Do's & Don'ts
 

I would like to know the Do's & Don'ts of traveling overseas.

We will be traveling overseas for the very first time, and want to be somewhat prepared. After reading Fodor I have come to realize that this group can give us the information that is needed.

Thanks,
Nan

Hi wi,

Don't smoke in the lavatories on the airplanes. :)

Do you have any specific questions?

((I))

Hi
where are you going? Not every country or city has the same culture or customs.
For example, there is advice for hiring gondolas in Venice that won't do you much good in Paris.
:)

DO: Learn to say hello and goodbye and thank you in the language of the country you will visit

Fruit -- don't touch the fruit. ((b))

or pick up the clothing in a shop. Ask the salesperson which item you want to see.

here's one thread about packing/overpacking that generally applies

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34672283

Do enjoy your trip.

Don't fret too much.

here's a thread about first-time travel mistakes

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34694168

When shopping in stores or markets, keep a "hands off" mentality. Self service (touching all the merchandise) is frowned upon in most of Europe. The sales staff is there to assist you and you won't get a huge sales pitch with lots of pressure to buy, so take advantage of their expertise.

Buy a food translater (i.e. Marling Menu Master, etc.). The places with the menus in English (outside of the UK of course) are typically the places that cater to tourists and the food may not be nearly as good or reasonably priced as a local eatery. Having a small menu translator will allow you to eat wherever you want instead of being limited to places with tourist menus.

Validate your train/bus/ferry ticket before getting on board! The fines are terrible if you do not do this.

Remember that you are in a different country and they do things differantly. Do not get upset if you find someone that does not speak English. Relax and do not get overwhelmed or upset by new things. After all, that is why you are going.

Beware of pick pockets no matter where you go. No country is immune to it. Use common sense when traveling.

Learn a little of the language: hello, goodbye, do you speak English, I do not speak, yes, no. "Most" people will try to help you even if they have a hard time understanding you.

Make airline connections FAR apart ( at least 3 hrs) relax and get your flight in good time!

Don't go hiking in a a Gortex jacket at high noon in Crete in August.

Don't get drunk in Sicily.

Don't wear shorts and sandals in January in Moscow.

Make sure to bring the right passport.

Don't laugh. My DH, who is always checking and rechecking things before a trip, mistakenly brought son's passport. Fortunately, we allow LOTS of time, so he was able to return home and back (of course, had to run to the gate).

But the comment about learning the language, at least hello and please/thank you, is always appreciated.

Happy travels!

We are traveling from Colorado to Austria.

I have heard to not wear jeans. I want to be comfortable. Is it ok to wear them as you travel?

If this is your first longish flight, I suggest being prepared to make yourself comfortable on the plane. There are threads here on choosing your seats, how to find out which plane on which airline has what seat comforts/discomforts.

I pack my own "first class" amenities kit: stretchy soft socks to wear on the plane; inflatable neck pillow; sleeping pills; lip, hand, face moisturizers; earplugs and Earplanes; toothbrush and toothpaste; wash and dry type thingies; analgesics.

I also have my own entertainment which includes a guidebook for the area I'm traveling to, and another book that is a good read (by my standards).

Wear soft comfortable clothing and have my own snacks and water.

Don't forget your:
passport
plane ticket or flight confirm codes
ATM card, credit card, cash
prescription eye glasses & meds
hotel reservations if you have them

Packing light is a good thing.

Don't put anything in checked luggage you can't do without. Ever again.

Better yet, don't check luggage at all.

I've never been in a major city anywhere in the world where people were <i>not</i> wearing jeans, but that depends on what sort of activities you are doing, how old you are, the weather, and what sort of jeans, if you know what I mean.

Jeans are somewhat heavy and take up more space than other sorts of pants. They're not practical for washing in the hotel sink and they take forever to dry. Black jeans are a bit more versatile because you can wear them out in the evening with a nicer top or jacket.

But for museums and walking around sight seeing, no one will look at you funny if you are wearing jeans.

Don't listen to anyone who says &quot;You can't wear jeans in Europe&quot; unless you are prepared to be angry when you get there when you see all the denim that is being worn.

Forgot this <b>HUGE</b> piece of advice

Call your bank and credit card companies and let them know the dates of your travel and what countries you will visit. You do not want them to shut off your card because they assume it has been stolen due to unusual activity!!

By the way, I also live in Colorado and we always fly out of Denver. We have always had a connection in either Chicago or Dallas. Try to have at least 2-2.5 hours to connect in those particular airports.

Last but not least - don't use travellers checks. Use your ATM card but make sure it has a 4 digit PIN that doesn't start with 0.

scan your pasport and send it to yourself at an accessible email address. facilitates getting a new one.. in case of loss.

DO pack a washcloth (or several); a washcloth is typically considered as intimate and personal as underwear by Europe's innkeepers, and not something they would ever provide for your use,

Best wishes,

Rex

Be sure to dress appropriately to go inside any churches. Men, no hats. Ladies (and Men), no bare shoulders or thighs.

Don't overtip; it's considered to be condescending and/or naive.

Don't expect people to always smile or show &quot;happiness&quot; because you have come to visit their country. Many cultures are more reserved than Americans (if that is where you're from) but that doesn't mean they are 'rude' or 'unfriendly'.

