city itself. Tourists spots are often westernized. They're designed to show you a part of the city that everyone comes to see. If you wander off the beaten path a little, you'll be amazed what you can find. Europe is full of smaller shops and local businesses that will give you more of a feel for the local culture. If you need to get dinner, go in the opposite direction of the tourist hotspots and you'll find some amazing local restaurants. Remember, you are in a foreign country, so don't forget common sense. If you feel like the city is getting uncomfortable turn around, but don't be afraid to explore. You might miss out on the best parts of the city, its people.


4. TIMING

The timing of a trip may be one of the most important things to decide. Do you go during peak travel season, or do you save some money and go in the offseason? Honestly, it doesn't matter. The mistake that many people make here is in the way they decide. Many people base this decision off of the price of the trip, or when it would be more convenient for them to take vacation time. Maybe you decided because a review site offered a deal, or maybe you had a friend go during that time and they loved it.

(What? You said you wanted to see the Mediterranean.)

None of those reasons really matter. I understand money is a factor, as well as work and other extraneous  problems, but maybe that just means the vacation should be postponed. There's nothing worse than going on a miserable vacation and spending a lot of money doing it. If you have always dreamed of going to Oktoberfest, then Munich in April may leave you regretting the trip. Then again, if you've always wanted to see Munich without an abundance of tourism, you'd be miserable in September. Go on your vacation whenever it fits the activities and experiences you want to have. Otherwise the vacation that you've always looked forward to may turn out to be more stressful than the job you're taking a vacation from.


5. NOT GOING

Okay, so I may have cheated a little with this last one. That doesn't mean that this is any less true. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is never going to Europe. If you can read this blog then you have the resources to go. If you do the research you would be amazed at the deals you can find. Yes, you may have to cut back on a lot of spending, but trust me when I say that Europe is more than just a vacation. Its a conversation starter. Its a memory to look back on whenever life gets to stressful. The experiences and connections you make while traveling will leave you refreshed in a way that you never thought possible and open up a hunger for traveling that you never even knew you had. With a little research and some thrifty saving, anyone can go on a European Vacation.