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What does the USA do better than Europe re: travel...and vice versa

What does the USA do better than Europe re: travel...and vice versa

Old Sep 21st, 2005, 06:11 AM
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I once sat next to a British lady on a flight to London from the US. We fell into a conversation about her first trip to the US. When asked what did she like best about the US, she said "Your motels" She went on to say that it was so convenient to find a good motel room where ever she ended up on her road trip. Now I like B&B's in Britain and Europe as well as the next person and find they interesting but they do require some searching to locate and usually don't have an 800 number.

Also don't ask for a Margarita in Finland--they have no clue---
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 06:20 AM
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It's been mentioned several times, but public transportation is so much bettern in Europe. The thought of jumping on a train that departs every 30 minutes or so and travelling 25 miles to the next town to visit relatives for an afternoon or to shop is so tantalizing as to be unimaginable. The US could never catch up whatever the cost. In general we also found that the various train or bus staions to be very convenient to the central part of the city and other local transportation options.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 06:39 AM
  #23  
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I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if I'm duplicating your ideas.

Europe's three-star hotels are much better than three-star hotels in North America.

Re street performers, I don't know -- I've seen some wonderful classical duets, quartets, etc. playing in doorways on 5th Avenue in NY.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 06:49 AM
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U.S physical lodging is better
Europe service is better
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 07:03 AM
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United States is better concerning:

Handicapped access
Parking
Parks and nature

Europe is better for:

Public Transportation
Open-minded people
Cheap wine (except Scandinavia)
Recycling and environment concerns
Turning beggers into good street performers
Walking and climbing stairs
Downtown shopping districts--not malls
Small businesses--not Wal-Mart
Afternoon Siestas
Downtown hostels
History--ancient buildings
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 07:12 AM
  #26  
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Margo --
re a Margarita in Finland? Same with a Bloody Caesar in the US.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 07:59 AM
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I agree with most of what folks are saying here. IMHO, one standout that Europe does better than the USA is how they drive on the highways. Yeah, Europeans drive fast but they are very predictable and pay attention. Importantly they don't have that supremely annoying American habit of slow cruising the inside lane.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 08:03 AM
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Shower curtains - definitely better in the US. Everywhere I've been in Europe they're either a regular nylon window curtain type thing that doesn't keep the water in the tub, or non existant.

But bed pillows are definitely better in Germany and bed linens are the best in Hungary.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 08:10 AM
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europe wins for
wine
food
trains
sidewalk cafes
parks and gardens
farmers markets

usa wins for
ice cubes
cocktails
shower stalls
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 08:33 AM
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I think there are interesting differences in the highways systems. In this regard, there are many lessons we could learn from one another.

I prefer the US system for navigating. Road intersections generally indicate direction, usually in addition to nearby small towns and more distant large cities, whereas the European standard is to display place names only. The European system requires one to constantly reference the map. My theory is that because US drivers are likely to travel much greater distances than European drivers, and are therefore more likely to be in unfamiliar territory, the highway system has evolved toward minimizing navigational difficulties.

Also I like the way that US interstate highways (and some non-interstate routes) correlate exit numbers with mileage markers. These exit numbers are listed on maps, which allows one to easily figure out how far it is to a given exit. I realize there are a few states that number exits sequentially (I believe Georgia does this), but they are few in number.

Although virtually all of the largest European cities have "ring roads" that allow one to go from one highway to another without entering the city, some of the smaller cities have incredibly inefficient road transfer solutions that require leaving the main highway and navigating local roads, sometimes even neighborhood streets, to pick up another large highway exiting the town in a different direction. This is incredibly confusing to the driver, not to mention frustrating to local residents who have to put up with the traffic volume.

Compared to the Autobahn, US interstates seem to have a greater number of exits. I have often thought that the infamous Autobahn traffic jams are exacerbated (although not caused) by a lack of opportunity to exit the highway when a traffic jam is spotted ahead.

On the European side, I love the French and Belgium style rest areas. Whereas most US rest areas offer little more than a parking space, a toilet, and (if you're lucky) a vending machine, the "Aires" almost always have a gas station and a convenience store, and many have a restaurant and playground.

I also like the way many French highways have stripes painted on the road that indicate the safe distance for vehicles to follow one another under varying road conditions (dry, rain, snow, etc.).

In Germany, many of the Autobahn have an automated warning system that will interrupt your radio, or even your CD player, to warn of traffic stoppage ahead. I was told that this system was developed because so many Autobahn speed freaks were plowing into the back end of non-moving vehicles after coming over a hill or around a curve.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 09:04 AM
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These are all generalizations and based on my own personal experiences, of course, but having lived in both places, several things emerge, in no particular order. My apologies if some things have changed since I lived in Europe. Some of my observations are based on what my late mother living in Sweden told me.

