How Much to Bring

I recently traveled to The Netherlands with my school's study abroad program. The first thing they told us? Save. We would be abroad for four months and although room and board were provided to us by our school during the week, on weekends we'd be on our own. When I arrived in The Netherlands in fall 2007, the exchange rate was about $1.50 American dollars to one Euro and $2.00 American dollars to the British pound. This means you should expect to lose at least a third of your money just in exchange rates.

They suggested to us to use credit cards, as this will give you the best exchange rate. I found that doing this often led to high fees for overseas use. It's a good resource if you're buying in bulk, but for small purchases keep cash on hand. Get foreign money at your bank beforehand, they will give you the best exchange rate. Use ATM's when you need cash abroad, and avoid cash exchange booths that can rip you off.

I found that $5,000 was sufficient for me for four months, but even if you're just going for a week I would suggest having at least $1,000. You never know what expenses will come up, and with the exchange rate constantly fluctuating, it's a good idea to have extra cash on hand.

Getting Around

My program encouraged us to travel on the weekends and gave us each a Eurail pass that would enable us to travel most of Europe. You can obtain these passes via the Eurail website for anywhere from 10 days to three months. Though they're a bit pricy, it's a good investment if you'll be traveling to three or more countries. Otherwise you'll have to pick up tickets as you go, which can lead to complications and a general hassle. Also, a two hour train ride can cost as much as $50.

If you need to use an airline, Ryanair is Europe's leading bargain flight. The airports are a bit out of the way, but with the price of a ticket starting at $30 American dollars, it's definitely worth the extra bus ride. It's a flight devoid of luxury, but it gets you to your destination for cheap.

Where to Stay

Forget the horror movies, Hostels are the backpacker's best friend. Websites like Hostelworld list hostels in particular cities that cost as little as $10 per night. Some even include breakfast and discounts on tours. You'll probably have to share a room with other guests, but for the most part hostels are safe and reliable. Just make sure to book in advance, because of their cheap price they fill up quickly.

Eating

I found that in each city I visited, there were certain foods that were necessary to sample. However, most foods that are popular to a particular place (think: Belgian waffles in Brussels, Gyros in Athens) have multiple restaurants that serve the dish. Don't just go to the first place you see, shop around to get the best price. A four star restaurant may serve a Welsh Rabbit (grilled ham and cheese) that is just as delicious as the pub down the street.

Also, limit yourself to one special dinner per place you visit, or even just per week. It will save you money and there's no shame in eating fast food every now and then. Also, grocery stores can be a cheap way to get a good meal. What's more romantic than wine, bread, and cheese in a French park? The atmosphere is free, and the food is a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere!

Following these tips you'll be able to have a fun and exciting European vacation on a budget. Make sure to take as many pictures as possible and keep your valuables and passport on you at all times. Happy travels!

Visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs Website

At this website, you can download the documentation that you will need to process your passport. You can also find out more information about how you can renew your passport if you already have one. Anyway, if this is your first attempt at obtaining a passport then click here. To simply renew your passport, click here.

You have the option of entering your information online, or simply downloading the PDF onto your computer to print out. If you have bad handwriting skills then you may wish to go ahead and fill out the PDF online, and then print the document from the website. Or you can just print out the documents, and fill them out by hand if you so desire.

Picture ID

In order to be eligible for your passport, you must have two photo IDs of yourself. You simply need to take one full frontal picture of yourself, and print it out two times. Keep in mind that the photo must be exactly two inches on all its sides, and the paper that the picture is printed on needs to be able to withstand two hundred and twenty five degrees Fahrenheit.

So you may want a professional to do it for you. You can simply go to Walgreens or somewhere similar, and have it done. The process should only take a few minutes, and your picture should be ready in an hour or two. And it costs about nine dollars if you go to Walgreens.

Identification

You will also need to fill out your social security number on the passport paperwork and your date of birth. Another requirement is that you have your original birth certificate. As for the social security card itself, you only need the number. You are not required to give the passport agency your social security card. And make sure you have your driver's license on hand as well.

Find a Passport Agency

There are over nine thousand different agencies in the United States that will process your passport documents. The Travel.State.Gov website also provides another link to these different agencies. The agencies consist of federal buildings, post offices; etc. Click here for more information.

Cost

The cost of a US passport isn't too terrible. The passport will last for ten years, so the price is reasonable. As for what that price is, it comes to ninety seven dollars total and this includes shipping. However, if you would like to have your passport rushed then expect to pay an extra sixty dollars. So that brings your grand total to one hundred fifty seven dollars.

Shipping

Shipping times will vary depending on how many people want a passport. As of August 2007, the expected wait time for passports with standard shipping is eight to twelve weeks. If you choose to rush the shipping, your passport should arrive between two and four weeks.

As you can see, obtaining a passport is not a very difficult process. It can take quite a while for you to receive your passport, so keep that in mind when you are applying for yours. Other then the waiting, it's very easy. So now you have no excuse for not getting yours.