Off to first Europe trip next week!

Only advice is be flexible and go with the flow, and be open to doing things differently than the US. Yes, you can live electronic free ..here's your chance to momentarily free yourself of gadget compulsion. Have a great time!

Agnes-thank you! I am very excited to have 3 weeks as a family and no technology distractions. TRUE quality time. :)

Definitely agree with Agnes... it can be so freeing to be without a bunch of technology. Makes you remember what 'being present' is really all about. Just relax, and enjoy. Whatever happens (as long as it's not life threatening) will just add to the story. And, don't forget to write in a journal and if you have kids I would insist they write a bit every day. It's amazing how quickly the whole trip blends together if you don't take some time to reflect on all the amazing things you will see and experience... It will forever change you.

Regarding lack of smart-phone service my husband felt the same way for a 3-week trip to Italy last fall but learned to rely on in-hotel wifi connections or occasional visits to internet cafes to check on the (fully-grown) kids. Even managed to follow the World Series from the hotel at 3 a.m. (BIG Giants fan!) Just make sure your phone is on airplane mode when you're not using the wifi connection.
Have a great trip!!

Angela. Have a fabulous first trip. Remember, if you can't quite fit in that amazing art museum, ancient site tour, great picnic, etc. on this trip, you may find yourself going back again and again. I'm usually thinking and planning my next trip as i am coming home from the last. As others have said, it is freeing to disconnect. Have fun!

Just trying to dot your i's and cross your t's, are your passports in order? Have fun, if you did your due diligence, all should work out fine! Also, if you run into a pinch, your I-Pad camera works quite well.

You will certainly make mistakes, get off the wrong train station, order the wrong thing at a restaurant, but from our travels, the ones we remember most are those where we just went the wrong way and had a great time and we truly enjoyed not been connected to cell phone, TV, etc. Relax and enjoy.

Have a grand adventure and remember that is what it will be, an adventure. Don't press yourself to see and do EVERYTHING. Take time to truly experience your surroundings. Don't forget a money belt, to call your banks and advise them you are traveling and which cards you'll be using, take some twist ties (you know those grocery store items you find in the fruit and vegetable section) and zip lock bags, comfortable shoes, pack light by using packing cubes, take a good book or audio book for the flight. Most importantly a sense of curiosity and the knowledge you'll be encountering different sounds, smells, languages, types of food and ways of life. Absorb and appreciate the differences. As far as free apps for the iPad I use: TripIt, Skype, Travelnerd, XeCurrency,Airbnb and Triposo. I also have fun with photos I take with the iPad by using the Snapseed App.
Safe travels!!!

I brought a new iPad with me this trip. I use the camera to photograph train/bus schedule posters at the stations, also to check national rail websites. It's wifi only, so I don't worry about data charges. I also loaded guidebooks and audio guides before I left. Have a great trip, and post a report when you get back -or from your iPad while you're on the road!

Enjoy being disconnected. I have to have a connection for work. Once you lower that barrier for one purpose, you'll be doing it for all the reasons you stay connected at home. Unfortunately, this means I need a bigger data connection than from what worked just a few years ago.

Last minute advice . . . 1. Pack early. 2. Make a to-do list, including everything you can think of from notifying credit card companies to ordering a taxi to the airport to turning off the lights. It takes a lot of stress and worry out of your last few days. 3. Check the weather at your destination before you leave to make sure you are dressed for the right conditions. 4. Call all your friends and relatives to say goodbye - that gives you lots of chances to say that YOU ARE GOING TO EUROPE FOR THREE WEEKS - YAY!!!

I agree with Chani. PACK EARLY My husband's suitcase zipper broke the night before we left so I gave him mine and I repacked into my (smaller) RS European-sized rolling case. Had to take out a dress and the spare shoes. I may have also pitched a pair of slacks. Couldn't have done it without compression bags (I used "Flat Pack"). Remember you can't prepare for everything, so don't stress over trying. And I think I read somewhere that if it rains, Rick Steves buys an umbrella! Have a great trip.

Hi Angela! I am so excited for you; you will have such a great time! My first time to Europe, I woke up every day (for months) counting down the days! lol One thing that confused us right at the start: we flew into Frankfurt and caught a connecting flight. Got to the right gate and when it was time to board, we walked through the gate (a plane was parked there) but instead of boarding the plane, we went down a couple of flights of stairs and everyone got on a shuttle bus. We were like, where are we going? is this right? A nice German man overheard us and reassured us that all was well. The shuttle drove for like 10 minutes way out on a distant tarmac and we boarded the plane out there. Just thought I'd share in case this happens to you. There were some Japanese girls that were also confused and actually went back up the stairs at the terminal, don't know if they made the shuttle or not.... Have a fabulous time and hope you post a trip report when you get back. Which country/countries are you visiting?
Happy Travels!!!!

Thanks everyone! To answer the questions... *Our passports are in order and all ready.
*We have called our banks (twice actually!) because our credit card company loves to cut off our card if we travel a bit-even when we've told them. We had it cut off in Chicago (only about 5 hours from home) and in NYC (that was fun, we'd called about that trip) and so we have called multiple times in hopes they won't do it again! We are packing today (leave Wednesday) and we'll "practice" with our backpacks to ensure they aren't too heavy either later today or tomorrow. Love the journaling suggestion and we do plan to journal and have our 14 year old participate, too. She's excited-about all of it. And, to the questions of where we are going: a lot of Germany (Berlin, Wurzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Romantische Strasse, Fussen, Munich, and Freiburg) and also Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Athens, Greece; and Olympia, Greece. :)

Chani-I did make the master to do list...even with the seemingly obvious...and it has been really helpful so far! Thanks!

