Congratulations, you are going to Europe for a week-long vacation this year, 2024. I’ve written about where to go in Northern and Southern Europe or both in the last several blogs. Today, I will focus on five things to do and not do to have a perfect week-long European vacation.
Why trust my opinion about this topic?
Let me start by answering a basic question. Why in the world should you trust my opinion about this topic? In case you haven’t watched any of my other videos or read my blogs, I’ll mention here that I’ve completed multiple week-long vacations to Europe over the past decade. The best way to learn about European travel is by going there. Yes, you can learn a lot by watching videos and reading books. There’s nothing like being there to learn what to do and not do.
There are no repeats from the previous video and blog
If you have watched one of my previous videos or read the blog where I shared things to do and not do for a perfect long weekend in Europe, I promise I will not repeat any content. Below is a link if you want to check out that video.
Do #1 – spend at least two nights at your first stop
If you’re an American like me, that means you’re flying overnight to get to Europe. You will likely be tired the first few days, so you want to spend two nights to have that time to recover from your flight. Don’t jump right into more travel. I understand that some of you are saying I can handle the jet lag. If you’re traveling with others, though, they may need some time, so spend two nights at your first stop.
Don’t #1 – expect to see a lot of Europe in a week
I see people make this mistake all the time. They try to do way too much in a week. Look at the example below. For this trip, you’ll start in London, go to Paris, then down to Barcelona, over to Venice, and finish in Rome. Overall, I love this agenda. It would be an awesome trip. If you try to execute this within a week, you will spend most of your time on planes, trains, buses, and taxis. You need two weeks, in my opinion, to execute this trip. Take your time. Enjoy your travel. Don’t try to do too much in a week. Europe will be there, and you can always come back later.
Do #2 – see a mix of urban and rural sights
To better understand the local culture, see a mixture of city and country sights. Catalonia is a great example. Start in its capital city, Barcelona. While there, I recommend day-tripping out into the country to see medieval villages scattered throughout this wonderful region of Spain. Below, you see a picture of a village called Perratallada. It is a magical medieval masterpiece.
Don’t #2 – move around every night
Don’t move around too much. This can be a nightmare situation for some people. If you change locations daily, you’ll do what I call “the duffel bag drag” through the old town trying to find your hotel. Instead, I recommend homebasing in a few locations and day-tripping from there.
Do #3 – rent a car if you need one
In most major European cities, you do not need a rental car to get around. You can use trains and other modes of public transportation for a week-long vacation in many areas. However, if you want to get out to the countryside and explore more, a rental car is a great way to do that. Driving in most European countries is not that difficult. Be confident, rent that car, and start exploring.
Don’t #3 – pack too much
When you arrive at the airport in Europe, you’ll notice that some people bring a lot of luggage. Big mistake for a week-long vacation. Here are some issues that come up if you bring too much luggage.
- Many hotels do not have elevators, or the ones they have are tiny, so it is going to be a pain in the ass getting all your bags to your room.
- Rental cars tend to be smaller. If you rent one, you and your bags must fit into that compact car.
- Do you want to drag all that stuff around Europe?
Limit your luggage to something reasonable. A purist will say that you should limit it to only a carry-on. I disagree. For a week, you can bring one checked bag per person. More than that, I think you’re bringing too much stuff. Lighten your load to enjoy your vacation better.
Do #4 – use public transportation
For some Americans, the public transportation where you live is not that great. For example, Kim and I live in the Washington DC Metro Area. Most people here drive to get where they need to because public transportation is unreliable. This is not the case in most major European cities. A good example is the Underground, “The Tube” in London. It is easy to use and reliable. I recommend using public transportation as much as possible during your European vacation.
Don’t #4 – take a big bus tour
Don’t get stuck on a big bus tour if you can avoid it. I don’t like big bus tours because the experience is not great. You will be one of many packed into this bus, following one or two tour guides. I especially don’t like big bus tours when you’re going out into the countryside. Instead, go on a small group tour with a private guide and avoid the big bus if possible.
Do #5 – hire a local guide
Hire a local guide if you can. What do I mean by a local guide? The guide is from where you are or where you’re going. My favorite tours have been led by tour guides saying, “I was born here. I grew up here. I love this area, and you’re going to have the best time on this tour”. A word of warning: in some cities, students run free tours. Realize you get what you pay for. In this case, not an expert when compared to a real, local tour guide.
Don’t #5 – expect America
This one seems like a no-brainer. However, I have often witnessed Americans who go to Europe and expect it to be like America. It is not. The reason you go to Europe is to experience different cultures. Yes, McDonald’s and Starbucks are scattered all over Europe, like the McDonald’s pictured below, located in Porto, Portugal. I would skip it if you can. I will give one caveat. If you’re traveling with kids, sometimes they get tired of eating the local food. You can fill their stomachs with something like McDonald’s to keep them happy.
Bonus do – eat local food
Eat local food as much as possible. One of the best ways to learn about and experience a culture is through its food. For example, when you’re in Spain, eat Tapas. They are a wonderful invention. Tapas allow you to sample different dishes to see what you like without spending much money.
Bonus: don’t rush all your meals
Many Americans eat fast. The restaurants we eat at are happy to kick us out as quickly as possible and give the table to the next customer. That’s not the norm in Europe. You can linger at some restaurants. In some parts of Europe a meal is an hour or two normally. That means to take your time, savor your food, and enjoy it. Look at the view below in Venice. I would spend as much time as possible while eating in this restaurant. I will give one caveat. If you’re traveling with children, it’s not a reasonable expectation for them to sit through a two-hour dinner. My recommendation is to go early to the restaurant. Eat your meal and stay until the kids start freaking out. Then, get on to the next thing.
One thing you may not like about a week-long European trip
Let me wrap up this blog with one thing that will bug you after you return from your perfect week-long vacation in Europe. You will want to go back as soon as possible. If you follow the dos and don’ts that I covered, hopefully, that will help make your vacation fantastic, and you can plan to return to Europe next year.
I am Doug Keating, and this is my letter to my sons.