International Travel for n00bs

Whatever you do, don't exchange money in an airport or train station. They'll rape you with a huge % for an exchange fee.

Currency: First thing to do is make sure that your bank(s) know that you'll be overseas so that your cards wont be rejected. You'll want your credit cards for hotels, car rentals and larger purchases (train tickets and shit like that). The best exchange rate is going to be at ATM's. What I've always done is pull out my max allowance for a day as often as I need to. Keep in mind that unless you have a credit card with a chip in it, you wont be able to use it at most places in Europe (hotels seem fine, but restaurants aren't likely). If possible, get an ATM card from your bank for European travel. If you can't find an ATM that will take your card, you might have to go to a bank. Bank exchange rates are ok, but not ideal.

Edit: Since you're in San Francisco you shouldn't have a problem finding a bank to exchange money with. I'd exchange enough cash for the first couple of days just in case you run into issues. Like Xarpolis said, don't do it at airports or train stations. Pull out a few hundred in pounds, Euros and Francs before you leave, and use ATM's once you get there.

Phone: AT&T's international rates are good, and that's all I've ever used. Can't tell you how it'll work with Verizon, so give them a call and try to figure something out. I've heard of people having good success with burner phones purchased at the airport, but that was in Japan and not in Europe.

Jet Lag: Don't be a pussy and stay awake until a reasonable time when you first get to Europe. No matter what you do, don't check into the hotel and go straight to sleep unless it's like a 10pm or something like that. Landing in the morning is always easier. It'll still take a few days, but it's really not that bad. It's worse coming back to the US. Basically you're just going to have to deal with it. Your body will adjust.

Other things to think about:

If you're going to be taking trains make sure you find out whether or not you need to have your tickets validated (usually using a machine in the terminal) before you get on. France doesn't care so much, but Italy does. I'm not sure about the UK or Switzerland.

You don't need a neck wallet or a hidden pouch or anything like that, just keep your wallet in your front pocket and be aware of what's going on around you. Keep your passport on you (I wouldn't trust hotels) at all times and make sure you don't lose it. Don't fuck around or present yourself as a target.

Personally I just use local ATM's. You'll get about 2-3% worse of an exchange rate as compared to the going rate on foreign exchange markets, but it's pretty tough to do any better than that. Currency exchange places will absolutely fuck you. They'll say "no fees!" and shit like that, but the exchange rate they give you will be like 10% less than what it should be.

However from what I understand, US debit cards are still in the dark ages and may or may not work outside of the US. I'm not really sure if that's still the case or not. Credit cards will be about the same as debit, exchange rate wise. Visa is pretty much the only way to go, MasterCard is okay but not as prevalent, and American Express is pretty much useless.

Be careful of pick pockets in Europe. Haven't had it happen to me personally, but I know a few friends who lost wallets and passports in busy train stations.

Phone wise, I can't help too much, but just try to use WiFi as much as you can. It's getting so ubiquitous now. Any plan you get from an American carrier is probably still going to be fucking insanely expensive for any significant data usage.

You don't need a neck wallet or a hidden pouch or anything like that, just keep your wallet in your front pocket and be aware of what's going on around you. Keep your passport on you (I wouldn't trust hotels) at all times and make sure you don't lose it. Don't fuck around or present yourself as a target.

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I agree with everything Adam wrote except this. I'd definitely recommend getting a money belt, especially if you're going to be visiting big touristy areas (places that pick pockets love). It's only like 15 - 20 dollars for a simple money belt that can keep your passport, credit cards, and extra cash almost completely secure. Even if you don't ever reallyneedit, I found that the piece of mind was worth the low cost.

*edit* Just don't be one of those doofuses that wears the money belt like a fannie pack, thus defeating the purpose of it.

McCheese_sl said:

I agree with everything Adam wrote except this. I'd definitely recommend getting a money belt, especially if you're going to be visiting big touristy areas (places that pick pockets love). It's only like 15 - 20 dollars for a simple money belt that can keep your passport, credit cards, and extra cash almost completely secure. Even if you don't ever reallyneedit, I found that the piece of mind was worth the low cost.

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I guess it's ok for something like your passport that you want with you but wont have to pull out often, but not for your wallet. I've never had any issues keeping my wallet in my front pocket and staying aware. Maybe I'm lucky, but I've been in several major train stations and touristy areas throughout France and Italy and never had a thing stolen from me.

Adam12_sl said:

I guess it's ok for something like your passport that you want with you but wont have to pull out often, but not for your wallet. I've never had any issues keeping my wallet in my front pocket and staying aware. Maybe I'm lucky, but I've been in several major train stations and touristy areas throughout France and Italy and never had a thing stolen from me.

