Taking a Vacation to a Popular Foreign Country is Overrated

[RbSX]

Because going somewhere else and learning about a place that isn't in America opens your minds to how things are outside of your little mind.

 

[JoPh]

+1 for Rome. Loved it.

 

[SSSnail]

Welcome to globalization! Any large city you go to, and if you don't know the specifics of the city, most of the places that you're doing business at will be just like any other big town in America. People may speak different languages, but for the most part most of the people you meet will speak English. You'll have your Starbucks, McDonalds, Walmart, blue jeans and T-shirts, American cars and yes, even apple pies. You then think to yourself "this is nothing different than home", then eventually, you learn how to get away from all of that and find for yourself what's really unique about a particular country.

To find what's unique, you'll have to get away from the big city and the big city people.

It largely depends on what you're looking for, but to dismiss an entire civilization because you spent a limited amount of time in the subway or train is hasty at best.

Take Japan for instance, if you visit any of the large cities like Tokyo, Hiroshima, etc, you'll find a hectic lifestyle that will spin your head. But, all you really need to do is drive 5 minutes out of town to see exactly what the country is about.

When you travel, make time to visit the places that you really want to visit. Don't just say "I'm going to Rome", but ask yourself "Why do I want to go to Rome?", then find your answers. You'll be a lot happier if you plan ahead.

Oh, and do get a local tour guide

 

[PieIsAwesome]

you can keep your cocaine and aids

Kthxgbye!

Country/AIDS prevalence:
Colombia 00.60
United States 00.60
Australia 00.50

Not much of an advantage there.

 

[Josh]

Headed to Rome with my buddies tomorrow for 3 nights then hopping a flight to Barcelona for 4 nights. Can't wait

 

[WildHorse]

``

 

[angminas]

Try Germany as well, I splurged and rented a GTI to drive on the ring. Expensive as fuck, but oh so worth it.

That sounds awesome. I'd like to hear anything you'd like to tell about this. I really want to do that someday.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The OP is doing it wrong. I can think of 100s of things I would want to do in Europe. An opportunity to experience so many cultures, history, people and food.

 

[sjwaste]

There isn't a single city in the world I'm particularly interested in seeing. Go out to the country where the culture's more distinct, and the people aren't tired of tourists. You'll get a better feel for the country, and there's more interesting things to see.

I generally agree with this. Even in the USA, we've stopped visiting cities in favor of more out of the way places. We live near DC, have family in Phoenix, Philly and San Diego, so we still get to those places. For the last 2-3 years, though, my wife and I have found our vacations to smaller cities to be the most fun. Hell, we are moving to New England this summer, and would have never even known what a cool destination that Portland, Maine would be otherwise.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

That sounds awesome. I'd like to hear anything you'd like to tell about this. I really want to do that someday.

I went during study abroad in college. Me and the GF at the time went off to Germany after the program finished and did a couple weeks of sightseeing around Europe. I went to Munich, Stuttgart, Ingolstadt, and the ring (see any coincidences here?). I bought the BMW ring taxi which was about 150 USD, sadly Sabine was not driving that day. Apparently you need to request her specifically when you book the tickets.

They tell you not to eat before hand for good reason.

I figured that was not enough so I found a car rental place with the help of my hotel concierge and rented a MKV GTI for like 4 hours with the intent of trashing it around the right a few times. It was almost 200 bucks with the taxes and insurance included but was ridiculously worth it, definably one of the best moments of my life so far. I thought I was going pretty fast but I was getting lapped by bikes and porsches left and right.

 

[Svnla]

I had been to several foreign countries.

You need to get off the beaten path, ie. get to know the locals and eat/drink/live like the locals to truly get the full experience. Don't just do the typical tourist things.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I'm thinking about vacationing to Italy next summer. The flights will be free thanks to frequent flier miles so here's to hoping it doesn't suck.

 

[JimW1949]

I have never been to Italy, I have been to Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland. My favorite country was Germany though, the food is great, the beer is superb, the wine is wonderful and the scenery is magnificent. Around Garmisch and Berchtesgaden you will find a lot of tourists, but it really is beautiful there and well worth seeing. At least I think it is. But I am of German ancestry so maybe I am a little biased.

