I leave for my amazing Europe trip in 5 days. I'm totally freaking out. Excited, oh absolutely. But still freaking out. I've never done any travel remotely like this. Not only have I specifically never been to either Dublin or London, but I've pretty much never traveled. Never been to a foreign country. Never been on an overseas flight. So, as I try to make sure everything is ready and will go perfectly, I find myself freaking out a bit. I just feel like I'm going to forget something, or do something wrong and get everything going on the wrong foot. I like to prepare and plan and feel secure and in control. I like the known. This trip is fantastic, but not known. Hence the worry. (Oh, and all the TSA news stories are not helping. Reading a thread on people's worst travel stories may also have been counter-productive.)
Worry #1 - The Getting Ready
Finishing up my 30pg paper on time aside, what should I be packing for 10 days in Ireland and the UK in December? Warm clothes and layers, sure, but what about all the other little things that make traveling so much easier? Should I try to get some foreign currency before hand?
Worry #2 - The Getting There
How does international travel even work? I have my lovely passport, but do I have to do anything else special beyond just showing up?
What about surviving on the plane? How do you not go crazy on 10 hour flights? How do you sleep? How do you stay occupied? Books are great, but which one? Should I bring food?
Worry #3 - The Being There
This, I'm not so worried about. Once we're there, we're there and that fact alone will make everything fantastic, even if I do something stupid like forget to pack socks. Still, any London/Dublin must sees or other general recommendations are always welcome. Mostly, I should just remember to focus on this part and stress a little less about being perfectly ready for it.
Yay! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteSO excited for you!!
ReplyDeleteI'd get some currency before going--just a little for a cab from the airport, etc. They will GOUGE you at the airport, so it's best to have at least some before you can find a better exchange rate.
I really can't wait to hear all about it! I've never been to Dublin, but one of my best friends is there for the year and it sounds AMAZING.
I'm not a super world traveler, but I have been overseas a few times. Here's my small bits of advice.
ReplyDelete1) Do go to your bank and get some money beforehand. You don't have to get everything you think you'll spend, but I would get a couple hundred.
2) Notify your bank that you'll be out of the country. I never had a problem with it before, but my sister's bank flagged her account activity as suspicious because we were in Italy and she had to spend a lot of money on an international call to clear it up.
3) Make sure you have your bank numbers handy just in case your stuff gets stolen. Probably won't happen, but if it does, you don't want to have to spend time looking for the right number to call.
4) Having been to Britain and Scotland in December, I can't emphasize the WARM part enough. Scarf, hat, gloves. Layers. Probably wouldn't hurt to have some of those little hand and foot warmer packets to put in your pockets. Try not to have pants too long. I totally had pants dragging on the ground and jeans wet to the knees is no bueno.
5) Make sure you have an address of where you'll be staying to give the passport people at Heathrow. London was my first solo international trip and I was meeting my friend and her parents in another city, but hadn't thought to get their address because they were picking me up. The passport dude at the airport seemed > < this close to not letting me enter the country just because I couldn't give him an address.
6) For the plane, bring snacks. The food is just as bad as you hear. An ipod is good. Don't bring heavy (topicwise) books. It can be hard to focus, so fluff books are best, in my opinion. Sleeping is tricky. I have a hard time with it. For me the best is to bring an extra strength Benadryl and take it right as you get on the plane. It kicks in an hour later and helps put you out.
7) Finally I would just say, of course see anything you have your heart set up. But don't be so set on a grocery list of sites that you miss something awesome. I love just wandering around.
Okay I am no expert but here is what I have learned:
ReplyDeleteTotally get currency before you go. We just got around 200 dollars. If you order it from Wells Fargo (not sure who you bank with---well that would be really creepy if I did) but if you ask them to waive their fee they usually cave.
Expect a really, really long line when you get to London. Customs take a really long time, but I heard if you go towards the end of the day it's not so bad.
Make sure that your pin number for your debit card is 4 numbers. Five numbers don't work internationally.
Ummm do the Emerson Jackson airplane trick and take an ativan before you go--I don't even get a flu shot and barely take advil but it makes a difference. I am also a terrible flier.
Avoid taxis in London they are so expensive but do go once because it's totally fun and adorable.
Also if you are trying to save money in London eat Indian food. It's the cheapest food around.
Oh and register with the embassy in Ireland and UK.
Okay I am done. Have a wonderful time I can't wait to see all of your amazing pictures!!!
Oh I forgot the flight from DC to London is super fast--it says it takes nine hours on your ticket but it really only takes six. It's super fast.
ReplyDeleteI hope that this doesn't come across as know it all-ish because that is super annoying.
I've never really traveled before, but any time I'm going to do anything remotely out of the ordinary, I worry like that. I often eventually convince myself that everything will go terribly. Smart, I know.
ReplyDeleteDi had some great suggestions — especially about letting all of your banks know that you'll be using cards overseas.
