There are many European sightseeing tours and passes being offered online and many tourists fall prey to these offers simply because they think it's more convenient to pre-book them. However, upon arriving at their destination, they soon learn that pre-booking tours is usually not necessary and can sometimes be more expensive. Furthermore, some tours offered online are at times different from the actual ones being offered at your destination or they may not include everything mentioned on the website. The weather or traffic may also cause a tour to be cancelled or shortened and it can be more of a hassle to ask for a refund. Except for sightseeing tours that are so popular that they need to be pre-booked, it is better to wait till you get to your destination before booking them. You can always ask for tour information from your hotel or go to the nearest visitor information office.
As for city and transport passes, it is easy and sometimes cheaper to buy them at your destination. They are sold everywhere in big cities: at the airport, train stations, museums, visitor information offices, and even in some stores. Most city passes can offer tourists some conveniences like easier access to popular museums by not having to fall in line (Take note: lining up to get tickets at some very popular museums and attractions can take more than an hour!). Unlimited transportation rides on buses or the metro for the number of days stated in the pass as well as boat tours are sometimes included too. However, the city pass usually turn out to be more expensive than buying individual tickets because it simply is not possible to see all the museums or attractions included in the pass. Some of them are not even worth visiting and there are usually better options than the tours included in the pass. You may want to check reviews of tours and passes online before leaving for your vacation to see which ones would offer more bang for your buck.
For Hop-On/Hop-Off bus tours (also known as "Loop Tours"), passes can be bought when you board the bus. You can take these double-decker buses if you just want to visit most of the popular tourist sites in the city with the added convenience of getting on and off right at the sites you want to visit. Tour commentaries are included and the bus allows you to see more of the city, especially if you get to sit at the top of the bus, than if you take the metro or subway train. Of course, you will have to pay for that convenience because Hop-On/Hop-Off bus tours are not that cheap. However, they are usually worth your money especially if you are spending only 2 or 3 days in the city. The Hop-On/Hop-Off bus tour would also benefit those who would rather not use public transport. It can be a safer way to explore the city for tourists who are the usual targets of pickpockets especially in metro trains. If you plan to make it your main transport for going around the city, you might want to stay at a hotel or any accommodation close to one of its designated bus stops. Route maps with the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus stop locations can usually be found online (although sometimes, you need to check several websites before you can find them). The pass would also come with a bus route map whether you buy them online or on board the bus.
Transport services can vary from city to city. There are times that you can simply take the metro train or a bus from the airport or train station and walk the few steps or blocks to your hotel. You can also pre-book a shuttle service online that would take you to and from your hotel. If you are staying at a vacation rental, the owner would sometimes offer to take you to and from the airport, train or bus station free of charge! If you prefer to take a taxi, it would be best not to assume that the taxi driver would know where you want to go. Travel Tip: print out an online map showing the direction from the airport or train station to your hotel or destination and present it to the driver before or upon boarding the taxi (this is especially advisable if you can't speak the country's language).
Whether you're someone who travels light or not, it is always more convenient and easier to pack (and unpack) with travel organizers that keep things separate and easier to find. In addition, with luggage size and weight restrictions and the hefty baggage fees imposed by airlines for extra and overweight bags, it is not a bad idea to look for and purchase the lightest luggage you can afford that is durable enough to withstand rough handling especially by airport baggage handlers.
A. TOILETRY ORGANIZER BAG
My old Travelon Cosmetic
Organizer Travel Case
I'm an organization freak and, admittedly, I can never travel light! I'm allergic to many beauty and personal care products (even those labeled "hypoallergenic" or "for sensitive skin" sometimes) that I always need to bring ones that I've tried and tested. I even bring my own hairdryer because my hair seems to be picky about this tool. Apart from that, I would rather spend my time visiting tourist sites than looking around for stores to buy toiletries and anything else I need for the whole trip!
