Hello folks,
I realize there are a lot of people from Europe on here, as well as many of you who have traveled there as well! I am going to go to Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the island with Ajaccio. Half of the trip is on the bus, and the other half we are sailing on a cruise ship.

So, being an American, I already know a lot of Europeans don't like us. One of the main reasons I was told was that nobody bothers to learn the language of the country and expects everyone to speak English. I am NOT fluent in Spanish, but I can get by. And this is Mexican Spanish LOL..I can't conjugate verbs to save my keester hehe. Due to my job and my BF (he is originally from MX) I have gotten a good grasp. However Italy, Portugal, and France could be tough.

Anyways, does anyone have any advice as far as traveling to those places? Do's and dont's. Packing essentials you can't get over there, or is super spendy? Suggestions for places to go? It is a guided tour, but they will be giving us some wandering time.

Thank you!

I studied abroad in Italy. Where are you going?

I spent a lot of time on buses the other times I traveled around Europe. Bring books! haha! One of the Harry Potter books came out when I was over there, so I bought the English version and read that on the buses, then came home and read the American one.

I didn't really have a good grasp of Italian when I was there, but I did know basic things. Most people seemed to appreciate that I tried to speak Italian, but I guess I was REALLY BAD because everyone would just respond in English to me and some would thank me for at least trying.

When I was in Germany my friends and I tried to get by with a phrase book, but once again most people just seemed to appreciate that we tried.

I don't know where you're staying, but I was in a hotel while I was studying abroad and I always grabbed breakfast and smuggled out fruit or other munchies to eat during the day so I could have a bigger dinner if I knew we were going to go somewhere nice. Otherwise in Italy it's really easy to find a grocery store to buy fresh things and make whatever you want. I didn't have a kitchen so for me it was mostly sandwiches and other cold things. Not a problem really since I was there in the middle of the summer.

Thanks In Italy we are stopping in Rome and Pisa for 12 hours each. 7am to 7pm.

Don't worry...most Europeans LOVE Americans. -- I was born over seas, but I have a very slight accent therefore to untrained ear I sound American My hubby is American, and kids of course. -- We have traveled all over Europe. Yhe only place we were not welcomed with open arms was Nice, french Riviera. AND it had to with the fact we had kids, and maybe a little bit that we were American.

Portugal is one of my favorite places on this earth. People are THE NICEST!
we always just hop on car and just go out on a venture. So many deserted, empty beaches.

Pack light. Comfortable shoes. If you have a bit extra $$, invest on good accessories, like scarves etc. European women tend to be quite well put together....Americans can be spotted miles away -- (ETA: Please don't take this as a rude comment.... it is not meant that way)

Spain has the best night life. Expect to dance the night away.

I am so jealous have FUN!!!!

If you know some Spanish, you can read some Italian, Portugese and French!

My suggestions are to pack light (everything in one carry-on) and plan to shop and eat. You'll have no trouble finding your size and there is so much great food to be tried. Don't waste luggage space on stuff you can get there (toiletries etc). Dress nicely if you want to blend in and wear comfortable shoes. A positive attitude and willingness to use what you do know in the host language will win people over anywhere on earth. Say "bonjour" and "obrigado" and don't overtip.

Thanks guys! I am going to be overseas for 17 nights. So packing light is for me, scary! We do have a tour group though so I should be able to leave the larger luggage with them, or on the cruise ship.

Right now I am planning on taking a small backpack, and having mini locks to keep it secure while wearing it rather than carrying a purse around. I know I will stand out but I'd rather have that than a stolen passport!

As far as communicating with home, is there a lot of internet cafe places, or a cheap way to call home and tell you're family everything is going good?

Have to second the pack light. When we went to Croatia and Italy in March for 3 weeks, we packed for a family of 4 (two parents, a 9 year old and a baby) two carry-on bags and a diaper bag and a couple backpacks - THAT'S IT. And these weren't summer clothes either. We knew we had to pack light because we were renting a car and would need room for the luggage AND the stroller in the trunk of a small rental car.

If Europeans will make fun of one thing - it will be the amount of crap Americans bring with them when they travel - honestly. And the language thing is no big deal. You probably won't be mingling with the locals much and when you do it will be to order from a menu - just try to learn how to pronounce things correctly and you'll be good.

Wine is cheaper than water in most restaurants in Spain, Italy, and maybe France. My friend went there last summer, and that was her main pro-tip

Have fun!!

You're going to major cities. Internet cafes are EVERYWHERE. I had a blog while I was studying abroad that I updated all the time from internet cafes

I used calling cards to call home. They're pretty cheap and you can use them from just about any payphone or landline. If you're going to be there for longer you can look into getting a cheap phone. I didn't really want to bother with that, so I just stuck to the calling cards and called home every few days or so.

If you have an AT&T phone you can buy a sim card when you get to your destination and swap it out. Or, you can call up your cell carrier and see what kind of international plans they have.

Or you can buy some cheap AT&T flip phone and do the sim card swap (one of my friends did this).

Edit: You can also do this with T-mobile phones.

Lots of internet phones everywhere. You can either get a calling card or just use your debit card. -- Europe is really high tech what comes to cyberlife. You will be able to stay in touch really easy.

ETA: You can also get a cell phone with a sim card. Basically pay as you go phone.

Thanks guys...very good to know. Do they charge at the cafes? And, I am assuming you buy the cards over there..I can't find ones here that say they work overseas!

Yes, you buy the calling cards there. Probably the airport gift shop will have them, but definitely a newstand or corner store. Last I knew, they came as cheap as 5 Euros.

I live in Spain. Before moving here and meeting my great DH I backpacked around alone for several months through most of Europe. I didn´t find people hated Americans, it was quite the opposite actually. I can tell you that they do appreciate if you learn how to say please, and Thank you in their language, as it is just polite. Other than that about wherever you go people do speak English and are always happy to practice with you!!ç

As far as phones. You can do the calling card (buy at the supermarket or anywhere), but all these countries have internet cafes (locotorios) everywhere, and are really cheap for making calls, like 10c a minute back home. PM me if you are coming to Madrid becasue after being here about 4 years, I can tell you the BEST places to see, eat, drink or party in the city!

Have fun and be safe. You should carry a money pouch under your clothes and make sure to make copies of your passport. 1 to keep with you and 1 in your suitcase. I have been robbed 3 times, and tourists stick out like paydays to theives.

Where in Spain are you coming? I live in Madrid. It is pretty awesome here, and is one of the party capitals in the world. You can literally get into a traffic jam at 4am (when people are changing clubs). Portugal (Lisbon is nice, but I think it lacks the ¨ummph¨that Spain has). I love Italy and spent about 2 months there and it totally wasn´t enough. I can live there. If you are in Rome, write this down!! Go to Termini and exit the exit of the supermarket, directly cross the street, go three streets down and turn to your right. 1 block down on the left is the BEST pizza place I have eaten in my life (and beleive me I have tried a lot)!

Thanks everybody!

And yes LMD I will be flying into Madrid actually! We will be staying in Madrid 2 nights. One night in Salamanca.......2 nights Lisbon........2 nights Seville....and 2 nights Torremolinos by Costa de Sol. Then we get on the cruise ship for a week.

You will have to tell me how you make international calls too! LOL I believe there are more #s involved right?

Oh we are making a port stop in Valencia too!