Be Prepared
As you can imagine, since I’m writing and curating a travel tell all, I am a very prepared human. That being said, you’re never gonna be totally prepared because it’s nearly impossible to anticipate all that you may run into on your travels. But that’s half the fun; the element of surprise is part of the journey. The journey leads us to self growth and discovery, and this is the gem to be discovered by the open eyed traveler.
However, being prepared can be helpful for certain. There are a few apps I would definitely download and have at the ready on your phone.
ApplePay or GooglePay: Almost everywhere in Europe, even very small local establishments take the magic phone as payment. I love contactless payment because I don’t have to dig out my wallet and since my phone is always accessible, I am a photographer after all, it’s very easy to wave my phone over the devise and be done.
WhatsApp: all Europeans use this phone app. I often will get a taxi driver’s contact info if I need an early morning pick up. I also meet a lot of people along the way and this is how most people keep in touch.
Trainline: Trainline is Europe's leading app for booking train and coach tickets, allowing users to search, compare, and buy tickets from over 270 operators across 45 countries. Key features include comparing prices, booking tickets up to 15 minutes before departure, and accessing digital tickets on a mobile phone to skip station queues. The app provides live travel information, personalized journey alerts, and payment options, including various digital wallets and currencies. If you’re only going to be one country, you can download the one specific to that country.
Changing Money: I don’t always change money because, like I mentioned, almost everyone takes the wave of the magic phone. (Speaking of using digital pay, always choose euros (or the native currency) when they ask how you’d like it converted.) However, there will be moments when you might want to cash tip or will just need it for unexpected reasons. I always use the machine outside at a bank, not a random one on a random street. Try to only take out cash once as the fees will add up every time you use the machine.
Tipping: Tipping rules in Europe vary significantly by country, but a general guideline is to always check if a service charge is already included in the bill, as it is in many places. Look for phrases like "service compris" (France) or "servizio" (Italy) which indicate a service charge is already included. If not included, a 5-10% tip for good service is a common and appreciated gesture, often best given in cash directly to the person. In countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, it is customary to tell the server the total amount you want to pay, including the tip, rather than leaving change on the table.