In 2003, it was estimated that there were more than 70,000 three- to five-star hotel rooms within central London alone. Here’s a random sampling of some fine hotels in central London.
Thistle Lancaster Gate – Located near Hyde Park, this mid-range hotel offers modern amenities behind an elegant 19th century exterior. It’s a short distance away from Kensington and Oxford Street, as well as the West End district. Some of their facilities include en suite bathrooms, cable TV, a fitness center and direct dial telephone service from the guestroom. Standard double room rates, some including breakfast, start at $103 per night.
Hotel Russell, Russell Square – This 4-star 371-room hotel is located conveniently near Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and the West End district. Dating back to 1898, the hotel boasts a magnificent Victorian façade. This period hotel offers the most modern facilities, including air-conditioned rooms, en suite bathrooms, cable TV and broadband. Nightly rates for standard double room start at $119.
Dolphin Square, near Victoria and Westminster – This hotel evokes the charm of the countryside in the middle of the bustling London city. It provides easy access to Covent Garden, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park. The Dolphin provides three acres of sprawling gardens, plush suites and great food. Deluxe suites, minus breakfast, are available at nightly rates starting from $147.
Hilton Islington – Located in Islington, one of the most posh areas of London, the Hilton is a modern 4-star hotel. Contemporary elegant rooms with air conditioning, a fitness center and in room direct dial telephone service are some of the attractions. Pets are allowed. Nightly rates for a double room start at $227.
Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt – Located in South Kensington, this Victorian townhouse hotel, a former residence of the Vanderbilt family, offers modern services amidst elegant traditional trappings. It’s a short distance away from Albert Memorial and the Earls Court and Olympia Exhibition Centers. Current discounted nightly rates for standard double rooms, minus breakfast, start at $120.
i-LondonHotels.com London Hotels provides detailed information on London Hotels, Cheap London Hotels, Central London Hotels, London Luxury Hotels and more. London Hotels is affiliated with e-DublinHotels.com Cheap Dublin Hotels.
Packing for airline travel requires advance planning and consideration. The following is a list of revised restrictions regarding what is permitted or banned from US flights by the Transportation Security Administration. Print the list and keep it in your luggage as quick and convenient reference when you prepare to travel or pack to return home.
Personal items permitted for carry-on
Solid Lipstick or Chapsticks
Laptop Computers, cell phones, pagers, handheld devices and cameras
Prescription Medication with Name on Label that matches the Passenger Ticket
Up to 4oz of non-prescription liquid medications, cough syrup, eye drops, contact lens solution or nasal spray
Up to 8oz of liquid or gel for low blood sugar treatment
Baby Formula or Breast Milk if traveling with an infant
Personal items banned from carry-on or carry-on luggage
Lighters
Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Perfumes and Colognes
All creams, lotions, sunscreens, first-aid creams, moisturizers and hand lotions
Shaving Creams
Hair Style Gels
Hair Spray (any kind)
Hair Strengthener or Detanglers
Mascara
Liquid Foundations (Make-up)
Make-up Remover or Face Cleanser
Nail Polish and Nail Polish Removers
Liquid Soaps
Liquid Sanitizers
Gel Deodorants
Spray Deodorants
Gel Cap Pills
Lips Gels, glosses or liquids (including Carmex)
Gel Shoe Inserts
Bubble Bath, including gels, oils, moisturizers and liquid filled bath balls
Gel candles
Bug Spray
Children’s toys or figurines with gel inside
Baby teethers with liquid or gel
Food and Drinks banned
All beverages
Gel based Sports Supplements
Jellos
Puddings
Yogurts or any substance with gel-like qualities
Checking Luggage
As you prepare to pack your bags to reduce the carry-on luggage, please also consider the following
According to Consumer Reports, on average there were more than 10,000 mishandled luggage complaints a day against the large airlines in 2005. In addition, some travelers have reported an increase in theft from checked luggage. In calling the customer service lines of DELTA Airlines, the very courteous representative promptly read a script that DELTA Airlines is not responsible for electronics, jewelry or any other items stolen from checked luggage. Read the small print and think twice about what items you pack in luggage that you will check (especially if you travel through small airports).
