Well I'm not sure how much fun your vacation will be in a cast when you slip off your sweaty flip flops on an uneven stretch of cobblestone and twist your ankle. Sandles, by the way, which have a strap across the back of the foot, are very different from flip flops. And personally, I would be disgusted with myself if I had to look down at feet black with dirt all day long.

I've worn flip flops in Rome twice with no problems - if you wear them all the time and are ok with VERY dirty feet then I'd say you are fine.

Now I did "throw a flop" in Ireland once! But those were cheapo flops - I would think Crocs wouldn't have that problem :-)

OK, I just had a timely conversation with a co-worker who limped by a while ago. She got a pinched nerve and shin splints from wearing flip flops in Paris last Fall. She says it is getting worse, has spent a fortune in therapy and other doctor bills.

She said she had no idea that she would have permanent damage and it didn't start hurting until she returned.

She is not heavy on her feet, she is tiny and thin.

Yee-ouch. Thanks for the story, SeaUrchin. Maybe I will stick with my sneaks after all!!

I had planned to bring my teva flip flops as even walking all around Disney World they were comfortable and no blisters. The tourists with the brandy new white sneakers were hobbling with their blisters. I also wore my tevas all over the Grand Canyon when we went camping and rafting. I intend to carry a nicer pair of shoes to put on before I enter a nice place - such a dinner or a church/vatican. BUT I WAS NOT THINKING ABOUT DIRTY FEET! EEEWWW.

muzzy ~
truly, though my feet are too old to like a day on pavement in flip flops, I don't know that you'll get any dirtier in Rome than anywhere else - outside of the Forum, parks or other places where you find some real dirt - the gutter, say. But how much time are going to spend in the gutter? (Sorry, very personal question ...)

muzzy~ you won't get any dirtier feet in Rome than at Disneyworld. the people who always post this complaint are people who also don't wear sandals themselves. they just imagine this would be so.

I avoid wearing sandals or flips in big European cities because of idiots like...me. A couple of weeks ago I traveled back to Brussels for a few days and used my husband's wheelie carryon bag. Unlike mine, it's wider at the base than at the top. So while wheeling it along the metro platform, I ran right over some poor guy's sandal-shod feet. Owww! I felt so guilty, I had really nailed him. I heard him complain to his friend that this was the first day of the year he'd gone out in sandals.
Big cities like Rome and Paris (and Brussels, apparently) are full of tourists (or clueless semi-locals) who don't always watch where they're going and will accidentally tramp or roll suitcases over your flipped-out feet.
When I'm in a big city and don't want to wear regular shoes, I wear a pair of Stuart Weitzman closed toe slides. They're pretty, comfortable and my tootsies are protected.

Euro style note: Toeless shoes are in this season!

Well, I'm one of the people who would never consider wearing flip flops in Rome and I wear sandals and flip flops all summer long. I can handle somewhat dirty feet (although I think its gross); I just simply think it would be so totally uncomfortable. I'm physically fit and very used to walking and standing for long periods of time, and my feet throb after two or three days of walking around the cobblestone streets of Rome. I have blisters and aching feet, and this is with comfortable, well-worn shoes. I couldn't imagine wearing flip flops all day on top of it.

Tracy

Another poster from Europe asked just what was meant by flip flops. When most Americans think of flip flops they think about those rubber or plastic , toe thong things.

Yes they might be perfect for strolling around Disney World, stopping to stand in line for a ride..but walking a few miles all day long, they would be agony.

The closed toe , open heel shoes are probably fine if you are used to walking in them. You are in a city, people are in a hurry, your toes are in danger! Not to mention things on the sidewalks you might really not want squihing up between your toes.

In Rome with the cobblestones and narrow sidewalks , they'll be hard to keep on your feet. Dodging traffic, with shoes that might decide they are going one way when you are going the other might put you in peril.

The rubber flip flops are called by the Army, Shower Shoes..the Navy however refers to them as Go SLows...because of the danger in losing them!

Take a sensible pair of walking shoes, even a sandal that will stay with you in whatever circumstance you find yourself.

Take the flip flops if you will be at the coast or in resort areas. For cities , take precautions!

If you must wear flip flops take some handiwipes in your purse and clean your feet in a restroom. Or take some handcream and use that.

As some have indicated, there are what most Americans think of as flip-flops (and what Europeans think of as suitable jsut for the shower,) and thong-type sandals.

But that's a style and customer issue. I find that most who think they are comfortable in flipflops in their everyday life do not pound stone all day, as many do in Rome. There are some sandals that are more supportive (many mentioned above,) but typical flip-flips will find you fith filthy, aching feet at the end of the day.

Personally, when my husband and I stop for cocktails at a reasonably nice place at the end of the day before returning to the hotel, it's nice to feel cleaner, and more polished, than flip-flops. So: much depends on how you want to look and feel at the end of the afternoon.

I can see why Crocs of FF can be bad for practical reasons, such as not providing the cushion/support you need to walk for long periods (I almost always wear some type of athletic shoe).

But I don't understand the criticism about dirty feet. Aren't Crocs, FF (if rubber) and feet all washable? And not just washable, but more easily washed than leather or suede closed shoes? I have had horrible times trying to wash regular shoes (and get them to dry in time), and think from that standpoint, Crocs/FF might really be an advantage.

My perspective was filthy feet, not filthy shoes. It seems that shoes show less dirt than obviously filthy feet. Admittedly, this is probalby more of an issue when touring the Roman ruins than general museum touring and other places that are disty and with dirt paths.

