Essential Tips for Traveling to Europe: thoughts from our honeymoon travels.

Cycling by the Mediterranean: Exploring scenic views on an e-bike adventure.

Plan ahead. Book flights 9-12 months in advance, the flights are far cheaper. Ideally fly in and out of the same city, these are usually the most discounted flights. At the very least, book a return flight with the same carrier.

Definitely do a stopover - Singapore is ideal. Your body will thank you.

Use AI, such as ChatGPT or CoPilot to assist in generating travel ideas and itineraries. My wife uses TikTok for this, seems to also work.  

E-sims have changed the game. Fly in, switch your phone on and you are instantly connected. No more fumbling around with overpriced physical travel sims.

City to city. Travel via rail. The railway stations are centrally located, saving you hours and are hassle free compared with air travel. If you are doing longer hauls, air travel should be considered.

Learn some simple phrases in the local language. Or in my case marry someone that speaks multiple languages.

Always opt for breakfast included. Makes the morning easy, and ensures you're refuelled for the day. If you want to save money, buy fruit, muesli and yogurt from your local grocery shop to have in your hotel room.

When selecting restaurants, google reviews are your best friend. Opt for 4 stars and above with hundreds or thousands of reviews, it will be a safe bet.

If the weather permits, and it's less than five kilometres away, walk. You will see and experience more and will increase your appetite for the local food. You may even shed some weight.

Consider e-bikes. Rests your legs from all the walking. You can see and cover more distance in shorter periods of time. Beneficial for exploring nature reserves and national parks that are inaccessible by Uber or taxis.

Don't ever accept the conversion rates while using ATM's. Charge in the local currency and pay the Mastercard/Visa conversion rate. Ensure in this global era, you bank with no international transaction fees. If not, strongly consider moving bank.

Always carry a small amount of local currency. You don't want to be caught not being able to pay to use a toilet. Carry some wipes and hand sanitiser, this will also provide some additional comfort.

Shoes. Comfort over fashion. Actually, fashion is massive in Europe. Search high and low for the comfiest fashionable shoes you can find!

Ideally be fit and healthy - it should be a way of life. You never know whether Google is going to take you on a mountainous goat track through the Cinque Terre national park to the next village or not.

The Financial Poet.