Fail Proof Tips for Traveling to Europe with Teens

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European Travel Tips with Teens

a guest post by Tanya Shelburne (aka Traveling Tanya)

Greetings from Indiana! I am the other Tanya, who also loves to travel. At www.travelingtanya.com my goal is to inspire busy people to make travel a priority, and that starts with my own family. Between full time jobs, school, basketball practice, volunteer commitments, and everything else that fills up our days, it can be a challenge for my family of four to fit in travel. But when you love something, you make room for it! 

We love many forms of travel, but European trips tend to be our favorite. With two teenage daughters I’ve learned that traveling takes on a different set of joys and challenges when you have teens in tow. This is definitely the case when taking teens across the pond to Europe!

Having recently taken my daughters to Paris and also throughout Italy, I’ve learned a bit about taking teens out of their comfort zone and how to adapt. 

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone with Teens in Europe

One of the great benefits of travel is experiencing new things. New food, new customs, new people, new geography, new ways of navigating through life. But some new things you and your teens encounter may surprise or even dampen the spirits of unprepared travelers. We can all become creatures of habit and prefer staying snug in our comfort zones. Traveling to new lands gives everyone an opportunity to get a little uncomfortable and see how others live!

With an open mind and a little forewarning, your teens will embrace the fact that not everyone does things as we do in America. And that broader perspective on the world will serve them well!

If you are heading overseas, you have probably already considered the fact that not everyone will speak English, another form of currency is used, and even the measurement system is different. But there will likely be lots of little differences you and your family will also encounter along your journey.

What may surprise teens on a First trip to Europe

Having just returned from my fifth trip to Europe, I identified many common practices in Europe that Americans may find peculiar. I believe these differences can best be navigated by you and your teens if everyone has appropriate expectations. 

Prepare yourself and your teenagers to get out of your comfort zone and embrace the European lifestyle, if only for a week or two! Then you can all return to America with a newfound respect for the creature comforts your family once took for granted.

Here are some things Americans may find unusual in many European countries:

1. Beverages and Ice

Water

In Europe, waiters will not automatically bring water to your table as they do in most American restaurants. If you ask for water they will likely bring bottled water, rather than tap. And they will probably pose the question “Sparkling or Still?” Many Europeans drink sparkling water, so if that is not your cup-of-tea, be sure to specify “still” water, and be prepared to pay for a large bottle that the whole family can share.

Of course, it’s important for adults and teens to stay hydrated while wandering through quaint towns or touring historic museums. Most towns have plenty of small grocery and convenience stores where you can purchase whatever variety of bottled water suits you. Or, have everyone bring their own reusable water bottles and fill up at one of Europe’s many public fountains.

Soft Drinks

It is safe to say that I am a Diet Coke addict. My girls drink pop less often, but in case this is a common beverage for your teens, here are a few things I have noticed about soft drinks in Europe:

Fountain drinks are uncommon.

There is no such thing as a free refill.

Drinks sizes are much smaller…no Big Gulps in Europe!

McDonald’s is VERY expensive in Europe compared to the United States. 

In most cafes and restaurants you will pay more for a soft drink than a glass of wine. For the adults, I say drink wine! But for younger travelers or anyone who needs a carbonated caffeine fix, your best bet is to pick up bottled soda at the readily available grocers and convenience stores.

Ice

Ice is something you likely won’t see much of in Europe. Given that the water and soft drinks your waiter brings will often come in a bottle, ice isn’t seen as a necessity. Even if a drink comes with ice, there likely won’t be very much.

If you or your teens prefer your drinks heavy on the rocks, ask politely for extra ice. Or simply embrace a slightly less chilled version of your favorite beverage.

Coffee

I’m not a coffee drinker myself, but I travel with one! Whether your teens are into coffee yet or not, if someone in your group needs coffee to get their day started it probably isn’t wise to skip that morning ritual while you are traveling. While it doesn’t seem very European, you can find Starbucks in many European cities, especially the touristy ones.

Sometimes you just need a good cup of coffee to start a jam-packed day of sightseeing. So don’t deny your java-addicted family members!

Grabbing a Starbucks every now and then doesn’t make you any less of a world traveler. But your crew should also check out the cafe scene. For that, you will want to be savvy about ordering your hot beverages. Simply asking for coffee will likely get you a teeny-tiny cup of bitter espresso.  If you are looking for a more Americanized version of java, try ordering a Cafe Creme or Cafe Americano and add cream or sweetener to your liking.

2. Dining

Anyone agree with me that one of the highlights of most vacations is the food?!

Europe offers some top-notch culinary delights. To best enjoy your travel experience, it helps if your family understands some common dining practices in Europe.

There is no such thing as “churn and burn” in European restaurants. Your waiter will not be hurrying your family along so he can re-seat the table. The exact opposite is true, as you will likely have to flag him down to get your bill.

In general, Europeans tend to eat their meals later than the customary American meal times of noon and 6 pm. They also prefer to linger with long lunches, and they truly embrace the dining experience. This is part of the cafe culture in Europe, and your family should definitely give it a try!

Mealtime is not just about filling up on tasty treats, it’s also about people watching and enjoying the company of others. Most outdoor cafes are set up with the chairs facing out to the sidewalk rather than facing each other. This aids in people watching!

We all know that hangry teens are no fun to be around, so relax a bit on the American standard of 3 square meals a day. Sample plenty of street food as you museum hop and spoil their dinner with a mid-day pastry or gelato stop!

3. Restrooms

One thing that stood out to me on my last trip to Europe…rough toilet paper. There was no two-ply quilted Charmin to be found!

