Not all places will take credit cards or Travellers checks - but your ATM card should be accepted at pretty much any bank (if yuo need cash) I have always relied on my ATM Card because I never wanted to carry a big chunk of cash with me-

Credit cards for hotels or big ticket items
Cash For everything else

Thanks Mal! :) And, I even remembered to call my credit card company to let them know I'd be out of the country! Ah, 5 days to go... I should do some laundry before then. :P

When I backpacked around Europe, I brought very few traveler's checks (they are a real pain) and relied instead on my ATM and credit cards. But do be sure to bring $200-300 in cash with you, just in case (that's my opinion).

I recommend changing at least half of that cash into the currency of the country you're arriving in, BEFORE you leave, because you are going to need some cash as soon as you arrive and you don't want to exchange it anywhere near where tourists are known to linger (airports, train stations, etc).

And of course, you'd better be carrying all of this in a travel-wallet thingy that stays right next to your body. I have a "money belt" that I have worn on every international trip, and it never leaves my skin unless I'm in the shower (and it's usually hanging in the shower with me, if I'm in a hostel). It holds my passports, ID, plane tickets, contact info, and all money-related things.

That said, tuck a US$50 into a small pocket on your backpack or in your sock every morning, or something. You never know when you might need it, if all else is lost. The idea is to spread out your risk of being mugged/robbed.

(Sorry if I'm a little paranoid, but I have seen all kinds of shit when traveling internationally... people do stupid things, and there is ALWAYS someone to take advantage of you when you're a foreigner doing something stupid.) :)

The other thing you will want to do -- is make a copy of the first page of your passport... the one that has your photo and other info on it - and keep it somewhere else away from where you are keeping your passport... that way, if for whatever reason your passport gets misplaced... you can get a replacement easier than without it.

The State Department also reccomends that you make another copy of the first page of your passport and leave it with someone you trust (or where someone you trust can get to it) in the United States. Then through a US embassy abroad you can contact that person if you have lost both your passport and the copy you kept with you.

Thanks for all the advice, guys! Copies of the first page of my passport have been made - one for me, one for my dad to hang on to. Also thanks to Abaya, I wouldn't have thought to change any of the money I was taking before I left. Great advice! :)

shoegirl, glad to be of help. :) Believe me, you DON'T want to change money at an airport!!! If you must change money (as opposed to withdrawing it straight out of an ATM/credit card machine), do it at a local bank... not near tourists.

Also, I don't know if you already have this, but I found it invaluable to have Lonely Planet's "Europe on a Shoestring" packed with me for the whole trip. I tore out each country's section as I went through it (I went through 11) to lighten the load, but it may help to have something like that for when you get stuck without accommodation and need a hostel phone number quick. LP rocks!

Bon voyage! Let us know how it goes.

I took Let's Go's guide for Western Europe. I found it to be a great source of information and easy to carry. LP and Let's Go are both great because they cater to budget/student travelers. I also made sure I had all the phone numbers I would possibly need typed up and stuck in multiple places in my bags before leaving.

Oh, and the best piece of advice I can pass on about eating in Paris--just keep your eyes open! We had a lot of picnics and ate a lot of sandwiches, and it's such a great town for that. No need to sit down and eat in a restaurant--getting a baguette and some cheese and wine is so much cheaper and more fun to boot.

We've actually got all of our hostels booked, so hopefully nothing happens to those reservations. If so, I've got names and numbers of a few others that we liked. Plus, I'll have my Rick Steves' "Europe Through the Back Door" book.

And I cannot wait to have a nice picnic in Paris. Definitely no need to eat a lot in restaurants, I'm all for going to the market and having something on the go. Plus, I think I finally have everything I need for my trip - extra camera battery and extra memory card. :)

Oh, I'm excited for you--you're going to have a great time!

Try to locate a Mike's Bike tour - they are located in a bunch of european cites and are a great way to see the city and its architechture. cheap too - only around $15-$20.


*edit*
I found the link for you for a Paris bike tour.

http://www.mikesbiketoursparis.com/

I'm in Paris now and it's fabulous. Just wanted to let you all know I made it over ok and I'm having a blast. And I have one minute left in an internet cafe, so that's all for now! :)

Have fun!!

