- Bring a pair of supportive shoes, along with the comfortable, broken in sandals. The sandals will allow a bit of cool in the summertime, but may not provide complete support, all the way around your foot as a pair of running or walking shoes will do. "Broken in" is a key word here for the sandals, as Rachel endured several blisters during the Seven weeks she walked five to ten miles a day in newer shoes. I will add that the waters of the baths in Budapest healed her most recent blisters!
- Pack as light as possible. While I did well to wear two bottoms at least two times each, a lightweight dress and skirt once each, I could have probably brought either the dress or the skirt and worn it twice. There's not much that I didn't bring in my bag that I didn't use. Don't fill your bag all the way if you want to have room to store goods that you purchase. A backpack, with a lightweight carry all bag and a side sling pouch that fits into the bag works well, so you can carry your money, passport and favorite lipstick in an easy to access manner.
- Change money to the currency of the country you are visiting before you leave, or plan to do so at the airport when you arrive. Be prepared for a not so good exchange rate as well, so you budget properly. Ask the visitor center at the airport, or a local, should you happen to come across one on the plane for the vendor with the best exchange rate.
- Save, save, save before you go, so you can shop, shop, shop when you arrive! There are always going to be "deals" or things you can't live without or buy for someone else to make your trip special. Plan a budget to spend money on yourself - on a scarf, earrings, piece of clothing or art, and a separate budget to spend on others- spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend, parents, children and BFFs if you are so inclined. That's another reason to pack light, and to bring another expandable, lightweight bag to collect your treasures.
- Bring disposable containers of daily needs. After you've used most of your shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste, leave the remainder at your last hotel to allow room and weight for gifts and individual purchases.
- Check out the transportation options where you are visiting before you leave. Almost every transportation company, even in Europe has a website.
- Print a map of what you want to see, in relation to transportation and where your hotel is located. Possibly study it on the airplane ride over.
- Obtain recommendations for sights to see and restaurants from friends that you may know have travelled to where you are going. People love to share what they pursued while in Europe, and it gives you some guidance. I have listed a few restaurants and hotels at the end of this article. In addition, or if you have no recommendations, do a little research of restaurants in the area of where you are staying or will be visiting. Grocery stores are another convenient item to know about to have water, breakfast food and snacks available.
- Look at your pictures, and favorite your favorites on a daily basis. By the end of the trip, you have hundreds of photos to review, and choosing 100 or so to have printed can be a challenge if you haven't reviewed them prior. You can also edit out your finger, another tourist, or other unwanted object, as well as lighten the shot so you can better see a face or point of interest.
- Write about it. Even noting the order of the day with a couple of incidents in chronological order will help with the memory making. Pictures won't capture the funny words said, how food tastes or the way people smelled. Writing about it captures the sensory details of the spicy, sweet, crunchy or creamy texture, the thrill of reaching the top after climbing 435 stairs, or the joy you shared with your travel companion.
- Don't wait to publish it. It's been almost two months since my return to the United States, and I haven't finished my blogs about our last two days! This was mostly written, so all I had to do was edit. I'll have to add the restaurant and hotel recommendations later. Comment if you are going to Budapest or Italy soon. :-)
- Don't wait to publish it. It's been almost two months since my return to the United States, and I haven't finished my blogs about our last two days! This was mostly written, so all I had to do was edit. I'll have to add the restaurant and hotel recommendations later. Comment if you are going to Budapest or Italy soon. :-)
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