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The way I always used mine was to keep just a single credit card and a small amount of cash in my front pocket. My passport and other cards plus the bulk of my cash were kept safely in my money belt. You're probably right that you won't get pick pocketed, but it's always a possibility. Much like Eomer, while I've never been pick pocketed myself, I know several people who have had stuff stolen in crowded tourist areas.

Dont take any Dollars to Europe, noone will accept them there anyway, money exchange rates are best at atms, make sure you bring a credit card with chip for them, since magnet strips would prolly work for up to hundred bucks places (hotels, gas stations, etc.).
Jet lag: sleep as much as you can during flight, and should you arrive in the early morning you could also take a power nap for an hour tops at your hotel, whatever happens, stay up till nighttime and if you need, just get hammered with european beer for a good night sleep.
Also keep your passport with you at all times, you will need it for most check ins at hotels anyway.

McCheese_sl said:

The way I always used mine was to keep just a single credit card and a small amount of cash in my front pocket. My passport and other cards plus the bulk of my cash were kept safely in my money belt. You're probably right that you won't get pick pocketed, but it's always a possibility. Much like Eomer, while I've never been pick pocketed myself, I know several people who have had stuff stolen in crowded tourist areas.

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Yeah, I'll concede the point. Having peace of mind at the cost of a little convenience is better than getting your shit stolen by some Eurotrash piece of shit who will use your card on German shitporn sites (I'm talking about Quin).

You didn't ask, but don't drink anything but bottled water.

My wife went to a restaurant and didn't know the water they gave her was tap in Spain. Had to stay in bed in the hotel for 4 days shitting her brains out and getting a shot in the ass.

It has been 15 years since I traveled to Europe so I don't know how true this still is, but when I went I was warned to always tell people asking me where I was from to respond with Canada. I really don't think there are gangs of Europeans looking to beat the shit out of Americans, but if you find yourself in a shady situation might be worth remembering. I have a buddy who lives in Sweden now who travels Europe a lot who when asked still tells people that he used to live "just south of Vancouver" but doesn't elaborate that it is across the border unless pressed.

Also when I went I seem to remember getting great exchange rates via AmEx travelers checks, but again, it was 15 years ago.

Tuco_sl said:

Depending on where you're going that's almost inevitable =\

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Really? Even when I went to Belize and Honduras they had bottled water.. and Coca-Cola. They fuckin love that shit.

If you're drinking anything other than alcohol on vacation, you're vacationing wrong.

opiate82_sl said:

It has been 15 years since I traveled to Europe so I don't know how true this still is, but when I went I was warned to always tell people asking me where I was from to respond with Canada. I really don't think there are gangs of Europeans looking to beat the shit out of Americans, but if you find yourself in a shady situation might be worth remembering. I have a buddy who lives in Sweden now who travels Europe a lot who when asked still tells people that he used to live "just south of Vancouver" but doesn't elaborate that it is across the border unless pressed.

Also when I went I seem to remember getting great exchange rates via AmEx travelers checks, but again, it was 15 years ago.

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No way. If you're trying to meet people and be friendly just be honest about it. If it's some random person you don't care to talk to then you don't have to talk to them. There's no reason to be ashamed of anything, everyone has shitty things to say about wherever they're from. It's not like you're going to say "I'm an American, you know, the country that totally saves your pathetic ass in every major war and gives you awesome shit like McDonald's" and it's not like they're going to go down to the local Fuck America club to rally up the goons to come beat your ass and rape your girlfriend.

Being afraid and paranoid about silly shit is counterproductive and completely against what travelling is all about. Seriously, if you're actually trying to meet people and get the most out of your experience then a little honesty will go a long way. If someone is going to hate you for being an American then that person is worth your time anyway.

opiate82_sl said:

It has been 15 years since I traveled to Europe so I don't know how true this still is, but when I went I was warned to always tell people asking me where I was from to respond with Canada. I really don't think there are gangs of Europeans looking to beat the shit out of Americans, but if you find yourself in a shady situation might be worth remembering. I have a buddy who lives in Sweden now who travels Europe a lot who when asked still tells people that he used to live "just south of Vancouver" but doesn't elaborate that it is across the border unless pressed.

Also when I went I seem to remember getting great exchange rates via AmEx travelers checks, but again, it was 15 years ago.

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Traveler cheques are long gone, you will need to visit a bank counter during opening times ( talking about 8 to 12 am and 2 to 5 pm shit here) and they will prolly double check everything and making it a pita to never try to cash in a cheque again at their counter, when the atm outside just takes 2 mins and is available 24/7.

Also just be open about where you are from, when you are acting mature, polite and open minded you might surprise the locals about being american.
On the other hand when you end up being a loudmouthed blubbering bigotous homeschooled jerk they will just assume you are american anyway.