I am going to Europe next month, and the trip is a surprise so I don't know where exactly I will be. I would appreciate any general tips, wardrobe advice (is it true if I wear jeans every day like I do here, I will stand out as though I had TOURIST stamped on my head?), what faux pas can I avoid if I know about them? My biggest fear is insulting someone or coming across as rude, simply because I don't know the customs. I realize Europe is a large, diverse place, and I wish I could provide more info as far as what countries and cities I'm going to, but I have no clue. Thank you in advance

Huh? How can you not know where you will be? Even if the trip is a surprise, you *need* to know what to expect--in terms of wardrobe, knowledge about the sights, food, how much the exchange rate will be, etc. I urge you to ask as many details as possible from the person/people providing the trip.

As for jeans, you can wear 'em, no problem. But I'd recommend cotton slacks, simply because they're easier to wash (and dry) in your hotel room. Also, wear a money belt with a photocopy of your passport (I hope you have a passport already!), along with your medical insurance information, and emergency phone numbers at home.

This board can give you more specialized information if you can tell us more specific details. Get 'em.

I can't - my boyfriend is planning it all as a surprise, and he's provided me some basics about what to pack, but that is it. And yes, of course I've applied for my passport and should have it soon. He will not tell me where we are going, although I'm hoping Italy is on the list

Well, I don't know. I hope your boyfriend knows you well enough to know what you would like to do in Europe. If it were me, I'd want more control.

Has he set up all the hotel reservations yet? Keep telling him how great a place Italy is. I hope you get to see it.

europe is comprised of dozens of countries where people all dress differently. there are also great variations in the behaviours (generally a north south divide with the latin countries quite different from the northern countries).

don't worry about any of this...just be yourself (sorry to be so cliche). many here love to grab hold of a new tourist to europe and fill their heads with all sorts of silly rules that try to teach them to act and dress european (however that is) in a few short lessons. just reject this and be yourself.

we here in europe see travellers from all over the world so we do not get offended if we see someone acting or dressing differently.

You can wear whatever you want... unless he sneaks you into Southern Turkey or something in which case you shouldn't wear shorts....

But I'm sure that won't be a problem.

I wore the same jeans in 26 countries paired with various t-shirts and felt completely at home and comfortable wherever I went.

Pack your favorite clothes and I'm sure you'll be fine

To make you feel more comfortable just think of Europe as your home town but people just speak other more exciting languages

You have a cool boyfriend, but dump him and go with me next time!

To deal with the surprise aspect of your trip as well as your wish "not to look like a tourist", I'd recommend the following.

1. Try to pack light, because you have no idea how much you'll be moving around. Ideally no more than a 22" suitcase with wheels, certainly no more than a 24" (if it's a long trip). There are laundry facilities in Europe, as well as dry cleaning options in hotels (expensive but I'd rather travel light).

2. In order to pack light, you have to make sure that almost every item of clothing (including footwear) can be combined with several other pieces. Choose a basic colour scheme so that most of your tops will work with most of your skirts and pants. Cotton twinsets are great. Wear both layers in morning and evening when it's cool, take off the cardigan if it's hot, wear the cardigan over a dress in the evening, etc. Don't count on air conditioning, but be prepared for it with a cardigan or a silk/pashmina shawl. Limit your footwear to the most comfortable, versatile and stable pairs. I get by with one pair of walking shoes (not big clunky running shoes, which scream tourist, but possibly sleek black trainers); one pair of stable (e.g. low-heeled, well-padded, ankle strap or thong) sandals that can survive a bit of mud or dirt; and one favourite pair of shoes (e.g. dressier sandals or something you can't live without).

3. Residents rarely wear shorts in most European cities, so pack only a pair or two for potential beach locations. Instead, pack cropped pants (which are cool enough), knee-length skirts, and some sleek plain tshirts. My summer uniform and that of about half the women around me in Paris.

