The Black Woman Guide to travel abroad (Europe)
A few years ago, I got the chance to go on an amazing Italian excursion. I’d previously been to many Caribbean islands such as Trinidad, Virgin Islands, Aruba and Antigua, but these places were childs’ play when it came to what I was about to experience in Europe! The people of the Caribbean spoke English and I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Europe, on the other hand, was a different story.
Here are a few tips that may help you along your way!
1. Get your passport– I know this is common sense, but get your passport. Depending on where you are going you may also need to secure a Visa. Allow yourself time to secure your paperwork. In many cases, you can get your passport expedited if you already have a plane ticket. The cost for an expedited Passport is $185 and it usually arrives within 10 days!
2. Learn about currency exchange– Let your bank know you’re heading out of the country. The last thing you’d want is for your account to be frozen due to “suspicious activity”. The exchange rates in other countries can be kind of confusing and many times you may be able to find competitive locations. Beware of scammers!
3. Familiarize yourself with the location of the US Embassy– In case you have to flee or you have an emergency with the law, be sure to know exactly where you can seek asylum. Have you seen Locked Up Abroad? It does not seem awesome! http://www.usembassy.gov/
4. Buy Travel Converters and adapters– So apparently, different countries have different plugs. I learned this the hard way. If you want to be able to flat iron your hair, charge your phone or use any of those electrons, be sure to invest in a PLUG CONVERTER.
5. Learn the language There’s nothing like being lost and not having the ability to communicate. I made it through Rome, Italy with only my backpack and speaking broken Spanish. Lucky for me, Spanish and Italian are a bit similar. Not much though. Learn something about the culture and get immersed in the way of their life. Foreigners appreciate you trying and that goes a long way
This is the day that I was trying to buy a train ticket to Rome and I could NOT read the screen because it was in Italian!!
6. Do your hair- I’m a natural girl, but I’ve found that some countries have hard water and some countries have soft water. Some countries have really cold water! In order to not look like a bird in a foreign land, make sure you have an easy, low maintenance hairstyle and travel size options of your best products on deck! When all else fails, bring a wig!
7. Take a few days worth of clothing and essentials on your carry on– My luggage was lost when I landed in Naples, Italy. Not only did I not know how to communicate with the people in the small airport, I was only staying in Naples for one night. My luggage had to be delivered to the Isle of Capri, which was a boat ride away. This was confusing and utterly frustrating.
8. Take a phone with a SIM card- SIM cards are readily available in the local shops. SIM cards operate on the Global System for Mobile Communications so this means that you can get a temporary phone number while traveling. In most cases, you can pay for usage as you go. If your cell provider here in the mainland has an international package, then look into it. From my experience a SIM card is much more affordable. (See #18)
9. Do not get robbed PLEASE- Safety first. Do not make yourself look all confused and touristy. This is a surefire way to become a victim.
10. Make copies of all of your important documents in case items are lost or stolen- It’s much easier to get emergency help and replacements when you can provide important ID numbers.
11. Do not pre-book unnecessary excursions- In many instances, you will be so excited that you’re in a new place, that you will not want to keep a tight schedule. Allow yourself to just enjoy the ambiance! There are always great travels deals being sold in the country you will be visiting.
12. Be prepared to hate the water- Take some packages of water enhancer in case bottled water is hard to come by.
13. Take your own hot sauce- I’m so serious here. I’m a country girl and I love my food seasoned a specific way. Unless you palate is already trained, chances are, they won’t have Lawry’s Seasoned Salt….so take your own. Thank me later!
14. Always know where you are- Study a map of your place of interest and always know the emergency (911) phone number for it.
15. Represent us well girl! – Be prepared for stares and remember that you are an ambassador for Black American Women. Its unfortunate, but people aren’t used to seeing black folk travel. Once they know you are an American they will be utterly fascinated that you had the means to visit their country and are not Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama. I’ve gotten curious stares. I have had nice Europeans ask me pictures like I was a celebrity. Requests to touch my hair were not uncommon. I will say this, European men LOVE us! They do have a safe fascination with Black women. So have fun and be careful.
16. Most European/foreign men are uncircumcised– Many women in Western culture have never even seen an uncircumcised member. Be prepared for a shock if you’re planning on hooking up with some foreign peen while you’re in a foreign land. Although, I’m not that daring, if you’re going to have a random hookup, but again, BE CAREFUL!!
17. Check the weather ahead of time- A friend of mine went to Paris and London and was shocked that the temperature in London was 20 degrees cooler than it had been in Paris. Needless to say she spent unanticipated funds buying clothes suitable for the change in climate.
18. Please, please, please call your cell phone provider BEFORE you take off.- Usually there are a few detailed steps that you must take in order to avoid a surprise cell bill when you get home. Did you know that you will still be charged roaming fees for calls you do not answer?! Most cell carriers allow you to temporarily change your plan to accommodate International travel. (See #8)
Now prepare for takeoff!!!
