Going out of the United States is exciting, but it can be stressful, too. By arranging a few things while you're still at home, you'll greatly increase your chances of having a smooth, enjoyable trip.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is the most usable and worthwhile type. If I think there's a greater than 1-in-20 chance I'll need it (for instance, if I have a loved one in frail health at home), this can be a very good value and provide needed assurance. When planning for the unexpected, trip insurance can give you a helping hand, with twenty four hour service. If you get sick and have to fly home they can arrange for help along the way.
Check your passport. Is it due to expire soon? You may be denied entry into certain countries if your passport will expire within three to six months of your ticketed date of return. Get it renewed if you'll be cutting it close.
Stash photocopies of important travel documents. Whether you're at home or abroad, anybody can experience unexpected problems from loss or theft. If you have a copy of a valuable document, it's easier to replace the original. In fact, make two sets of photocopies of your passport and rail pass or car-rental voucher. (For debit and credit cards, just record the numbers, rather than photocopy them.) Pack one copy and leave the other with a buddy at home, to be faxed or emailed to you in case of an emergency. I hide my copy in a second money belt clipped into the bottom of my luggage (don't tell anyone).
Contact your debit- and credit-card companies. Prior to your trip, call your bank and credit-card company to let them know which countries you'll be visiting. This will ensure that they don't decline foreign transactions. While you have them on the line, confirm your debit cards daily withdrawal limit, request an increase if you want, and ask about fees for international transactions.
Arrange your transportation. Buy tickets for any flights you might need to take within Europe as early as possible, since the cheapest seats sell out fast. Train travelers should decide whether it makes sense to buy a rail pass (these cover trips in one or more countries for a set number of days); if so, you'll need to buy it before you leave the United States. If you plan to take the Eurostar between London and Paris, book tickets far ahead for the best fares.
If you're renting a car, your driver's license is all you need in most places, but some countries, including Austria, Greece, Italy and Spain, also require an International Driving Permit. While that's the letter of the law, I've rented cars in dozens of countries without an IDP - and have never been asked to show one.
Prepare gadgets for takeoff. If you plan to use your U.S. mobile phone in Europe, consider signing up for an international calling, text, and/or data plan, and confirm voice- and data-roaming fees. If you're bringing a mobile device, download any tools that might come in handy on the road, such as translators, maps, transit schedules, eBooks, Internet calling apps, and free audio tours (including mine, covering some of Europe's top sights and neighborhoods).
The best travelers are those who plan ahead. With a little advance legwork, you'll return home with rich stories of spontaneous European adventures.
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