Europe is a popular destination for U.S. travelers, especially those with a sense of adventure. Most young adults who graduate high school or college talk about backpacking across Europe. Others choose Europe as a honeymoon destination in a romantic city like Paris. Europe is also family friendly with amusement parks such as Euro Disney. Regardless of what the motives are behind a trip to Europe, there are many things to keep in mind to make your trip as pleasurable as possible.
The first step in planning a trip to Europe is finding inexpensive airfare. Off-season months--April, May, September and October--usually have the cheapest airfares. Websites such as Travelocity or Priceline can help you find the best flight for your needs.
After finding your flight it is time to plan the accommodations. Europe is full of bed and breakfasts, motels, hotels, castles, manors and farm houses that are available "to hire" or rent. Many campsites are available for tent camping as well. For young travelers, hostels are popular places to stay because they are the cheapest place to stay. Hostels are mostly bed rentals in rooms you share with other travelers.
When traveling outside of the United States, you need a passport. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, you must have a valid passport to enter any country. If you are staying more than 90 days, you also need a visa. This varies from country to country, so be sure to do some research before leaving.
Another preparation you will want to make is having the appropriate currency on you. As long as you have an ATM card, you can usually withdraw money from cash points across Europe. Make sure your PIN is set to four numbers. It is important to have a backup, so always have a few travelers checks or cash with you. Cash can be converted in airports, currency bureaus and banks. For the majority of Europe, the Euro is the currency used, but some countries have yet to convert to Euros.