4. A daypack-type bag is ok for sightseeing, but avoid the giant, sporty, bright "I've got all my schoolbooks plus half a dozen carabiners in here" look. Something sleeker in a neutral colour would be better. You also want to make sure that it has some relatively secure and inaccessible pockets for stowing valuables. Or you might prefer a shoulder bag for daily sightseeing, which can be more secure than a daypack. I usually travel from city to city with a daypack, but bring a medium-sized crushable black shoulder bag with me, which I use in cities for daily sightseeing.

5. Don't forget to pack a few dress-up clothes (try to strike the right balance between something that would work for a dressy event like a concert or special dinner and something that is fun to wear to a less fancy place). Also, choose something that doesn't require pressing, or is hard to clean or keep looking clean.

6. Take clothes that can be worn more than once without a wash (except undies and socks, of course) and that look decent even if they get a bit wrinkled, pick up lint or even a stain or two. For example, I avoid crisp, shiny navy and black because they look terrible after 5 minutes. Instead, I pack heathery colours in slightly textured weaves (they already look linty). I also limit the amount of white clothing I take (white tshirts yes, white skirts, pants or dresses - no). Some linen works well, since it looks ok if it gets wrinkled, but some doesn't. Stripes often travel well - because the stripes somehow disguise the wrinkles.

7. Pack a lightweight water resistant shell jacket (preferably something that's in a neutral colour and not overly sporty looking) and a tiny umbrella. For example, it rains a lot in Paris in late summer - usually only for an hour or so, but every few days.

8. Overall, if you want to blend, think "smart casual" (even for places where you'd ordinarily go for sporty casual) and neutral for the backbone of your wardrobe. But include a few fun items (e.g. bright colours), if you have space left over.

Hi

Wow, sounds like a nice surprise. My wife would freak out if I did something like that...not that she don't like to travel but the packing issue would bug her to death But you can always speculate on where you will be going...how long will you be gone? Maybe the trip will go to some of the "classical" destinations: Rome, Paris, London etc. Check out www.weatherbase.com and they you will have some idea of what weather to expect. Good luck with the trip

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Unless your boyfriend rents a car and drives you everywhere in Europe, pack really lite. If you expect him to carry some of your "stuff" it could end your relationship.

Here is my advice:

If you don't know the language, smile, use eye contact and only say one or two words. Instead of saying, "Can you tell me where the bathroom is," say, "toilet?"

Only pack one pair of jeans since they are heavy and take up a lot of room in a suitcase.

I see a lot of people wearing dark and light solid clothes in Europe. Since it is usually dry in Europe, you should be able to wear everything twice before you wash it. Bring a little laundry detergent with you and wash things out in the sink the first night you are in a hotel for two nights.

To save money, I usually eat dinner late and that way I don't spend so much time in the bars later in the evening. In Barcelona, I had dinner around 11:00 p.m.

Don't walk into a church showing your belly or arm pits--even if you have a killer tattoo.

Don't expect fast service in a restaurant--especially when they are busy.

Be friendly and say positive things about people. Don't judge people, countries or lifestyles.

"Don't walk into a church showing your belly or arm pits--even if you have a killer tattoo."


LOL oh man I laughed out loud.

That should read "especially if you have a killer tatoo" =)

The problem with JEANS has nothing to do with being recognized as a tourist... next month is August so assume it may be HOT! Do you have any other kind of casual pants more suitable for summer weather (and take maybe just one pair of jeans) like dockers, linen, cotton, capris, whatever.

Pack light!! Take only one suitcase or duffle or backpack of a reasonable size (21-24&quot plus one small tote, day pack, or large purse.

Keep valuable with you on the plane, not in checked-luggage. Anything that would be difficult to replace (prescription meds, if you wear prescription glasses, sunglasses, or contacts, passport, money, etc.).

Europe is not so different about customs. Simply be very polite and patient with everyone, everywhere. Too bad you don't at least know what language will be spoken where you are going... because I would STRONGLY encourage you to learn a few simple phrases (such as "I'm sorry, I don't speak French. Do you speakk English?" and hello, goodbye, excuse me, i'm sorry, etc.) and carry a phrase book so you can sort out restaurant menus, numbers, times in the local language.

