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Tips and Tricks

Before You Arrive

  • Create a WhatsApp account linked to your current phone number. This is the best way to stay in contact with people back home. It is easier to set it up at home than in a different country.

  • Get a European number if you are traveling with someone else. We used the Orange SIM. Great service throughout each country and we were able to contact each other and our guide easily. 

  • Packing- All we brought was a carry-on size bag. Pack staple items. I bought linen and cotton pants from TJ Maxx (Easy to pack and dry quickly). I kept all neutral colors so everything would match.
     

  • Leave your itinerary and a photocopy of your passport with someone back home. This is just a safety precaution but it's always good to be prepared. 
     

The Netherlands

  • SCHEDULE VISITS IN ADVANCE. Book visits/tours to places like the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum

  • Amsterdam is lively and has much to offer, but if you want something calm, I recommend hanging around Haarlem and absorbing all of the history there!

Germany

  • Be prepared to eat a lot of boiled potatoes here.

  • If you plan to buy Steins here, I recommend a place that will ship it to you. You are still so early in the tour that lugging around a stein is inconvenient. So plan ahead and save money to ship home! Our items arrived home before we did.

Austria

  • There's only one tip here: ride the Luge. You will not regret it.

  • You can do laundry here. It is 10 euros per load. The best time to start laundry is around dinner or when everyone has gone to bed. Dryers are accessible at the hotel; you only pay 10 for the washer. Smell the dryer before placing clothes in. I didn't, and the dryer had a lingering smoke smell, which transferred to my clothes. I rewashed it, and it was fine! 

Italy

  • Venice

    • Wear your money belt here. It is very crowded, so be aware

    • Enjoy every second of the mask-making demo. It is true artistry, but beware, if you go to their shop after, you will probably buy a mask (they do ship home)

  • Florence

    • All I have to say here is haggle. We visited the Leather Market, and I bought three bags. I was quoted 500 euros for them and walked out paying 180 euros in total. ​

  • Rome

    • Pay attention to vehicles.

    • Just because a restaurant plays good music and has pretty lights does not mean their food is good. Look at reviews before sitting.

  • Cinque Terre

    • Just enjoy the downtime here. You will need it at this point in the trip.​

    • We did a cooking class here, and it was so worth it. It was the Cinque Terre Cooking School. Use code BKO114 to get 10% off.

    • This is a great place to wash clothes. They charge per load. 

Switzerland

  • We traveled in October, so it was their off-season. The place was absolutely beautiful though!

  • Go all the way to the top of the mountain, even though we only saw fog, it was still a fantastic time. 

France

  • Book your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance.

  • Forgot to book your tickets? Head over to the Eiffel Tower 30 minutes before it closes. There is no line, and you get to enjoy all the levels without the crowd. 

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