Eurail

I'm ready to go! 6 days till takeoff! 

#Adventuretime

#katiespiceurope

Preperation H(ere we come)

Well, I leave the United States in 8 days. Can you tell I'm nervous? I keep checking, double checking, triple checking everything. I have already completed a dry run of packing my bag to see what can fit in there without going over the 50lb weight limit. The purpose of this blog is to document my travels both on a fun what I've done and a logistical level for when I travel again. So, what have I done so far to get ready?

• I used kayak.com to check for cheap flights. Some of my cohorts had miles built up so they could book with their preferred airline. I do not have miles built up so the cheapest flight for me was through Icelandair MSP --> AMS $319. WOW airlines AMS --> BOS $231 These tickets were purchased in mid-November. 

• Check my phone coverage in Europe. My current carrier is T-mobile. What they lack in service in small Sioux Center, IA they make up for in awesome international plans and coverage. Or so the research says... update to come once I'm abroad. On the current Simple Choice Plan there is "Unlimited international data and text while roaming in 140+ countries and destinations and calls are just $0.20 per minute." I'm covered on that front because for calling I can use video chat on Skype, Facebook, FaceTime, or Google Hangouts. All the options!

• I needed to look at my credit cards and what fees I will be charged. I bank with Wells Fargo and have a visa credit card and debit card with them. If I were to use either of those cards for transactions in Europe I would be charged a 3% international use fee. Additionally, if I were to use the debit card at an ATM I would be charged the 3% plus an additional non Wells Fargo ATM fee $5-$10. Dilemma! Here are my options:

1. Use both cards and pay fees.
2. Use debit card at ATM to get large amounts of cash to use, pay fees.
3. Take out currency in USA, exchange rate from Wells Fargo USD:Euro::1.15:1. 
4. Apply for a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees.
5. #4 + #2
6. #4 +#3

Can you tell that I like options? My final decision was to go with option #6. After some       research on what my options were for #4, I applied for a Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa. There are no foreign transaction fees, and no annual fee; however, the rewards are minimal. i.e. points:USD::1.5:1

• Decide on a Eurail pass. For this I relied on a very reliable traveler... Rick Steves. I went with a global 1 month pass. There was a 20% discount when I ordered mine. Be sure to look for a deal and when you need to use it by. Also, make sure you order it at least a week before you leave the states (it is a paper ticket mailed to your US address). 

• Create a #hashtag... landed on #katiespiceurope 
• Create a budget. Categories for (1) travel, (2) clothes, (3) personal, (4) food, (5) souvenirs, (6) misc/emergency. 
• Make a packing list and Personal/first aid kit.
• List all the countries I want to visit and major attractions to see there. 
• Buy adapters and converters for plug ins
• Get prepared!!! Watch Rick Steves Amsterdam and The Netherlands 

Thats it for now! 

#AdventureTime

#katiespiceurope

Adventure Awaits You - SPICE 2016

#AdventureTime
#katiespiceurope

Creating a blog is easy.... making a blog that people will read and that fully illustrates a purpose is perhaps a little more difficult. My hope is that you, my readers, will be able to enjoy and learn form my study abroad semester in the Netherlands (and the greater European continent).