* Please note that the list of approved items is subject to change by the TSA, and may also be subject to individual agent, airport or item interpretation.
“Please check your belongings and carry your valuables, unless it is against regulations in which case you should leave your belongings at home.”
- DELTA Customer Service Representative
“Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.”
- Roy M Goodman
“Travel is only glamorous in retrospect..”
- Paul Theroux
“If someone makes the effort to invest and sacrifice the time it takes to travel to see you, do not question their commitment.”
- John Mehrmann
______________________________________________________
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John Mehrmann is an authority on emotional intelligence, talent management and organizational development. He is a consultant, coach and trainer with Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. His materials are available from InstituteForAdvancedLeadership.com InstituteForAdvancedLeadership.com
ExecutiveBlueprints.com ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching.
Tokyo, the most famous city of Japan, is one of the worst looking major cities in the world in the daytime. However, by night, Tokyo has a unique look that makes it different from any other city in the world. The city turns into an epicenter for paper lanterns and large neon lights. Japanese men and women like to have a nice night out after a hard day of work. Tokyo turns into one of the wildest cities in all of the world, as there are constantly people everywhere and nobody seems to sleep. Districts known for their entertainment are ridiculously crowded, no matter at what time of day or night it is. Many shops and clubs stay open until 5 AM, when the subways first start running the next day. Tokyo has everything, no matter what you are searching for. Jazz shows, reggae shows, rock shows, dance clubs, gay bars, sex shows and anything else you can think of.
Though Tokyo’s nightlife is wild and crazy, there is no place one can consider “the place to be” over other spots. Hotspots of the night are all over the city, varying in their price range, workers and most importantly, their atmosphere. Famous spots include Roppongi and Ginza, Kabuki-cho found in Shinjuku. A good way to start the night off is to just walk around the town, taking a look at the neighborhoods and just taking it all in. The atmosphere is unlike any other city. The streets will be overflowing with people and the neon lights will blind your eyes, but there are plenty of surprises to keep an eye out for.
There are plenty of bars, clubs and discos filled with male and female Japanese teenagers. However, for the older Japanese, the nightlife mainly attracts men. On the expensive end of the nightlife for older males are geisha bars, where talented women entertain crowds by singing, playing traditional Japanese musical instruments and just talking to the visitors. These kinds of places are found mainly in Kyoto and are usually closed to foreigners. They also are ridiculously expensive. The only way a foreigner might find a way in is by being invited by someone that should be there.
There are also many hostess bars. A woman will essentially boost your ego, as she sits with you, talks, listens to your problems and gives you drinks. This can be costly however as you will be the one buying her drinks. Hostess bars have been around in Japan for centuries, but a foreigner might not find it worthwhile, as the hostess usually can only speak Japanese. It is a way to get away from the troubles of work and family though, so they are quite popular.
The most popular place to see Japanese nightlife however is in the drinking bars, where most people go for a fun evening out. Many bars even have themes, such as Western-style and Japanese-style watering holes. Dance clubs as well as places to see live music are also very popular with young Tokyo teens. There are also relatively cheap restaurants that are quite good to eat out spread across throughout the city.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to japan-guided.com/ Japan
Due to many reasons, depression being at the top of it, drug addicts often also suffer from alcoholism. To totally clean the individual of this devastating disease, a center will have to address both problems at the same time.
Addiction is basically a disease that grips the brain- forcing an individual to behave out of control. It is not surprising that the same principles used to treat alcoholism since the 1970’s have been adopted to deal with drug addiction in the 1980’s.
Rehabilitation centers are modifying traditional means of treatment with modern and scientific interventions proven over the years of dealing with the disease. They are taking on more holistic approaches to attack the disease at its roots. In so doing, they increase the chances of a patient recovering fro his addiction.
Rehab Centers
There are different types of rehabilitation centers, adhering to several principles and methods of treatments. Depending on the degree of addiction, a patient may be given off-patient or inpatient treatments that may last either for a few days to a full six months.
Hospitals normally have facilities that give outpatient care for drug addicts. They administer detoxification through medication and counseling. Patients go to them for oral medication that inhibits cravings for the addictive drugs. But for graver situations where drug addiction has taken total control of a person’s life, an inpatient or residential treatment is required.
