Travel EUROPE: Travel Tips & Tricks

[faible]

What's the best option for sim cards in Italy? Will be reliant a bit on translation and maps, so need good service and data.

Look in to Airalo, I used it while travelling and it worked very well. If you've got an eSim capable phone it's very easy to setup.

Otherwise from memory Italy has the cheapest mobile data in the EU so buy a local sim, any EU sim can roam freely within the eurozone.

You can download the google maps for offline use before you travel.
Likewise google translate languages can be dowloaded in advance for offline use.
Also netflix shows, spotify playlists etc.

No need for an international sim card unless you've got an oddly specific use case, just use wifi hotspots as needed.

There's also this option if you plan ahead a little.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

I am heading over to Europe in a few weeks for the first time since 2015.

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best travel/debit card to use whilst over there? I would prefer not to be carrying around cash this time.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Qantas card?

 

[Engimal v3]

Airport staff striking yesterday in Italy, and I'm headed there tomorrow! Lucky

 

[Engimal v3]

Also, I have 20 hours of flying coming up. My longest flight until now has been from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2004 lol

Any advice?

 

[The Dice Man]

Also, I have 20 hours of flying coming up. My longest flight until now has been from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2004 lol

Any advice?

20 hours isnt too bad. Dont drink alcohol, even if you think it might help you sleep it will just dehydrate you and make you feel shit. Wear comfortable clothes. It will be over before you know it.

I don't know where you're flying into to but Rome for example has temps of 36 today then 40, 42 and 39 for the next few days... It's gonna be hot, real hot.

 

[Soups]

Airport staff striking yesterday in Italy, and I'm headed there tomorrow! Lucky

Shit I am there on the 25th :/

Hopefully it’s all sorted by then

 

[Soups]

Also, I have 20 hours of flying coming up. My longest flight until now has been from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2004 lol

Any advice?

I managed to get quite a bit of sleep on the way over but I think the first leg was the hardest. I didn’t have a window seat, or one of those neck pillows ( not sure if they are any good or not?) but my neck was a bit sore from sleeping like a spaz.

Other than that just make sure you have some decent headphones that have a Jack for planes so you can watch the movies.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

I hear it's awfully hot in Greece at the moment, hopefully it stays that way in the next 2 weeks!

 

[Engimal v3]

Today's the day!

 

[mike ross]

I hear it's awfully hot in Greece at the moment, hopefully it stays that way in the next 2 weeks!

I'm here atm and yes can confirm. I'm coming home next week and i can't wait to get out of here!

 

[mr bagcroft]

I'm here atm and yes can confirm. I'm coming home next week and i can't wait to get out of here!

how hot is hot?
After a few cooler summers, I have a feeling we are going to get roasted this next one.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

I'm here atm and yes can confirm. I'm coming home next week and i can't wait to get out of here!

Probably a few degrees cooler on the islands!

 

[mike ross]

how hot is hot?
After a few cooler summers, I have a feeling we are going to get roasted this next one.

Im in Thessaloniki. We are talking high thirties everyday. Late last week we reached 41 degrees, see the thing its consistent weather. Say in Melbourne we get hot weather but then a cool change which helps a lot. Here its sort of the same everday, the buildings are concrete and the heat is absorbed and doesn't get a chance to cool down.

It does wear you down after a while, especially if you hate the heat like me.

 

[mike ross]

Probably a few degrees cooler on the islands!

Wish i was there, unfortunately didn't come here for a holiday this time.

I wanted to head down to Crete for a week because thats where my heritage is, but couldn't do it.

Oh well next time.

 

[Engimal v3]

Made it to Rome! 16 hour flight from Perth was fine tbh. I get a bit of flying anxiety, but I realise now it's caused from constantly flying between Melbourne/Launceston on a plane that I assume was old enough to be owned by the Wright brothers.

You don't feel a thing on these big boys.

 

[mike ross]

Made it to Rome! 16 hour flight from Perth was fine tbh. I get a bit of flying anxiety, but I realise now it's caused from constantly flying between Melbourne/Launceston on a plane that I assume was old enough to be owned by the Wright brothers.

You don't feel a thing on these big boys.

Awesome glad you made it.

 

[The Dice Man]

I don't understand why people from the southern hemisphere would choose to spend July or August in southern Europe. It's the hottest time of year, the busiest time of year and the most expensive time of year. May/June is much, much nicer.

 

[revo333]

Can confirm it's hot , and what's rubbing it in for me is when I leave a city the temp then drops the next few days.

Raging!

 

[revo333]

Im in Thessaloniki. We are talking high thirties everyday. Late last week we reached 41 degrees, see the thing its consistent weather. Say in Melbourne we get hot weather but then a cool change which helps a lot. Here its sort of the same everday, the buildings are concrete and the heat is absorbed and doesn't get a chance to cool down.

Speaking to a few locals in Budapest and it seems it's been hotter than they are normally use to.

 

[Total Power]

I hear it's awfully hot in Greece at the moment, hopefully it stays that way in the next 2 weeks!

In Northern Greece atm, it's unbearably hot, predicted to continue till mid August. Just awful, i was in Western Europe last week, same shit basically. Only Uk and Northern Europe's been spared it seems.

 

[mike ross]

I don't understand why people from the southern hemisphere would choose to spend July or August in southern Europe. It's the hottest time of year, the busiest time of year and the most expensive time of year. May/June is much, much nicer.

If I had a choice I wouldn't have come to Greece now. But this was a family emergency. Next time I'll come here in winter

 

[Engimal v3]

Awesome glad you made it.

Shame none of our luggage did

 

[Engimal v3]

I don't understand why people from the southern hemisphere would choose to spend July or August in southern Europe. It's the hottest time of year, the busiest time of year and the most expensive time of year. May/June is much, much nicer.

I love the hustle and bustle! I'm from rural Tassie, I never in my life thought I'd be in continental Europe

 

[The Dice Man]

If I had a choice I wouldn't have come to Greece now. But this was a family emergency. Next time I'll come here in winter

Winter is so different. Before moving here I'd spent 11 years on the Gold Coast so was not used to long cold winters, and they're such a contrast to the summers here in the south.

I love the hustle and bustle! I'm from rural Tassie, I never in my life thought I'd be in continental Europe

I said the same 12 years ago so I understand. Enjoy

 

[Engimal v3]

Winter is so different. Before moving here I'd spent 11 years on the Gold Coast so was not used to long cold winters, and they're such a contrast to the summers here in the south.



I said the same 12 years ago so I understand. Enjoy

Yeah, really winter in Australia is like 2 months, and most cities will only get a handful of days that are genuinely cold.