Parking a car in European cities

Parking a car can be simple if you understand the system that has evolved over the last few decades to accommodate the growing traffic in older crowded European cities. Some hotels allow free parking but generally not in the downtown or tourist areas. The rates however, are comparable to US big city hotels ranging anywhere from 8-12 Euros per night. It really depends on how close you are to the old town or city center where real estate can be expensive. You can also use public parking garages or park on the street and pay a meter. The meters in Europe are a bit different. Where metered parking is available, you'll find one of several convenient “meter” stations spaced to serve about every dozen spaces.  Just as in the US, you pay for the amount of time you want. In a downtown area in a Germany city recently, the rate was 1 Euro per hour but available in minutes based on how many coins you inserted. I believe the minimum time was 15 minutes or .25 cents (yes, the Euro is made up of 100 cents). When you have inserted your coins and selected the time you want to park you will push a green button and a receipt will print with the time you have selected your meter to expire. For example, if it is noon and you want to park for 45 minutes you deposit .75 cents and when done you push the green button on the meter and a receipt prints that shows valid parking till 12:45 (it has a date printed so no fudging). You then take the receipt and put it on your dash (then lock your car). The receipt can then be read by the meter monitor on her rounds. If you come back to feed the meter, just repeat the process and replace the old receipt on your dash with the new one. Its really quite simple without the need to have parking meters for every car.   Parking overnight on the street is usually free after a certain time. In popular tourist areas it may be as late as 10PM.  The same rules you learned in driver's ed apply about not blocking exits, parking in restricted spots or too close to the corner.

Car Rental in Europe

Car rental in Europe is really not much different than in the US.  You’ll find the same major international rental agencies you’re familiar with in the US at major airports in Europe as well as in the city center near the train station (historically the center of town).  A valid US drivers license and credit card is all you need. You do NOT need an international driver’s license.  I had one back in the mid 1970’s and never used it.  To reserve a car in advance, go to any of the online travel sites (I still like Kayak.com) and make a reservation.  The car rental booths can be found at baggage claim.  After that, it’s all a matter of what additional services or insurance coverage you want.  And,… like renting a car in America, they make you sign lots of papers and then initial a few dozen places saying that you are responsible for anything and everything especially if you don’t buy their comprehensive collision damage coverage.  For those who like to use the American Express Gold card to waive coverage, you might check first to make sure that agency allows it.  Some do and some don’t.  The main ones we’re most familiar with should be fine (Hertz, Avis, Budget) but on some of the lesser known ones I have been shown the fine print in the contract saying that only Visa Gold or some other “gold” card is all that will allow their insurance to be waived. 

Rental rates are actually quite reasonable.  One would think it is more expensive for a week long rental in Europe but I find it about the same or even less than in the US.  Maybe it’s because the cars are smaller and not as expensive to start with.

The cars you rent are geared to travel well on the European Autobahns, park easy in the smaller streets of old towns and not break the bank in miles per gallon or as the Europeans measure it in “liters per 100 Kilometers”.  Although gas is just over double what we pay per gallon, the smaller 4 cylinder European rentals whether gas or diesels are also getting about double the mileage compared to the cars currently offered in the US.  Diesel cars do even better and most are also turbo charged.  So on average I’d say it’s about the same cost for a week’s rental in Europe.  It’s also more common to find stick shift rentals.  Automatics are generally a small upcharge.  I prefer stick shift for better mileage and performance.   Although train travel is common in Europe, you’ll be surprised that for two travelers you might find it cheaper and have more flexibility to rent a car rather than takeing the train.  More on train travel in upcoming blog.

