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- Perhaps this was necessary a few years ago, maybe when most of Europe wasn't using the Euro, but most students from spring semester 2003 agree that traveler's checks are more of a waste of money then useful. Your credit/debit/ATM card is the key. If you take out a few hundred at time, carry large sums of money in a money belt, or charge most of your expensives, you'll be safe.
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Be careful about your personal items. Although students are warned about this every semester, someone always looses something or has something stolen. In spring 2003 several students had their passports, eurails, clothes, electronics, and wallets stolen. I advise you to put the first two items, along with large amounts of cash, in a money belt and keep it there at all times while traveling.
- Learn the 24 hour clock, it's helpful because all of Europe uses this system, and comes in handy when reading important information like train schedules. 13:00 = 1pm, 15:00 = 3pm, 17:00 = 5pm, etc.
I set my watch to the 24 clock as soon as I got on the plane here.
- Save some space in your baggage for extra things you buy here, or send it home (by mail, or with your parents if they visit)
- Get a check up by your doctor before you come to be in the best shape possible. There's a doctor available here, but better safe than sorry.
- Bring as much music as possible. I brought about 15 cds (some new) with my diskman and I was sick of them within a few weeks. Everyone was in the same boat. I liked the idea of bringing a mp3 player with hundreds of songs, but you can't burn anything here. Borrowing cds from others here is always an option.
- After you're really sick of listening to your cds (though you followed my advice and brought as much as you could stand), try online music. I love this website, and if you click on this link it should take you to Kiss Fm Nice, which has lots of fun Euro pop and French songs.
- Snapfish.com- a great photo service that a few dwellers took advantage of this semester. Print out an address label and send your film (back to the States) to be developed and put online within a month (depends how you send it, ex: priority is faster). Click the title to visit the site.
- If you take a bus trip under and hour and a half, you only have to stamp your strippenkart (a temporary bus pass you have to buy) once. I WISH I HAD KNOWN THAT!
- Though it's not necessary, I wished I had tried to learn more Dutch than I did. Everyone picks up on words and phrases such as "dank u well" (thank you), "alstublieft" (please/there you go/ the word for everything), "ja" (yes), "nee" (no), and "hoi" (hi, only used in some parts of the Netherlands. Dimitry is glad to teach anyone Dutch, but it's a very hard language to pronounce.
- Since ATM withdrawl charges add up, Dimitry suggests that you rent a safe at the bank in Well. It costs approx. 20 euros for the semester, which could be cheaper than the ATM. You can store a very large sum of money in there and take it out whenever you need to. Although, you'd have to be conscious of the bank opening hours, which, like all the other stores, are kind of odd.
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I was told to bring about 3,000 dollars, so I did. I spent about 2,500 dollars the whole semester, but I traveled less than most students (I had to stay home several weekends, and sometimes I felt like staying at the Castle). I'm also really into budgeting, so I saved a lot of money, that is until I splurged on some Italian clothes, but that's another story. I kept track of my expenses on Microsoft Excel, so I could see how much I spent and what I bought. Keep in mind I didn't spend much on drinks, etc. Heres an approximate breakdown of some key expenses:
Weekly average: $10
Food: $450
Trains (reservations or when Eurail wasnt activated): $175
Toiletries, Clothes, Etc: $20
3 ½ Strippenkarts: $62
30 Postcards and stamps: $30
Gifts: $100
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Speaking of expenses, I made a good investment one Friday: a massage at the Thermal Baths. Ahhhhhh, so good! It was right before finals and it was incredible. After all the travel, which kills your feet and back, a massage is a great idea. Mine was 50 mins, and I paid 50 euros (45 euro without the tip), and well worth it. I felt amazing the entire week.
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In most of Europe you have to pay for the bathrooms, and this costs about ,50 euro cents
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