I found this to be the case in hotels, gas stations, and fancy restaurants alike. It may have to do with the fact that many old buildings also have old plumbing and it’s best not to clog up the pipes with bulky toilet paper. That’s just my best guess! I can definitely say I used far fewer squares than I do at home, so they may be on to something!

It can also be difficult to find a public restroom in many European towns. You will likely find yourself paying to use the toilet from time to time, and that can add up with a large family.

But when you gotta go, you gotta go! Even if it costs a euro each!

Your best bet is to remind everyone to use the restroom when you are dining or once you have paid to enter a museum. Even then you may need to ask or get an access code to use the facilities as they can be somewhat hidden.

Your teens may find a strange looking contraption in the restroom that looks a bit like a second toilet without a lid. Much more common in Europe than they are in America, a bidet is used to clean your nether regions.

I personally bypass this European custom, but it’s a great opportunity to tell your teens about hygiene habits in other parts of the world. And if you’re feeling it, give the bidet a whirl!

4. Accommodations

While you can find modern, high-rise Americanized hotels in Europe, I urge you not to miss out on the characteristically charming accommodations found in nearly every town.

For my family, location is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing accommodations as we prefer to be in the heart of the activity. But you know your family best, so pick your accommodations wisely and give them a heads up on any typical amenities or space that may be lacking.

Most historic European hotels have been updated and offer modern en-suite bathrooms (no more communal restrooms!). Yet they still retain their charming lobbies, staircases, and decor. 

Many European hotels do provide high tech heating and cooling systems, yet open windows and fresh air are often the default during temperate seasons. If lack of AC turns your clan into cranky travelers, then be sure to ask if the cool air will be flowing at the time of your trip before you confirm your reservation. While fresh air is fabulous we learned the hard way in Venice that keeping the windows open all night meant everyone woke up with tons of mosquito bites! 

Not all hotels have elevators, so be sure to confirm this before booking if stairs are a challenge for anyone in your group. For those hotels that do offer an elevator, I have found them to sometimes be comically small or very slow. I generally opt to take the stairs when I’m on the way down and utilize my patience when taking the elevator up to my room after a long day of sightseeing.

Remember how I mentioned ice isn’t very common in Europe? That goes for hotels as well. Don’t count on taking an ice bucket down the hall to fill it up at an ice machine as you likely won’t find one.

Another custom we encountered at several older hotels was the request to leave our hotel key at the front desk every time we stepped outside. Many hotels still use an actual key rather than an electronic swipe card, and this helps ensure one-of-a-kind keys aren’t lost. On a previous trip to Venice, our room key was attached to a very big and heavy medallion. This helped me honor their request to leave it at the front desk as I wasn’t about to carry that extra weight through the streets of Venice! If your teens are mature enough for a little freedom you will want to make them aware of this practice so they don’t leave you stranded without access to your hotel room.

Another great option if you want to live like a local is Airbnb. You can find affordable accommodations all over Europe through Airbnb and you’ll get more space for your family to spread out than in a typical hotel. Family togetherness is great on vacation, but so is a bit of downtime and separation from your teens! 

The apartment or house you rent will likely include a kitchen as well, but don’t assume it will have a massive American sized fridge or stove as those are less customary in Europe, especially in cities. If you have teens with bottomless pits for stomachs, having a kitchen can be a godsend and a way to save a bit of money.

5. Transportation

While some parts of the United States have good public transportation, it is rather lacking in my state. So when in Europe my teens relish the opportunity to try lots of different forms of transportation.

On our recent trips, we traveled by airplane, boat, subway, rental car, Uber, funicular, alpine gondola, vaporetto, bus, and a 365-degree rotating gondola. If we could have figured out the app in Paris a bit sooner we would have added electric scooter to that extensive list!

Even with all these high-quality transportation options, my preferred way to get around in Europe is on foot. You see so much more when you leisurely stroll the streets of an unfamiliar town. And getting lost can be fun when you have Rome2Rio or Google Maps at your fingertips to find your way back.

Make sure everyone packs comfortable shoes and their Fitbits as you will all likely track a large number of steps, which helps offset all the pastries, macarons, and gelato you simply must try! Prepare your teens for a lot of walking, but pay attention to their cues and use the many transportation options available when they could use a rest. Teens are great at navigating subway systems so give them the opportunity to test out their navigation skills.

The one form of transportation that works exactly as it does in the U.S. is Uber, and it was a godsend when our feet were aching and our itinerary was tight.

In general, personal vehicles are much less common in Europe, and I’ll admit that rental cars are my least favorite form of transportation. If you do find yourself driving in Europe, you’ll likely need to be competent at operating a stick shift (which I am not), as automatics are less readily available.

Of course, in some countries, the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car, and you drive on the other side of the street. I am definitely not up for driving in those countries! Just walking in London I about got hit by several buses as my natural inclination was to look the wrong way for oncoming traffic!

It is helpful to learn a bit about road signs before driving in a foreign land, and be sure to know and follow the speed limits. While some highways may have no speed limit at all other areas have strictly enforced ones. And you may get a speeding ticket in the mail weeks later along with a photo of you during the infraction…just ask my husband! Even if your teen is of driving age, I’d recommend not putting them behind the while in a foreign country.

Are you ready to travel abroad with your teenagers?

Now that you are a bit more savvy about traveling to Europe and know what to expect, it’s time to start planning your family’s next adventure!

Don’t let the differences scare you off… embrace the uniqueness of other cultures and encourage your teens to do the same. Remind them we are all just humans trying to navigate our way through this crazy life, no matter what language we speak, the foods we eat, or how we dress.

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,

Traveling Tanya

Thank you Tanya, for sharing your best travel tips for Europe with teens!