1) PASSPORTS - If you do not have one, apply for it at least 6 months before you plan to leave. Avoiding a trip to DC to have a passport rushed (which may still come late) is ideal. More information on passport applications can be found here. If you already have a passport, make sure it will not expire within 6 months of your travel date. If it will, make sure to get it renewed before leaving, otherwise foreign customs can turn you away.

2) ETIAS Visa - Starting in 2025 the EU requires US Citizens to apply for a visa to visit certain countries. To learn more about what you need to do this please look here.

3) If you have connecting flights, make sure your layover is longer than 1-2 hours, especially when re-entering the US. Customs is a pain coming into the US and has caused my family and I to miss many connections. Plan to be at customs for at least 1 hour, meaning you will need a longer layover.

4) I suggest getting TSA Pre-check. It makes life 10 times easier as the security lines are shorter and you don't have to take off your shoes (or boots in Ryan's case)! It's not hard to get either, if you are interested in learning more click here.