1 Sign up to be a frequent flyer on the airlines you will be using, make sure you put in your cell phone number as your contact number . We had a leg of our trip cancelled on the day of travel and I had to call KLM a number of time to reschedule, every time they answer the phone with "Hello Gretchen, How can we help?" Also with KLM/Air France/Delta you can just scan the FF card at the kiosk to sign in for your boarding pass. No need to fumble for your reservation number/confirmation number/flight number etc.

2 See if the airports you will be using have a smart phone app. AMS airport did and that is the only way I was notified of the flight cancelation, Alitalia, Delta, KLM never notified me. If not for the notice at 6 am the day we were leaving I would have landed at AMS to find our flight to Rome had been cancelled and we had been rebooked on a flight leaving 36 hours later. AMS also notifies you of which gate you will be landing at and connecting to. Very helpful.

3 Learn some basic phrases in the language. You would be amazed how much people open up when you try, even if it's brutal, to speak their language. "Please, thank you, Hello, Good bye, Where and I'd like a bottle of water (or a glass of red wine)" go very far. Also some familiarity with the language will help you sort out signs and menus.

3a Read a guidebook and have some familiarity with local customs. If it's rude to pick up items in a store without first greeting the proprietor it's much better to know that in advance rather than wonder why the people in the store are looking at you like you are a barbarian.

4 The Rick Steves audio guides for iPods iPhones and other smart phones are the best deal in the world. Free to download it's like having a tour guide in your pocket. If you go to Venice take the vaporetto line 1 or 2 to the last stop (bus station) get off and get back on the #1. Since you are the first stop you can grab the front seats on the right side then start listening to the audio guide at the first stop. He describes the buildings you are passing in real time. Fascinating. Also the Rick Steves radio shows pod casts about the area you will be visiting are great to listen to before your trip to have some familiarity with things.

5 Take one plug adaptor for each thing you will need to plug in. They cost a dollar and will save you time in the long run.