My upcoming business trip scares me because I have to go to Europe for 2 weeks. I'm visiting Munich, Prague, and Kraków. I have other co-workers going with me, but they're traveling at different times, with some of them getting there before me and some of them getting there after me. So, I'm basically traveling alone.

I've never been to Europe before, but I feel like I'm going to get lost because I don't know what I'm doing and I can only read English! Everyone is staying at different hotels too, and I have no idea where/what I'm going to eat! I'll probably end up starving to death along the way.

I have to book travel all by myself, and it's freaking me out because I don't know wtf I'm doing. All I know is I can't spend more than $1200 on flights. Who knows about hotels! Then I have to figure out the currency crap too. Prauge has weird Czech Crowns that are totally useless outside of Prauge.

My co-workers are all renting their own cars or choosing their public transportation. Well, idk where the hell I'm going! I can't do public transportation because I'm going to get lost! And if I get a car, I have to figure out which side of the road they drive on before I accidentally kill myself! It's totally going to induce mania!

Oh whoops... I forgot to mention...

I just found out about this business trip today, and I will be traveling in one month

[Anxiousvalkyrie]

I was terrified the first time I went to Europe...and I booked my own travel and went by myself. I know how scary it can be. But everything turned out just fine. Everyone in airports and everything were super helpful. A lot of people speak English, and if you get lost it's usually pretty easy to find someone that can help you, especially at hotels, train / buss stations and the like.

As for the money worries if you have a band debit card with a chip and a visa logo you can use that anywhere in Europe and not have to worry about cash. Just call or go to your bank before leaving to alert them you'll be going to Europe and what countries so they won't flag anything as unusual activity. Also ask if they charge a fee for international use. They usually do but with exchange rates and everything you don't end up paying that much extra for debit card and it's worth it not to have to deal with exchanging cash.

I've become a pro at all this since moving to Europe so if you have any other specific questions or worries I am more than happy to help toe best of my ability.

I totally know how overwhelming this can be. But things will be ok and it will be easier than you think. Hugs.

Nope, I don't have a debit card with a chip and a visa logo. Do I absolutely need one of those chip cards? I know what they are; I just don't have one. It's probably too late for me to get one, too.

I'll definitely alert my bank. I didn't think about that at all, so that was super helpful to know.

I hope people speak English, or I'm totally screwed. :/

[Anxiousvalkyrie]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Nope, I don't have a debit card with a chip and a visa logo. Do I absolutely need one of those chip cards? I know what they are; I just don't have one. It's probably too late for me to get one, too.

I'll definitely alert my bank. I didn't think about that at all, so that was super helpful to know.

I hope people speak English, or I'm totally screwed. :/

There will be plenty of English speakers, especially in hotels, conference places, public transportation hubs and very often in shops and such. Everyone in Sweden speaks English, even when I speak Swedish to people my accent gives me away and they respond in English. I didn't have any problems in Belgium or Germany either.

Some places might take debits cards without a chip but I know all European cards have the chip. Do you have a credit card? American Express and Visa are widely accepted in Europe. But should you have to use cash you can find places that do currency exchanges at all train stations and airports and usually multiple places in city centers.

[pirilin]

Enjoy your trip. Part of the fun is getting lost. Backpack full o' food.
God will be with you all the way. You're never alone.

Originally Posted by Anxiousvalkyrie

There will be plenty of English speakers, especially in hotels, conference places, public transportation hubs and very often in shops and such. Everyone in Sweden speaks English, even when I speak Swedish to people my accent gives me away and they respond in English. I didn't have any problems in Belgium or Germany either.

Some places might take debits cards without a chip but I know all European cards have the chip. Do you have a credit card? American Express and Visa are widely accepted in Europe. But should you have to use cash you can find places that do currency exchanges at all train stations and airports and usually multiple places in city centers.

Germany might be okay, but I'm concerned about the Czech Republic. I have co-workers there and their English sucks! I wonder about Poland too.

I do have a credit card. Maybe I'll see if I can get an American Express card, preferably one with a chip... but I don't know if they can get it to me in less than 1 month.

I've heard that ATMs have the lowest exchange rates. Is that true? I don't particularly care, but my company might question it.

Originally Posted by pirilin

Enjoy your trip. Part of the fun is getting lost. Backpack full o' food.
God will be with you all the way. You're never alone.

I'm probably going to bring 2 weeks worth of food

Knowing me, I'm going to accidentally order something like fried snail goo with a side of monkey meat kielbasa and sautéed frog legs that somehow look like asparagus

[Anxiousvalkyrie]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Germany might be okay, but I'm concerned about the Czech Republic. I have co-workers there and their English sucks! I wonder about Poland too.

I do have a credit card. Maybe I'll see if I can get an American Express card, preferably one with a chip... but I don't know if they can get it to me in less than 1 month.

I've heard that ATMs have the lowest exchange rates. Is that true? I don't particularly care, but my company might question it.

It will definitly be cheaper to get your cash from an ATM without a doubt. But if you need to exchange Euros for another currency when you get to the Czech Republic you'll have to go to a bank that exchanges currency. There's one called Forex Bank that does nothing but exchange currency and they're all over Europe.

I have friends from Poland and they all speak amazing English, some with a thick accent but their English is good. The Czech Republic (especially Prague) had a booming tourist industry so it's helpful for shop owners and other people who might come into contact win tourists to speak English. Most Europeans learn English as a second language from an early age and can speak at least some English, especially in big cities.

[JustJace2u]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

My upcoming business trip scares me because I have to go to Europe for 2 weeks. I'm visiting Munich, Prague, and Kraków. I have other co-workers going with me, but they're traveling at different times, with some of them getting there before me and some of them getting there after me. So, I'm basically traveling alone.