About 7 years ago, I started my search for the biggest toiletry bag I could find. I then found a cosmetic organizer travel case made by Travelon which has a strap at the back for suitcase handles. However, one end of the strap just recently tore off where it was sewn in place. The bag also has a removable shoulder strap that I have never used (I'm not even sure where it is now). The only thing I don't really like about it is its bulkiness which makes it not too easy to pack inside some suitcases.
Torn suitcase handle strap---hoping to
find someone who can sew it back on.
Because of the broken suitcase handle strap on my old Travelon toiletry bag, I've started looking around for a new one. I found a newer version of the bag but kept looking. It didn't take me long to come across one also made by Travelon (called "Total Toiletry Kit") which, I was surprised to find out, could be laid flat inside a suitcase! I'm glad that Travelon found a solution to the bulk problem though that feature comes with a higher price tag. It can be hang when fully opened, has 4 organized sections, as well as 2 removable pouches. It is also water resistant and is easy to clean like my old toiletry bag. However, it doesn't have a strap for suitcase handles which I prefer for those times when I choose not to pack the bag in a suitcase such as when traveling by car.
B. LEAKPROOF TRAVEL BOTTLES
It you prefer taking your own shampoo, conditioner, lotion, or body wash when traveling, it's a good idea to pack them in leakproof travel bottles (1 to 8 oz.) especially on short trips. However, it's also a good idea to label them to prevent confusion if any of your personal care products look the same. For extra protection against accidental leaks (pressure inside airplane cabins can cause that), you can pack them in small ziplock bags.
C. JEWELRY TRAVEL ORGANIZER
For my jewelries (fine & fashion), I like storing them in a flat jewelry travel organizer which can be rolled. However, I cannot store bulky jewelries in it. If I want to bring some of my bulky jewelries, I simply wear them or pack them in separate jewelry boxes or pouches. I love my flat jewelry travel organizer because I can put it inside my huge black travel tote (which makes me look smaller, by the way, but I don't mind) without adding bulk. My oversized tote would also usually contain a small laptop desk, my iPad mini &/or Kindle e-reader, a small or medium-size purse, an envelope with our plane e-tickets and all other travel documents, things that I might need on the plane, other valuables, as well as my laptop until I get past airport security after which I put it inside my carry-on suitcase.
D. SHOE BAGS
I like keeping my footwear separate from my clothes so I always pack them in washable shoe bags when I travel. Most of my shoe bags were given to me by a very thoughtful and dear friend as going away gifts before I immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines 9 years ago (very much appreciated because I was actually planning to put my shoes in Ziplocks!). They have drawstrings and one is made of printed cotton (for my slippers, she told me) while the rest are made of navy blue nylon-like material. Some of them are a little worn now having been washed so many times but I still get to use them every time I travel.
I started looking for the lightest luggage I could find before our trip to Europe last May. I've known about Rimowa Salsa Air as one of the sturdiest and lightest luggage available in the U.S. market but it is quite pricey. I kept looking and found some luggages which were also very light and not as expensive but they didn't look sturdy and durable.
After much thought and consideration, my husband and I decided to go for the Rimowa Salsa Air 30" Multi-wheel which weighs 7.9 lbs. Since we travel a lot and the Rimowa looked like something we could use for years to come, we thought that the bag was probably worth its price. Its very light weight allows for packing a few more pieces of clothes than other heavier luggages. It is very durable as it is made of the strongest polycarbonate material. It has a TSA combination lock and water-resistant zippers. The lightness of the bag makes it more convenient to move in and out of trains, and the 4-wheel spinners make the bag so easy to maneuver everywhere.
However, some people don't like the luggage for several reasons: the fact that it doesn't have pockets (but their absence actually help lessen the weight of the luggage); it opens in the middle with clothes packed on each side that you have to open the whole thing 180 degrees with both sides flat on the floor to get clothes out (personally, I like that design better because I find it easier to pack and unpack clothes, as well as separate the ones you plan to wear for a certain number of days before moving to the next accommodation when visiting multi-cities); the surface can get scratched easily (but for me, that's part of wear and tear, and there are things you can do, as recommended in one of the booklets that go with the luggage, to remove the scratches or make it appear not too noticeable; you can also pick a lighter color like ice blue or aquamarine).
