Ha, a solo adventure in Europe? I’m about to embark on a two-week business trip to Europe, curious about the interesting stories that might unfold.
- It’s my first time attempting a solo business trip to Europe (5 days at a trade show, 8 days visiting clients, across 4 locations).
- This means I’ll be managing hotel bookings on my own, haha (for the 5 nights in Stuttgart, I’ve found a nice homestay; I’ll see how it is when I get there).
- It’s also my first time renting and driving a car in Germany (though I’ve done road trips in the USA before, I hope everything goes smoothly in Germany).
- To be continued…
Preparation Before Going Abroad
Here’s a reliable checklist to follow before going abroad:
- Documents and Tickets:
- R+T Exhibition Tickets
- Rental Car Documents
- Driver’s License Translation (needs to be processed in advance)
- Insurance Policy
- Original Driver’s License
- Itinerary (Very important. In Europe, each time I entered a new country, I was asked about my itinerary and whether I had a return ticket. Showing them a paper copy always quickly resolved these inquiries)
- Plane Tickets
- Visa
- Passport
- ID Card 🔸 It’s advisable to scan or photocopy these documents in case of loss
- Currency Preparation:
- International Credit Cards, such as Visa, MasterCard
- 300 Euros in cash for a 12-day trip 🔹 Exchange small amounts of money in advance for tips
- Remember to exchange currency before departure; it’s more expensive at Shekou Port (1:8.5) and even more so at Hong Kong Airport (1:9)
- Electronics:
- Portable Wi-Fi
- Tablet
- Laptop
- Local SIM Card
- Charging Cables
- Photographic Paper (I didn’t use it last time; I suggest not bringing it next time, haha)
- Camera
- Universal Adapter
- Headphones, including iFLYTEK and Sony
- Translator Device
- Power Bank (no more than 20,000 mAh)
- Clothing:
- 🔸 Spring (March-May): Light sweaters, T-shirts + Jackets
- 🔹 Summer (June-August): Short sleeves; bring a light jacket for cooler mornings and evenings
- 🔸 Autumn (September-November): Jackets + Thicker fleece clothes
- 🔹 Winter (December-February): Wear windproof and warm jackets outdoors
- Medications:
- 🔸 Cold medicine, Diarrhea medicine, Motion sickness medicine, Vitamins, Anti-inflammatory drugs, Antibiotics, Allergy medication
- (Actually, you don’t need to bring so many medicines. Just bring what you feel is necessary, otherwise there won’t be enough space in your luggage, and overweight luggage starts at a 40 Euro fee)
- Toiletries and Accessories:
- Disposable cups
- Umbrella
- Sunscreen
- Masks
- U-shaped neck pillow for sleeping
- Portable bags
- Camera tripod
- Sunglasses
- Makeup remover
- Skincare and cosmetic products
- Clothes hangers
- Slippers and towels
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Pillowcase
- Eye mask
- Essential Apps for Overseas Travel:
- 🔸 Accommodation Booking: Hostelworld, Airbnb, Booking.com
- 🔹 Travel Guides: TripAdvisor
- 🔸 Food Search: Yelp
- 🔹 Language Translation: Google Translate, iFLYTEK Multilingual Translator
- 🔸 Car Rental for Travel: Priceline, Ctrip
- 🔹 Travel Maps: Lonely Planet
- 🔸 Transportation Apps: Uber, Bolt (Taxi Apps)
- 🔹 Flight Booking: Ctrip
- 🔸 And most importantly: Google Maps!
- Packing for the Flight:
- Liquid Regulations:
- Capacity Limit: Containers for liquids, gels, and sprays typically must not exceed 100 milliliters (or equivalent in other volume units like 3.4 ounces). Containers over 100 ml are not permitted in carry-on baggage, even if they are not full.
- Transparent Bag: All liquid containers must be placed in a resealable transparent plastic bag, usually not exceeding 1 liter in capacity.
- Per-Person Limit: Each passenger is allowed only one such transparent bag (not exceeding 1 liter).
- Security Screening: The transparent bag with liquids must be presented separately during security checks.
- Special Items: Prescription medicine, baby food, or breast milk, and other medically necessary liquids may be allowed over the 100 ml limit, but may require declaration and additional screening at security.
- Duty-Free Liquids: Liquids purchased at airport duty-free shops, like alcoholic beverages and perfumes, are typically allowed over the 100 ml limit but must be sealed in a secure, transparent bag, with a visible receipt.
- Checked Baggage: Bottles can typically exceed 100 ml if checked in, but it’s advisable to prepare as if they can’t.
- Liquid Regulations: