8 Mistakes That Could Ruin Your European Vacation

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Picture this: You’ve been dreaming of your European getaway for months, maybe even years. The anticipation builds as you pack your bags, ready to explore charming cobblestone streets, indulge in famous cuisines, and immerse yourself in centuries of history and culture. But amidst the excitement, it’s easy to overlook crucial details that could turn your dream vacation into a disappointing nightmare.

While Europe offers a wealth of unforgettable experiences, it also presents unique challenges for the unprepared traveler. From sweltering hotel rooms to unexpected closures and transportation hiccups, seemingly small oversights can snowball into major disruptions. Don’t let these common mistakes ruin your European vacation.

Booking a Hotel Without Air Conditioning in Summer

When you’re booking a hotel in the United States, you take for granted that it will have basic amenities, such as air conditioning. However, many older hotels in Europe don’t have air conditioning—which can be a huge problem as summers get hotter and heatwaves are a more common experience. 

After spending a day walking around in hot and humid weather, the last thing you’ll want to do is return to a stuffy, unairconditioned room to try to sleep. When choosing a hotel to book in Europe, make sure to filter your search by properties with air conditioning to ensure a comfortable stay. 

Getting Pickpocketed

Like in any major city, pickpocketing is always a risk when you travel to Europe. Pickpockets tend to target tourists in crowded areas and popular attractions, so follow these tips to avoid becoming a victim:

• Don’t carry around your passport
• Don’t carry a lot of cash
• Keep your money hidden in multiple locations
• Leave valuables in your hotel room
• Be aware of your belongings in crowds and on public transportation
• Don’t flash valuables such as cameras or smartphones

Not Buying Tickets to Popular Attractions in Advance

Planning on visiting bucket list sites like the Colosseum, Louvre Museum, or Basilica de la Sagrada Familia? So is everyone else. It’s best to plan in advance and buy tickets ahead of time for popular attractions in Europe, as many of them do sell out during peak season.

Even if tickets are still available, reserving in advance will generally let you skip the long lines that come with buying a walk-up entry. 

Forgetting to Carry Coins for Bathrooms

Public bathrooms in Europe can be tough to find, and when you do finally locate one, you’ll likely have to pay a small fee to enter. Many bathrooms are accessible via a turnstile, where you’ll need to insert coins to pass through, so it’s a good idea to carry a variety of small coins with you, as there’s usually not anyone stationed at the bathrooms to make change. 

If there is a bathroom attendant in a free public bathroom, you’re usually expected to leave a tip, so again, having a few coins can come in handy.

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Remember to bring toilet paper or tissues with you as well, as it’s not always guaranteed that they will be available in public bathrooms. 

Not Reserving Seats on Trains

Just because you have a ticket on a European train doesn’t mean that you have a seat. Many train lines, including ones on the Eurail, allow travelers to make seat reservations to secure a spot to sit. If you don’t have a reservation, you could be left standing in the aisle for a long trip. 

Relying on Taxis

Public transportation in most major European cities is first-class and will get you to where you need to go significantly cheaper (and faster) than taking a taxi. Before traveling, download maps of the local public transportation system and compare prices for buying multi-day passes to see if it’s worth it. 

By taking public transportation, you’ll save time and money and experience the city more like a local would. 

Not Bringing the Right Clothes

Although European summers can be brutally hot, you’ll want to pack more than shorts and tank tops for your travel wardrobe. Most cathedrals and historic religious sites have strict dress codes that require shoulders and knees to be covered. Pack lightweight shirts or coverups that you can keep in your bag to be prepared. 

Additionally, don’t make the mistake of packing only stylish footwear or new shoes that you haven’t broken in yet—you’ll usually end up walking far more in Europe than you would in other destinations (those streets are just so charming), and comfortable shoes are key. 

Mixing up Airports

Many European cities have multiple airports, so booking a connecting flight that departs from the wrong airport can be an easy (but trip-ruining) mistake. For example, in London, six major airports serve the city. 

If you plan on flying into London on one airline and then booking a connecting flight onwards on a budget airline on a separate ticket, it’s quite likely that you could arrive at Heathrow and then have your next flight out of Stansted, which is more than an hour’s drive away.

Carefully check your airport codes before committing to any flight, and consider transportation costs and travel time into the city when deciding which airport to fly to.

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