Rocco

I will take my first vacation to Europe and would like to have some reccomendations on which countries have the best hygenic conditions and also which ones are more safe. Is Germany as modern as the UK? Do all Europeans speak English?

Sjoerd

Hygiene: all countries in North, West and South Europe have excellent hygienic conditions. <BR>ALL countries in West, North and South Europe are very safe. (safer than the USA) <BR>Germany is very modern, probably more so than the UK. <BR>Not all Europeans speak English, but many do. <BR>I suggest you buy a good guidebook.

Falcon

I think you should be very careful about certain food. You are aware about the beef mad cow disease problem they have over there and also that they have accidently fed poisonous dioxine to poultry and also sewage (incl.human excremant) to sheep and pigs.

Helena

Eat whatever you want in Europe. I totally, absolutely disagree with the prior post. There are random events in the US too, you know...

Rex

All of the following probably reduce your life expectancy by about 5 minutes: <BR> <BR>Eating any meal in Europe. <BR> <BR>Eating any meal in any other place on earth. <BR> <BR>Sitting on a plane, headed for Europe, for 5 minutes <BR> <BR>Sitting on a plane, headed for anywhere, for 5 minutes <BR> <BR>Sitting in front of your computer screen long enough to read this thread. <BR> <BR>I recommend doing all of the above as often as you want. It's 5 minutes less you'll spend in a nursing home at the other end of life.

frank

Yes all Europeans speak English,(unlike Texas) except <BR>those frothing at the mouth from mad cow disease or those who have their mouths full of dioxin & excrement.We know nothing of hygene or safety, you so will have to smuggle in your own GM food <BR>(banned in europe) and hire a rubber suit in Amsterdam.Enjoy!

Falcon

These previous posters are evidently unaware of all the food scandals. In Britain many people have now died because of the mad cow disease and i would advise you to avoid that country totally. In other countries, also not so BSE prone, they are still serving sewage waste to farm animals. Also don't believe this story about food problems in the US, this is a European ploy to protect their own inefficient farmers. <BR>In terms of physical safety, be aware that there is alot of theft in Europe and many Americans have had their valuables stolen. Be particularly careful in cities. Be also careful of cabs which are known for overcharging fares. Try to avoid resorts near water in summer as well as they tend to get very smelly. Also paying can be a problem, not all places take the Amex card. <BR>

janine

Avoiding life's pleasures may not make you live longer, but it will seem longer!

Dawn

There are some food/meat issues to be faced in Europe. They are perhaps not as strict as we are here in the US with meat inspection etc. But unfortunately even here we have problems. Europe is overall quite hygenic and modern. You will find many more europeans speaking English in and around the cities. If you go into the more rural areas, you may not find many who speak English. Petty crime can happen anywhere. I have seen it happen in Europe, but I have seen it happen here in the US also. Last night on our local news, it was reported that someone was raped while shopping in a Goodwill store for the holidays. Disgusting! My first trip to Europe I went to Italy and traveled alone. Many thought I was out of my mind. A 30 year old blonde american woman traveling on my own. It was the most liberating, fantastic experience I've ever had. I made many friends, and had many new experiences. I'm not sure there is a big difference in the way we do things here versus there concerning hygenic issues. Rocco, you obviously have not been in a womans bathroom. I'd go with an open mind and you'll have a wonderful time.

Bill Irving

Although not very recent, we were in London this past June, with 2 pre-teen kids. We ate some beef products, & drank water from the tap (as well as bottled water) no effects yet. But also in the last 5 yrs or so I have been to Britain & Paris a few times, Germany, Norway, Sweden, & Denmark, & have eaten beef products (among other local foods) drank water from hotel taps, & have not had any problems yet. Have never come close to having problems with theft because of the standard precations we took. Although, 1 time in London we encountered some troops with guns chasing a van, near Madame Tussauds. Also that year, there were guards at Heathrow carrying guns, but none of that really affected a good vacation or was detremental to our saftey.