 

[zinfamous]

OP sounds like a real winner.

er, sorry. I meant "wiener."

 

[Born2bwire]

I think judging a whole country within some hours based on their perceived rudeness...is silly.

You are right, actually my current wife AND my ex (both from the states) confirming that people in EU (in particular Germany) *are* rude - they do indeed just walk into you on the sidewalk...or stand there like cows in front of malls blocking entrances.

Its funny that you mention this since my wife said *exactly the same thing*

The rudeness and crouchyness (plus the weather are actually the reason we now moved to spain.

People are FAR friendlier, more open and happier here in Spain

As an American, you MUST simply accept that Europeans are not so open and "warm" as Americans. Americans are different that they are very friendly to strangers which you HARDLY will find in (northern) Europe.

For example, it would be a total no-no that a stranger would complement you on the streets (which i saw quite often in the states) saying "oh i like your hat" or similar (quite common in the states).

Or here in Spain people always saying "hola" even if they are total strangers...NEVER seen that in Germany.
Thats just one example.

But there is more to EU than how people are behaving in public transportation...and it simply takes certain situations for European people to "warm up" to strangers first. Thats just how it is.

As for Rome..havent been in Rome and not any desire to ever go there....i think it might be swamped by tourists, BORING (pope!) and whatnot....there are probably a zillion places which would be way better than Rome!

It seems weird considering how most Americans feel that their only stereotype in foreign countries is the Jackass Loudmouth Tourist, but I have also seen similar impressions of Americans in foreign countries. Americans can be seen as being very friendly and confident.

I loved Germany myself. I started out in Munich but went to several other cities throughout Bavaria. It was all a lot of fun, plenty to see, eat and drink. And with only one exception the people there were helpful and friendly. For my trip though, a friend and I planned out in advance where we would go, how to get there, where to stay and what we wanted to see. That way we could go out to the smaller towns knowing we were going to have things to do that we would enjoy.

 

[foghorn67]

Culture shock.

 

[magomago]

I think judging a whole country within some hours based on their perceived rudeness...is silly.

You are right, actually my current wife AND my ex (both from the states) confirming that people in EU (in particular Germany) *are* rude - they do indeed just walk into you on the sidewalk...or stand there like cows in front of malls blocking entrances.

Its funny that you mention this since my wife said *exactly the same thing*

The rudeness and crouchyness (plus the weather are actually the reason we now moved to spain.

People are FAR friendlier, more open and happier here in Spain

As an American, you MUST simply accept that Europeans are not so open and "warm" as Americans. Americans are different that they are very friendly to strangers which you HARDLY will find in (northern) Europe.

For example, it would be a total no-no that a stranger would complement you on the streets (which i saw quite often in the states) saying "oh i like your hat" or similar (quite common in the states).

Or here in Spain people always saying "hola" even if they are total strangers...NEVER seen that in Germany.
Thats just one example.

But there is more to EU than how people are behaving in public transportation...and it simply takes certain situations for European people to "warm up" to strangers first. Thats just how it is.

As for Rome..havent been in Rome and not any desire to ever go there....i think it might be swamped by tourists, BORING (pope!) and whatnot....there are probably a zillion places which would be way better than Rome!

depends where you are in the US....

 

[ShawnD1]

You are right, actually my current wife AND my ex (both from the states) confirming that people in EU (in particular Germany) *are* rude - they do indeed just walk into you on the sidewalk...or stand there like cows in front of malls blocking entrances.

I've never had a problem with needing to gently push people out of the way. If I'm not making it clear where I'm trying to go then how do they know they are in the way? It's not even a big city thing. My city has less than 3/4 of a million people and it's spread over a very large area, but pushing people is still part of how it goes around here. Jacking up the population density would probably make the pushing a little more intense, but it's still pushing. Japan and Korea are hardcore about pushing.

 

[Ms. DICKINSON]

Sounds like another day at work. Not really a vacation.