Introduction - Amsterdam Bruges and Brussels - page 6

Know Before You Go
Your trip is more likely to go smoothly if you plan ahead.
Check this list of things to arrange while you're still at home.
Be sure that your passport is valid at least six months
after your ticketed date of return to the US. If you need to get
or renew a passport, it can take up to two months (for more
on passports, see www.travel.state.gov).
Book your rooms in advance if you'll be traveling dur-
ing any major holidays (see “Major Holidays and Weekends,”
page 4). It's smart to reserve rooms in peak season if you'd
like to stay in my lead listings, and definitely reserve for your
first night.
Call your debit and credit card companies to let them
know the countries you'll be visiting, so they'll accept (and
not deny) your international charges. Confirm your daily
withdrawal limit; consider asking to have it raised so you can
take out more cash at each ATM stop. Ask about international
transaction fees.
The big three museums in Amsterdam—Rijks, Van Gogh,
and Anne Frank—can come with long lines during high sea-
son. Consider buying tickets online from home (for details,
see page 34).
If you plan on renting a car in the Low Countries, you'll
need your driver's license, and it's recommended—but not
required—that you carry an International Driving Permit (IDP),
available at your local AAA office ($15 plus two passport pho-
tos, www.aaa.com). Confirm pickup hours—many car-rental
offices close Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.
Since airline carry-on restrictions are always chang-
ing, visit the Transportation Security Administration's web-
site (www.tsa.gov/travelers) for an up-to-date list of what
you can bring on the plane with you...and what you have to
check. Remember to arrive with plenty of time to get through
security.
To give yourself a little rootedness, minimize one-night
stands. It's worth a post-dinner drive or train ride to be settled into
a town for two nights. B&Bs are also more likely to give a good
price to someone staying more than one night.
Be sure to mix intense and relaxed periods in your itinerary.
Every trip (and every traveler) needs at least a few slack days. Pace
yourself. Assume you will return.
Reread this topic as you travel, and visit local tourist informa-
tion offices. Upon arrival in a new town, lay the groundwork for
a smooth departure; write down the schedule for the train or bus
you'll take when you depart.
Plan ahead for laundry and picnics. Get online at Internet