Travel Tips in Europe

Traveling to Europe for the first time is quite a difficult thing to do. However, if you take the time to prepare, you can minimize the trouble and maximize the fun. In this post, I would like to write about preparations for your first trip.

< Documents required for entry >

EU countries have now abolished the Passenger locator form and the COVID Green Pass (vaccine). You can enter countries that do not require a visa with just a passport. On the other hand, returning to your own country is another story. You need to research if you still need a vaccine certificate or a PCR test result. By the way, corona tests such as PCR or antigen tests are no longer in demand in Europe, so many laboratories have stopped doing the tests. I strongly recommend you check the requirements to create a vaccination certificate if necessary and be prepared for your return trip. The requirements may change before you leave the country, so please check them as you go.

< Clothes >

• The weather is generally cold in the winter, especially in the mornings and evenings. If the humidity is low, it feels colder than the actual temperature.

• Occasionally, when you return to your home country, the customs officials misunderstand that you bought expensive foreign products such as branded bags, jewelry, watches, Macbooks, etc. that look brand new, and impose taxes on them. You may need to go through a certain procedure to avoid this at the airport before you leave your country.

•It is best to leave your belongings at your home if you don't want to lose them. Your suitcase can get lost, phones can be pickpocketed, and wallets can be left behind. Even if you leave valuables at the hotel, it may be stolen by the cleaning staff. If you lose something, it's safe to assume that it will never come back.

•Because you will be walking a lot, wear comfortable sneakers or boots. Europe has a lot of cobblestones, so I think it's difficult to walk in high heels. Also, the streets in the city center are dirty, so new shoes may get ruined.

•You may worry about how you dress to not stand out as a tourist, but you will be seen as a tourist no matter what you wear, so in the end, you should wear what is comfortable for you. However, if you wear expensive items, you may be targeted by pickpockets. Note that the latest iPhones are often good targets as well.

< Payment Methods >

•Most places accept card payments

• There is no compensation or insurance when cash is lost

•Credit card payment is cheaper than exchanging cash

For these reasons, it is recommended to carry less than 100 € in cash per person. I normally only carry about 20 euros in my wallet, and I use the local ATM if I need more.

If you pay with a credit card, you may be able to earn points and get cash back. Some cards come with offers such as foreign travel insurance. It is also important to look at the % of foreign transaction fees since it differs depending on the card.

Visa and Master are widely used all over the world. If you are going to make a new one, I recommend Visa or Master. Amex may not be accepted at small stores.

< Suitcase selection >

•The size of suitcases for check-in and carry-on differ depending on the airline. The typical sizes are compatible with most airline sizes, but if you buy a new one, check if the size fits. Also, the one with a lock is recommended because the TSA lock can be used when traveling to the United States. TSA locks are not used in Europe, and keys are likely to be broken if inspected, so you may not need to lock them. The reason why I recommend the number lock system is that there is a possibility of losing the key if it is with a key. Suitcases get beaten up quickly, so lightweight and sturdy are more important than a nice look. Smooth wheels make it easy to carry.

< Baggage restrictions >

•Checked baggage is a large suitcase that you check in at the airport counter. They will weigh your luggage at the counter, and if you go over the weight limit, you will have to pay an extra fee on the spot or reduce the amount of luggage. Generally, it's pretty strict. It is a good idea to weigh it at home beforehand. Weight limits vary by the airline. Since the luggage is handled roughly, it is better not to put fragile items such as mirrors and pressed-powder cosmetics (eye shadows) as they may break. Also, the airline will not compensate you for your lost baggage, so please do not put anything important in it. It's a good idea to put a card with your name, address, phone number, and email address in your suitcase in case you lose your bag. It's nice to have a name tag on suitcases, but tags made of non-durable material may be lost along the way. Dangerous drugs, battery packs, meat, etc. are not allowed, but sharp objects such as scissors and liquids are okay to put.

•As for hand luggage, these are usually a handbag that fits under the seat, such as handbags, and small suitcase that fits overhead. You must pass through security yourself, so you cannot bring sharp objects or liquids, creams, toothpaste, etc. in bottles larger than 100ml. Containers of 100ml or less can be placed in a ziplock bag (travel-size shampoo, etc.) for up to five per person in your hand luggage. Although there is a guideline for the weight of carry-on luggage, it's often not weighed like the check-in luggage.