I'm sure you have it all worked out, but 10 cities in four countries in 21 days? Wears me out just to think about it. Whatever happens, I am sure you will have a great time, though. Jot down the names of those great places that you stay or eat or visit so you can pass along tips to the rest of us when you get back!

So, I assume you are going to be journaling on paper. If so, make sure you tuck in an envelope for all those ticket stubs, used metro tickets, cards from hotels/restaurants and all the little stuff that can clutter things up. Also, again if you are using paper, add a couple of paper clips or binder clips which can come in useful for other things as well.

Nancy-people say that to us all the time about our vacations. :) We are up early and to bed late folks who keep busy everyday on vacation. I don't know that I could handle a lay on the beach and relax type trip. The last 3 cities I listed are part of a 6 day cruise...so that will include some relaxing. And, on one day we take a train to Wurzburg and then rent a car to continue to Rothenburg...the train is in Wurzburg by 2 pm and the drive between the two is fairly short. I think it will all be quite do-able for us-but will report back either way. I trimmed the plan a fair amount already thanks to folks like you on this board cautioning us not to over do it. As an example of our vacations...last summer was a drive from WI to Seattle, WA (with stops in ND and MT and a picnic in Cour'da lene and also time in Victoria and Vancouver and Oregon before returning to WI in less than 2 weeks. We have high stamina on vacation. :)

On my first trip, I visited as many countries and cities possible. When would I return? Didn't know, but expected it would be a few years...true as it turned out. Nary a regret and I identified where to and did return. Have a great trip!

Hi, First, don't panic if things go awry. Great that you are heading to Munich and Berlin. In Germany you can get phone cards at the post office, Virgin Music outlet in the train stations, and at the ReiseBank at the train stations.

Thank you all for all the help as I prepared for our first trip to Europe last month. It was FANTASTIC. And, a lot of the "success" of our trip is thanks to your answers-so thank you very much! We packed early from a master list-as suggested here. Such a saver because my husband and step-daughter are never early and it was great to have our backpacks ready to go as I hurried them out the door for our 6 a.m. flight! We each brought only one backpack and NEVER regretted that. Even better, we used everything we brought multiple times-except swimsuits. Who knew in 3 weeks in Europe in July including Greece and Croatia that we wouldn't swim? But, we didn't..just wandered in the water up to a knees a lot! Overall, everything was very smooth, too. We had a few adventures, but they are now fun memories. They range from taking 30 minutes to find our hotel in Berlin after exiting the S bahn station right by it and learning it was only a block away (in a different direction) from the stop; getting lost in Wurzburg in our rental car looking for the Romantic Road then just happening onto it; spending over an hour trying to find our bus to Freiburg in Munich only to find we were there the whole time; and re-packing our backpacks at the gate in Venice to fit in the metal bag measuring box that we have learned Easy Jet is MILITANT about! (My husband even stuff some items in his cargo shorts and my daughter and I put on an extra shirt each to avoid the fee of a last minute checked bag!)

Oh, and yes, we did keep a journal as a family. I think that and the pictures will be the priceless "souvenirs" from our trip. We didn't buy much or save much else. (We took pictures of so much though...our food, signs, trains, picnics, you name it!)

Angela: Glad you had such a good trip! Yes, EasyJet is a great and cheap transporter, but you MUST play by their rules or it will cost you lots of money or aggravation, or both! Re your photos. Have you considered making a photo book of them? We took kids & grandkids to Europe last year and made them for Christmas - a great success appreciated by adults & children. There are several companies do it- just Google. We used Adoramapix, not the cheapest, but felt it was the most versatile. Just a thought. When are you going back????.....

I had never heard of that site for photo books. But, we have taken to making those each year with all our vacations represented from Snapfish or Shutterfly and plan to do the same this year. Our daughter agreed that Europe was both birthday and Christmas presents in our home for 2013, but we might slightly break that rule for the photo books. :) As for when we are going back, as soon as possible! I would be planning the next trip already-except my husband lost his job when his company closed just a few months before our trip. We went through with the trip as scheduled (despite having travel insurance and being able to cancel should we have wanted to) but we'll need to hold off on the next big trip until he's gainfully employed again. :)

I'm so glad you had a good time! Thanks so much for letting us know. I'd love to read a long, detailed report of your trip!

Susan, I do plan to pull together a summary and a "lessons learned" to share with others. We've only been back about 2 weeks and I am now into one of my busiest seasons at work (I work at a University) and so I am working long hours right now. But, I will find some time to do that! :) Angie

Hi Angela, Thanks for coming back and telling us it all went well. I am looking forward to hearing more of your adventures. In the meantime, good luck to your husband in his job-hunting and wishing you back in Europe early and often.

Have fun! Make copies of your passports and bring a few with you and leave some with your family. Don't forget it is recommended to get to the airport 2 hours early before an international flight. If you are flying out of a major airport (Twin cities, maybe?) you may be surprised at how busy it is early on weekday- a lot of business travelers. For my last trip, I mapped directions to things on my Ipad and took a picture (like the airport or train station to our hotel or different routes I knew I would need). Or I would ping the hotel and take a picture of the surrounding area. Then I had several, easy access maps!

oops, didn't realize it was an old post....I am glad it went well anyway!!

Kristen, That is okay....other people are still reading. I am leaving in @ 2 weeks for my first trip to Europe. It is so helpful to read these posts! Angela, Glad it went well. I am going with 4 friends & we planned it all ourselves. Everyone cross your fingers our trip goes well, too!! I am sooo excited

When you arrive in Europe remember.........you just got off a plane and are tired, but excited. Breathe deep. Be happy. Roll with the flow. There will be glitches............ Breathe deep. Be happy. Roll with the flow. Talk with your travel mates and let them know that they should ............ BD. BH. RWTF. and........... always take the time to lean on a wall and watch the people flow by. Safe travels.