I'd think you want to bring your own ATM card and 1 credit card. Even if he's paying, it's good to have more than one source of funds.

Will you be taking your own cash? In USD or Euro or Swiss Franc or British Pounds?

It's surely a sweet surprise from your boyfriend, but I can't imagine leaving the country without having some things taken care of for myself.

I can't imagine a better surprise. OTH, I can't imagine being more frustrated about preparing to pack since Europe composes so many diverse places and people. BUT, look at it this way: if he won't tell you, you've got the perfect excuse to buy clothes if you don't pack the right stuff. And guess who should pay?

Contact your CC company and ATM company to let them know you'll be traveling out of the country, so they don't block your card from being used.

One of the best things about Europe in general is that a lot of everyday things are just slightly 'different' than what you are used to in the US. Some examples:
I tried buying a ball point pen in a corner drug store in Paris, and got some strange stares. Drug stores are for pharmacy items only.
Many hotel rooms lock from the inside with your room key, so you need the key to get out of the room!
Things like drinking fountains are not as common in public buildings.
Restaurant tipping is usually not nearly as generous as in the US.
Meals are more often served in courses, one at a time.
Europeans in general are slightly more formal than Americans.

It's hard to be more specific unless you know what country you are going to. Go to slowtrav.com for lots of travel tips, especially to Italy. Also pick up a Europe for Dummies for a good overview.
ps: jeans are fine!

Thank you to everyone for your advice. I had to laugh at the shirt/bare midriff church comment. No, I would never do that but I do have a fabulous tattoo on my lower stomach. And, here in AZ, I tend to wear tees often because of the heat and sometimes my little dragon (the tattoo) makes an appearance.

Anyhoo, I like the slowtravel web site and it looks like I can print a bunch of pages from different countries and hope at least one of them is right. We are going for three weeks, and going to 3 cities, so I think it will be just the right pace of relaxing and sightseeing.

Packing light won't be a problem, I don't like to take much when I travel and we go camping often, so I'm used to only bringing the essentials.

It is a bit hard leaving it all up to someone else (especially since my ex-husband couldn't plan a trip around the block), but I know he is seeking the advice of family members who have traveled to Europe and it is nice to have someone doing this for me - I think this will be the best birthday present I have ever or will ever get

I am so excited for you!

I definitely second the "pack light" advice and checking on your CCs and ATM usage.

Other than packing light, I would say, don't stress. If it's August, most major cities will be *hot*. Dress so that you are comfortable and relax.

The fact that you are concerned about how to avoid being offensive tells me that you likely won't be. I think there's a phrasebook out by LonelyPlanet that actually covers the major European languages, so you won't have to haul 10 books or 50 printed pages with you. That might be helpful.

Otherwise, go, take in the sights, smells and tastes, take lots of pictures, and have a fantastic time!!!

What a great boyfriend you have....

Minx - if you dump your boyfriend and go off with Tyler, give me your boyfriend's number!

Your trip sounds so exciting. I hope you both have a great time. I have no doubt you will love Europe.

MacPrague, excellent idea about a phrase book covering more than one language! I didn't know they have one, but I love my Lonely Planet French phrase book.

In thinking about this post, that's (and money/ATM/card) was my only concern for Mynx to get herself for the trip.

Mynx- you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders, I'm guessing you will not come across as rude. As others mentioned that fact that you even have thought about it likely makes you an open, friendly, & welcomed visitor.

Thank you for the tip! I just went to LonelyPlanet and found the Europe Phrasebook. I am going to see if they have it at my local Barnes & Noble and if not I'll order it online.

I have had seven years of French and two of Spanish, but that was in elementary school , high school and college. Since it has been about 10 years since my last class, I have a feeling my grammar would be something like "Me Tarzan. You Jane." if you know what I mean ;-)

I will feel much more comfortable if I can at least attempt to communicate properly.