< Convenient things to have >

•On long flights, it's definitely easier to sleep with a pillow around your neck. I recommend ones that can be inflated with air so that you can reduce the amount of luggage you carry. An eye mask and earplugs are also convenient, but airlines may provide them for free on the plane.

•They also sell flight socks to prevent Economy Syndrome. It is good to have for long flights.

•There are many pickpockets in tourist spots in Europe, so it would be nice to have a wallet that can be hung around your neck or waist and stored inside your clothes, or a jacket with an inner pocket.

Moving to Rome: Quartiere VIII

The second semester in Thessaloniki, Greece is over, and the third semester is in the long-awaited Rome.

That said, all I knew was the city is infamous for tourism and the movie “Roman Holiday.” I didn't know much about what to expect when I moved in.

First of all, I was looking for a room on Spot a Home, but I couldn't find good options. so I ended up signing a long-term contract with Airbnb, for the second time while I am studying in Erasmus. It is a one-bedroom apartment, and although it is small, a separate living, dining, and kitchen area from the bedroom is all I really need. Rent averages around 1050 euros per month (the average price depends on the month; the average rises only because September is so expensive.) I think it's a little pricey in the eyes of locals, but it wasn't a bad option for a short stay as an international student. Some students pay 850 euros for a shared apartment in the city center, so I would say my place is not so bad.

The area is called Quartiere VIII, which is located in the southeast of the city of Rome. Depending on the time of day, it takes about 40 minutes to an hour to commute to/from the University of Sapienza, where I will be attending this semester. It would be much more convenient if the metro was a little closer, but the new metro, which is rumored to be under construction, is supposed to take several years to complete.

There are many immigrants in this area, and it seems that the population of Bangladeshis and Chinese is overwhelmingly larger than that of Italians. The rent of the area is not expensive, and for that reason, there is a student population as well. According to European prejudice, areas with large numbers of Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Chinese immigrants are generally considered dangerous areas. This area looks dangerous at first glance, but after living here for a month, it appears actually safe. Actually, it’s quite handy that the streets are lined with Chinese supermarkets. Other restaurants and markets are also relatively inexpensive areas, so it's quite helpful for a student. It is also a relatively quiet area with few tourists as it is away from the city center.

While there are many good things about living in this area, there are also bad things. First of all, the area is very dirty. Rome itself is a dirty city with a lot of trash, but this area, in particular, has dog droppings everywhere and no one cleans it up. It's hard to walk on the sidewalk. Also, people are washing their feet on the sidewalk, and there are puddles here and there. I think this is a custom for Muslims, but as someone from a non-Muslim country, I personally don't really understand why people do it on the sidewalk, which is a public area.

Also, the tram is very slow. When I chose this area, I thought that if there was a tram, it would be faster and more convenient than the bus. In fact, it's a shockingly old tram that occasionally breaks down in the middle of the route and stops working. You get off there and walk to the university. The locations of the stations are also a mystery because there is always a station immediately after the intersection. Due to this strange placement of the stations, first, the tram stops at the red light, and then immediately after, it stops again at the station. Since the train makes two stops at each station, it takes the same amount of time as the bus running on a busy road. Moreover, it is quite crowded in a shaky car, so just going to school is quite exhausting. It takes the same amount of time as walking. Not to mention the frequent strike of public transportation...



The last bad side is, although the distance to the city center is close, it takes about an hour at the fastest if you go by public transportation. I would like to visit as many places as possible during my stay in Rome, but it takes more than two hours to get there and back. My weekend sightseeing is not so easy.

In Portugal and Greece, it was only 5-10 minutes on foot from the school, so commuting to school was easy-breezy. When I finally get used to Rome, I will probably move again, but I would like to see and absorb as many interesting things as possible during my stay here.

