16 Practical Tips for Traveling to Europe This Summer 2022
Traveling to Europe this summer? With schools letting out, this summer is already off to a mad dash. After two years on hold, this summer is set to break records when it comes to bookings and increases in tourism.
Though in some ways, life feels *almost* normal again, there have been many changes to the way we travel. This year in particular brings on a whole new set of challenges for international travel. With entry requirements changing constantly, it is important to keep up with the rules.
After several phone consultations, I’ve realized that many of you are in the dark about some of the more recent changes to traveling abroad. Therefore, I’ve put together this list of tips to help ensure you have a wonderful trip.
Get Your Travel Documents Ready - Document checklist
To summarize the requirements explained above, here is a checklist of what you may need to travel to Europe this year:
Valid passport - cannot expire within 6 months of returning to the US
ETIAS visa waiver (from late 2022)
Schengen visa or another relevant visa (from non-exempt countries)
COVID-19 vaccination certificate (or recovery document)
Passenger locator form (if necessary)
Negative COVID-19 test result (depending on vaccination status and country requirement)
Despite the additional requirements, Europe is accessible to tourists in 2022. Make sure to allow extra time to arrange your documents, and always double-check the latest requirements. Your airline along with the country you’re visiting will have the most up-to-date information on their websites.
Know the entry requirements
Europe’s entry requirements for Americans and other visa-exempt countries will change at the end of this year. Soon you’ll need an electronic travel authorization called ETIAS to visit European destinations. Don’t worry - it’s not as intimidating as it sounds.
The exact launch date has not yet been announced, but the system is expected to be up and running by later this year. There will be a short implementation period before the visa waiver becomes mandatory to travel Europe visa-free on an American passport. It is also important to point out that this is not a visa. The new permit is similar to the United States ESTA, you’ll be able to register online in a few minutes. To find out if you’re eligible, check here
Be flexible. If these last two years have taught us anything it’s that anything can change at any time.
Set up Mobile Pay/Apple Pay/Contactless
The US seems to be lagging behind in this area but Europe is very much on board with all things contactless and mobile pay. Whether you’ve set up your phone for mobile pay or you have credit/debit cards issued with the contactless chip, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you make a way to have a form of contactless/mobile pay available. It makes paying for items too easy. Everything is contactless these days. Restaurants, hotels, cabs, etc. In fact, some places won’t accept cash payment as an option.
Carry Some Cash in Hand
That said, it is also always a good idea to have some cash on hand. Say you want to buy crepes from a kiosk in Paris or roasted nuts in front of the Trevi Fountain. You’ll need cash. You don’t need a lot but I recommend at least $20-40 worth of local currency in cash on hand.
Make Reservations Earlier
Do not put off booking your airlines, hotels, car rental, train tickets, or activities until the last minute. If you are traveling at any point this summer - make your reservations now!
Make Restaurant Reservations
Because this is the summer of travel, every place is booking up faster than before. Restaurants that I could book a week in advance in London are now booking up a month or more in advance. If you’ve had a place in mind, it’s better to error on the side of making a booking than to show up and not be able to find a seat. Especially in the UK, you can’t wait for a seat to come available. If a restaurant is fully booked, they’ll simply turn you away.
Books As Much As You Can In Advance
Once you know what you want to do/see - book as much as you can ahead of time. In the past, people have been willing to wait in lines. This summer, you will be turned away from long crowded lines. Pro tip: Eiffel Tower tickets are not released until 60 days prior to the date you’re visiting but know those tickets go fast! Also note, even if you book a skip the line or fast tract ticket - so has everyone else. You will STILL have to wait in lines. Maybe not as long but be prepared for this.
Books with Flexibility
I love booking hotels when I have the option to pay at the property and cancel within 24 hours of arrival. This is wonderful for those who are on the fence about their travel plans. I mostly use booking.com for this.
Buy Travel Insurance
I can’t say this enough - make sure to have travel insurance. World Nomad is my go-to along with Chubb and Allianz. Because of the nature of the post-pandemic world, we find ourselves in, you don’t want to risk losing out financially on your dream trip because you didn’t protect your investment. If you travel often, I recommend an annual policy.
Consider Your Ideal Means of Transport
One of the most common questions is should I take a train, plane, or rent a car? You can categorize trains and planes together for longer distances. Renting a car or hiring a car service is best for a regional road trip where public transportation is not an option. What about larger distances? Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly than take the train. This depends on your route and preference.
Train prices have increased across Europe. It is worth comparing especially when they’re close in price and deciding what is best for you.
Car Rentals
My biggest tip when renting a car in Europe is making sure you have cellular data/service to use Google Maps OR make sure your car has sat nav/GPS.
Insurance: First call your car insurance and ask what/if they cover car rentals in Europe. Another option - many major credit card companies like Chase or AMEX offer free international car insurance when you book with their credit card. Many will offer insurance as part of you using your credit card so you can skip the extra insurance there. This will save you a lot of money. Be sure to call your credit card and get firm details on whether or not your credit card provides insurance.
International License: You may think all you need is your US ID but you technically need one to drive a car in Europe. Do they check? Almost never- but you should have it just in case. You can get an international license at a participating AAA location, for $20 per adult prior to leaving.
Tolls: They’re all over the place throughout Europe and should be expected. Toll roads can also save you loads of time and heavy traffic. Carry extra cash or a credit card with you to pay. Note: they can be pretty expensive during the summer months. Some toll roads make you pay BEFORE you use the road. This is how some of the toll roads operate in the UK. Make sure to check your route BEFORE you start your drive so you don’t get caught with a fine.
Driving Rules: I highly recommend and encourage ANYONE who is renting a car in a country(s) throughout Europe - find a YouTube video on the rules of the road in whichever country you are traveling to. The UK has all kinds of rules I’d never know about. For example, it is against the law to TOUCH your phone while driving. This means if you go through a drive-through window, you can’t use your mobile pay on your phone to pay as your engine is running and this is considered against the law. Also… hello roundabouts. Do you know the proper way to enter and exit a roundabout? If you plan to drive in England.. you better learn beforehand.
Car Parks/Parking Lots: Many car parks have pay stations that require an app or contactless/mobile to make payments. Not cash. That said - on occasion, you’ll have the random car park that is cash only. I always keep at least £1-2 in my car just in case.
Trains
With RailEurope and Eurostar, you can sign up to be notified of summer deals which can save a good amount of money. Omio and Trainline are also wonderful apps to have downloaded to find schedules and costs as well as book tickets.
Decide What Really Matter Ahead of Time
Again, keep in mind, that cities and popular destinations will be packed, decide what is really important to you. Everything will take longer - getting through lines, transportation, waiting for meals. Be prepared for this. Say you’re visiting Paris for 2 days - is going to the Louvre worth the time to stand in line and then be ushered into a packed gallery room to see a small painting?
You Don’t Have To It All
Really. I know you have ambitious plans or maybe you’re making the most of this time but consider this - what are your motives for traveling? What are you traveling for? To check off a list or experience a new place and be present in the moment. I encourage you to decide what’s important to you and let go of expectations. These cities are museums themselves. Enjoy wandering the streets with no real agenda. Linger in cafes or over a long dinner. Order gelato twice … three times a day. Take it all in. It’s not a race. It’s not a list. It is an experience. Be present for it - and in enjoy!