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Tips for an Easier Transatlantic Journey

While a vacation to Europe can be an exciting proposition, the long, usually overnight journey can leave you arriving in your dream destination in a fog. Most flights to Europe leave one day and arrive bright and early the next morning. There are, however, a number of strategies that can help minimize any transatlantic hangover.

Minimize stress by being organized

One of the best time investments you can make is to organize your information and documents before leaving home. Type out and print all the details of the journey, in order. For the "getting there" part of the trip your list should include all information you may need between the time you leave the house and when you are settled in your hotel. This means not just flight information, but parking plans or shuttle details; any pre-flight hotel confirmations; directions and phone numbers; arrival and ground transportation details; and hotel confirmations. And don't forget to include emergency phone numbers. Make two copies and pack one copy in your carry-on and put the second in your passport pouch. Having all of this information together and easily accessible can provide great peace of mind during your journey.

Cash to Go

Another helpful "pre-plan" tip is to ensure that you arrive with enough cash in local currency to see you through to hotel check-in. For a recent trip to Italy, I simply went to my local bank a week in advance and purchased enough Euro to avoid the need for any airport currency exchanges. But call ahead, as not all bank branches sell foreign currency and some others require a few days to complete your request.

Selecting your flight(s)

If possible, try to select a direct flight. This will minimize stress and provide the maximum opportunity for sleep. Many times, however, your affordable flight choices require at least one connecting flight. In this case, I recommend choosing a connecting flight in the U.S. instead of one abroad. This will put your connection earlier in your itinerary, before you become overly tired, and if you aren't a seasoned traveler, you will be connecting in less unfamiliar surroundings. The biggest benefit is that by the time you are ready to sleep, you will be on the last (and longest) leg of your flight.

Seat Selection

To maximize the potential for the most comfortable flight, begin by researching the type of aircraft for each flight. I find the seatguru.com website invaluable. It provides the seating layout of each aircraft as

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