I chose the 30" Salsa Air over the 29" (which weighs 7.1 lbs.) because I thought the latter was a little small. The linear dimension (the total of its length + width + height) of the 30" Salsa Air is exactly 62 inches, the size limit required by airlines. So much can be packed inside the luggage that even with its very light weight, a fully-packed 30" Salsa Air can exceed the 50 lb. weight limit required by airlines. I then realized that I probably should have bought the 29" Salsa Air instead so that I wouldn't have to worry about exceeding the airline weight limit even when the bag is packed tightly. However, I solved the problem by not packing heavy clothes like jeans in the 30" Salsa Air and not to pack it too tightly.
Some airlines are also strict about the size and weight of carry-ons. The Rimowa Salsa Air21"Ultralight Cabin Multi-wheel weighs a very light 4.3 lbs. that even a tiny woman like me would find it so easy to lift and store the bag inside an airplane's overhead bin as well as take it out. Some airlines have a 7 kilo (15.43 lb.) weight restriction on carry-ons which means that heavier cabin luggages will not allow for a lot to be packed. I have a carry-on that I bought in Hong Kong 10 years ago that's very sturdy and still looks good but weighs 7.5 lbs. That means I can put only 4 pairs of my husband's denim jeans, weighing 1.9 lbs. each, inside the carry-on which would leave it half-empty!
I love our Rimowa Salsa Air 30" Multiwheel so much that I bought a 21" Ultralight Cabin Multi-wheel before we left Paris last May because we needed another bag to pack some souvenirs we collected from the trip. It cost a little more there than in the U.S. but since it was duty-free, it turned out $50 cheaper than in the U.S. once we got our tax refund. If cost is not an issue and you are concerned about luggage weight, I would highly recommend the Rimowa Salsa Air. However, If you find its price too prohibitive, you may want to take a look at the IT Luggage World's Lightest (available at Amazon and eBags) which is made of high density polyester. The 29" Packing Case weighs only 4 lbs. and 11 oz., much lighter than the 7.1-lb. 29" Salsa Air.
YouTube Video Review of the Rimowa Salsa Air Multi-wheel:
F. PACKING CUBES
Personally, I'm not into packing cubes though I use small cosmetic pouches to store things like chargers and other small items I need when traveling. I do agree that packing cubes make packing and unpacking much easier, but for me, they just add more weight to check-in bags and they don't allow me to pack as much as I want inside a luggage. As I've said, I can't travel light so I do need all the space I can get. I always need to pack extra clothes and shoes just in case because my clothes and shoe sizes are hard to find in-store. I have my own way of packing clothes in a neat and organized manner that I don't even worry about my packed clothes getting wrinkled. The secret is just taking extra care in folding and packing clothes, inserting small items like socks and underwear around the empty sides once you've packed folded clothes like tops, shirts, sweaters or dresses side by side. I then usually pack jeans, pants, skirts, shorts and short blazers on top. However, if you don't have the patience for that, then packing cubes are for you!
About 9.5 million Filipinos have been affected by super typhoon "Haiyan" (Philippine code name "Yolanda") and around 600,000 have been displaced. The typhoon is one of the strongest ever recorded with winds of up to 200 mph. The death toll in one city alone could reach 10,000 according to news reports quoting Philippine officials. Many are injured and need immediate medical attention. Thousands are in dire need of food and water which will have to sustain them for weeks to come. Many of them haven't eaten for days and help is slow in coming because of transportation problems. The United Nations estimates that $301 million in emergency assistance is needed to help the millions of Filipinos affected by the super typhoon.
Peace of mind is something that some travelers wouldn't mind paying for. Events covered by a travel insurance rarely happen but the possibility of at least one event happening before or during a trip exists, and huge financial loss may be involved.
After considering everything that could potentially happen before and during our recent 3-week European vacation, my husband and I decided that it was worth getting one. We've already spent a bunch of money even before we left for Europe (for flights, rail tickets, accommodations, to buy Euros, a new suitcase, new clothes, etc.). We didn't want to deal with a cancelled or shortened vacation without recouping the money we've spent, or to pay a fortune in case of an accident or sickness while we were on vacation. Rail workers could go on strike, our luggage could get lost, we could get food poisoning that would require hospitalization, one of our flights could get cancelled, we could get involved in a car accident before the trip or while driving around France, an elderly family member might suddenly pass away, and so on.
We compared several travel insurance companies but eventually settled on a company associated with USAA because it offered the cheapest package covering potential events that we feared the most. You can ask your credit card company if they offer travel insurance coverage, or go with big-name companies like Travelex, Travel Guard or Allianz. You can check out popular travel websites for recommended travel insurance companies as well as look for reviews of the companies online.
Gone are the days when one could find round trip airfare to Paris from the U.S. for only $500 or less. The rule to book flights at least 3 months ahead to get the best airfare is also a thing of the past! For our trip to Europe in May of this year, I kept checking airfares months ahead and have found that airfares were cheapest 5 months before departure date (especially for direct flights to popular destinations in Europe). That also applies to booking flights using frequent flier miles.
A new survey by kayak.com says that the lowest airfares can be found 21 days before departure for domestic flights and 34 days for international flights. However, you wouldn't want to take a chance if you plan to leave on a peak travel season, on a direct flight, at a certain time of day, want to be seated beside a travel companion, and you have pre-booked and pre-paid tours, accommodations and train tickets.
We have been flying Delta Airlines (despite their lousy customer service sometimes, unpalatable in-flight food and hefty baggage fees) because the airline has the most direct flights to European destinations from Atlanta where we live. We also want to accumulate frequent flier miles and have them in just one place. Furthermore, unlike the accumulated frequent flier miles on other airlines, Delta Skymiles do not expire (though there's nothing that can stop them from changing that).
We also applied for the Delta Skymiles credit card because of the 30,000 bonus miles you get after spending at least $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first 3 months, the $50 statement credit you earn after making a Delta purchase, the double miles for every eligible dollar spent on Delta purchases, and the first bag checked-in for free for every person in a family of four (but that's only for domestic flights). You get a $0 Introductory Annual Fee for the first year but you'll have to pay $95 after that. I can recommend the card to frequent Delta travelers as well as to those who simply want to get the 30,000 bonus miles. After the first year, it may not be worth it to pay $95 a year unless you travel on domestic flights at least twice a year and you need to check-in a bag every time (e.g. a bag containing your toiletries).
B. TRAINS
As regards European rail tickets, travelers need to compare the cost of Eurail Passes to the total cost of separate train tickets. The Eurail Pass will save you some money (seated in first class at that) if you plan to take so many train trips within the period and the country/countries covered by the pass. For many travelers, however, it's usually not worth buying a pass. They are better off getting separate train tickets, even if they choose to travel first class all the way!
Just like airfares, train ticket prices also increase the closer you get to your departure date. For the best deals, purchase your tickets at least 3 months before your train departure date. For trains that require reservation, it is best to reserve trips at least 1 month ahead (2 months for peak season travel). Better yet, just buy your tickets and reserve your trips at the same time! Reservation, by the way, is for an additional fee.
If you have train connections, it is advisable to choose a connection that departs not too close to your first train's arrival time (at least 1 hour apart) because trains do arrive late sometimes. You would also have to look for your next train's boarding platform which can be confusing at times especially in busier and bigger train hubs like Lyon, France. However, if your train does arrive late, it is easy to get on another train but it might be on a much later time, depending on whether the train station is a major or minor hub. You will need to get another ticket (free of charge), but just looking for where to get the ticket might take a little while, especially if you can't speak the language! If your first train is running late and the destination train station is not informed of the delay, you need to ask the conductor to endorse your ticket to serve as proof that your first train was delayed and to allow you to get a free transfer on the next available train.
