These are the tips picked up traveling to security conferences in Europe and the US. Start with the general, flight, and money tips, then jump to the country you’re headed to for its transit apps. I add to this post after every trip.
TLDR
- Before you go: arrive a day early, buy an eSIM instead of paying for roaming, and check your card’s foreign transaction fees. (More)
- Flying: keep your necessities in your carry-on, and use budget airlines for short hops in Europe. (More)
- Getting around: compare Bolt and Uber, and skip unmarked taxis. (More)
- By country: transit apps for Europe and the US, plus a full NYC subway guide.
General tips 🗺️
- Arrive one day early so you will have buffer time if there are issues (i.e., last-minute cancellations or delays).
- Use a digital eSIM through the Airalo app. These are much cheaper than using cell service through a US phone plan.
Air travel ✈️
- Flyzo – add flights to calendar
- If you’re bringing multiple bags, ensure your necessities are in your carry-on. If the airline loses your checked luggage, you’ll still have your necessities.
- Cheap flights in Europe: Wizz Air, EasyJet, Ryanair
Bus
Flixbus assigns seats that may place you next to someone even if the bus is mostly empty. When this happens, I let the person know that if more people board, I’ll sit in my assigned seat next to them. Otherwise, I’ll sit in an empty row so we both have more space.
Car 🚗
- Ubers tend to be cheaper in Europe than in the US.
- Bolt is often cheaper than Uber, but check both.
- Be cautious of unmarked taxis anywhere in the world.
- AAA International Driving Permit
Credit cards 💳
Some credit cards charge fees for international transactions. Check with your credit card provider to confirm if this applies. As of 2024, the Discover student card does not have these fees.
Health 🏥
Fitness 🏋🏻♀️
- Logic: If you’re willing to spend $15 on a restaurant meal (instead of grocery store) that takes you an hour to eat, $15 daily gym pass is not “expensive.”
Food 🥗
Food delivery apps in Europe include Wolt, Glovo, and BoltFood.
Note: Wolt+ charges a separate monthly subscription for each country you order from. I was charged €3, €5, and €4 per month simultaneously because I used Wolt+ in three different countries. Keep this in mind to avoid unexpected charges!
Hostels and rentals 🏨
- AirBnB is often more expensive in Europe, but cheaper in the USA compared to hotels.
- Hostel resources
- HostelWorld
- Booking.com – not exclusively for hostels.
- HIHostels
Scholarships 💰
- HI USA
Europe 🇪🇺
Austria 🇦🇹
Croatia 🇭🇷
- Train & bus tickets – ZetMobile / MojZet
Germany 🇩🇪
- Train & bus tickets – BVG
Greece 🇬🇷
- Coming soon.
Italy 🇮🇹
- Ubers are not used in rural Italy (e.g., Bergamo). You’ll need to call a taxi or use FREENOW. The Uber and ItTaxi apps claim to work, but there is a high chance no ride will be found within 20 minutes.
Luxembourg 🇱🇺
- Coming soon.
France 🇫🇷
- Coming soon.
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Slovenia 🇸🇮
- Coming soon.
The Netherlands 🇳🇱
- Coming soon.
United Kingdom 🇬🇧
- Coming soon.
Ukraine 🇺🇦
- Air Alert! app for attack tracking and conditional alarm setup
Middle East
Turkey 🇹🇷
- Coming soon.
Qatar 🇶🇦
- Coming soon.
United States 🇺🇸
Getting around the US
- Amtrak Train app
- Speed up U.S. Customs after international travel by using the CBP MPC app.
California
- Clipper Card app for the BART, Muni, and CalTrain.
Massachusetts
- Coming soon.
Nevada
Las Vegas
- Delicious and affordable restaurants and locations: Casino Royale, Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, and Chinatown; There is also a Denny’s near DEF CON.
New Jersey
New York
New York City
- Everything You Need to Rent an Apartment In NYC, From Paperwork to Fees – StreetEasy
- NYC Ferry App
- MTA Train Time app for NY train fares and schedules on the LIRR and Metro-North
Subway
How to set up tap-to-pay subway fares (Express Transit) with Apple Watch and iPhone.
Basics
- Google Maps is the most reliable app for subway routes and live arrival times.
- Always check subway line letter/number, not just color or station name.
- E.g., Spring Street has multiple lines; verify it’s the one you need (6 vs. C/E).
- Know the difference:
- Express trains skip many stops (faster).
- Local trains stop at every station.
- Check signs for Uptown (North/Harlem) or Downtown (South/Financial District).
- Double-check station names + lines, especially at:
- Canal Street
- 23rd Street
- Spring Street
- Pay attention to transfer-free routes (fewer changes = fewer chances to get lost or targeted).
- Keep your bag zipped and in front of you.
- Avoid using loud or flashy electronics.
- Use noise-canceling headphones judiciously—be aware of surroundings.
- Trust your instincts—if something feels off, move cars or wait for the next train.
- Blending in means acting like you know where you’re going, even if you’re not sure.
Subway safety tips
- Sit near the conductor’s car.
- Avoid eye contact with strangers. Stay alert, not friendly.
- Don’t stand in front of the subway doors. Let riders off first—blending in means understanding the flow.
- Switch cars if:
- The car is completely empty (could mean a problem—bad smell, safety concern).
- Someone is acting erratically. Exit at the next station calmly and move to another car.
- Stay aware of your surroundings.
- Keep valuables hidden.
- Avoid standing still in walking paths or station corridors.
- Don’t check your phone/directions in the middle of busy walkways.
Navigating entrances & exits
- Smaller station entrances marked by green globes.
- Watch for signs that say “Uptown only” or “Downtown only.”
- If you enter the wrong direction, you’ll need to:
- Cross the street and re-enter (pay again).
- Ask station staff to let you transfer.
- Take one stop in the wrong direction and transfer if the next station allows it.
- If you enter the wrong direction, you’ll need to:
- Look for “Underpass” signs: these allow internal transfers between uptown/downtown platforms.
Paying and entry
- Single Ride: $2.90
- MetroCard vs. OMNY (contactless):
- Use OMNY if you have a tap-enabled credit card or smartphone (iOS/Android wallet).
- MetroCard still needed for the JFK AirTrain ($8.25 + $1 card fee).
- Unlimited Options:
- OMNY has fare capping: 12 rides Mon–Sun = rest of week free.
- For short trips (not Mon–Sun), better to buy a 7-day MetroCard ($33).
- Each OMNY device/card can pay for up to 4 riders (1 tap + 3 extras).
- Kids under 44 inches ride free.
Accessibility
- NYC subways are not fully accessible.
- Subway stations are HOT in summer.
Subway habits
- If people are running down stairs, a train is probably arriving.
- Follow the train letters, not just the colored line (e.g., orange line = F, M, D, B).
- When in doubt, ask the conductor before the doors close.
- Exit strategy:
- Know the street corner/exit you’re headed to (e.g., “6th Ave and 57th”).
- Even if you exit wrong, you’ll usually still be close.
I add to this post after every trip, so check back before your next one. For what to bring, see my packing list, and for photos from past trips, see my travel page.
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