Would you vacation in Europe this year?

[Carmudgeon]

One can go about life guided by fear and loathing.

Or, one can go about life with desire for wanderlust, and be rewarded with a sense of discovery, wider perspective, and appreciation, for what one has, and one does not.

 

[greenjp]

Funny how in this thread it seems the people who've probably never been out of the country have the strongest opinions about it...

A recurring theme is street crime & pickpockets. I've been overseas a lot in many supposed hot spots of such chicanery and have never once encountered anything of the sort. I'm sure there's some but the idea that you need a fanny pack, cargo pants, etc to avoid being stripped clean in every touristy area is ridiculous. Maybe it's because I'm tall? I dunno

A few weekends ago I had the occasion to walk around downtown DC on a Saturday night. Spent 2 hours by myself walking around the mall, some of the monuments, GW's campus, etc to kill some time. Loads of people, Americans and foreigners, just out enjoying themselves. It was very nice but my guess is those folks I referred to at the start of this post would think this is crazy...

jeff

 

[Owen Lucas]

A recurring theme is street crime & pickpockets. I've been overseas a lot in many supposed hot spots of such chicanery and have never once encountered anything of the sort. I'm sure there's some but the idea that you need a fanny pack, cargo pants, etc to avoid being stripped clean in every touristy area is ridiculous. Maybe it's because I'm tall? I dunno

I've heard Spain is the hotspot for pick pockets. I had my passport, and extra cash on a lanyard under my shirt in IT and GR. My wallet was in my pocket but with a bobby pin blocking hand entry. Yes annoying to get out but also peace of mind.

In Rome people will walk right up to you and start touching, in Greece you'll have gypsies swarm you. My goal is to protect the party but you have to watchout for distractions. A common one is they point at your shoe. The 7' tall african guy didn't like it when I did that to him lol.

 

[4wd]

Funny how in this thread it seems the people who've probably never been out of the country have the strongest opinions about it...

A recurring theme is street crime & pickpockets. I've been overseas a lot in many supposed hot spots of such chicanery and have never once encountered anything of the sort. I'm sure there's some but the idea that you need a fanny pack, cargo pants, etc to avoid being stripped clean in every touristy area is ridiculous. Maybe it's because I'm tall? I dunno

A few weekends ago I had the occasion to walk around downtown DC on a Saturday night. Spent 2 hours by myself walking around the mall, some of the monuments, GW's campus, etc to kill some time. Loads of people, Americans and foreigners, just out enjoying themselves. It was very nice but my guess is those folks I referred to at the start of this post would think this is crazy...

jeff

Much like “good/bad” guy perceptions …
Look mom, no mention of doing business with really bad guys …
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/swiss-eu-deals-package-signed-124120031.html

 

[ChristianReske]

Living near Munich, i could assure you that most germans can make a difference between US politics and US Politicans- wich they maybe dont agree - and the Mr. and Mrs. Smith, tourist from the USA, wich usually are really welcome.

Two things:

If someone of you run in a german wich gives you a bad feeling because you are form the USA, first of all, that´s the kind of feeling some still give us Germans for WW II. My last episode was in Summer 2025 with some guys from Belgium on my Holliday in Croatia.
Stop crying and get used to it. Turn around and walk away.

Second, we also have some Morons and Rednecks here . If somebody bullys you because you are form the USA, congrats, you have found one. Turn around and walk away. The next person you meet wil be friendlier.

 

[4wd]

Living near Munich, i could assure you that most germans can make a difference between US politics and US Politicans- wich they maybe dont agree - and the Mr. and Mrs. Smith, tourist from the USA, wich usually are really welcome.

Two things:

If someone of you run in a german wich gives you a bad feeling because you are form the USA, first of all, that´s the kind of feeling some still give us Germans for WW II. My last episode was in Summer 2025 with some guys from Belgium on my Holliday in Croatia.
Stop crying and get used to it. Turn around and walk away.

Second, we also have some Morons and Rednecks here . If somebody bullys you because you are form the USA, congrats, you have found one. Turn around and walk away. The next person you meet wil be friendlier.

Yep, have spent decades away from home - most “cold shoulders” were in the ME countries - and often those worked for the government - enough said …

 

[oil pan 4]

Lots of German young men are scared to death of being conscripted to serve in the German military to defend their nation. These young German adults counted on the American taxpayers and American military to do defend Germany and neighboring European nations for decades. Free lunch is reportedly ending.

