Earlier this summer, I traveled to Europe through a school-sponsored trip. Here is my list to get the best out of your experience!
1. Do bring a money belt!
"I won't get pick pocketed" or "My phone is safe in my pocket." These actual quotes from a group member who got pick-pocketed in Europe who refused this advice. I know that the money belt looks like your dad's fanny pack from that vacation you took in 2011, but trust me it comes in handy. You don't want to spend your Saturday at the US Embassy trying to get a new passport when you could be climbing the Eiffel Tower.
2. Do not have too many drinks.
If you're spending your time overseas, chances are you are busy with events and activities planned. Don't risk your next day by having one too many the night before. A group member spent his entire night at a beer garden in Munich and spent his next day passed out in the hotel hallway, missing an entire day of the experience. Also, your tour guide might give you a nickname for the rest of the trip... isn't that right Party Man Kollasch?
3. But, do have a drink or two...
How often can you say you had a glass of wine in Italy or a brew in Germany? Try the culture and see why they are famous around the world! (Also every size in Europe is bigger or cheaper, *wink*).
4. Don't assume you'll have Wi-Fi at your hotel...
Many places I stayed in Europe had little to no Internet connection. That means no communication with back home. With over 40 college students in our group, no texting or Twitter for a week at a time was a small apocalypse.
5. Do try the local food!
From fish and chips in England to bratwurst in Germany to Parmesan cheese in Parma (makes sense now, doesn't it?), make sure to try the local famous foods! Trust me, they are so much better when you have them in the places that they were first perfected.
6. Do not forget an umbrella or waterproof shoes...
Nothing ruins a day touring a city like rain... ask the three pair of shoes that were ruined because of it (thanks Venice). Rain is like that annoying kid from middle school; as soon as it appears, everything from then on is much more depressing.
