As Americans, it’s easy for us to travel pretty consistently and never leave the good old US of A. We can drive for two days straight and still not make it all the way across the country. But what I have read countless times is that it’s very healthy for us to get out of our own bubble and visit other countries. It gives us a broader world view and makes us more empathetic. It can even help us be better Moms. So recently, I did my kids a huge favor and traveled to Europe for the first time. My husband and I left our 19- and 17-year-old “kids” to watch over the house (their aunt and uncle live next door) and took off on a two-week anniversary trip. My family has traveled and lived abroad, so I figured that I had things pretty well figured out. But I learned a few things anyway and I’d love to share them with you! We traveled by plane, train, subway, bus, taxi/uber, rental car, and foot through Germany, France, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.
1. Pack lightly. Most European countries are made for walking and/or public transit. So when you are packing your suitcase, ask yourself if that extra pair of shoes is worth lugging a larger suitcase over cobblestone streets and up staircases, because the older buildings don’t always have an elevator or “lift” as they call it.
If possible, bring lightweight clothing that you can wash in hotel sinks and hang dry. You can bring fewer clothes this way. Most hotels offer laundry service, but it comes at a premium and you have to have enough time to wait on your laundry to be returned, so if you are only spending a night here or there, you won’t have this option. You can layer and make different outfits.
2. Comfortable shoes. Leave the cutesy vacation shoes behind and wear something you can walk in. You will not regret a comfortable pair of shoes when stopping at an attraction that is easily a two mile walk uphill. Europe is made for walking!
3. Skip the hair dryer and curling iron. Every hotel offered a hair dryer, whether it was a two star quick stop in a small town or a four star in a big city. It’s complicated with a curling iron. You will either need a volt adapter or a curling iron that can trade between volts. And there is rarely a plug in the bathroom, so if you can go without curly locks, do it.
4. Small backpack. If you want to maximize your European experience, you will be out for many hours of the day. Bring a small backpack to carry your essentials with ease. A small bottle of water (there are fill stations in many places too), some pain relievers, band aids etc. Mine had a secret pocket against my back and I kept my passport and wallet there to avoid pickpockets.
5. Universal plug adapter. We used three different kinds of plugs on our travels. Thank goodness for our universal adapter to keep our phones charged. Even hotels in the same country had different types! 
6. Phone plan. Our cell phone carrier offered international phone plans for $12/day and having a phone that did everything from calls/texts to internet searches and mapping was so, so worth it!
7. Rental cars. While so much of Europe IS accessible via trains and buses, if you want the whole experience and choose to rent a car, be prepared to buy their insurance at several hundred dollars or put down a ~$1,500 deposit. Spring for the automatic, because even if you end up on the same side of the road as “normal,” learning signs, roundabouts, and traffic habits is enough without adding a stick shift into the mix. (My husband did not listen to me on this tip and it was mostly ok, but provided many laughable moments too!)
Parking is going to come at a premium. If you happen to have a rental car, make sure you check ahead of time on where you can park and what it will cost. We used a parking garage recommended by our hotel and it was 40 Euros ($45) per day, which is not counted in 24 hour blocks, just FYI!
Every lot we used in four different countries had paid parking. You will either pay ahead/display the ticket in your window, or you will need to pay before you exit. There are usually payment kiosks in the garages and you don’t want to get to the exit arm and figure this out. Pay first, then get in your car and head to the exit.
8. Cash. Make sure to exchange a good amount of cash before leaving the airport or train station. Many shops and restaurants will have a credit card machine, but many will not. The smaller vendors will want cash, and you may need coins to park too. Additionally, in many bigger cities in Europe, you will have to pay to use a bathroom, so have a few smaller coins/bills available and just expect it!
9. Use the local cues. Get off the streets at night when the locals do. Some places will be empty at dusk. Some places will have families and kids running around at midnight. Use those cues to figure out where you can be out late and where it’s not safe.
10. Learn a few words in the local language. Even just hello, goodbye, thank you and please. And bathroom, which a lot of Europe recognizes as “toilette.” You can take Ubers without speaking the language, but greeting them in their language is respectful. Also, learn the word for Exit for your own safety.
11. Translator apps. Get yourself a translator app that will translate from a photo. Many restaurants will have English options, but not all, and knowing what to order or reading an informative sign will be really helpful.
12. Best tip of all: Go ahead and look up hotels in the area you want to stay on a site like Booking.com or whatever. When you find the one you want, search it up and book it directly with them. We saved on average $25 USD by going to their site AND they all gave us free drink vouchers upon arrival. Can you say vacation mode!?
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