Tips for European Travel

Don't Try to Cover Too Much Ground
Take Advantage of Schengen
Plan According to Your Budget
Let the Train Take the Strain
Book Ahead for Fast Trains
Reconsider That Expensive Sightseeing Pass
Save on Accommodation
Head Off the Beaten Track
Rent a Car for More Flexibility
Check the Weather Forecast Before You Pack






Central and Eastern Europe

Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Estonia
Hungary
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Republic of Macedonia*
Republic of Serbia*
Romania
Russia
Slovakia
Ukraine




Mediterranean
The Republic of Albania
Andorra
Croatia
Republic of Cyprus
France
Gibraltar
Greece
Holy See (Vatican City)
Italy
Republic of Malta
Monaco
Portugal
Slovenia
Spain




Nordic Countries
Denmark
Faroe Islands
Finland
Iceland
Norway
Sweden



North Western Europe
Austria
Belgium
Germany
Republic of Ireland
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Switzerland
The Netherlands
United Kingdom
Channel Islands
Guernsey(Channel Islands)
Jersey(Channel Island)
England
Isle of Man
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales


Generally peak period for Europe is from May to September.




Special Note:


Do European Union member states require that Americans carry proof of health insurance when entering their countries? Well, yes, no and maybe.

Minimum coverage of the [health] insurance has to be. Make sure you will have a proof of your medical insurance with you when traveling.

We direct travelers to our travel insurance providers, and points out that U.S. insurance plans seldom cover health costs outside the U.S., nor do Medicare and Medicaid.





Travellers need to be "some sort of mathematical genius" to work out charges made by banks for withdrawals made from cash machines abroad, a watchdog has claimed.

The Daily Mail today reports that UK banks are making as much as £500 million from charging customers to use credit and debit cards abroad, with "complex calculations" of charges "ensuring holidaymakers remain unaware of how much their withdrawals and purchases are really costing".

Stating that overseas withdrawals using a debit card can cost as much as £4.50 a time, the newspaper states that a traveller who uses a debit card to withdraw £200 in cash and buy £1,000 worth of goods over a two-week break could end up paying £81 in charges.

The Mail says that, while the normal charge is 2.75 per cent of purchase price, there are additional fees as well: 75p for Nat West, £1 for Lloyds TSB and £1.50 for Halifax.

A spokesman for the Independent Banking Advisory Service is quoted as saying: "The big banks are making a fortune from charges that most customers simply don't realise they are being charged. This is pure greed. The charges are hidden away. You need to be some sort of mathematical genius to work them out."

Banks reportedly defended the charges, pointing out that they are "processing fees" and saying that charges were outlined on monthly statements and on card application forms.






European Union member states

The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) is a geocode standard for referencing the administrative division of countries for statistical purposes.

A
Austria
B
Belgium
C
Cyprus
Czech Republic
D
Denmark
E
Estonia
F
Finland
France
G
Germany
Greece
H
Hungary
I
Republic of Ireland
Italy
L
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
M
Malta
N
Netherlands
P
Poland
Portugal
S
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
U
United Kingdom







May Jesus Christ develop in our hearts through faith. May charity be the foundation of our lifes. There is no cost - except,for him,the cost of the cross and, for us, the cost of conversion. We Hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.





European Saints