Before boarding your train, remember to punch (date-stamp) your ticket/s on a "compostage de billet" machine. You can be fined for failing to do so, unless the machine is not available in the train station (like at the Gare Cornavin in Geneva, Switzerland). You can punch your connecting train tickets at the same time before boarding your first train. For purchasing Eurail Passes online (as well as planning your trip), I can recommend eurail.com and raileurope.com. For purchasing train tickets only, including train reservations, you can go to raileurope.com (eurail.com only sells Eurail Passes).
Train tickets purchased through raileurope.com are usually delivered within 2-3 business days. Shipping is free for a minimum purchase of $399. The e-ticket option is also available on the website but only for certain trains in Europe.
European Rail Tickets (we got the paper ticket on top for the next available
train when our first train from Geneva, Switzerland arrived late in
Lyon, France and we missed our connecting train to Aix-en-Provence)
C. RENTAL CARS
Lastly, if you plan to rent a car in Europe, there are several websites you can go to. You can even rent one when you arrive at your destination (at the airport, train station, or anywhere in town). In our case, we prefer booking our rental cars through avis.com because online rates are usually better and we get discounted rates with our Wizard number which we got through USAA. Avis also has rental car outlets anywhere in the world, it seems, and at convenient locations. With the Wizard discount, Avis rates can be very competitive. You can apply for a Wizard number at the Avis website. If you are a Costco member, you can also get discounts for rental cars if you book through the Costco website.
When you book a rental car online for pick-up anywhere at your destination in Europe, you might think it's a good thing when you are given an upgrade at the counter and get a compact car or minivan instead of the economy car you originally booked. But once you start driving the car (through narrow streets especially) and try to park it, you're going to wish you had a smaller car! The reason you got an "upgrade" is probably because they ran out of the smaller car that you booked or they want to get rid of the bigger cars first as there seems to be a higher demand for sub-compact and economy cars in Europe. You don't have to accept the upgrade, of course. You can insist on being given the exact type of car you reserved.
It is advisable to book a rental car a few weeks ahead especially during peak season and to get car insurance if your car insurance at home doesn't cover cars rented outside the country. You can also check with your credit card company if using your card to rent cars in foreign countries include car insurance. (Note: Car thefts are more common in Europe these days because of the recession and a lot of Italian and French drivers are crazy!). However, it might be more convenient to buy your insurance where you rented the car (though probably more expensive) because you won't have to do anything when you return the car with scratches and dents, or do much more than inform the car rental company in case the car is stolen.
If you need GPS, there are times that it might be cheaper to buy your own in Europe than include one with your car booking. You could also save money by getting an international data package for your smart phone and using your phone's google map instead. (Update: T-Mobile just recently announced its latest offer of unlimited international data and text services at no extra charge which started last October 31st. Ken and I are now considering switching to T-Mobile from AT&T unless the latter sets out to offer the same thing soon.)
When traveling to Europe, it is generally cheaper to withdraw cash from ATMs there than buying foreign currency at home even if you have to pay ATM fees. Cash withdrawals, regardless of amount, are based on the wholesale exchange rate which is typically available only on amounts of 1 million USD exchanged electronically between banks.
The amount you can withdraw per transaction at European ATMs is limited to a range of 250-450 Euros and the daily withdrawal limit is up to the maximum amount allowed by your bank. However, there are cases when you will have no time to look for an ATM upon arrival at your destination or you will need an amount more than your daily withdrawal limit the day of your arrival (e.g. if you need to pay the full rent for an apartment when you arrive). In such cases, you will have no choice but to buy Euros at home.
On our second trip to Europe, we decided to buy Euros before we left the U.S. because we had to pay the full week's rent in cash for our apartment in Aix-en-Provence. We found that more convenient than looking for several ATMs in the city to come up with the amount we needed. We comparison shopped online and found Wells Fargo (https://www.wellsfargo.com/foreignexchange/) to have the best forex purchase rate. The wholesale rate at the time we bought the Euros was around $1.32 per €1 and Wells Fargo's rate was around $1.37 per €1. The minimum you can buy is the equivalent of $25 and the maximum is $3,000. There is no service charge and the shipping and handling fee depends on the total amount purchased. I checked the S&H fee for certain amounts and it seems like they charge a flat rate of $15 for orders below $1,000 but orders over $1,000 get shipped for free. We purchased €2,000 with free S&H and our order arrived via Fedex in 2 business days.
