9 Things to Avoid while Planning Your First Trip to Europe

If you’re reading this post, you’re either currently in the process of planning a trip to Europe or considering planning one in the near future. And if you’ve done any bit of planning up to this point, you’re probably starting to feel a little overwhelmed, because you want your trip to be nothing short of perfect.

It’s likely that your definition and my definition of perfect aren’t the same, but we can all agree that the dictionary definition of how you want your trip to turn out comes pretty close to what you’re hoping for.

Perfect: being entirely without fault or defect (Merriam-Webster).

Fault free. Defect free. Mistake free. This is how you’re imagining your trip across the pond, right?

Reality check: No trip is perfect.

In your daydreaming, planning state of mind, this is the last thing you want to hear. But whether you like it or not, it’s the truth of travel. Traveling somewhere new comes with a learning curve inclusive of language barriers, culture differences and just plain ignorance, meaning there are always ample opportunities to make mistakes. So how do you avoid looking like a rookie, spending too much money and not getting the most out of your desired adventure abroad?

Here’s how: You stick with me for the remainder of this post as I cover the 9 mistakes to avoid making in order to plan the perfect trip to Europe.

Tip #1: Never book A FULL PRICED AIRLINE TICKET

The first Europe travel tip on our list can save you the most money. And it’s this:

You should NEVER pay full price for a flight to Europe. Airline tickets to Europe can get really pricey (we’re talking $1000+) and dropping the cash might feel like your only option.

News Flash: it’s not. There are a couple of ways to save on airfare and here are my top two money saving friends:

1. Scott’s Cheap Flight: Scott’s Cheap Flight’s finds airfare deals and mistakes and emails them directly to your inbox. And we’re not talking about $100 off discounts. We’re talking about up to 90% off airfare prices. We once booked a direct flight from ATL -> ROME in June for under $600 round trip. I’ve seen flights to Europe from as low as $350, roundtrip.

2. The Hopper App: The Hopper App, unlike Scott’s Cheap Flights, allows you to input dates into their search engine to see when flight prices will be either at their highest or lowest. You can also save your search for later and it will notify you when the airline ticket price drops.

3. Google Flights: Google flights has a date grid and price graph features, which highlight the cheapest dates to travel to your destination. Yes, you might have to be flexible on when you leave and when you return, but it often leads to saving hundreds of dollars on a ticket.

Tip #2: don’t schedule YOUR TRIP FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST

August is the month when Europeans take their “holiday,” meaning they take the month off to vacation, often for three-four weeks at a time. That means European airlines will be crowded, hotels will be overbooked and overpriced, tourist attractions will be even busier than usual, train tickets will be more expensive and crowded, car rentals will be limited and pricier, and restaurant reservations will be harder to get. And if you’re planning a trip to a city like Paris, August is the month where many of the shops and restaurants are closed, so you won’t be able to make the most of your time in the city.

Most of the summer months OTHER than August are a safe bet, although you’ll still be met with international crowds. If crowds are an issue for you, opt for more off-season months, such as October or February.

Tip #3: DOn’t OVERCRAM YOUR ITINERARY

I hate to break it to you, but you don’t HAVE to see it all, nor should you try to. Attempting to see everything is a surefire way to find yourself feeling overwhelmed, overextended, and burnt out. Look, I know you want to see it all. I know you want to visit 3 countries, 7 cities, do 15 excursions and eat at 30 restaurants.

When we took our trip to Italy, we had ten days to see Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Florence and Venice. We rushed across the country seeing as much as we possibly could and wearing ourselves thin. We did end up seeing a lot in a very short amount of time, however, I feel like I missed so much richness of the experience by rushing about.

Don’t make the mistake of overcramming your itinerary. Here’s how to avoid doing so:

1. Don’t anticipate this being your ONLY trip to Europe, or even your specific destination. That will give you a lot of freedom when planning.

2. Let’s say in a hypothetical situation, this is the ONLY time you will visit. If so, you still shouldn’t overcram your itinerary. If there’s a lot you want to see, stay longer. Seriously. Spend the extra money and take the extra time off work and give yourself the time you need to see everything all you desire.

