6 months before you go

Choose Your Destination!
Travel Planning | How I Travel Europe |Destination Guide | Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! | Weather -Climate - When to Go

Start Learning a bit of Language
Languages for the Tourist

Look into Renting a House or Apartment
Unusual Lodging | Lodging Links

Purchase Guidebooks - Europe, by country, or regional
Top European Guidebooks

3-4 months before you go

Start Checking Airfares
Finding Bargain Airfares

Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one
Passport Links

Shoes and Walking - Buy and Break in your walking shoes!

6 weeks to 2 months before you go

Reserve Lodging - Hotel
Accommodation Links | Footloose Travel | Hotel Star Ratings | How I Travel in Europe

Choose your Transportation in Europe - Car or Train?
Train or Car? | Rent or Lease? | Driving in Europe Links | Transportation Links | European Train Travel Links

Rail Pass
Do you need one? Here are some tips:

• Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket.
• EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass.
• Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans.

Lease or Rent your Car and get an International Driver's License at Your Auto Club

1 Month before you go

Travel or Health Insurance
Insurance Links

Take Stock of Your Luggage
Top Carry-On Luggage | Packing Tips

Need a Camera? Buy and Learn to Use It
Before you buy a digital camera for travel | Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel | Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel | Olympus D40 Review

Using Film? Purchase a Lead-Lined Bag to keep it from Fogging.

Rent a Cell Phone if you need Telephone Service in Europe
Cell Phone Rental Companies

Prepare to get Email at cybercafes in Europe
Staying Connected | Cybercafe Links

Money Matters - ATM's are the way to go - Traveler's Checks for Back-up.
Money Matters | ATM Finder

Document Security - Do you have a money belt or something to conceal your valuables under your clothing?
Top Travel Accessories | Clip-on Security Wallet

Voltage and Plugs - are you bringing appliances that need convertors or plug adapters?
European Electricity and the Connected Tourist

Do you need road maps?
Michelin Maps (compare prices)

Keeping in Touch - Have you considered transporting addresses or data, or doing audio or video recording?
The Travel Writer's Toolkit

Check the Department of State website for Travel Dangers
Department of State Travel Warnings

Last minute

Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help!
Passport Expediting Companies

Make Copies of your valuable documents and give them to someone you trust.

Final Check - Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder.