Europe 2026
100days to go

Still to book & confirm

Everything not yet locked in.

Hotels to confirm

  • Kraków — AC Hotel by Marriott (Sept 6–9): confirm it is booked, and request the airport shuttle.

Tickets & tours

  • Anne Frank House (Sept 5) — watch the site; tickets release Tuesdays at 10:00 am CEST, six weeks out.
  • Van Gogh Museum (Sept 5) — buy once the Anne Frank time is set (~$31.71 each).
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau (Sept 7 or 8) — confirm the date, tour option and time, and the Viator booking.
  • Wieliczka Salt Mine (Sept 7 or 8) — confirm the date, tour option and time; book.
  • Hungarian Parliament interior tour (Sept 10) — book ahead.
  • Dubrovnik City Walls (Sept 12 or 13) — buy from the official City Walls site.
  • Vatican Museums / Sistine Chapel (Sept 15) — book.
  • Colosseum, Full Experience with Underground (Sept 15) — book.
  • Pompeii (Sept 16) — book tickets or a tour in advance (limited daily entry).
  • Accademia Gallery, Florence — 'David' timed entry (Sept 17) — book.
  • St. Mark's Basilica, Venice — timed entry (Sept 18) — book.
  • Venice day-visitor access fee — check whether Sept 18 is a fee day.

Italy trains

  • Sept 16 — Rome → Naples 08:53 ($114); Naples → Rome 20:30 ($98).
  • Sept 17 — Rome → Florence 07:25 ($100).
  • Sept 18 — Florence → Venice 08:20 ($118); Venice → Rome FCO 17:26 ($232).

Transfers

  • Gainesville to ATL — book the Groome Transportation shuttle both ways (Sep 4 out, Sep 19 back).
  • Amsterdam — hotel-arranged airport taxi both ways (ask reception).
  • Kraków — request the AC Hotel airport shuttle.
  • Budapest — arrange airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport transport.
  • Dubrovnik — arrange the Sept 14 departure transfer.

Dinner reservations

  • Amsterdam (Sept 5, for 4) — Jansz.
  • Kraków (Sept 6, for 6) — SOBRE de la MESA at the hotel.
  • Kraków (Sept 7 & 8, for 6) — choose and book.
  • Budapest (Sept 10, for 6) — Borkonyha Winekitchen.
  • Dubrovnik (Sept 12 & 13, for 4) — choose and book.
  • Rome / Florence / Venice (Sept 15, 17, 18, for 2) — book if desired.

Before departure

  • Decide which eSIM to use — Airalo, Holafly or Nomad.
  • Check each airline's carry-on size and weight limits and pre-pay online for any checked bags.
  • Note the Allianz travel-insurance policy number and 24-hour assistance line, and carry them.
  • Confirm both Amex cards are set for international use before you leave.

Contacts to gather

  • Get a list of phone numbers for relatives in the States.
  • Get phone numbers and emails for Bill & Lisa Dempsey, and Carlos & Debra.