Travel Mistakes to Avoid in Europe | (BEWARE of #6 in Paris!). DO NOT make these tourist mistakes when visiting Europe & tips for the first time in Europe.
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Are you headed back to Europe or are you planning to travel to Europe for the first time? Join me, Megan, as I reveal the travel mistakes you absolutely need to avoid! These are mistakes I made on my first trip to Europe that led to many regrets. They are very common travel mistakes that Americans and Canadians make when visiting Europe for the first time. From tourist scams to avoid to when to go to landmarks in famous cities like London, Paris, and Rome, I’ve got you covered.
I’ll share insider tips on researching attractions, buying tickets in advance, and creating a realistic itinerary that maximizes your experience and saves you money. We’ll also discuss age-based discounts, free entry days, and when to splurge on skip-the-line passes or guided tours. Plus, I’ll expose overpriced tourist traps and help you find amazing dining experiences without breaking the bank.
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00:00 Introduction
00:19 Know before you go
00:51 Where to look for info
01:17 Where to go (Itinerary for Europe)
02:10 Sold out ticket & long lines
02:36 When to go to Eiffel tower
02:57 Save money in Europe (discounts!)
03:21 DO NOT FALL FOR THIS
03:45 ‘Skip the Line’ Tickets
04:08 Guided tour: yes or no?
04:31 Avoid any trouble…
04:57 Denied entry (even if you paid!)
05:30 Getting around (essential tip!)
05:46 Avoid this scam
06:05 Restaurant scam
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Welcome to Portable Professional, your go-to resource for stress-free travel.
Megan here, Hello! I’ve taken well over 300 flights and countless trips in the last decade. I have learned how to have seamless travel experiences without unnecessary stress and anxiety. I’m here to help you also feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.
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50 Comments
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Another informative video, Megan-thank you! I was cheering because hubby and I already do some of the first things you said: make a list of what you want to do, prioritize, and go to direct websites to find out information, opening/closing hours/days, prices, discounts (we’re seniors), etc. Others poke fun at our “lists,” but it helps to make sure we get most if not all of the things done that we want to! 😃
I am always impressed by your extremely concise delivery on such beneficial travel information. You make excellent videos, Megan!
I highly recommend food tours, every one I’ve had has been excellent. Book in advance of course 😊
You Rock.
Germany, Bavaria for 3 weeks , mostly driving and 2-3 days in each place to avoid the "human pinball machine" when trying to do too much. Lots of good content. I highly recommend Rick Steves" Europe through the back door" as a reference for all European trips, providing you are willing to do your own research ahead of time.
Great video Megan.
Thanks Megan! More helpful tips! We are going to Greece & Spain in October so very timely!
London, York & Edinburgh in September. I always make a spreadsheet for planning. Really helpful as it outlines the things you’ve mentioned here.
Leaving from Boston in a few weeks for Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Paris and Brussels for 3 weeks, can’t wait
Going to Germany in September. My brother lives there. Sometimes it is cheaper for me to buy advance tickets in the US, other times for him to buy in Germany. Also I use Wise to send him money in advance so I have all the Euros I need when I arrive. Probably the best advice is don't try to do too much and be stressed out.
I have seen dozens of YouTube sites discussing travel. This is SIMPLY THE BEST, and most PROFESSIONAL.
Not bad for a Canuk (who are rumored to be be boring). Bravo.
Your videos always make me feel inspired.
When you don't know the language, how do you use public transport? I'm going to Paris and I only know a handful of words
I have found some wonderful and very reasonably priced towards via air BNB experiences. I found that a Well informed guide added enormous value especially to museum experiences. The tour guide also enable us to skip the line at Museums. So that was an added benefit!
I have found buying tickets for most favorite attractions before my trip has been better than waiting until I get there.
Looking to visit Norway, Sweden, krakow, Poland.
I like the hop on hop off busses to get the “lay of the land!”
These are all great trips. I usually go to Asia, not Europe, but I find them helpful regardless of destination. Another tip, research the national holidays of the country before you leave. Countries will almost completely close for certain holidays, so a person may show up at an attraction, and it's closed. I check when the citizens are usually off from work. For example, in Japan, Sundays are typically a day off from work and school, so many families spend the day together. Many parks and other places will be crowded with families. I like to mingle amongst the local people, but some tourists may not like the crowds.
Palma de Mallorca
My next European adventure begins in Reyjkakvic, Iceland, then to Norway, Amsterdam, Belgium and then Southampton England.
Re tip #9. For anyone thinking of going to Buckingham Palace, don’t mess with the Kings Guard. While they are happy to let you pose next to them for a photo, if you touch the reins of their horses, or get in their way when they are marching they will let you know in no uncertain terms.
Keep it coming, 90k on the way!
Going to Florence / Tuscany at the end of the month.
Awesome video, currently in Rome day 6. Heading to Florence. 12 days left , Venice, Milan , Como
I say this with love – I have beloved US family members. My number one advice to US visitors to Europe is to turn the volume down when you talk. US tourists stand out because of it. I’ve never mentioned it to my various family members because it sounds rude to say it but they have, over the years, started matching our volume levels. And, yes, they tell us to speak up when we visit them!
