Helpful Travel Advice for Europe
- Travel documents (passport, visas)
- Inoculations
- Keeping time
- Plastic money and cash
- Independent travel before or after the tour
- Transportation (budget flights, rail systems, rental cars)
- Eating out
- Inexpensive accommodations
- Electrical devices
- Mail and postage
- Calling home
- Staying healthy
- Traveling safely
- Odds and ends
Travel documents
Europe is among the easiest and safest places to explore these days for visitors from Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. A passport that’s valid for the duration of your visit is the only personal piece of documentation you’ll need (unless you plan on renting a vehicle before or after the trip for which your national driver’s license is required). At present, no visas are needed by citizens of the aforementioned countries in any of the nations we visit on our tours.
Entering the European Union is typically a wave-through for most visitors and you’re bound to experience more scrutiny upon returning to your home countries than in Europe proper. The most important piece of advice in this context is to carry a set of photocopies of all your personal documents (passport, driver’s license, credit cards), which would speed up their replacement in case they were lost or stolen while traveling.
Inoculations
Shots are not required at this time for travel in any of the countries we visit. However, in the context of our tour activities, it is advisable to have a current tetanus / diphtheria immunization. Discuss the need for such preventative measures with your physician.
Keeping Time
Europeans use the 24-hour clock (also known as military time) to keep track of the trickle of time rather than using the am / pm system most North Americans are accustomed to. Familiarize yourself with this practice to avoid showing up twelve hours early or late for important meetings. Also, keep in mind that Europeans customarily write the date in the form of dd/mm/yy.
Plastic Money and Cash
All countries we visit (with the exception of Switzerland) have adopted the Euro (€) as their national currency. Given the baggage limitations on our trips, this proves extraordinarily convenient since even the Swiss accept and dispense Euros when asked to. Credit card use is spread not nearly as widely in rural areas of Europe as it is across North America and in the end, cash still talks loudest in Europe. Many merchants in the remote mountain hamlets we visit are not even set up for credit card payment. Carrying some cash is highly advisable, if only to give you the freedom to purchase pastries or a cappuccino on a whim or to buy stamps and mail postcards or the odd souvenir home while on tour.
The most convenient and least expensive way to obtain cash for personal expenditures while traveling is through ATM machines. No worries, European ATMs always display English-language instructions and the only potential hitch is that their keypads don’t have letters, which requires you to know the Personal Identification Number (PIN) by number. Your credit, debit or check card should all work fine, but check with your bank first and advise them of your travel plans so they won’t ‘freeze’ the card(s) due to abnormal spending patterns. Also ensure that you have sufficient cash resources on the account you’re withdrawing from because moving funds across different accounts via the ATM may be difficult from Europe.
Credit cards, in particular VISA and MASTERCARD, still come in handy if you plan on renting a car or require a large over-the counter cash advance for that great deal you know you won’t resist. To control the damage of lost or stolen cards, carry the phone numbers of your bank and credit card company as well as photocopies of their front and back sides (ditto for debit cards).
Independent travel before or after the tour
Many of our guests use our tours as ‘anchor events’ for their travels in Europe and spend a few extra days exploring on their own on either end of their trip. In contrast to arranging a satisfying Transalp ride by yourself, given the confusing trail networks and linguistic babel en route, travel in more popular areas of Europe is comparatively easy. Pick up any reputable guidebook to strike out on your own, but make sure to enjoy some of the many, albeit small, natural areas that are protected in Europe. We will lend you a helping hand with choosing convenient accommodations and transportation on the days immediately prior to or after our tours.
If you’re planning to travel independently for a longer period before or after your tour, consider leaving your bike for a tune-up at a local bike store and make sure they know your pickup date. Alternatively you may wish to rent a full-suspension mountain bike through one of our reputable business partners (US $250) rather than dealing with the hassle of lugging the iron horse around with you or storing it at great expense.
Transportation
Flying to Europe
Air fares to Europe need not be more expensive than flights within your home country and are a great travel bargain if you’ve done your homework or left it to a capable travel agency. When shopping around for the best fare on the web or through an actual agent, be realistic in evaluating your needs for reliability, cost savings, and flexibility. There is no shortage of flight and fare options but only you can honestly assess your requirements.
Travel within Europe
No-frills airlines have made flying within Europe a real alternative to rail travel – however, at an environmental cost and with limiting baggage restrictions that almost certainly apply to your bike! Trains are likely your best option still, in particular when you want to get off the beaten path and need a bit more flexibility in terms of scheduling and destination. Buses are generally less comfortable, slower but often get you from the train station to interesting out-of-the-way places that are worthwhile a visit.
Rental cars can provide the most convenience and still be economical as long as you rent by the week and manage to share your expenses with at least two fellow travelers. Try to arrange your rental car from your home country and you may enjoy better deals. Definitely check with your credit card company if your plastic covers collision damage and liability insurance in Europe. And don’t be put off by the high price of gas. Consider that the distances you’ll travel between your destinations are likely a fraction of what you’d have to drive on a vacation at home.
