So, your flying to Europe for the first time this summer, but you haven’t a clue about what you need to know beforehand. Europe is obviously different from the states in many ways so you should know that first hand. There are 5 things you should know before you fly there to prepare for it.
The first is simple. Learn some of the language. It would be an excellent feature and learning experience if you already knew most of the language there, but most likely you don’t. Knowing key questions will aid you on the trip though. Luckily, “English is dominating, since it is the first foreign language almost all children in the EU learn” (Marian). Plenty of people in Europe speak English, however “French and German are also quite important” as dominating languages (Marian).
Important questions to know before you go would be: “Where is the bathroom?” “How do I get to (destination)?” “How much is this?” Knowing some common courtesy language is also recommended. How to order your food at a restaurant can be equally important as well.
The second thing to know before you go is to know the currency used. Most countries in Europe use Euro. But, some countries in Europe don’t, so you should know what country uses what before you go and know how much to bring of each depending on how long you stay in each country. Countries like “Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the UK” don’t use Euro (Barden & Sainsbury).
Checking your phone plan and getting an adapter for your phone is the third thing to know and get before you go to Europe. You want to be able to use your precious cell phone overseas, then you should know what your plan is and how it works over there. Plus, getting the right adapter is important because in Europe, they don’t have the same voltage and the shape of the plug is different as well. “American appliances run on 110 volts, while European appliances are 220 volts” (Steves).
An important one to know is understanding the culture of some of the countries you might visit. Knowing the culture will make your experience more immersive. Italy’s culture is mainly with the arts, so search out museums as a destination. Denmark is heavy in architecture and fashion. “Danish architects continue to shape urban Denmark with a sense of high quality and very modern building design” (Culture). “Danish fashion and especially design have become famous for its simplicity and functionalism” (Culture).
The food in Europe is delicious and is also a terrific way to gain experience in learning the language and food that most people eat in that country. It’s also important to know the food there because you might have certain dietary needs that you need to be cautious of. So, spotting restaurants that can meet those needs is important on your trip.
If you are vegetarian, then you need to make it clear to the waiter or chef because in Europe, “vegetarian means “no red meat” or “not much meat” (Steves). If you are looking for a cheap and fast place to eat, then you should consider an “pizzeria” or “osteria” because they usually sell pizza, paninis and beer, which are considered to be fast and cheap (Steves).
To review, the 5 things you should know before you go to Europe are: learn some of the language, know the currency and prepare to use it, check your phone plan and get an adapter for your electronics, understand the culture, and know the food in which you are going to eat. These 5 things will aid you in during your trip and will let you gain valuable experience while you are there. Make the best out of your trip and learn all that you can.
References
Barden, P., & Sainsbury, J. (2017, April 24). European & Non European Countries Using Euro Currency. Retrieved May 18, 2017, from http://www.aph.com/community/holidays/list-of-european-countries-which-use-the-euro-currency/
Culture in Denmark. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2017, from http://irland.um.dk/en/about-denmark/culture-in-denmark
Marian, J. (n.d.). Map of the most spoken foreign languages in the EU by country. Retrieved May 18, 2017, from https://jakubmarian.com/map-of-the-most-spoken-foreign-languages-of-the-eu-by-country/
Steves, R. (n.d.). Electric Europe: Adapters and Converters. Retrieved May 18, 2017, from https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/electric-adapters-converters
Steves, R. (n.d.). Tips on Eating in Europe. Retrieved May 18, 2017, from https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/sleeping-eating/eating-in-europe