German youth's solution to solve defending their nation. Hire middle eastern and African young men, the local German young adults can't be bothered or inconvenienced.

Well yeah they have been on the wrong side twice.

 

[nickaluch]

Americans have a distorted sense of crime cuz of TV and most of us drive 365 days. Europe has more petty crime stuff, much less bodily injury stuff

Leave your Rolex and LV handbags at home. be skeptical of a rando who is unreasonably friendly. don't be afraid to tell someone (even a kid or woman) to buzz off.

but don't be paranoid, have fun. 99.5% of humans are awesome, but the 0.5% somehow all make it to where tourists hang out, lol

Pick pockets is a big issue in the tourist areas besides that it's fine. Be aware and street smart you are just fine

 

[4wd]

I've heard Spain is the hotspot for pick pockets. I had my passport, and extra cash on a lanyard under my shirt in IT and GR. My wallet was in my pocket but with a bobby pin blocking hand entry. Yes annoying to get out but also peace of mind.

In Rome people will walk right up to you and start touching, in Greece you'll have gypsies swarm you. My goal is to protect the party but you have to watchout for distractions. A common one is they point at your shoe. The 7' tall african guy didn't like it when I did that to him lol.

I know a guy who had his passport nabbed at the check-in for departing …
It took 3 days to resolve - helped a bit by having a photo of his passport on his phone …
What would that scumbag do with the little blue book?

 

[buster]

As @Pablo said earlier on an individual level it's not really an issue. Most people I've spoken with understand these differences.

 

[Aichiguy]

No. Not last year, not this year, not next year.

 

[4wd]

Be aware and street smart you are just fine

You’d have to eliminate women and booze to make a big dent

 

[JayhawkRoy]

I know of two events of purse thefts during the times I have been traveling.

One was a lady who left her purse on a chair at St Peters Square, looked away and her purse with passport was gone. That was her fault. She had to go to the consulate, and missed her scheduled flight.

Second one was a lady who had her purse strap cut and taken away by a thief at a Paris train station.

We avoid taking passports off the cruise ship unless required. When we do, we have the neck pouches with passport and some money around our necks. Drivers license and copy of passport stays in the cruise ship safe. We also have small front pocket RFID wallets for some spending money to be available. My wife does not carry a purse under any circumstances.

 

[Pablo]

In China they gave me a room where someone had peed in a corner. Multiple times, I believe.

Learning mandarin words is easy!

 

[Tubefreakz]

I am not concerned traveling overseas. Going to UK, France, and Italy this April. Wife and I went to France a few years ago and Americans are generally accepted there, the only concern was pickpockets.

 

[Sam_Julier]

I wouldn’t think of canceling our trip to Norway in October.

As long as you are kind, show gratitude and appreciation you will be welcome.

 

[Oliveoil2]

I wouldn’t think of canceling our trip to Norway in October.

As long as you are kind, show gratitude and appreciation you will be welcome.

This ^^^^^ is important! Kindness and gratitude as guests in their country. This is it!

 

[4wd]

I wouldn’t think of canceling our trip to Norway in October.

As long as you are kind, show gratitude and appreciation you will be welcome.

Was there a couple years ago - had fish n chips in the same pub nightly - bartender was a hoot - loved 80’s rock - folks would hear our accents and wander over …
Being ‘Mericans of course we tipped well …
(Regardless of customary stuff) …

 

[Leo99]

the funniest thing about traveling faraway...you run into another American from one state over, and you both act like you're cousins/next door neighbors who haven't seen each other in a while---even though you two would probably never cross paths in America (or ignore each other when you do), lmao.

You got that right. I was traveling in China on business in Jinan. Jinan is not high on the list of tourist cities. I went a day or two not seeing another Westerner until one day wandering around I saw another Western man. He shouted to me from across the street. He'd been there a week without meeting anyone that spoke native English. We were going to meet for dinner but he had an early flight out the next day. The weird thing is, that no one stared or looked at me. Everyone seemed so busy and focused on normal life.

 

[Robertfree]

I would travel to Europe, but not the usa.
A trip to Canada is booked for late summer this year