When travelling in Europe, what is it that Americans miss most about the USA?
Jul 20th, 2006, 03:38 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When travelling in Europe, what is it that Americans miss most about the USA?
Excluding obvious points, like friends, family, etc.
I've done most of my travels in France, the last couple of years. I'd have to say:
Washcloths in the hotel rooms. Easily remedied, of course.
Ice water offered without specific request in a restaurant.
Any others?
I've done most of my travels in France, the last couple of years. I'd have to say:
Washcloths in the hotel rooms. Easily remedied, of course.
Ice water offered without specific request in a restaurant.
Any others?
Jul 20th, 2006, 03:44 PM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sad to say... American (or at least English-speaking) television - that isn't an annoying news loop.
I know I'm not in Europe to watch TV, but at the end of a long day of sightseeing, I want to find some program that I can understand and relax while watching.
I also prefer an American-sized shower stall, so I don't have to rub up against the wall to get in and out (blech!).
I know I'm not in Europe to watch TV, but at the end of a long day of sightseeing, I want to find some program that I can understand and relax while watching.
I also prefer an American-sized shower stall, so I don't have to rub up against the wall to get in and out (blech!).
Jul 20th, 2006, 03:47 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The #1 thing I miss is my dog. 
I miss a completely smoke-free environment, although some parts of Europe are more smoke-free than others.
I miss good Mexican food and margaritas.
I don't like using skeleton keys, and I don't like hotel doors that don't lock automatically behind me when they are closed. I've stayed at a few hotels where the door can only be locked from the inside by using a key.
But all that said, my list of things I miss about Europe while I'm in the US is a lot longer.
I miss a completely smoke-free environment, although some parts of Europe are more smoke-free than others.
I miss good Mexican food and margaritas.
I don't like using skeleton keys, and I don't like hotel doors that don't lock automatically behind me when they are closed. I've stayed at a few hotels where the door can only be locked from the inside by using a key.
But all that said, my list of things I miss about Europe while I'm in the US is a lot longer.
Jul 20th, 2006, 03:50 PM
#5
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,950
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not in the Mainland US so it may not be the same for me as regular Statesiders but I really don't miss much other than my dog.
In the UK, I prefer US beef steak but like their pork & chicken better. I love British TV.
In the UK, I prefer US beef steak but like their pork & chicken better. I love British TV.
Jul 20th, 2006, 04:10 PM
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well - I don;t miss free soft drink refills - because you don;t get them in New York either. But I do miss a giant Diet Coke with tons of ice - and have to find one at least once a week while traveling.
Jul 20th, 2006, 04:30 PM
#7
I miss being in my own home and my pets, but I can't think of anything else particularly "American" that I miss when traveling.
That said, as with P_M above, I can write up a LONG list for you of things I miss about Europe when I return home though!
That said, as with P_M above, I can write up a LONG list for you of things I miss about Europe when I return home though!
Jul 20th, 2006, 04:38 PM
#8
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We just got back from three weeks in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Bruges and this is the consensus among our group. We really missed the following: Free refills in drinks. Real iced tea, southern brewed iced tea. Large drinks. More than 3 ice cubes. Smoke free restaurants. Free public restrooms. Washcloths and large fluffy towels. Air-conditioning!!!
However, I agree with P_M, we really miss a lot of Europe when we are home. Like the bread, the pastries, the architecture, the museums, the bread, the pasta, did I mention the bread? Why do baguettes not taste as good here as they do in Paris? Why is the bread so amazing in the Netherlands? Why are the pastries almost too pretty to eat (almost?). As you can tell, we ate our way through Europe but walked so much that we didn't gain any weight.
However, I agree with P_M, we really miss a lot of Europe when we are home. Like the bread, the pastries, the architecture, the museums, the bread, the pasta, did I mention the bread? Why do baguettes not taste as good here as they do in Paris? Why is the bread so amazing in the Netherlands? Why are the pastries almost too pretty to eat (almost?). As you can tell, we ate our way through Europe but walked so much that we didn't gain any weight.
Jul 20th, 2006, 04:52 PM
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A shower curtain so I don't flood the bathroom when showering. To compensate for this "hardship" we eat bread, pastry and drink wine to feel better about the flooded bath.
