My post this week gives 10 tips to help you survive a summer trip to Europe. Sadly, the dollar is already starting to fall in value, so be happy if you booked a cheaper airfare and hotel package a couple of months ago. You may need to be a bit more cautious in spending for meals and activities. But what have I missed? I was trying to give some general tips, but there are probably some more useful things to remember, especially regarding travel to specific countries. But general tips are good too. Let's start a superthread to help all those out there who are taking their summer vacations on the Continent. Here's a link to my post -- http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3391.html

Please add your own comments below.

Doug, looks pretty good but I guess it tries to cover Portugal to Finland and Turkey to Ireland which is a lot of time and space.

I would add a few odd bits

Clothes, I would explain how the West of Europe can get prety wet and stay cool in the summer. That Linen is the answer to the heat of the main continent.

I think I might offer advice on visiting both churches, monesteries and mosques to get a bit more coverage. I also think a little on the ettiquete on greating strangers in various countries, ie France/Spain, Germany and UK are all very different.

Tipping is always contentious and aqain varies by country and even by some sites, but it is worth mentioning (that it varies and when in Rome etc).

Public transport is generally more used and reasonably pleasant than in US and I find that has most effect on Americans when they visit me on business. Similarly many European towns are not well planned to be used by the car.

Eating times vary a lot. So the poles seem to eat supper by 6 or 7 pm while Spaniards 10 or 11 pm might be early

Good idea Doug, Here are some tips that have proven useful during our 25 trips to Europe. We are going back in Sep to celebrate our 50th anniversary:

TWENTY TERRIFIC TRAVEL TIPS !!

After enjoying 25 trips to Europe, most of them in the past 25 years, here are some tips that we have found helpful. We hope that you agree:

MONEY:
1. Use your CREDIT CARDS for most major expenses[ hotels, car rentals, Ristorantes ] It will provide the best exchange rate and give you a good record after you get home.
2. There is no reason to get local currency until you arrive in Europe. Use the airport ATM for cash. ATMs are everywhere in Europe and work just like your hometown machine—even in English.
3. Bring 2 credit cards and both should have 4 digit PINS. Be sure to tell your CC companies that you are traveling in Europe—check your limits.
4. Forget TRAVELERS CHECKS—they were obsolete years ago.
5. Keep several 1E & 2E coins easily accessible---very convenient.

PACKING:
6. Pack lite and pack smart ! It is too much luggage that signals a typical novice traveler. Your primary rolling bag should not exceed 24”—check it ! Take a smaller carry-on bag that should contain everything you will need to survive if your primary bag does not arrive for 48 HOURS.
7. Pack a canvas tote bag to hold the extra goodies you will buy in Europe. Also consider bringing a wash cloth, liquid soap, raincoat and a hat for bad hair days. Be sure your knife with corkscrew is in your checked luggage.
8. Do not dress to advertise that you are a tourist, although it will likely be evident. Plan your outfits using basic colors and do not be afraid to wear the same outfit 3 days in a row. Try to dress in layers—shirt, sweater, jacket.
9. If you need to save packing space, wear your bulkiest items on the plane [ sport coat, dress shoes, raincoat, sweater etc.]

SAFETY:
I feel safer in Rome or Munich than I do in Miami or Chicago. However, Americans do get targeted by pick pockets and purse snatchers, especially in crowded areas of major cities. Here are some tips that may help:
10. Keep purses/cameras around your neck—do not lay then down.
11. Wear a money belt for those items you cannot afford to have lost. This includes passports, credit cards, travel documents.
12. Stay alert and vigilant— thieves will use DISTRACTION as their tactic.
13. Always lock your rental car and keep nothing in view you want to keep.


WILD CARD TIP:
The best tip I can give to any novice traveler to Europe is to always smile, be respectful, and never forget you are a guest in their country !

TRAVEL TIPS CONTINUED:

CARS AND TRAINS:

Rental cars in Italy can be expensive due to the high mandatory insurance. However, often a car is the best way to see many parts of BELLA ITALIA.
Rail travel is often less costly but can be quite inconvenient in rural areas.

14. Avoid driving in major cities—it is often a real hassle.
15. When driving on the extensive AUTOSTRDA system, be sure to stay in the right lane except when passing. You will need to pay toll as you exit the system—look for the VIA lane to pay by credit card.
16. You will need a driver, a navigator, and a good map. The road signage is good on the major roads, but do not rely on road numbers on secondary roads—that will frustrate you. Do learn to trust the directional signage.
17. Study your daily maps in advance so you can ANTICIPATE decisions.

TRAVEL TID-BITS:

18. Take the time to learn a 50 word vocabulary to include basic courtesies.
19. Learn to use the 24 hour clock and the European way to list a date—both may save you a major blunder [ June 15 is really 15 June or 15/06]. It does make good sense---do we not call it the 15th of June?
20. Here are some TRAVEL TOOLS that you will want to have with you:

• Swiss Army knife with a decent corkscrew.
• Extra batteries for your camera—and/or a dual voltage charger.
• Copies of credit cards and travel documents—including passports.
• Extra reading glasses—I put 3 pairs in different locations.
• Adapter plugs—typically two prongs for round holes
• A flashlight or reading light---rooms are often too dark.

Hi Doug - the tip about checking for A/C is a good one. I learned that lesson the hard way when traveling to Rhine/Mosel Valleys in July several years ago with my mom. It was quite hot (high 20sC) and none of the hotels I booked had A/C. In fact, we were stuck with an attic room a few times which was even hotter with tiny windows, and the best the hotel could do was gave us an electric fan. My mom was not happy.

In much of Europe, you will be better served ensuring you have waterproof shoes, a nice umbrella, and a decent rain jacket. July and August can be overcast, rainy, and temperate in much of Scandinavia, for instance. Ditto for much of Switzerland and Holland, as well. The UK and Ireland, of course, are not exactly sun and fun destinations at any time of the year.

Also, remember that the big vacation month can vary depending upon the country. August is obviously king in France, but July is the biggie in Denmark. This has a good and a bad side. It means that popular beaches can be overrun by Scandinavians during July and Frenchmen in August, leaving no time for those that don't like crowds. On the positive side, though, if you want to go in August, but are afraid of finding your destination deserted, Scandinavia will be open for business.

Hello Doug! With all due respect I disagree with your suggestion to sleep late when one is travelling in Italy when it is hot and humid. Get up early, go out and have coffee/espresso and whatever and do the sightseeing when it is cooler in the morning. After a leisurely lunch and if the heat and humidty is getting to you go back to your a/c room (hopefully one has an a/c room although the a/c is not always as good as we have in the US). Take a nap or rest at least, take another shower and go out late afternoon or early evening to again wander around and sightsee. Have a late dinner and after dinner take a good walk when it is cooler. At least that always works in Italy. Another good reason to think about the location where one is staying, so that going back to the hotel or apartment is close enough that one is able to "hide out" during the hottest time of the day.

P.S. Just am additional thought. If one is young and into the drinking/party scene until the wee hours of the morning no doubt sleeping in is a good idea, lol! CinCin.

I agree that in those very warm climes, the best strategy is to break your waking hours, and your sleeping hours, into two segments each. Get up bright and early and enjoy the sights until noon, have a light lunch, then enjoy the siesta with a nap or a good read on a shaded bench or whatever. Venture out again around 4 pm and do some more sightseeing until 8 pm or so, have a late diner, stroll some more, and then to bed.

That said, I have never completely mastered the art of "getting on the local schedule" in Spain in the summertime. But that has more to do with my eating habits than my sleeping habits.