I've never been to Europe before, but I feel like I'm going to get lost because I don't know what I'm doing and I can only read English! Everyone is staying at different hotels too, and I have no idea where/what I'm going to eat! I'll probably end up starving to death along the way.

I have to book travel all by myself, and it's freaking me out because I don't know wtf I'm doing. All I know is I can't spend more than $1200 on flights. Who knows about hotels! Then I have to figure out the currency crap too. Prauge has weird Czech Crowns that are totally useless outside of Prauge.

My co-workers are all renting their own cars or choosing their public transportation. Well, idk where the hell I'm going! I can't do public transportation because I'm going to get lost! And if I get a car, I have to figure out which side of the road they drive on before I accidentally kill myself! It's totally going to induce mania!

Stuff me in your suitcase, I'll go with you! LOL!!! Seriously, I love Europe, but I totally understand the whole 'traveling alone' thing...especially going that far. That being said, at least you know there will be people waiting when you get there and you won't be the last one to arrive. If I was still working in the airline industry I would help you out as much as I could. It can definitely be a daunting task. Have you thought about going through a travel agent? Just something to think about.

I'm jealous, I want to go to Europe! Kidding aside, it does sound like you have a lot on your plate. I wish you luck in getting all the details and kinks worked out. Hopefully when all details are in place, you can begin to look forward to the trip a little. Good luck and I hope you have some fun.

Originally Posted by JustJace2u

Stuff me in your suitcase, I'll go with you! LOL!!! Seriously, I love Europe, but I totally understand the whole 'traveling alone' thing...especially going that far. That being said, at least you know there will be people waiting when you get there and you won't be the last one to arrive. If I was still working in the airline industry I would help you out as much as I could. It can definitely be a daunting task. Have you thought about going through a travel agent? Just something to think about.

My company has their own "travel agent". I have to use that one... but I have to pay for everything out of my own pocket. Then I get reimbursed afterwards.

IDK. I'm only 25 and I just graduated from school 1 year ago, so I'm new to all this "business travel" stuff. I had 1 trip already back in January, but that was within the US. No international travel.

Edit: I was supposed to travel to Prauge in March, but company budget prevented me from going. So, the other person who was supposed to go with me went by themselves. I have a lot of upcoming business trips apparently.

[Nammu]

Can you use a booking site like, Priceline or orbix to book your flight? You can get the hotel from the same place. I think they include maps of hotels....not sure I've only used them for flights. I think they do cars at the same time too. But in Europe the mass transportation is far better there than USA.

Never mind...I just saw your reply that your company has their own travel agent. That agent should be able to help you get a hotel close to where you need to be and provide maps( if they still do that in this day and age.

[hopeless2015]

I would be screwed because there is no way I could pay for this out of pocket

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[raspberrytorte]

Don't worry. You'll be okay.

I'd be freaking out to though, if it makes you feel better. I wouldn't want to go. I'm probably the only person in the entire world who doesn't want to go to Europe.

[polesapart]

Travel is what I do!

These are my thoughts regarding how to make it easier...

1) If you have to use your company travel agent then make use of them. They should be able to find and book your flights, together with your hotels. Ask them questions, tour agents are a mine of information and they've heard it all before. Don't be shy.

2) There are great travel forums out there who can help with specific 'how to get to x on public transport' questions. Plus all of these countries use the same alphabet as us, so even if you can't pronounce where you are going, you'll be able to read and write it down. Locals are generally very happy to help a lost tourist to where they are going. If you go for the car option, then they drive on the right so if you're from America no issues. I wouldn't recommend a car for Prague though. They have trams all over the city, and it's confusing as anything trying to figure out who has right of way. The city centre is also very small and easily walkable.

3) I've been to all of those cities and they all have plenty of tourist orientated restaurants which will have English menus, no need to starve.

4) If you have free time whilst you're away maybe try and find something that interests you in each city so you've got something to look forward to. For example the salt mines in Krakow are absolutely amazing. Trust me, it's a lot better than 'salt mines' sounds.

Originally Posted by polesapart

Travel is what I do!

These are my thoughts regarding how to make it easier...

1) If you have to use your company travel agent then make use of them. They should be able to find and book your flights, together with your hotels. Ask them questions, tour agents are a mine of information and they've heard it all before. Don't be shy.

2) There are great travel forums out there who can help with specific 'how to get to x on public transport' questions. Plus all of these countries use the same alphabet as us, so even if you can't pronounce where you are going, you'll be able to read and write it down. Locals are generally very happy to help a lost tourist to where they are going. If you go for the car option, then they drive on the right so if you're from America no issues. I wouldn't recommend a car for Prague though. They have trams all over the city, and it's confusing as anything trying to figure out who has right of way. The city centre is also very small and easily walkable.

3) I've been to all of those cities and they all have plenty of tourist orientated restaurants which will have English menus, no need to starve.

4) If you have free time whilst you're away maybe try and find something that interests you in each city so you've got something to look forward to. For example the salt mines in Krakow are absolutely amazing. Trust me, it's a lot better than 'salt mines' sounds.

Thanks

I hope there is "American" food because I'm a picky eater. Hell, I'd be fine with pizza everyday if that's what ends up happening, as long as it's not nasty pizza. I don't eat steak, pork, duck, etc either. The only meat I eat is chicken.

I'll try to find something interesting to do, although my schedule is pretty packed and I don't know how many hotel nights I can get. It's pretty much 8am-6pm everyday. I'm traveling on the weekend from Munich to Prague, so consider my Saturday gone. I only have Sunday and that's it, and that'll be in Prague. No time in Kraków.