Residential treatment is carried out by private institutions specializing in the rehabilitation of substance addicts. Their treatments are more exhaustive and comprehensive- touching on the medical attention needed by the patient to counseling and to therapies that prepare him for reintegration into the society.
Always check the rehab center’s accreditation and licenses. Getting into a rehab program is an important step to recovery. You will need to choose the best facility to work on you if you want full recovery from the disease.
e-DrugTreatmentCenters.com Drug Treatment Centers provides detailed information on Drug Treatment Centers, Drug And Alcohol Treatment Centers, Residential Drug Treatment Centers, Christian Drug Treatment Centers and more. Drug Treatment Centers is affiliated with e-DrugTreatment.com Drug Treatment Programs.
Christmas is one of the most awaited holidays in each calendar year. It is
the most enjoyable – yet stressful holiday that you get to spend with your
loved ones. You can never truly immerse your self in the holiday spirit if
you are all stressed out thinking about the gifts that you haven’t bought
yet, how to set the dinner table, what food you have not yet prepared and
family members who might give you even more stress.
If you decide to spend Christmas away from home to do away with all of the
stress, what better way is there to spend the Holidays than by spending it
on vacation, with your family?
You can create some wonderful memories that you can look back on if you
will spend a family Christmas vacation with your family. Here are some tips
on how you can get the most out of a Christmas vacation:
1. Have a family meeting and decide where you will go for your Christmas
vacation.
List down all of the options of where you would like to spend the holidays.
Have each family member suggest a place where he or she would enjoy the
most, and decide for yourselves which of the options would be the best way
to go. This compromise will give each family member one less thing to
complain or worry about.
Decide together how long you plan to stay on the place of your choice, and
make sure that nobody has a previous commitment so that you can all spend
the entire vacation together.
2. Make a to-do list so that you will not forget anything during the trip.
Do your Christmas shopping early and wrap your Christmas presents in
advance. Assign a particular item or activity to family members and have
everyone participate so that nobody will miss out on all the fun.
3. Plan your Christmas dinner.
Your vacation will never be complete without the entire family sitting down
for a Christmas dinner. If you planned your Christmas vacation on a remote
place, pack a cooler and make sure that you have all the food items with you
so that you can have a bountiful feast for Christmas dinner.
4. Let it all out and enjoy!
Aside from the gift giving, the food and the holiday rush, the most
important thing that you need to do while celebrating Christmas on vacation
is: be together. With the busy year behind you where you hardly ever get to
see each other, now is the time to finally enjoy each other’s company at
leisure. You might constantly bicker with your siblings, or argue a lot with
your parents, but when your family is all together, that is when you know
that at the end of the day, your family is all you have and they are the
only ones who will stick with you no matter what. Enjoy these precious
moments that make all the stress caused by the holidays worthwhile.
Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in
the latest in Travel and Leisure. For more information
regarding vacationingtoday.com/christmas_vacation.php Christmas Vacation
please drop by at vacationingtoday.com/ vacationingtoday.com/
Take a day trip to a rose garden Roses have always been valued for their stunning beauty and intoxicating scent. They also have a long history of symbolism and meaning and are ancient symbols of beauty and love. In fact the rose was sacred to several goddesses such as Aphrodite and is commonly used as a symbol for the Virgin Mary. The rose also is the national flower for both England and the United States. Many of the below listed rose gardens are only a day trip away and the majority of them are public rose gardens which are free to the public. So, take time to stop and smell the roses and visit one of these beautiful rose gardens located around the world.
International Rose Test Garden Washington Park
Portland, Oregon Portland is known as the “Rose City” and has several public rose gardens; however, the International Rose Test Garden in Portland is the most well-known. It was founded in 1917 and is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States.
Rose Garden in Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle, WashingtonThe Woodland Park Zoo Rose Garden was planted originally to provide a free, public display of roses. Currently, the garden houses 280 rose varieties.
Lyndale Park Rose Garden
Minneapolis, Minnesota Located in Minneapolis, the Lyndale Park Rose Garden is the second oldest public rose garden in the U.S. With over 3,000 roses of 250 varieties, the layout of the garden has not been changed since it was planted by Theodore Wirth in 1908.
