I visited 3 European countries in 8 days. The trip went well, but there are a few things I wish I'd done differently.

We had a great time on our recent European trip, but learned a few lessons we'll keep in mind next time.

Chrissy Callahan

Ever since my first trip to France at 18, I've been enamored with Europe.Don't get me wrong, I love exploring the US, but there's something about leaving the country that helps me dive into vacation mode quickly, since I'm an ocean away from life's daily stressors.After the COVID-19 pandemic, I started feeling a familiar itch to travel abroad, so we visited France together two years ago. The following year, we upped the ante and headed to two countries: France and Italy.When it came time to plan our annual vacation this year, I proposed our most ambitious one yet — three European countries in eight days with a travel day tacked onto both ends — then mapped out a whirlwind itinerary that included two full days in London and two and a half days in both Amsterdam and Paris.It was an adventure of a lifetime, and we packed so much into a short period of time. Still, I made a few mistakes and learned several important lessons along the way.I didn't do enough research on security and customs protocol

I could've gotten to Paris more quickly if I'd done a bit more research.