Do's & Don'ts
Oct 19th, 2005, 10:57 AM
#21
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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.
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.
Oct 19th, 2005, 11:52 AM
#23
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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.
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.
Oct 19th, 2005, 11:59 AM
#25
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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
Best wishes,
Rex
Oct 19th, 2005, 12:00 PM
#26
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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 "happiness" 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'.
Don't overtip; it's considered to be condescending and/or naive.
Don't expect people to always smile or show "happiness" 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'.
Oct 19th, 2005, 12:04 PM
#27
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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 "good day, please, thank you, and goodbye" in the language where you're going. I also find learning to say "I don't speak ____, do you speak English?" is very helpful.
And do whatever Ira tells you to do, like "don't smoke in the lavatories on airplanes".
Jules
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 "good day, please, thank you, and goodbye" in the language where you're going. I also find learning to say "I don't speak ____, do you speak English?" is very helpful.
And do whatever Ira tells you to do, like "don't smoke in the lavatories on airplanes".
Jules
Oct 19th, 2005, 12:16 PM
#29
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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 "typically American."
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.
DON'T speak too loudly, like some Americans tend to do. Many folks overseas consider that rude and "typically American."
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.
Oct 19th, 2005, 12:16 PM
#30
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If you're planning on renting a vehicle make sure your licence is renewed. We went to Ireland this summer & 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 & still managed to have a great time.
Oct 19th, 2005, 12:30 PM
#31
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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 "Die rechnung, bitte"!
Have a great time!
H
Have a great time!
H
Oct 19th, 2005, 12:50 PM
#34
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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.
Oct 19th, 2005, 12:57 PM
#35
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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.
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.
Oct 19th, 2005, 01:11 PM
#36
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<<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>>
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 "a maze of streets" 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 "last resort" 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.
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 "a maze of streets" 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 "last resort" 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.
Oct 19th, 2005, 01:19 PM
#37
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.
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.
Oct 19th, 2005, 03:09 PM
#38
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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.
For your first trip, however, you might want to stick to public transport, particularly if you plan to visit mostly major cities.
Oct 19th, 2005, 03:45 PM
#39
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.
But, as an example, the highways in Switzerland are amazing... well organized, fast, efficient, in perfect condition.
Oct 19th, 2005, 04:05 PM
#40
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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 "Do" list.
I've never had a problem. Put driving in Europe on your "Do" list.
