At the turn-of-the-last century, horsepower really was horsepower, only the wealthy traveled for enjoyment, European cultures differed mightily, you probably could drink the water, Venice wasn't overrun in August, ATMs were letters of the alphabet. Oh wise ones of the forum, please cogitate a moment and offer predictions about changes and constants in European travel in the 21st century. And/ or your wishes (aside from more washcloths).

Sardine can seating on airlines in economy class is going to get worse. <BR>(tigher leg room that is) About 2005, the FAA will approve standing room flights so we can ride hanging onto a strap like on the subway. Aircraft like the 777 will be able to haul 450 strap hangers per trip and maximize revenue even more, because we cannot eat standing up.

Go on your travels now, because I predict that sooner than we think much of Europe will be overrun by the same outdoor markets, the same chain stores, and the same handicrafts. Unique currencies are slipping away, as are language differences. The things that to some are travel difficulties are what most Fodorites lust after -- different from home! <BR> <BR>

Since it will be straphanging only, NO carry-ons will be allowed. In fact, each passenger in coach will be allowed to wear only a lycra speedskating suit (no shoes, long hair, heavy jewelry). Checked luggage will consist of a gallon-sized Ziplock bag. Airfares will be $700 r/t NYC-European city all year long. For $148,000 you can fly first class and wear anything you want and carry on as much luggage as your butler can get on the plane. <BR>The limitations on the size of checked luggage will spell the demise of the washcloth.

How about chicken cage-like compartments to really cram 'em in? <BR> <BR>In the next century I'd like to see many more things which are meant for people designed with "people" in mind, from airplane seats to hospital rooms. <BR>

In the 21st century, <BR> <BR>At least one European country (on the continent) will become officially bilingual and the second language will be English. <BR> <BR>Hundreds of new trans-atlantic routes will be approved, and smaller-than-ever aircraft (which may or may not be more crowded) will fly these routes. In other words, the advent of 50-passenger jets on 1000 mile routes within North America will see 90 passenger jets on 5000 mile routes between city pairs which have no such service today. Detroit-Barcelona, Indianapolis-Milan, Louisville-Paris - - you get the picture. <BR> <BR>A "laptop" computer will be similar in weight and size (unfolded) to a newspaper, and will be distributed on aircraft much like headphones are today. <BR> <BR>There will be a dozen "hot, new" cities which get discovered (like Prague did in the past 15 years) and they will be southeast of Vienna, northwest of India. <BR> <BR>Anyone traveling to Bordeaux will STILL be saying - - "you know, I love the place I live, but I would kill to have such outstanding, affordable wines like this at my corner grocery store back home." <BR> <BR>The Vatican will be little changed. <BR> <BR>With the possible exception of skiers, most people who travel to Liechtenstein (if it still has a separate name) will continue to ask "why did we think we needed to come here?" <BR>

I'm afraid that you'll have to wait for one more year for the turn of the century (and the millenium) - it isn't happening in the next 4 days! That's because the Western calendar system went from 1 BC to 1 AD - there's no year 0.

Ahh come on Paul; I was hoping nobody would call me on that. It's all rather arbitrary, and the zeros mark a passage that most of us are counting as the turn. <BR><BR>What about your wishes and predictions about European travel for the next century -- whether it starts this year or next?

Cages for passengers? Don't give Delta any more ideas! The Atlanta-based bean counters are already working an an idea now to use kneeling style seats in economy so that your feet are behind you and you "rest" on your knees and posterior. I understand that the idea increases the number of rows on a 777 by 20%. <BR>The idea came from some of those awful seating contraptions that were supposed to improve spinal posture for computer users. Seems like the head bean counter's secretary has/had a bad back. So she tried one of those posture seating things at her desk. The boss saw it and did a few quick calculations. He figured he could substitute 5 for 4 in the same amount of space by using them. <BR> <BR>I think Paul is right on with his statement about the turning of the century. In fact, I think he should strike a missionary pose and spread the gospel at Times Square, starting about 11 PM on December 31.

Great question. My wish for the next century is that we improve the infrastructure, retain the charm, reinvigorate the ecosystem and encourage the cultural diversity. My prediction is that exactly the opposite will happen.

Travel by the middle of next century will be virtual travel. You will have a booth in your living room into which you can step and be virtually transported to any destination you desire. You can interact with the locals via electronic interpreting, take the tours, drive the roads, walk the streets, smell the smells, hear the sounds, maybe even try the wines and the cuisine via molecular reconstitution. That's my vision.

Sorry Lola - I'm one of those "computer geeks" who has to work New Year's Eve, and we're very exact about such things as time and date. <BR> <BR>That aside, my prediction is that things will unfortunately get worse before they get better, with all methods of conveyance becoming increasingly cramped and uncomfortable. My hope is that transportation, especially airplanes, will become faster, so that we won't have to endure the cramped seats for such a long period of time.

