I just gave a boy some advice about traveling in Europe. He saw that I toured with AESU last spring and wanted some "do's and don't's" to really enjoy his trip. I wrote all this out and realized that it could easily apply to other journeys So here is just a bit of advice about traveling. I'm sure I'll have more another day, but this was what I told him.
Some kids get there and are just so shell shocked that they can't plan their own time so they freeze up or join a smaller group and get dragged to places they didn't want to go in the first place (you guys will end up splintering and rejoining now and then). So my suggestions are this:
1. Before you go, try to do as much research as possible. It doesn't have to be detailed, just make lists of places to go and food to eat for each stop on your treck. That way, you can check those things off if you see them on walking/bus tours and don't make the mistake of going back to them later or of missing out on them if your tour doesn't go there in the first place. Being a bit vague can be good if you just want to try a certain type of food, but don't know where is best to try it. Ask you're tour guide or the hotel/hostel staff for local favorites. Or, if there is a special on the Travel Channel, you can see where they go (usually star locations are mentioned on their websites).
2. Buy something for yourself in as many places as you can. A shirt, a tie, sunglasses (nice ones) that you can use everyday. That way if someone compliments them, you can just say, "Oh, this? I picked it up in Brussels one summer." This also goes over well for gifts for family members. Knick-knacks are.....quaint, but scarfs, necklaces, etc are better, I think. And you don't need to get everyone a gift from everywhere; it doesn't mean that you don't love them, but you don't have enough money to cover them all in every country. My tip is to treat yourself first and then the people you like. Send postcards home (gather everyone's addresses on notecards or something in case you can't always have computer or internet access), but make sure to send them from that country so that you can use that country's stamps and it can be marked "From Italy". It is really funny if you arrive home before your mail and won't take up space in your suitcase on the rest of the trip or on the ride home.
3. When you go out to eat and are allowed to pick what you'd like to eat (instead of a set meal), choose things that you can't get (or can't get cheap) at home. For example, Pimm's are a British drink that vary from bar to bar and something that American bars never have. Some are even served with lots of fruit inside. And if you are trying to save some money, have a picnic! Go to a store, grab some exotic meat, cheese, wine (a bottle opener and cups would also be helpful) and bread and go to a famous spot to eat the great food and enjoy the view (the Field of Mars below the Eiffel Tower or the Spanish Steps in Rome are nice choices).
4. Try to make a plan for the day. If you know that you have free time, turn your list of things to do into some kind of order so that you hit as many stops as you can. If people in your group find out that you have a plan, they will be more likely to ask to join you, too. People love when someone has things figured out and the more the merrier!
5. Get the cheesy photos of you standing in front of stuff! Your parents will love it, you'll have them as momentos, and while it feels cliche at the time, remember, "photos or it didn't happen!" If you are traveling alone, this will be a hassle, I know. Be careful of asking for people to take your photo in Europe, as gypsies will take that opportunity to rob you while you are trying to help them take a nice photo. Find other Americans or someone who is part of another tour group. If you're in a tour group already, no worries! Make a friend by agreeing to take their photo if they take yours. It also helps break the ice if you don't know anyone else in the tour group. Also, YOLO!! Have fun and try to do as many of the extra things as you can. I wasn't sure about the Moulin Rogue, but decided to go for it. The risk was well worth it! Such an amazing show and such a great story for when I got home. Some of our boys went four-wheeling in Greece and got to see the whole of Poros Island while they tore over hills and around goat herds.
That may be it for now. But if you have Doris from Austria as your tour guide, you've hit the jackpot!
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