Tips You Need to Know When Traveling Europe

If you are planning on traveling to Europe there are a number of things that you should know to enable you to book a safe trip and ensure you have the required travel documents.

Whether you are travelling by air, road or water, you must ensure you have the relevant travel authorisation to enter the countries you wish to visit. The type of travel authorisation you require will depend on your citizenship.

These are the factors to consider when planning your European vacation:

Even if you are travelling from other countries in Europe, you are still required to have a valid passport to enter other countries in the European Union.

It is advised that you travel with at least six months of validity left on your passport.

Before planning your trip you should check the visa requirements for the country you want to visit. UK citizens do not require a visa to visit countries in the Schengen Area, but when the ETIAS agreement is launched in 2023, UK travelers will be required to have a valid ETIAS to travel to countries in the European Union.

Citizens of countries that are not visa exempt are required to apply for a visa to visit countries in the European Union. The visa will be specific to the country or countries that you are visiting, so you should check the Schengen borders agreement before applying for a visa.

From May 2023, UK citizens and citizens of other visa waiver countries will be required to apply for an ETIAS before traveling to Europe. Applying for ETIAS is a quick and simple process that provides digital travel authorisation to visit European countries.

From May 2023 it will be mandatory for non-EU citizens to have an ETIAS or a visa to visit European countries for tourism and work purposes. Before booking a trip to the Schengen Area, you should check whether you are required to apply for an ETIAS or a visa, depending on your citizenship and the purpose and duration of your visit.

Before travelling to another country, you should contact your credit card company to inform them that you will be travelling to Europe, so that they do not block your card if they are suspicious about it being used in European countries.

When you are given the option to pay on your card using local currency or GBP, you should always choose to pay in local currency as this will work out cheaper.

Most credit card and debit card companies will change foreign transaction fees but you will also need to be aware of ATM fees. Some ATM machines will charge a fee for use, which will be charged on top of any other bank charges for using your card abroad.

When you are travelling in the European Union, you should be able to find ATMs that do not charge fees at supermarkets or banks.

Europe is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, with so many of the great landmarks and picturesque scenery.

These are some of the best places to visit:

Many people visit Paris and the Eiffel Tower but there are many other areas of France that are ideal for a summer holiday, such as Hendaye or Narbonne in southern France, if you are looking for a beach holiday.

Switzerland is another top European destination, with stunning mountains that are popular with skiers. Geneva is a beautiful area of Switzerland that is popular for tourism.

There are many reasons to visit Germany and as well as visiting for summer holidays, many people visit the Christmas markets in German cities.

There are lots of different places to choose from in Italy, depending on what type of holiday you are looking for. Milan and Rome are ideal for Italy city breaks but if you want to visit somewhere picturesque, the Amalfi Coast is stunning in summer and most of the year round. You could also visit San Marino, which is a republic enclaved in Italy.

London is one of the most visited cities in the world but there are many other amazing places to visit in England and neighbouring Scotland or Wales. Travelers who want to explore the British countryside will enjoy places like the Lake District but if you want to see Buckingham Palace or Big Ben, London is the place to visit.

Although travel restrictions have been removed in most European countries, you will need to check the latest government advice and travel rules for visiting countries in the European Union.

Being fully vaccinated is no longer mandatory in some countries but there may be a requirement for a negative covid test and you would be required to provide proof of a negative covid test before being allowed entry into countries in the Schengen Area.

The entry rules vary across the different European governments so it is important to check for any testing requirements before you book your trip but also the testing requirements may change, so you should look for the latest travel information.