PaulRabe

I was EXTREMELY naive about the depth of globalization when I saw a McDonalds in London during my first trip to Europe in 1985 -- I HAD to get my picture taken in front of it. I have since had my photo taken in front of McDonalds in all of the ten countries to which I have since travelled. I was at the one in Malta on the first day it opened -- there must have been 300 people waiting to get inside.

Joe18

And if you want to eat where the locals do, go to a McDonalds anywhere in the world.

nona1

True

caroltis

I definitely visit McDonald's in Europe on occasion to get my "ice" in my soft drink!

Also have to agree with an earlier poster = if in Rome, you must stop in at the McD near the Spanish Steps...it's unlike any other!

rkkwan

"Royale with Cheese", anybody?

rcasper73

We stopped in McDonalds in both Paris and Munich. Just had to get a Royale with cheese.....Really is was because there was nothing else open at the time in the particular areas we were in. I never eat at those places at home as I keep a very strict diet, but on vacation, all bets are off...

Poohgirl

I never go to McD at home but in Europe I sometimes do because they are nonsmoking. I had a Lamb McSpicy at a McD in London once. It looked icky but tasted fine.

Cholmondley_Warner

I have used them as they are often the only places that are open. It's no big deal IMHO - just food as fuel which is what you sometimes want (and in any case isn't Burger King a british company? I thought Whitbread owned it).

I have always wanted to take a yank to Wimpey's just to see the look on their face.

J_R_Hartley

"mystery meat"

Dukey, with your permission, I am adding that phrase to my vocabulary.

I witnessed a horrified American family walk out of McDoginabun in Montpellier because they served BEER.

Cholmondley_Warner

When you are in a french McDs - ask to see the wine list.

AyQuehago

The only time I eat fast food in the US is when I have no other choice, although sometimes I do get a craving for a burger, but I would choose BK or wendys over McD's. I did go to a McD's in Barcelona and got fries there (I did not want to but at that moment it had to do)and they were not so good and I went to a BK back home (Dominican Rep) and they have their own spin like the Chimiking LMAO (their version of a chimichurri... a Dominican meat sandwich not to be confused with argentitian chimichurri sauce) it's kind of sad though that in the Dominican Rep these ff restaurants are so expensive that the typical family going out to a nice dinner, would go to one of those

WTnow

We travel with a child and have been touring Europe for almost 2 years, so yes we have popped into Micky dees, BK and subway here and there.

We rarely used them at home and we rarely use them here, but once in a while it is a rare treat for my child.

They are a little bit different in Europe, but pretty similar. I really hate them and we usually get the salads ( happy meal for kiddo). Truly horrible food at them world wide...but a little junk food must come into every life I suppose.

Often times we just get an ice cream.

It sure came in handy when we were starving and ran into one before catching the ferry from Turkey to Samos. Gave us something to do while waiting in the long line.


Sometimes we go to McDonalds just for the wifi. Often a great place to plug in and catch up with our laptops.


http://www.soultravelers3.com

Pegontheroad

Like so many others, I don't eat fast food at home--the sole exception being if I have had an intrusive medical treatment or test which requires fasting, and I just want to get home, eat something, and take a nap.

However, when in Europe, it's a different story...Once we'd had a terrible time trying to locate the city center and our hotel in Regensburg. We were exhausted when we finally arrived at the Parkhotel Maximilian, and we were also very hungry. Right next door to the hotel was an elegant German restaurant and across the street was a McDonald's.

Let me see, we're tired and grubby---elegant sit-down dinner or Mickey D's? Elegance or Mickey D's?...Naturally, we chose the Golden Arches.

At other times, I just get tired of trying to figure out what is meant by various items on the menu. Or else I'm out of sync with Spanish mealtimes and a Burger King is always open. Or I don't feel like eating partridge or squid...or...

travel2live2

A resounding No. I never, ever eat at fast food places even at home so have zero interest in eating at them elsewhere. I cannot waste my time eating at fast food joints when I could be eating real food elsewhere (but then I am a MAJOR foodie).

However, I do love to nip into a lovely bakery, cheese shop or charcuterie for some quick and fresh cheese/bread/pastry/meat/pizza/bratwurst. Perhaps that could be touted as "fast food"!

bozama

MeiJ,, how do you use the washrooms at the Champs Elysees McDs without buying anything, as of at least three years ago you had to enter a code printed on your food reciept to get into the locked washrooms, LOL
Mind you we were not aware of this, as they do not do it at all McDs, but we were lucky as a person gave us the code off their reciept.

When I was in Paris 3 years ago I took my 14 yr old son. We went to McDs about 4 times,3 times for breakfast as son wanted protien, so two EggMcMuffins and a hot chocolate for less then 5 euros seemed like a great deal to me. And once son got chicken chunks to take to hotel room, I stopped at an Asian take out and got spring rolls, we had a fast food picnic in room.

I did not go last year when travelling with my friend, nor have I ever gone when travelling alone, no correction, did use washroom at one in Versailles across from train station!

Persoanlly I don't think one should make a habit of ever eating there, either abroad or at home, but , for a take away coke, or a salad, why not?
On the other hand there are too many places in Paris with good pizza, why would you go to Pizza Hut? And KFC is just gross either side of the ocean, I mean doesn't that stand for Kentucky Fried Coronaries,, LOL

KateIP

Returned from France a week ago, and we did visit McDonald's several times, but not really for the food. They have free wifi, which we needed to check email, or find a new hotel (the charming B&B had no hot water!). I found the food about the same as at home, maybe a bit better. My friend really liked their 'alternative' fries, and their desserts were different and yummy. While not the ideal choise, they did serve a good purpose!

KateIP

sorry, of course I know it's 'choice'~no 's'!

kerouac

There is a very big possibility that the above ground McDonald's on the Champs Elysées will be closing down within a few months. Even though it has the highest cash turnover of any McDonald's in the world, the rent increase is killing it. Planet Hollywood already closed down in February, as did a 4-screen cinema, half a dozen shops and a pharmacy. The Champs Elysées post office is also expected to be evicted soon.

The underground McDonald's (lower level of the Galerie des Champs) will probably remain.

bozama

Kerouac, will there be other tenents moving into all those empty places or will it just start to look empty?? I am surprised the Hard Rock can't afford the rent, I mean with what they charge for a drink they should be rolling in money,, we went into one near the department stores, and were going to have a drink for the novelty( being Canadian we have never been inside one) and we almost died, ( laughing) when we saw the drink prices. We have no money problems, but we would no way waste all that money in what essentially is just a chain restaurant to us,,

bozama

PS Yes we walked out, went down the street a bit , and found a cafe that was happy to sell us a 3 euro coke which of course is a rip off too, but at least it is a french rip off and not as bad as the prices at that HRC.