Eating out
Eating the local cuisine when traveling is an essential aspect of anyone’s vacation experience and does not need to break the bank – even in Europe. Europe’s reputation for being a ridiculously overpriced travel destination is undeserved and some food savvy can take you a long way on a fairly tight budget. Pick up a pocket-size, multi-lingual menu reader at your local bookstore if food is your vice to be prepared for adventure. Every region typically has an assortment of specialties worthwhile trying but the more remote the area you visit (and there are such places in Europe), the fewer options you’ll enjoy in familiar foodfare territory.
If you’re on a tight budget but don’t want to miss out on the restaurant scene, keep in mind that lunch menus often carry the same meals as at dinner but typically at about half price. Alternatively order a number of appetizers and sample liberally for often a much smaller tab than if you had ordered an entrée. Stick with the daily specials and local dishes than rather international fare to save a few bucks. And skimp on the drinks – you can pick up beer or wine for ridiculously low prices in any grocery store. Skip breakfast altogether (unless it’s included with your room) and head to the nearest bakery for sumptuous pastries and a cappuccino on a bar stool.
Beware that if you adhere to specific food restrictions for reasons of conviction or religion, you may be frustrated by most commonly available food choices in at least remote areas of Europe. Please advise us in advance of your food needs and preferences while preparing the appropriate phraseology so you can communicate your dietary limitations restrictions to your waiter when striking out on your own.
Inexpensive accommodations
Another myth about Europe is the assumption that accommodation is prohibitively expensive. On the contrary, many Old World countries offer tremendous deals. The best place to inquire about price range, neighborhood and availability is the local, small town tourist office (rather than the tourist information at the airport or big hub train station). More often than not, it is possible to find an inexpensive, clean and comfortable bed for €30 or less just a $2 train ride away from the airport or city center (most train systems allow bicycles but require both of you to travel in a designated rail car). If the (preferably family-run) hotel or inn of your choice is full, ask the manager to help you find something similar – they will! In any case, it is definitely worth shopping around if you don’t mind the extra effort.
If you’re booked on one of our tours, we’ll certainly direct you to the appropriate English-speaking agencies that provide capable assistance in finding the right place for you if you choose to ‘hang around’ immediately before or after our trip.
Electrical devices
Given the size limitations of the backpack you’ll be wearing while riding, try to go without electrical gear, such as electric shavers, battery chargers, etc. If you have absolutely have to take it, make sure it that it operates on the European current of 240 V. You will still require a round-pronged adapter ($3) to fit the plug of your appliance into the European socket.
Mail and postage
You will have opportunities to pick up souvenirs along the way of your tour but you will likely have to mail all but the smallest items, given the size limitations of your backpack. There are post offices in all villages along the way and the proprietors of the inns and B&Bs where we will be staying are usually very helpful in procuring the necessary packaging materials. However, be prepared that overseas mail from most European countries is considerably more expensive than in North America. Then again, the value of that souvenir from your Transalp ride may be priceless in years ahead...
Calling home and staying in touch
Making phone calls from Europe is generally a cinch, irrespective of whether your calling destination is local, national or international. Forget about coin-operated phones and buy yourself a cheap European phone card (either country-specific or pan-European) or bring your somewhat more expensive calling card issued by your phone company at home. You’ll likely find someone on the tour who’ll share their phone card with you if you’ll buy the next one in the country across the next mountain and so on.
Your most expensive option to stay in touch is a cell phone which you can pick up for about €100 at the ubiquitous corner phone marts in every bigger European city. Your cell phones from home will unlikely work given differences in the frequencies used but if they function, it’ll cost you a bundle. Cell phone coverage and reception across the Alps is typically excellent and you’ll pretty much be constantly accessible (keep in mind the time zone differences). But ask yourself if that is in holding with your vacation needs and the overall trip experience and be prepared to purchase several expensive, country-specific cell chip cards as we travel cross-country.
While public email and Internet access is generally great across the big cities of Europe, it is still rather the exception in many of the rural alpine areas we visit. Be prepared for several tour days in a row during which you will have difficulties finding a public computer terminal - something we consider an important asset of our trips. For those who desperately need to communicate with home, the phone is the answer (or a large digital storage device for your camera).
Staying healthy
Nothing will spoil your vacation experience as falling ill just before or during your tour. Don’t run yourself down at work or with last-minute house chores and family responsibilities just prior to your departure – you’ll want every bit of spare energy to enjoy a Transalp ride.
Before you leave, treat yourself to a dental and medical checkup by a physician. Discuss any pre-existing medical conditions and whether such conditions may interfere with our vacation activities. If so, procure a diagnostic letter from your doctor and all necessary prescriptions ahead of time.
Nip jet lag in the bud! Plan your trip departure so you can enjoy one completely stress-free day prior to your departing flight. Drink lots on the plane but skip the movie, alcohol and chatting through the night with your interesting seat neighbor – rest! Stay awake the day of your arrival in Europe until the local bedtime by going for a casual spin on your bike and enjoy the daylight outside as much as possible.