100% recommended to book ahead when trying to hit some museums in London. A few years ago, my wife and I tried to go to the Natural History Museum, but the line (on our arrival) was multiple hundreds of people long. This year, I booked online and literally just skipped the line and walked into the entrance ahead of everyone else. Can't even imagine how long most of those people must have waited to get inside!
Also, as to your point #9, most guys are going to be expected to remove any hats when entering religious sites.
Too despised by Europeans for perceived pre-eminence, or too utterly aware of suspicions their arrivals denote intentions to covertly carry out aggressions — sensible Americans usually acquire the services of someone(s) indigenous to local destination parts—both to help guide their tourism(s), and to help establish ill-less underlying motivations for visit(ation).
Nimes, France has the most intact gladiator arena in Europe
Next Cities: London (airport only), Amsterdam, Iverness, Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, Holyhead, Waterford, Cork, Dover.
I really liked the private guide I had at the Vatican. I had paid for the "Angels and Demons" tour (private, not ship), which was expensive, but worth it, with visits to the locations in the morning and the Vatican tour in the afternoon. The guide went over some things I'd be seeing beforehand, with notes as to symbolism and context. I also got 50 Euros off at the start, when my guide showed up and asked if I minded him taking two passengers from a different ship to their tour (apparently their driver didn't show up). I accepted, and found they were already in the car (making me wonder what would have happened if I said "no").
I still considered that a win for everybody. They got to their tour, the diversion was minimal (they were let off at the Coliseum), I got a big discount, and the tour company didn't have to scramble to find transport for the affected people.
I've never been to Europe. I'm a teacher in Upstate NY and I'm now in charge of the travel club. EF Tours is sending me to Rome, Italy in January for training, then in April I'm taking 40 students to Londonn, Paris, and Barcelona.
Citymapper map is another great way of figuring out how to get from one place to another and it also gives walking times and prices
Your videos are very informative and your delivery captures my full attention. Really well done! Thank you.
Madrid and Lisbon next cities
I agree about the guided tours! In Greece last year, really helped at the Parthenon.
Heading to London and Paris in 3 weeks!
Decide how badly you want to spend in line to see an attraction. For instance, do you want to spend two hours in line to see The Book of Kells for 2 minutes?
Also, restaurants who post menus in English are targeting tourists. Prepare to pay a minimum of 50% more to eat there. Learn the basics of the language so you know if you're ordering chicken, fish or beef.
Love your expression, “don’t be that person”🙄. My next destination is Lisbon, Portugal.
Great tips, thanks. Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve for 3 weeks in July.
We’re planning a trip in Fall 2024 to Rome, Florence and Sorrento area.
I am going on a school trip to Seville, Spain. I have been in Europe once before… but still nervous about international travel! Thanks for the info.
Great advice. Doing your homework is key. Also, buying tickets for attractions in advance is the best. On a previous trip to London, we bought our tickets for Hampton Court and The Tower of London online well before leaving. What a lifesaver! We bypassed a massive line at the Tower. And avoiding trouble at religious sites – part and parcel of doing your research. I saw people (mainly young women) being made to wear paper shawls at St. Peter's in Rome. If they had bothered to read up, they would've been able to wear something modest of their choosing instead of a big sheet of paper. As for cities that I'm going to soon: Lisbon, Porto, Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Barcelona. We've already started looking at getting tickets for Sagrada Familia.
Headed to London and Paris (Disneyland) in 2 weeks, your videos have been extremely helpful in general. But this one stood out to me. Thanks!
Buying tickets online in advanced saves time, money, and frustration. And using a guide or self guided audio is great advice. I recently did so when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, shenandoah skyline drive, and Gettysburg! Got so much from the guides.
I’m going to Paris Bruges Belgium, and Haarlem, Netherlands in early fall. Aloha
My wife and I are going to Ireland for 2 weeks. Some family there but also going to travel around, Dublin and south and west of Ireland, county Cork.
Number 1 makes me cringe because we’ve been full time traveling for almost two and a half months to multiple countries and we have yet see a sight without construction 😡🤬 Literally every country and city has constant construction going on and there’s nothing we can do about it! At this point we just accept it as a fact of life and move on.
Good pointers. I have travelled to Europe many times during the last twenty years and I have two tips to share for first time (or experienced) travellers. First of all, make a color photocopy of your passport. Leave your passport in the room safe (or hotel safe) and use the photocopy. (Seniors – you get the discounts even if it's a photocopy.). Second,if you are considering buying a city pass which supposedly lets you into many sites for free or for a discount, check it out carefully! Many times the sites that you really want to see aren't included or the discount doesn't make it worthwhile because the pass is only good for a day or two days and you won't manage to see everything. If I'm considering buying a pass, I do the math before the trip. Bon voyage!
London is the best city in the world! I just returned from a 10-day holiday there yesterday. It helps that I lived in London for 12 years from 1998 to 2010 becoming a naturalised UK citizen whilst living in London. BTW, London has an amazing vegan scene.
Madrid on September ❤️
jampacked with tips in this video and very helpful. 👍👍👍