DO wear jeans. Everyone else is over there, why shouldn't you be comfy too?

DON'T forget your Passport, or as in the case of my husband last month in France, don't forget your Green Card if you're a resident alien living in the US. Getting back in will cost you time (3 days) and money ($400 in fines alone).

DO your homework. Read guidebooks, plan, think, look at maps, dream. All these things will help you decide where to go and what to see. Then if you decide to blow it all off and see something else, you'll know what you're giving up.

DO be polite, and follow the lead of what people around you are doing. If you notice people are staring at you, it's because you're not doing what you probably should be, like being quiet in a church.

DO learn &quot;good day, please, thank you, and goodbye&quot; in the language where you're going. I also find learning to say &quot;I don't speak ____, do you speak English?&quot; is very helpful.

And do whatever Ira tells you to do, like &quot;don't smoke in the lavatories on airplanes&quot;.

:)

Jules

Avoid discussing US politics unless you both have the same opinion.

DON'T drive on the right side of the road if you're driving in the UK.

DON'T speak too loudly, like some Americans tend to do. Many folks overseas consider that rude and &quot;typically American.&quot;

DO be prepared to here some anti-American comments. Be prepared to consider that their opinions are directed at the current administration and US foreign policy, which sometimes gets confused with the American people.

If you're planning on renting a vehicle make sure your licence is renewed. We went to Ireland this summer &amp; hubby forgot to renew his on his birthday in July. They wouldn't rent the car to him so it had to be rented in my name. Driving for a week on in a standard vehicle and on the wrong side of the road was not my idea of fun. Luckily we survived &amp; still managed to have a great time.

DO learn to ask for the check in a restaurant in the local language. Unlike the US, even if you have informed the waiter/waitress that you don't want anything else, they will generally not bring your bill until you ask for it. This took some getting used to. We quickly learned &quot;Die rechnung, bitte&quot;!

Have a great time!
H

Oh yes, if you plan to drive in Austria you will need an international drivers license. You can pick one up at your AAA office for less than $20

Don't put Super gas in a Diesel car. It makes for a very long day.
((H))

Make sure all the money you will be taking out from your ATM card is in your checking account, not your savings account. For some reason, you can't access your savings account overseas. I learned the hard way.

Do act like yourself.

Do treat people the same way you treat them at home. No better. No worse.

Do expect and demand the same treatment and courtesy from people that you expect and demand at home.

Do Learn at least few words of the local speech to oil the wheels opf social interaction.

Don't make the trip an exercise in crossing off lists of guidebook starred attractions. Do walk around, get the feel and just absorb the vibe.

Don't be bullied by guidebooks or snobby Fodors posters in seeing things and doing things that don't interest you. If you don't go to art musuems at home, why should you do it just because you are in Europe?

Don't Drive if possible. People coming from North America will be shocked by the aggrevbation of driving in most of Europe - narrow roads, the cities that are a maze of narrow, one-way streets, the almost complete lack of readable roads signs, etc. For some reason, this just doesn't get talked about enough. In Europe, driving is the last resort, not the first. This is the best advice you will get about anything from anybody.

&lt;&lt;Don't Drive if possible. People coming from North America will be shocked by the aggrevbation of driving in most of Europe - narrow roads, the cities that are a maze of narrow, one-way streets, the almost complete lack of readable roads signs, etc. For some reason, this just doesn't get talked about enough. In Europe, driving is the last resort, not the first. This is the best advice you will get about anything from anybody&gt;&gt;

IMO, that's hogwash. Sure, it's daunting to drive in and out of some big European cities, but unreadable roadsigns? Ten minutes studying international road signs is all you need to master that. To navigate &quot;a maze of streets&quot; all you need is to be able to read a map.

Taking the train is great fun in Europe, but to characterize driving as a &quot;last resort&quot; is just silly. Just as in the USA or anywhere else, if you want to really see a country, as opposed to just major cities and towns, driving is the only way to go.

Driving in Europe is great. We just saw more than 20 hill towns in Italy. Had we not had a car, most of them would have been impossible to see.

I have driven in many countries in Europe, and while driving in big cities can be a pain indeed, there is such a freedom you have when you have a car.

There is a time and place for a train, but there are plenty of places that are much more fun to drive. From the Amalfi Coast drive to the German autobahn, driving in Europe is a blast! Even when you screw up.
((H))

imhornet's views on driving in Europe are, as StCirq says, hogwash. There are some places where I would prefer not to drive (Paris, Rome and a few other cities) but on balance, driving in Europe should not be a problem for a North American, and opens up a whole realm of possibilities that travel by public transport won't give you.

For your first trip, however, you might want to stick to public transport, particularly if you plan to visit mostly major cities.

That is quite the over generalization about why not to drive in Europe Imhornet. Personally I don't because I often travel solo, and it is not cost effective, plus am in the major cities so go by train instead.

But, as an example, the highways in Switzerland are amazing... well organized, fast, efficient, in perfect condition.

Driving in Europe is like driving in the States -- a little more challenging in the UK and Ireland since you will be on the other side of the road.

I've never had a problem. Put driving in Europe on your &quot;Do&quot; list. ((b))