Health, medical & money

Health & medical

• Tap water is safe to drink throughout the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Italy.
• No special vaccinations are required for this trip — just be current on routine vaccines.
• Pharmacies are easy to find and marked with a green cross (apotheek, apteka, gyógyszertár, ljekarna, farmacia).
• For non-emergencies, a pharmacy or walk-in clinic handles most needs. For an emergency, dial 112.
• Your Allianz travel insurance (purchased Apr 25) is your medical coverage abroad — U.S. Medicare and most U.S. health plans do not cover care overseas.
• Bring enough of every prescription medication for the whole trip, in its original packaging.
• Pack a small kit: pain reliever, anti-diarrheal, antihistamine, motion-sickness tablets, and blister plasters.

Medications — what's restricted abroad

Some medicines sold freely in the U.S. are controlled — or outright banned — in the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Italy. Carrying them without the right paperwork can mean confiscation or detention at the border.

Carry every medication in its original, labeled packaging; bring a copy of the prescription plus a doctor's letter (generic and brand name, dosage, and why you need it); and keep quantities to a personal supply for the trip.

All five countries are in the Schengen Area. EU residents carry a 'Schengen certificate' for controlled medicines; U.S. travelers can't get one, so an original prescription plus a doctor's letter is the practical substitute. When in doubt, check with that country's embassy before you go.

Commonly affected — check before you pack:

ADHD stimulants:

Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine and similar amphetamines are tightly controlled or banned in parts of Europe and need documentation; some countries also cap the quantity you may bring.

Strong painkillers:

Opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and tramadol are controlled — carry the prescription and a doctor's letter.

Sedatives / anxiety / sleep:

Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin) and many prescription sleep aids are controlled substances across the EU.

Cold & allergy meds:

Products containing pseudoephedrine (some Sudafed) or codeine cough syrup are restricted in several countries.

CBD / cannabis products:

CBD oils, gummies and any cannabis-derived products are restricted or illegal in several of these countries — best left at home.

Full per-country rules & official sources →

Official references:

• INCB — country regulations for travelers carrying medicines
• U.S. State Dept — per-country information (local laws & customs)

General guidance, not medical or legal advice — rules change, so confirm with the country's embassy and your doctor before you travel.

Currency converter

Money — currencies & rough conversions

• The euro (€) is used in the Netherlands, Croatia and Italy. Poland uses the złoty (PLN) and Hungary the forint (HUF).
• Rough guide: €1 is about $1.10; 1 Polish złoty is about $0.25; 1,000 Hungarian forint is about $3.
• Quick mental math: for złoty, divide by about 4; for forint, '1,000 HUF ≈ $3.'
• Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card for purchases and withdraw from bank ATMs. Always choose to be billed in the local currency, never in USD.
• Keep small cash for restrooms, tips and small shops — most needed in Poland and Hungary.