McKinley Park Rose Garden
Sacramento, California A popular setting for weddings and day trips, this Sacramento Rose Garden is home to over 1,200 roses of all different varieties. The garden is free to the public during daylight hours.
The Centennial Rose Garden, Schmidt Mansion
Tumwater, Washington Planted on the grounds of the Schmidt Mansion, the Centennial Rose Garden is maintained by the Olympia Rose Society for the enjoyment of the public. The garden was designed to display a plethora of rose varieties and within historical context. The garden documents the development of roses from ancient times to present day.
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden
Hartford, Connecticut The Elizabeth Park Rose Garden is the oldest municipally operated rose garden in the country. With over 800 rose varieties which amounts to 15,000 plants total, this rose garden packs a lot in on two and a half acres.
Mesa Community College Rose Garden
Mesa, Arizona This Mesa, Arizona rose garden is a unique and important part of the city’s community. The garden serves as an iatrical part of education, allowing students from kindergarten through high school and community college and universities use the gardens as botanical laboratories and study areas.
Chicago Botanic Gardens
Glencoe, Illinios – north of Chicago, Illinois The Chicago Botanic Gardens is home to 26 distinct gardens, one of them being a beautiful rose garden that houses 5,000 colorful rose bushes.
The John E. Voight Trial Garden
Hales Corners, Wisconsin Part of the Boerner Botanical Gardens, the Voight Trial Garden was opened in 1939 and was traditionally designed with gravel walks around the garden and grass walks through the rose beds. The garden also follows the traditional European design with two circular pools and a rectangular pool filled with water lilies and other plant life on the grounds.
Tyler Rose Garden
Tyler, Texas As part of a 14 acre park, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the nations largest rose garden and admission to the park is free seven days a week from dawn to dusk. This breathtaking rose garden is also host to the annual Texas Rose Festival held in mid-October.
Jillian Scheeler makes it easy to provide a list of top rose gardens in united states. visit the top ten rose gardens of United States. To recieve free part mini-course visit the travelpost.com” target=”_Blank United States Rose Gardens Website.
These outboards are water vehicle and are available in two stroke and four-stroke category. The propeller system provided with these motor omc outboards is designed to give you that the best performance for all the applications. For a special application, you may select a specific propeller.
Horsepower requirement of Motor OMC Outboards:
By US law (US coast guard regulation) a boat up to 20 feet in length should carry a plate mentioning the maximum horsepower rating of the vehicle. These motor OMC out boards are available in different horsepower ratings. Outboards are available in two stroke and four stroke engines. Depending upon the engine rating, the other specifications including horsepower of the vehicle are provided in the brochure. Most of outboards manufacturers power rate the engine in accordance with the NMMA procedure using international council on marine industry associates (ICOMIA) standards 28/83.
Fuel and Lube requirements:
Fuel and lube is one of the primary requirements of motor OMC outboards and always-correct fuel should be used. Gasoline fuel comes with an octane rating, and a minimum of 87 octane rating unleaded gasoline should be preferred if fuel specification is not provided with the operational manual. Fuel rating requirements also sometimes depends on the power rating of these outboards.
Safety Standards:
Safety is one of the biggest aspects of these Motor OMC outboards. Although every motor OMC outboard manufacturers give the utmost priority to the safety, a few backfire problems has been reported and these backfires increases the risk of damaging engine collector assembly. In case if a break in collector assembly happens, it may cause serious injuries to the persons. For avoiding these backfires, a proper voltage electronic and adequate better battery cables should be maintained.
Proper maintenance of Motor OMC Outboards:
Maintenance schedule should be followed at regular interval as provided in manual. The recommended grade of lubricants should be used always and in no case the used lube oil should be drained in water or earth.
Regular check up of Motor OMC outboards should be carried out to see
1.The adequate electric wiring is maintained.
2.The water level in battery or efficiency of battery is maintained.
3.He carburetor is clean and fuel pump is operating properly.
4.Proper quality of fuel is being used.
5.Lubricant level and lubricant quality is maintained and lubricants are replaced as and when required.
6.Engine tuning is proper and maintained.
7.Gears are in good operating conditions.
8.Brakes are in good operating conditions.
