zizz

I was hoping to bring skirts to our Europe trip which will be in the summer. However, the usual suspects for comfort shoes (Geox, Ecco etc...) don't seem to offer a lot of choices for skirts. I was thinking of Birkenstocks (as I see pregnant women everywhere wear them) but hubby swears that they cause pain. Help pls.

As for luggage, I want to bring a sizeable luggage (not the ones that can be handcarried) for possible shopping. Will I be the only one in Eurostar with such a luggage?

And finally for a carry-on: I've read all the info about thievery so I'm quite concerned. If I wore a sling bag/pouch and positioned the pouch in front of my hips where I can always see it - can I still possibly be a victim? Is it really necessary to have a neck pouch or a secret wallet that goes through the belt loop? And do I have to carry my passport around with me as I've read others in this board do? I usually leave that at the in-room safe.

grsing

As for Birkenstocks causing pain, depends on which ones you get and how your feet are built, no one can say universally about any brand of shoe that it is comfortable or painful. I don't have a huge amount of experience with them personally, so I won't recommend for or against them, but I know far too many people who wear them to think that they're all painful.

Big luggage is a PITA, that's all there is to it. If you'll be buying a lot of stuff, I'd recommend some sort of collapsable bag you can stuff in your luggage going over and expand when you need it (throw dirty laundry in it, pack the nice stuff you've bought in the good suitcase). Trains are especially a hassle with big luggage, most particularly anything that won't fit overhead or between the seats, if you're lucky enough to get a table seat.

Personally, regarding security, I wear a money belt with the things I really can't bear to lose, and keep my day bag (messenger bag, basically a man-purse) in front of me if I'm at all worried. Just make sure it has a reasonably difficult closure (velcro is bad, and even a zipper isn't great). I feel better with my passport on me, in my money belt (unless I need it for ID purposes), than back in the hotel, but that's just me.

Sally30

there are some more dressy versions of the eccos and other brands. I just bought a pair of black ecco sandals from the walking company that look fine with skirts and seem comfortable as I've been wearing them to walk around where I live. here is a link
http://www.walkingcompany.com/Produc...;x=0&y=880

They aren't as cute as strappy sandals with heels but are better looking then birkenstocks.

Cicerone

I used to live in Europe, did a lot of my personal travelling by train, and NEVER pack lightly. Honestly, the baggage thing is a pain for about 5 minutes getting on and off the train and after that is no problem. That is what husbands are for, after all. There are luggage racks at the end of cars on the Eurostar, if you are in the older style cars with compartments, there is overhead storage. However, as most European trains have at least 2 steps to get up onto the train, and have narrow aisles, IIMO one or more large duffle bags with shoulder straps would be preferable to rolling suitcases which are hard to lift get up stairs and into narrow train doors and hard to fit down aisles. However, if all you have are suitcases, you will be fine albeit you may struggle a bit getting on and off the train and lifting them up into overhead racks. As mentined above, a smaller duffle bag (like a le Sportsac) that folds into a small flat piece when empty and can fit into your other bags is good for filling up with shopping.

Also, consider going first class where cars are less crowded and there is a bit more room for luggage.

It is not necessary that you carry your passport with you at all times when you are out for the day touring. In the old days when people cashed travellers checks, it was useful to have it or a copy to provide ID, but if you are using ATMs for cash, you don't need it. If you want to carry around a copy of your passport that is OK too, but you don't really need it. I would leave it in a hotel safe along with airline tickets and excess cash. Now, some people will inevitably write on this thread that "local law requires you to carry ID on you at all times and that if the police stop you and ask for ID and you aren't carrying your passport, you will get into trouble". I say bunko to that, the odds of that happening are slim to none, even in these days of heightened security; police are just not walking around making spot ID checks that I have ever seen. I have lived overseas for the last 15 years and have never been asked to produce any ID, and have lived for 10 of those years in Asia where I am clearly not a local and stand out like a sore thumb, which you probably won't in Europe. In the very unlikely event that you are stopped by a policeman in Italy or Switzerland or France and asked to produce ID, you can simply explain that you left it in your hotel safe and you would be happy to go back with them and get it, if whatever ID you have on you, like a driver's license, is not sufficient.

AngelaS

I have worn Birkenstocks all my life & LOVE them!! They have several fashionable types now that don't have to look like "jesus sandals" & yes, they are very comfortable & will be the only shoes I'll be packing when we go next month. You can definitely wear a cute pair with skirts & walk all day. The main thing though **you have to break them in first**. You don't state when you're leaving, but I would purchase a pair soon & start wearing them so they're broken in by the time you leave. Then you should be OK. Check out birkenstock.com for styles & to find your local dealer. i would go try some on first & if you want to buy then online for a better deal, qvc.com has great deals! have fun!

kleeblatt

Hi Cicerone,

This may not apply to you but ID is becoming more popular. Young people carry an ID card with them now so they can get into bars and fests. They are finally starting to "card", just like they do in the US. Too many problems with kids under 18 who are drunk and out of hand.

pavfec

Ugly comfort shoes are a thing of the past. I have had foot problems for years (in addition to wearing a size 12) and all I wear are comfort shoes. Try Clarks, Indigo, Privo, Rockport and Softwalk for funky, comfortable shoes. I bought a pair of black walking sandals by Softwalk for my honeymoon in Spain and Portugal last year and they were great. I wore them with capris and skirts and they looked fine.

As for wearing a secret wallet, I have never done that and I've travelled quite a bit around Europe. My husband does and after a while, he takes it off because he gets itchy and sweaty from it. I usually leave my passport in my suitcase, which I lock before leaving the hotel room. I keep a minimal amount of money with me, and I'm just careful with my purse.

Have a nice trip!

grsing

IF you have a reserved seat on the train, it's not a big deal, true. If you're cheap like me and don't (not the case on Eurostar, obviously), wandering through the train with a ton of luggage looking for an empty seat is no fun at all.

grsing

Oh, and second what schuler said, though I haven't the faintest idea as to your age.

Kate_W

Make sure that you break in your new comfie sandals before you head off to Europe. Spend at least a day walking around in them.

There is a compromise between "carry-on" only types and giant suitcase types. A 24" expandable suitcase should see you through the trip; limit yourself to the unexpanded capacity before you leave (slightly underpacked if possible) and you'll have room for purchases. And, furthermore, when it comes to buying things, try to limit your purchases to things you can't buy at home. I have no idea what you like to shop for, but don't bother with internationally available brands, unless the country you're visiting is their home base and their particularly cheap.

I've travelled a lot and live in Europe. I've used a secret wallet in only a few places, and, even then, not usually every day: Seville, Rome, Marrakech ... If I planned to visit tourist hotspots or to be in crowded places, I took extra precautions. If I stay in a hotel, I lock up my passport, tickets and all but one of my bank cards and credit cards in the safe. I carry a photocopy of my passport in some countries (e.g. Spain) where retailers will ask to see a passport when you want to pay with a credit card.

Wearing the sling bag/pouch in front of your hips so that you can see it will help, but it's no guarantee. Thieves are very light-fingered, or they just might choose to cut the bag off. The fact is that everyone is a possible victim, but some people are more vulnerable than others and some situations present greater risks than others. I've never been robbed, but my streetsmart Parisienne officemate was mugged a few weeks ago, in the evening after protests in Paris had persuaded many people to stay home (except troublemakers looking for a thrill). She wasn't paying attention, she was swinging her purse by the strap - and bye bye. No more purse.

You will want to take precautions especially when you are travelling from one place to another. You will be distracted (as you try to orient yourself), weighed down by luggage and carrying all of your valuables with you. That's a good time to use a concealed money belt/pouch.

grsing

As to the breaking in, if you only do it for one day, you'll probably be very sorry. I'd walk in new shoes at home for at least a week, because, if you're like a lot of tourists, you'll be walking several to many miles a day, and having shoes that give you blisters is no fun at all.

annhig

If it's not a personal question, why are you hooked on skirts? There are plenty of light trousers around and there's no risk of chafing! [depends on your size, sorry I'm being personal again.]
I've not travelled on Eurostar for a while, but I'd be surprised if there was a security problem with handbags/purses, so long as you keep it near you.
on our recent trip to Rome, I used my handbag until we got to our apartment, and then switched to a money belt, which was really useful, and just tucked inside my waistband. A secret wallet is all very well, but you neeed something you can get to easily, or you'll stop using it!
I never take my passport out of the hotel/apartment and have never had to prove my identity yet. [Even at the Palatine Hill, when they wanted proof we were from the UK so our kids got the EC discount - I just shrugged at pleaded ignorance, and they gave me the tickets!] If you think this may be a problem why not carry copies of passports?. The originals are much safer in the safe. And stop worrying - in a whole week in Rome we saw no crime of any sort, and ditto in 20 years of working in London, so Europe is not the den of iniquity some people think. Just be sensible, don't leave valuables in open view, and relax.

Christina

I think you are lucky because in the summer, there are comfortable walking sandals that look okay with skirts. I have an Ecco pair that, as someone said, are not really dressy and I wouldn't wear them with skirts much at home, but on a trip, they get by (they are black).

However, not a lot of comfort shoes look so great with skirts if they are enclosed shoes -- I think there are some exceptions that look okay, you just have to find them. Some people have talked about a "Mary Jane" style shoe that would be better that tie oxfords, with a skirt (some people like these, I don't and won't wear them because I think they are children's style, but it's up to you).

I have no idea what annhig is referring to as to "chafing" and why trousers are superior to skirts for that. Skirts are generally cooler than trousers in the summer. If annhig is by any chance making some remark about people so large they chafe between the legs when walking when their legs rub together -- believe me, trousers are not going to solve that problem, as you have even more to rub. I think one can assume zizz has worn skirts before and knows that she likes them and is not a total idiot.

suze

There's loads of comfort sandals that would look fine with skirts (even those brands you mention). Or maybe Sketchers or something like that. It's hard to answer not knowing your age or style of dress.

I use only a pouch as you describe with no additional safety measures. Everyone has to make up their own mind about those kinds of safety issues.

You can leave your passport in the hotel safe. I carry mine around with me at all times. Again this is a personal decision how you choose to handle it.

Just make sure you can handle your own suitcase, whatever the size. There will be occasions you need to lift and carry it without any assistance during train travel.

wnab1q

I have problems with comfortable shoes and love dresses & skirts.

I wear echo, aerosoles and clark alot. I found this spring aerosoles has the most comfortable shoes/sandals I've had in years and looking at their site the ones I got are on sale - must order more!

These are the styles I can vouch for: "spring along" (wearing today, thick lightweight sole) "crossed n found" have a small heal that is great with skirts but you would never know the heal was there while wearing! "4 get me not" is another good choice. All 3 look good with slacks or skirts!

http://www.aerosoles.com/

oopsy

I love Dansko sandals in the summer. I think the Lara style looks nice with skirts. I wore them for miles and miles in Spain two years ago and my feet felt great.
oopsy

rbnwdln

I'm planning on cotton skirts for summer in Italy also. I wear strappy but really comfy Mephistos and Danskos.

suze

Cute flats (that link above to aerosoles)! I think those would be fine for evenings, but I wouldn't want to wear them all day for walking miles and miles, not enough support. Maybe I'll get some for summertime at home though

wnab1q

I love the flats as well but you would feel every tiny stone you stepped on. Not a good choice if you are traveling light!

The 'spring along' have a very thick sole so it absorbs the ground hardness.

Dayle

Zizz,

I took Mephistos and Teva's "City Sandals". I liked how both looked with skirts.

1. Go to Zappos.com
2. Search by "Comfort"
3. Free shipping & return!
4. Wear EVERY day between now and your trip. (Even this is too short a break-in time!)
5. Take Moleskin to ease your blisters.
6. You will be very glad.

Buon viaggio!