Travel in the countries, which we visit on our tours, generally does not pose any extraordinary threats to your health. Tap water across the Alps is fine to drink if not outright delicious wherever we go and even the ubiquitous springs in the mountains are typically safe to fill your water bottle from. Use good judgment and proper hygienic etiquette, as you would at home, but don’t preoccupy yourself too much with health concerns.
If you are experiencing a minor but nonetheless troublesome health issue, your first address in Europe will likely be the erudite pharmacist rather than the emergency room or a doctor. They diagnose and issue prescriptions for basic problems, but will refer you to an appropriate physician when deemed necessary. Serious medical treatment is generally of high quality in all of the countries we visit even though the nature of our rides may place immediate access to medical facilities temporarily out of reach.
Traveling safely
Don’t fall prey to sensationalism and hysteria over the threat of terrorist attacks, Anti-Americanism, heightened airport security measures or getting entangled in political strife or being stranded overseas. Reality is that millions of people have traveled safely to and from Europe since 9/11 and the safety of Trans-Atlantic air transportation has not changed demonstrably in recent years as compared to the last few decades. The same applies once you have arrived in Europe and begin traveling around. Serious crime and militant political unrest have been as rare in the countries we visit as in North America and Europe is statistically as safe as it has been in decades. For additional peace of mind, consult the nation-specific travel advisories issued by the foreign affairs departments / ministries of your home country.
Avoid becoming the victim of avoidable theft by being watchful without making assumptions, mimicking the behavior of the Europeans around you, and remove temptation by consistently and discretely putting your valuables out of sight or locking them up.
There are inherent risks associated with the tour activities described on our web pages. You can go a long ways to reduce the possibility of certain discomforts or injuries by reading and adhering to our safety guidelines for clients. Be prudent and keep your travel goals in sight – enjoy the adventures of each new day on your tour and successfully finish the crossing of the spectacular Alps under your own power.
Odds and Ends
Maps and GPS navigation
Many Transalp Riders eK are interested in knowing the exact location of where they are, how far they’ve come, and how far they have yet to go. This type of information can indeed be helpful in planning your day strategically, but remember that sharing this kind of information is one of the many responsibilities of your guides. Keep in mind that a full set of detailed 1:25.000 topographic maps for your trip will weigh your pack down with an additional 1.5 - 2.5 kg (3-5 lbs). For a GPS system add another 500 g (1+ lb.) for the handheld unit, handlebar mount, batteries and charger – too much for most riders to comfortably lug around.
Handlebar Bell
Do yourself and others a favor by mounting an inexpensive bell on your bike. Not only is it courteous to all others sharing the trail but it is also the law (even if it is rarely enforced). Most trail hikers are thankful for a friendly ring of the bell as it is a ubiquitously understood signal for Europeans.
Travel guidebooks and other literature
Buy yourself a reputable guidebook for the areas we visit on your tour but think twice about bringing it or other kind of nighttime literature along. In our experience, you’ll be happier reading the guidebook ahead of your trip, traveling light without it, and browsing through it a second time upon your return home. Most riders are tired at night after a full program of riding, sightseeing, new foods, foreign languages and any remnants of jetlag. More than likely, your travel literature will remain untouched and if you are in desperate need of having a guidbooke – buy an English one en route.
Doing laundry
If you are concerned that the few clothes you’ll carry across the Alps can’t possibly last you the whole trip, rest easy because they won’t and will have to be washed – by hand. In our experience, the results of doing laundry by hand are just as satisfying if not better than throwing them in a washing machine. It certainly beats carrying any more weight across the divide. Your personal laundry chore takes no more than a couple of minutes of your shower time in the late afternoon, after which you hang them up to dry and carry them as extras in your pack the next day. We have found that generic shampoo doubles very well as a laundry detergent and we will provide you with sufficient supplies at your convenience.
Prices and Tips
Contrary to North American practice, you can assume that prices quoted generally include all applicable sales or value added taxes. Noteworthy exceptions are bills for accommodation where you can expect an additional Euro or two to be levied on the negotiated price to cover costs for community infrastructure. You can claim value-added taxes when leaving Europe from the appropriate country-specific agencies, but it may not be worth your while. Individual tax charges often have to exceed €20 and the logistics of being reimbursed a handful of dollars upon your return are daunting to all but the most thrifty travelers.
Restaurant tips are more modest in the places we visit than in North America since fair service charges are commonly included in the prices on the menu (unless explicitly stated otherwise). If you’re very pleased with the service, respect local etiquette by round up the tab by a couple of Euros. A 15% tip would be considered very generous and a token of appreciation for exceptional service.
Smoking
Smoking in Europe seems as ubiquitous as ever and still is not banned from restaurants and other public spaces. Most North Americans rightfully find this to be an inconvenience at best and an insult at worst. It’s typically fruitless to complain since most Europeans truly enjoy their vice but it’s nonetheless worthwhile asking if there are non-smoking facilities.