How to Plan Your Trip to Eastern Europe
If you’re ready for a bit more culture and more than a bit more adventure, it might be time to leave the tidy western Europe behind and head into the more vast and untamed Eastern Europe. Much of Eastern Europe has strong Asian and nomadic ties making the history and culture of these countries extremely different than any other region in the world. When you’re ready to see what the other side of Europe has to offer, here’s how to plan your trip to Eastern Europe.
Start with the Paperwork
You can’t actually apply for visas to various countries before you have your travel dates and plans, but you should start by understanding what is required by each Eastern European country as far as tourists are concerned. It is far more likely that you’ll need a visa for a country in Eastern Europe than you would for one in Western Europe and almost all visas must be applied for separately. This means a few days in Russia requires a Russian visa and a week in Turkey requires a separate Turkey visa. The processing time for each country may take up to a month, so leave yourself time to be processed when planning your travel.
Book Travel
Once you understand what travel in each country entails, you can begin making arrangements. Flights to major cities will be less expensive, and you might be able to find a better flight arrangement by flying to a Western Country and then flying into the East. Or a train might let you take in more of the countryside than a flight. Book reputable hotels or get suggestions from a trusted source. You may find that your dollar stretches a long way in some countries, so go first class if you can afford it – it’s a treat anywhere in the world.
Plan for Adventure
There is much to do in Eastern Europe and the weather ranges from the dry and dusty steppe to the wet and freezing north. Bring clothing appropriate for your area and women especially should research the religions and customs of counties to ensure they are properly attired. Most countries recognize and also wear the same styles as the US, but as you get closer to Asia, it might be more appropriate to try and follow the same customs of the locals out of respect.
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