European travel dreams are nothing new and every traveler we come into contact with has amazing stories of what delighted, disappointed and surprised them when they took on the great European Travel Adventure. One of the things that we like hearing about are all the situations that travelers encounter that made them take a second look. Some put a smile on our face some make us nod our head in agreement and others simply shock. We thought that we would take a little time and share some of those most common surprises with you!

• The Aperol Spritz is a trendy Summer staple. Get ready to see everyone- and we mean everyone with this bright orange drink in their hand. It is the drink of the Summer- every Summer.
• Pedestrian Zones are everywhere. Fact. You are going to walk. A lot. We can not overstate this, historic city centers where all of the sites are are jam packed and you will spend more time trying to get from place to place on wheels rather than foot power. Get ready to walk.
• Transportation is going to cost you more than you think and it may not work out the way you think. Private and taxi drivers are regulated and licensed with permits and certificates and they have to pay a lot of fees to be where the tourists are. You are going to pay. A cheaper option is looking into trains and trams but sometimes you can run into a bit of a delay during infamous striking periods. These can last from one hour to one day. Be flexible.
• 3 night minimums are getting more and more common especially in high use destinations like the Cinque Terre and Lake Como.

• Not everywhere in Europe uses the Euro: Chief among these countries are Great Britain, Switzerland, Norway (who has no cash- that’s right every transaction is electronic) and Poland.
• Tipping customs and service charges have changed a lot. Do not tip at a restaurant that charges a cover or a service fee. Some countries look at the practice as a way to pull in tourist dollars. Do not fall for the line “Tip not included” at the bottom of a bill. It’s usually in English and that’s a dead giveaway. Some do not consider tipping at all. These countries are in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
• Visa waivers are on the way. The whole program has been delayed and delayed for years but look for the registration system to be up and running by mid 2025. Log on, create and account, pay the fee, travel.

• Walk for miles: trust us you will walk more than you think! 7 miles in Paris, 12 miles in Venice, 8 miles in a day. Yep. Get ready to walk. Have we already said this? Maybe you should lace up those shoes!!
• Rafting and Canyoneering: Scotland  Poland   Germany raft   Corsica and Lucca    
• Scale rooftops and climb to the top of the tower: Krakow, Milan, and get ready for Notre Dame to open the towers next year as its grand reopening is scheduled for December 8th, 2024.

• Cook: Classes for travelers are on the rise! From fancy restaurant digs to literally standing in someone’s kitchen and learning their Grandma’s recipe. Some examples are Waffles and Beer in Bruges, and pasta making in Tuscany.
• Go to markets to shop like a local in department stores, pharmacies, supermarkets or shopping streets like Rue Cler in Paris. Here, take on a challenge to gather up a lunch then go enjoy it on a Sunny day in one of the iconic parks that dot the city. But beware, sometimes these traditional markets have been taken over by non-local economies such is the case in Florence,

• Golf: We all know about the courses in The British Isles, but don’t discount Spain, Italy, and Germany for great courses as well.
• Do Laundry: Americans have a unique problem when they travel to Europe- luggage! One way to pare it down is to plan for laundry to make things easier, lighter, and smaller. Places like the Frania Cafe in Krakow and the Wash and Dry in Florence are perfect drop off services.
• Relax! Beach days in Greece and Ibiza are famous for this but there are many many other places to consider like: Sopot, Italian Agriturismos, the Danube Riverside in Vienna, Canal Saint Martin in Paris, and the Forty Foot swim spot just south of Dublin all can fit the bill.