9 Helpful Resources for Planning a Trip to Europe

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With my 5^th trip to Europe right around the corner, I’m filled with excitement and anticipation. The travel planning phase is in full swing!

From my first trip to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, I was taken with the allure of Europe. But it wasn’t until I was in my 40’s that I ventured back across the pond, and the travel bug really took hold.

Over the past few years, I’ve spent time in Italy, France, England, Switzerland, and Germany and have several more European destinations on my travel bucket list.

While I love reminiscing about my travels, my ultimate goal with this blog is to encourage others to make travel a priority in their lives as well.

You might be thinking European travel isn’t within reach.

If you are anything like I was just 3 years ago, you may think traveling to Europe on a regular basis is a fabulous dream, but hardly your reality. You may not know where to start or even dread the planning progress.

But I’m here to tell you that it can be done, even if you don’t have a ton of discretionary income or available vacation time.

I want to share my 9 favorite travel resources and apps to help you plan your first, or next, European adventure.

1. Rick Steves

I have never met Rick Steves in person, but I feel like he’s a dear friend. I guess that makes me an official Rick Steves groupie or at least a mega-fan!

Rick is a somewhat geeky but lovable man in his 60’s who has been traveling extensively throughout Europe for several decades.

He has a European travel show on PBS that provides tons of insight and history on just about any European city you can imagine. Simply google “Rick Steves (insert name of a European city)” to find an informative 20-30 minute video on the European destination of your dreams.

I find his videos extremely valuable, without a lot of fluff to weed through.

At Ricksteves.com you can also find amazing videos on travel planning, getting around in Europe, local customs, and so much more. Rick does a great job of sharing time and budget-saving tips, including when to travel, how to reduce time waiting in line, and the art of packing light for the best travel experience.

The Rick Steves Audio Europe app is also a must-have for both planning purposes and getting the most out of your trip and your travel funds. The app includes walking tours so you can have a personal tour guide (for free!) in your ear as you walk by ancient ruins and famous works of art.

Before a recent trip to Paris, I listened to every podcast on the app about this infamous city (often while on the treadmill!) to immerse myself in everything Parisian. I truly felt like an expert when I arrived.

Of course, if you want to go old school, there are countless Rick Steves’ travel guides in print, and he does a great job of updating them regularly to give you the latest and greatest travel tips.

Now his son, Andy Steves. is following in his dad’s footsteps, making travel accessible for the next generation.  Andy’s travel tips are geared more towards millennials, and he creates weekend trips for students studying abroad.

2. YouTube

Contrary to popular belief, YouTube is not just for teens and tweens who want to follow every move of the latest social media sensation. YouTube is a treasure trove of travel information!

A big part of my travel planning, and what gets me pumped up for a trip overseas, is watching a wide variety of travel videos. We enjoy the professionally researched and edited travel guides found on YouTube (like those done by Rick Steves). But we also love the rough cuts from everyday travelers that give us a peek inside their travel experiences. Watching these videos helps us know what to expect in a given location, inspires us to seek out recommended restaurants and attractions, and helps us avoid certain travel pitfalls.

A simple search of your desired European city on YouTube will produce hours of travel binging enjoyment.

These are just a few of the YouTube channels we particularly like for their European insights.

• Wolters Word, featuring what you will love and hate about many destinations around the world
• How To Switzerland, for everything you ever wanted to know about Swiss life.
• Dream of Italy, because who doesn’t dream of going to Italy!
• Hungry Passport, with tons of practical tips on many worldwide destinations
• Dennis Callan, educational videos with plenty of advice for those a bit older than the typical YouTube viewer.

3. EuropeanDestinations.com

I have used this online resource to plan all the European trips we have taken…and so many more that we dream of taking one day.

Europeandestinations.com is a division of TripMasters, and this website is so easy to use. You create itineraries by entering the dates of your trip, the number of travelers, the European cities you want to see, and the number of nights you want to stay in each city.

An itinerary is automatically generated that includes your airfare, hotels, and travel between cities. You instantly see the total cost of the trip as well as the per-person cost.

Now the fun begins! Play around with your travel dates, times of flights, the order of the cities you want to visit, and the hotel options to create the perfect itinerary for your specific budget and travel desires.

I will admit to spending hours just creating possible itineraries for my ideal European getaways!

That is not because the website is hard to use…exactly the opposite. It is so easy to navigate, I get lost in my vacation dream world and keep exploring new possibilities!

Because you are creating a travel package that bundles airfare and accommodations, the total cost on EuropeanDestinations.com is generally much cheaper than booking an international flight by itself on an airline’s website.

You can easily plan a week-long European vacation (airfare and accommodations) for around $1,000-1,200 per person. But don’t take my word for it, get on EuropeanDestinations.com and create your own sample itineraries.

It is so much fun, and you never pay for anything until you are ready to book your trip.

If you get stuck or want to talk to a real person, just call the EuropeanDestinations.com hotline. I’ve had numerous conversations with their knowledgeable staff. They have answered my unusual questions and addressed unique needs to help me craft the ideal itinerary.

Once your trip is booked and the major components of transportation and lodging are covered, you can also use EuropeanDestinations.com to add on a variety of attractions and experiences. From skip-the-line museum tours to excursions in neighboring towns to foodie tours to everything in between, EuropeanDestinations.com can help you build an unforgettable trip, right from the comfort of your couch.

4. AirBnB

I am a huge fan of AirBnB, and if you haven’t given it a try I urge you to take the leap. Lodging through AirBnB can be found all around the world, including numerous cities in Europe.

If you are looking to settle in for an extended stay or just want to feel like a European local, renting an apartment or house through AirBnB can be a great option. We have had great experiences with AirBnBs in Switzerland and Germany and are very excited about the accommodations we have booked for our upcoming trip to Venice.

Renting a house or apartment versus a hotel usually means you have more space to spread out and access to a kitchen. Both of these can be critical elements to a pleasant vacation and can help you stay within your travel budget.

If you are new to this form of lodging, check out my How To AirBnB article and then do your own investigating on their website.

Already a big fan of AirBnB? Then you will be happy to know it works the exact same way in Europe. And there are so many amazing accommodations to choose from all across Europe!

Bonus tip: You can book your European trip through Europeandestinations.com and decline up to half of the nights in a hotel. This allows you to still get the good bundle pricing yet gives you the flexibility to book an AirBnB for part of your stay. It’s the best of both worlds!

And for an extra special bonus…use this link to save money on your first booking with AirBnB!

5. Rome2Rio

Rome2Rio is a godsend for navigating your way in unfamiliar cities! With both a website and an amazing app, Rome2Rio can navigate you through the busiest intersections in Paris and help you get “unlost” in the maze of Venice’s canals.

Rome2Rio is not specific to Europe, so you can actually use it anywhere in the world.

I use Rome2Rio on my iphone while I’m on vacation, but I also love using it from the comfort of my couch as I plan out my trips.

Simply enter your starting and ending destinations, and Rome2Rio details various transportation options and approximate costs for each.

For longer distances, you may see flight, train, bus, and driving options. With shorter routes, you will get very specific details on public transportation, driving, and uber options as well as a walking route.

For example, I see that I could walk from the Eiffel Tower to the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in about 55 minutes (4.6km), or I could spend $2 to use the bike share, $30-45 for the 7 minute Uber ride, or about $3 for a bus or train ride that will take 20-30 minutes. Once I click on a specific mode of transportation, it gives me the exact route including where to walk to the closest Metro station, which train to board, and where to make transfers. You can even purchase train tickets right from the app if you choose.

By zooming in on any given route, you can find every café and gift shop along the way. Rome2Rio is an awesome tool for getting around in a foreign city, especially if you don’t speak the language, and the idea of asking for directions is terrifying!

What are you waiting for…download the app now and start playing around. Rome2Rio makes a foreign city so much easier to navigate!

6. Uber

If you have used Uber in the United States, then you will be happy to know it works just the same in Europe. Not all major cities have Uber so do your research before your trip to know if this will be a transportation option for you or not.

I used Uber for the very first time in Paris, and I loved it!

To me, Uber is even more fabulous when you are in a foreign country. With Uber you don’t have to worry about a language barrier since everything is communicated through the app. You also don’t need to stress about unscrupulous cab drivers that may try to hike up the rate or take you on the scenic route.

The cost of your trip is clearly stated on the app before you request a pick-up. And because all payments are done through the app you don’t need to worry about having enough local currency on hand.

With several suitcases and 4 travelers, Uber was an affordable and efficient way to get door-to-door service from the airport to our hotel in Paris. When traveling with my in-laws, who are in their 70’s, Uber allowed us to conserve our energy for walking around inside the attractions, rather than traipsing through the city streets on foot.

