Daughter traveling to Europe
Mar 7th, 2008, 09:45 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Daughter traveling to Europe
My daughter is traveling to Europe in a couple of weeks with friends from her High School senior class. This is her first time in Europe. Is there anything she should know about traveling there? Should she be taking dollars or she would convert them to Euros? I've never been to Europe so I'm looking for any information anyone can give me.
thanks for the help.
Gary
thanks for the help.
Gary
Mar 7th, 2008, 09:54 AM
#2
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Gary! Your daughter is going to have a magnificent time... where is she going? As for money- I'm assuming she is flying into a major airport in Europe and she will not have a problem finding an ATM (the exchange rates are better through the ATM then at the exchange counters, etc)... Tell her to be conscientious and not keep all her money in one place, photo copy her passport (one for you to keep at home and one for her to keep on her while traveling-in a difft spot then her actual passport) and also scan and email a copy of her passport to her email (that way she can access it from an internet cafe if needed). If it will make you feel better- tell her to stop in at an internet cafe every few days and update you on how things are going... I can give more advice on general stuff, but if you know where in Europe (it's a big place) she is going, I can make it a little more specific... she is going to have a great time...
Mar 7th, 2008, 09:55 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! If you have never been to Europe - I am sure you must have a lot of concerns/worries. Take a deep breath..........
There are a lot of great folks here who can help you - but let me try to start.
Money - she can take US dollars with her but then she needs to exchange them into the local currency (Euros, British Pounds, Swiss francs - whatever, depending on where she is). Many major airport shops/restaurants will accept US dollars, but once you leave the airport US dollars aren't much good. Just tell her to be mindful of the exchange rate to make sure she gets the right amount. My 16 year old got ripped off in Dubai because he wasn't paying attention.
Documents - make sure she has copies of her passport and medical information (insurance cards and immunization/other medical info). When my boys travel, I give them 2 sets of copies - one for their wallets and one to keep locked in their suitcases. On their trips -the teachers keep the passports and keep them locked in the hotel safe.
Logistics - since she is on a class trip, most of this stuff is surely taken care of. However, you should have a copy of her itinerary and the hotels she will be staying in. PLEASE ....do not call her unless it is an emergency. The school should be responsible for contacting the parents to let them know everyone has arrived safe and sound. But if you start calling her at each location - it will only embarrass her!
Most of all - tell her to have fun! Experience the culture. Try new foods. Learn the history. Appreciate the uniqueness of each place.
And ------take lots of photos!!!
There are a lot of great folks here who can help you - but let me try to start.
Money - she can take US dollars with her but then she needs to exchange them into the local currency (Euros, British Pounds, Swiss francs - whatever, depending on where she is). Many major airport shops/restaurants will accept US dollars, but once you leave the airport US dollars aren't much good. Just tell her to be mindful of the exchange rate to make sure she gets the right amount. My 16 year old got ripped off in Dubai because he wasn't paying attention.
Documents - make sure she has copies of her passport and medical information (insurance cards and immunization/other medical info). When my boys travel, I give them 2 sets of copies - one for their wallets and one to keep locked in their suitcases. On their trips -the teachers keep the passports and keep them locked in the hotel safe.
Logistics - since she is on a class trip, most of this stuff is surely taken care of. However, you should have a copy of her itinerary and the hotels she will be staying in. PLEASE ....do not call her unless it is an emergency. The school should be responsible for contacting the parents to let them know everyone has arrived safe and sound. But if you start calling her at each location - it will only embarrass her!
Most of all - tell her to have fun! Experience the culture. Try new foods. Learn the history. Appreciate the uniqueness of each place.
And ------take lots of photos!!!
Mar 7th, 2008, 09:57 AM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,748
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gary: is this a class trip? If so, they should provide her with some of the information you are looking for.
If it were my daughter, I would set her up with an ATM card from a bank with low rates for overseas withdrawals, and a four digit pin. That is generally the most economical way to convert US dollars to euro: do it in Europe, via ATM. She could also use a credit card with good rates.
If you have only a couple of weeks, it might be hard to get that done in time. Ask your bank to add her to your account and get her cards.
There is way too much information on this here on Fodor's Europe forum, and you will never have time to read it all, but you can do a search for something like converting dollars to euros. Then skim for an understanding of what works best.
If it were my daughter, I would set her up with an ATM card from a bank with low rates for overseas withdrawals, and a four digit pin. That is generally the most economical way to convert US dollars to euro: do it in Europe, via ATM. She could also use a credit card with good rates.
If you have only a couple of weeks, it might be hard to get that done in time. Ask your bank to add her to your account and get her cards.
There is way too much information on this here on Fodor's Europe forum, and you will never have time to read it all, but you can do a search for something like converting dollars to euros. Then skim for an understanding of what works best.
Mar 7th, 2008, 09:58 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hi, Gary, was this a last minute thing? It just sounds rather sudden. Where is she going?
Of course she cannot use dollars to pay for things in Europe, she'll have to use local currency, so it will be a lot easier if there is only one kind where she is going (if only one country or they all use the euro, for example).