Replacements of parts with genuine parts:
Every motor OMC outboard manufacturers provide a detailed list of accessories with the vehicle manual. For getting highest benefit of these motor OMC outboards, the outboards should be maintained in good conditions by carrying maintenance job at regular interval and replacing the defected parts by original genuine parts supplied by the manufacturer. To ensure the maximum benefit of these motor OMC outboards the practice should be continued.
Trish is the author for sterndrive.info sterndrive.info – Get more information on sterndrive.info Motor OMC outboard.
There are a wide range of different types of venues available for hosting meetings and conferences in the UK. These vary in size and design from small meeting rooms in the heart of the city to well-appointed country houses that have been adapted to serve as conference venues, and from museums and university facilities to racetracks and football stadiums. Finally, of course, there are dedicated conference and exhibition centres, and these may well be the preferred option for really large gatherings. Whatever your conference needs, though, contemporary venues can often be an excellent choice, as you can be sure that they will be able to meet your requirements and help your important event go off without a hitch.
Contemporary venues for conventions and seminars can cover a very wide range of locations, from hotels and exhibition centres to sports grounds. However, for the purposes of this article we will concentrate on a couple of different types of contemporary venue: conference and exhibition centres, on the one hand, and sports facilities and racetracks on the other. While this encompasses quite a wide spread of different types of venue, they tend to have a number of similarities in common that make them great choices for your conventions or meetings.
Conference centres are a popular place to site business conventions and exhibitions, for obvious reasons. Conference centres are by their nature set up to welcome large numbers of people, and better conference venues will have a wide range of rooms to suit all sizes of gathering. This may include using the main hall for a large plenary session and then the use of breakout rooms for smaller seminars or presentations. In addition, many contemporary venues have rooms that can be reconfigured at short notice thanks to the use of modular furniture and specially fitted partitions. So, for example, a large auditorium can be split in two quickly and easily, simply by closing the partition between the two halves – saving on costs and improving the acoustics of the hall if you don’t require the full room, or allowing you to run two large presentations simultaneously.
This flexibility also applies to smaller seminar and meeting rooms. Contemporary venues are set up specifically to allow you to configure these rooms to your specifications. Lightweight tables and chairs are moveable and stackable for ease of use; so, for example, the same room can be set up in a boardroom layout in the morning to hold a meeting, and then be converted into a theatre-style format over lunch in order to host a video presentation in the afternoon. Some of these facilities may be on offer in other types of venues, but contemporary venues tend to be able to handle these issues with greater flexibility; after all, this is what they’ve been designed to do. This can save on space and budget, allowing you to book one room, say, where you might have expected to require two or three.
As you would expect, contemporary venues are normally equipped with all the modern technology that companies require when holding conferences. These include not just the obvious audiovisual aids and projection equipment, but also good telecommunications links and video or Internet conferencing facilities for those who require them. It’s important to check before booking, of course, but you will find that many contemporary venues offer such state-of-the-art technology as standard.
The final major boon of contemporary venues like conference centres is that they tend to be sited in locations readily accessible to both private and public transport. Major exhibitions centres will have plentiful car parking, and typically be close to bus and train stations and the like. Don’t underestimate the importance of this; for someone who has to drive for five hours to get to your chosen location, the last thing they want to have to do is get stuck in a one-way system for half an hour and then find there’s nowhere to park.
The same applies to different types of contemporary venue such as sports stadia and racetracks. In contrast to many conference centres, these are often sited on the outskirts of town, but also tend to boast good transport links and parking facilities. For this reason, if nothing else, they are always worth considering for your conferences and PR events. However, they also provide ancillary benefits. Taking your team building events to a racecourse, for example, provides you with an easy way to reward your staff for their hard work over the course of year. Hold your meetings and seminars in the morning, enjoy a lunch overlooking the racetrack, and relax in the afternoon with a flutter on a couple of likely looking thoroughbreds. This allows you to combine work with pleasure, which is a great way to improve productivity and job satisfaction in the long run.
Contemporary venues have a number of advantages, both in terms of accessibility and flexibility, and offer a professional service to companies looking to host meetings and seminars both big and small.
