Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tels and eating out occasionally would bring this up to perhaps €48 a day, while staying in
private roomsorhotelsandeating outonceadaywouldmeanapersonaldailybudgetofat
least €94. See
Getting by on a budget
for tips on keeping your costs down.
Crime and personal safety
Travelling aroundEuropeshouldberelatively trouble-free, but,asinanypartoftheworld,
there is always the chance of petty theft. Conditions vary greatly depending on the coun-
try: in Scandinavia, for example, you're unlikely to encounter much trouble of any kind,
whereasincertain areasofmetropolises suchasLondon,ParisorBarcelona, thecrime rate
is significantly higher. Also exercise caution in poorer regions such as Morocco, Turkey
and southern Italy.
Safety tips
In order to minimize the risks, you should take some basic precautions. First and perhaps
mostimportant,trynottolooktoomuchlikeatourist.Appearinglost,evenifyouare,isto
beavoided,andit'snotagoodidea-especiallyinsouthernEurope-towalkaroundflash-
inganobviouslyexpensivecameraorsmartphone:theprofessionalbag-snatcherswhotour
train stations can have your valuables off you in seconds.
If you're waiting for a train, keep your eyes (and hands if necessary) on your bags at all
times;ifyouwanttosleep,puteverythingvaluableunderwhateveryouuseasapillow.Ex-
ercise caution when choosing a train compartment and avoid any situation that makes you
feel uncomfortable.
Padlocking
your bags to the luggage rack if you're on an overnight
train increases the likelihood that they'll still be there in the morning. It's also a good idea
to wear a
money belt
.
If you're staying in a hostel, take your valuables out with you unless there's a very secure
store for them on the premises. It's a good idea to take a photocopy of your passport and
send it to your email account, as is leaving a copy of your address book with friends or
family.
If the worst happens and you do have something stolen, inform the
police
immediately
(we've included details of the main city police stations or tourist police throughout); the
priority is to get a statement from them detailing exactly what has been lost, which you'll
need for your insurance claim back home.
Customs
Customs and duty-free restrictions vary throughout Europe, but are standard for travellers
arriving in the EU at one litre of spirits, four litres of table wine, plus 200 cigarettes (or
250g tobacco, or fifty cigars). There is no duty-free allowance for travel within the EU: in
