Augsburg, Germany

• Be organized. If I'm city hopping, I like to use this expandable file folder (disclaimer: this is an affiliate link but I just included it so you can see what I'm talking about. I would never pay $10 to buy one of these- you can pick one up for a dollar or two from your local office supply or dollar store). I print off all confirmations I need - boarding passes, hotel confirmations, car rentals, attraction tickets etc. and then put them in the order I will need them. My passport fits right in front and the folder fits perfectly either in my purse or a pocket on my carry-on. 

• Write any directions you think you may need right on the confirmation you printed out. I make notes about which metro line will get me to the right neighborhood, which restaurants were recommended on TripAdvisor, things to avoid, any questions I have for the concierge, anything I think might be helpful.

• Let's talk about carry-ons for a minute. If you're going to use air travel to get around Europe, I strongly recommend a good carry on. I also recommend packing for your whole trip in it, but we'll get to that in a minute. Look up the dimensions required on the airline's website (Example). They are pretty strict about the size of the bag (and it's generally smaller than what we Americans think of as a carry on) so adhere to it. It can be very costly to check a bag the day of your flight.

• Read the baggage policy for your airline(s). Some of them only allow ONE bag per passenger - not a carry-on AND a personal item (i.e. a purse). Also double check the weight allowances and remember that 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lbs).

• I have found the plain wheeled carry ons to be the easiest to pull on cobblestone streets. The spinner wheels just seem to fall apart quickly. Perhaps it would be different with a very expensive suitcase, but I've used a few of the common nicer brands and none of them held up as well as a plain carry on. 

• A couple of quick tips for packing light: plan to wear the same pair of jeans 2 or 3 days. Wear a comfortable pair of boots or shoes while traveling and pack only 1 extra pair of shoes or sandals. 3 scarves seems to be the proper amount, but I have no science to back this claim up. It's just what works for me. Clean underwear and socks for every day and 2 bras. I usually take only strapless bras because they work for every shirt or dress I could possibly pack, but I know strapless isn't comfortable for everyone. Whichever bra you choose, make sure it's comfortable for all day wear. You're going to be walking and moving a lot and you don't want to have to keep adjusting an uncomfortable underwire or have sensitive skin because it rubbed all day, no matter how cute the undergarment is. And - most importantly - don't pack too much. Most adults can wear a shirt more than once before washing, so do that! No one will know, I promise.

• Don't pack lots of liquids unless you really need them. They are heavy and take up lots of precious space. You can buy shampoo and conditioner at any drug store or super market here and their sizes are generally much smaller than we are used to in the U.S. which makes them easier to travel with. If you're worried about reading another language, please don't be. You won't have any problems with common words like those. And - bonus! - my neighbor told me it's better to use the local shampoos because they are formulated for the hard water here so your hair will thank you. :) 

• Ask for travel sized or sample sizes of your face creams, serums or perfumes. I use a lot of Estee Lauder products and every time I make a purchase I ask for small samples of my favorites or of anything new I'd like to try. They are usually very generous with me, especially when I explain what I'd like them for. If you can't get small samples, look online for them. Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon are great sites to check and those pre-wrapped Christmas gifts that every boutique offers are absolute goldmines for finding perfectly sized travel cosmetics. Keep the containers, clean them out, and reuse them. Of course you can always pick up the reusable travel kits at the drugstore, too.

• Look for products that do double duty. For example, I use coconut oil (yup, straight from the grocery store) for body moisturizer, sunscreen, makeup remover and lip balm. One small travel bottle lasts more than a couple of weeks. It also works on hair to help hide dry ends or frizzy fly-aways if you use a light touch.

• This Z Palette rocks. I just got mine and used it for the first time going to Ireland and I'm completely sold on it. It saved so much room in my bag and my makeup traveled just fine. The large size is more than big enough for me. I highly recommend it.

• Judiciously choose your hair tools and accessories. If you have one curling iron that can be used with a simple plug adapter, take that one... and only that one. Most hotels have a hair dryer in the room, but check beforehand. (If you have to pack your own hair dryer, most will require a power converter and those can be heavy. Read the label on your dryer to see what you will need, see note below.) Living in Europe has forced me to learn to do a great blow out at home (or hotel). I can now travel with just a round brush and a good hair serum to most places. This is an amazing skill to have. I cannot sing its praises enough.