Same as PWAbbott and P_M there is so much of what is Europe that we miss when we return home
Same as PWAbbott and P_M there is so much of what is Europe that we miss when we return home
Jul 20th, 2006, 05:13 PM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Speaking of showers (and several were), who decided that when a shower is tiny, the control should be a lever that pulls forward towards you to control the water and then turns from side to side for hot and cold? In other words, bump into the control (which of course you will do since there is no room to move) and you turn off the water. Or worse, bump it slightly to the side and you will be frozen on the spot or else scalded.
I agree about TV. One can only take about an hour of CNN a week, as it is repeated over and over again. It's as if only three or four things happened in the entire world worth talking about.
And iced tea! Amen. I can't stand any kind of sweetner in my iced tea which elimates the various ones available in Europe that are ALL presweetened. I've tried ordering a cup or pot of tea and a huge glass of ice, but how far can you go with two ice cubes the size of peanuts? One good thing about staying in apartments is that I can easily make real iced tea. And this trip I discovered the most wonderful Lipton "pyramid" shaped tea bags in hibiscus and papaya flavor. Use two of those and two regular tea bags and you will have the most incredible iced tea you ever drank. I brought home a box of those Lipton ones, but so far I can't find them in the US.
I agree about TV. One can only take about an hour of CNN a week, as it is repeated over and over again. It's as if only three or four things happened in the entire world worth talking about.
And iced tea! Amen. I can't stand any kind of sweetner in my iced tea which elimates the various ones available in Europe that are ALL presweetened. I've tried ordering a cup or pot of tea and a huge glass of ice, but how far can you go with two ice cubes the size of peanuts? One good thing about staying in apartments is that I can easily make real iced tea. And this trip I discovered the most wonderful Lipton "pyramid" shaped tea bags in hibiscus and papaya flavor. Use two of those and two regular tea bags and you will have the most incredible iced tea you ever drank. I brought home a box of those Lipton ones, but so far I can't find them in the US.
Jul 20th, 2006, 05:27 PM
#13
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A/C in warm places in the summer.
When I'm traveling professionally, and staying at a business-class hotel, an iron and board automatically in the room. Yes, there is often a pants press; yes, I could get one if I wanted; but there are just more in-room amenities in American business class hotels than many other places (including a wide range of satellite TV, although this is improving in many places.) Yes, I pack mostly wrinkle-free stuff, but this is largely in repsonse to the lack of an iron in the rooms.
When I'm traveling professionally, and staying at a business-class hotel, an iron and board automatically in the room. Yes, there is often a pants press; yes, I could get one if I wanted; but there are just more in-room amenities in American business class hotels than many other places (including a wide range of satellite TV, although this is improving in many places.) Yes, I pack mostly wrinkle-free stuff, but this is largely in repsonse to the lack of an iron in the rooms.
Jul 20th, 2006, 05:40 PM
#17
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One thing I found amazing on this trip in June -- many of those public toilets that look like giant trash cans (clean, but big units) that had charged are now free. I don't know if this is the case all over the city, but I know that some pay toilet locations in the past were now free. Maybe they found that servicing the money situation, as well as the public health issue, was better met by free toilets?
Jul 20th, 2006, 05:47 PM
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll add:
A shower with a fixed head...I can't say that I find those odd telephone-like fixtures one finds in France to be very satisfactory.
Peanut butter, Jif or Skippy. I've been a peanutbutteraholic for all my life, and I have yet to find anything that compares to the American product.
A shower with a fixed head...I can't say that I find those odd telephone-like fixtures one finds in France to be very satisfactory.
Peanut butter, Jif or Skippy. I've been a peanutbutteraholic for all my life, and I have yet to find anything that compares to the American product.
Jul 20th, 2006, 05:48 PM
#19
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I tend to really enjoy all the different customs in Europe and have fun living life a bit differently for a while so there is nothing I miss EXCEPT smoke free everything....cafes, restaurants, bars, etc.
Oh yeah, and the idea that one cleans up after one's dog in France....
Oh yeah, and the idea that one cleans up after one's dog in France....
