Shopping is the likely a hightlight for some travelers. Making the most of this experience may require familiarization with the native landscape. Take recommendation from guide books, friends, site guides, hotel desk. Unfortunely, all the afformentioned recommenders most often guide you to the heart of tourist shopping areas. Experienced travelers seek shopping excursion off the beaten path. If you can get recomendations for shopping from locals. This may take youinto areas where English is not as widely used, so your survival language skills may come in hand.
Eating out in Europe is an experience beyond the food. The city streets are litered with cafes, resteraunts, street vendors. Take your time to experience all it has to offer. You should probably plan around your budget.
Cafes - provide a social experience for local and tourist alike. Eating here in tourist areas provide limited fair. Some offer formula menus that cater to toruist. This make exploring less of an Resteraunts Street side Americana If you have a sensitive stomach, don't forget your digestive aids. I can assure that will eventually run into a dish that will disrupt things.
Note: Tipping is not held in the same regard as in the US. In most Eurpeon countries tipping is not required or even suggested. If tipping for extraordinary service is acceptable, but not at US percentages. Ten percent would be reasonable.
Shopping The current economic climate does not suggest that you will find extreme bargins in Europe. The US dollar is not holding its own to the Euro or the Pound. You will need a plan to create value if your shopping agenda is not limited to window shopping, suverneiers or money is not an issue. Here are some suggestion for the serious shopper
1. Have an idea of what you would pay for the same items at home (perfume, purses, alchol, etc.). This would be deficult to do for most items. In these cases you must be a good judge of quality and value in the area of your purchase. Also, a certain amount of value can be attributed to items that you just can't find in the US.
2. Consider exchange rates and possible cost to get it home (luggage count and weight).
3. Carry a backpack or duffle to secure your purchases
4. Purchase on your credit card to inact its purchase insurance
5. Determine if hangling is custom in shops and markets.
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Sharing my Travels with the World
Gabriel's Travels
- by Gabriel Braun
- I was inspired by the successes and failures of my recent Eurpeon vacation to let the world in on my lessons learned. I have only traveled to a few Europeon destination, so I am no travel expert. But being the highly analytically (impulsively analytical) person I am, my thoughts often provide great insight into confusing or complex topics. It is my gift :) Travelprocity? This name represents my reciprocal intent of this blog. I expect viewers to makeup for my like of travel experience by posing there own tested travel tips. I hope the reciprocity encoraged by my blog will help all visitors to more sucessfully navigate there journies around the world.
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