Sorry, Elvira already broached the washcloth subject, so I won't leave it out: <BR> <BR>1. Europeans will discover the wonders of the washcloth, and carry-on restrictions won't matter. They will already be in most hotels (except possibly in Paris, which will continue to maintain its own cultural charm despite increasing hordes of lyca-wearing tourists). <BR> <BR>2. The diversity of tourists will increase, as more and more East Europeans, Chinese, and others obtain the means to travel. <BR> <BR>3. Those who have set a goal of visiting every European country will have to add new countries to their lists. <BR> <BR>4. More and more Americans will be travelling. This will be to the detriment of European culture and to the benefit of American culture. <BR> <BR>5. Even though more Americans will travel, they will no longer be able to maintain the same feeling of superiority. Instead, there may be some resentment that America has lost a little of its relative power. (this could take a little longer than a hundred years) <BR> <BR>6. While European travel will still be highly popular, more and more people will look for real adventure in the few non-touristy spots remaining in Asia, Antartica, Africa, South America, and Space. This will also lead to more travel to some "European" places such as Iceland and Greenland. <BR> <BR>7. Digital cameras will be the standard choice for the average traveller. I will be one of the last to give in on this one. Travellers will send digital postcards to their relatives back home. In fact, their relatives may be able to travel with them virtually due to small video cameras in the buttons of their running suits. <BR> <BR>8. The great architecture and art will still be great. Modern art will no longer be modern - heck, it might even seem mundane. <BR> <BR>9. It will be harder and harder for Americans to say "We saved your butts in the war(s)," since no one will be alive who experienced them. Even though more remote in time, Auschwitz, Dachau, and similar sites will remain powerful reminders to all who visit them. I am afraid future conflicts will continue to remind us that the Holocaust was not an aberration. <BR> <BR>10. To end on a lighter, but still threatening note: Haggis-in-a-tube will take over the continent and signal the real downfall of European culture. However, those on this site who invested in it will be rich beyond their wildest imaginations. <BR>

Really liked Dan's previous post. I wish that in the next century we figure out a way to reroute or calm storms such as the one that just hit Paris, so that we do not have to worry about the dreadful consequences to people, places and treasures. But I predict it will not happen. The forces of nature are beyond our reach, at least for the short term. We can't even figure when earthquakes are coming, let alone how to tame them.

I predict that terrorism will unfortunately become more prevalent, affecting travel to Europe and around the world, as much with threats as action. We have already seen it affect travel to Egypt, Greece and Northern Island, and I'm afraid incidents will spread. My wish is that it won't!

Rex is right. Andorra will get tired of being just another multilingual shopping mall and will adopt English, or more accurately, American, as one of its official languages (still steamed about the Armada and/or Waterloo). It will rename itself Grand Fenwick, and invade New York. New York will be an easy conquest, because everyone will be away on a Rick Steves III tour featuring the same wretched pensiones in Dortmund and Sofia.

The Italian government (or to be precise, the 172 governments that preside over the course of the century) will still decline to drop all those zeroes from the lira. With inflation, by the end of the century a small gelato will cost 4 billion lire. The government will, however, make shower curtains compulsory in hotels, except on national holidays. <BR> <BR>The airlines will decide that having passengers stand up is not increasing revenues sufficiently and will start laying them down and stacking them up. <BR> <BR>Due to increased traffic in the SF Bay Area, it will take longer to drive from Berkeley to SFO than to fly from SFO to Heathrow. <BR> <BR>I will learn to speak Hungarian. <BR> <BR>

Paul is correct and I actually listened to the explanation this morning on the news. The year 2000 is the end of this milennium. But, I suppose, we could predict for the year 2001 as well. BTW, can anyone give a good explanation of digital cameras and a realistic prediction of when we should start buying them?

I would not buy anything with a dater in it for at least 8 years. Y2K will take at least 7 years to fix. I am putting all my money in washcloth and haggis-in-a-tube futures, the only two things COMPLETELY Y2K ready.... <BR>and my wish is that every terrorist buy timing devices that are NOT Y2K compliant and that they all go off in January 1900.

Good points about digital cameras. I was knocking around a nearby Office Max today, marveling at the array of electronic calculators. Some calculate, others translate, others do math gymnastics that I could not possibly understand...or need. Each of the palm-size devices offered more computing power than enormous, room-sized boxes did only a few years ago. And today a person can buy one for absurdly little money, adjusted for inflation. We seem to have things backward. No longer is necessity the mother of invention. Instead, invention becomes the ugly stepmother of necessity. We race to convert the trivial into the vital. How often have you heard kids wail, "I've just GOT to have that, mother!" Look around your own homes. See how many gadgets you own, how many were unheard of 30 years ago. And what do we do with the time we "save" with these gizmos? We are more rushed, more harried, and less informed than ever. So, if you asked my advice, I wouldn't put a dime into a digital camera now. In only a very few years, you will be able to buy a better, cheaper, smaller, lighter, more dependable digital camera -- just as those calculators I mentioned above have proved.