Ljubljiana and Lake Bled, Slovenia

It was so exciting to visit a small city in Central Europe, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Last year, Kings of Convenience released a new album for the first time in 12 years and are currently on tour in Europe, so it's the first chance for a long-time fan like me to see them live. I was looking at the list of tour countries, but they don't come to the area where I live at a convenient time, and they don't overlap with the destination country of my already-planned trips. so I planned a new trip to Ljubljana for 3 nights and 4 days, just to see their concert. I searched for a city that I could go to as cheaply as possible that I had never been to. Many of KOC's tour cities are small towns other than big cities, and Ljubljana was one of them.

To get to Ljubljana, the flight from Thessaloniki was quite expensive. So, I flew to Rome first and then took a night train to Trieste to the Italian/Slovenian border. From Trieste, we took the Flix Bus across the border to Ljubljana.

On the first day, I left home early in the morning and arrived in Rome in the afternoon. Since I had time until the 10:00 pm train from there, I spent the day sightseeing in Rome. By walking from Termini Station and walking in the direction of Vatican City, we were able to see many tourist attractions such as the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. Even if I don't go sightseeing that far, I'll be moving to Rome in two weeks, so I'll be back eventually. But since we had a lot of time, we did do quite a bit of sightseeing this day. At the Trevi Fountain, I threw a coin in the fountain facing my back. As the saying goes, it seems that we will return to Rome again.

After a full day of sightseeing, I stopped by a restaurant near Termini station called Acqua & Farina for dinner, but they charged me a 40% service charge when I paid. The pizza itself wasn't that expensive, just a few euros, but they took the fee for no reason when I could have ordered an appetizer and a drink or two. The waiters had poor service all the time, the owners were rude and I could see the difference in the treatment of tourists and locals. When I asked the European couple dining at the table next to me, they said they weren't charged a service charge and even got a free dessert. My friend made the payment without notice, but I was not happy with the service charge added afterward to increase the unit price without being informed in advance. Furthermore, when I arrived at Termini station and was sitting waiting for the train, a homeless woman approached me and suddenly hit me with a large bag on my head. A nearby security guard saw it and did absolutely nothing.

I had been told in the US that Italians were often racist, and I was quite disappointed to meet people who solidified that stereotype on my very first day in Rome. I got the impression that Romans in general hate tourists and treat them like animals. What I learned from this trip is to not pay the billed amount without checking in Italy, but to pay after confirming it. Rome is not like Thessaloniki where people keep offering you free drinks and snacks even if you are a tourist. Also, be aware that the area around Termini Station is not safe.

Departure from Termini to Trieste at 10pm on an overnight train. It was my first time in a sleeper car, and it reminded me of the movie Oriental Express.

The car can sleep four people in one room, and you can choose between a women's car or a unisex car. At the begging of the ride, we were given linens, blankets, toiletries, snacks, and drinks. In addition, the restrooms are kept clean and surprisingly comfortable.

However, I had a hard time getting to sleep. I was sleeping on the upper bed, but there was some pressure from the direction of travel, and it was not too comfortable to lie down. On the way back, I chose the lower bed, and it was much more comfortable than the upper berth. This time, I was able to sleep well.

Morning came without sleep and we arrived in Trieste. I stayed in Trieste for a few hours, but I walked around as much as time allowed. With the atmosphere of a port town, the square facing the sea reminded me of Lisbon.

From there to Ljubljana, we took FlixBus. Although the trip itself in total was 3 nights and 4 days, I only stayed in Ljubljana for 2 days. On the second day, I went to Lake Bled, so I actually only stayed in the center of Ljubljana on the first day, and KOC's concert was in the evening that day. The impression of the city is very tidy and stylish. The streets are lined with Art Nouveau architecture which reminded me of Riga, Latvia. There are many cute souvenirs such as hand-made wooden trinkets in souvenir shops. Slovenia has a rich food culture, and other Slovenian dishes are proudly served throughout the city.

 Another highlight was Tivoli Park. There are not only tennis and basketball courts, but also space for skate parks, trampolines, and other sports that are not always considered major. Spaces suitable for all kinds of sports were neatly organized into one park. I think it's the best playground for children. In a city where many bicycles and scooters are used, we have also tried their city bike system, Bicike Ljubljana. This was supposed to be fun and cheap; however, the system often registers errors and mischarged everyone. We came across a guy whose reserved bike was taken by another girl, which she drove off and he did not know what to do. We also got charged for unknown large amounts after the trip which was registered as a scam by our card companies. 

