Europe travel tips?

Question

Im going to prague and germany and parts of east europe and i was wonderin if anyone w/ experience can give me any tips about getting stolen from or anything that i should know

Answer 1

I'm a Pole and have lived in Poland the most of my life, so I guess I can come up with some things...

- Learn the basic phrases in each of the languages - carry phrasebooks or dictionaries, anything that might be helpful in understanding the other languages. In the common and mainstream travel sites there will likely be English signs and translations, but if you travel out of those zones, you're pretty much screwed. It sucks when you can't really speak to anyone and are just left to enjoy the scenery - the travel experience is always much better when you get to talk to the locals.

- Bring spare change if you want to go to the bathroom. In Poland, you have to pay just about anywhere to use the toilet. Sometimes, even in the restaurant which you have just dined in. I've actually been to a train station where toilet paper was apportioned. So, also, bring tissues.

- Keep your wallet hidden, preferably in some inside pocket.
It's not like it's that bad and people just rob you on the street, but your valuables might be jacked on a crowded bus.

- Try not to travel by train at night. Trains are a common form of transportation in Eastern Europe. However, in Poland, I wouldn't recommend boarding one for the overnight ride. You might be robbed while asleep.

- Don't buy stuff at the train station. It's just more expensive.

- When exchanging currency, I say head to the nearest bank. Banks usually have the fairest exchange for your dollar. The exchange rates of street vendors vary, and you might lose out if you use their services.

- Be prepared to lose some personal space. It's awesome, the streets are so crowded. It's like people traffic.

Can't think of anything else.
Have fun and good luck!

Answer 2

One thing that I found helps a lot is that when you do take out cash from a machine, get an odd amount, like 950 instead of 1,000. That way you get some smaller bills. It may not work in all places, but where it does it's a good thing. Not all countries in E. Europe use the Euro yet.

That advice about travelling on Polish trains at night has almost reached urban legend status now and I don't know how true it is anymore. I've done it and nothing has ever happened to me. I would suggest that you either go with someone (to watch your back as we used to say in New Jersey), or try to find someone once you're here in Europe.

Hostels are cool, but use the lockers. Don't get yourself surrounded by little kids. They are likely to be trying to rob you. Racism is big over here, and Romas (gypsies) have been forced into a seemingly perpetual life of crime to make up for the fact that those in power won't hire them for anything but the sort of work that "others" won't do.

Conversations about religion and politics are not taboo here, but asking about salaries or what one does for a living might be.

There are a ton of American tourists in Prague, so if that's not your idea of a vacation, take trips to smaller sized towns in the Czech Rep. Go to Dresden, Germany if you can. Have fun!

Answer 3

Use a debit and a credit card.
Debit for ATM's, check with your bank about the charges and if it is more than token money, get a different card. Mastercard and Visa are the most widely accepted and they use a symbol called cirrus between them for showing which money machines you can use.
Credit cards for big payments, like hotel bills and emergencies.
You need to keep track of how much you use on each card, but that is not hard, if you write down how much at the end of each day.

For general safety, each town is likely as dangerous as the town nearest to where you live.
If you are not familiar with bigger towns act like you are meeting a bunch of guys you do not know but might like.
Be a bit more carefull than you are when you are going to a shop at home, just because you carry all your money with you. But you need not be too concerned.
Just get little bits of money each time and go often.
Tuck a bigger banknote from home in your luggage or a moneybelt, with your plane tickets, and have your money for the day in your pocket, as you would at home.
It is getting the bigger money out of your safe hiding which is the most dangerous or embarrising.
I have had my wallet stolen only once, at a normal weekly market, in the quietest part of the market, in my own country.
Never on holiday, but I always have a travel ensurance and make a photo copy of my passport, which I have in my big pack, back in the hostel, while I always carry my passport, in an inner pocket or moneybelt within my trousers, and an ID card in my wallet.

If you ever get something stolen, phone your card company and bank (or a contact person at home who can do that for you,) and go to the police next.
They will tell you what to do next.
Arrange with someone at home that they can send you money or get money to your bank account after a problem, so you have a moderate amount of money at need.

Take a phrasebook and try out a few sentences, and more important, know what is where in the book.
I often laugh (if not in their faces) when foreigners try to ask things in my language, but common niceties are always welcome, like 'thanks', 'good morning' and 'goodbye'.

Answer 4

I msyelf have never traveled to europe .... but Members in family have .... and I would have to say ,from what they told me..... u should learn some words and phrases form the languages of the countries u are going to ....It will b e much easier to get around and also many native ppl to their country .... find it rude whenu speak to them in ur own language... So i'd say u should definitley learn some basic german..

Answer 5

For food you should go with the local specialties gets you the best quality & service for the best price. Always use ATMs rather than traveler checks. Happy Travel..!

Answer 6

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