Since I often wear ballet flats with insoles, I find the leather pretty easy to wipe quickly if they look dirty. 'A lot easier than cleaning dirty looking toenails, etc.

To Marium in Belges,
Flipflops to Amricans are those shower clogs made of rubbery material. Slides have no backs, can have flat or wedge heels and maybe called mules.

Okay, on the issue of flip-flops-they are everywhere, there is an atelier in the 10th in Paris where you can design your own-I have, for two summers straight, worn NOTHING but cushy Rocket Dog flip flops through the streets of Rome, Venice, Florence and Sorrento-and it was the only thing that I could wear that would not rub my heel, and with a 1 to 2 inch foam rubber footbed-I never got dirty feet-that just didn't, and never has, happened. I have worn my fancier flipflops into the Landsdowne in London for drinks, nobody gave me a second glance. Also the Hassler in Rome.

Flip flops do rule, in the summertime of Europe.

No, make that Royal Lancaster, in London, not Landsdowne!

To the best of my recollection, I have never arrived anywhere inappropriately dressed. "When in Rome..." pun intended... I like comfort. I tend to not be a dirt magnet anyway - old sneakers are still white.

This was a perfect thread for me - I will bring my flip flops and some more shoes and if need be I will "suck it up and buy some more shoes!"

2 sandals, 1 flip flops, 1 sneakers... that's my pack list for footwear for Europe in the summertime.

Pmuzzy17,

I like your plan. I am leaving for Paris in two days and I plan on bringing a croc flip-flops to wear for picking up crepes and coffee, a 2 inch high cork wedge sandals that are super light (I tried them in my gravel driveway and they were great) and a two inch kitten heels Prada sandals with rubber sole. If I suffer, I will shop for something practical and comfortable.

Aloha

cafegoddess~ the problem with your plan to shop if and AFTER you suffer is then you already have blisters on your feet that will last the rest of your trip. is fashion really worth the price?
;-)

fashion is almost always worth the price....

now how did i just KNOW someone was going to say that?

hey i'm all for great fashion but prefer to express it in my clothing choices, not by wearing uncomfortable shoes when i'm on vacation walking a hundred miles every day. remind me, who is it i'm trying to impress in a city of strangers?

how about the person you are with ?
Or - just looking good for yourself!

I'm still not sure what flip flops are. I wear open toes no heel Clarks everywhere. They are stylish and very comfortable and yes I have worn them all over Europe. Are they flip flops?

My most comfortable walking shoe happens to be a Merrell flip flop which I walked in all over Paris last year. They were the only shoes that did not give me blisters and when my feet swelled from the heat, there was no problem with my flip flops. Not all flip flops are created equal and I couldn't imagine doing the kind of walking I did in most flip flops. The Merrells are winners though.

to my knowledge, flip flops are thongs for your feet. Called slippers in Hawaii. Also called zoris. The only strap is between the big toe and the second toe, counting from the big toe. They flip and they flop when you walk.

Suze,

I didn't say it was a good plan.

Aloha
M

sid&pennysmom, Those look nice, I would take 'em. You can always use them for bedroom slippers or after a day of touring, if you decide they are not appropriate for all-day wear. they'd hardly take up any room in the suitcase.

steviegene, don't you worry I can feel smashing in comfortable footwear. I don't feel the need to suffer to prove anything to other people. but then i'll guess i am older than you are.

They FLIP...you'll FLOP!

For the life of me, I cannot remember what I wore in Paris ten years ago... If only I could. As for style vs. comfort, it seems many of us are comfortable in flip flops. I hope I won't have to admit an error in judgment and let you all say "I told you so."

ignore rodgerdodger, class has nothing to do with wearing shorts and flip flops. Carry yourself with confidence and you will be fine as long as you are comfortable. Pack light and don't worry what you wear and you will enjoy yourself.

24 days to go and my flip flops are ready... What is that old Nancy Sinatra song? These boots (flip flops) are made for walking...

IMHO, if anyone is not a fan of flip flops, then that person has never worn a pair of Crocs Athens or Ithacas all day long, walked all over and have your legs and feet as fresh as a daisy, no aches anywhere, like walking on air, IMHO - and now that they have the bit more dressy style, I think it's called Eleni, it is so cute - so on my trip in less than 2 weeks, my $110.00 Eccos will stay home and all my $30.00 Crocs come along. Buon voyage, all - Leslie

In case anyone was wondering, i wore my crocs flip flops all over Rome and Tuscany and did fine! no sore feet, no blisters, no sprained ankle, nothing negative. I'll admit, my feet got dirty, but washing feet isn't hard.

I have no regrets. Wish i could post a pic of me wearing them.

<<I hate having my feet closed in and i HATE socks, so i am going to get a pair of mules or slides that have a covered two...maybe some Ecco's or Merrell's.>>

Check out the Cole Haan mules with Nike Air heel. The styles with the thick sole are super comfortable.

Comfortable stylish shoes worked better for me. Besides Europeans dress well. Sneakers are not seen unless on a tourist. Flip-Flops are comfy but can be hard to walk in when climbing (you will do a good bit of that in Rome).

While I didn't wear Crocs in Rome, I did wear an incredibly comfortable pair of Naot sandals, and while my feet did indeed get somewhat dirty by the end of the day, the hotel bidet makes a perfect foot washing tub (also great for shaving legs!).