elvira

Germany is as modern as the UK, although the UK still does not have electricity, which is true throughout the entire world except for the U.S.A (Canada still uses two tin cans with string for communicating). Other than one small town in Denmark, none of Europe is hygenic (sic) and you will die from either typhus, cholera, smallpox, malaria or elephantitis. You can NOT drink any water or eat any of the food. Remember this when you buy Evian or Perrier at your local grocer; it is from dirty EUROPE so don't buy it. That France has wonderful cuisine is a myth; why do you think all the great French chefs end up in the U.S.? SO THEY CAN HAVE CLEAN FOOD, OF COURSE! <BR>No one speaks English (even the Brits don't speak it - only AMERICANS speak real good English) and the languages they DO speak is pretty much guttural jibberish. <BR>The only safe place in the world for you is a rest stop in southern Florida.

janine

Not to mention that the French had nowhere to eat and nothing to do until we brought them McDonald's and EuroDisney!

Russ

Go to your rooms, all you tongue-in-cheekers!! Isn't there room here for a little naivete? <BR> <BR>The truth is, Rocco, hygiene is probably better in Western Europe than here. There are many places here where health codes just do not reach because we underfund health departments, thinking that government intervention on this level is anti-business. European countries tend to be more socialistic and tend to have greater governmental supervision of food handling and preparation than here. If you've ever eaten a movie theatre hot dog or been brave enough to walk into a Jack-in-the-Box or a Burger King here, where underpaid 15-year-old employees with poor personal hygiene habits actually run some of these operations almost single-handedly, you should be fine just about anywhere in Europe as far as food goes. <BR> <BR>Restrooms, however, in my personal experience, are sometimes less effectively maintained in Europe than here. <BR> <BR>Most younger people (under 40?) know a little English, but certainly not everyone.

Helena

Dear Falcon, <BR>this isn't a case of anyone being unaware of food scandals... it's a case of people like me who live in Europe (and have for years) and eat every day, and sometimes we event eat out!! And you know what? I've eaten beef, pork, chicken, turkey, innards, outards, veggies, fruit, cheese, milk, eggs, carpaccio, etc etc etc and I'm still kicking. And another thing: I found crime to be much worse in the US, where I was relieved of all my posessions at gunpoint. Cabs will try to scam tourists everywhere, and other forms of payment exist than the Amex card - which I use here in Prague on a regular basis, by the way. Geez, Louise.

elvira

I don't think any of this is tongue-in-cheek; we are all dead serious, more so if we've recently eaten British beef.

KT

I have been to the small town in Denmark that Elvira mentions, and it is not only hygenic, it is full of trolls. So I think the original poster will have lots of company there.

Helena

Oh I get it, it was all a joke... touche.

elvira

one can only hope the trolls wear fanny packs and "I'm with Stupid-&gt;" t-shir

alan

Hi! Have you given it serious thought to visiting Epcot Center or even some of the newer hotels in Las Vegas [eg: Venetian] prior to attempting Europe? On a serious note I have been to Germany many times and find it very modern and up to date. I think it is probably the most modern country in Europe. Though I haven't been to all. Most of the Europeans, especially younger people speak English though probably not American collequeal [sic]. I have been visiting Eastern Europe the past 6 yrs. and have found English spoken there also. With my broken German and American English we have gotten by. Don't be so worried and frightened. It really is a wonderful experience. <BR> alan

Mary Ann

Whether Germany is "modern" depends on where you go and your definition of modern. Obviously 16th century Rothenburg (one of my favorite places) is not into the 20th century but the small hotels and pubs are very comfortable with small baths. Besides, who wants modern? One reason you (or we) go to Europe is to see the history we all read about. As for speaking English, many Europeans speak proper English better than us Americans. However, in smaller cities and some bigger Eastern European cities (Budapest) English may not be spoken. Most hotels (3 stars or more) do have some English speaking staff. Hygenic may only be a concern if you stay in a Hostel and even then according to my daughter, most were great. If you are concerned about hygene, carry the little hand bottles. I found most European washrooms and hotels cleaner and nicer than those in the US!!!! You need to do some reading before you go, the best trips are well researched and it sounds like you are not really that interested in Europe if you are asking about modern and cleanliness.