Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

however, you should be aware that you will need to convert once you leave. Countries outside the eurozone in the European Union are Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. For an up-to-date list, check a currency converter (such as www.xe.com).

      GETTING MONEY FROM HOME

      Things happen and, if they do, you might need money. The easiest and cheapest solution to get you out of a pinch is to have someone back home make a deposit to your bank account directly. If this isn’t possible, consider one of the following options:

       Wiring Money

      Arranging a bank money transfer means asking a bank back home to wire money to a bank wherever you are. This is the cheapest way to transfer cash, but it’s also a slow process, taking several days. Note that some banks may only release your funds in local currency, potentially sticking you with a poor exchange rate; you should inquire about this in advance.

      Money transfer services like Western Union are faster and more convenient than bank transfers—but also much pricier. Western Union has many locations worldwide. To find one, visit www.westernunion.com or call the appropriate number:

      • Australia: 1800 173 833

      • Canada: 800 235 0000

      • UK: 0808 234 9168

      • US: 800 325 6000

      • France: 08 00 90 01 91

      Money transfer services are also available to American Express cardholders and at selected Thomas Cook offices.

       US State Department (US Citizens Only)

      In serious emergencies only, the US State Department will help your family or friends forward money within hours to the nearest consular office, which will then disburse it according to instructions for a $30 fee. If you wish to use this service, you must contact the Overseas Citizens Services division of the US State Department ([phone] or, from the US, 888 407 4747)

      WITHDRAWING MONEY WHILE ABROAD

      ATMs are readily available throughout Europe, excluding some rural areas, so you should also check ahead of time if you will be able to withdraw money in a given country. To use a debit or credit card to withdraw money from a cash machine (ATM) in Europe, you must have a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN). If your PIN is longer than four digits, ask your bank whether you can just use the first four digits or whether you’ll need a new one. If your PIN includes a 0, you may need to make a new PIN, as some ATM machines in Europe do not have that key.

      Travelers with alphabetical rather than numerical PINs may also be thrown off by the absence of letters on European cash machines. Here are the corresponding numbers to use:

      • QZ = 1

      • ABC = 2

      • DEF = 3

      • GHI = 4

      • JKL = 5

      • MNO = 6

      • PRS = 7

      • TUV = 8

      • WXY = 9

      It is also important to note that if you mistakenly punch the wrong code into the machine multiple (often three) times, it can swallow up your card for good. Credit cards do not usually come with PINs, so if you intend to use ATMs in Europe with a credit card to get cash advances, call your credit card company before leaving to request one.

      DEBIT AND CREDIT CARD FRAUD

      If you check your account and notice that money has been stolen or is missing, you should call your bank immediately to remedy the situation and file a claim for the missing money. Many credit card companies have similar help lines and some online applications will allow you to automatically freeze your account. For this reason, we recommend that you always have some form of hard cash on you at all times.

      TIPPING

      Unlike in the United States, Europe does not have some unwritten universal tipping code of conduct. No one in the world tips like Americans, so tipping might just be a giveaway that you are a tourist. Although you are not required to tip, you can still leave one; even just 10% will seem quite generous.

      TAXES

      Members of the EU have a value-added tax (VAT) of varying percentages. It is most often between 19-21%. Non-EU citizens have the opportunity to be refunded this tax if you are taking these goods home. When shopping, make sure to ask for a VAT refund form that you can present with the goods and receipts at customs upon departure. Note: you must have the goods with you in order to be refunded.

       GETTING AROUND

      BY PLANE

       Commercial Airlines

      For small-scale travel on the continent, Let’s Go suggests budget airlines for budget travelers, but more traditional carriers have begun to offer competitive deals. We recommend searching on www.cheapflights.com for the most affordable flights to Europe. You should look to book flights months in advance.

       Budget Airlines

      No-frills airlines make hopscotching around Europe by air remarkably affordable, as long as you avoid their rip-off fees. The following airlines will be useful for traveling across the pond and hopping from country to country:

      • EasyJet: www.easyjet.com

      • Eurowings: www.eurowings.com

      • Iceland Air: www.icelandair.com

      • Norwegian: www.norwegian.com

      • Ryanair: www.ryanair.com

      • Pegasus: www.flypgs.com

      • Transavia: www.transavia.com

      • Wizz Air: www.wizzair.com

      BY TRAIN

      European trains are generally comfortable, convenient, and reasonably swift. You should always make sure you are in the correct car, as sometimes trains split midway through route to dock at different destinations. Towns in parentheses on European train schedules require a train switch at the town listed immediately before the parentheses.

      You can either buy a railpass, which, for a high price, allows you unlimited, flexible travel within a particular region for a given period of time, or buy individual point-to-point tickets as you go. Almost all countries give students or youths (under 26, usually) direct discounts on regular domestic rail tickets and many also sell a student or youth card that provides 20-50% off all fares for up to a year. Tickets can be bought at stations, but most Western European countries offer big discounts to travelers booking online in advance.

      Check out the following sites to get discounts on train tickets and book trips in advance:

      • www.raileurope.com

      • www.railsaver.com

      • www.rome2rio.com

      BY BUS

      Although train travel is much more comfortable, it may