Free Venue Finding Service UK & Worldwide visit jigsawconferences.co.uk jigsawconferences.co.uk 44 (0)8700 490000 FREE call back service Free Hotel Accommodation Booking Service UK & Worldwide visit jigsawconferences.com jigsawconferences.com 44 (0)8707 520433 FREE call back service
A large percentage of our population is approaching retirement age. They are looking for the best possible place to invest their money in property that will be used as their current vacation home now and their permanent residence when they retire.
I have seen many trends come and go in real estate. Planned communities have become the most recent trend, offering accessibility to health care, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping, golf courses and lakes. There are many advantages to such a community. There are also some disadvantages that are not readily apparent.
The nature of the planned community is that it appeals to a certain segment of the population. That is very nice in many ways, but it is also limiting.
In a community such as Wilkes, you will have all age groups interacting and therefore a greater variety of opportunities available to you and to your families as they come to visit. The BMX track, the lake, the soccer fields, golf, fishing, stores, restaurants, etc. provide a wide variety of activities that will appeal to you all.
Having children and young people around helps us all to stay younger at heart. Attending classes at the Community College is a wonderful way to stay mentally alert, informed and active.
Walking the track on the Yadkin Valley Greenway or at the Community College, exercising at the Wellness Center, the YMCA or Lifequest, playing golf, and swimming keeps our bodies active.
Joining the Wilkes Playmakers little theater group or one of the many community service groups keeps us active and involved.
When you retire, consider the possibility that you might want to continue to work on a scaled back basis doing something that was an avocation. Having a larger community to work in is often a major advantage.
That is one place our commercial real estate qualifications may be of use to you.
If you want to open a small shop, day spa or restaurant, etc., we can help you find just what meets your requirements.
Our familiarity with the community can put you in just the right location.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, we are:
minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway
one half hour from Boone and Blowing Rock, NC
forty-five minutes from Hickory, NC
one hour from Winston-Salem, NC
one and one half hours from Charlotte, NC and Greensboro, NC
two and one half hours from Raleigh, NC
The people are friendly, courteous and talented. We have a wonderfully mild four season climate.
Major amenities include:
Wilkes Regional Hospital
Wellness Center
Airport with a jet landing strip
Wilkes Community College
New schools
Appalachian State University just ½ hour away in Boone, NC
Recreational amenities include:
Oakwoods Country Club and Golf Course
W. Kerr Scott Lake
Stone Mountain State Park
Rendezvous Mountain State Park
Yadkin River Greenway
YMCA
Soccer Fields
Ball Fields
BMX Park
Yadkin River, the Roaring River and the New River
just over an hour’s drive from three popular NASCAR tracks — Lowes Motors Speedway, Martinsville, and Bristol Motor Speedway.
a short ride to the ski mountains — Beech and Sugar
Cultural Art and Heritage amenities include:
Walker Center
Art Gallery
MerleFest
Wilkes Playmakers
Author: Elizabeth A. Carter. You may contact her at wilkes-nc-real-estate.com wilkes-nc-real-estate
Elizabeth A. Carter is an experienced real estate professional serving residential and commercial customers in and around Wilkes County North Carolina.
Planning a vacation to Europe? No doubt you have certain expectations about your upcoming journey.
Perhaps you’re the kind of person who expects to spend your days admiring amazing architecture and prowling world-famous museums for masterpieces. Or maybe you’re going to Europe to meet interesting people, relax on the beach until the sun goes down, and dance the night away in a local club. Regardless of your European vacation priorities, you certainly expect it to be wonderful!
But stop a moment. Have you thought about your cultural expectations?
Many European vacationers plan their activities and accommodations with the assumption that everything else will be “like America.” If so, think again! Just as Europe and the US are different in landscape, weather, and history, they are also very different culturally. Europeans and Americans have different ideas about manners, time, personal space, personal property maintenance, and language.
So for anyone planning a vacation to Europe, here are a few “cross cultural conflict” areas that Americans traveling in Europe often encounter. Making yourself aware of these differences can help you have a fun, enjoyable, and even educational European vacation that is free of cultural misunderstandings!
Personal Space
Take a glance at a map of the world. Which is smaller: the US or Europe? That’s right– Europe. But there are still a lot of people there, which means they’ve gotten used to smaller spaces!
American standards of living are very high. We’re used to king size beds and bathrooms that can accommodate several people at a time.
