ecat

Another vote for Dansko :

http://www.dansko.com/shoes/jan1/loni.htm#
http://www.dansko.com/shoes/lita.htm#

Also some Keneth Cole sandles are great and here's a link to Simple Shoes.

http://www.simpleshoes.com/Products....c=27&NAV=1

mcgeezer

I love Eccos but as someone said in an above post, everyone's foot is different. Most of the brands people have listed cost a bit more but very worth it. Do not get cheap when it comes to footwear. You're going to pay a nice chunk of cash for your vacation and a foot problem can ruin it. (Not that you've indicated that you're not willing to spend the money. It's just a good piece of advice I gave to a traveling partner and it bears repeating.)
And since this thread has turned to shorts. I never wear shorts even at home. There is nothing worse than being hot (it gets really hot where I live) and having to deal with a piece of clothing that close. Dresses or skirts are infinately better.

Barbara

Also Josef Seibel. Whichever brand you get, the important thing is the thickness of the sole. You don't want thin-soled, dressy sandals for walking about in all day. And, as several others have recommended, do wear them for a while before your trip.

SalB

Nancyhol, I'm a devoted Birkenstock fan. Years ago in Paris I wore expensive running shoes and we walked our usual 10 to 12 miles on city streets. By the end of the day, my feet were so painful I thought I would have to stay in the hotel the next day. Morning came and I was bribed with a canal tour. I knew I couldn't deal with running shoes again. All that cushioning was killing me. So . . . I hauled out my Birks that I had taken to use as slippers in the hotel. We somehow missed the canal tour and walked all over Paris that day and my feet were reborn. I could have walked 20 miles or more in them.

The end result is, I came home and tossed everything in my closet and bought a Birk for every occasion. I have several sets of sandals, a Mary Jane patent leather and even a pair of open toed black (almost) dress shoes. We have Birkenstock walking shoes too. I'm a fan!

The arch support is what I like. If you have a high arch and are getting a bit older and your arch is losing its elasticity, the Birks provide support. I've hiked out in the country and in town with them and will probably never buy anything else. Oh well, I have a pair of Hafflinger clogs my daughter gave me and they are also excellent.

I love to walk so having good shoes is very important to me. Be sure you try a long walk, at least 3 miles, before you decide what to take with you. Every foot and every arch is different. When you find something comfortable, ignore those who say you have to "look" like a native. You're a tourist; you won't look like a native no matter what you wear, so be comfortable. Then you will be cheerful and people will like you no matter what you have on your feet.

Good luck.

nancyhol

Thank you so much, SalB, for your hearty endorsement for walking in Birkenstocks! I am going to "practice" in them before I leave home!

BowenLinda

Everyone has pretty well covered this subject but I thought I'd add not to bring two pairs of the same sandal that you think are comfortable. My travel friend did last fall, one pair black, the other white, and ended up getting blisters from both. She had very unhappy feet.

grandmere

I have a pair of Mephisto sandals that I wore all over Italy: they were very comfortable and not too clunky.