The next day, we went to Lake Bled for 1 hour by bus. The bus stop was in the city center (east of the lake), and when I got off, it was near Bled Castle, so I went to the castle first. It's on a hill and uphill, but you can reach it by hiking for about 15 minutes. The entrance fee is 13€ for adults and 8.5€ for students. The castle itself is small, and the exhibits and gift shops aren't all that impressive, only the view of the lake from up there was exceptional. After that, I was planning to walk around the lake and rent a boat, but I didn't have much time. I decided to go back to the bus station after walking along the lake. 

Before arriving at the bus stop, I stopped by a supermarket, where the famous Bled cakes around here were sold in packages. 2.5 euros for two with this volume is a great deal, considering one costs 4.5-5.5 euros at a cafe around here. Originally, I was planning to eat a fresh one at a cafe, but due to time constraints, I ended up buying it at a supermarket. I’m glad I did because I believe these cakes are made by a vendor and distributed to restaurants and shops throughout the city. Even though it's called a cake, almost everything is cream, and it's huge, so it's pretty heavy. But the cream itself was a light taste than it looked.

After that, following the way I came and returned home in the order of Lake Bled - Ljubljana Trieste - Rome - Thessaloniki. Although the long-awaited boat rental in Lake Bled did not come true, Slovenia was full of fun sites and amazing food. I had a very good time. Among the many Central European countries, it became one of my favorites, and I definitely recommend it if I was asked where to visit in the Central European Region.

 

Peraia Beach, Thessaloniki

This weekend, I went to Peraia Beach, a beach that can be reached by city bus from Thessaloniki city center.

Peraia Beach and nearby Neoi Epivates Beach are the nearest to the city center of Thessaloniki. Both can be reached in about 40 minutes by ferry from Thessaloniki's White Tower or the port. When I went to Neoi Epivates Beach before, I went by ferry. The ferry ticket price went up since then, and it became 10 euros round trip in the summer. The ferry I got on was so crowded that we even had to push each other to get on the ferry on the way back. The guys who run the ferry had a bit of a yakuza-like attitude, they sat down in the passenger seat trying to flirt with a group of women. What an easy job they seem to have… They also refused to accept card payment for obvious reasons, saying that the machine doesn't have a connection in the middle of the sea, but we insisted and paid by card in the end.

When I went to Neoi Epivates by ferry, my impression was that it wasn’t that convenient nor was it cheap. I recently heard that it would take about an hour by bus, so I decided to go by bus this time. First, take the 01X bus from the city to the airport, and change to 72 in front of a cafe before arriving at the airport.

Continue on 72 to the street in front of the beach. It's a simple transfer, but it took a while for the bus to come, and I think the total trip took about an hour and a half. Considering the transfer time, the ferry is a little faster. 

At Peraia, sunbeds are lined up on the beach, and some nice beach music is playing. It is quite an atmosphere for “the nearest beach.” The sunbeds are usually from café bars in front of the sea and are free to use with any drink or food order. This time we arrived around 3pm, so the sunbeds were already filled up. Of course, it is free to sit on our own blanket, so that’s what we did.

One thing I find hilarious when I was on beaches in Greece was that whenever you are relaxing on a sunbed, someone would come to sell you giant donuts. Beaches and donuts are a combination that was new to me, but donuts seem to be a common beach snack in Greece. It's true that swimming makes you hungry, and you can't help but feel like eating something sweet and high in calories like donuts. I will try one next time I see them. 

The water in Perea was clearer than I expected. It was shallow, there were no waves, and the water was warm, so it is a suitable place for anybody to swim in. The water is not as clear as Halkidiki, of course, but its visibility is quite good, and you can spot many fish swimming in the water. We even saw a woman catching fish with a plastic bag. When I went to nearby Neoi Epivates Beach before, there were jellyfish and the water wasn't that clear, so I thought Praia would have the same feel to it. Overall, it was a nicer beach than I expected.

