Travel Documents and Money

• Travelers to Europe from outside the European Union and non-EU citizens will need a valid passport. Some European countries require citizens of some nations to obtain a travel visa prior to arrival. For most travelers, however, you will just have to provide some basic personal information such as where you will be staying upon arrival to be admitted as a visitor. Some 18 European Union nations use the common Euro currency so you will need to obtain Euros when traveling in most of Europe; the United Kingdom is a notable exception. You can either change currency before arrival and/or bring any major credit or debit cards to withdraw local currency from ATMs. Compare conversion charges for the different ways you can change currency, but bear in mind the need for safety. You may pay a little more to withdraw cash in smaller amounts, but the price may be worth the peace of mind to not have to carry large amounts of cash around.
  
  

Clothing

• When packing clothing and footwear to take to Europe, do a little research into the expected weather for your destination during that particular season. Weather all over Europe is seasonal and has great variation geographically--from the snowy Alps of France and Switzerland to the hot, arid summers of the Mediterranean region. Countries in northern Europe experience frequent rain all year around, so if you are visiting the United Kingdom, northern France or the Netherlands, bring a waterproof jacket and umbrella. If you are traveling to more than one region of Europe, pack clothes that can be layered so you will have appropriate outfits for a variety of climates and will be prepared for unexpected changes in the temperature. In the summer, the whole of Europe experiences at least some degree of heat so you will need sunscreen and light clothing. During the winter, snow and extremely cold weather are guaranteed in the most northerly parts and at high altitudes in mountainous regions, and is not uncommon elsewhere. Bring a warm coat, sturdy waterproof footwear and a hat, scarf and gloves for cold winter climates. In any season, tourists in Europe are likely to do plenty of walking so make sure you bring at least one pair of comfortable walking shoes.
  
  

Electronics

• If you want to bring electronic equipment to Europe, you will need a plug adaptor and a voltage converter. Europe has a higher main voltage and different shape of standard plug than the United States, and the UK uses a plug that is different to continental Europe. It may be easier to leave electronics at home if they are not essential. If you bring a laptop to Europe and plan on using it to connect to the Internet, in addition to the plug and voltage consideration, you will need a phone jack adaptor as the phone jacks in Europe are different. Alternatively, you could purchase a new phone cable once you get to Europe.
  
  

Guide Books and Maps

• An up-to-date guide book is handy when traveling in Europe. If you are visiting multiple destinations, you may want to purchase a guide to the whole continent rather than traveling with several individual books. Guide books help you plan your trip and give you lots of valuable and interesting information about your destination and the local sights. Many contain history and culture sections that can give you a better understanding of the places you visit. Many also contain a small basic language section so that you can learn to respectfully communicate "hello," "goodbye," "please" and "thank you" in the local language. If you are going to be driving, you will need detailed maps. Otherwise, you can probably use the maps in your guide book to navigate yourself around bigger cities.