while you're traveling
The practical things that come up once you’re on the ground. This section is designed for quick reference . Pull it up on your phone when you need it.
Your First 24 Hours-Arriving Well
The first day in a new place comes with a surreal, slightly disoriented buzz; the sense of being somewhere completely different, where your body and mind are still catching up to the fact that you’ve truly arrived. Your itinerary is designed with this in mind. The opening day is intentionally paced to ease you in rather than launch you into a packed schedule.
Managing Jet Lag
Transatlantic flights typically arrive in the morning, which means you’ve been awake (or half-awake) through the night. The instinct is to nap immediately. Resist it if you can. Instead, get outside into natural light as early as possible. it’s the single most effective way to reset your internal clock. Eat a light meal on local time. Stay active, but don’t push yourself. If you absolutely need to rest, keep it to 20–30 minutes before mid-afternoon, then push through to a reasonable local bedtime.
If Your Room Isn't Ready
Most European hotels set check-in between 2:00 and 4:00 PM. If you arrive earlier, the front desk will hold your luggage. Drop your bags, change if you need to, and step outside. Some of the best travel moments happen in those first unstructured hours; a café you discover by accident, a neighborhood that surprises you, the slow realization that you’re actually here.
Your First Meal
Don’t chase a major dining experience on your first night. You’re tired, your palate is adjusting, and the best restaurants deserve you at your best. Keep it simple; a neighborhood trattoria, a brasserie, a tapas bar. Something low-key and local. The designed dining experiences begin when you’re rested and ready.
A Note on Pace
Your first day isn’t about productivity. It’s about arrival in the fullest sense. Let yourself adjust. Walk without a destination. Notice things. The itinerary I’ve designed accounts for this transition, so you don’t need to feel behind. You’re exactly where you should be.
Currency & Credit Cards
Credit cards are widely accepted across Western Europe, and many restaurants, shops, and transportation systems are increasingly card-only. A chip-enabled card with no foreign transaction fees is your best everyday payment method.
Notify your bank and credit card companies before you leave. A sudden charge from Rome can trigger a fraud hold that’s inconvenient to resolve from abroad. Most banks let you set travel notifications through their app in under a minute.
ATMs are the best way to get local currency when you need cash. Use bank-affiliated ATMs rather than independent ones in tourist areas, and decline the “convert to USD” option at the terminal, this is called dynamic currency conversion and it always costs you more.
Avoid currency exchange counters at airports and tourist zones. The rates are poor and the fees are high. If you want to arrive with a small amount of euros for immediate expenses, your bank can order foreign currency in advance, or you can withdraw from an ATM on arrival.
Accommodation Taxes
Many destinations charge a tourist or accommodation tax per person, per night. It’s typically collected at the hotel during check-in or checkout and is usually not included in your room rate.
This is especially common across European cities, where the tax typically ranges from €1 to €7 per person per night depending on the city and hotel category.
Similar taxes exist in parts of Asia, the Caribbean, and some U.S. cities. The amount is rarely significant, but it’s worth knowing about so it doesn’t catch you off guard. Some locations require cash payment for this tax.
Tipping Customs
Tipping culture varies widely around the world, and what feels normal at home may be unnecessary, generous, or even awkward elsewhere.
In most of Europe, service is included in the bill, and tipping is a gesture of appreciation rather than an obligation.
Rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service is common. In many countries, you hand the tip directly to the server or tell them the total you’d like to pay rather than leaving cash on the table.
In other regions, customs differ significantly. Tipping is not expected in Japan and can even be considered rude. In parts of Southeast Asia and Latin America, a small tip is appreciated but not assumed. In the Middle East, service charges are often built in, with small additional tips for exceptional service.
Travel Advisories
The U.S. State Department maintains travel advisories for every country, rated from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) through Level 4 (do not travel). Checking the advisory for your destination countries before departure takes a moment and gives you useful context.
I monitor advisories as part of the design process and will flag anything that requires attention, but having the link on hand gives you direct access if conditions change during your trip.
Emergency Contacts
Your trip-specific emergency contacts, including local emergency numbers, your hotel contacts, your guide contacts, and the nearest U.S. embassy for each destination are in your itinerary in Tern.
As a general reference: emergency numbers vary by country. In the European Union, 112 is the universal emergency number. In the UK, it’s 999. In Japan, 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance.
In most Latin American countries, 911 works. Your itinerary will include the specific numbers for each country on your route.
My contact information is also in your itinerary. If something comes up while you’re traveling, reach me through WhatsApp or the Tern messaging system.