I returned by the same bus route, but the waiting time for the bus was long, and it was not possible to return to the city in one hour. If I had a car, I would probably come every day during the summer. But after all, it is not the most convenient place to go by public transportation even though it is close in distance from the city center.

Thessaloniki is a port city, and there are no sandy beaches in the city where you can swim and relax. It takes more than an hour to reach the nearest beach. I find it such a shame and a missed opportunity as there is not much benefit to living near the beautiful sea if we can’t enjoy it. At least there is a way for tourists to get there, even though it takes quite a long time.

Day Trip to Neos Marmaras Beach

Since I had some free time during the summer, I went from Thessaloniki where I was staying to Halkidiki, a nearby beach area. Halkidiki is a popular resort area for the locals, so much so that the residents of Thessaloniki usually spend their summers on the beach of Halkidiki.

Halkidiki is an area with three peninsulas protruding like three feet. The left foot is named Kassandra, the middle one is Sithonia, and the right one is Athos. 

Cassandra is the most popular and touristic destination, and Sithonia seems to have cool hidden spots. Athos is mainly mountainous, where churches and monasteries are lined up. I went to Kassandra, the left foot, for summer school, but this time I went to Neos Marmaras, a beach in Sithonia, the middle peninsula.

Halkidiki is considered “nearby,” and it is the high season, so I anticipated that it would take about 1-2 hours by bus to get there. However, in reality, the transportation was quite inconvenient, and it took me 8 hours in total (!) for a round trip from Thessaloniki.

First, I called the Greek bus public transportation services (KTEL) the day before and asked if there was a bus from Macedonia, the main bus terminal in Thessaloniki, to Halkidiki. I was told that there is no bus from Macedonia; instead, buses to Halkidiki depart from the KTEL Halkidiki bus terminal in the south of the city. I was told to use the bus 45 from the city to get there.

I left home around 7:30 the next morning and went to the Kamara bus stop after 8:00am. I took bus 45A from there. 45 seems to be an express, but 45A came first, so I took that one. It took about 30-40 minutes and arrived at KTEL Halkidiki at around 8:50am. By the way, there is a convenient app to check the time of the bus in this city called Moovit, but in reality, the buses are almost always late. So, the most accurate way is to go to the bus stop and check the departure time on the electric bulletin board that corresponds to the real-time bus schedule.

KTEL Halkidiki is a small bus terminal, but there was a ticket office and a shop. There, I bought a bus ticket to Halkidiki. Originally it was 13 euros, but when I showed my student ID, it was 9.8 euros with a 25% student discount. I bought a round-trip ticket for 19,6 euros. Not so cheap considering the distance. There seem to be three buses a day to Marmaras, one in the morning and two in the afternoon.

The bus was leaving at 9:30am, so I bought some snacks and had breakfast, and waited for a while. A bus came and everybody got on, and it took about 2 hours and 15 minutes to finally get to Neos Marmaras. The beautiful Aegean sea eventually appears in the sight, and you can see resort areas here and there. After stopping several times in front of a large hotel, we finally reached our destination, Neos Marmaras.

I was planning to go to the beach, but I got off at the bus stop in the city center just before the beach and walked about 15 minutes to reach the beach. The streets are with restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops, creating an atmosphere of a tourist destination. We also passed in front of a church overlooking the sea called Taxiarch Angels.

Neos Marmaras was a beautiful beach. Although the water was not as vibrantly blue as it was in Kassandra, it was clear enough. However, the wind was strong, which created some waves. It also got cold after swimming for a while.

After relaxing on the beach for a while, I thought about going to the beach called Porto Carras next door, but I gave up because it was too deep to cross the river with my bags. But by swimming, you can easily cross this river.

After eating lunch at a nearby restaurant and swimming again, the departure time for the return bus at 6:30pm was already approaching. We waited for a while in front of the red bus stop in front of the beach, but even after 6:30pm, there was no sign of it coming and we were the only people waiting. We started to wonder if we were waiting at the wrong bus stop. When I called KTEL, I was told that it was definitely the red bus stop in front of the beach. The person said that the bus would come in about 10-15 minutes. If I missed this bus, I would be stuck in Marmaras another day, so I was a little worried if it would really come. In the end, it appeared at around 6:50pm.

