This week has been crazy (per usual), especially with my moving families on Thursday. Then, on Friday, i'm off to their winter house in Bardonecchia for a weekend in the alps. I love Bardonecchia and i've already been snowboarding there before. It's where the 2006 Winter Olympics were held. It will be a wonderful chance to relax for a few days and to finish up the latest novel i'm reading (The Age of Innocence- love it!).
This week, I've been thinking about some things I wish I had done before I left the country that would have made my life a whole lot easier and I wanted to share some suggestions with all of my readers.
1. Get Your Phone Unlocked
Using a local plan is much more cost effective than using an international plan through your home provider. For as low as 10 euros a month, you can have unlimited internet and a basic Europe-based phone plan... but only if you get your phone unlocked.
For most providers, this just means either calling the global service number or contacting the provider using the online chat feature and requesting a phone unlock. Don't wait until you've already left the country to do it! You'll save yourself hours of line transfers and tons of money on international rates if you take five minutes to do it before you depart on your adventure!
To talk to others outside of Europe, use whatsapp (see below), facebook, and calling services such as Skype and Google phone calls that offer the lowest rates on international calling. Using an international plan saves you from insane data roaming charges.
2. Purchase an Adapter
Most Europeans won't understand you the first time you ask them if they know what an adapter is, and most won't know where to purchase one. While these can be purchased tin most hardware stores in Europe, the options are more limited and thus more expensive (especially with the currency exchange rate).
Go ahead and swing by a local supermarket or browse on Amazon and purchase one that converts to European standards. Make sure the voltage can support your electronics so you don't blow a fuse (or worse- ruin your favorite straightener!).
3. Let Your Bank Know You'll Be Abroad
Go ahead and write a note online on your bank account or inform your local branch that you'll be abroad, where you'll be, and for how long. That way, you avoid unnecessary and frustrating holds that can be placed on your account if your bank suspects suspicious activity.
This also helps you in the instance of actual fraud; I actually was overcharged by $200 by an ATM in Budapest, and when I called my bank they were much more willing to help because they knew I was already overseas and informed me that fraud was common in that area.
Your bank may also be able to let you know where you can get the best exchange rate or which ATMs will give you the lowest service charges.
4. Get Addresses From All Friends and Family (for postcards and mail of course!)
There is nothing more fun than sending your friends and family postcards from all the fun places you've visited, and nothing more exciting from receiving handwritten letters back! One of my friends actually left for the northern part of the EU at the same time as I did, and we agreed to be pen pals. It's fun to get mail aside from things you purchase while online shopping (ahem- I do this too often), and it's even more fun to write back and to have letters to document your trip.
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| Writing a quick letter to my friend who's studying abroad! |
5. Download Whatsapp and Tell Your Friends to Get It!
No matter what phone plan you have, or where you are in the world, this is the most useful application you can and will ever download. Unlimited texting, internationally... for free. Need I say more?
Even the representatives and sales associates at the phone stores in Italy recommended it to me.
I waited until I got here to tell my friends to get it, but it's more convenient if you let friends and family know to download it prior to your departure. Make sure you include a "+" and the country's code before the phone number and area code or it may not work.
Oh, did I mention that it's unlimited and free?
Have a great weekend and safe travels (for those of you who are traveling soon)!
A Presto,
Morgan
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