No matter how meticulously you plan or how seasoned a traveler you are, mistakes are inevitable. My husband and I learned this firsthand during our first trip together to Europe last spring.
Despite our thorough preparations, our nearly three-month journey across the United Kingdom, France, and Spain was riddled with missteps—many of which occurred before we even took off.
Before your next trip to Europe, consider our experiences to save time, money, and stress.
### Relying on Rideshares and Cabs Instead of Public Transportation
During our first week in London, we relied heavily on the city’s iconic black cabs and ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt. This ended up costing us a fortune and wasted a lot of time in traffic.
Eventually, we learned to navigate public transit with the Citymapper app, which saved us both time and money throughout our travels. I only wish we had figured it out sooner.
### Not Being Skeptical About Rental Listings
We booked several rental spaces for our trip, only to discover upon arrival that the photos had misled us. Many images were taken with a wide-angle lens, making the spaces, especially bathrooms, appear much larger than they actually were.
Now, we scrutinize rental images, ask detailed questions of hosts, and carefully read user reviews. Sometimes, we even request additional photos.
### Renting a Car to Cross Countries
We were excited to explore Europe by plane, train, and automobile. While we enjoyed train travel, driving through southern France and northern Spain turned out to be more stressful than enjoyable. We weren’t prepared for the road conditions, expensive tolls, and confusing signs with symbols we weren’t familiar with.
Looking back, we should have skipped the car rental. In the future, we’ll stick to trains and planes.
### Packing the Wrong Shoes and Not Breaking Them In
My husband packed two pairs of new sneakers, which he hardly wore before the trip. There’s a big difference between walking in Santa Monica and logging 6 to 8 miles a day in Paris and London. Had he broken in his shoes, we would have realized he needed replacement insoles beforehand.
As a result, we spent hundreds on moleskin pads and bandages, and his feet suffered blisters that took weeks to heal. Next time, he will ensure his footwear is well-tested before a long walking trip.
### Hiding Our Passports in Our Rental Apartment and Forgetting Them
To keep our passports safe during our explorations, we decided to hide them in our rental spaces. Unfortunately, we forgot them when checking out of one property in Spain due to being in a hurry.
To avoid this mistake in the future, we now use a packing checklist and double-check that we have all our belongings before leaving an accommodation.
### Not Learning the Local Languages
While we managed with my conversational Spanish in Spain, we struggled with our very limited French in France. Most locals spoke English, but our inadequate language skills caused significant stress when we found ourselves in a Parisian hospital trying to explain my husband’s headache symptoms. Thankfully, we had Google Translate at hand!
With so many free language-learning apps available, we should have practiced well in advance rather than waiting until the last minute. This would have made navigating each country much easier and more enjoyable.
### Assuming Our Platinum Amex Would Be the Only Card We Needed
While the Platinum Amex Card offered fantastic perks—sign-on bonus points, car-rental insurance, $15 monthly Uber Cash, and no foreign transaction fees—most places in Europe didn’t accept it. We ended up resorting to other credit cards that charged international fees.
Now, we make sure to pack at least one Mastercard or Visa that won’t incur foreign transaction fees.
### Booking a Month-Long Stay in a City We Hadn’t Planned to Visit
Our European trip initially didn’t include a month in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain. However, after a friend’s recommendation, we decided to spend time in this beautiful seaside town known for its culinary delights.
While we enjoyed the scenery, after ten days of tapas and seaside strolls, we grew bored. We recognized that not getting a refund on our rental was a loss we had to accept, but it was worth it to return to Paris—a city we genuinely love.
Next time, we’ll trust our instincts and consider shorter stays if we’re unsure about a destination.