Following the same route, we came back to KTEL Halkidiki. It was written on the electric bulletin board that the bus 45A would come in 30 minutes, but it never came even after waiting for an hour. It got completely dark by that time, and I started to wonder if it would really come. There were still around 10 people waiting at the stop including myself.

Suddenly, a bus approached us and told us all to get on the bus. the bus driver was on his way home from work when he noticed the people still waiting at the bus stop. He knew no bus would come after this hour. He took us to the nearest transfer stop so that we can catch another bus to the city center of Thessaloniki. What happened to the bus we were waiting for? No one knows…

Anyway, thanks to that bus driver, I was able to transfer to bus 2k and arrived home safely a little before 11:00pm. It took 4 hours each way to and from Neos Marmaras. Although it is considered a "nearby resort," it felt like it wasn't close at all. It was possibly cheaper and definitely more convenient to rent a car than take the bus. But the sea was beautiful, and it was a nice beach town that was well worth a visit.

Arriving in Evora, Portugal

Moving from California to Portugal was, obviously, not so easy.

First of all, since my status in the United States was a green card (permanent resident), I had to apply for a re-entry permit to leave the United States for more than half a year. It took a long time to collect the documents for the application, and it was not financially affordable either. In addition, since this permit is based on the assumption that I will return to the United States within two years, there is no option for me to do an internship in Europe after finishing graduate school. It is not the most convenient, but at this point, the only option was this permit.

Next, I needed to wrap up my life in the U.S. I moved out of the house I was renting in L.A, sold my car, and gave up all my belongings from my bicycle to furniture. I lived here for 10 years, so I accumulated most things needed for daily life, but I got rid of them by giving them away to friends or donating them to Goodwill. In the end, I minimally packed only what I needed into three suitcases: a large and a medium one for check-in, and a small one for carry-on.

I don’t have any relatives or family members in the United States. I thought of renting storage but I didn't have anything of such high value that I wanted to keep, so in the end, I thought it would be more economical to replace everything once I get back to the U.S.

The flight was from San Diego Airport, with a transfer to Newark, NJ. It was 5 hours flight from San Diego, 5 hours transfer to Newark, then 7 hours to Lisbon; a total of 17 hours. At this point, the fatigue from packing the previous days had already hit me. I wanted to have lunch at Newark Airport and ordered a slice of pizza, but the ordering and payment system was confusing, and I mistakenly brought the pizza without paying. It was purely due to a misunderstanding. It was a delicious slice and I enjoyed it, but it was too late when I realized I forgot to pay for it. If someone from that pizza store reading this blog, I am sorry that I accidentally stole your slice.

I arrived in Lisbon around 3pm. I was too tired and had a lot of luggage, so I went straight to the Airbnb I had reserved days before and took a nap. The owner was very kind and prepared dinner for me, even though it wasn't included in the payment. He said he was sure I was tired and I did not need to go out just for finding dinner. He even served me a whole plate of dessert. The owner had told me he used to live in New York, but he did not like to live there and came back to Europe. 

The next day, my classmate from the same program arrived at the same airport and I went to pick her up. We met each other for the first time. From there, we took the Rede Expresso bus to Evora. The trip was an hour and a half to the east of Lisbon. It's not that far, and we arrived while chatting. It's about a 30-minute walk from the bus stop to my new residence, but it's impossible to drag three suitcases over the cobblestones, so we used Uber. It seems that there are only two Uber drivers in Evora ever existing, and it is usually difficult to catch one, but this time we were able to catch one without any problems. The owner of the house hid the house key in the pipe in front of the house, so we were able to enter the house immediately after arriving. The next day, the owner came from Lisbon to collect the rent, and we met them for the first time.

I was worried about what would happen the entire time, from the time of preparation to traveling to Évora, but I arrived safely in the city and was absolutely fascinated by the beauty of the city. After all, it is a UNESCO world heritage site. When I thought about how I would be living here for half a year and going to graduate school, I was very excited and felt full of hope. How amazing life can be!

