StudentUniverse.com

Is Europe safe?

Yes! Europe is nothing but America senior for the most part. The water is safe to drink, all of the amenities we have here are in Europe. If you like McDonalds, Burger King, etc., they’ve got that too, though we’d suggest you try something else–being in Europe and all. For the most part, it’s just like America. Also like in the United States, trouble is there if you seek it, so be safe! One major difference is that the drinking age is 16-18 depending on where you are, and not nearly as strictly enforced.

What are some good travel tips?

- Don’t go out alone. If you insist on it, then stay close to your hostel and have identification with you at all times.

- Make copies of all of your information such as your passport, just in case you lose it.

- Bring a phone that works to Europe. It’s always good to have, and you can call home.

- Don’t bring a laptop. It’s one more thing that can get stolen and there are internet places everywhere in Europe.

- Keep money in the form of credit if possible. People are less likely to steal cards than cash.

- Keep wallets in your front pocket–pickpockets are very efficient in Europe.

- Don’t advertise that you’re a tourist, just try to fit in as much as possible.

What are the best ways to get to Europe?

The cheapest places to fly out of are New York, Detroit, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. Pretty much common sense as the East coast is closest.

- Fly in on a Wednesday or midweek to save more money.

- Get a ticket from your local airport to a hub (above), then a second ticket to Europe.

How do I save money in Europe?

- Stay in hostels. Hotels can be pretty expensive, and hostels are significantly less expensive, plus tons of fun.

- Skip breakfast, most hostels offer the bare-bones anyways.

- Use tourist passes in many cities to skip lines (queues).

- Buy food at a supermarket and cook at the hostel. You’ll feel more like a European that way anyway.

How long should I spend at each destination?

Well of course that’s up to you. For the larger European cities it generally makes sense to plan on 3-4 days. When it comes to the smaller cities around 1-2 should be sufficient. A really good idea is to get a rail pass or a rental car, that way you can leave whenever you feel like and the cities are usually very close anyway.

What cities do I have to see?

There are so many great cities and so many travel routes, but if you’ve never been to Europe before you should focus on capitals. Paris is absolutely fantastic, the same goes for Rome, London, Amsterdam, Madrid and Berlin. You’ll find great nightlife, dining and shopping in any European capital.

Will the language barrier be an issue?

No. Most Europeans speak English quite well, especially the children. When in doubt, ask a cop or tourist agent such as a ticket seller, they usually speak it fluently. Try as much as possible to use the native language though, you will get respect quicker and also have more of a chance of not being lied to. Besides, they find it funny how badly we mess their language up, so why not try be as European as you can? It’s what you are there for anyway, right?