Ten Tips for Americans in Europe

In Europe you are confronted - perhaps a better word would be “presented” - with cultures many times older than our own, with customs and traditions that will not change for a visitor. This can promote a feeling of being a stranger in a strange land. That’s exactly the feeling I pursue whenever I step out the door but not everyone is ready to be shocked by every new experience. Well, we at ITC are a wealth of information on what can surprise, confound and amaze a Yankee in King Arthur’s court (or a good ole boy in Charlemagne’s palais, or a golden stater in Ludwig’s castle or… oh, you get it) and we’re happy to share. We want you to enjoy Europe, so we want to expose some things that may surprise you. But we also want you to be surprised, so we won’t tell you everything, only

Ten Things Americans Should Keep In Mind In Europe

10) Chilled Red Wine - If red, red wine makes you feel so fine you might want to prepare for a trip to the south of France by putting some in the fridge. If you’re like me you probably drink your table wine at room temperature. The southern regions of France, however, with their keen knack for relaxation and leisure, prefer to chill out in every way possible. For the French, the way they drink their wine is the way they set the mood for everything so you can avoid a little culture shock by trying it before you depart. Of course, if you are even more like me than most you’ll enjoy trying it for the first time when you get down there.

9) The Concierge is Your Best Friend - You can get great information from your doorman or concierge without greasing their palm. Roy, the captain of our fair vessel, relates how on one trip to Paris he was tired of visiting the tourist traps. He asked the concierge for a genuine local restaurant. He was referred to a side-street restaurant populated entirely by locals with great food at half the price he was paying on previous nights. On another trip he made friends with the desk clerk at his hotel, tipping him on the way to his room with whatever change he had left over from the day’s adventures. One night a taxi driver tried to raise the fair on him at the last minute and Roy’s new friend not only chased the driver off but hailed another taxi. You can’t expect every concierge to treat you like a king, but if you take the time to make friends you’ll reap great benefits from European hospitality.

8). Tipping is Only Something a Canoe Does - Put away the little tip calculator card. Gratuity is included in every price at the restaurant. You can still tip if you want, but reserve that for exceptional service or if you have an especially large group or raucous children. For the record, when you’re in America, to calculate 15% just move the decimal point one space to the left so you get ten percent. Take that number ($10 for a $100 meal…) and half it, then add the two together. ($5 plus $100 = $15) and you’ve got standard American gratuity. In Europe you don’t worry about the percentage, you give what you feel is appropriate.

7) The Broom of The Stomach - That’s salad, folks. In French countries the salad always comes just before desert and your after dinner drink. Please, please do not ask the waiter where your salad is when your first course comes. The French have their roughage last to make room for desert and - you may be surprised - it works.

6) Reserve Your Train Seats - Believe it or not if you’re taking a long train trip or rail tour you’ll probably have to reserve a seat ahead of time or risk standing. Don’t take this lightly, the popular trains fill up and you’ll be left standing. Once you’ve got your ticket, reserve a seat at the counter or by calling the train station. If you’ve booked a train for a specific time, your seat is probably already reserved: just ask to make sure. One of the beautiful things about a European holiday is the freedom the trains give you to explore. A rental car is great if you want privacy, or if you book a vacation home in the country, but by and large the rail system throughout Europe is excellent. You can purchase a weekly or monthly Euro Pass that gets you on any train, any time. If there’s a little adventurer in you, that’s the way to go.

5) See a City on Your Terms - The train (or “rail”) is a beautiful way to get between cities and from spot to another within some cities. The Metro in Paris, the Tube in London and every other underground rail system is good for getting from point A to point B but if you want to really see a city you have to take advantage of something a little touristy - the Hop On Hop Off bus. You’ve seen them on TV or the streets of New York; those double decker red busses that London is famous for. Many cities offer them and they’re a great way to learn all about a city. Buy a ticket, get on and when you see somewhere you want to explore just get off. Walk around, have a snack or a drink and get back on.

4) Keep an Eye on Your Pockets - Ok, not literally. That would just look silly. Instead, be aware of the people around you and conscious of your belongings. The tourist areas are not stuffed chock full of pickpockets and thieves, but there are enough confidence men and criminals to make it worthwhile not to look too much like a starry eyed yokel. If you’re from a city like New Orleans or New York City this will be easier - pickpockets are very much the same the world over. On a bus trip I once undertook the man beside me was from New Orleans. He leaned close to me and said, “I keep brushin’ these Spanish fellas’ hands from my pockets but that’s okay, Man. My money’s in my sock.” Keeping your money somewhere other than your back pocket or purse is a good precaution, but the best way is just to look like you know what you’re doing. Also remember that it’s unlikely for a criminal to look like Dastardly Dan from the silent westerns. In a tourist area they’ll usually be dressed as tourists. As a final note, check your travelers cheques every now and then. My father, on a trip to southern Italy found that several travelers cheques were missing from the middle of the book. A clever thief had lifted them from his jacket pocket, taken the center notes that wouldn’t be immediately missed and replaced the book to avoid the cheques being cancelled. What do I do? I have a hole in the bottom of the lining of my inside jacket pocket where I put very important things.

3) Keep Your Passport Handy - If you’re traveling between countries you should keep your ID close by. Traveling between European Union countries is painless and seamless - so make sure you ask what country you’re in from time to time - but if you go from Germany to Switzerland you’ll have to present proof of identity. Your passport is best. It should never be hard for you to make a border crossing, but make it as simple as possible by being prepared. This sometimes is lost on visitors from the states who are used to driving across an entire continent without crossing a guarded border.

2) The Language Barrier(s) - English is understood all over Europe. In theory. Most people you’ll meet on the other side of the Atlantic will have been forced to learn the Queens English from a textbook. Making yourself understood is not so hard as you might imagine. The first thing to know is to use British words. “Vacation” means nothing (literally, since it comes from the same root as Vacant) but “Holiday” is easily understood. Speak slowly, clearly and use one or two word sentences. “Where eat?” will get you some pointing fingers. “Excuse me, kind sir, where is the local restaurant?” will get funny looks. Rick Steves, the excellent travel writer, has another tip: keep useful phrases written in the local languages in a notebook. “Boiled water,” “I am a strict vegetarian,” “I need a doctor,” and “I am rich and single,” are phrases you will want to reference more than once, so have them ready.

1) Open Your Mind - Europe is a continent of diverse cultures and people. There are some commonalities between the differences between over there and over here, though. America, forgive me for saying so, is puritanical. We’re afraid of our bodies, and we cover them up. If you go to a beach, especially a French one, in Europe you may be a little surprised to see people of any age nude. Remember, it’s the difference in culture that you took this trip to discover. Open yourself up to new ideas and experiences and you’ll find yourself boundlessly enriched.