 

How to Get Euros before Traveling

Today's topic is how to prepare money for your stay in Europe. When we arrive in Europe, we all need more or less cash with us in euros. what is the best way to convert from your own currency to euros?

In my case, I traveled from the United States to Portugal. First of all, a friend of mine had previously traveled to Europe and had about 100€ left on hand, so I exchanged it for dollars. This will cover the minimum cost of food and drink on the first day, or even if the transportation from the airport to your destination is cash only. In today's cashless society, there is no need to bring large sums of money with you. It will only increase your liability for your cash.

I chose among various credit cards that can be used in foreign countries without fees and finally chose Amazon's Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card. It is a VISA card with no annual fee, and it can be used freely in any country. Every time you use it, you will earn 1% as points, which will be refunded later as cashback. My friend also had a Capital One card with similar perks, but every time she bought things online such as bus tickets, she had to authenticate through her US phone each time. She had canceled the cellphone contract before leaving the US and was often having a hard time using this card. Amazon card did not have such problems.

In Erasmus Mundus, you can get a non-refundable scholarship of 1000€ per month, but it is not coming in right away. For the first few months, you are on your own. In our case, the payment was finally processed about two months after the start of the program. Therefore, it is wise to prepare funds for visa fees and living expenses for the first few months in advance, assuming that you will be reimbursed later.

You can basically buy groceries with a credit card, but to pay your rent, it will be most likely in cash. When it comes to exchanging €1000-2000 to cover the first few months of living costs, the fees are also a concern. You can buy euros at a bank in your country, but sometimes it takes a long time to get euros and the fees are not so low, so it is not a recommended method. After doing some research, I found that an investment account Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking® account from Charles Schwab in the United States was suitable for foreign travel, so I immediately registered online. Normally, when you use an ATM in another country, you will be charged two types of fees: a foreign transaction fee (%) and an ATM fee (around 5 euros or so depending on the ATM). With this Charles Schwab debit card, you can exchange money without foreign transaction fees and withdraw cash at local ATMs. On top of that, the ATM fee will be fully refunded later.

After arriving in Évora, Portugal, I immediately went to an ATM to get cash for the rent and used this card to withdraw cash in Euros. Originally, I was planning to use the ATM of the local bank, but the entrance of Portuguese banks was locked and I could not enter without having their bank card. I found in a plaza they had ATMs outside on the walls. There were ATM systems called Euronet and Multibanco. When I was about to withdraw 1000€, I was surprised at how high their fees were. After looking around, it was already time to meet the landlord, and I was in a hurry. In the end, I gave up and withdrew with 12% at Multibanco’s ATM. The fee is an astonishing 120€!

As I learned later, Multibanco and Euronet will display a message on the screen that says, "Do you accept the 12%/13% fee?"  That is when you can switch to your own bank's commission system. When this message is displayed, you need to hit “No” TWICE. My bank does not charge any fees, so if I had known this in advance, I would not have had to pay the 120€ fee... This is almost like a scam targeting travelers who need immediate cash, so please be careful when visiting Europe.

Either way, Euronet is notorious for its outrageous fees with yellow-and-blue ATMs, so it's probably best to avoid using it in the first place. You will always conveniently find their ATMs anywhere near places that only accept cash. Multibanco is a Portuguese banking system that allows you to withdraw for free at any bank if you have a Portuguese bank account. With either ATM, you can also use this "No"-twice method to remove the fee for bank cards outside Portugal.

To summarize the above,

• if you have about 100€ in cash when you arrive, you don't have to worry about cash for things like public transportation in case they don’t take cards.
• Before departure, sign up for a credit card in your home country that does not charge fees even when used overseas, and use the credit card for shopping when possible. Credit cards often have insurance against loss or theft, so they are safer than cash that has no insurance.
• Do not carry large sums of money, such as rent, in your carry-on luggage. It is safer and more economical to withdraw in Europe using your home country's debit card at local ATMs. However, beware of ATM fee fraud.

Disclaimer: This post is not an advertisement. I was not paid by any of the mentioned companies to advertise their products. These recommendations are based on my own personal experiences.