First time abroad. Have I got everything?

[WillTheRealDeanGaffneyPleaseStandUp]

As above. First time abroad.
Me and my 15yr old. Travelling by Eurostar and local trains to s few countries.

I have -
Passports!
Proper insurance
ECHI card
I've worked out what bank card to use
I've got some euros
Travel is sorted
Accommodation is sorted
I've prebooked some of the popular/must do activities
I'm as sure as I can be that my phone will work.

I'm quite nervous. Have I forgotten anything obvious?

Also general advice, there are guys who hang around outsids the entrance/exit to Gare du Nord offering to call you taxis or to guide you to the Eurostar teminal or the Metro. Ignore them, they are scammers

Second the scarf advice - you can wet it and wear round your neck to cool down during the day. Also maybe download Flixbus app - it got us from Turin to Lyons when train was cancelled due to flooded tunnel,

Powerbank
Chargers
Adaptor plug
Essential meds.

There will be shops in Europe.... (assuming that's your overall destination due to Eurostar!)

Have a terrific time.

Earplugs
Couple of cable ties
Euro coins for trolleys

When you have Wi-Fi, download a Google map, of the place that you are visiting next, to your phone. That way you can view the map, even if there isn't a signal. Delete the map once the you have visited the place, as it takes up a lot of your phone storage.

Edit. Should say, save to your phone.

Oh ear plugs are a good shout. I use mine on the Eurostar as my ears pop a bit when we are coming up from the deepest part of the tunnel.

Some cheap headphones are a good idea as well. I listen to podcasts on long train journeys or if I can't sleep.

Small bottle of hand sanitiser in your bag is a good idea as well, water and soap in train toilets can be a bit erratic (including on Eurostar).

Nah you sound good to go, have a bloody wonderful time!
Also, remember that anything that has been forgotten can probably be bought elsewhere if it’s important enough. I pack very lightly to go anywhere abroad and have never come unstuck.

Also if yoiur suitcases are pretty ordinary it might be a good idea to pop on a recognisable luggage tag with your name. Generally larger bags go at the end of each train carriage. I have always found that safe but a colourful tag just helps it be clear it is yours and help you to identify it quickly as sometimes you don't have a lot of time to get off the train, especially if you are on the top deck!

Mosquito repellent because European mozzies are fierce, especially the Belgian ones.

Make sure you know how roaming works if it’s not on your data package.
Adaptors.
I like to print out tickets/train tickets/passes and keep them in a folder in case I have no charge, phone gets nicked.
Boarding passes.
insect reorllent
Plenty of sun cream - expensive in EU.
Global money card.

Kindle rather than books. Also Kindle Unlimited subscription (£10/month approx) offers a lot of Lonely Planet type guide books to download. Plus loads and loads of fiction options.

WHAT??? I hope you're kidding me but I have a feeling you're not! I'll be in Belgium in August. Should I cancel, being the tastiest body on the planet for these flying buggers. 😊I'll have to bring/buy Deet then won't I and smell like a sewer for my holiday....

Also have all passes, photos etc in both Apple/Google accounts and know your password so you can log in on either phone. Will be invaluable if one of your phones is lost.

Download the apps for the train companies/national rail services that you're using and understand the settings etc, eg turn off the tram and bus options if you're only using trains. Google maps can be confusing but the apps will be better and do things like live track departures.

A Kindle if you like reading and decent reusable plastic cutlery. I hate eating with wooden ones.

Definitely look at seat61.com, it explains how to get best value out of public transport. I recently went to a European country where we had to use a few trains in one day so it had a link to a day pass where you could go on any train in the entire country for one relatively low price with an even lower price for 2nd etc people in the same group. It made it very easy because we could just get on any train except the proper high speed ones without booking or worrying about the cost.

Good luck and have a great time.

An rfid thingy to prevent bank card being scammed in busy places/public transport

Pickpockets are everywhere, especially Paris and Rome, make sure your passport,wallet and phone aren't there for the taking, so never in your back pocket or sat in an open bag.

In Paris pickpockets are rife, especially on the Metro. Groups of young girls especially and they are very, very good. Don’t stand near the doors. Don’t take your passports or valuables out with you - leave in hotel safe.
Importantly, always validate your ticket on trams & trains - the fines are huge and there are as many inspectors as there are pickpockets.

Thanks everyone!

I can't believe I forgot adapters! They are winging their way to me now.