• I also recommend learning to do a few easy and cute updos. A pretty braided knot can be such a lifesaver on windy, rainy days... and there are a lot of those around here! You can check out my Pinterest board for more ideas and tutorials - I'm always looking for simple ways to contain my hair for when I don't feel like wearing it down.

• My favorite sites to find hotels are Booking and LateRooms, but Orbitz and Priceline work well too. I use the first two almost exclusively in Europe and can almost always find a good hotel in my price range that includes breakfast. It sounds like a small thing, but starting a day of sight-seeing with a good breakfast rocks. It's even better if I don't have to go looking for it.

• Always double check the price of the room on the hotels website, if they have one. Sometimes you can get the same room for less because the bigger sites take a commission.

• If we're going somewhere for 4 nights or more, I usually look for an apartment to rent. I've found them to be better deals if we're staying for more than just a night or two. AirBnB, HomeAway, and FlipKey are my go-to sites. A few friends use Wimdu as well, but I've never booked through them. Apartments are also a great option if you are traveling with more than two people because hotel rooms that accommodate three or more are sparse and expensive. If you rent an apartment, ask lots of questions: Are utilities included? Is the apartment private or will it be shared with someone? Is there a lift (elevator)? An air conditioner? Is there an extra charge to use the a/c?

• Another resource I've grown to love is the tourism website for whichever city or town I'm visiting. They usually have an accommodation section and I've scored a couple of great deals that way.

• If you like the peace of mind of an American-style experience (I only phrase it that way because I'm American and I've found that most of us have similar expectations and culture shock experiences), you'll be right at home at most hotels in London or Dublin or any of the major name brand hotels in any city on the continent. Check in/out is what you expect and they almost always accept your credit card (I've never seen one that doesn't, actually). However....

• If you stay at a smaller hotel, BnB, family owned guest house or rent an apartment your experience could vary greatly. Firstly, they probably don't accept credit cards and if they do they may charge you a fee to pay that way. That's pretty typical here. I actually find it to be almost universally true in Germany (Germans have an expression, "Cash Smiles," and they take it very seriously). In other countries, it's hit or miss, but don't worry - most of the hotel owners are very nice and will help you find the closest ATM and likely won't mind if you pay the next day. Secondly, they expect you to be polite. If you walk past them in the morning, say good morning. And never, never think it's ok to check out of your room by simply leaving your key in your room and driving away. Always check with the desk before you leave and wish them a good day. 

• Ask lots of questions before you agree to a reservation and read every line of fine print. Make sure you understand what you're getting into. The lady we rented from in Rome was very upset with us because we took a wrong train and arrived several hours later than expected. There was an extra charge for that. Yes, that's normal, too. Some places don't want you to arrive too early, some charge if you come to late. Read, read, read. Ask, ask, ask.

• At a smaller accommodation, it is possible that the owner will invite you in for a tea or coffee. It is polite to accept. Europeans are big on social expectations - they expect themselves to be good hosts and you to be a gracious guest. Manners are very important so as my mama would say, "don't be ugly!" On the other hand, if they don't invite you in it could be because they have dealt with Americans before and halfway expect us to decline anyway. Don't take it personally.

• It's helpful to have your own power converters but you can ask for them when you check in. There is usually a small deposit that you'll get back when you return it.

Air Travel

• If you're crossing the pond or another continent to get here, prepare yourself in advance. Drink lots of water before and during the flight. I swear this is the biggest help in the fight against jet lag. 

• Since you've been drinking so much water, you'll have lots of reminders to get up and walk around (i.e., to the toilet) frequently during your flight. No one wants blood clots in their legs or painfully swollen feet when they land. Walking will help. If you have clotting issues or are greatly concerned, talk to your doctor about compression socks; he or she should be able to help you decide if they could be beneficial for you.

• If you're planning to fly from city to city in Europe, Ryan Air has lots of great routes and a new easier to use route planner. I've used Sky Scanner and German Wings to price check, and have heard great things about them from friends who have booked and flown with them. I've never found a better deal on either site that justified driving to an airport farther away so I haven't used their services, but it's worth checking out. Commuter flights in Europe can be one of the cheapest ways to travel, you just have to look for the good deals. (And remember to factor in transportation to and from the airports but most are well connected by train or shuttle.)

• Orbitz, Priceline, and Expedia are also great ways to find flights and it's nice to work with a website you know and trust.