Tips for Traveling in Europe
When we think of travel, we generally imagine enjoying different destinations, sightseeing, and good food. This is a common perception for any trip. Domestic travel or travel within South Asian countries follows a different pattern.
However, many people dream of traveling to Europe. With advice from South Asian countries, Dubai, and relatives, many people have Europe trips on their minds. This text attempts to provide some basic information about traveling to Europe. I believe this information will be useful to you during or before your European journey.
London, the Eiffel Tower, the Swiss Alps, and Rome are all packed into European sightseeing. However, apart from these landmarks, this guide will discuss daily aspects that you might encounter.
Air Travel: European flights are much longer and more tedious compared to domestic flights. Meals from any airline are often not favoured by passengers. Choosing a book, a good sleep, and decent food can help make the flight more bearable. Sightseeing usually starts early in the morning upon arrival, so it’s essential to take good care of yourself. Since direct flights from Mumbai to Europe are rare, keep a minimal amount of hand luggage to avoid managing too much baggage. Your previous flying experience can be helpful here.
Hotel – Toilet: A surprising and new aspect for you might be the bathrooms and toilets in hotels. It’s important to mention this because it’s something we rarely consider before traveling. If you don’t follow local toilet etiquette, you might leave a negative impression on the hotel. All hotels in Europe generally have dry toilets, unlike in India, where bathrooms have water outlets. In Europe, there are no provisions for splashing water around during a bath. Bathrooms are typically small with either a shower or a bathtub, with a shower system in both. It’s crucial to ensure that water doesn’t spill onto the floor while bathing. If you take care of this initially, it will allow other guests in your room to use the bathroom as well. Many incidents have been reported where water was spilled around due to Indian bathing practices. Although it might seem trivial, being cautious will reduce hassles in future travels. Being mindful of this will help you avoid leaving a distinct mark as an Indian traveller. Toilet paper is used in European toilets, and it is expected that paper should not be flushed down the toilet. Instead, it should be disposed of in the provided trash bin. Europeans expect the toilet cover to be clean and dry. Cleanliness is a daily norm here, and Europeans expect others to maintain the same standards.
Breakfast / Meals: Tour companies usually include lunch and dinner to avoid dissatisfaction among Indian travellers regarding food. Indian travellers often have a misconception that European sightseeing is limited to just two or three hours, after which they return to their familiar Indian routines. It’s common to have your own large group, language, and food. However, it’s natural to want to go beyond your comfort zone. Experiencing European culture, even briefly, can be a rewarding aspect of the trip. Hotel breakfasts are typically daily local breakfast items. This will introduce you to local breakfast foods, such as German bread, Parisian pancakes, Swiss cheese and butter, and English breakfast in London. These foods might taste bland, sweet, or dry. If you mentally prepare for a lack of spicy or savoury items, you won’t be disappointed. Many travellers waste the entire trip searching for Indian food among these breakfast items. Indian cuisine is popular worldwide, and you can find it in restaurants during lunch and dinner, but many travellers insist on Indian dishes like upma or poha and try to prepare them using the hotel’s hot water kettle. The key takeaway is that there is a significant difference between saying and acting as if you are in Rome (“when in Rome…”).
Walking / Exploring on Tours: Often, tours are conducted by bus for the convenience of travellers. In cities like London, Paris, and Rome, much time is spent on the bus, but due to the insistence on minimal walking, many cities are explored via photo stops from the bus. However, walking 4-5 kilometres a day is inevitable in Europe.