Better in the US

Things: Overall standard of living (bigger apartments/homes, more amenities)
Cheaper electronics
Plumbing
Certain foods like beef, icken, bagels and orange juice

Attitudes: Optimism
Progressiveness
Openness to strangers
In touch with the “inner child”
Individualism
Take-charge attitude


Better in Europe

Things: Public transportation
Breads, pastries and candy (especially chocolate!), tea
Historical sights
Washing machines (my late mother who lived in Sweden would attest to this)

Attitudes: Love and respect for the past
Sense of community
Concern for environmental issues
Longer learning curve due to a longer history
Adaptability
Diplomacy

Another thing I find is that some of these good attitudes become negatives when taken to extremes. For instance, without a moderating influence, America’s individualism and take-charge attitude can morph into selfishness and its optimism turn into naiveté. Likewise, I have often seen the European burden of history sometimes displaying a jadedness and pessimism that I rarely find in the US.

Overall, I am sure that both continents can learn much from each other. I love them both!

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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 09:06 AM
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These are all generalizations and based on my own personal experiences, of course, but having lived in both places, several things emerge, in no particular order. My apologies if some things have changed since I lived in Europe. Some of my observations are based on what my late mother living in Sweden told me.

Better in the US

Things: Overall standard of living (bigger apartments/homes, more amenities)
Cheaper electronics
Plumbing
Certain foods like beef, chicken, bagels and orange juice

Attitudes: Optimism
Progressiveness
Openness to strangers
In touch with the “inner child”
Individualism
Take-charge attitude


Better in Europe

Things: Public transportation
Breads, pastries and candy (especially chocolate!), tea
Historical sights
Washing machines (my late mother who lived in Sweden would attest to this)

Attitudes: Love and respect for the past
Sense of community
Concern for environmental issues
Longer learning curve due to a longer history
Adaptability
Diplomacy

Another thing I find is that some of these good attitudes become negatives when taken to extremes. For instance, without a moderating influence, America’s individualism and take-charge attitude can morph into selfishness and its optimism turn into naiveté. Likewise, I have often seen the European burden of history sometimes displaying a jadedness and pessimism that I rarely find in the US.

Overall, I am sure that both continents can learn much from each other. I love them both!

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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 09:47 AM
  #33  
 
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In the USA

Standard plumbing fixtures
24/7 store hours
'new' stuff


In Europe

Public transportation
using what you have instead of throwing it out and getting something new at a 24/7 store.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 11:25 AM
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USA:
Bathtubs and showers. What is with those alongated narrow tubs with the fixtures in the middle and the shower facing out across the width instead of the length of the tub. The stream of water from the shower has nowhere to go but outside the tub????
Gasoline Prices, although they have gone up, they are still cheaper in USA than in europe
Re-fills on ice tea and coffee at no extra charge


Europe:
The food, especially breads, wines and cheese.
The history
Trains, subways

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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 11:54 AM
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Advantages in Europe (for me anyway) go to: chocolate, the Autogrills in Italy (and similar highway rest stops in Europe), coffee, not being rushed at dinner nor having wait staff hovering nearby ready to snatch the plate away lest you put down your fork for a minute, and the fascinating coexistence of history and modernity(because where I live, the city planners loves to demolish anything "old").

Advantages to the US: store opening hours, cheaper gas, toilets that look and operate the same everywhere(but this could be a bad thing, depending on your "easy to amuse" factor), and Mexican food.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 11:57 AM
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US
Traffic System
Store Hours
Refrigeration & ice cubes
Handicapp Access

Europe
General wellness & being fit. No fat people riding little carts here!

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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 12:01 PM
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>toilets that look and operate the same everywhere
US toilets are a nightmare. It's so disgusting having to to watch the stuff been separated into small pieces and swirled around instead of beeing flushed away instantly.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 12:06 PM
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logos999...I don't watch the "stuff" in the toilet once I flush, so that wasn't my "amusement" factor. I'm amused at the various pedals, buttons, chains etc., that you must figure out in order to flush a toilet in the first place.
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 12:10 PM
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It's important to have a look at it before you flush, just to see everything is o.k. How come you just flush it away without looking first ;-)
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Old Sep 21st, 2005, 12:45 PM
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Sorry if there are any overlaps with previous posts. And these are total generalizations:

US
Consumer rights
family-sized hotel rooms
Clothing prices and variety
Store and restaurant opening hours
Dental care

Europe
History
Tax included in price of items
Trains, bikes and busses
Less waste (bring your own grocery bags and recycling)
Discount airlines
Multilingual
Individual responsibility, i.e. fewer lawyers
Hi mileage cars
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