3. Before your trip, write down any and everything you want to see or do. If you have more than one traveler, each person should make their own lists. Then combine the list and use a prioritizing system (stars, hearts, smileys) to rank the items in order of priority. Sometimes we don’t know how much (or how little) we want to do something without comparing it to the other options.

Tip #4: Don’t wing your transportation once you arrive

As you’re planning your trip, you need to do some research in the country to determine what your best mode of transportation will be. Your options are planes, trains, cars, private drivers, tour vans and boats and the mode of transportation you choose is dependent on a couple of things, like your comfort level and what that country actually has available.

For instance, in London, odds are you aren’t going to be brave enough to rent a car and drive on the wrong side of the road. And that’s no biggie because London has a great public transit system as well as trains that can take you to other cities like Edinburgh and Paris. London itself is also walkable, so you really don’t need to rent a car in the city.

However, when we took our trips to the South of France and to Normandy, renting a car was a requirement as there was no other way to travel around the region. That meant we would need to plan in advance and obtain an international driver’s license.

tip #5: don’t check TOO MUCH LUGGAGE

Look, if two checked bags and two carry-ons is your norm, I’m not here to judge. As a frequent traveler, I’ve just found that the more luggage you have to be responsible for, the more time and energy (and sometimes money) you’re wasting.

Unlike the United States, countries in Europe are walkable, and it is often assumed that you will have to walk some distance from point A to point B. Even at the airport. Once you land, you might have to walk a bit before you get near the train, taxi pickups, etc. Then, once you’re getting off the train, you’ll have to walk an additional distance to get to your hotel. And then do all this again if you change cities, hotels or when you head back to the airport.

So, if you packed two huge, checked bags for your one-week in Europe, you’ll have to lug those bags from baggage claim to the train, on the train, on the walk from the train to the hotel, on the walk back to the train from the hotel, on the train again (and repeat for however many countries / cities you plan to visit).

You will be sweaty and tired and also look like an American tourist carrying around all that luggage.

Here are a few of my favorite packing tips to keep things light:

1. Roll your clothes. Roll them as tightly as you can.

2. Leave your hair dryer at home. It usually takes up an unnecessary amount of space, and odds are the hotel or Airbnb you’re staying at will have one.

3. Wear your heaviest articles of clothing on the flight. Things that are bulky like jeans, tennis shoes and coats can be worn and then stuffed in the overhead cabins during flight.

4. Use packing cubes. They really do eliminate wasted space and are super helpful for when you have to live out of your luggage.

5. Plan your outfits in advance and create a capsule wardrobe. Make sure you try on the entire outfit too, shoes and all.

6. If you love to shop, assume you’re going to purchase new things while you’re traveling, which can be worn on your trip.

7. Don’t leave any wasted space. For instance, I always stuff my underwear or socks into my shoes, because that space is wasted otherwise.

tip #6: don’t book CHAIN HOTELS

You know what they are: The Marriot and Holiday Inn Express and Westin.

I consider myself a bit of a hotel junkie and have very high standards when it comes to the places we stay during our trips. I love good accommodations so much, that sometimes I even plan entire trips around them, like I did to this Airbnb in Arizona and this hotel in France.

I’m sure your argument is that you have points, or you’ll feel safer at a property you’re familiar with. But you’re going to Europe. The whole point is to experience a difference culture. And that’s impossible to do if you stay safe in your comfort zone.

Europe has an endless sea of boutique hotels and individual Airbnbs that will present you with opportunities to get to know the owners, learn from the local community, and really experience the culture you are in. The Airbnb hosts or hotel managers will go above and beyond to give you a rundown of the city, provide their favorite food recommendations, and give you helpful tips and tricks on what to see off the beaten path.

If you need help getting started or inspired, check out all of our favorite places to stay.

tip #7: don’t plan big excursions on your arrival date (landing date)

The mistake I’ve made more often than I’d like to admit is booking excursions or having a big agenda on the day you land in the country.

