tyedye33

I like my Keens they have travelled Italy and France. My boyfriend calls them "those ugly shoes" but, he is a white shoe wearer!

hlocke1

Hi Aqua --

My husband likes his Eccos and Keens. I love my Dansko shoes. Whatever you purchase, just be sure to try to break them in a bit.

Enjoy!

magialmemories

I just went and bought some recommended shoes on zappos.com. I like this site because they have every style you can think of with rubber bottom soles.
The return policy is easy and selection is big-most of the shoes on these posts are there. Whatever you do get them and break them in before the trip! Bring some specific band-aids for blisters just in case. One of the pairs I bought seemed really comfortable and then one full day at the mall and I realized that they needed to be stretched!
I dont think people are ashamed of being tourists, but half the time we Americans dress like we are getting ready to clean out the garage
Traveling tends to bring out the stylish cosmopolitan side in us!

speckles

I like Keens. I don't know what they cost in the US (assuming that is where you are from), but they are expensive in Australia and you wouldn't get them for $80, even adding on the exchange rate difference.

tod

I've never heard of any of the makes mentioned by posters here except Clarke's. This trip I will take only two pairs of shoes:
my Hotters and a pair of Crocs.

GSteed

Consider 'high tops'. European streets are often other than flat and unbroken. Ankle support or protction may be welcome.

missmissy

I remember years ago reading the tip about not wearing typical athletic tennis shoes. So, I wore only black Merrills and some black t'shoes. EVERYTIME I've been to Europe I look around the the amount of white t-shoes worn by NON US tourists always cracks me up. So, my personal view is go with whatever gets your feet thru the day. That being said, I always wear lots of black when I travel because it goes with everthing and doens't show dirt. So, white t-shoes don't exactly look right with that. But, on a jeans day ( another topic others say not to wear, but you'll see plenty of them ) I'd wear t-shoes if my feet were killing me.

My faves: Merrills. Missy

carolyn

I was amused too, Missy, when we had lunch beside Chartres Cathedral and our waitress who hardly spoke a word of English was dressed in jeans and white Reebocks.

jjkbrook

certainly on our last trips to UK we were shocked by the number of people out in the regions (not so much London) who were wearing sneakers. I still think white sneakers scream provincial american in europe.

Im very satisfied with some Eccos Ive been wearing for the last year - they are very light and stable, black leather closed with three velco straps across the instep. Good support, some slight resemblance to a running shoe but not unless you look close - they do fine in dressy settings. They may be in your price range, and are walkable all day long (make sure you have the right socks on). Not for hiking but for streets and paved roads, very good. If I were going on unstable ground I would make sure to take a hiker with ankle support - there are some very good light hikers out there.

Judyrem

I love Privo shoes the best! They are made by Clarks, but have more of an atheleisure type shoes. Right now I am wearing Privo Arches...they are the best!! I also have Privo Hop. I ordered them from Zappos....do look into them you will love Privos.

suspire

I LOVE my Keens. I walked in the Presidio style ones for two weeks in Switzerland, hiking in the Alps and walking all over, and never had a problem. And I can get some pretty bad foot pain if my shoes don't fit right.

They're probably above the $80 range (unless you can find them on sale, which you can occasionally), but well worth the extra money.

I too love zappos.com. Great service, and free returns if the shoes don't fit.

raspberryberet

I saw that the brand La Canadienne is a good brand for females to wear while traveling and walking a lot (esp in winter).

Well I found a pair of them- rubber-soled boots at TJ Maxx before our 16 night trip (London, Rome, Paris) for only $39.99!! (Similar to these, only olive green suede: http://tinyurl.com/ypl93o)

Compared to many other women (Roman women, Parisian women, etc.), I felt not so stylish, but hey, they weren't white trainers and they were VERY comfortable for the ~10 miles of walking we did every day!

Good luck! Shoe shopping prior to our winter trip gave me SOOO much anxiety. I got lucky.

bobbymckaye

Aquatalia(waterproof), Paul Green(very stylish and handsome), and any of the above-mentioned brands are dooable--Happy shopping, BMK