Summer Travel Tips

Make the most of your luggage by maximizing space and packing smart. You will want to pack light layers to keep you cool and protect you from the sun in the summer months. Keep in mind that many of the religious and cultural sites you visit will require covered knees and shoulders. Travel-sized toiletries are a great idea for shorter trips to help keep your luggage as light as possible. Some products can be more expensive in Europe, so pack a personal-sized sunscreen and insect repellent. 

We recommend bringing a hat, sunglasses, good sunscreen with high UV protection, a scarf for layering, and most importantly - a water bottle. Bringing a reusable water bottle is one of our top suggestions for travelers. Even better if you can find a collapsable one, they fold up when you’re not using them so you can save space in your bag! When you're on the go, sometimes it's tough to remember to stay hydrated. So, don't forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and refill your water bottle every chance you get. Many places in Europe have clean public water fountains to restock your bottles with (which are super fun to learn to use!). 

Most airlines have an app you can download right to your home screen. Keep all your tickets, times, gates, and updates in one place without worry! The easiest way to do it, visit your app store and type in travel. Have fun exploring and figuring out what works best for you! 

In our tech-savvy world, there’s probably an app for anything you might need traveling. Most apps are free to download, though some carry marginal fees.

4 Ways to Stay Safe Traveling & In Case of Emergencies

• Keep photocopies of your passport, driver’s license in a separate place
• Have hard copies of all flights and transportation itineraries
• Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your luggage is delayed
• Keep money in multiple places and only take enough with you for the day – leave the rest in your hotel safe. It’s always a good idea to carry some cash, as not all vendors will accept credit cards.

Knowing the terminal layout can be a huge time-saver if you have shorter connection times between flights. Spending a little time on crowd-sourced review sites like Yelp or Trip Advisor can guide you to lesser-known cafes and shops in airports and your destinations. Simply put, try to learn as much as you can about everywhere you’ll be spending time. Because this is your vacation, after all, might as well enjoy every minute of it.

To avoid any stress spent, set a reminder to call and inform your bank of your intended travel plans in the week leading up to your trip. Ask them to make a note on your account and let them know the countries you plan on visiting. Having something on file will deter your bank from questioning your card’s whereabouts.