ReplyDeleteAlso about money: When getting cash out of an ATM, it's usually cheaper to use a debit card because they charge fewer fees but you also don't have the fraud protection that comes with credit cards. When I went to New Zealand in May my debit card didn't work at all. I never found out why, but it was fine since I had a credit card. Look on the back of the cards to see logos/names (Plus, Star, Interlink, etc.) of ATMs that will accept your card. On my trip, we'd typically find an ATM and get about $200-$300 out at a time unless we specifically knew we needed more. I didn't want to be carrying tons of cash around. And, definitely don't get any money changed at the airport. Rip off.
On the plane they'll hand out a customs form to fill out before you land. That's where you'll have to put information about why, how long and where you'll be staying. Depending on the country, they also ask about certain foods/goods you'll bring into the country. I recommend filling it out on the plane and not waiting until you're waiting in the customs line in case there's not much of a line.
Try to pack light. Airlines always allow for more luggage on international flights, but it sucks to lug everything around an unfamiliar place for who knows how long once you get there.
Also, are you renting a car? If you currently have auto insurance, see what it covers. Sometimes it'll cover rental mishaps so you won't have to pay extra rental car insurance. (We don't anyway and just cross our fingers about staying safe.)
I'm sure you'll have a ton of fun. I'm jealous!
London: Definitely eat at Wagamamas if you like delicious noodles. Check out the free museums, walk around Hyde park and Regent's Park.
ReplyDeleteLong flights: I agree with the idea that your entertainment should be fluffy. At the age of 21, I flew internationally with disney movies and a coloring book. Airplanes just aren't designed for deep thoughts. But seriously, the best way to fly is asleep. I take dramamine and wake up with a sore neck and some grogginess.
I'd also add: it is a good idea to make photocopies of your critical stuff and stash them in your suitcase and a different part of your carry-on. I always copy my driver's license, my debit card and my passport (front and back of the cards). I guess this might help in a pinch at the embassy. It just seems like a good idea.
So exciting! I was born in Ireland and my family is in the Dublin area and I was there just this past Dec/Jan with my husband. It is a lovely time to go because Christmas in Ireland is awesome! Also, the economy is totally in the crapper, so you may get better deals/may not feel completely ripped off everywhere you go (Ireland is expensive).
ReplyDeleteEveryone's international travel suggestions are really good. I ditto the telling your bank that you're out of the country tidbit. Also, depending on your airline, a lot of international flights these days have TVs right in the back of the seat in front of you and you can watch movies on demand, etc. I am a huge book nerd and brought a ton of books for my int'l flight last year but I ended up getting enthralled by the movies and there was even an interactive Berlitz course on learning French. Amazing. (We flew KLM.)
As for Dublin, definitely hit up Grafton Street, which is a pedestrian-friendly street with lovely shops and things. (It has all the awesome chains that we don't have, too, like Monsoon.) It's just up the road a bit from Trinity College, which is worth checking out (you can see the Book of Kells there). My husband (non Irish) was obsessed with Phoenix Park, which is also on the same stroll as going from Trinity College --> Grafton Street. It is really, really unseasonably cold in Ireland right now, so walking around may be rough, but you can always nip into pubs and tea shops to warm up. For nondrinkers, pubs offer great deals on food. And even though it's a chain, I really like Bewley's (sp?) tea shop, too, btw.
As for sights to see, I always recommend Kilmanham Gaol (Jail). It's a little bit farther away than the main attractions but if you want to get a grasp on Ireland's history/struggles with independence, this is a great spot -- definitely take a tour. (Ireland's liberators were executed here and you can see where they were killed -- morbid but fascinating).
There's an open-top bus tour that you can flag down almost anywhere, btw, and it's a little pricey, but it will bring you past all the big sites, you can hop on/hop off and it does go out to the Gaol, too.
On the Northside of Dublin (all walking distance), you can go to Moore Street, which is another pedestrian street with shops, but it's grittier and more "true" Dublin. This is where all the fruit and veg peddlers used to be and you can hear the real Dub accents as they shout out their wares.
Have fun!
This is all really great advice!
ReplyDeleteGo to Masala Zone in London. There's one by the opera house in Covent Garden; take the tube to Covent Garden and then ask. It's the best Indian food I've ever had.
Go to Portobello Road early on a weekend. Buy avocadoes and a pocket watch necklace.
If either of you are big history buffs, go to the War Rooms in Westminster. It's an underground exhibit of Churchill's WW2 rooms, with original everything - so cool!
Go to St Martin-in-the-Fields church and do a brass rubbing. It's not too expensive. You pick out a brass picture - it will be something like a picture of Mary & child, or St George and the dragon, or a historical figure, but like you'd see on a tomb or gravestone. They put paper over it and give you wax chalk to rub over the top. It's a great souvenir!
Go to Hamley's. It's the biggest toy store I've ever seen - 7 levels of awesomeness. Get a teddy bear; they're cute.
Look out for Tesco Metro or Tesco-whatever. They're mini supermarkets with good prices.
I usually do the tour buses when I go with friends/family visiting. It's about 20 pounds, but that's usually for 2 days, and it's a great way to see the city aboveground. They're also get on/get off services, so you can use them like a taxi.
Have tons of fun!! I'm so jealous!