Now, on the subject of how we would carry our euros and dollars safely through the airport and without fear of having our wallets or bags stolen, we started looking for money belts online and in stores. Considering my small stature, I wanted one that wasn't bulky (preferably flat), comfortable (no contraptions that would dig into my skin), and not too expensive. We decided to buy two of the "Lewis N. Clark Luggage Rfid Waist Stash" which was cheaper than the more highly recommended (by Rick Steves and most reviewers) "Eagle Creek Travel Gear Undercover Money Belt De Luxe".
On the day of our departure, Ken and I split up the cash and stored them inside our money belts with some of our credit and debit cards. I wore comfortable khaki pants that were a little loose around the waist and the cash I carried remained dry and unwrinkled. Ken's money belt, on the other hand, got a little damp from his sweat, and the cash he carried got a bit moist but not wet and just a little wrinkly (Travel Tip: it might be a good idea to put the cash inside a small plastic or ziploc bag). I checked Amazon reviews and learned that cash stored inside the Eagle Creek can also get a little damp when the wearer gets sweaty.
EMV card logo (designs may vary for different cards but it's usually painted gold with 3-5 horizontal lines on each side of the center design)
Chip-and-Pin cards are also known as EMV cards (EMV stands for Europay, Mastercard and Visa, the 3 groups involved in the initial development of the Chip-and-Pin technology). These cards can be debit, credit or ATM cards embedded with computer chips, unlike standard credit cards or "swipe cards" that have magnetic stripes or magstripes (though some cards have both). With the Chip-and-Pin credit card, the cardholder punches a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to complete a purchase instead of signing a receipt.
On our trip to Europe in 2007, we rented a car to drive around the Costa Brava from Barcelona, then to Carcassonne, France, and back to Barcelona through Andorra. We tried to use our credit cards in some gas stations along the way and wondered why they weren't being accepted. The first time, we were almost out of gas and we didn't have enough cash! Luckily, my brother who lives in Spain was with us and he offered to pay for the gas with his Chip-and-Pin credit card.
Learning from our previous experience in Europe, we tried our hardest to get hold of a Chip-and-Pin card before leaving for our second European vacation. We did a lot of research online and found a few that we considered getting.
A month or so before our trip, my husband Ken (who is a USAA member because he used to be an officer in the U.S. army) decided to inform USAA online about our planned trip to Europe to make sure that our USAA Mastercard would work there. While filling up an online form, he was asked if he was planning a trip out of the country. When he answered "Yes", the next question, to his utter surprise, was if he wanted his card to be converted to a Chip-and-Pin card! We had no idea that USAA was already offering a Chip-and-Pin card! And the fact that we were not really keen on applying for a new credit card, that piece of news certainly made us glad! The card, however, is offered only to eligible USAA members (those who are planning to work or travel overseas).
In Versailles, while lining up at a ticket machine to buy RER train tickets for our return trip to Paris, we felt so lucky to have a Chip-and-Pin U.S. credit card which very few American tourists there had. The very long line to purchase tickets with cash was disheartening. Some Americans, perhaps unaware of Chip-and-Pin cards, even held up the lines for the ticket machines while trying over and over again to buy tickets there with their standard American credit cards. Our USAA Chip-and-Pin Mastercard worked everywhere except on the French autoroute toll booths. We're not sure why. Ken's assumption is that they probably don't want to pay the fees associated with accepting American credit cards.
For non-USAA members who may want to get Chip and Pin cards, this link will lead you to a list of both Chip-and-Pin and Chip-and-Signature U.S. credit cards: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ani-u3tGk5hedGRvcE1ELVg5UmlGZk01SHZvTUMxdUE#gid=0
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