For example: Once upon a time, Ryan and I were flying to Italy for the first time. We flew out on a Friday and would land in the city on Saturday morning. The next day, we would head out of Rome towards the Amalfi Coast, so I wanted to maximize the time we had in the city and booked a tour of the Coliseum for the day we landed. We get off our nine-hour flight, jetlagged and cranky and take a taxi to our hotel. After checking in, we realize just how far we are from the Coliseum, and realize we need to hurry our way on over. For some reason, we think that we can get there in time by walking, but the longer we walk, the more we recognize that we just might not make it. I am not a very nice person when I haven’t had a lot of sleep, so running through Rome in the heat of the day with only 2 hours of plane sleep is not good for anyone.

Get the picture?

On your landing day, be sure to keep your agenda open. Drop your bags in the hotel lobby and ask when they expect your room to be ready, go find a nice place to sit down and grab some food, take a leisurely stroll. Come back to the hotel when it’s time to check in. Take a nap for goodness’ sake. Go get dinner that evening. And then start your itinerary the next day. You’ll thank yourself later.

tip #8: be sure to CHECK THE WEATHER

Europe as a whole sits slightly further north than the United States, meaning that London in the summer isn’t going to be Florida in the summer. Not even close.

For example, on one of our trips, Ryan and I flew to Belgium as a layover on our way to Spain and Portugal. In Brussels, in June, the high that day was 70 degrees, and I had only packed my warm Mediterranean wardrobe. Thankfully I brought one long sleeve shirt with me, otherwise, I would have been cold and sad.

My number one tip in this regard is to check both the highs and lows. The warmest part of the day might feel warm and sometimes even hot, while the evenings can drop to fall temps, all in one day.

tip #9: pack TENNIS SHOES/COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES

Hey, I know you want to look your best. This is a big trip. But save your poor little heels and feet from their misery and pack some comfortable walking shoes.

Every single time we’ve been in Europe, we walk an average of 20,000 steps or 8 miles a day. Keep that in the back of your mind as you’re deciding what shoes to bring.

My personal recommendation is to pack a pair of comfy, but “cool” tennis shoes. You definitely don’t want to draw any extra attention to yourself, so make sure your tennis shoes are clean and match your outfit. I purchased these New Balance tennies for our trip to France and they didn’t give me any issues. I also love a good comfy boot for our Fall and Winter travels. The extra cushion makes all the difference. Just be sure to break them in before your trip.

PACKING ESSENTIALS

Now that you know the 9 mistakes you should avoid when planning your first trip to Europe, let’s wrap things up by walking through a few things you should be sure to pack for your trip:

1. Soundproof Headphones really make a world of difference on the plane by blocking out that loud plane noise (and any babies that might be crying).

2. A plug converter, so you can charge the essentials like your phone and computer or use the curling iron you brought.

3. A good camera with a wide-angle lens - don’t rely solely on your iPhone. Even with the latest iPhone camera, the images won’t compare to shooting on a good camera with a good lens. And don’t worry if you’re a photographer or not, traveling to Europe is one of the most perfect times to learn how to use your camera and fall in love with it! I shoot on a Canon 5D Mark IV and recommend the lightweight fixed 35mm lens.

4. A tripod if you want non-selfie photos of either yourself or you and your travel buddies. My husband and I love finding a fun place to set up and take a mini photoshoot of ourselves in whatever beautiful place we’re in.

Ultimately, you can get everything you need once you arrive in Europe, so you don’t have to worry too much about forgetting something. Just be sure to remember to avoid mistake 5 and mistake 9 in the list above and you’ll be golden.

CONCLUSION

You’re perfect trip is officially more attainable now that you’re equipped with the knowledge of the 9 mistakes to avoid when planning your trip to Europe. Did any of the mistakes shock you or surprise you? Which one do you think will be the hardest to avoid making? Let me know in the comment box at the bottom of this post!

STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE

Need help planning the rest of your trip?

If you’re headed to France, check out our Complete Guide to Paris or our South of France Travel Guide.

If you’re headed to Italy, check out our Florence, Venice + Positano guides as well as our Florence Airbnb Roundup.

If you’re headed to Spain, check out our Seville guide, and be sure to tack Portugal onto your itinerary.

And if you love Christmas, be sure to plan your trip around the famous European Christmas Markets.

FOLLOW ALONG

For all of our live travel content and BTS, be sure to follow us on social media. You’ll get to see what our life looks like as expats in Paris and get to virtually come along with us whenever we are exploring somewhere new.

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