I love taking all kinds of public transportation in well laid out European cities with fabulous infrastructures. But sometimes the ease and convenience of Uber really does make for a stress-free travel experience!

7. Google Translate

Don’t speak the language? That shouldn’t stop you from seeing the world!

While it isn’t necessary to be fluent in the official language of every country you visit, it is helpful to know a few key phrases. Shop owners, waiters, and locals will appreciate your effort to greet them in the local language.

In many touristy places, you will find people who speak English. And they will often come to your rescue when they realize you are not fluent in the native tongue.

Download the Google Translate app on your smartphone and you will be ready to communicate in just about any language.

Keep in mind that no translation service is 100% accurate, and it may falter when it comes to slang and unique dialects. But a good travel experience isn’t about having perfect grammar, it’s about being able to communicate your needs and connect with locals.

With Google Translate, simply type in the word or phrase you would like to communicate and the app instantly gives you the translation in the language of your choice. Hit the speaker button and the app will read the translation aloud.

Google Translate is a great tool for practicing key phrases before your trip as well as communicating with locals while in Europe.

Use the camera feature to translate written material. This can be extremely helpful for reading menus and street signs. Check out the Italian translation pf this sign in my living room!

With the conversation and voice buttons, you can speak out loud, rather than typing, and get a written or verbal translation.

Get the free Google Translate app today and start brushing up on your French, German, or the language of your choosing.

8. Currency Converter

When you are a budget-savvy traveler you want to know how much you are spending before you start shelling out euros…or pesos…or Swiss francs.

I use the free version of the Globe Convert Currency & Units app. Simply select the currency option from the drop-down list. Then plug in your standard form of currency and the local currency.

When you see a price tag on a piece of art for 50 Euros, with a few clicks on your smartphone, you will know that it will actually cost you approximately $55.34 in U.S. dollars.

It also shows me the current exchange rate, which is 1 Euro = $1.101.  This handy app saves me from doing difficult math problems in my head, which is not my idea of a pleasant vacation! And it keeps me from making unwise spending decisions.

While I primarily use the Globe Convert app for figuring out currency conversions, it can also do many other types of conversions.

This app can come in handy when traveling and you need to convert Fahrenheit and Celsius to gauge the weather. Or use it to decipher the metric system when cooking, driving, or any other activity that relies on weights and measures!

9. Withlocals

When we travel to Europe we prefer the flexibility of creating our own itinerary rather than booking a fully guided tour. But we do want to learn about the sights, history, and cuisine of the cities we visit. A great way to do that is with a private guided tour through Withlocals.

Withlocals operates in 26 different countries, and you can choose from thousands of tour options that are sure to appeal to diverse travelers.

Indulge in a tapas and wine tour in Barcelona, take a World War II history tour in Berlin, or discover highlights and hidden gems on the Best of Warsaw tour.

For each Withlocals tour, you can select from the available local guides and pick the time slot that works best for your crew.

These are all private tours, so it is just your family and the local tour guide. And the guides are happy to adjust the route, the pace, and other elements of the tour to ensure it is a pleasant experience tailored to our families’ needs.

We took our first Withlocals tour in Paris and had a very memorable experience! We learned about history and local customs that would have escaped us had we wandered the street of Paris on our own.

For our upcoming trip to Italy, I’m excited to share the Withlocals experience with my teenage daughters when we take a photo tour through the canals of Venice with a professional photographer. I can’t wait to see the amazing photos we capture as we learn about the rich history of Venetian life.

Withlocals tour prices range from around $15 a person to upwards of $200 depending on the length of the tour and what is included. Some tours include museum entrance fees, food, drinks, and transportation while others are basic walking tours.

Whatever your price range is, you can find a unique experience through Withlocals, which may just be the highlight of your European vacation.

Who is ready to journey to Spain, or Ireland, or Greece?!

I hope this post gave you some serious travel inspiration. I know if you check out any of these European travel resources you too will get bit by the travel bug. And you may just realize that a trip to Europe is actually affordable and within reach!

Now, if you need a little inspiration on where to go in Europe and what sites to see, check out this post featuring several travel bloggers, all with unique perspectives and experiences.

Bon Voyage!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

P.S. Be sure to subscribe to my email list so you will never miss out on any of Traveling Tanya’s exciting excursions or travel tips!

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