Best of Europe in 14 Days curiosities

Check the section on this site for travel tips. Italy and France use the euro, Switzerland, the Swiss Franc. In travel tips, check the Money section which should answer most of your questions. Best thing to do is to get a debit card with no foreign exchange fees to use at ATM’s to get cash - and you won’t need much. Also get a credit card (Visa or MadterCard not Amex) that also does not charge FX fees. I opened a checking account at CapitalOne because they offer no fee debit and credit cards. There are other financial institutions who offer them as well.

About the weather, go to the page describing Best of Europe in 24 Days and scroll to down the page. That’s where you’ll find a topic called When to go and Weather.

We took this tour during a heat wave in June 2019, so I can’t comment on the weather for October.

As for currency, everything was in euro except for Switzerland. In Switzerland (and at other stops) our guide advised us on how much cash we may need to withdraw from an ATM, and also pointed out convenient ATMs that didn’t have large surcharges. There was an optional activity to the Schilthorn there, where the guide organized the tickets and the we paid her in cash. I agree that you probably won’t need a lot of cash. I think it’s good to have some local currency at your disposal, but most places will take credit cards. But you will need coins/small bills for pay toilets. Not sure if those have gone cashless yet.

I find it’s helpful to pack light (we use carry on size bags only with a small personal daypack or crossbody bag). I think it makes it easier with so many hotel changes. This is what RS tours recommend but keep in mind it’s not a ‘law’ but a suggestion. However you do have to manage your own luggage and the bus isn’t always able to pull up next to the hotel. The guide recommended good places to do laundry. If you’re willing to do that, there’s really no reason to take more than a week’s worth of clothing, and I feel a carryon size bag suffices.

It was a fantastic tour, full of bucket list worthy sights and ‘wow’ moments. It was our first trip to Europe and it was a great introduction to several different countries. And we also learned a lot about how to manage travel for future independent travel.

We did the Best of Europe in 21 days in late September early October of 2022. Started in Amsterdam and ended in Paris. Weather in Switzerland was cool but not terrible cold. Did buy a hat in Murren and cheap gloves which I left at hotel for someone else to use. When we arrived in Rome it was 90 F and plenty humid. Take layers and consider buying cheap clothes for cold weather and just leaving them if you don't want to pack them back. You won't need multiple currency, just some Euros for small purchases and some restroom facilities that charge one Euro to use. Apple pay works great and everyone takes credit cards, just not AMEX. I ended up cancelling my AMEX after 31 years as I could not find any merchant in Europe that takes it.

Your guide will be very helpful at the beginning of the tour with suggestions and recommendations. Don't stress out now or over prepare. Relax and adapt and go with the flow. This is a great tour and you will learn a lot. My major recommendation is to get comfortable shoes and wear them for at least a month before you go. Lots of walking especially in Rome. Cheers !

We took this tour quite a while ago in 2016 and it is very different now, we started in Paris & ended in Rome. It was a great tour. I would suggest getting in early & prebooking some of the key sites the tour no longer goes to in Rome. It will be an extremely busy year in Rome. I would get that hotel soon for pre tour.
If you can add time post tour in Paris I would suggest that too. We went to Normandy for a few days but it was on the front end for us. You might be toured out by then.
Can’t speak for weather we went in Aug. But we did buy some light jackets along the way. Enjoy

I vote for time in Paris afterward too! Also, if you can arrive in Rome at least one day in advance (2 is better) that will give you some flex time in case of travel hiccups.

I did the 21 day Best of Europe and not quite as late in the year as you.

I do always recommend a waterproof rain jacket and lightweight glove liners for European travel. I also recommend a puffy vest (or jacket if you are cold natured) that squishes down pretty small. I have the 32 Degree brand vests. They are inexpensive and will squish into a quart ziplock bag. I'm thinking if you are in Paris by the middle of the month then you may need the puffy vest.

This year I was in France for the month of October and it was pretty cool the first part of the month...so much so that I was forced to go with a forum friend to the Bastille Market and buy a really cute long sleeve striped tee because I was cold, hahaha! (only 18Euro!). By the end of the month it was a tad warmer and I was comfortable in short sleeves but seriously the weather is so variable it's better to have some layers.

As others have mentioned Rome is likely to be hot. I did Best of Italy 2 years ago, ending in Rome the end of October and it was still 80+ in the afternoons. That is pretty hot for me!

Here is what I would recommend for a trip that covers hot to cold:

2 pr athletic shoes, one waterproof if you have them. NO snow boots. If there's that much snow you may just walk down in the Lauterbrunnen Valley (gorgeous) instead of doing one of the walks down from the various trailheads. If it has snowed a lot and others have not been out you will not know where the trail is anyway.

4 short sleeve shirts
1 or 2 long sleeve shirts or quarter zip dri-fit shirts to layer over
1 sun shirt
1 puffy vest
1 waterproof jacket
2 pr long pants (travel pants, hiking type pants that dry fast or jeans)
1 pr of either long pants OR if it is still hot in Rome, perhaps capris, depending on what you like
Socks, underwear, pjs, bras

I would download Citymapper app for Rome, Florence, Venice and Paris.

Do you use ApplePay/GooglePay? If not I would work on this skill by using it at your local grocery stores, etc so you can easily use it on your trip. I have paid for everything down to 3E gelato in Venice with ApplePay. With ApplePay you may not need to get Swiss Francs at all. By that stage of the trip you will see how much cash you are using. As mentioned, the guide will help you estimate how much you might need in Swiss Francs. For Euro, if you will feel more comfortable, get 100E from your local bank, otherwise, just get some from an ATM in Rome near your hotel (not at the airport). If you take a taxi in to town they will take a CC or ApplePay (hold up your CC or phone before you get into the cab and say OK??)

BTW, if I am doing active things in the snow and it's not bitterly cold I am plenty warm with a long sleeve Drifit over a tee with a puffy vest and rain jacket over it.

Have a fabulous time!

I would recommend waterproof hiking shoes for any time of year. They will be lighter and more comfortable than boots. You’re more likely to experience rain than snow. Bring a waterproof layer. A packable puffer jacket may be useful. I wore mine on my balcony in the mornings in June, and to Jungfraujoch. You’re likely to experience a variety of temperatures, so layers will be key. Practice handwashing your items at home to see what will dry quickly overnight.

You don’t need to “bring” currency. Just use your debit card at a bank owned atm, and decline the conversion when asked. Notify your bank in advance if needed. ATMs are everywhere, including airports and train stations.

I took this tour in the Spring 2022 and it was a life-changing experience. Our time in Switzerland was too short but nonetheless was awesome. It was a bit chilly but still comfortable enough for a hike.

Prior posts regarding currency are on point. In Lauterbrunnen there’s a bank ATM near the grocery store across from the train station.

I’m sure you will have a great time!

Steve