10 Whitty recommendations for European travel
Jun 01 '01
The Bottom Line 10 ways to make your trip more enjoyable! Check it out.
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Some of these recommendations are common sense, and some are observations I have made after traveling in Europe. I'll outline below ten rules I think every European traveler should follow to have a successful and fun trip.
One. Spend quality time, not quantity
"We've been to 20 countries in 25 days!"
I'll never forget the two girls who made this exclamation to my friend and I in a youth hostel in Vienna. My friend and I thought we had taken in a lot by doing three countries in two weeks. We wondered, how could these girls have actually really SEEN anything with that schedule?
They had been on a train almost every day, stopping only for a few hours to see the main sights in various cities and countries, only to move onto the next. We realized their motivation was not to really experience each area, but rather to be able to say, "I've been to x country."
And they are indeed able to make this claim, but I highly doubt that their experiences were that educational or enlightening. To truly experience a culture/city, I firmly believe that you have to spend an extended period of time there. In fact, I lived in Edinburgh, Scotland for a semester -- and I still have things I would like to see there that I didn't manage to do over a period of months. The same can be said for the cities I have visited in Europe -- sure, I have been lucky enough to hit some of the major attractions in most European cities, but there is always more to see and do. And to even get a brief overview of any area, I think you need to consider the amount of time you are spending in each place. The longer, the better!
Also consider the exhaustion that comes from having to pack up again every day... sometimes it's just better off to take one place longer so you can recoup.
Two. Take the train.
I can't imagine why anyone would want to travel in any other form than by train in Europe. I understand the need for "freedom" that a car allows -- but for one thing, European drivers are nuts. For another thing, gas prices are even more insane than they are here in the states these days. Third, you have to find parking, figure out a foreign map, and are responsible for getting yourself to your destination.
But, ahhhh, the train. The Eurorail in Europe is an amazing form of public transportation. It's easy. The lines run often. And there are almost always English-speaking ticket and information agents in every train station. Oh and did I mention that the Eurorail is actually fairly cheap and affordable?!
Three. Drink bottled water.
It is more than likely that the places you will be visiting will have water that is acceptable to drink. But why risk it? Everyone's body reacts differently and you don't know how you are going to react to the local water. Not to mention that excessive travel can cause dehydration. Traveling Europe, sightseeing and walking around can be exhausting and your body will thank you for the replenishing of fluids!
Which brings me to my next recommendation...
Four. Pack a travel health kit.
I'll spare you all the details of the amount of time I spent in the bathroom on the train between Prague and Frankfurt, but needless to say, I was thankful that my traveling companion had packed her Immodium. (No, I did not drink the water.)
And then there was the time I had too many beer steins in Germany, fell and skinned my knee. Again, I was thankful for my friend's Neosporin!
Five. Watch your money.
Popular tourist attractions in Europe are major hot spots for pickpockets and thieves. Excited tourists who are focused on staring up at the Eiffel tower in all it's splendor are not going to notice if someone is slipping their hand into their pocket.
Personally, I wore a stomach pouch under my shirt. EMS and other outdoor stores sell them -- they are thin wallet pouches that wrap around your waist, and have separate pockets for money and a passport. I highly recommend one of these. The last thing you want to lose is your money, or your passport!
Six. Be respectful.
You are a guest in a foreign country. You should be thankful that you have been granted entrance into this country and thankful that you are able to be a witness to another culture other than your own. There are some countries that do not even allow visitors. Respect where you are, and respect the customs and the lifestyle.
I can't stress this recommendation enough -- especially if you are an American. Please. There is a reason that Americans have such a stigma over in Europe. I have SEEN it myself. I have seen loud, obnoxious Americans making unreasonable demands. I have seen Americans travel to Paris only to eat at McDonald's. I have to ask, why bother going if you are not going to branch out and experience something other than you are used to?
Seven. Keep a journal of some sort.
When are you traveling to more than one country, and eating at so many different places, it is so easy to forget where you have been and what you have done. Especially when the names are not in English! I am so thankful for the journals I have kept when traveling Europe. I love being able to go back and see the different restaurant names and addresses of places we ate while abroad. It also helps me to give good recommendations to others!
Eight. Pack lightly.
It has always been my thought that the lighter, the better. I am not going to Europe to impress anyone with my extensive wardrobe -- I am going for the sights and the experiences. If I have to wear the same shirt over and over again, than so be it. I would rather be a fashion faux pas than have to lug a big suitcase all over creation.
Nine. Bring maps!
There will be times you are stranded and can't find someone who speaks English... it is always handy to have a map nearby in these situations!
Ten. Make the time each day to stop and smell the flowers.
Take a moment and check out where you are -- and say, wow! Take it all in and appreciate it. It is easy to get caught up in the hurry to see everything and pack it all in, sometimes it is important to just take a moment to step back and digest the information and significance of the places you are visiting.
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