The European Travel Mistakes We’ll Never Make Again!
Look, we’ve been to Europe a lot.
We’ve made the mistakes. We’ve paid the stupid fees. We’ve hauled luggage across cobblestones. We’ve booked the wrong hotel. We’ve overpacked. We’ve been exhausted. We’ve eaten meals that absolutely were not worth the money.
We’ve learned.
And then, because apparently we enjoy making things difficult for ourselves, we still make mistakes and learn from those, too.
It’s a vicious cycle.
But after all the trips, the missed trains, the questionable hotel decisions, the sore feet, and the “well…that was a terrible idea” moments, we’ve figured out a few things that make traveling through Europe a whole lot easier.
So here are some of the mistakes we’ve made—and the lessons we wish someone had told us sooner.
1. We Don’t Book the Cheapest Flight Just Because It’s Cheap
We love a good travel deal.
But cheap airfare doesn’t always mean cheap travel.
We’ve learned that a $400 flight isn’t necessarily a bargain if it comes with:
A 9-hour layover
Changing airports
Paying extra for checked luggage
Arriving at midnight
A 6 a.m. departure
Three connections
An airport that’s nowhere near where you’re actually going
We’ve done enough traveling to know that sometimes it’s worth spending a little more to save yourself hours of misery.
Get yourself to a major European hub first.
Think: London. Rome. Paris. Amsterdam. Frankfurt. Istanbul.
These major airports can be fantastic starting points for a European adventure. Once you’re there, getting around Europe can be surprisingly inexpensive, especially if you’re willing to compare airlines, trains and routes.
And one of our favorite strategies?
Fly overnight.
Leave the United States in the evening, sleep—or at least attempt to sleep—on the plane, and arrive in Europe in the morning.
You’re tired, but congratulations: you’re tired in Europe. That is somehow better.
We’ll take it.
2. We Don’t Pack for the Fantasy Version of Ourselves
This one took us a while to learn.
You don’t need:
Seven pairs of shoes
An outfit for every possible Instagram scenario
A giant toiletry bag
Five jackets
Enough clothes to survive the apocalypse
Because eventually you’re going to be standing on a train platform trying to drag a suitcase while wondering why the hell you thought four pairs of boots were necessary.
And don’t forget the airline baggage fees.
That adorable little outfit you packed for “just in case” can end up costing you another $75, $100 or more before you even arrive.
Our philosophy is simple:
Pack light.
You’re going to Europe.
You can wear things more than once.
You can do laundry.
And let’s be honest…
You’re probably going shopping anyway.
Leave room in that suitcase.
Unless you're trying to find a European significant other, you don't need to look your best. Literally no one cares.
3. We Don’t Stay 45 Minutes Outside the City to Save $75
This is a big one, especially for first-time European travelers.
Sometimes the “cheap” hotel isn’t actually cheap.
Now, you know us. We’re a little bougie when it comes to travel. We like nice hotels, great restaurants and a good location.
But that doesn’t mean we spend a fortune on every hotel.
What we’ve learned is that location matters. A lot.
If you’re spending:
€30–€50 on transportation every day
45 minutes commuting each way
An hour or more of your vacation getting back and forth
Your evenings worrying about catching the last train or bus
…you didn’t really save money.
You just paid for the hotel in a different way.
So here’s what we recommend:
Before you book a hotel, research the best area to stay in that particular city.
Use Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, travel blogs, Google and, yes, even ChatGPT.
Search things like:
“Best area to stay in Rome for first-time visitors.”
“Best neighborhood to stay in London for Christmas markets.”
“Best area to stay in Paris for restaurants and shopping.”
Once you know the ideal area, start looking at hotels within that area.
Most major hotel booking websites have maps, so you can see exactly where the hotel is located.
Because we’d rather pay a little more for a great location than spend our vacation commuting.
4. We Don’t Underestimate Cobblestones
Europe looks adorable in pictures.
The little streets.
The historic buildings.
The charming alleyways.
The beautiful old city centers.
And then you arrive with a suitcase.
Those cute little cobblestone streets are absolute murder on luggage wheels.
Dragging a heavy suitcase over uneven streets, up stairs and through train stations will have you questioning every decision that led you there.
We’ve learned to travel as light as possible—and we’re also big fans of a good travel backpack.
Especially on travel days.
If you’re going to be navigating trains, cobblestones and stairs, being able to put your essentials on your back instead of dragging everything behind you can be a lifesaver.
Your luggage will thank you.
Your shoulders might not.
But at least your suitcase won’t be fighting for its life.
5. We Don’t Wing Dinner Reservations Anymore
If you’re traveling to places like Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, or the Amalfi Coast, don’t assume you’ll just walk into the restaurant you’ve been dying to try.
You might.
But you might also end up eating somewhere that looks like it was specifically designed to catch hungry tourists.
And we’ve done that.
Too many times.
Todd and I make a point of researching restaurants in every city we visit. One of the things we love most about traveling is trying the local food, so we don’t want to leave that part of the trip to chance.
We’ll look at recommendations on social media, travel blogs, Google and other travelers’ experiences, and then we’ll make reservations for the restaurants we really want to try.
We like to think of our restaurants in three categories:
Must Have
The restaurant we absolutely want to experience.
Would Love
Our second choice if the first one is booked.
We’re Hungry
Whatever looks good when we’re wandering around.
That way, we have a plan without scheduling every single meal.
Because nothing kills the excitement of a romantic European evening quite like:
“Fine. We’re eating pizza at the train station.”
We’ve done this way too many times.
And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with pizza at a train station when you’re starving, it isn’t exactly the European culinary experience we had in mind.
One of the best things about traveling is getting to immerse yourself in the culture.
Eat the local food. Sit outside. Order the wine. Take your time.
Don’t let poor planning rob you of one of the best parts of Europe.
Also, don't eat at the restaurants that post a ton of pictures outside on the street or if someone from the restaurant is trying to lure you in. That is just them trying to hunt down tourists that don't know any better. The food is garbage. Keep walking. Try a side street.
6. We Don’t Forget the VAT Refund
If you love to shop, pay attention to this one.
VAT stands for Value Added Tax, and depending on the country, retailer and purchase, visitors from outside the European Union may be eligible to reclaim some of the VAT they’ve paid on qualifying purchases.
And before you start shopping, learn the rules.
BEFORE. YOU. START. SPENDING.
The process varies depending on where you’re shopping, so make sure you understand the current requirements for the countries you’ll be visiting.
Because nothing hurts more than finding out you could have gotten hundreds of dollars back after you’ve already left the country.
We’ve personally gotten hundreds of dollars back through VAT refunds.
And let us tell you…
It is amazing.
Especially when you’re already doing what we do best:
shopping irresponsibly.
Always scope out where the VAT kiosk is at the airport. Give yourself extra time.
You will need your passport if you want to get the VAT refund when you shop.
Ask the store associates. They know the process. They do this all day long.
7. We Don’t Forget About Jet Lag
You just flew across an ocean.
You’re going to be tired.
Really tired.
But one of the worst things you can do is arrive in Europe and immediately take a four-hour nap.
Trust us.
Instead:
Get outside.
Walk.
Get some sunlight.
Drink water.
Stay awake until a reasonable local bedtime.
Your body needs a little help figuring out that it is no longer operating on USA time.
And accept that you’re probably going to be exhausted.
You’re not failing at Europe. You’re jet-lagged.
Give yourself some grace.
And if you can, allow yourself to sleep in a little the next morning. You’re not trying to win an award for who can function on the least amount of sleep.
You’re on vacation.
You’ll catch up.
8. We Don’t Schedule Every Minute
This might be one of the biggest lessons we’ve learned.
You need some:
“Let’s just wander” time.
Not every minute of your trip needs to have a destination.
Some of the best European experiences happen when you don’t have a reservation.
A little alley you weren’t planning to explore.
A random wine bar.
A beautiful piazza.
A bakery you weren’t planning to visit.
A tiny shop.
A street musician.
A gorgeous building you happened to walk past.
Those are the moments you remember.
So yes, make your reservations.
Buy your tickets.
Plan your must-see attractions.
But leave some room for nothing.
Because sometimes nothing is where the magic happens.
9. We Don’t Wear Cute Shoes That Hate Us
Nuff said.
Your shoes need to be cute AND functional.
Because Europe doesn’t care about your outfit.
Europe will happily give you:
18,000 steps.
Stairs.
Cobblestones.
Hills.
Train platforms.
More stairs.
And then, just when you think you’re done for the day, your hotel is somehow another 12 minutes away.
Your feet will eventually win the argument.
So bring the cute shoes.
Just make sure they don’t hate you.
10. We Don’t Assume Every European Trip Has to Be “Luxury”
Here’s another thing we’ve learned:
You don’t have to spend $1,000 a night to have an amazing European vacation.
Spend your money where it matters to you.
Maybe that’s:
A great hotel location
One incredible dinner
Business class on the long-haul flight
A shopping splurge
A bucket-list experience
A beautiful hotel for a special occasion
And save money somewhere else.
When we went to London at Christmas, we knew we were going to spend a lot of money shopping.
So we made a decision.
Instead of spending a fortune on the hotel, we stayed at a Premier Inn, a much more budget-friendly option.
Why?
Because we’d rather put that money toward the things we were actually excited about.
And that’s really the point.
Luxury doesn’t have to mean spending the most money.
It means spending your money on the things that make your trip feel special.
We’ve Made the Mistakes So You Don’t Have To
Although, let’s be honest…
We’ll probably make a few more.
Because that’s the thing about traveling.
Sometimes the best stories start with:
“Well… that didn’t go as planned.”
The missed train.
The questionable hotel.
The restaurant that looked much better on TikTok.
The suitcase wheel that finally gave up.
The shoes that seemed like a good idea at the time.
Those are the stories you’ll laugh about later.
And honestly?
That’s part of the fun.
We’ve learned a lot from our travels, but we’re still learning every time we go somewhere new.
So pack light.
Book the important things.
Leave room to wander.
Eat the good food.
Buy the thing you’ve been eyeing.
And don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase.
Because around here…
We pack light. Drink heavily. Shop irresponsibly.
And we’ll see you in Europe.
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