Gifts: Having made contact with family and friends in Eesti and having arranged get-togethers, don’t forget to make or purchase gifts, to thank those who you may be meeting and those who will be hosting you or showing you around!
At least from a Canadian point-of-view, maple syrup is a perfect gift for those abroad, as this sweet treat is more expensive and difficult to find elsewhere. If you’re bringing a checked bag, you’ll have more space to bring gifts, to bring souvenirs back, and to generally pack clothes more neatly. It’s not impossible, but doing laundry on vacation can be a bit of a drag.
If you’re packing light and going with only a carry-on bag, pick some maple syrup up at the duty-free store in your departure airport. It’s more expensive, but it comes in containers of under 100ml, which is convenient for giving individual gifts.
“Tere” (“hello”), “seda, palun” (“this, please”), “aitäh” (“thank you”), and “väga meeldiv” (“nice to meet you”) go a long way.
Language: Before you visit Eesti, be sure to practise Estonian, giving it a few months depending on how much you know already.
The essentials would include correct pronunciation as well as phrases and words you’ll encounter in restaurants, hotels, train stations, and stores. “Tere” (“hello”), “seda, palun” (“this, please”), “aitäh” (“thank you”), and “väga meeldiv” (“nice to meet you”) go a long way. There are numerous compact phrase guides and books available on the market that are ideal for travel.
From there, learn how to conjugate verbs and work on learning the most commonly-used Estonian words.
Speaking Estonian will give extra meaning to your trip. Your family, friends, and other people you encounter will appreciate it. And the more you speak Estonian, the more deeply you will connect with the culture.
One side note: to take the pressure off, because language learning is a lifelong process anyway, don’t be firm about saying whether you speak or don’t speak the language. You can simply say you’re learning (“Ma õpin eesti keelt”). That way, you won’t feel pressured to speak perfectly without any flaws, but you’re also encouraged to keep putting effort into it.
And for those times you’re desperately searching for a word, try downloading the Estonian language onto an app like Google Translate. It’s useful for when your memory fails you mid-conversation or you’re studying beforehand in the spare moments of a day. Google Translate doesn’t always provide the best translations, but it’s getting better all the time.
Memories: If you’re meeting with family and friends, prepare some photos and videos of your life thus far, photos of your family, and what you get up to, so they can get to know you better.
You'll also notice, having made the big leap over to Europe, how many rewarding travel destinations are a low-cost ferry or flight away, from the design-forward city of Helsinki, Finland to the sun-kissed coasts of Cyprus.
Making time for yourself: We've spoken quite a bit so far about family reunions and social interactions. However, it's important to give yourself time to see Eesti on your own. To see the country through your own eyes and develop your own impressions. As much as relatives will be excited to see you, their relative from overseas, you may find that the trip loses some of its relaxation factor if the majority of it consists of “külastamine” (visiting).
While discussing this matter with a friend, it was suggested that a half and half ratio (time with relatives vs. time on your own/your own travel group) is ideal. Indeed, you can get around the country without worrying about safety, so time on your own is especially easy-going. You'll also notice, having made the big leap over to Europe, how many rewarding travel destinations are a low-cost ferry or flight away, from the design-forward city of Helsinki, Finland to the sun-kissed coasts of Cyprus.
Planning activities: What sights are on your list? Kadriorg Palace? Supilinn? Narva Castle? What foods do you want to try? What traditions do you want to take part in? What would you miss most if you didn’t get a chance to do it? Plot places out in a pinpointed list on the Google Maps app. Then when you’re in the area and you see one of these points show up on your radar, make a beeline there.
Transportation: Visiting rural areas and islands like Saaremaa and Hiiumaa is made much easier by having some form of motorized transport. Plan ahead what kind of vehicle you want and for how long you’ll need it. Bear in mind that typically, automatic transmission cars are more expensive to rent than manual transmission cars.
Be sure to obtain an International Driving Permit and to bring this along with your driver’s license to rent a vehicle. In Canada and the US, getting one is simple enough: go to your local CAA or AAA office with a passport photo and your driver's license, fill out their paperwork, and pay a small fee.
If you won’t need a car for many days, it may be more convenient to rent with car-sharing apps like Bolt and ELMO Rent. Consider renting a bike or e-scooter if you don't have to carry anything bulky with you.
If you’re sticking to bigger towns and cities (or partying a lot — Estonia has a blood alcohol content limit for driving of 0.2 grams per 100 mL of blood, which may be less than one drink), you can rely more on trains, buses, taxis, and walking to get around.
Take lots of photos, but make sure you’re also present in the moment. You only go to Eesti for the first time once. Head reisi!
