Eurotravel Planner

Section: Communications

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Admittedly, I don't do a ton of it when I'm in Europe, but certainly there is something to be said about chit-chat and communications. Generally, they fall into three types. First, you'll want to call or write home to ensure your loved ones are completely jealous, no matter that you forget to mention the rain pissing down and your car being stolen. Second, you'll want to communicate with hotels and ensure your reservations, or make reservations if you are traveling on the fly. Finally, you'll want to email a few co-workers and you'll say it's to get a few critical things done, but mostly it's the jealousy factor again.

E-mail
There are Internet cyber cafés all around Europe, most guide books will list one nearby, or pick them out before you leave via websites such as cybercaptive.com or www.cybercafe.com. I use these cafés often to catch up on email and just to take a breather, relax, and recharge with a cappuccino while I'm at it.

Sign up for a free web-based email account such as Hotmail or Yahoo just for the trip (or visit www.fepg.net for a list of free email account providers), and you are guaranteed to be able to keep everyone up to speed on your wonderful life.

You'll also want to consider emailing any itinerary changes to some responsible person back home in case of emergencies.

It's fun to stay in touch with the homeland and it keeps the phone bills down. In fact, I don't bother calling home from Europe unless I'm gone for more than a couple of weeks.

Phone
I see using the phone as expensive, of course, but also as a time-waster and aggravation. If you're calling home from Europe, you have to arrange a time and try not to be busy at that time. Otherwise you spend all that time and money to get an answering machine or a grumpy person you just woke from a sound sleep.

One reason to use a phone is for on-the-go hotel reservations. I simply buy a small phone card, available at news kiosks and smoke shops, and call a day or two in advance. Even in high summer, you shouldn't need much more notice unless there's a major event (e.g. Oktoberfest, Water Festival, People's Fair, etc.).

Postcards
I prefer e-mail over the phone and postcards. However, postcards add something fun, interesting, and permanent to your travels. Great for sealing memories on paper, postcards are another way to manage homesickness when you start wishing for a decent hotel bed or the voice of a good friend. The act of writing can be a wonderful cathartic activity and another connection to home.

Buy postcards as you go along from city to city. When you've figured out something interesting to share, pull them out and write. Use the time to relax on trains or in your hotel room, or at a café along the canals of Venice!

Consider coming up with some witty material in advance. It saves having to think too much when you write the cards, and everyone gets a fun reminder that says more than "wish you were here."

Here's one I wrote after time in Italia:

The Crusades introduced the "Quest" concept to Europe around AD 1193.
I am honored to continue this proud heritage.
Italia has proven fertile ground and in this spirit I initiated 3 EuroQuests.

Thus, I have journeyed to Farmacias across the country, I recently
completed my mission to find a nice writing pen, and
I've begun the seemingly eternal quest for a good toilet. I am EuroBilFish!

Ciao from the Italian Riviera.

If you're on a long trip (maybe a month or more) consider a series of postcards, maybe with a common theme. They keep everyone interested and get people excited to get the next one in a couple of weeks.

From experience, sending cards from Switzerland means they'll beat you home. From Italia, reverse that.

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