But unless you’re staying in a massive French chateau or Italian villa, be prepared for spaces to be smaller than you’re used to. Bedrooms and bathrooms will be more compact, as will bed sizes. Single and double beds alike will be narrower. Kitchens won’t be able to accommodate your entire family!
So consider this an opportunity to get closer to your traveling companions. Think of sharing a bathroom in Italy as an exercise in cooperation. Get cozy with your spouse in that French double bed. Be willing to laugh as you adjust. Get creative and have fun!
Manners
A common misperception of Europeans is that they are “rude.” Of course, they think the same thing about us!
Remember when you’re traveling in Europe that rudeness is largely a cultural perception. Someone who seems blunt and nosey may be expressing friendship and concern for your well-being. A waiter who tells you what to order may be trying to help, since you are unfamiliar with the language. Differences in “personal space” mean that someone who cuts in front of you may not even understand that you were in line!
Also, subjects which are taboo in your community may be freely discussed elsewhere, and vice versa. In the US, we consider it incredibly rude to comment on a person’s weight. This isn’t true everywhere in the world!
So, when traveling in Europe, keep a firm grip on your temper. A good way to achieve this is to give everyone else the benefit of the doubt. Just make the choice not to get angry. If you can roll with the punches, you’ll enjoy your vacation more– and you’ll be a better traveling companion.
Time
I have to admit that I get impatient if I have to wait longer than fifteen minutes at a restaurant in the US. After the food comes, I can be out the door in half an hour!
In Italy, however, a dinner filled with conversation, laughter, and great food can last two hours! I smile when I hear other Americans asking why the food hasn’t arrived yet. Unbeknownst to them, the waiters are offering them the opportunity to savor the meal.
Likewise, shops and businesses in Spain close for an afternoon siesta. In the UK, the handyman may want to chat with you before repairing that pipe.
Most Europeans do not share the American compulsion to “save time” by doing everything quickly. So when you vacation in Europe, leave your watch behind. After all, this is a vacation!
Quality
I often hear complaints, especially from those who rent a villa or apartment, about the quality of the furnishings and amenities in Europe. I’d be a millionaire if I had a dime for every time I heard someone say “The furniture was old!” or “The bathroom pipes need to be replaced.”
In today’s society, we expect things to look like new, feel like new, and behave like new. If it doesn’t, we throw it away.
But think of anyone who grew up during the depression. My grandfather kept rows of old coffee cans filled with spare nails and bits of wire. He sat in the same chair every night until he died. Nothing was wasted, and nothing was thrown away if it could be fixed.
So if the furniture looks a little worn, or if the sink clogs, think before you complain. Is the quality due to neglect and disrepair, or is it the result of a careful, conscientious effort not to put anything to waste?
Treat this as an educational experience; you might even learn from a more conservative lifestyle.
Language
As an American, I am often jealous of Europeans who pick up languages like you’d pick up a bottle of milk at the store. For me, it’s an uphill battle all the way!
Since learning three or four languages is neither a cultural necessity nor a scholastic requirement in our country, many Americans feel like me. And yet some Americans still assume that everyone in Europe should speak English!
In the same way that you or I would resent a French tourist who expected everyone in the US to speak French, Europeans are often annoyed by Americans who have this mentality.
While you probably can’t learn a new language before your vacation, you can learn some helpful phrases. This is considered courteous, and is guaranteed to get more friendly responses. When you try to use their language, Italians or French who might have feigned ignorance will usually help you with your pronunciation– and then converse with you in English!
The Right Attitude
Lastly, remember that the standards and the customs you find while traveling in Europe are not wrong. They’re just different. If you travel with the right attitude, you will have a richer, more authentic, and even eye-opening experience. Who knows? Your European vacation may change the way you see the world.
Suzanne Pidduck is a veteran traveler and the founder of rentvillas.com Rentvillas.com, an online company with more than twenty years’ experience connecting you with rentvillas.com/Browse.aspx?NavToMap=6173 European villa rentals and apartments for rent in Tuscany, Florence, the Amalfi Coast, and other destinations throughout Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and the rest of Europe. Visit her new rentvillas.blogspot.com travel tips blog for more helpful articles!