International Texting

A feature that works well to stay in touch overseas and wont break the bank is TEXTING.  As noted in the previous blog, using your North American cell phone provider in Europe without a local SIM card or special plan can be VERY expensive.  However, texting, by contrast, is very affordable.  I am most familiar with my ATT plan and its options but the other carriers have similar ones so just check with your provider for specifics. 
There are two ways to handle texting with ATT cell phones.  You can text overseas and pay the .25 cents per text to send and .20 cents to receive a text.  Text messages will come in through the "cell data" portion of your settings so don't turn off your cell phone if you want to get texts.  You don't have to worry about roaming charges if you use the phone for texting and not as a regular cell phone.  |As mentioned in the previous blog, if you have a smart phone you need to turn off the "Data Roaming" in your settings which wont affect receiving or sending cell calls or texts.  I don't answer my cell phone abroad but rely on text messages from those who want to get in touch with me. I then text them back or call them later on SKYPE when I have wi-fi service.
ATT also offers cheaper text service for $10 a month that allows you to text from anywhere for .10 per message coming or going.  Its probably not worth the it for a 10 day visit to Europe unless you plan on sending or receiving at least 100 texts.    Check with your phone provider to see what they offer in international phone/ text packages

Cheap long distance calling from Europe

Want to stay in touch with the friends and family back home for free or just a few pennies a minute?  Here's how. SKYPE.   http://www.skype.com.  Skype was actually founded in Tallinn in 2003, snatched up by Ebay and last year sold to Microsoft Corp.  Skype allows you to use your laptop, cell or smart phone to call over the internet free from PC to PC or for just under 3 cents to call from cell phone to land lines or other cell phones.  You can even do video chats on a laptop or smart phone.
Don't even think of trying to use your ATT, Virizon, T-Moile or other service providers to call (or answer calls) in Europe. If you do, be prepared for at lest $1.99 per minute + roaming charges.  With a wi-fi signal you can use Skype from anywhere.  In Tallinn, wi-fi is everywhere and free even in the streets of the old town.  The convention hotels both have free wi-fi throughout.  There are just a few things to do to get you started.  Once you've downloaded Skype you need to set up an account and use a credit card or Pay Pal and deposit some money in it which gets drawn down as it gets used. You start with $10 and either automatically have it replenished when it gets low or get an email request alert for a new deposit.  I have been using Skype regularily for over two years and am working on my second $10 reserve. If you have a smart phone (I-Phone, Android, etc) I recommend TURNING OFF your network data roaming (in the settings) while in Europe or you might get billed for roaming charges.  You can still leave your cell phone powered on and that way you can see who is calling.  Just dont answer and then return calls later via Skype.  If you want to use your cell phone at will like you do at home,  look into buying a local sim card or minutes from a European provider.  I've never done that so you'll have to do your own research.  I'll cover adapters for charging electronics, voltage concerns and texting in Europe in upcoming blogs.

International travel using a travel agent (part 2)

Still in a quandary about when and how to book your Civitan convention flights to Tallinn this July?  Letting a professional handle your trip is likely the best course for those who seldom book overseas travel or don’t want to try and master a host of new online web sites and options.  There is a time and place to do business online including banking, investing, bill paying, etc.  However, nothing in our early schooling or training since has prepared us for the sometimes overwhelming task of booking online international travel given all its nuances, options and fares.  As with any new online activity there is a learning curve to find and navigate the appropriate sites but that is only one aspect of planning an international trip.  Understanding some of the complexities of the newer airline rules, international security issues and baggage limitations suggest that using an experienced professional travel agent might be best.  In part 1 of this topic on January 5, I gave you some ideas on how to find an agent.  If by now you haven’t found one and have not felt comfortable venturing out online to begin the process then allow me to recommend an experienced professional agent.  Wayne Mullis Travel has been booking Civitan travel to international conventions for over 20 years.  This year is no exception.  For only $25 they will book your roundtrip flights to Tallinn, Estonia.  They monitor the fares, appraise you of options and shop to insure you get the best fares at the time of booking.  Mr. Mullis himself will be in Tallinn to help at the other end if needed.  You can call or email them to book your convention travel program:  800 225-4815 or amoe@wmtvl.webmail.com (put “Civitan” or Tallinn somewhere in the subject line.)

Reminder: If you are planning to participate in one of the post convention tours in July, the deadline to commit for a berth on the 7 day Baltic cruise is March 8.