DC solo trip to Europe - what are we forgetting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Safety would be my biggest concern these days. Are his friends super responsible, OP?

This post is terrifying me. Safety meaning armed robbery?

They aren't a particularly irresponsible bunch but they are still 18 year old boys and I assume they'll be drinking.

It's always funny to me when Americans are concerned about crime in countries with crime rates like 1/3 of the US.

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt suggest he take out too much cash. A lot of European countries (esp areas that cater to tourists) are largely electronic payment only. Encourage him to get some, and get it in denominations if he can (try at the hostel, or when buying tickets for a site). Not everyone deals with cash, and certainly may not be able to make change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ear plugs
Flip flops
[/b]Face cloth[b]

This made me laugh. Why would an older teen boy need a facecloth? But talking about cloths, I’ve been traveling everywhere with a Turkish towel, and it’s been great. Use it on the the beach as beach towel, but also can be used as regular towel, or just a cover if it’s chilly.

Meant wash cloth.
Teenage boys don’t wash their faces?

Usually there aren’t any in European accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ear plugs
Flip flops
[/b]Face cloth[b]

This made me laugh. Why would an older teen boy need a facecloth? But talking about cloths, I’ve been traveling everywhere with a Turkish towel, and it’s been great. Use it on the the beach as beach towel, but also can be used as regular towel, or just a cover if it’s chilly.

Meant wash cloth.
Teenage boys don’t wash their faces?

Usually there aren’t any in European accommodations.

Maybe they do.

[Anonymous]

Wth! You are sending your kid to Europe and you are asking theses ??

No he should be researching he should know what he needs or he should not be going.

No flaming you for not knowing flaming you for not making him take accountability

Schwab debit card with an account with

$2000 in it he us to get local
Currency when he hits the airport about $400 out of the $2000 rest stays in the account gif emergencies . It’s debit not credit

Visa card for everything wise preferably Cap one or Chase

Photos of barcode of passport on his phone
Copies of passport in his suitcase

One bag trip carry on international size

Adapter
Phone charger external one as well
Packsafe cross body bag
Pack safe backpack prefabs his luggage

If he has an iPhone with Verizon dies not need a SIM card it’s $10 a day clicks in as soon as he lands

Never ever does he take his bag off at a restaurant or bar

[Anonymous]

No need to carry any cash. Just have a credit card and phone and don’t keep them in the same place. If he needs a bit of cash for taxis etc he can take it out of any atm.

Just go over safety considerations OP. There will be thousands of others his age there too. Yes they will drink but they need to drink responsibly. They can finish their night drinking at the hostel so they are already home safe. Some hostels are party hostels, some aren’t. And to never leave a friend alone who has been drinking even if he says he is fine.

[Anonymous]

AirTag for suitcase or backpack if traveling by train (he should try to keep his suitcase near him, but if not possible, next best thing)

Phone leash to put phone on neck or wrist

Cold meds

[Anonymous]

Make a physical copy of passport, put important phone numbers on the back (yours and US embassies) and fold that up along with 2 $50 bills, put it in a ziplock baggie and stash it under the insole of his shoe.

If the absolute WORST happens and he separated from friends, or gets everything stolen, as long as he has shoes on his feet and some cash then he can at least get assistance or a ride to somewhere safe.

[Anonymous]

^ And a large carabiner for his backpack to hook it onto luggage rack in train - which is often at the end of the car. Or even to hook it onto a leg/arm of his chair in a cafe, etc.

Not a failsafe but it will help prevent a quick grab-and-go by any would-be thieves.

[Anonymous]

I'm on a FB group for parents of kids who study abroad, so this may not be a representative sample - but it is unfortunately quite common for American kids in Spain/Italy/France to have their passports, phones, and/or wallets stolen. Make sure your kid has somewhere safe to stash his valuables, especially when he's doing touristy stuff or at clubs. Also no visible jewelry. My kid studied in Asia and had no such problems but in some large European cities there are well-organized pick pocket gangs that target clueless/drunk American kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No need to carry any cash. Just have a credit card and phone and don’t keep them in the same place. If he needs a bit of cash for taxis etc he can take it out of any atm.

Just go over safety considerations OP. There will be thousands of others his age there too. Yes they will drink but they need to drink responsibly. They can finish their night drinking at the hostel so they are already home safe. Some hostels are party hostels, some aren’t. And to never leave a friend alone who has been drinking even if he says he is fine.

I disagree with this. Always carry cash - it doesn’t need to be a lot but enough to take a taxi in an emergency or pay for a meal if a card doesn’t work or if

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No need to carry any cash. Just have a credit card and phone and don’t keep them in the same place. If he needs a bit of cash for taxis etc he can take it out of any atm.

Just go over safety considerations OP. There will be thousands of others his age there too. Yes they will drink but they need to drink responsibly. They can finish their night drinking at the hostel so they are already home safe. Some hostels are party hostels, some aren’t. And to never leave a friend alone who has been drinking even if he says he is fine.

I disagree with this. Always carry cash - it doesn’t need to be a lot but enough to take a taxi in an emergency or pay for a meal if a card doesn’t work or if wallet gets stolen. Put a 100$ or euros in wallet and another in a different location to use for emergencies or if someone doesn’t accept cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No need to carry any cash. Just have a credit card and phone and don’t keep them in the same place. If he needs a bit of cash for taxis etc he can take it out of any atm.

Just go over safety considerations OP. There will be thousands of others his age there too. Yes they will drink but they need to drink responsibly. They can finish their night drinking at the hostel so they are already home safe. Some hostels are party hostels, some aren’t. And to never leave a friend alone who has been drinking even if he says he is fine.

I disagree with this. Always carry cash - it doesn’t need to be a lot but enough to take a taxi in an emergency or pay for a meal if a card doesn’t work or if wallet gets stolen. Put a 100$ or euros in wallet and another in a different location to use for emergencies or if someone doesn’t accept cash.

Yes, I agree. I was responding to the previous post that had said bring $2000 in cash. I would always take a small amount out of an atm but you don't need to carry around wads and thousands of dollars in cash.

[Anonymous]

Some great suggestions here, including band-aids and the duct tape which have both come in handy on trips in the last few years.
For band-aids the hydro colloid kind are fantastic for blisters acquired from walking much more than usual.

Also, tell him that when he using his card at an ATM or point of sale and is asked if he wants to do the charge in US dollars or Euros to go with the Euros. It is ultimately cheaper to him.

[Anonymous]

Do you think he will be going to Ukraine OP? Because I would have a different set of advice if so.