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In the post-COVID era, Americans and
If you haven’t been to Europe in a while and you’re planning on traveling there soon, now is the time to prepare yourself for what to expect.
1. Start Planning the Details NOW!
I can remember a time when a visitor to Paris, France, could simply stroll up to the Eiffel Tower, purchase a ticket and enjoy it in its magnificent glory. But when I went online to purchase tickets in mid-June, I was informed that all tickets to visit the top of the tower were already sold ou
I’ve recently seen the same dynamic play out at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, and at the Tower of London in England. The lesson here is that if
2. Only Purchase Tickets From an Attraction’s Official Website
Hopefully, you’ll take my advice and purchase your tickets online in advance, but don’t be suckered into the numerou
3. Seek Low-Traffic Times to Visit Major Attractions
Seeing the Mona Lisa at the L
4. Get Off the Beaten Path
I like to say that if you wan
And we’ve discovered foodie paradises in rural Italy, France, and Greece. Just remember that the key to avoiding crowds is to discover sites that are new to you, rather than the ones that everyone has read about during their entire lives.
5. Avoid Using Cars Near Cities
It’s pretty hard for most Ameri
In both London and Athens, we found that ta
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6. Pack Light
Once you give up on rental cars, taxis, and shared rides, you have to focus on traveling a bit lighter than you’re used to. On our last two trips, we all successfully packed in just a carry-on suitcase and a backpack each. Doing so allows you to
It shouldn’t be difficult for you to pack up to
7. Watch Out For Currency Scams
Credit card processors in Europe have recruited many merchants into a scam called dynamic currency conversion (DCC). The way it works is that you are asked if you
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8. Use the Right Credit Card
Any time you make a charge outside of the United States, you’
Recommended Travel Credit Cards
Credit Card | Intro Bonus | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base) |
$95 |
1x- 5xPoints
The card offers 5x points per dollar on Chase Travel℠, 3x points on dining (including eligible takeout and delivery services), as well as 3x points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). This card earns 2x points on all other travel spending and 1x point per dollar everywhere else. Chase broadly defines travel to include not just airfare, hotels and rental cars, but expenses like parking, tolls and public transit too. |
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|
50,000Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $700 (50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points * 0.014 base) |
$69 |
1x - 2xPoints
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases. |
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|
$200Cash Bonus
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. |
$0 |
1% - 5%Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. |
Apply Now Rates & Fees |
|
60,000Citi ThankYou Points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Points after making $4,000 worth of purchases during the first three months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,080 (60,000 Citi ThankYou Points * 0.018 base) |
$95 |
1X-10XPoints
10X total ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024. 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels 3X -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets 1X -- Earn 1 Point on All Other Purchases |
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9. Be Careful Out There
For the most pa
Another danger is bicyclists. Traffic in European cities is now dominated by people of all ages zipping around at high speeds on silent, electric-powered bicycles. These are so fast that they are little more than motorcycles with superfluous pedals. So take a moment to look both ways, even when crossing a sidewalk.
Bottom Line
Europe is crowded, but there’s a good reason for that. By carefully planning your trip ahead of time and be