The easiest way to get money abroad is to use an ATM card in a bank machine over there. Can you get her access to some ATM card? If so, I think she should take some extra US cash, just in case, maybe $100, but rely on the ATM card as a way to get most cash. She would have to find a place in Europe to exchange her USD for local cash, and she may lose about 10 pct of the value when doing that, so be prepared. But it should be possible in all major cities.
This is an unusual situation -- did she just decide to do this, and she's on her own with her friends, and she has no idea how to do anything herself? Or is this some school group or whatever?
Of course she cannot use dollars to pay for things in Europe, she'll have to use local currency, so it will be a lot easier if there is only one kind where she is going (if only one country or they all use the euro, for example).
The easiest way to get money abroad is to use an ATM card in a bank machine over there. Can you get her access to some ATM card? If so, I think she should take some extra US cash, just in case, maybe $100, but rely on the ATM card as a way to get most cash. She would have to find a place in Europe to exchange her USD for local cash, and she may lose about 10 pct of the value when doing that, so be prepared. But it should be possible in all major cities.
This is an unusual situation -- did she just decide to do this, and she's on her own with her friends, and she has no idea how to do anything herself? Or is this some school group or whatever?
Mar 7th, 2008, 10:03 AM
#6
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would make sure she has one or more credit cards, as well as an ATM card. For someone on her first trip (or even not), I suggest having some Euros in advance, even if the exchange rate is not great.
The reason is that ATMs can go down unexpectedly, etc.
She should always make sure she has a reserve of Euros so she does not get into a bind. For emergency use, she can get a cash advance on the credit card. Put at least one credit card and some money in the hotel safe. Take reasonable precautions (whatever you decide these are) when walking around Europe.
All of these emergency tactics are unlikely to be needed, but it's a good idea to be prepared.
The reason is that ATMs can go down unexpectedly, etc.
She should always make sure she has a reserve of Euros so she does not get into a bind. For emergency use, she can get a cash advance on the credit card. Put at least one credit card and some money in the hotel safe. Take reasonable precautions (whatever you decide these are) when walking around Europe.
All of these emergency tactics are unlikely to be needed, but it's a good idea to be prepared.
Mar 7th, 2008, 10:11 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey all,
wow, I didn't expect such great answers so quickly. Here are more specifics re: the trip. Yes, its a class trip, about 25 students and 3 chaperones. They will be flying from Dulles to London, then going to Paris and Barcelona and then back home. I glanced over the itinerary and will study it more carefully this weekend, but everything is paid for but lunch and any gifts/souvenirs she wants. You know, we're about to send her off to college in the fall, and I'm nervouse even though she will be a few hours from home. This is clear across the water and I just wanted to make sure I had everything covered before she goes.
wow, I didn't expect such great answers so quickly. Here are more specifics re: the trip. Yes, its a class trip, about 25 students and 3 chaperones. They will be flying from Dulles to London, then going to Paris and Barcelona and then back home. I glanced over the itinerary and will study it more carefully this weekend, but everything is paid for but lunch and any gifts/souvenirs she wants. You know, we're about to send her off to college in the fall, and I'm nervouse even though she will be a few hours from home. This is clear across the water and I just wanted to make sure I had everything covered before she goes.
Mar 7th, 2008, 10:19 AM
#8
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In London she'll need pounds and she can definitely get these at an ATM at Heathrow/Gatwick (whichever airport she is flying into)... London will also be a nice way to ease her into being abroad (everything is in English and it is a much like your American large cities, in fact she may feel safer in London then she would in New York or Philly 
) Paris and Barcelona, she will need Euros... again, if they are chunneling to Paris, the train station should have an ATM- she can get Euros for her time in Paris and Barcelona there (and I believe she may even have the option to get Euros out of the ATMs in London as well- I've seen several where you can select which currency you would like). If everything is covered- I would recommend her only withdrawing some money in each currency and paying for lunches/souvenirs w/ her ATM/Credit CArd if possible- she should find that visa/mastercard etc are accepted at a lot of places; depending on how far off the beaten path she is traveling, she may pick up lunch at a place where she'll need a few Euros...
) Paris and Barcelona, she will need Euros... again, if they are chunneling to Paris, the train station should have an ATM- she can get Euros for her time in Paris and Barcelona there (and I believe she may even have the option to get Euros out of the ATMs in London as well- I've seen several where you can select which currency you would like). If everything is covered- I would recommend her only withdrawing some money in each currency and paying for lunches/souvenirs w/ her ATM/Credit CArd if possible- she should find that visa/mastercard etc are accepted at a lot of places; depending on how far off the beaten path she is traveling, she may pick up lunch at a place where she'll need a few Euros...
Mar 7th, 2008, 10:22 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,702
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just remind her that sodas are very expensive, so if she could drink water for the most part it would save her spending money for more fun things. You should rent some travel videos of her destinations and get a couple of guidebooks so she feels more prepared. There are internet cafes so you and she can email every few days and that might make you feel more connected.
