There really is a flush button for the toilet and a way of getting the sink to turn on - they are just hiding from you. Search high and low and any place else that seems illogical ;-)

ttt

Don't forget to bring your medication. Otherwise, whatever it is, you can buy it there or do without it for a couple of weeks.

Be nice. It's nicer than being not nice.

If everyone around you is talking in a quiet voice, you should too.

The toilet paper is just fine.

Please, please, please don't scratch your initials in the eye-level parts of the frescos (no, I don't mean you -- I know you don't do it, but somebody certainly does).

Yes, those are real churches and some people are praying there. It's a private thing -- you really don't need a picture.

Shoes. What everybody else said about comfortable shoes is right. But just in case, take some band-aids.

Do something, eat something, drink something you've never done, eaten or drunk before.

Be zen about it...let the bad stuff go.

Don't worry...be happy. Don't forget it's a vacation and you shouldn't have to work hard at having a good time.

For several milleniums the locals survived without the ice in their drinks, and so will you.

McDonalds is expensive, don't be afraid to try local food.

No, they are not rude. They are just sick of tourists.

Buying food - remember to bring your own bag or pay for it. Yes, you will have to pack it yourself.

"No" means "No" in 193 countries, regardless of the language it comes in.

www.mobalrental.com

www.sncf.com

www.ratp.com

www.autoeurope.com

www.novarentacar.com

www.trenitalia.com

www.myair.com

Yes, let some body to check your Trenitalia before you go.

Never travel anywhere without a flashlight, place it beside your bed ,
Always have a set of clothing next to your bed.

Watch me and just get off one stop before I do.

When the alarms go off, get out of bed and out to the street. Take your room key. Stay safe.

Learn to drive a stick shift. It will save you enough to stay several days longer. (or have better wine with meals...or stay in a hotel with one more star than usual...)

If you don't like the room you given ask to see another.

Learn to say "The machine ate my card!" in the language of the country(ies) you are visiting.

No, they aren't ignoring you. They are waiting for you to ask for the check.

If you expect it to be "just like back home", don't go, stay home!

Forget the cute shoes. Pack the comfies.

Take an extra memory card for your camera.

Take extra contact lenses or your prescription.

Yes, the room really is this small. (No, it didn't look this small on the website.)

Before you leave, carefully define your hierarchy of problems and when you should be called to your housesitter, kennel, babysitter or spouse who stays behind. It is inevitable that SOMETHING will happen while you are away: the dog will get sick, your house and yard will be rolled with toilet paper (the day before it rains), some drunk will take out the new azaleas at the gate, one of your children will wreck his/her car. If you can't wave your magic wand and fix it from Europe, you do not need to know about it!

Have a pedicure on your trip; your feet need a vacation, too.

LOL KSWL!!! Too true!

Yes, there will probably be a problem with your flight. The flight will probably leave late and consequently arrive late. Yes, you will no doubt have to run from one gate to another to catch your connecting flight.

No, the grumpy gate attendants, flight attendants etc. are not angry with you, they are angry with the airline top management that are making their job stability so insecure.

Yes, probably if you offer to pay cash rather then pay by credit card your European hotel will give you a bit of a discount.

No, it probably will not matter if you offer to pay cash when you check in or when you check out of the hotel.

Yes, no doubt your credit card purchases will have something like 3% to 4% added to your bill. No, there is probably nothing you can do about it unless you spend hours checking out credit card companies before you leave for Europe.

Yes, no doubt Europe in summer will be very hot and humid and packed with tourist and no doubt you will not feel all that great by 4:00pm.

Yes, going to Europe in January or February will be less expensive and yes there will be less tourist but yes you will be dealing with winter weather such as rain, snow, wind, electrical storms.

Yes, going to Europe is wonderful, inspite of all the problems.

No, you will not be able to "see everything" no matter how many weeks you have to travel. Europeans have not seen "everything" in Europe.

And yes, regardless of what you think, you will return to Europe time and time again once you take your first visit.

Not in Trafalgar Square.

Yes, that black stuff you see in the tissue after blowing your nose is the effect of a few days of Rome on your respiratory system.

Yes, you can and they are too, but do you really want to look for a wife there?

Europe is not a country.
Each country in Europe is different.
In the same country , each region is different (unless the country is The Vatican, Monaco or other little places).
yes, southern countries are VERY HOT in summer.
We are not anti-americans. We just don't like people behaving like idiots, we have too many european ones.

Yes, I am visiting here from El Paso, Texas. No, the streets are not dusty and tumbleweed-filled (though they are quite hot and dirty), and we do not have a hitching post at our house. No, I have not seen a "real cowboy showdown" in front of my local saloon in quite some time.

I live in Maryland. Well, that's a State right by Washington D.C. It's south of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia? On the east coast. A few hours drive south of New York City. East of the Mississippi River. No, it might not be terribly practical for you to drive up to see us just for a couple of hours some evening during your vacation in Orlando.