Ah, I've made it home! I managed to travel to Paris, Brussels, London, and Oxford without getting into any trouble. And before you get more details about my trip I wanted to express my love for TFP Chicago! I had a 5 hour layover in Chicago on my way to Paris and Spectre, SecretMethod, and Onodrim stopped by the airport to hang out with me before I left. But, a little more love goes out to Shesus and JJ (and those who helped get ahold of them) for letting me crash at their apartment on my way back. I got delayed at Heathrow and missed my connecting flight - so instead of being stuck in the airport all night, they picked me up and opened their home to me and I am SO grateful for that. So, big thanks to all the TFPers I got to meet from Chicago.! :D

And now - the short list of the things I did on my vacation:

Paris
-ate a lot of baguettes. they were yummy and cheap! :)
-Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Musee D'Orsay, The Louvre, Rodin Museum, Invalides - Napoleon's Tomb, Pompedeu Center (modern art), St. Chappelle, Sacre Couer, Moulin Rouge, Arc du Triomphe, and took a day trip to Versailles!

Brussels
-had a Belgian Waffle. Best. Thing. Ever. Seriously. :)
-saw the Grand Place, the Atomium, and the peeing boy statue. And spent some good time in a pub. :thumbsup:

London
-London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Picadelly Circus, Notting Hill, and Buckingham Palace - I saw the changing of the guard!
-oh, and I went on a 'Jack the Ripper' walking tour. Tons of fun and Whitechapel isn't a place I'd planned to visit.

Some pictures to come next. :D

Ahh, Europe. What a blast you had... I would LOVE to see pictures!!! I'm so glad you had a great time and stayed safe. Lucky you, meeting the Chicago TFP'ers! :)

Never done the Jack the Ripper tour... something for my next trip to London, for sure. :) Thanks for sharing!!

Betcha can't wait to go again, right? :) RIGHT? It's addicting.

In that case, the Swiss Science Museum Technorama in the Zürich suburb Winterthur is excellent too. I recently visited the Exploratorium in San Francisco and it is definitely not on the same level as the Technorama.

Shit, I see you already got back home. Sorry.

But I must admit traveling is awesome. I love to see different styles of life. Guess that's why I'm a TFPer too! :thumbsup:

I'm finally getting around to posting a few pictures from my vacation! :)

Met Spectre, SecretMethod, and Onodrim in Chicago! They were wonderful and fabulous and helped me kill about 4 hours in the airport. Bad picture of me, but a great one of the Chicago kids. :) (And, if I would've thought about it, I would've gotten a picture with Shesus and JJ at the end of my trip! )

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...tfpchicago.jpg

Paris:

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...stainglass.jpg

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ope/prison.jpg

Eiffel Tower
http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ope/eiffel.jpg

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pe/eiffel3.jpg


Arc DuTriomphe
http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...urope/arc2.jpg

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...europe/arc.jpg

Brussels:
http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pe/bignerd.jpg

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...rope/atom1.jpg

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...urope/beer.jpg

London:

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ndonbridge.jpg

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ope/london.jpg

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...rope/guard.jpg

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...rope/phone.jpg

Yeah, looks like fun! This is a GREAT photo of you :thumbsup:

I'm glad you had a good time on your trip, and it was great to meet you at O'Hare.
Okay, now this was probably not one of my brighter moves, wearing a t-shirt that says "Damageplan" that has an explosion on the front and a large fireball on the back to an airport. Yeah, didn't think that one through. :p

oberon: Thanks! Glad ya liked the picture... I liked the beer. :D

spec: Yep, definitely great meeting you all! And nah, it was a great choice of shirt... gotta keep security on their feet. :p

Knowing oberon, he was probably enjoying your "I Love Nerds" t-shirt.

Looks like you had a lot of fun, shoegirl. :)

fantastic photos! :) i'm glad you had such a great time :)

sweetpea

Snowy: Yep, that's probably it.... but I can't help myself, those nerds are just so darn lovable. :)

Sweetpea: Thanks! I had a great time taking all those pictures. :) I'm ready to go back again.:lol:

Shoegirl, glad to finally see pictures. I was thinking the same thing about not getting a photo with us, but it was a crazy visit. Glad that you made it home safely and if you ever get stuck here again..you know who to call. :)

The photos are awesome. Now I want to visit Europe even more.

I need to get out to the other forums more often. I didn't even know these were here until shesus said, "Wow, you have to see these photos."

Great job with them, shoegirl. We were glad we could help out in your hour of need and it was great meeting you. Too bad it was a rushed visit, though.

Well, the beer and the smile were great too! :cool: