KC

I have read many threads on travel advice which recommends no jeans. I can't understand why this is so? Isn't a pair of jeans the most suitable for travelling? It's durable, endure scratches, no need to wash for a weeks,keeps you warm, etc,etc.<BR><BR>I'm very curious because I'm about to go on a trip to Europe and have planned to put my crusty pair of jeans into my suitcase.....

jeansare

At the risk of feeding a troll...<BR><BR>You can wear jeans -- just not ones with rips, tears or holes. In other words, don't wear your gardening jeans. As long as they're clean you won't have a problem.

Dan

I do believe that anyone entering Europe with jeans on (or shorts or sneakers for that matter)will be shot on sight at the immigration desk. DON'T DO IT!!

s.fowler

Awwwww c'mon.<BR><BR>Three reasons:<BR>1. They take up a LOT of space in a suitcase<BR>2. If washed they take a LONG time to dry and<BR>3. If they are BLUE they are unfashionable.<BR><BR>Now -- just so you don't think I am the "fashion police" here with powers to reach into your suitcase -- my husband always travels in his black jeans [except in the dead of summer].So much for my influence

Ishoo

Wear whatever you like and don't pay any mind to the nut cases.

Paige

I'm a fan of blue jeans, too. I can wear mine for days on end when it's not hot and they don't look dirty or wrinkled. Jeans in Europe are fine, depending on your plans. If you're a budget traveler, I really doubt you'll go anywhere that jeans are unacceptable. I live in Munich where 'blue' jeans are fine. I think over here, fewer older people wear them, but that doesn't mean you can't (if you're older). Torn blue jeans get about the same response here as they do in the states, that is, people think you're a sloppy dresser (if you care). I've traveled all over Europe in my jeans (and tennies no less) and never had a problem. But then, I don't really care if someone (American or European) *likes* the way I dress, especially when I'm a tourist sightseeing all day.

Inky

S.Fowler, you said you were a SFW on a thread the other day. Now you have a husband, huh? <BR><BR>So what makes him the expert on colours? Nothing wrong with blue jeans at all, stop basing everything you say on a few visits to france or the czech republic.

KC

My point exactly Paige. I'm not that big a blue jeans fan but my husband is a real biggy. I just don't want to be turned away anywhere. Of course, I'll make sure he brings his nicer pants but are the jeans acceptable at the cafes or small eating establishments in Paris?<BR><BR>Comfort is the word when travelling!!

Ursula

KC! <BR><BR>Bring and wear whatever you like. But be advised with the actual temperatures in Europe (hot, hot, hot) you will not feel comfortable with tight denim blue jeans and it's soo uncomfortable on a long flight. <BR>Right now, you don't need anything to keep you warm....<BR>This is just my very personal opinion and I happen to wear jeans as well, occasionally.

Ann

Used to live in Europe, husband is from Europe. He only wears jeans when he's home (it's never warm enough for shorts, or he'd wear those!), and so that's what I usually wear.

giselle

Perhaps you misunderstood some of the postings on which you are basing your "no jeans" assumption.<BR><BR>Europeans wear jeans all the time, but chances are, when touring Europe, you will want to enter a building (cathedral, Vatican, museum), where there are certain dress codes. For example, you cannot wear jeans or shorts when you tour the Vatican.<BR><BR>Just be prepared to be turned away at some locations if you show up in dirty jeans.

Paige

KC, Like I said, I've worn jeans all over Europe. No problems, no nasty comments, no stares and we've never been turned away from a restaurant. We don't eat in expensive restaurants (not because of our clothes but because it's not so important to us). Typically where we eat costs $50-$75 (less in the south) for 2 for dinner and wine. Our jeans are just regular ol' slightly faded Levi's, the same ones I wear to work everyday. My European female coworkers don't generally wear jeans to work, but they couldn't care less what I wear anymore than they care about what tourists or anyone else wears. On trips, we wear our jeans all day sightseeing and I can't see packing 'nice' clothes to change into before dinner. To each his/her own, but I don't want to pack extra clothes and don't want to spend the time changing. Like Ursula said, it is summer so jeans might be too much, depending on where you are. I just got back from the south of Italy where I wore shorts everyday (as did everyone else). Earlier this month I was in Lucerne and wore jeans because it was cool. Where are you going?

