Are You Planning An Overseas Trip For The First Time?

One of my best friends is going overseas for the first time. And, not only is she going overseas for the first time, but she’s going for a month over the summer. I have a few concerns and have already sat down to pre-plan her itinerary. An itinerary that includes a ridiculous Lady Gaga concert in Paris and a whirlwind trek to every European country and an excursion through the Greek islands. While I’m not sure that she’ll actually get to see anything while on this whirlwind trip, I am certain of the costs and regrets she may have upon her return.

I cannot tell you how often United States Americans come up with these overwhelming plans. They might as well climb Mount Everest while they’re at it and save the whales.

Please remember that Europe is a continent, and while geographically smaller than the United States, it’s kind of silly to see several countries in such a short time span and with such little funds; if you were a foreigner to North America and were planning to visit for the first time, do you think it’s a good idea to see the United States, Canada, Mexico and perhaps make a stop in the Florida keys? While one can argue that Rail Europe provides an excellent train system to see most of the European continent possible, consider how much this rail endeavor will ultimately cost you, and more importantly, consider that Rail Europe is a consortium, which does not include every privately-owned or commuter train in Europe, seat reservations, nor does it include metro stations for inner-city transportation, buses, boats, ferries and rental cars for the countryside. Long story short, things get real expensive, real fast.

And speaking of expenses, have you taken a look at the fluctuating Euro lately? While $5,000 sounds like a ton of money, today it’s only worth Euro 3,694.04, and even less in Great Britain, GBP 3,328.78. Now, that’s not even considering how strong or weak the dollar will be when you finally do take off this summer.

But, the currency exchange and trek from country to country isn’t the only thing to think about in terms of spending. Think about the season you plan to travel in. Summer is Europe’s busiest season, so, as a tourist, you can expect to see eye-gouging prices from hotels, to food, to shopping, sightseeing, museums, hostels, etc. That’s right, you still have to figure out where you’re staying every night and how the hell you’re going to pay your way. If you’re a pretty girl, expect more freebies. But, if you’re a pretty girl traveling with other guys (which I recommend for safety), good luck getting any discounts.

Additionally, not only should you reconsider your budget and travel season, but perhaps you should reconsider your length of stay and the destinations you’re traveling to, as well as the language barrier. A trip to Greece stands on its own as it’s not only tricky and expensive to get in and out of the islands but there's also so much to see—too many ruins, archaeological treasures and beautiful beaches. And, what languages are you going overseas armed with?

My friend Amanda just returned from abroad and was surprised at how little English was spoken in Italy and, "even at my five-star hotel in Rome," she said.

I think it’s a great idea to see the world, but I think it’s an even better idea to be realistic about that world. And, for some reason, Americans travel overseas, like they're never traveling again: a honeymoon in New Zealand turns into four weeks of kayaking, biking, taking a helicopter to the top of a glacier, roaming a volcano and a final "jaunt" to Figi. Andrew Zimmern and Samantha Brown have a successful network funding their excursions, but you do not.

It’s okay to begin your travels by crawling instead of running, and I promise, you’ll get that much more from your trip as a result, and perhaps have enough money to go on another trip this lifetime. Back in the day only the rich could go to Europe and there's a reason why. Just because student loans, credit cards and the equity in your first home can pay for a trip doesn't mean it should.