From the book Go Well: A Summer Field Guide for Graduates and College Students · Updated October 2026
Tickets to book early, tourist taxes, safety notes, and the Europe checklist.
Book these early
| Sight | What to know |
|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower, Paris | Official tickets are released 60 days in advance and can sell out within minutes (Francophiles Anonymes) |
| The Louvre, Paris | Closed Tuesdays. Timed bookings are strongly recommended, and only an advance booking guarantees entry (Louvre, Louvre help center) |
| Musée d’Orsay, Paris | €16 (about $18) online. Free for everyone under 18. The free under-26 entry is only for EU nationals and long-term EU residents, so most American graduates pay full price (Musée d’Orsay, Musée d’Orsay ticket guide) |
| Sagrada Família, Barcelona | €26 (about $29) on the official site, or €24 (about $27) for under-30s and students (Sagrada Família). In summer, tickets often sell out several days ahead (Barcelona.com) |
| Park Güell, Barcelona | €18 (about $20), timed tickets sold online only, and they sell out (Park Güell) |
Leah’s rule: buy the tickets you’d be heartbroken to miss as soon as your dates are set. Everything else can wait.
What it costs
Daily budget, per person, on the ground (not including flights):
- Paris backpacker: about €70–95 (about $79–107), with beds 25–40% higher in July (Easy to Travel)
- Barcelona dorm beds: from about €14–20 (about $16–23) outside peak season, often much higher in summer (Hostelworld, Hostel Geeks)
Tourist taxes (per person, per night, added to your room):
| Place | 2026 rates |
|---|---|
| Paris | From €2.60 (about $2.94) at a 1-star hotel or B&B to €8.45 (about $9.55) at a 4-star hotel, including regional add-ons (Service-Public.fr) |
| Barcelona | Raised in April 2026: about €6 (about $6.78) at hostels and €7 (about $7.91) at most hotels, rising to as much as €15 (about $17) at the top end, charged for up to seven nights (Catalan News, Reuters, Barcelona City Council) |
| Mallorca (May–October) | €1.10 (about $1.24) at hostels, €2.20 (about $2.49) at 3-star hotels and licensed holiday homes, €3.30 (about $3.73) at 4-star hotels; ages 16 and up (Mallorca.com) |
My route’s transport costs, for reference: Nice to Barcelona, $47 one way; Barcelona to Palma, $97 plus $45 in bag fees. My Eurail Global Pass covered the train from Paris to Nice (Go Well, Chapter Five).
Safety notes for Europe
- Pickpockets are the main risk. In Paris, organized pickpocketing and distraction theft are the most common crime against tourists (Paris Tourism). In Barcelona, they concentrate on La Rambla, around the Boqueria market, and on metro lines L1, L3, and L5 at rush hour (Barcelona Urbana). Use a zipped crossbody bag worn in front, and keep your phone out of back pockets and off café tables.
- Watch for distraction scams: petitions, “friendship bracelets,” and anyone who bumps into you in a crowd.
- Heat: check local heat alerts and plan around midday.
- Emergency number: 112 works across the European Union (Travel Risk Calculator).
Checklist: Europe Ready
- ☐ My passport is valid at least 3 months past my departure date from Europe (Go Well, Chapter Three).
- ☐ I’ve checked whether ETIAS has started, and applied if it has.
- ☐ I’ve booked timed tickets for the sights I can’t miss.
- ☐ I’ve priced single train tickets against a pass, and if I bought a pass, I bought it at least 30 days ahead and reserved any required seats.
- ☐ My short flights include the right bag.
- ☐ My rooms have air conditioning.
- ☐ I’ve budgeted for tourist taxes.
- ☐ I have a zipped crossbody bag and a plan for my phone in crowds.
- ☐ I’ve saved 112 as my emergency number.
Prices and rules change. Everything on this page was checked in October 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you book.
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