Eating at University cafeterias (generally closed during summer holidays) offer a surefire way to meet educated English-speaking young people with open and stimulating minds. They're often eager to practice their politics and economics, as well as their English, on a foreign friend.  The food is good and cheap.

   In European groceries and open-air markets, most food is priced by the kilo, which is a little over two pounds. Watch the scales while your food is being weighed. It'll likely show grams and kilos. If dried apples are priced at �2 per kilo, that's $2.80 for 2.2 pounds, or about $1.25 per pound. If the scale says 400 grams, that means 40 percent of �2 (or 80 euro cents), which is a little over $1. There are 1,000 grams to the Kilo.

When buying food in supermarkets, it's a cinch to buy a tiny amount of fruit or vegetables. Many have an easy push-button pricing system: Put the banana on the scale, push the button that shows a picture of a banana (or the banana bin number), and a sticky price tag prints out. You could weigh and sticker a single grape.

Mobile Phones: It can be surprisingly affordable to buy a basic "pay as you go" mobile phone in Europe. Shop around at the ubiquitous corner phone marts or at mobile-phone counters in big department stores. No contracts are necessary � most phones come loaded with prepaid calling time � and additional minutes are usually easy to buy.

Your basic choice is between a phone that's "locked" to work with a single provider (starting around $20 for the most basic models), or a more versatile "unlocked" phone that allows you to switch out SIM cards to access multiple networks (starting around $60). To save even more, look for special promotions or shops that sell used phones. (You can also buy European phones online from the US, but it's generally cheaper and easier to get one in Europe.)

Renting a Mobile Phone: These days, car-rental companies, mobile-phone companies, and even some hotels offer the option to rent a mobile phone with a European number. While this seems convenient, hidden fees (such as high per-minute charges or expensive shipping costs) can really add up � which usually makes it a bad value. One exception is Verizon's Global Travel Program (available only to Verizon customers). If your Verizon phone won't work in Europe, you can pay a one-time $20 shipping fee to borrow a Europe-compatible phone that can make calls at the regular international rates (generally $1.50 to $2 per minute). The phone uses your regular phone number and can even carry over your contacts. As long as you send it back within 30 days, there are no additional rental fees or charges.

If you have an unlocked phone � whether brought from the US or purchased in Europe � you can buy a SIM card to make it work in Europe. Remember that a SIM card is a small, fingernail-size chip that stores your phone number and other information. If your phone is unlocked, getting your own European phone number is surprisingly easy and cheap.

Each country has various service providers, all of whom sell their own SIM cards. Since these companies are very competitive, they're pretty much the same � just look for the best rates. SIM cards, which generally cost around $5�15, come with a European phone number and starter credit. These days, mobile-phone companies are working hard to attract customers; I've bought a few SIM cards that came with more calling credit than the cost of the card (for example, a �5 card that includes �7 of credit) � making the SIM card effectively free.

While you can buy European SIM cards online from the US, they're usually overpriced. Just buy one when you arrive in Europe. In some places, getting a SIM card is as simple as buying a pack of gum. For instance, in Greece, I walked up to a newsstand and bought a SIM card for about $5; in the Brussels train station, I bought one from a vending machine. But other countries are regulating SIM cards more carefully, so you might have to fill out some paperwork and show your passport before buying the card.

Though you can buy SIM cards at newsstands in many countries, don't expect much help from the newsstand vendor. For first-timers, it's often worth the extra time to go to a mobile phone shop, where an English-speaking clerk can help you explore your options, get your SIM card inserted and set up, and show you how to use it. (The mobile phone desk in a big department store is another good place to check.) Note that some mobile phone shops sell SIM cards for only one provider, while others offer a wide range. Unless you're certain you want a particular company, look for a place that gives you several options, then ask the clerk which one is best for the types of calls you're going to make. (Mostly domestic or international calls? Are you using it only in that country, or planning to "roam" with it across a border?) Also ask for a list of calling rates: for making phone calls and sending text messages � both domestic and international � and for roaming (if you'll be leaving the country).

When you first insert a new SIM card, you might be prompted to enter the "SIM PIN" (a code number that came with your SIM card). In some cases, you'll be asked for this every time you turn on the phone � which can be a hassle. Fortunately, this feature can usually be disabled; look through your phone's menu and security features, or ask the shop clerk for help.

Text messages and other instructions from the service provider are generally in another language. It's often possible to switch this to English � again, get help from the shop clerk.

Be sure you know how to check your remaining credit balance. This is different for each phone company, but generally you'll enter a three-digit number, then #, then hit "send." The remaining amount should pop up on your screen. You can buy additional prepaid credit as you go: Buy a printed voucher from your European provider at a mobile-phone shop or newsstand, then punch in the numbers from the voucher to add the time to your phone.

Before leaving the shop, go through the entire process, from turning on the phone, to checking your credit balance, to actually making a call � to the store, or, for fun, to the shop clerk's personal phone.

Rates: If you're calling from the SIM card's home country, you'll generally pay around 10 to 20 cents per minute for domestic calls to fixed lines, and nothing to receive calls. (Calls to mobile phones tend to be more expensive.) Calling the US can cost $1 per minute or more � but using an International Phone Card with your mobile phone can bring that cost down to pennies.

A SIM card works most affordable in the country where you buy it. If you roam with the SIM card in another country, call prices go up, and you pay to receive incoming calls. If your SIM card is from a European Union (EU) country, fees are regulated when roaming within the EU: You'll pay no more than about 55 cents per minute to make calls or 21 cents per minute to receive calls. If your SIM card is from a non-EU country � or if you're traveling in one � roaming fees can be much higher. If you'll be making a lot of calls, it can be cheaper to buy a new SIM card for that country.

Tips: Be aware that most European SIM cards expire after a certain period of inactivity (typically 3�12 months) � including any credit you have left on the card. So saving your Italian SIM card for next year's trip isn't a sure thing.

Remember to store your phone numbers in the phone itself, rather than on the SIM card � or you'll lose access to them when you switch SIMs. When storing phone numbers, include the plus (+) sign and the country code so your calls will go through, regardless of where you're calling from.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The people at TSA/Customs can now seize your computers, MP3 players, Tablets, mobile phones, etc when you re-enter the USA. They don't need a reason, they don't need a warrant. They can keep them for months before returning them to you and they are entitled to copy all of the stored material on those devices. Try not to have any �password protected� files in your memory.

Money Stuff. Change your money in Europe. As you may know, banks in the USA charge much higher fee and exchange rates then do the banks in Europe. There is usually one or more banks with branches in the airports and major train stations where you can exchange your money at a fair rate.

Get an American Express card. Most of not all of those cards have two features that you want when you are traveling in Europe. First they don't charge an �International transaction fee� (Most other USA credit cards do charge such a fee. Second, Most of the American Express cards offer the collision damage wavier or a reasonable insurance fee. Check the benefits of the card before you sign-up.