Good idea adding cards to google wallet. I only use it for my tesco card. 🤣

As is a thin scarf. I always have my shoulders covered but my daughter wears vests so it will save having to carry a hoodie (because according to her your only choices are a vest or hoodie).

Now you come to mention it, I remember reading about pharmacies being expensive so I'll take a few essentials.

I'm taking a light daypack but it isn't the most secure of things and would be easy to get into. So, much to my daughter's horror I've also got a bumbag for valuables. Even worse in her eyes is that I intend to wear it accross my chest. She asked whether I had enough socks to wear with my sandals. 🤣

I wouldnt have thought you needed mosquito spray. We have some so I'll make sure I add it.

Father is a delicate, complicated situation. He knows we are going and would never try to stop us but isn't exactly giving is his blessing so I don't want to push it by asking for a letter. If someone rings him, he'll ok it. I really have no concerns with that. Besides, my daughter looks a lot older than she is. We're both white British and we are going to Europe with a clear, paid for itinerary so I dont think we'll be seen as high risk.

^Now you come to mention it, I remember reading about pharmacies being expensive so I'll take a few essentials.

I'm taking a light daypack but it isn't the most secure of things and would be easy to get into. So, much to my daughter's horror I've also got a bumbag for valuables. Even worse in her eyes is that I intend to wear it accross my chest. She asked whether I had enough socks to wear with my sandals^

In many European countries, even simple painkillers can only be bought from pharmacies, and they're a few euros, instead of pennies in every supermarket like they are here. Also, apart from the emergency rota, many will close between 2 pm on Saturday and Monday morning. So definitely take basic medication. However pharmacies can often be an excellent resource for minor ailments, often able to prescribe antibiotics without a doctor's appointment.

I'm surprised about your DDs horror of a chest worn bumbag and socks and sandals. That sounds just like the ubiquitous Uniqlo bag and every young person I see seems to have socks and crocs on, or worse calf length socks and brogues worn with knee shorts, a dress or skirt, which seems to be considered stylish by them, but looks ridiculous.

Which countries are you going to?

In addition to the pp with her clear bag of meds and plasters, I also take Imodium and tea bag’s

My daughter is kind of emo so hates anything uniqlo-esque. Plus she says I'm too old (in a joking way) and it is nothing like I normally wear so it feels a bit jarring for both of us.

Nowhere unusual. We're being very touristy. I figured that was best for a first holiday. Holland, Germany, Austria and Brussels. I know areas around German stations are notorious and I know Austria is expensive but some hotels can give you free travel cards in some areas. We are using the night jet but I've heard it isn't unusual for it to be cancelled so I need to look up my rights/alternative options if that happens. Because of when we are going I'm expecting Amstadam to be chaos. I've booked tickets for the popular things we want to do. I'm in the process of writing a (flexible) day to day itinerary.

We're staying in hotels apart from one apartment so I need to get some sort of door lock for that.

I'm just conscious of needing to carry all of this. I'm used to backpacks but packing light is always best.

Sounds great. I wouldn't worry too much about German stations. I went recently and spent time around 2 major city stations and some suburban stations and while there were a lot of tourists in one of the cities and some homeless people near the station in the other, it didn't feel threatening.

I think a lot of the information online is written by people who don't have much life experience. I went to Rome and everything I read online suggested that I would be mugged the second I stepped outside the station and my line manager (it was a work trip) was really worried because I'd be arriving in the evening alone and needed to get to my hotel. But in reality, it was fine, there were lots of normal people around and I felt perfectly safe on the walk to my hotel, even thought it was at dusk. If you're used to big cities in the UK, it will feel fine.

Exactly that. IME the areas around German and French stations are no worse or better than those in large cities in the UK

I use a door wedge in hotels when travelling on my own. You can get locks but the wedge works fine for me, gives reassurance that no one can actually barge in, as I've read about here recently.

I also use these for clipping the zip on a bag or backpack to the handle. Anything that makes you a more difficult target than the next person! I also use them on suitcase zips to keep them together.

www.amazon.co.uk/COMNICO-Zipper-Deterrent-Replacement-Carabiner/dp/B0CK2Q8KSY/ref=sr_1_6?sr=8-6

I might get some of those. My day bag wouldn't take a minute to cut the fabric. I know someone that happened to. I'll only be keeping water, a cardie, sun cream etc in it. It's light and comfy though wont take up much room in my big rucksack. Plus I want something I can get my phone out of quickly without having to take my rucksack off so a bum bag seems like a good idea anyway.