Europe 101 | The Press

After a few years traveling across Quebec and the rest of Canada, many Quebecers are beginning a return to Europe. For those who feel a little rusty, here is a quick overview to prepare for a trip across the Atlantic.

The travel agent

It is becoming easier and easier to plan a trip yourself using online booking sites, but using a travel agent can still have advantages.

“There is a surplus of information in the market, there is supply on all sides, it may take a professional to help demystify it all,” declares Chantal Lapointe, director of growth strategy at CAA-Quebec Travel.

She adds that the travel agent is recognized by the Consumer Protection Office as an official service provider, which allows recourse in the event of a problem, whether it is a canceled flight or luggage. disappeared.

“Those who are able to do all that by themselves, so much the better, they can go on the web and have fun,” says Steve Marcotte, director of the Voyages Terre et Monde agency. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to use a travel agency. An agent is up to date with all the new developments, such as a new permit to visit Europe which was supposed to come into effect this year, but which has been pushed back to 2025.”

Travel insurance

With the upheaval in the travel industry during and after the pandemic, travelers are increasingly aware of the usefulness of travel insurance.

“As soon as we leave Quebec, whether in Europe or elsewhere, and even in Canada, there is care that is not covered by the Régie de l’assurance santé du Québec, it can be extremely expensive,” recalls Chantal Lapointe, of CAA-Quebec Travel. Insurance for emergency medical care is a sine qua non, it absolutely takes that. »

It’s a good idea to also look into trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

“As soon as we commit sums of money for plane tickets, a hotel room, a car rental, there are many services that are not refundable,” underlines M^me The point.

Many credit cards and group insurance plans offer some protection, but you have to read the fine print to see if it is sufficient.

Steve Marcotte, of Voyages Terre et Monde, also recommends paying attention to your plane ticket class: some carriers allow you to cancel a flight a few hours before departure with a very reasonable penalty.

“It’s sometimes worth it not to take the cheapest ticket and to have the possibility of canceling it,” he notes.

Money

The good old traveler’s checks no longer exist. Travelers mostly rely on their credit card to cover most of their expenses abroad.

“I always have two, a Visa and a Mastercard,” says Chantal Lapointe, of Voyages CAA-Québec. If I lose the first one, if I have it stolen, if it is refused, I always keep another one in the hotel safe or in my little belly pouch. »

She also keeps an ATM card in case she needs cash. But as a general rule, she exchanges a small amount into local currencies before leaving Canada. Preferably at your bank, even if it means ordering the currencies in advance.

You should especially avoid currency exchange offices at the airport.

“The fees are higher,” says Steve Marcotte, of Voyages Terre et Monde. They take a bigger one cut. »

When you use your credit card abroad, you may see a text on the terminal offering to immediately convert the amount into Canadian dollars.

“It’s tempting because we say to ourselves that we will at least know how much it costs, but it is not necessarily the best choice, there are costs which are generally high,” says Chantal Lapointe.

Tips

Tipping in Europe wasn’t complicated. It’s starting to change.

“In Europe, in general, tipping, or what we call service, is included in most bills for most merchants,” says Chantal Lapointe, of Voyages CAA-Québec. In France, the norm was to leave 1 euro if you were really happy. It was up to people’s discretion. »

But in recent years, employees in service businesses have started to expect to receive a tip when dealing with North Americans.

“They know that in North America, we give tips,” says M.^me Lapointe, who points out that people who work in the tourism industry are also experiencing the repercussions of inflation.

“I went to a Club Med to go skiing,” says Steve Marcotte, of Voyages Terre et Monde. Everything was included, but we liked our ski instructor. The French people I was with decided to leave him a little something. Tipping is not obligatory, but I know people leave them. »

Accommodation

The types of accommodation have multiplied in recent years. You can always stay at a hotel, but you can also opt for a hostel, a lodge, a house, a chalet, an apartment.

“Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I like small hotels that are well located, with breakfast included,” says Steve Marcotte, of Voyages Terre et Monde. I don’t have to worry, especially for a weekend. But when you stay longer, something like an Airbnb could be interesting. »

Above all, it is the possibility of preparing your own meals, and therefore saving on restaurant costs, which can be advantageous.

“And then, it’s so much fun to go to local grocery stores and buy local ingredients,” says Chantal Lapointe, of Voyages CAA-Québec. It is an integration into the local culture. »

Renting a house or apartment also allows you to settle down in one place and travel around.

“There is a social conscience that is emerging: I do not want to take 23 flights and wander from one country to another in Europe,” notes M^me The point.

Steve Marcotte indicates that youth hostels also allow you to make your own meals. He notes that they are not reserved for young people and that there are often private rooms there, and not just dormitories.

“If someone travels alone, it allows them to meet people, to socialize. »

Travel

It is not always appropriate to rent a car when traveling in Europe.

“When I go to a big city, it’s not worth it,” says Steve Marcotte, of Voyages Terre et Monde. Public transport is so efficient whether it is trains, buses, trams. If, ultimately, you are in a hurry to get to a particular place where there is no public transportation, you take Uber. »

He specifies that a car should be considered when it comes to leaving major centers and visiting, for example, the castles of the Loire.

You can then rent a car, or take advantage of a purchase-purchase plan, a possibility which still exists.

“It’s very similar to renting except that technically, you are the owner and it’s much more economical if you leave for more than 30 days,” says Chantal Lapointe, of Voyages CAA-Québec.

However, maneuvering in some countries where people drive on the left, for example in the United Kingdom, presents certain challenges.

“When I went to Ireland, I took secondary roads, I went to a commercial parking lot to practice, like when you learn to drive,” recalls M^me The point. It’s about developing your reflexes. »

Some suggest talking out loud to yourself to remember what to do when entering a highway or changing lanes.

“If we miss the exit in a roundabout, we don’t panic, we take another turn and get out safely,” continues M^me The point.

The cell phone

In Europe, there are fewer and fewer public telephones or telephones in hotels. A cell phone becomes almost essential.

“The first thing to do is to look at your plan for international cell phone use,” says Chantal Lapointe, of Voyages CAA-Québec. It’s often around $15 per day. »

Generally, this roaming plan is triggered automatically, for a whole day, when you try to connect to a network abroad. It’s simple, but it can be costly if you follow this path every day.

You can also obtain a local SIM card, or even a virtual eSIM card, which does not require loading a physical card into your device.

“On the other hand, we lose our telephone number during this time,” says M^me The point.

You have to determine if you want to be permanently connected. In fact, you can put your phone in airplane mode and take advantage of the WiFi in your hotel or certain public places to connect.

“Be careful, these are not secure WiFi, you have to be careful if you have transactions to make,” reminds M^me The point.

We can communicate using applications like WhatsAppparticularly popular in Europe.

“I went to Europe for a week, I put my cell phone in airplane mode,” says Steve Marcoux, of Voyages Terre et Monde. When I came back to the hotel, it went ding ding ding, then I took my messages on WhatsApp. »