Paige

I disagree with Giselle's comment (sorry!) but I wore jeans in the Vatican museum, St. Peter's and the Scavi tour. I've never been to a tourist sight that didn't admit people wearing jeans. Oh wait, yes I have! I went to a tiny monastery on the Greek island of Amorgos that required women to wear skirts, no pants. They had a change room full of skirts for women and pants for men. Many churches I've been to required women to cover their legs and arms but it seems like they all had scarves you could borrow.

s.fowler

Heelllllo Inky Missed ya!<BR><BR>My bad -- I took the 'S' to mean straight

Bob Brown

Wear the darn jeans!!!<BR>In 1998 we changed flights in Amsterdam.<BR>Naturally I had been reading all the poop on this forum about not wearing jeans. <BR>While we were boarding our flight to Zurich, I noticed 3 men ahead of us carrying brief cases and wearing blue jeans. They were Dutch business men headed for a meeting.<BR><BR>I do not wear jeans for three reason:<BR>they are heavy, hot (or cold), and hard to dry.<BR>I cannot think of anything worse for hiking a Swiss mountain trail, or any mountain trail for that matter.<BR>I say cold because if the wind is whipping, I want something that insulates better and is a wind barrier.<BR>If I am hot, all that heavy cotton soaks up moisture and is awful. And if a sudden rain shower hits, jeans can get wetter quicker than anything I know of.<BR>Quick drying fabrics that breathe are the way to.<BR>So you look like a tourist. So what?<BR>You are not going to disguise who you are anyhow, unless you were born there and speak the language fluently.<BR>My wife is a careful dresser. But in Paris people automatically speak English when they see her.<BR><BR>Once on a Swiss mountain trail, a hiker who spoke excellent English, came up from behind and told my wife that her pack was not fastened. As far as I know I had never seen him before. But he knew we were Americans. Our whole apperance, even from behind, reveals our national identity. <BR>Of course seeing a hiker with a black LL Bean pack, Red Wing hiking boots, a black Seattle sombrero, quick drying nylon hiking pants and Leki hiking poles might be all the evidence he needed.<BR>But he didn't even slow down!!<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Paige

Bob, I'm with you on wearing jeans hiking. That's one time I refuse to wear jeans!!

Ursula

Paige: You seem to live in Munich and go a lot hiking.<BR>Try to find these hiking trousers with (hidden)( zippers above the knees. You can make khakis out of them and when it starts raining or getting colder or wet, you just add the end that goes until your shoes.<BR>This is a great thing and I am thinking to buy these now that sales over here (in Zurich) are on.

Que?!

"You can make khakis out of them and when it starts raining or getting colder or wet, you just add the end that goes until your shoes". ?????<BR><BR>Could someone translate this into English please ?

KC

Forgot to mention we will be in Zurich, Lucerne, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris &amp; London. While in Switzerland, we will be going Mt Titlis.<BR><BR>Not sure what kind of temperature you have at these place in early August. I'm used to hot and humid weather and have worn shorts all my life which makes it difficult to imagine what it'll be like in Europe this time of year. The average temperature of 24C in PAris may be considered 'hot' but it's going to be a nice cool temperature for me. So, you Fodorites, what do you say?

Ursula

Que? <BR>Now please, no reason to react like this. There are some people on this board from Europe and elsewhere too.<BR>English is my *third* language and I did my best to explain what I wanted to say.<BR>Yes, you can have great and very light trousers (slacks?) with zippers in the middle and turn them into khakis. These trousers can be found in good specialized sportswear shops in Europe. Just for your information.<BR><BR>KC: Right now, we had a heat wave with temperatures around 30°C in Switzerland. Paris was probably almost the same. On a nice day, it will not be cold on the Titlis, just take a layer or a sweater.