5 Common Misconceptions About European Holidays

by Miles Walker
(San Francisco, CA)

Travelling to Europe can be intimidating. The different languages, currencies and cultures are a little confusing, but even worse is some of the advice people will give you before you leave. People will offer advice and a few stereotypes, but you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.

Photo provided by Nuno Andre Silva

All European’s Are Rude

One of the more common stereotypes, particularly about mainland Europe, is that Europeans are rude and you won’t get good customer service anywhere. However, in the vast majority of European restaurants and hotels you will be able to get excellent service. If you’re polite then most waiters and staff will be polite back. It helps a lot to learn a little of the language, particularly please and thank you, as well as order straight from the menu, rather than trying to get a special request.

All European’s Dress Well

In all the major cities of the world people dress well, but outside you’ll find that people dress much the same as they do in the United States. In Manhattan you’d expect to find some very sharp looking folks on the street, just as you would in London or Paris. However, if you are out in the country you don’t expect to see people working in three piece suits. Europe is no different.

Don’t Drink The Water

If you’re drinking from a European tap, then the chances are the water is safe. You can also get painkillers, shampoo, cough syrup, and pretty much anything else you’ll need. There are supermarkets, shops and even shopping malls which sell these things. The brand names will be different and the packages may be different sizes, but everything you need is available so you don’t have to stock up before you leave.

Europe Should Be Like America

America is a great country, as are many of the countries in Europe. Nothing frustrates people more than someone insulting their country, history, heritage or culture, so enjoy and respect the differences. Europe is not trying to be like America and people don’t want to behave like Americans. Europe has a vast number of different cultures and customs can vary widely over a relatively small distance. This is part of what makes traveling there so interesting!

Europe is Very Expensive

Europe is no more or less expensive than many places in the United States. However, the prices are not always directly comparable. Something that would be cheap and made domestically in the United States would be an import in Europe, and vice-versa. Also, if you are staying in the center of a city while on vacation and your home is in suburbia, then you will typically find things are more expensive, as they would be in the center of any city. It may cost a dollar and a half to buy one Euro, but the Euro will stretch just as far as a dollar and a half!

When he's not reading about the latest developments in car tech, Miles Walker writes about car insurance quotes over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. His latest article looked at the best Pennsylvania car insurance.